First of all a huge thank you to the publishers and Kate for letting me review such an incredible book.

Kate Johnson you have done it again , a world with magic that has vanished ,an heroin called Ember a real badass ,
the captain of the guard called Rhaell wont lie to you he is HOT AS HELL !!
full of spice and lots of romance .
plenty of adventure , cliff hanging moments i was sold .

i love Kate books so when i got the chance to review the book over the moon . the world building and story telling honestly 10 out of 10 i wanted to jump in the pages with all the characters .
the story had some of the best plot twists Kate good at them ."i was like hold on just rip the carpet from under my feet and chuck me a gin my jaw dropped.
if you could have seen me at times which i am not giving away anything i was holding my breath that to me is the impact of great story telling .

Ember and Rhaell love them so much some of the best characters i have read about the balanced each other out so well the saying opposites attract could not be more true

Kate writing well Hello ,I am a huge fan here she always manages to captivate me I read the book in 2 days. It never happens i was on my own adventure with this book .



i am giving the book the most captivating fantasy book of this year 5 stars

Thankyou to Netgalley for the chance to read and review this early.

This was a total cover click for me and once I'd read the blurb and realised that the author is someone I've loved in the past I was super excited to jump into the world she created. We follow Ember a young woman who is transported from a clockwork city to a fantasy world where the locals are suffering from severe infertility and she has been prophecised to be the saviour of them all.

Unfortunately it just fell a bit flat for me. Ember and Rhaell's romance was so instalovey that I ended up going back a few chapters after their first proper lovey scene to make sure I hadn't missed something! Ember's speech is also really strange, she goes from saying "ain't" every 5 seconds to modern speak and then to fantasy speak.

The world itself however was brilliantly described, I'd love to learn more about the literal sea horses and Rakka but unfortunately I won't be continuing on with the series.

Please do make sure to check trigger warnings before reading as some of them really hit you in the face.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Promised Queen!

This was a bit hard for me to get through, I"m not usually a huge trigger person but there was a lot of SA based language and SA happens to be my one and only trigger. I did a lot of skipping around the book to move past these areas. I was initially really turned off with the descriptive words of our FMC and the constant reminder that she was only needed to breed heirs.

While the world building was pretty good, the dialogue didn't seem to match the era or timeframe of the story, it came off more as trying to be cool instead of actually sounding cool I didn't fit and that threw me off a bit. Embers use of slang very much contradicted where I feel she came from in the timeline. It made it hard to connect to her as a character.

The romance part of this story went from cold to hot in the blink of an eye and it seemed very rushed. No slow burn, no tension, no getting to know each other really just indifference to undying love in the blink of an eye. The spice was also hit or miss for me there were some really good scenes but some of the language was juvenile making it hard to really get into it.

The overall theme of the story is interesting and definitely different from most romantasy that is out and in heavy rotation right now and while a few areas fell flat me it wasn't a horrible read. The magical characters were great, dragons and mermaids. The plot twist and the end was unexpected but not enought to make me come back for book two. It may not have been for me but as a reader if you're in to Monster/Fantasy romance it's worth picking up.

A gripping Romantasy with a badass FMC and the perfect blend of plot and spice, Chef’s kiss!

I devoured this book! Ember is a relatable, foul-mouthed, no-nonsense FMC just trying to care for her father and brothers after their mother’s death. Luckily her mother teachers her some stealthy stealing skills before her death. So to keep them fed, she's a master thief, until one job lands her in the middle of a ritual that whisks her off to another world.

There, she's mistaken for the prophesied Chosen One and told she must marry a prince (rumoured to be a beast) to restore their magic. Problem is, Ember’s falling hard for the insanely hot Captain of the Guard.

She doesn’t want the crown, she just wants to go home. But her sharp wit, fierce loyalty, and refusal to play princess make her unforgettable.

And Rhaell... I haven’t connected with a MMC this much since Xaden or Rhysand. The secret pining? Absolute perfection. He keeps you guessing about his background the entire way through.

You won’t be able to put this book down, the twists had me gasping. Highly recommend!

I've really struggled with a rating for this one because for as much i enjoyed aspects of it there was quite a bit i didn't enjoy and I actually had quite a few questions after i finished it. although that could have been me missing a part of the plot lol.

In saying that this story was enjoyable and i did have a good time reading it although i'm not sure if i feel the need to read anymore

4.5 stars⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy of this release!!! I loved every single second of this one

Ugh. It tried to be epic fantasy and romantasy at once, and fumbled both. The world-building was thin, the romance kicked in way too late, and the modern dialogue made the FMC sound out of place and kind of clueless. Their relationship felt rushed, and the spicy scenes were more cringe than chemistry. Overall, I had a hard time staying invested. It dragged in places, and when a romantasy doesn’t make me want to binge-read, that’s usually a red flag. I’ve read some great titles from this publisher, but this one didn’t quite deliver for me. Generous as I tend to be with ratings, this landed on the lower end for me.

