THE ORCHID THRONE is the first book in the new Forgotten Empires series by fantasy romance author Jeffe Kennedy. There isn't an obvious connection to her other various Twelve Kingdoms fantasy series, but it's got a similar vibe, and I'm expecting to have some slim connection to other worlds as we get further into the series. Something I really enjoy about Kennedy's adventures is how her characters grow and mature as the storyline plays out. Kennedy's female characters have strong inner cores of tempered steel, even if they don't realize it themselves as the beginning of the story.

Euthalia is the queen of the island kingdom of Calanthe. She's been juggling the needs of her kingdom and keeping it (relatively) free of the evil tendrils of influence of the vile emperor that she is betrothed at a distance, too. Euthalia is mildly helped by the underground magic of her kingdom and by the living magical flower ring she received from her father the king at this death, known as The Abiding Ring. Euthalia has been faking it 'til she makes it because her father died before she got much training. But boy howdy, she is a great faker. I liked watching her scheme and manipulate those around her for the benefit of her land and her subjects. It's also very enjoyable to watch her taken down a peg or two by the unexpected barbarian Conri, former Crown Prince of Oriel.

Conrí is known as the Slave King, and he's gloriously untrammeled and uncouth. He was thrown into the mines as a child along with his father, to work as slave labor in order to harvest the explosive rock that the emperor Anure uses to subjugate his conquered lands. Conri is full of bitterness and just wants to live long enough to kill Anure. I have such great sympathy for him as a character! The wizard Conri rescued tells him that he must marry Euthalia in order to get access to The Abiding Ring if he wants to defeat the malignant emperor. Conri is game to try but doesn't think he has much chance with what he assumes to be the vain and frivolous queen. I'm hard-pressed to say if I like the downtrodden Conri or the feisty and tricksy Euthalia more.

Watching these two circle each other and figure out that there is a lot more going on beneath the surface for each other's character is entertaining. THE ORCHID THRONE is more subdued than some of Kennedy's other more recent offerings, but its intriguing enough to make me anticipate getting my hands on book 2, which won't be until 2020. Kennedy is dependable in writing diverting stories of magic and glorious deeds, although the power of the magic is more muted here in this first of the series. I'm hoping we see more of Euthalia's connection to the land in book 2, and I can't wait for Anure to get his comeuppance.