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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oh this book. It is a romantasy-enemies-to-lovers, well lover's dream. I love characters I can relate to and Elma certainly is one of those, but she's no damsel in distress. Rune is such a fantastic morally grey love interest. There's banter, there's spice, there's action, there's political intrigue, warring kingdoms. I can't say enough good things about this book. If fantasy romance and enemies to lovers are your go-tos, you need to read this book.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️{5}
🌶️🌶️🌶️{3}
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐞𝐛 𝟔𝐭𝐡!! 𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐰 🙃 𝐆𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭! 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭!!
This was honestly the 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 winter romantasy book! Elma Volta, our badass, morally gray, and rather broody/grumpy (and incredibly lonely) FMC, is thrust into being queen of a frozen kingdom before she is ready, and has an assassination attempt to her life almost immediately. This attempt on her life was by our white haired hero, Rune, who is from a neighboring kingdom that they are always nearly at war with over a mysterious substance. After the attempt on Elma’s life, you can expect to get a WHOLE lot of high stakes, slow burn, steamy goodness and the CHEMISTRY between Elma and Rune.. ᔕᕼᗴᗴᔕᕼ 😮💨🥵 and all of this takes place in the midst of a lot of political ᗪᖇᗩᗰᗩ wherein Elma doesn’t know who to trust and the only person she begins to trust is her assassin turned bodyguard 👀
𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭 𝓲𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮:
❄️ 丅ᖇᑌᗴ enemies to lovers
⚔️ swoon-worthy romance
❄️ excellent banter & chemistry
⚔️ slow burn
❄️ political intrigue
⚔️ he’s her bodyguard
❄️ he falls first
⚔️ blood and knife play 🫡🥵😏
𝓕𝓪𝓿𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓮 𝓺𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼:
“𝘊𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥”
“𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨.. 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘦.”
“𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩.”
“𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭,” 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥, “𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘯. 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘮𝘺 𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘯𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘬. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘱𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘴, 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐’𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦.”
𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝙼𝚎𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚙𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝙰𝚁𝙲 𝚒𝚗 𝚎𝚡𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊𝚗 𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 😊
🌶️🌶️🌶️{3}
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐞𝐛 𝟔𝐭𝐡!! 𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐰 🙃 𝐆𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭! 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭!!
This was honestly the 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 winter romantasy book! Elma Volta, our badass, morally gray, and rather broody/grumpy (and incredibly lonely) FMC, is thrust into being queen of a frozen kingdom before she is ready, and has an assassination attempt to her life almost immediately. This attempt on her life was by our white haired hero, Rune, who is from a neighboring kingdom that they are always nearly at war with over a mysterious substance. After the attempt on Elma’s life, you can expect to get a WHOLE lot of high stakes, slow burn, steamy goodness and the CHEMISTRY between Elma and Rune.. ᔕᕼᗴᗴᔕᕼ 😮💨🥵 and all of this takes place in the midst of a lot of political ᗪᖇᗩᗰᗩ wherein Elma doesn’t know who to trust and the only person she begins to trust is her assassin turned bodyguard 👀
𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭 𝓲𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮:
❄️ 丅ᖇᑌᗴ enemies to lovers
⚔️ swoon-worthy romance
❄️ excellent banter & chemistry
⚔️ slow burn
❄️ political intrigue
⚔️ he’s her bodyguard
❄️ he falls first
⚔️ blood and knife play 🫡🥵😏
𝓕𝓪𝓿𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓮 𝓺𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼:
“𝘊𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥”
“𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨.. 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘦.”
“𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩.”
“𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭,” 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥, “𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘯. 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘮𝘺 𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘯𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘬. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘱𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘴, 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐’𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦.”
𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝙼𝚎𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚙𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝙰𝚁𝙲 𝚒𝚗 𝚎𝚡𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊𝚗 𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 😊
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book completely gut me
It is written in the most beautiful way. You feel connected to the characters in every single sense. I was not able to catch a breath because the author has an unique way to keep your attention.
This story has what I love the most in a book: strong female characters, a true love story, magic and royal conspiracy. I was instantly hooked by the plotting against everyone, the queen struggles as she takes her role, all the lies and plot twists and of course by the love story.
