Jessica
Really enjoyed this, although it’s not without its flaws. It combines a kind of tropey gay romance (as in, they start in an arranged marriage that becomes a real romance, and they spend way too much of the book not communicating about how much they really like each other) with court intrigue. The main characters, Kiem and Jainan, have to unravel the mystery of why Jainan's first husband was killed, and of course poking their noses into the conspiracy sees the two of them come under attack. It is one of those books where virtually every named character is a royal or a noble or a general or a diplomat (plus one professor), or an assistant to one of the above, but I enjoyed it in spite of its fixation on the ruling class.
Really enjoyed this, although it’s not without its flaws. It combines a kind of tropey gay romance (as in, they start in an arranged marriage that becomes a real romance, and they spend way too much of the book not communicating about how much they really like each other) with court intrigue. The main characters, Kiem and Jainan, have to unravel the mystery of why Jainan's first husband was killed, and of course poking their noses into the conspiracy sees the two of them come under attack. It is one of those books where virtually every named character is a royal or a noble or a general or a diplomat (plus one professor), or an assistant to one of the above, but I enjoyed it in spite of its fixation on the ruling class.
Loved this book! I'm such a sucker for the character archetype that “the Dragon” represents, kind of harsh and menacing but ultimately on the side of good. I really enjoyed the dynamic between him and Agnieszka, the protagonist, where she's initially his prisoner but a sexual tension develops as she learns magic and the two learn to cast it in harmony with each other. The main storyline, involving court intrigue and the struggle against the advancing Wood, was good too (and I appreciated that this was NOT a “feudalism was great, actually” fantasy book) but it was really that scintillating relationship that kept me engaged.
Loved this book! I'm such a sucker for the character archetype that “the Dragon” represents, kind of harsh and menacing but ultimately on the side of good. I really enjoyed the dynamic between him and Agnieszka, the protagonist, where she's initially his prisoner but a sexual tension develops as she learns magic and the two learn to cast it in harmony with each other. The main storyline, involving court intrigue and the struggle against the advancing Wood, was good too (and I appreciated that this was NOT a “feudalism was great, actually” fantasy book) but it was really that scintillating relationship that kept me engaged.
