A Heart so Fierce and Broken: Brigid Kemmerer

Find the heir, win the crown.

The curse is finally broken, but Prince Rhen of Emberfall faces darker troubles still. Rumors circulate that he is not the true heir and that forbidden magic has been unleashed in Emberfall. Although Rhen has Harper by his side, his guardsman Grey is missing, leaving more questions than answers.

Win the crown, save the kingdom.

Rumored to be the heir, Grey has been on the run since he destroyed Lilith. He has no desire to challenge Rhen--until Karis Luran once again threatens to take Emberfall by force. Her own daughter Lia Mara sees the flaws in her mother’s violent plan, but can she convince Grey to stand against Rhen, even for the good of Emberfall?

The heart-pounding, compulsively readable saga continues as loyalties are tested and new love blooms in a kingdom on the brink of war.
(Goodreads)

"You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain." 

Lets just say that this quote is a wonderful representation of Rhen. But I shouldn't get ahead of myself since Rhen really isn't all that important in this book.  It's more like the idea of him that is important? I guess? The question of what kind of ruler he'll be... Anyways...
This book is all about Grey, and a new character Lia Mara why two names?? I don't know but her sister and mom have a two name thing going on too Now I fully admit, I didn't like Lia Mara very much in the beginning, I truly didn't care for her part of the story until she got to the palace. And boy does it get better.
Just like the first book, I totally struggled with the beginning. The pacing felt a little off but then everything changed when Rhen's guards killed an innocent man accused of magic. All on a man hunt for the magesmith, the true heir, who just so happens to be GREY. He's been hinting at this terrible secret he's been keeping to help protect Rhen and the reason why he ran away from the castle. Because it obviously had to happen, Grey get caught when he decided to be an awesome dude and sub for the actual fighter. The royal guard recognized his fighting style and called him. It was all very tragic.
Anyway he ends up back at the castle beaten and bloody to kneel before Rhen and it's this emotional affair. Did I forget to mention that Grey likes Harper? Because Grey likes Harper and I totally ship it now but only for like a second We all remember Rhen being this amazing prince, he's different and would never stoop to torture considering he suffered torture at the hands of evil enchantress for decades. And yet this rat bastard has the audacity to whip a child to get information out of Grey. He whips them both saying it's for the greater good. To protect them all from magic. And Grey notices that this isn't for the safety of his kingdom but for his fear of what could happen if someone used it against him again.
Meanwhile: remember how I mentioned this new character named Lia Mara... She's really not that important until she escapes from her gilded cage. Quick back story: she's the oldest, mom doesn't like her very much because shes "weak." Chooses her sister to be the queen, she has a plan to marry said baby queen to Rhen to have access to better trade. Didn't happen they leave, Lia Mara has a plan because she saw something different in Rhen, so she runs away to the castle to convince him to change his mind. Doesn't work out, he kills her guard and locks her up. She becomes important when Grey just so happens to be caged in the room next to her, which is connected by a wall in the fireplace that moves. He sees her and is like "okay interesting."
Flash forward again: Lia Mara is free because they underestimated her and Grey absolutely enraged by the whipping of this innocent child somehow unleashes magic and knocks everyone out. Lia Mara appears and helps them escape. And thus the book really starts.

Everything that happens from this point on in the book is what truly made the book incredible. The action, the romance, the character growth. The power struggle. Grey coming to terms with his birthright, becoming a better king than Rhen ever could. It's literally a wild ride.
And it gets crazier when you find out that Rhen has been working with THE EVIL ENCHANTRESS WHO HAD THEM CURSED. WHO TORTURED HIM, AND KILLED ALL HIS FAMILY.
What the hell is Rhen thinking working with evil incarnate.

And now I have to wait for the next book because I finished this book a little too fast.
Until next time readers <3

Love Kat