**Courtesy of CK2S Kwips & Kritiques**

What happens after the happy ever after comes? And do the Unblessed truly ever have a ‘happy ever after’? King Merrick of the Unblessed found something he never expected nor thought he deserved when he fell in love with the Lady Juliana, a mortal woman. That she returned his love, and agreed to be his Queen in the Unblessed kingdom was more than he ever dreamed possible. Then the impossible happened – something that should never be in the Unblessed Kingdom – Queen Juliana became pregnant. Merrick was ecstatic.

And then the worst happened. Juliana and her unborn child turned to stone – literally. Through a spell of her own making, Juliana has imprisoned herself, and it is up to Merrick to break the spell. With his kingdom at war with another, and treachery afoot, Merrick’s task seems impossible, even to the King of the Unblessed.

In Michelle M. Pillow’s new novel, Realm Immortal, Book 3: Stone Queen, we return to the story of King Merrick of the Unblessed and his Queen Juliana, which began in the first Realm Immortal story, King of the Unblessed. When many authors would have been satisfied with a pat little happy ending for a couple, Pillow revisits them with a realistic approach to love and relationships, proving by example to her readers that ‘Happy Ever Afters’ do not just happen, they must be worked for and maintained. Relationships wither away without the proper care, and even the most powerful love can be tainted if not tended to.

And yet the author again brings us to a happy ending for our couple in distress, leaving their marriage stronger for the trials they have suffered along the way. As Merrick and Juliana find their way back to each other’s arms, they learn to communicate more effectively, to love deeper, and to listen to their hearts and each other above all others. Through it all, more than just their own relationship is repaired, and new bonds are forged in a time of great need. But the cost of these acts is still to be discovered, paving the way for the next installment in this continuously fascinating series. I am waiting with bated breath…

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