Book Review: Broken by Daylight

Okay, chaps, we have a lot to get through. I will have to hand it to them, Elizabeth Helen really knows how to keep you on your toes, because the TEA is piping hot in this one. A  lot goes down, so I’ll have to try not to throw out any spoilers if you haven’t read the book already. Broken by Daylight is book 4 in the Beasts of the Briars series, of which there are in total 7 books (so far, I think there may be 8 books in total, but I can’t remember lol). Book 4 focuses on the struggle for the summer realm. The Spring realm has fallen under the control of Kairyn, a puppet ‘emperor’ working under the villainous Green Flame, and summer has been taken over, too. Autumn and Winter are on the horizon, war seems inevitable, and hidden truths, lies and familial bonds all get thrown out into the open. Some cool gladiator shenanigans go down. As I said, a lot happens.

Let’s discuss some character development because if a lot happens in a book, you would expect a lot of growth and understanding. Forged by Malice, saw us delve into the Spring realm and look at the Spring Prince, Erzryn, but sadly, he couldn’t quite break his curse even with the birth of his mate bond to our heroine Rosaslina. This time round, we see his growth away from the fear that was controlling him, and the titles he has (or hasn’t got) not being the only things that define him. I also liked Caspian's development, our supposed ‘villain’. But right now, he is feeling more like an ‘anti-hero’. He definitely has his own agenda, and while it sort of lines up with the Castletree gang, it also kind of doesn’t. Any more on the matter and I’d be giving away some spoilers. I do like that this time round, we are exploring who he is a lot more. The focus is a little less on Rosalina and more on the conflicts within the characters, that’s not to say we do not see her or that she doesn’t go through a lot (because lord knows she does!) But it’s more like the conflicts are a test of her character and strength. The character with probably the biggest overall arc is Dayton, we are after all in the summer realm, and he has a lot to fight for… and things to fight. I also have to hand it to Dayton; he is known as a colossal screw-up, someone who never takes life seriously and may or may not be drunk. But, I think the princes in this book decide to shake off the reasonings behind their curses; you see them fight their own demons a lot more this time around. But then again, the stakes are pretty damn high in this book.

I do like that the lore keeps building, the layers are continuously being added that help to define what the Enchanted Vale is. I liked the history lesson I got in the beginning. I would like more of that; it feels very Lord of the Rings coded, which is really cool. It does mean that there is a shift in the way the writers are viewing these books and the way that we as readers view the books. Less Romantasy-Tiktok-smut-fest and more serious fantasy novel, with romance… and sure, a lot of smut on the side. It is becoming more about plot and less about the smut, which is probably what helped make these books popular on TikTok, but not the entire reason why. I think Elizabeth Helen is looking to develop the actual plot, and the smut is just a bonus. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the books, just gotta wait for them all to come out.