The Abandoned Empress, Vol. 1

Characters talk around each other and many misunderstandings stem from the the main character suddenly being unable to speak aloud. It's the most annoying kind of noble-political drama.

The first half of this volume is taken up by Aristia's execution and flashbacks to what led up to the execution. Then we're thrust back to Aristia at age ten, with full memories and PTSD, trying to find a way out of her doomed betrothal. The age difference is jarring, from hot angst to cute sad.

This book is full color, so it should be easy to tell characters apart with the rainbow of hair colors. It is not. All the adult men have the same face. There are few enough women and children that those groups aren't confusing, at least.

Content warning: Miscarriage