4/5 stars

Very well written, especially with the political intrigue. I quite enjoyed the world-building as well. I loved the main characters, and their romance was cute and believable. However, if you're looking for lots of steam and a focus on romance, this isn't that.

Also, one pet peeve. Why even include Sarrica's children? I kept forgetting that they even existed, they were mentioned so infrequently. Then when they suddenly showed up again, I got whiplash and had to refocus on Sarrica as a dad, which he never really felt like. ( )

This story is part of the M/M Romance Group's Love is Always Write Prompt event.

This fantasy story was unbelievably good! The story was intense with a HEA which I love. I had no trouble visualizing the two main characters, High King Sarrica and Prince Allen, or the world they lived in. The story pace was fast and I couldn't stop reading. The only thing I wish, is that it was longer.

I'd love to read any future stories set in this world with this pair. Awesome, amazing job with the prompt! ( )

DNF

This is a mess.

The king is a tantrum-throwing man-child who knows nothing about ruling and even less about politics.
Allen started out likeable, but then turned out to have no self-respect and no dignity.

DO NOT RECOMMEND TO ANYBODY
(just set the bloody thing on fire and be done) ( )

It's that time of the year where I read gay fantasy books and love them, and this one was no exception.

I loved this story and its world and politics and how it all unfolded!

The romance was a slow burn enemies to lovers thing, which is my guilty pleasure, but the thing I truly liked was that the misunderstandings were actual misunderstandings that couldn't have been resolved with two words, each character said what was needed to be said and the other didn't get their meaning.

The politics have to be my favorite part though, I mean yeah the romance is good and the fights are fine but the intrigues of the high court's politics are what truly kept me hooked. I love books set in courts and that delve into the intricacies of them, and this was exactly that and then some.


Overall it was a very good read and I'm glad I picked it up (and finished it in one sitting! I haven't done that in a while) ( )

Prince Allen Gaulden, sent to High King Sarrica to be his new consort, finds himself summarily rejected by his intended. Feeling he cannot stay in the palace and knowing the shame and guilt he would be subjected to if he returned home, Allen sets out for an afternoon in the city before deciding what to do. By chance, he finds himself helpful to the leader of a band of mercenaries and is invited to join them on a secret (yet dangerous) mission they've been assigned by the High King. When things don't go as planned, Sarrica is forced to both rethink and explain his actions, but will Allen come home safely and what might the future hold for them.

I found the storytelling to be thoroughly enjoyable. The author drops readers into this rich world, with history and backstory that seems like it could go on for pages and pages, but masterfully delivers it in an engaging way throughout. The characters of Allen and Sarrica demonstrate complexity that is often hard to find in stories of this length and I found myself wanting to read more about both the history and the future of this kingdom.

Highly recommended for anyone looking for a M/M romance in a medieval fantasy setting. Overall, it's a bit fluffy (no abundance of steamy romance here, though it is an 18 read), but is a beautiful and encouraging story. ( )