Publisher: WhiteCrown Publishing.
Release Date: March 16th, 2026.
Category: Fantasy, Romance, Christian.
Series: Painted Wind.
Source: I received an ARC, but I also purchased my own copy. I was not obligated to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own, honest opinions.
Synopsis from Goodreads:
In a world of shape-shifting monsters, who can be trusted?
Despite the prophecy that changed her life forever, former gravedigger Rigan North has found love with the man of her dreams. But a peaceful future isn’t yet within reach. Hunted by two rival kings and sought by Jardians and Calidorians alike as the symbol of a new rebellion, Rigan struggles to find her place, increasingly drawn to the Shro Khan’s siren song. How will her child save the world if Rigan cannot resist the monsters’ call?
Leagues away, Isel has grown up in a sheltered monastery as the daughter of a monk. All she desires is to live an ordinary life with her books, but her uncanny resemblance to the so-called Reign Breaker and her unusual ability to detect the Shro Khan’s presence tears her from her home and thrusts her into a world of intrigue, power struggles, and deadly secrets. Kept captive by Jardia’s king, her only true ally is melancholy, wheelchair-bound Crown Prince Soren, the Reign Breaker’s brother-in-law and a brilliant, dangerous man. But Soren’s destiny is not his own, either, and with ambiguous prophecies linking his name to hers, the path to save the Twin Kingdoms may forever diverge from the path that sets Isel free.
My Thoughts:
5 stars!
#As this is book two in the series, there may be spoilers for book one.
This was an amazing second installment to the Painted Wind series! I was eagerly anticipating Reign Breaker and it did not disappoint.
Reign Breaker continues Rigan and Corcoran’s story, as they try and navigate life in Calidore, leading the growing rebel army. Secrets and bad decisions impact their relationship, and they’ll have to fight, not only the enemy, but for each other.
We are introduced to a new character in this installment- Isel, who looks like Rigan. The kings of both kingdoms want to use her for their gain. Isel goes from the prisoner of one, where she is not treated well, to the gilded prisoner of the other. Though Isel looks like Rigan, she is nothing like her in personality. She has her own quiet strength and she is quite smart. Isel gets crippling headaches when the Shro Khan are near, and just what role she has to play in the prophecy is unclear.
When I went into this story, I was invested in Rigan and Corcoran’s story and I was wondering who this new Isel character was and what she was doing here. I didn’t think I’d care that much about her or Soren – but, oh boy, was I wrong! These two quickly sunk into my heart. Soren was probably the biggest surprise. He is in a wheelchair and I thought Fischer wrote his character extremely well.
Fischer always writes characters with such depth that feel real. I loved how Isle and Soren’s relationship developed, and I cannot wait to see what is going to happen with them.
I love a good animal companion in a book, and Fischer always delivers on the animal companions. Meehir is Isel’s pet and he was just so cute and lovable, but could also be very fierce when needed.
This book was so hard to put down! Especially as the book progressed. So much happens and there are so many twists. And the cliffhangers! Why so many cliffhangers??? I need book three now!
Needless to say, these four characters (and Meehir) sunk into my heart and I cannot wait to see what happens to them in the next two books. If you are a fantasy fan and like your fantasy with a sprinkling of humour, romance, royalty, and a thread of faith, but also with no swearing, spice or violence that is too much, than this is for you! I highly recommend this series (And all of Fischer’s books!).