Book Review – The Silver Kingdom by Radiya Hafiza

 

 

The Silver Kingdom by Radiya Hafiza is about two royals from neighboring kingdoms at war who fall in love against all odds.

Prince Zayd is busy defending the borders of Dakaria when he is called home. His father’s condition has worsened, and Zayd will need to marry to ensure the stability of his kingdom. As his mother announces a potential match with another kingdom, Zayd crosses paths with a different princess.

Princess Layla of Sawan is beautiful and brash. She is the exact opposite of her cruel and power-hungry mother. Layla is only a few months away from coming of age when she discovers that she has latent magical powers. However, she doesn't understand or know how to control them. Layla fears that her life could be in jeopardy if her mother discovers her abilities.

Meanwhile, Zayd has begun negotiating with the mages to help protect his kingdom. The mages have been in hiding after nearly facing extinction when they were hunted. As Zayd tries to negotiate an agreement with them, his and Layla’s paths become intertwined. With the kingdoms divided and still dealing with the fallout of colonial rule, Zayd and Layla must put their personal needs aside and focus on building alliances to survive the impending war. Will they be able to put their hearts aside and save their kingdoms, or will it be too late?

I really enjoyed the book, although there were a few things that bothered me. I thought the story moved a bit slowly in the middle, but the pacing picked up toward the end. I liked both Zayd and Layla, but there were times when I found myself getting annoyed with them. I couldn't believe how long it took Zayd to figure out that Layla had powers when the signs were right in front of him. I also found it amusing that they discussed how poor communication can ruin a relationship while exchanging book recommendations, only to turn around and do the exact same thing themselves!

The book is narrated from dual POVs, which made it interesting to read from both Zayd’s and Layla’s perspectives. Overall, I really enjoyed the story and am interested in seeing how the series progresses.

 Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author.