The Half King by Melissa Landers

Book Review

Mikaela Silk

Like all second-born daughters, Cerise was given to the Temple at birth and trained for life as a seer. But the Sight eludes her and, as her claiming day draws near, she faces life as a servant instead. Until one vague vision from the Mother Superior sends her down a third path: one that leads to the palace and the Half King.

Cursed to disappear into shadow each night, King Kian has given up all hope. His claiming day is also near. On that day, he will be claimed by the shadows forever, just like every first-born son of his family. The difference is that Kian is the last of his line and when he dies, his empty throne will send the world into war and chaos.

Daerick dreads his claiming day as the moment his brain will explode with all the knowledge of the universe, sending him into an inescapable madness. His only hope is to break not only his curse, but all the curses.

With only months to break a thousand-year-old curse, they must choose their allies carefully and put all their faith in the mercy of the very goddess who cursed them.

The premise of this book is wonderfully unique, with five very different curses woven into one story: dangerous beauty, bloodlust, insanity, shadows, and obedience. Alongside the curses is a complex social structure which places huge significance on birth order, gender, and magic. Despite the bitterness of the cursed firstborns and the isolation of the temple-bound second-born, strong family ties are a particularly important thread throughout the book. Second-born babies may be given to the Temple, but no one could accuse them of having been abandoned by their families. It would have been so easy for Melissa Landers to create an atmosphere of familial tension and sibling rivalry; I love that she chose the more challenging and more rewarding path instead. There is a powerful and unbreakable bond between Cerise and Nina, and Daerick shows real affection for his brother despite their separation.

Other relationships in this book are also strong. In particular, the friendship between Cerise, Daerick, and Kian serves as a driving force for the plot. Without their trust in each other, the plan to break the curses would have never even begun. Kian seems to be the only one who can pull Daerick from the edge. Daerick provides the confidence and inspiration that pushes Cerise forwards. Cerise gives them both hope.

Between priests, seers, umbra sangi, and the goddess herself, the use of magic is inconsistent and confounding. From the start, this inconsistency introduces chinks in the armour of the story’s history. It may start with Cerise’s suspicious lack of visions, but the mystery gradually intensifies throughout the book. Every time the reader thinks they have found a piece of the puzzle, another anomaly or misdirection is thrown in. What makes this mystery particularly interesting is the effect that it has on Cerise’s faith and her belief in the rules that her life has been built around.