Freed

A Choice of Light and Dark, Book 4

De: Lacey Lehotzky

Narrado por: Daphne Fields, Gideon Frost

SPOILERS FOR CHAINED, LIGHT, AND DARK AHEAD

When Izidora awakens to find six months have passed, her sole focus turns to revenge against Kazimir. Driven by a burning desire for retribution, she plunges into the depths of her magic, discovering that where light once existed, darkness now reigns. This new, intoxicating power draws her in as she and Ruslan immerse themselves in her training. With Ruslan’s encouragement to embrace her darkness, Izidora sheds the remnants of her identity as a victim who was chained in a cave and steps into being the insidious bloom ready to dig her sharp thorns into the Night Fae.

While she slept, Ruslan united the Crystal, Day, and Iron Realms under a single banner and amassed an army to confront the Night Realm. Yet to secure their victory, he must forge a dangerous alliance with someone he despises even more than Kazimir. With Izidora by his side on the battlefield, he’ll do whatever it takes to protect her. Because no one touches his mate and lives.

Especially Kazimir.

As the clash between these formidable forces looms, only one side can emerge victorious. Who will remain after the last battle is fought?

Freed is the final installment of the bestselling dark romantasy series, A Choice of Light and Dark. With a cast of morally grey characters, feminine rage, and a prophecy that will change the course of history, dive deep into this dark + spicy story of trauma healing and finding love. Perfect for fans of Gild (The Plated Prisoner Series), To Bleed a Crystal Bloom, and Game of Thrones. Freed contains scenes and themes that some listeners might find disturbing. A full list of TWs can be found on the author's website.

©2024 The Lehotzky Group LLC (P)2025 The Lehotzky Group LLC

Wow…wow!

I am at a complete loss of words. This book is amazing and rounds out the series perfectly.

A prophecy that promised everything

One reborn queen, one united army, and a prophecy that promised everything 🗡️🔥

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)
Spice-meter: 🌶️🌶️🌶️☆☆☆ (3/5)
Audiobook: 🎧 Duet-style
Series: A Choice of Light and Dark, Book 4
HEA: Yes

Freed is the emotional and explosive conclusion to A Choice of Light and Dark, and in many ways it is also the strongest book in the series. It brings the battles, the grief, the found family, the rage, the spice, and the long-awaited transformation of Izidora. You finally get to see her rise, own her power, and step fully into who she is meant to be.

And for a large part of this book, it absolutely delivers.

This installment is packed with action, emotional damage, romance, spicy chaos, and character growth. You can clearly feel how much the author has grown over the course of the series. The writing is stronger, the tone is darker, and the world finally feels like it is at war instead of just talking about one.

Also… the men in this book? Absolutely unfiltered. Their mouths alone deserve a warning label. The spice hits. Repeatedly. With enthusiasm.

The Story

Freed picks up directly after the brutal cliffhanger of Dark. Izidora wakes to a world that has moved forward without her, and her only focus becomes revenge. With Ruslan at her side, she dives deep into her darker magic, shedding the last pieces of the girl who was chained in a cave and stepping into something far more dangerous.

While she trains, Ruslan unites the realms and prepares for war. Alliances are forged, armies are raised, and everything finally moves toward the confrontation that has been promised since book one.

What I Loved

✔️ Izidora’s transformation into her darker, stronger self
✔️ Found family standing united
✔️ High-stakes battle energy throughout
✔️ Strong emotional beats and grief representation
✔️ Consistently good, well-written spice
✔️ Clear growth in the author’s writing

🎧 Narration

Narrated by Daphne Fields and Gideon Frost in duet-style, both deliver solid, immersive performances that suit the darker tone of this book perfectly. The emotional scenes land, the tension stays tight, and the spice… well. They understood the assignment.

Tropes & Vibes

✔️ Feminine Rage
✔️ Morally Gray Heroes
✔️ Fated Mates
✔️ Touch-Her-and-Die
✔️ War & Political Intrigue
✔️ Found Family
✔️ Dark Magic
✔️ Cliffhanger Ending

Final Thoughts

Freed should have been epic.

After four books of lore, prophecy, tension, and “the battle is coming,” the final confrontation simply does not hit as hard as it should. The book is long, the buildup is massive, and yet the actual payoff feels surprisingly restrained. There is a lot of fighting and a lot of spicing, but the emotional and mythic weight promised since book one never fully lands.

I enjoyed this series. Truly. And this book has many strong moments.
But with all that buildup, I expected something legendary.

Instead, it ends on a note that feels… safe.
And that is the real disappointment.

Burning Love

I loved how this story unfolded, and the pain, strength and love of a survivor conquered all in the end!!