Tag Archives: romantic fantasy

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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.

kingdom of briars and roses cover

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.

my review

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.

kingdom of briars and roses photoWhat’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

I purchased a copy of Stephanie BurgisWooing the Witch Queen.

wooing the witch queen cover

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?

my review

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 wooing the witch queen photofirst 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.

I loved this book. It was 100% based on the vibes, I’ll admit. However, I’ll be looking forward to book two when it comes out.


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Won Over by “Wooing the Witch Queen”

 

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Book Review: A Delicate Betrayal, by Jessaca Willis

Some time ago, I won a paperback copy of Jessaca WillisA Delicate Betrayal.
a delicate betrayal cover

Beloved. Betrothed. Betrayed.

When Aenwyn’s magic unleashes a reign of dragons upon the land, she agrees to marry King Everard to atone for the devastation she’s caused.

Queendom proves to be as dissatisfying as their loveless marriage. But soon fate answers her pleas for adventure with a vision of dragon’s fire and a distractingly handsome knight intent on blocking her path.

Sir Darius Graeme can’t let her flee the castle. But nothing will stop Aenwyn from claiming the dragon’s heart—and perhaps even the knight’s as well.

my review

I will start this review with a little bit of a spoiler. But this, I think, is an important one. This book does not, I repeat, DOES NOT have a happy ending. I went in fully expecting a fantasy romance, and while two people did fall in love, there IS NOT a happy ending for them. So, is it romance at all?

I have mixed feelings about the rest of the book. On the one hand, I liked the characters and appreciated that Aenwyn was capable and take-charge about her fate/duty (maybe even a little femme-dommy). Darius remained fairly flat, honestly, until the end. But I appreciate that he’s loyal and not any sort of alpha a-hole. On the other hand, I found the patriarchal worldbuilding and social (mis)treatment of women boring and unimaginative. Plus, the story took a long time to really get going, and I was confused about the role the dragons were meant to have played.

All in all, an OK read. It’s not topping my favorites list, but I’m not sad to have read it.

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{Review} A Delicate Betrayal by Jessaca Willis