🛡️ Book Review: Kingdom of Tomorrow by Gena Showalter
A dazzling romantasy debut that fuses dystopian grit, magical academia, and slow-burn tension into a richly imagined world.
Gena Showalter, known for her sizzling paranormal romances and myth-infused fantasy, launches a bold new series with Kingdom of Tomorrow, the first book in the Book of Arden saga. With a Goodreads rating of 4.07/5 from early readers, this novel promises an immersive journey through a fractured realm where gods have fallen, madness stalks the night, and destiny is written in ink and blood.
🌍 Plot Overview
Arden Roosa, a twenty-year-old survivor in the dystopian land of Ourland, lives in a world stitched together from broken pieces of two realms—one modern, one fantastical. Statues of fallen gods loom over cities, and the night brings a strange madness that turns innocents into killers.
When Arden discovers a portion of her own story in a mysterious tome—The Book of Arden—her life is upended. She’s forced to join Fort Bala Royal Academy, where she’s paired with the ruthless and magnetic High Prince Cyrus Dolion. As she trains for combat against a mystical enemy, Arden is also tapped to join the secretive Tome Society, guardians of an invisible library that holds books capable of foretelling the future.
⚔️ Why It Stands Out
- Genre Fusion: A blend of romantasy, magical academia, and dystopian survival, with echoes of Fourth Wing and Throne of Glass.
- Slow-Burn Romance: Arden and Cyrus’s dynamic is full of tension, snark, and undeniable chemistry.
- Mystical Lore: Gods, artifacts, and prophetic books add depth to the worldbuilding.
- Mental Health Representation: Arden’s panic attacks are portrayed with sensitivity, adding emotional realism to her arc.
💬 Reader Reactions
- “This book caught me off guard… not action-heavy, but emotionally intense.”
- “The beginning was slow, but once Arden reached the academy, everything shifted.”
- “Cyrus is the kind of morally gray prince you hate to love—and love to hate.”
🧠 Themes Explored
- Fate vs. free will
- Power, legacy, and identity
- Madness and survival
- The cost of knowledge
🏁 Final Verdict
Kingdom of Tomorrow is a richly layered fantasy that balances emotional depth with high-stakes intrigue. If you’re drawn to stories of reluctant heroines, secret societies, and slow-burn romance in magical settings, this one deserves a spot on your shelf.
