A review by piasbookshelf
To Reforge A Destiny: A New Adult Medieval Fantasy Romance by Claire Butler

adventurous emotional funny hopeful fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Rating: 4.25✨
Spice: 1.5🌶

I would like to first thank the author for the eARC opportunity. Like always, this review is voluntary + honest.

Okay, so WOW. I truly enjoyed this second book & the conclusion to Brielle's story! This book was a quick read + fast paced. My favorite part overall was the buildup to the final battle and the battle itself! It was one of those moments where kind of sit back & think "wow, this is an AMAZING scene!" We got to see all of these characters fight for the land they love, their home & those they love. And each of them had their own badass moment, which I also LOVED.

The character growth that I had wanted to see from both Brielle & Henri in book 1 was definitely delivered in this second book. Brielle in book one was a spoiled & entitled princess who cared of nothing else but being the diamond of her kingdom & becoming the Queen. In this second book, we see a Brielle who realizes the world she used to know was just an illusion from her sheltered life. We see a Brielle who finds who she truly is, without a crown having to define who she is. She is a warrior, she is a strategist, she is a leader but most of all, she is a lover, a protector.

Henri, this definitely is not the last we are seeing of him! Henri in the first book wanted nothing more than to separate himself from life as a royal & its responsibilities. He did not want to step up into the role of a leader & only wanted to help Brielle reclaim her throne. The Henri in this book shows how brave & determined he is to right all of the wrongs his past decisions may have caused. He is a Henri who will step up to also help protect those he cares for. A Henri who is done running from the path he is destined for. I truly loved the resilient Henri we got to see by the end + I cannot wait to see more of him in future books.

Citric, he had me hooked since book 1. I loved being able to learn more about him, about how he stepped into the role of the leader of the people in The Red Wood. His past & the pain he experienced that helped shape him into the fierce, intimidating warrior he is. He also has a playful, teasing side that can also be flirty. The things he says can melt you into a puddle IMMEDIATELY. The tension between him & Brielle was DELICIOUS. And the spice? The spicy scenes were SPICING.

Eve, I don't really know how to feel about her. I don't necessarily dislike her, but I don't really like her either? Her story & development was definitely one I was not expecting but one I wouldn't be opposed to keep reading about in the future since her story was left off in a place where it feels it is far from over. She definitely has tons of room for growth & I'm all for that.

I was really happy with Brielle's ending, I felt truly proud of her & her growth, but I also feel like she deserved so much more. And yet, I feel like that was the magical part of her character growth. That by the end, she was able to see that the life she wanted & the place she called home was way different than what she had first envisioned.

If you're looking for a duet that is a quick, fast paced read with characters whose stories you'll be invested in, this one is one I would recommend! I can't wait to see what Claire has in store for us in future books & to continue to see her growth as an author! 💚