Magic and romance and excitement. Ever7you could possibly want from a book. A delight to read. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romantsy.

The fae politics are ofd and interesting. And the language is quite vulgar which is good, for me anyway. Some people may be offended by some of the topics of reproductive conversations and other feminine topics so check your triggers but over all a decent fantasy and the series shows promise.

The Promised Queen
This was a refreshing romantasy that came along at the right time for me. I loved the unique magic system and the interesting fantasy characters that bought the drama and danger to the story. The author has a great way with her writing, it’s humorous without being silly, bringing to life great characters with great banter and interactions.
I really liked the dual timelines that ran through this - which I didn’t realise it was at first, and I found myself eager to see what role this played in the story. The most refreshing part? It wasn’t POV chapters. Not that I’m against that at all, but sometimes it’s nice to be on the outside looking in, rather than in someone’s head all the time. It helped to provide an air of mystery in the story which supported the later plot twists which I throrougly enjoyed!
I’m really hoping for a book 2 in this adventure - I’m really invested in Rhaell!

Thank you to Kate Johnson, Harper Collins and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow!!! 4.5 stars!! I was not prepared to be on the edge of my seat the whole time reading this!! I could barely put this book down! I was thinking about it when I wasn’t reading it, wondering what is going to happen next. The plot twists!?! I was NOT prepared! I love Rhaell and Ember. I can’t wait to see what the Promised One has in store for us next! 🫶🏼💖

Thank you to Kate Johnson, One More Chapter (Harper Collins Publishing), and NetGalley for gifting me an eARC of The Promised Queen.

Originally the cover caught my eye, but after reading the blurb, I really liked the sound of The Promised Queen as it promised an exciting magical world with a strong female protagonist. After a thieving job gone awry, our main character Ember is transported from her clockwork city to a magical world. Unfortunately, the people of this world have been fighting against a blight of dwindling magic and infertility, which they recognise Ember as their saviour and solution to all their problems. Ember decides she must escape this world as soon as possible, or risk being trapped in a life of servitude, married to the brutal prince.

The premise and the world was quite fun and the portal magic and world building was enjoyable. I would even say that parts of this book were kind of funny, almost satirical of romantasy, but I couldn’t really tell if this was intentional or not. I especially loved the addition of all the mythical creatures and seeing how Ember interacted with them. I think Ember and Rhaell as individual characters were fine, but I actually found Phoebe more interesting and wished we had spent more time with her. She was often physically in a scene but didn’t seem overly present as a character. The plot twist at the end was good but was a little predictable if you were paying attention. I did find Ember’s language to be inconsistent, particularly when one page she would go from 1800s English beggar to a modern language a page later. This might be a personal pet peeve, but it really bugged me how many times the word Um, Er, or some other variation of this was used throughout the book.

Overall, even though it was predictable at times, it was an okay read but the things mentioned above really pulled me out of the story. If you’re someone who really loves romantasy that has digestible world building and lore, you’ll probably enjoy this book (but check the content warnings).

4 ⭐️ The Promised Queen by: Kate Johnson is Publishing on June 5, 2025 with HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter

It’s a very descriptive story that allows your mind to build a vivid world. It is definitely a fantasy type book. I did find parts of the story and writing to be repetitive in an unnecessary way. It had a slow burn but does pick up in interest. It has some spicy scenes that if you’re not into can skip only a chapter or so. Even though it started slow once it gets going it doesn’t really stop. You learn different things as it goes along and some twists. A great start to what is likely to be a good series.

Happy publishing day and big thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for allowing me to share my honest opinions.

This book was an (almost satirical) romantasy with a funny premise and fun world building. I love the premise that the wrong chosen one has showed up and now has to deal with a bunch of drama. I would say this could be read as New Adult as long as you are okay with the open door spicy scenes. This is not super serious high fantasy romance, so set your expectations accordingly.

The main character was a laugh, an imperfect crystal in a land of precious jewels is relatable. The love interest was kind of a standard love interest until he wasn't. No spoilers but if he seems a little bland, he's not, just keep reading. The quest they go on together and the creatures they meet along the way were all good world building, and I'd like to see a sequel for sure.

Thank you to Kate Johnson, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for facilitating me with a review copy of this book at no cost and with no obligation. I reviewed this book voluntarily, and all opinions are my own.

