A review by bribreez
Broken Knight by L.J. Shen

dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

*Please check trigger warnings before reading 

4.5⭐️/ 3-4🌶️

Luna Rexroth and Knight Cole had practically grown up together since their parents were best friends, it made sense they would see a lot of each other. From a young age, it was always Luna and Knight together, the best of friends, and Knight being the type of person that even from the age of nine, was wholeheartedly or shall we say obsessively in love with Luna. Now, this book wasn’t boring by any means, and with the added touch of angst, darkness, and possessive morally gray characters, L.J. Shen crafted a romance between two young friends, and how over the years their friendship was so much more, as well as the obstacles that came their way. If you want a story that will keep you entertained, a possessive yet lowkey unhinged MMC, and a romance that will keep you on your toes, then this is a book I would definitely recommend.

Now, the only other time I’ve read a book by, L.J. Shen was the one she wrote with Parker S. Huntington. Getting to read a book solely written by L.J. Shen, I was proven right by instantly enjoying this book! Something about the way L.J. Shen writes her books highlights morally gray characters, unhinged MMC’s, and basically the complete opposite to the usual romances I’ve read. This story was a nice change up to the books I’ve read previously, and I really appreciated the way that this book showed me another type of characters that I haven’t read about in a while. Knight and Luna were an interesting couple especially with their friendship having been a strong part of their story from the very beginning. To see how much Knight and Luna cared deeply for each other was clear from the very beginning, but the road to their happily ever after was difficult and by no means easy. L.J. Shen showed that Knight was obsessed with Luna, and over the years, his love and loyalty to her was still strong even with the ups and downs they dealt with. L.J. Shen wrote the kind of story that upped the unhinged and possessive factor to an all time high, and I absolutely adored that part of this book. 

I will say, if you’re the type of person who doesn’t like the whole “back and forth” miscommunication trope then maybe you won’t like this book. From the beginning, it was clear that Knight and Luna cared and loved each other deeply, but through Knight’s possessive nature and feeling betrayed by something that Luna did, it turned into a bit of a mess with them not straightening things out. In a way, it felt like the miscommunication trope because, for all the arguments and Knight being rude to Luna, the dynamic between them wasn’t necessarily the same as before. In other instances, Knight and Luna were never officially together so, when it came to them seeing each other with other people, there were a couple jealous moments sprinkled throughout the story. Nonetheless, I wasn’t entirely bothered by Knight and Luna’s miscommunication more so because, I think it revealed the raw and emotional connection between them. Regardless of what happened between Luna and Knight, it was always going to be, “Ride or Die.”

Overall, this was a nice change up to the usual books I’ve been reading as of late. Knight and Luna’s story really caught my attention from the beginning. From the way Knight was always protective over Luna, and softened his harsh exterior around her throughout the years showed how much he cared for her. Plus, Knight was the kind of guy that gave off, “I hate everyone but her” vibes, as well as, “it’s always been you”. Knight and Luna’s friendship was a focal point of the story as it showed the close bond they formed from when they were kids, and how despite their ups and downs, they were always still there for each other. There was plenty of angst, and emotional parts in Knight and Luna’s story so, keep in mind that this wasn’t a cute romance, it was raw and at times hard for both Luna and Knight. I think the way this story was written really highlighted the highs and lows in Luna and Knight’s relationship over the years as well as showing how the romance wasn’t your typical easy peasy path to a happily ever after. Knight and Luna’s story was full of angst, raw emotion, love, and a unique bond together. I liked the way the story ended up being which was unique and interesting. This was my first time reading a book solely written by, L.J. Shen and I was pleasantly surprised to see how much I enjoyed reading this book. Knight and Luna were flawed individuals, but over the course of the story they opened themselves up from their vulnerabilities and fears to each other. If you’re looking for a romance that isn’t your typical sweet romance and are craving something new with morally grey guys, angst, spice, fiends to lovers, and more then I would recommend reading this book. 
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