Can't wait for the next one!

I loved this book so much that I spaced out listening to it just so it would last longer. If you love queer romance, excellent characterisation, pride-and-prejudice style romances, court intrigue, and protagonists with unusual skills, you're in the right place.

I appreciated, too, that it didn't whizz through the plot too fast; portions of the novel took the time to linger with characters I loved and shed a bit more light on the setting that I'd become interested in, but only once I cared about those things. There wasn't a single thing I didn't love about this book, and the narration is smooth and thoughtful.

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3 people found this helpful

Wonderful audio

I loved the print version of this so I already knew the story. However, the audio really brings nuances of the difference characters to life that I hadn't really picked up on in the book before, such as Lesto's softer side and Sarrica's frustration. I am looking forward to rereading the book again to see if it feels any different - although it will still be a 5-star read for me.

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5 people found this helpful

Love love love

please please please give me more and the narator is perfect keep them coming please

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Loovveeee

I love this book! Amazing enemies to lovers with well written story line and well thought out main-and side characters that work great together. You really get sucked into the story and it’s exciting, sexy, cute, fun and thrilling. Truly recommend!

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I adore this story....

I love my Kindle book of this story, and this audible book hasn't disappointed me!! Stellman is a great story teller. I could tell when different people were speaking, and he did so without over the top accent/ voice impersonations that often get on my nerves. I have fallen in love with all of the characters all over again, as Stellman conveyed their emotions really well. I was drawn in to Harken, and finished it in two days. This is something I am listening to again and again! Kudos to both Derr and Stellman! If you like fantasy and romance definitely give this story a go, I cannot recommend it enough :)

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1 person found this helpful

Enjoyable Story

The concept is interesting and well written. The characters are likeable and the narration is good.

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This is Okay

I have a tendency to overhype myself for things. I get excited about the prospect and promise put up by trailers, blurbs, other reviews. I get lured into thinking, “This is going to be my newest favourite!” and it always stings when it falls short. I know this about myself and I don’t want to put the blame for that flaw on anyone else.

This book was one of the things I got excited for, only to feel the product lacked any sort of captivation. It’s a pretty standard story with the twist being that the culture doesn’t care about sexuality and accepts it as a personal choice. This is done with great effect in another series that I adore, Riverside, and I find it equally charming in this piece. I am always delighted by worlds that display this relaxed and unconscious openness to diversity. It is unfortunate it is one of the only outstanding parts of this otherwise bland piece.

The bad parts of this book are not terrible, but they do catch you at moments when they are at the least welcome. The largest flaw I found was the lack of personality in the characters. The main character, a translator prince with an arranged marriage to the high king, is universally loved without him putting any real effort into it. He has skills in languages, politics and deduction. He’s beautiful and has no distinct flaws. He is a Mary Sue. The only person who doesn’t like him is a man who is determined to hate him instantly, a notion that is chastised out of him by his friends. Pince Allen’s effortless acceptance into Society is disappointing and very... Hollywood and low risk. The lack of danger in the book is another negative, in my eyes. The world Allen enters should be dangerous, rife with backstabbing and plots. There is an attempt to bring that in, with a few murders and a daring adventure away from the court - but it feels like there isn’t a danger in Allen failing.

A part of that is on the narrator’s fault, as there was little inflection or change in their tone no matter the circumstance. The discovery of a murder was spoken in the same way as a love scene.

It’s a pure romance novel, not the political drama I went in thinking it was. Would I have enjoyed it more if I had known that? Yes, I think so. If I hadn’t read book after book with this same feel and pattern, I would love it. I am glad it exists and I am glad less experienced readers will be able to be charmed by it. I wish I could have been one of them.

I am going to rate that as a 3/5 for being overall okay, though it's not one I would recommend or read again myself.

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2 people found this helpful