Unfortunately, this one didn’t really work for me. The premise had promise, but I struggled to connect with the main character and found the world-building a bit underdeveloped.

There were a few moments that stood out, but overall it felt like it was missing the depth and cohesion I was hoping for. Just not the right fit for me, though I can see others enjoying it more.

I was hooked from the beginning!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

this was my first book by this author and i'm sad to say i wasn't the biggest fan of it. 😔

the characters acted a bit juvenile in certain dialogues, especially ember. she was also extremely repetitive about her situation with her family. like, i get it, but girl do something!
none of the male protagonists caught my attention either. they were too nonchalant and simplistic in character for me to care for them.

the writing style was okay. i wish it wasn't so repetitive and was more engaging with the dialogues.

i was interested at first to see what was going on and the fact that the "promised one" was supposed to be bed by this monster was funny yet disgusting.
also direct quote from the book: "Bearing a child got you a special memorial. Not doing so made you lesser." like, excuse you ???? um, no. i don't wanna read that in my books.
i've also never been a fan of portals and felt meh about prophecies... so these were more things that put me off the book a bit. i'm sure it's a me problem and i feel like people could potentially enjoy this book, but this one was sadly not for me personally.

i can't recommend this to any of y'all but if it sounds like something you may enjoy - i hope you love it more than i did!

Thank you Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for providing me with a e-arc in turn of a honest review!!

For me this was a read with mixed feelings regarding two main things. First, the pace feels very slow, i think some chapters are way to long and for me it was very hard to engage with the story.
Secondly, the writing felt very bland and i couldn´t connect with the main character Ember...
I think the plot for this story had a lot of potential if the world building could´ve been more developed or just thought out a bit more.
I loved Rhaell´s character and for me he kept the story being a bit more engaging for me.

Ember, our FMC, is thief and a good one. She steals out of necessity, to provide medicine for her father. She breaks the law so her brothers don’t have to. She’s lived a hard life in a hard world. Ember picks the wrong house to steal from and finds herself being viciously sacrificed for a ritual she knows nothing about. The Promised Queen is a portal fantasy and Ember falls through the portal into a strange, new world. Now she has to find her way back.

The world Ember finds herself in is just a brutal but filled with magic, prophecies and creatures she could never have imagined. Ember’s declared the promised one, foretold to arrive when the land has been blighted. Magic is fading and children are few and far betweeen. She’s promised to the King’s Grandson, and expected to produce heirs. To the king, women are nothing but vessels for babes. The king is horrifically patriarchal and beyond traditional. It seems the prince, the beast, follows in his grandfathers footsteps if the court gossip is to be believed. He’s said to be monstrous, deformed, abhorrent.

Ember has to find a way home.
Together with the captain of the guard, Rhaell, they journey across land and sea to find a way to heal the land and send Ember home. Inextricably drawn together despite the secrets they’re both keeping. The threats come from every angle and it’s a race against time to complete their quest before they’re discovered or killed.

Full of twists and turns, exciting and fast paced. A more unique Romantasy, with a high fantasy setting and a modern, sexually confident, foul mothed FMC. Some readers might find this jarring but I enjoyed it.
Rhaell’s backstory is heartbreaking and he carries the weight of his past.

There’s plenty of interesting species and societies explored; Myr, Dragons, Hafmey, Rakka and literal Sea Horses. The Myr are fascinating and i could read a whole book on them. Multiple POV’s. The magic in this world is all around and can be claimed by anyone, wielded by will, what’s available is easily summoned and controlled.
The last section is wild and some of the twists and turns I didn’t see coming.

Some heavy themes in this book that may trigger some people ; abortion, pregnancy/birth trauma, generational trauma, infertility, threat of sexual assault. Though there is a strong conversation about bodily autonomy that feels particularly prevalent in today’s world. A strong message that a women’s value is not measured by her fertility.
Aside from the above darker themes, The Promised Queen is a fun and easily readable.

Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This fantasy novel drew me in right from the start, thanks to its fantastic main characters who were beautifully crafted and truly brought the story to life. They were so well written that I felt invested in their journey and loved following their interactions and growth.

The fantasy world was equally captivating, with a plot that kept me turning the pages. The setting felt rich and imaginative, and I appreciated how the author wove together all the different elements to create a truly engaging story.

That said, there were moments when the characters felt a bit underwhelming — some of their actions or motivations could have been explored more deeply to add even more dimension. Additionally, while I understand the need to ground the reader in this world, I sometimes felt the author relied a bit too much on description and telling us about the characters’ strengths instead of letting their actions speak for themselves.

Overall, though, this was a thoroughly enjoyable fantasy read, and I’d recommend it to anyone who loves immersive worlds and compelling characters