Title: The Robin on the Oak Throne
Author: K.A. Linde
Publisher: Entangled: Red Tower Books (US) / Tor (UK)
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Romantic Fantasy
Year of Publication: 2025
Date of Publication: June 17, 2025
Pages: approximately 400
ISBN‑10: 1649378521
ISBN‑13: 978‑1649378521
Audiobook Read by: Stephanie Németh-Parker
Summary of The Robin on the Oak Throne
The Robin on the Oak Throne is Book 2 of the Oak & Holly Cycle, and is the sequel to The Wren in the Holly Library. The book picks up five months after the first book. At the end of Book 1, Kierse McKenna and her friend Gen left New York to find answers. They went to Dublin.
At the start of this book, Kierse is in Paris. She is on a mission to steal a bracelet from a queen named Aveline. Aveline is the queen of the Nymphs. The bracelet is a goblin-made bracelet, which Kierse needs to gain entrance into a market called Nying, where she hopes to learn some information about her past and memories. Her latest heist goes wrong but with the help of Graves, who is unexpectedly at the same location, she makes an escape. But in typical Graves fashion, it comes with a catch.
Graves’s rescue plan takes them to the residence of a woman named Estelle, who he plans to steal from. Remember Graves has spent a whole lot of time searching and trying to acquire four magical objects of the gods i.e. the Sword of Truth, the Spear of Lugh, the Cauldron of Dagda and the Stone of Fal. Two of the items have been found. The sword is with Lorcan, Kierse has the spear, and Graves initially believed that Estelle had the Cauldron hence the heist.
A lot of the story in The Robin on the Oak Throne centers around trying to acquire the Cauldron from a monster conference, putting a team together, the relationship triangle between Kierse, Graves and Lorcan, effects of trauma on individuals, and trying to figure out a recurring dream/memory that Kierse has been having.
Kierse and Graves collaboration reignites old sparks, but once again trust hangs by a thread, and the stakes grow higher than ever.
"I'm not given, I'm taken away, A choice that leaves a debt to pay. For love or honor, or for a cause, I'm offered willingly, despite the loss. In games of strategy, I'm a mere pawn. Moves planned out, a piece withdrawn. What am I?"—Estelle's Riddle
Main Plot & Characters
- Kierse McKenna, Graves and Lorcan: All three of them return in this book and the triangle between all of them continues. We learn more about Lorcan’s past and his dead wife and sister, Emilie.
- Ethan & Gen: Kierse’s two closest friends. Gen is also nicknamed “Prophet Mistress Genesis.” Both of them return in this book.
- Nate O’Connor: He is the Alpha werewolf and leader of the Dreadlords pack. He is very witty and has a great sense of humor. He is engaged to Maura. Kierse considers Nate family.
- Corey: Ethan’s boyfriend.
- Niamh: She is a High Priestess. Lorcan asked her to keep an eye on Kierse and Gen when they were in Ireland. She originally became friends with them in order to ensure their safety in Dublin.
- Isolde: The housekeeper at Graves’ estate. She is a fantastic cook and has a very warm personality.
- George: Graves’ personal driver, discreet and dependable.
- Vale: He is a mercenary that works with Graves.
- Lazarus (Laz): Graves treasure hunter.
- Schwartz: He works closely with Graves and Laz. He is into security.
- Dr. Emmaline Mafi: Graves’ ex-girlfriend. She works at a hospital known as “The Covenant,” which was started by a coven of witches. Dr. Mafi recommends Dr. Camila Carrion to Kierse and Graves.
- Dr. Camila Carrion: She studies monsters mental health and wanted to help Kierse with the issues relating to her loss of childhood memories.
- Edgar: He is Graves “clean up” man.
- Kingston: He is Graves mentor. He’s the one who first recognized Graves’ potential centuries ago and took him under his wing. His main gift is persuasion but he also has the ability to step between multiple cities using a portal. He enjoys art museums.
- Madame Colette: Colette is Gen’s mother. She runs a brothel house called “Madame Colette,” which Kierse, Ethan and Gen used to call home.
- Imani and Montrell: Imani makes a brief appearance in the book while references are made to Montrell.
- Jason: Kierse’s former mentor.
- Gregory Amberdash: He used to be the middleman for some of the jobs Kierse worked on in the past. He was the one who actually hired her for the heist at the Holly Library in Graves home in book 1.
- Walter Rodriguez: Graves former apprentice who he kicked out of his training program. He used to work for King Louis. Graves invited him to join the team for the new heist since he is great with technology.
- Maura: She is Nate’s fiancée.
- Ronan: He is Nate’s second in command. He and Gen have a thing going.
- Anne Boleyn: Graves cat that totally takes to Gen.
- Men of Valor: A group of anti-human monsters who want the Monster Treaty to burn and monsters back on top again. The Treaty was put in place after a war that had lasted about a decade. The war was known as the Monster War. It began when a vampire visionary named Coraline LeMort was killed by a werewolf from a different faction. Millions lost their lives including monsters and humans eventually leading to the treaty.
Writing Style
K.A. Linde tells the story using multiple perspectives although the majority of the story is told from Kierse’s perspective. There are interludes told from the perspectives of Estelle, Laz, Niamh, Edgar, George and Lorcan. While some of the story takes place in New York, there are scenes in other places including Paris and Dublin.
Favorite Quotes
- “Unhand my wife.”— Graves
- “There’s a difference between keeping something clean and cleaning it to begin with.”— Graves
- “She is my chuisle mo chroí.”—Lorcan
- “Time to go after the stone.”— Lorcan
- “A weapon is only as powerful as its weakness, and you are mine.”— Graves
Final Thoughts on The Robin on the Oak Throne
Like The Wren in the Holly Library, The Robin on the Oak Throne is also rooted in Irish and pagan folklore. It continues the enemies-to-lovers dynamic, and gives us high-stake heists. The ending hints at a continuation of the Oak & Holly Cycle, with the focus being on finding the Stone of Fal and possibly conflict with the Men of Valor.
Authors
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