Broken Kingdom: Royal Hearts Academy, Book 4

Overall Grade: More than 5 ⭐️I want you to know that as I begin to write this review for Ashley Jade’s Broken Kingdom, the last book of the Royal Hearts Academy, I am “all up in my feels.” As I read BK, I didn’t really cry much. After my experience with Ruthless Knight, I thought for sure that I would sob through BK. Mostly, I thought this because I knew that Oakley and Bianca would have the most interesting stories (well, after Sawyer’s…because she’s still my girl, the Bible Thumper feels like me) because their actions in other books spoke to their psychology. Pain is hidden behind tough or jocular facades. Bullies bully out of their brokenness and insecurity; class clowns cry behind their masks. And I knew that was coming. What I didn’t expect was how I would cry at the very last sentence of the book. Even now, I want to cry. The ending is perfection, but that isn’t why I sobbed and why I want to keep crying. My feelings cull from the loss of these stories. Ashley Jade wove tales that burrowed into me and manifested connection. I don’t want to see them go, but I can’t read them again because I don’t want to try and relive the magic of their stories. Broken Kingdom is the ultimate culmination of this series, and Ashley Jade has cemented herself firmly as the author of my now favorite New Adult romance. It will take something mighty to dislodge my heart from Jace, Dylan, Cole, Sawyer, Oakley, and Bianca. I felt so connected to this crew, to Oakley and Bianca’s story that, inspired by Oakley’s poems, I wrote a short free verse for him and Bianca. This is how much this book attached itself to my spirit:Strength born of fragilityLoved raised from ashesBroken facades shielding squishy soulsConnection healing hurts.When love is allowed to bloom, itTakes up hollow spaces,Filling in fissures andSwallowing suffering.Two souls in time, entwined, soaring.For me, it’s the psychology of the characters that impresses me the most in Broken Kingdom. Jade manifests it deftly in her book, and it clings to you, the reader, creating a profundity that cannot be denied.What Jade does brilliantly in this book is to restore the voice of the series. If you read Wicked Princess, you should have felt the lack, the disconnect. You might have attributed it to Bianca’s evolving story and choices. You might have said it was Oakley’s absence. You might have even suggested it was the limited interactions with Cole and Jace. Whatever your thinking, what you need to understand is that Jade carefully carved that into her book as the overall experience of the story and this series. You should have felt uneasy and confused because Jade intended that. The world is off its axis in Wicked Princess.Here is the continued genius of Jade. She restores the peace methodically and decidedly in Broken Kingdom. It doesn’t happen immediately. Jade holds your hand through the revelation of Oakley and Bianca’s story, page by page, and you feel the voice shift. At 86% in, I felt it. I knew that we had begun the return, the series voice was restored, and I reveled in Jade’s genius at storytelling. This is her flex, and this is when she cemented her position in my mind. Her series explores relationship abuse, familial trauma, addiction, gender bias, etc. It finds its fever pitch and resolution in Broken Kingdom. And yet, Jade provides the salve, bringing the series to a conclusion in BK that rights all of its wrongs (that is story-driven only…there is nothing wrong with the craftsmanship of this story). It leaves us satiated yet already nostalgic for its characters and their stories (hence, my feels). This series is a tour de force. It’s my favorite new adult series to date because, while it has moments of teen farcicality, it always feels real. It was easy to suspend my disbelief with the bully themes because, while sometimes hyperbolized, Jade shows it is grounded in life. She knows who she is as a writer, and it has power in her storytelling.Jace and Dylan’s story is a lit fuse.Cole and Sawyer’s story is gunpowder.Wicked Princess is the fire hitting the ammunition.And Broken Kingdom is the cannon blast. The emotional gravitas of this book will flay you open.Yet, Ashley Jade will come with her first aid kit, and she sews you up, offering solace with the most perfect of endings, and you leave Broken Kingdom and its predecessors with a scar, knowing that it will be with you for always.

Royal Hearts Academy is a testament to her unique storytelling, each book a fresh take on the genre. Buckle up for an unforgettable ride! This was the first series that I read that got me hooked on new adult and college romance series and bully romance. I haven't been able to forget any of the books since. Ashley Jade does this remarkable job of building characters and the world they live in - making you feel their emotions and transports you into their world - as if you are in the book.This complex story throws you into a world of toxic bonds and heartwarming loyalty. As hidden truths surface, your perception of the characters is upended, forcing you to question their choices and motivations. Prepare to be surprised!Bianca: complex and captivating! Her tough exterior hides a fierce spirit and a survivor's strength. You can't help but root for her! Oakley: A mystery wrapped in a swoon-worthy package. You'll ache to unravel his layers and mend the broken heart beneath his stoic facade. Prepare to be captivated!Brace yourselves for Bianca and Oakley!

