Sadly this book just didn’t grab as much as I hoped it would. I put it down and picked it up multiple times but I just couldn’t connect with it. Super bummed.

This was by far my favorite in the series. I know it’s technically a spin-off from the first two books, but it felt more like a final ending to the series. I think I also liked this a lot more because it was about my favorite character, Aodren. I loved him and I was glad to see him fight for his cause for peace. That and I liked that he had a love interest that wasn’t just one sided. He needs some love in his life, haha. Overall, I felt this was a good conclusion to the loose ends from the last book, Ever the Brave. I also loved reading about my favorite characters Aodren and Leif again.

Ahhh, back when romantasy was just starting. This was a wonderful book if you want to just dip your toes into the genre. I read the authors previous books and those were both really good. I enjoy the authors writing style and the characters and worlds she creates. I haven't heard anything new coming from her in a bit so PLEASE WRITE MORE!

Once a King picks up right after Ever the Brave. King Aodren is finally in control of the kingdom, but now must work hard to fight off the reputation his father left behind. Lirra, a channeler with the power to control the wind, finds her life entangled with King Aodren's. They must work together to forge a new path in a divided nation.

I sincerely loved the first book, but found a few issues with the second book in the series. This book however, fell very flat for me. It took me about 3 tries to actually get into the book in the first place. I'm not sure what it was about the beginning but there wasn't anything that captivated me to keep wanting to read, and since I wasn't crazy about the second book there was nothing that made me want to stay in the world that Erin created.

Overall this whole book was a big "meh" there was nothing exciting, I wasn't crazy about the characters and didn't care much for the world anymore.

I will still continue to read Erin's books in the future, but no more set in this world.

I love this author's writing! They bring a fresh voice to the YA fantasy scene. The writing is immersive, there are twists and turns, beautiful description, and wonderful characterization! I highly recommend this underrated author and series!

The more YA fantasy I read, the harder it become to impress me as a reader. Once a King by Erin Summerill is a fine book, but it doesn't really add anything special to the genre. I think the characters were fine, the world was actually interesting, but the story just felt lacking. It was a fine read, I didn't not like it, but I don't think I could say it is anything special.

This was a middle-of-the-road read for me. While I liked a lot of aspects, there were some things I disliked, and overall, I just didn't feel strongly enough about the book to really warrant adding an in-depth review to the blog.

Another wonderful book of the Clash of Kingdoms series by Erin Summerill! This story has interesting characters a fun plot, and a message of a better tomorrow!

Man. I flipping loved this book. It was such a fastpaced story and just so dang good.
The characters were complex as was the story itself.
And I found myself flipping pages on my kindle at an alarming pace haha.

The story itself was so creative and unique. And I really enjoyed just finding a new story and characters to fall in love with

I didn't realize this was the third book in a series. I have read Ever the Hunted, and enjoyed it, but haven't gotten around to the 2nd yet.

I found Once a King interesting in that it took the characters from the previous books and gave them the spotlight . It says it's book three of a trilogy, but it doesn't read like one. Semi standalone, though reading the previous books would have it make more sense, Once a King revolves around a tournament, a health potion gone sour, and a King who doesn't act like a King.

For being royal and growing up so, Aodren doesn't act royal despite Lirra saying multiple times that he does. He doesn't have a valet, or a man servant, he only has guards sometimes, when he's out and about. It's not very realistic.

Overall it was cute, and the reveal was very good even though I saw it coming.

