Tag Archives: romantasy

Book Review: Kingdom of Briars & Roses, by Heather Hildenbrand

I was recently lucky enough to win a giveaway on Instagram that included a copy of Heather Hildenbrand‘s Kingdom of Briars and Roses.

I’m caught between two powerful fae princes. One will be my savior. The other will be my death.

I’ve spent years trapped behind these walls—cursed to live among the sleeping for eternity. When trespassers find their way into my castle, it’s both a dream and a nightmare.

Prince Callan is the first outsider I’ve met in years—and the realm’s most arrogant prick. He’s also the only one with the power to break this wretched curse and restore my kingdom.

Unfortunately, Callan’s assistance comes at a price. If I want his help, I’ll have to belong to him.

A sacrifice I’m willing to make for the people I love.

Until I lay eyes on Rydian.

The second fae prince is everything the elder heir is not. Strong, wise—lethal. He is a distraction I can’t afford.

And he hates me on sight.

In a realm where evil disguises itself as friendship, I am forced to rely on two men whose disgust for each other is only outweighed by their obsession with me.

One of them will save me, the other will tear me apart. I just wish I knew which to trust with my life—and my heart.

I’m torn on how to feel about this book. On the one hand, I really liked Aurelia. And I think I’d like Rydian. But he remained little more than a shadow (pun intended) in this book. On the other hand, however, I was eternally frustrated that the solution to the problem (the twist to come, so to speak) was so glaringly apparent that I couldn’t suspend my disbelief far enough to believe none of the characters figured it out.

What’s more, this book covers a lot of ground before the real plot finally starts. It makes the pacing inconsistent. I suspect that’s a first-book problem that might not continue in the series. However, I can’t be sure of that.

All in all, I’d call this a middle-of-the-road read. But I’d have bought and read the second book, Prince of Secrets & Shadows, if it were out yet. I’d gambled that the series would improve. So, that’s a sign it wasn’t a complete flop.

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Book Review: Wooing the Witch Queen, by Stephanie Burgis

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I purchased a copy of Stephanie Burgis‘ Wooing the Witch Queen.

Queen Saskia is the wicked sorceress everyone fears. After successfully wrestling the throne from her evil uncle, she only wants one thing: to keep her people safe from the empire next door. For that, she needs to spend more time in her laboratory experimenting with her spells. She definitely doesn’t have time to bring order to her chaotic library of magic.

When a mysterious dark wizard arrives at her castle, Saskia hires him as her new librarian on the spot. “Fabian” is sweet and a little nerdy, and his requests seem a little strange – what in the name of Divine Elva is a fountain pen? – but he’s getting the job done. And if he writes her flirtatious poetry and his innocent touch makes her skin singe, well…

Little does Saskia know that the “wizard” she’s falling for is actually an Imperial archduke in disguise, with no magical training whatsoever. On the run, with perilous secrets on his trail and a fast growing yearning for the wicked sorceress, he’s in danger from her enemies and her newfound allies, too. When his identity is finally revealed, will their love save or doom each other?

I honestly adored this. It’s not a perfect book. It took a little while for me to settle into it, and it feels very cozy and low-stakes for what is objectively a high-stakes situation. But Felix was marvelous. I want to roll him up and bundle him away from anything but kindness and light forevermore.

Mostly, however, I love the way Burgis subverts cultural expectations here. The FMC is older, more powerful, more aggressive, and possessive, etc. But Burgis does it subtly. They’re not the first author to do this. But far too many such books that I’ve read feel ham-fisted or lean heavily into D/S, femme-dom territory. Burgis avoided this trap, and the book is far better for it. Plus, on a somewhat different point, I appreciate that Burgis gave an explanation for some of what would otherwise feel like too convenient plot points.