The Shattered King

The Shattered King, Book 1

De: Charlie N. Holmberg

Narrado por: Natalie Naudus

A captive healer and a mysterious prince are drawn to each other in the midst of war and magic in a beguiling dark fantasy by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Charlie N. Holmberg.

The kingdom of Cansere is on the brink of war. Young men are conscripted from their homes, and a royal decree from the queen has made healing the only legal form of craftlock. Nym, a healer and beekeeper, is the sole provider for her family of seven now that her younger brother has been sent to the war front. But when a letter comes from the queen, summoning Nym to the palace to heal Prince Renn, the kingdom’s ailing shut-in, Nym finds herself making the tumultuous journey from her family’s apiary to the capital city. Nym is determined to fail the queen’s mission and return to her younger siblings as soon as she can.

But escaping the castle’s hold isn’t as easy as failing a simple test. Prince Renn is cold and distant, and his illness is like nothing Nym has ever seen before, nothing she could ever imagine treating. In a moment of connection with Prince Renn, Nym manages to remedy the faintest symptom of his ailment—only to discover that no healer before has made such progress. Forced to become the prince’s official healer and a ward of the castle, and with her only hope of returning to her family hinging on the prince’s recovery, Nym must navigate the castle’s cruel and twisted court and uncover the haunting truth behind Prince Renn’s illness—even as she finds herself irrevocably drawn to him.

©2025 by Charlie N. Holmberg. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“A deftly crafted and impressively original fantasy by an author with a genuine gift for the kind of narrative driven storytelling style that keeps the reader fully engaged from start to finish…Recommended.”—Midwest Book Review

Super unique, can’t wait for part 2!

This book was utterly unlike anything else I’ve ever read. Super exciting with a genuinely surprising twist. I also found the worldbuilding to be quite well done and could easily picture everything that was described, even when it was a totally new concept.

My one real complaint is that the protagonist, who is otherwise incredibly intelligent, allows herself to be repeatedly subjected to subhuman treatment before realizing that she actually has some bargaining power for far too long in the beginning of the story. I could see what the author was going for but I struggled to suspend my disbelief after a while.

I also have one nitpick, which is something the editors should’ve caught, but the author repeatedly uses “administrations” when she means “ministrations” and given how well crafted the rest of the prose is, that was distracting.

I’m so looking forward to the next installment and I can’t wait to see how the mystery resolves!

Hurry Charlie, we need the sequel!

This book was fascinating, imagining, exciting, heart-wrenching and everything from the visuals to the feelings of the characters were made so real by Charlie's masterful word sculpting. I can't wait for the sequel!

The narrator was also really really good. I appreciated that her narration had levels, especially the whispers - although the whispering was sometimes too soft - which I say with the intention of helping her improve on her already beautiful work of bringing the story to life with her voice!

Loved it!

Charlie Holmberg strikes again! I loved the first installment of The Shattered King and can't wait for the next one! I have loved all of her books so far and all of her unique story ideas and this one is no exception.

I NEED THE NEXT BOOK YESTERDAY. SOOO GOOD!!!

what I said up there. so good. I loved it. I need more. loves the characters.

Very Original

Charlie is fantastic, I’ve read probably a dozen of her books and every time I am so impressed by her imaginative worlds! Very excited for the sequel to this slow burn romance action fantasy.

Surprisingly fun!

I didn't know what to expect but I couldn't stop listening... great story of a magical healer and the Prince who is patient... I enjoyed the banter and the "lumis" and creativity of the story... it's a duology, which is always a bit frustrating, but I'll look forward to the second book in March

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As an avid audiobook listener, I was looking for something different. THE SHATTERED KING did not disappoint!

The narrator did an amazing job!

The only thing awful about this book is that the sequel doesn't come out until next year. I'm so ready for it! 🥰💖

Absolutely loved the narration! Fabulous romantasy!

Wow! The Shattered King blew me away! This is an absolute new favorite from Charlie N. Holmberg! It’s a brilliant romantasy with favorite tropes like enemies to more, forbidden romance, forced proximity, who did this to you, Beauty & the Beast vibes, & a heroine with the ability to heal! This book grabbed hold & didn’t let go. I easily devoured it & am dying for the next book in the series!

When Nym’s brother is conscripted into the army, she’s forced to care for her six younger siblings on her own. As a healer & beekeeper, Nym practices the only authorized form of magic, craftlock. When ordered to Rove Castle in Cansere to heal the queen’s ailing son, she can’t refuse. Hoping to fail & quickly return to her siblings, she’s moved to compassion by the suffering prince & does what she can to heal the incurable. She manages to heal one foot, which is more than what’s been achieved in 20 years. Forced to stay at the palace & continue healing the prince, Nym finds herself in the middle of courtly intrigues, a raging war, & a jealous physician who resent her magical abilities.

As she & Prince Renn grow closer, Nym finds herself falling for him, even though a relationship with him can never be. His puzzling brokenness challenges everything in her to keep him alive. As their enemies begin closing in, she must wage one final attempt to cure the prince.

This book was incredible! I was completely drawn into this magical world. Nym & Renn are both multifaceted characters whom you can’t help but love. I enjoyed the subtle nods to Beauty & the Beast. Renn starts out as a surly, wounded patient, but, as Nym slowly heals him, he becomes a new person who’s completely devoted to her. I also enjoyed learning about Nym’s heart wrenching past & everything she went through.

The magical system was so fascinating. I loved the creative way the lumis represented each person. I was completely intrigued with how Nym would delve into this lumis to heal Renn & others.

The palace intrigue had me quickly turning the pages. Not only must Nym work to heal the prince, but she has to contend with threats from the warring kingdom, the queen, & the wolfish Prince Adrinn, all while trying to keep her family alive. When the war comes to the castle, I was on pins & needles & the ending left me completely reeling. Now, I desperately need the next book in the series!

The audiobook is fantastic! I thoroughly enjoyed the narrator & how she brought each character to life. Her narration truly made an already wonderful story even more amazing.

Highly recommend this closed door romantasy! Sensitive readers should know that there’re a few mild swear words, an uncomfortable proposition, some violence, & mild innuendo.

One of my favorites

Get this. It’s fantastic. Great story. Great performance. I loved this and can’t wait for the next one. Wish there would be more than two.