It took me a while to get into this book, but once I did, I enjoyed it.
Lirra is the daughter of a spy and traitor who finds herself helping an embattled new king. Lirra is able to use magic that has been outlawed in the kingdom for many years, and both she and Aodren must overcome prejudices, treachery, and political intrigue to find a way to help the kingdom rebuild and move into a better future.
I did not realize this was the third book in a series when I started it, and the first bit of the book was very hard for me to get through--I almost didn't finish it. I felt like there were too many people, places, cultures, and belief systems going on with not enough background information. This book already had very good reviews, however, so I decided to keep going, after skimming over a lot of the beginning of the story.
Once Lirra and Aodren began working together more, the book got better for me. It was nice to see them cooperate and help each other. The best part of the book was seeing their relationship grow and evolve. Once it really got going it was hard for me to put the book down, and I was glad I had persevered through the beginning of the story. The ending was a bit anti-climactic and felt a little abrupt, but matters were resolved, so that was just a personal preference for me.
If you have read the first two books in this series, I imagine you will love this book. If you have not read the other books, I would probably not read this one until you do so. There are A LOT of people, kingdoms, geography, "religions," and other things to wade through as part of the story. But otherwise, this was a good YA Fantasy with a good bit of Romance thrown in.

This book was pretty good and I did enjoy reading it, but really wasn't anything that special. I did not realize that it was a part of a series, which is probably why I didn't connect with it very much.

Despite the fact that it is a part of a series, I didn't have much trouble figuring out what was going on or the "rules" of this fantasy. The author gives just enough detail that new readers won't get lost. However, there are references to past events that I wish I had more data on.

So, on the whole, it's an OK book that readers of the other books in the series will probably enjoy.

This book takes place in the world of five kingdoms created in the previous two books, Ever the Hunted and Ever the Brave. It is best read after these books, but it can also be read as a standalone.
King Aodren is doing everything he can to reunite his kingdom after repealing the law declaring a purge of all Channelers, women who can perform magic. He wants the Channelers to move back into his kingdom, Malam, so in order to win the trust of his people, he sets out to win the cup in the upcoming tournament between the five kingdoms. He enlists the help of Lirra, the girl who saved his life in the previous book, by asking her to sneak him into the tournament when his champion is gravely injured. Soon, both of them are after information about the people who are selling a deadly potion that is being marketed as Sanguine, the fluid that heals badly injured people. When people begin dying, Aodren and Lirra will have to find the perpetrators before it's too late, but along the way they also will discover more about themselves and each other.
I enjoyed this book very much. The world building was realistic and drew me into the story almost immediately. The plot was so interesting to me that I couldn't stop reading. The relationship between Aodren and Lirra was sweet and was the slow burning romance I expected for a suspenseful fantasy. There were many funny moments to balance out the action, and I laughed out loud several times. I was reminded of the Middle Ages as I read, especially during the tournament scenes and the sneaking around Lirra and Aodren had to do throughout the book. I definitely have to go back and read the previous two books because I loved this book, and I am looking forward to the next book Erin Summerill writes. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy and adventure.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I feel like I cannot fairly review this book since I didn't realize it was part of a trilogy when I read it. The writing was great

A solid story and one that's well told. I don't normally go for books like this, but I was pleasantly surprised.

In this continuation of the Clash of Kingdoms series, the young King Aodren takes center stage. Britta and Cohen are no longer working with the new king and he is faced with a divided kingdom that he wants desperately to unify. For years his father persecuted the Channelers who are those with magical powers. Now Aodren wants these former victims to know he welcomes them to Malam. To help demonstrate his good intentions, he turns to Lirra, a young wind Channeler.

The story is told from their dual perspectives. Aodren seems earnest in his efforts to reach out to those his father hurt. Lirra is reluctant to help since she hates the new king. Her animosity stems from the murder of her mother and others at the hands of Aodren’s father, the former king.

Lirra is adept at spying and subterfuge, talents that Aodren finds useful in his attempts to learn who is plotting against him. Aodren’s sincerity makes a dent in her abhorrence of him, but her loyalty to her family and other Channelers keeps her from fully supporting the king.

As mysterious events result in some citizens of Malam being harmed, Lirra and Aodren unite to find the culprit. There is a lot of duplicity and many obstacles standing in the way of them determining the source of the threat. Aodren finds few willing to support him and he must fight in the contests as his own champion. His courage and determination impress many, even Lirra. The action moves swiftly and readers will succumb to the intensity as the story hurtles toward the end.