The final pages got me crying (and almost throwing my kindle).
I fell in love with Elma once again and she will always have a place in my heart. I wanna thank the author for once again writing characters that touch my soul in such a beautiful way.
Merged review:
This book completely gut me
It is written in the most beautiful way. You feel connected to the characters in every single sense. I was not able to catch a breath because the author has an unique way to keep your attention.
This story has what I love the most in a book: strong female characters, a true love story, magic and royal conspiracy. I was instantly hooked by the plotting against everyone, the queen struggles as she takes her role, all the lies and plot twists and of course by the love story.
The final pages got me crying (and almost throwing my kindle).
I fell in love with Elma once again and she will always have a place in my heart. I wanna thank the author for once again writing characters that touch my soul in such a beautiful way.
It is written in the most beautiful way. You feel connected to the characters in every single sense. I was not able to catch a breath because the author has an unique way to keep your attention.
This story has what I love the most in a book: strong female characters, a true love story, magic and royal conspiracy. I was instantly hooked by the plotting against everyone, the queen struggles as she takes her role, all the lies and plot twists and of course by the love story.
The final pages got me crying (and almost throwing my kindle).
I fell in love with Elma once again and she will always have a place in my heart. I wanna thank the author for once again writing characters that touch my soul in such a beautiful way.
Merged review:
This book completely gut me
It is written in the most beautiful way. You feel connected to the characters in every single sense. I was not able to catch a breath because the author has an unique way to keep your attention.
This story has what I love the most in a book: strong female characters, a true love story, magic and royal conspiracy. I was instantly hooked by the plotting against everyone, the queen struggles as she takes her role, all the lies and plot twists and of course by the love story.
The final pages got me crying (and almost throwing my kindle).
I fell in love with Elma once again and she will always have a place in my heart. I wanna thank the author for once again writing characters that touch my soul in such a beautiful way.
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you Meg Smitherman for the opportunity to be an ARC reader! I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
I would give this a solid 4.25! Elma is a moody princess who feels trapped/isolated in her current life situation. When an assassination attempt occurs, she must pair up with an unlikely ally in order to survive.
The only reason I didn't rate this higher is because I was left wanting more! I feel like this could have easily been a duology where more of the court politics/romance were explored.
I look forward to reading Smitherman's other books as I really enjoyed this one and would recommend!
I would give this a solid 4.25! Elma is a moody princess who feels trapped/isolated in her current life situation. When an assassination attempt occurs, she must pair up with an unlikely ally in order to survive.
The only reason I didn't rate this higher is because I was left wanting more! I feel like this could have easily been a duology where more of the court politics/romance were explored.
I look forward to reading Smitherman's other books as I really enjoyed this one and would recommend!
I was an ARC reader for this novel and I was very pleased with the novel. So much so I tried to savor every last word. This was the first book I did some small annotations.
I would like to start by saying I have never read slow burn romance done as well as this author writes slow burn romance. The story of Elma’s raise to Queen is gut twisting. Rune’s development from assassin to lover is very well done and truly shows amazing compassion, and if you haven’t figured it out I now have my first book boyfriend. It’s weird, but I’m glad it’s him.
As the verge of war teeters ever closer, Elma works through her want to be the blood thirsty Volta (her family name) she was born to be or the compassionate leader she strives to be.
With the help of Rune she is able to take the crown that is rightfully hers through compassion and bloodshed.
I was fully in awe of every character and the more who crossed the main characters felt like a gut punch to myself because though I am no Queen, I think we can all understand the feeling of being so lonely you can trust no one but yourself and how hard that is mentally and in Elma’s case physically as well.
This was at time both the most cozy thing I had to cling to in the last month and also the most traumatic.
This has been on of my first dark fantasy romances and I can say I it won’t be my last. I was in tears the last 10% of the book and holding my breath through a lot of it but the description of cozy fires and beds and velvets and furs set me at such a comfort in the cold city living. Great winter read and if you have never thought about blood play as a turn on I recommend this novel. Completely change my thought of it for the better.
