Addie Thorley

Burn the Kingdom Down by Addie Thorley is a gripping enemies-to-lovers YA romantasy packed with political intrigue, plant magic, and revenge-fueled motivation — and I devoured it in a couple sittings.

We follow second-born Princess Indira, a master gardener with the rare ability to grow bagrava, a plant so powerful it keeps her struggling kingdom under the thumb of their enemies. When her sister returns home in a casket after a forced royal marriage, Indira agrees to take her place — not show more out of duty, but to uncover the truth, avenge her sister, and, if necessary, burn a kingdom down.

What unfolds is an action-driven story with a slow-burn romance woven through layers of secrets, manipulation, and shifting loyalties. The plant-based magic, memory tithing, and political tension made the world feel vivid and unique, and I loved that Indira is messy in a very human way — brave yet fearful, determined yet full of doubt.

The emotional core really worked for me, especially the sisterly bond and Indira’s grief-driven inner dialogue. Watching her grow into her voice — and watching Alaric slowly unravel his own guarded walls — was deeply satisfying.

The last third dragged slightly, and I would’ve loved an epilogue, but overall this is a well-plotted romantasy with real enemies-to-lovers tension, layered themes, and a heroine you can’t help but root for.

If you’re in the mood for slow-burn romantasy with political stakes, moral gray areas, and magic that feels fresh, this one delivers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Confession: I came for the revenge plot, stayed for the plant magic, and now I’m side-eyeing every “enemies to lovers” label like it owes me emotional damage. show less

I really like dark YA fiction. This fits that, but has the added attraction of being based on an alternate look at real people and events. Mirabelle and Josse might come from different backgrounds, but have the same demons sitting on their shoulders, whispering that neither is good enough. She deals with it by trying to be a better alchemist than her dead father, he does so by rebelling and pulling so many pranks, he's banished to the palace kitchen. Their meeting happens under dire show more circumstances and she is just realizing her part in a horrific act, perpetrated by her mother when they do. The story follows their relationship with a revolution raging in the background. There's gore, violence, betrayal and some utterly evil souls in this story and all of these blend to create a story I greatly enjoyed and read in one sitting. Please take time to read the author's notes after the story as they discuss the actual events that led to this story. show less

When you start this story, Enebish has been maimed, her power to night spin controlled by an implanted moonstone and she's been banished to a monastery where she's constantly harassed by the initiates. Prohibited from going out at night, her only joy comes from training the Sky King's hunting eagles and the good natured torment from Serik, the boy she grew up with.
When the two of them are allowed to take the eagles part way to the crown city for a tournament, Serik convinces her to sneak show more into town so they can enjoy some of the festivities. They're caught and she's in the midst of a very painful and public punishment when a strange trio attempts to rescue her, but fails, their leader, Temujin, tells her to find him. Thus begins a twisty series of events that have Enebish wondering who's telling the truth, what side she should take, who she's really attracted to, and whether there really are gods looking out for her and the downtrodden. Following all the deceptions and sudden turns of events makes this a great read and I'm already anticipating the sequel. show less

This was fantastic. This isn't your usual sprawling fantasy, exactly, but it works well with its small setting and tight-knit, colourful cast to make something tense, exciting, and rewarding. I especially liked seeing the rebellions on either side play out, and all the pros and cons they had to weigh in order to sway the masses. And the romance was genuine and sweet, something I can rarely connect to in a standalone but I was rooting for these two dorks.