The goal of uniting a people and instilling pride in their kingdom makes Aodren take risks he might have avoided. But longstanding animosity, vindictiveness and ruthless treachery may curtail all the good Aodren is trying to accomplish.

The king and the girl who hated him are slowly drawn together. They are an unlikely couple but their actions demonstrate their sincerity. Lirra is a fascinating character who builds gliders and wants more than anything to demonstrate her invention. Her wind power does not take center stage in the story as much as her skill as a spy. Aodren is earnest and his self-sacrifice demonstrates his commitment to bringing his people together. One can’t help but root for the two of them to get what they really desire. They are admirable characters and they make this book a wonderful companion to the initial two titles in the series.
3.5*

My Review: Although you don't tech. need to read the first two books in this series to read this one. I still suggest that you do. This world is just so lush and magical that you will not want to miss any step along the way. This one picks up after the events of book one and two. And I have to say that Erin did a wonderful job bringing a brand new story to this world. I would love to see even more stories from this world because the author just does such a great job with it.

This one gives us dual POVs of Lirra and Aodren and each one did a wonderful job moving the story along. I can not say enough about this title. It was just so fresh and new and I could not put it down!


Go Into This One Knowing: Dual POV, Companion Title

Once a King by Erin Summerill
Series: A Clash of Kingdoms, Book 3
Blurb~
“Aodren: A lonely, young king, searching for a way to dismantle his father’s dark legacy.
Lirra: A girl with the power to control the wind, torn between duty and following her dreams
 
For twenty years, Channelers—women with a magical ability—have been persecuted in Malam by those without magic. Now King Aodren wants to end the bloody divide and unite his kingdom. But decades of hatred can’t be overcome by issuing decrees, and rumors of a deadly Channeler-made substance are only fueling people’s fears. Lirra has every reason to distrust Aodren. Yet when he asks for help to discover the truth behind the rumors, she can’t say no. With Lirra by his side, Aodren sees a way forward for his people. But can he rewrite the mistakes of the past before his enemies destroy the world he’s working so hard to rebuild? Erin Summerill returns with a high-stakes fantasy full of romance, magic, and revenge perfect for fans of Susan Dennard and C. J. Redwine.”
Review~
Told through the differing POVs of the two MC, Aodren and Lirra, this dark fantasy his basically a story of good vs evil set within the backdrop of a brewing romance.  A familiar trope of mistrust, if not actual dislike towards one another in the beginning, this story simmers with fantastic chemistry between Aodren and Lirra.  Although the arc is fairly standard, it is still engaging with some storyline surprises that make it a remarkable book. I won’t go into those, as it might spoil some things for you. Let’s just say this takes a different spin than what you might first surmise from the blurb. When I requested this book, I hadn’t realized it was the third in a series. I didn’t have time to read the first two books, but I wasn’t lost at all. I believe this speaks to the writer’s ability to contain one story within others, which takes quite a bit of talent, IMHO.
Summerill is a very descriptive and skillful writer. Her word building skills make the characters come alive and the settings more real. She has the ability to lead the reader to feel as if they are a bystander in an actual world with actual people and events taking places. You can totally get submerged in this novel. The world building and imagery conveyed through the author’s writing is fantastic.
The plot and characters were well developed and Summerill gives enough backstory that you can understand the characters and their motives for certain behaviors and actions. The plot is interesting and keeps you interested and entertained. This was an easy and enjoyable read for me. I look forward to reading the previous books and am anxious to read more from this author. 5/5
I was given this book by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This review, or portions thereof, with be posted (when able) to Amazon, Goodreads, B&N, IG, Pinterest, FB, Litsy, Kobo, BAM, and my own blog.
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I really enjoyed the original duology and Once A King was such a wonderful addition! I loved how it focused on different characters and gave us a different perspective on the world. Plus there’s a wonderful hate-to-love romance. Even if you haven’t read the original duology, I think you’ll still enjoy this one (Although, fair warning, there are some spoilers).