I had a feeling that Oakley & Bianca's book would be tremendously good. I was not disappointed. The authors did a fantastic job wrapping up the series. I enjoyed reading the book so much that I hoped it would have no end. In my experience, the first book is excellent, and then the following books in the series are badly or ok written. In this series, the first book, I was disappointed. However, it got better. I read the first book in the series when it was released, and I was not interested in reading the next book. While I am waiting for the release of some books, I decided to give the series another try. I pushed myself to read all the books, including rereading book one. Oakley was my favorite character from the beginning in Jace and Dylan's book. I loved the character.The reason for 4.5 stars is because I was not too fond of the way Stone was treated. After all, he was bullied his entire childhood, and Bianca was the culprit. In the previous books, he did have many anger issues due to the mistreatments not only from his peers but also at home. He was damaged and traumatized throughout his childhood. As I mentioned before in my last review, I am not a Stone fan. I would love to read that Stone would have back down gracefully and give up Bianca because he wanted her to be happy, realizing that her heart belonged to someone else. Instead, the authors decided to brutally disregard the character because he did not fit in the storyline. I would have understood better Stone's role in Bianca's life if he had demonstrated that he was worthy of her love and forgiveness for all their past wrongdoing. It was not necessary the use violence following the dismiss of the character.Oakley is my favorite. He is a highly complex character. Oakley believes that he is not worthy of love, and he eventually destroys every good thing that happens in his life. The character is perfect in all his imperfections and flaws. He is beautifully broken, loyal to the bone, introspected, funny, intelligent, loving, and has a big heart. He has demons that control his life and self-esteem worth issues; he carries his guilt graciously without having to burden others. He gave up Bianca and his freedom when he thought he had an easy pass on his legal crime. He is full of remorseful and has many regrets. (However, this is a book.In reality, I do not believe he would have it that easy as described). In my opinion, Oakley is the perfect match for Bianca. He sees her true nature, her demons, and evil doing. He even nicknamed her “Satan.” In the unfolding of Bianca’s amnesia, the reader learns what transpired between Oakley and Bianca. He made her a better person, lovely and lively. Oakley made her realize that she was stuck in the past and was not living her life to the potential and fully. Her life choices were based on others' perspectives. When they were together before and after the accident, he made her confront her demons, becoming a better version of herself and worthy of being loved.Honestly, I was not too fond of Bianca at the beginning of the series in book one. She was evil incarnate. However, after the accident and amnesia, the restoration of her memories made this character redeemable. The only way to make this character an amendable individual was by stripping down layers of her personality, behavior, and secrets. The role of amnesia is perfect and effective. The reader discovers that she has a big heart, and after all, she is not that evil. Most importantly she needed to accept her past and forgive herself. She is fierce in loving and ruthlessly protective of Oakley, and by default, her loved ones. Bianca carries secrets that have burden her life and made her the person that she is. Once these secrets are revealed, she confronts her wrongdoing. Realizing that said secrets has inflicted harm to self and affected other people’s life. She tries to amend the faults by doing the right thing.Bianca was all wrong for Stone. While together, their relationship was at a standstill; they would never have a chance to survive. It is apparent that Bianca gave her heart away to Oakley and never got it back; therefore, she could not love another person. Deep down, she knew that Stone was not the one.Bianca subconsciously was drawn to Oakley. Even with no recollection of Oakley, she knew he was vital to her and felt whole again. Only with the closeness of Oakley can she finally find herself and be Bianca; the reader finally gets a glimpse of the old Bianca, but a better version. The writers approach many topics in the book, such as mental health, domestic violence, physical and emotional violence, gun violence, drug abuse, and control issues. In my opinion, it is not necessary to validate all these topics in a book that is not even long enough to breach these delicate issues. However, in real life, these topics are entangled, one problem leading to the next, for example, mental health resulting in violence or drug abuse (not all mental health cases); these issues are not usually isolated.

From book 1 in this series, I loved Oakley and his easy go lucky attitude. The joker hiding so much pain. His loyalty was never ending, and all consuming. He has been abandoned, used, and mentally abused. He still opened himself up for another broken soul, and trying to help them. Struggling with his demons and addiction he worried about his friends and family. The ending is heart wrenching and moving.

This is one of my favorite books ever! Totally recommend if you love a second chance romance and enemies to lovers

Broken Kingdom is the fourth book in the Royal Hearts Academy series and tells the story of Bianca and Oakley. This book was one of the best books I've read this year, without a doubt. I loved every bit of it, and I must say that Ashley Jade's writing has evolved with each book. Ashley delivered a cohesive, coherent and very developed book in all aspects.Bianca was a character that I started hating, still there in the first book, but then I fell madly in love with her in Wicked Princess, and fell even more in love with her in Broken Kingdom. Bianca had an even better development that in the previous book, as the author showed all facets of the character, showing her complexity.Oakley was an amazing character, and one of the biggest surprises of the series as a whole. He had a perfect development, all sides of him were very well worked and developed. Oakley is a broken character inside and Ashley Jade managed to show that very well.Bianca and Oakley's relationship was perfect from start to finish. Every scene of the two of them together was extremely well constructed, evidencing the feelings they had for each other. Oakley and Bianca are two extremely broken characters, who have just gone through the worst experience of their lives, but then get a second chance.

Lovely end to the series I loved it throughout tonsee the characters grow and finally come to terms with everything and the little extra epilogue at the end made it for me !!!

I have no words this a great series. I cried I laughed but most of all I love this so muchAnd this my first time writing any review so I mean it this is a great book ❤

Omg! This book was sooo worth the wait! If you didn’t love Oakley before you will be in love with him by the end of the book! What an amazing books to end the series with! ❤️