
Curse of Shadows and Thorns
The Broken Kingdoms, Book 1
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Narrated by:
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Stina Nielsen
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Written by:
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LJ Andrews
About this listen
A rebellious princess. A cursed rogue. A forbidden love that will bring a kingdom to its knees.
As niece of the king, Elise Lysander cares about two things: sneaking into gambling dens, and avoiding an advantageous marriage at all costs.
When her uncle holds the life of her deathly ill father over her head, reluctantly, Elise puts her fate into the hands of Legion Grey, the handsome and mysterious dowry negotiator. He may be arrogant and infuriating, but soon Legion incites a blistering, forbidden passion she can’t ignore.
As their attraction grows, so do the dangers: attacks from black-eyed people, a cursed enemy who is more beast than man, and rumors of fae returning for the crown they believe was stolen from them long ago.
After a bloody coup upends the kingdom, Elise flees with Legion, but nothing is as it seems. The man she allowed into her heart reveals his own secret plans with the return of magic—and he has every intention of using Elise to see them through.
With war between magic and mortal on the horizon, Elise must pick a side to protect her kingdom. Does she stand with her people who stole the throne? Or with a man who lied his way into her heart and whose secret past could bring her destruction?
Filled with luscious world building, banter-filled romance, and epic battles, Curse of Shadows and Thorns is the first book in The Broken Kingdoms series.
©2022 LJ Andrews (P)2022 Podium AudioYou may also enjoy...
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A Curse So Dark and Lonely
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Formulaic. The few innovations fall flat
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What listeners say about Curse of Shadows and Thorns
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Winter Hermitt
- 2025-02-17
Too much enunciation in some spots but overall a great listen.
I love this series, and I love Stina as a narrator. However, my only qualm is the pronunciation of Etta, Timorran and Ari, these are a little too enunciated. it doesn't sound smooth. I've read all the books and have followed the author for years, I feel that Stina tries a little too hard to pronounce what is easily said. Otherwise this is a fantastic listen.
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- Amazon Customer
- 2023-01-01
Performance
Voice acting in this book was absolutely amazing and very immersive. Stina Nielsen did an excellent job narrating.
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- Alicia
- 2023-03-29
What a magnificent read!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶🌶/5
This book was fantastic! While my family battles covid, I read this book in three days and honestly couldn't put it down.
I know people claim it is much like Armentrout's novels and there is some frustration there, but who can argue that all authors take ideas and guidance from their favourite authors? Come on people! I've read so many fae novels and almost all draw something from ACOTAR or ToG! This is normal! And it's been a while since I read Jennifer's first Blood and Ash book, but I didn't draw that many huge comparisons.
This book was engaging, fun, and honestly have surprises in it. I often find I can guess plot twists and major surprises in books but this book took me by surprise at least 3 times.
It is a major contender for my favourite book list. It's really a nail biter and had me on my toes after the first surprise. I didn't find it too similar to other books nor did I find the plot basic.
I really enjoyed it and feel everyone should give it a read!
I'm off to read book two right this second!
Not super spicy but it hints at future spice and did have some samplers to wet the tastebuds to what is undoubtfully in store.
The plot was solid and didn't feel rushed or slow. Honestly, it was well paced.
The characters had great backgrounds and you got to really bond with them and get inside their heads (it is a single pov and a first person pov.).
Honestly it's a great read and I highly recommend it!
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- Dina Di Mirro
- 2022-08-30
Nice Story
This is a very well written story that was not predictable. Stina Nieson is absolutely wonderful as a story teller. I’ll listen to anything she records! The story is fun and full of suspense and a lilt romance. Good read
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- Michelle D
- 2024-12-22
Interesting Ideas
The story is interesting enough, though predictable. I did find the narrator to be the wrong fit for this story though.
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- C.M.C
- 2024-08-15
Surprised
This story took quite awhile to actually capture my full attention, as in many chapters in, but once it did, I didn't want to put down my phone. I absolutely love the narrator; Stina Nielson, I've enjoyed her performances throughout the J. Armentrout series and honestly likely the only reason why I continued listening to this book after so many chapters in when I felt that it wasn't going anywhere. With that being said, the book has gotten very interesting and if it continues this way until the end, I look forward to listening to the next one (assuming that there is one).
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- Anonymous User
- 2025-04-15
Shadow and thorns
Good listen, narrator was awesome. It was interesting without be too overly confusing. Good twist!
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- Amazon Customer
- 2022-12-13
For Fans of JE Armentrout
If you enjoy JE Armentrout’s stories you will
also like this. I find it a little less steamy than Armentrout’s, but just as angst filled and with all the adventure you would expect.
The heroine isn’t a shrinking violet, but she isn’t a superhuman “Mary Sue”. Definitely a happy medium here. The Hero of course has a dark secret, and the story twists in ways you don’t expect, keeping you interested.
Stina Neilson is one of the very best narrators- I could listen to her read the back of cereal boxes all day. She makes everything sound wonderful. Fantastic work on male and female characters - which I always think it tricky to do.
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- Sarah Z
- 2025-04-05
Seeing double?
It felt like I was reading From Blood and Ash. There are so many obvious parallels that it really took me away from enjoying the story. Not sure I’ll continue this series.
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- Shelby
- 2025-05-01
intriguing plot
Very Beauty and The Beast core. not a huge fan of the reader but it wasn't distracting. Hopeful the second book is better.
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