Overall, Meg Smitherson has written another amazing work and I look forward to all she writes in the future. I only first read her debut work in August and now all I want is another of the novels to sooth me into an emotional whirlwind with death and love. I loved this book and would recommend to any who enjoy dark fantasy and slow burn romance with enemy to lovers vibes.
I would like to start by saying I have never read slow burn romance done as well as this author writes slow burn romance. The story of Elma’s raise to Queen is gut twisting. Rune’s development from assassin to lover is very well done and truly shows amazing compassion, and if you haven’t figured it out I now have my first book boyfriend. It’s weird, but I’m glad it’s him.
As the verge of war teeters ever closer, Elma works through her want to be the blood thirsty Volta (her family name) she was born to be or the compassionate leader she strives to be.
With the help of Rune she is able to take the crown that is rightfully hers through compassion and bloodshed.
I was fully in awe of every character and the more who crossed the main characters felt like a gut punch to myself because though I am no Queen, I think we can all understand the feeling of being so lonely you can trust no one but yourself and how hard that is mentally and in Elma’s case physically as well.
This was at time both the most cozy thing I had to cling to in the last month and also the most traumatic.
This has been on of my first dark fantasy romances and I can say I it won’t be my last. I was in tears the last 10% of the book and holding my breath through a lot of it but the description of cozy fires and beds and velvets and furs set me at such a comfort in the cold city living. Great winter read and if you have never thought about blood play as a turn on I recommend this novel. Completely change my thought of it for the better.
Overall, Meg Smitherson has written another amazing work and I look forward to all she writes in the future. I only first read her debut work in August and now all I want is another of the novels to sooth me into an emotional whirlwind with death and love. I loved this book and would recommend to any who enjoy dark fantasy and slow burn romance with enemy to lovers vibes.
With a lonely, sometimes even cruel FMC, fledgling Queen Elma, and a golden retriever energy assassin MMC, Rune, this puts a spin on grumpy sunshine and delivers a very delicately wrought enemies to lovers romantasy.
I enjoyed this book start to finish and loved to see Elma's development throughout the story. Rune...I'm such a simp for that man it's not even funny. Favorite new book boyfriend!
I would love to read more on this world!
I enjoyed this book start to finish and loved to see Elma's development throughout the story. Rune...I'm such a simp for that man it's not even funny. Favorite new book boyfriend!
I would love to read more on this world!
oh she’s a new favorite 👀
Okay you guys I am still utterly OBSESSED with this and I finished it over a week and a half ago. I started it on a plane thinking I’d just get a few chapters in because I wasn’t able to sleep the night before. I instead read 87%, thought about it while I ran errands with my family and HAD to finish it before I took a nap even though I was on three hours of sleep. The plot, the politics, the romance, the character development, RUNE, everything was amazing. This is a TRUE enemies to lovers, hate to love, allies of convenience, body guard romance and everyone who reads it will eat. it. up.
Okay you guys I am still utterly OBSESSED with this and I finished it over a week and a half ago. I started it on a plane thinking I’d just get a few chapters in because I wasn’t able to sleep the night before. I instead read 87%, thought about it while I ran errands with my family and HAD to finish it before I took a nap even though I was on three hours of sleep. The plot, the politics, the romance, the character development, RUNE, everything was amazing. This is a TRUE enemies to lovers, hate to love, allies of convenience, body guard romance and everyone who reads it will eat. it. up.
Speaking of obsessed, I am 10000% obsessed with Rune. I don’t know how to describe how much I am attracted to this man. He tried to kill Elma several times and I giggled out loud on a FULL PLANE because I couldn’t contain myself. He is a snarky, feral, morally gray drama queen who is only soft for his girl and he is forever a top book boyfriend. SPRINT TO READ THIS BOOK WHEN IT RELEASES IN EARLY FEB because I know I will happily read it again when I get a physical copy.
Thank you to the author for BLESSING ME WITH THIS ARC
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Smitherman’s writing style compliments the sullen attitude of our Frost Queen Elma Volta. It is refreshing to read a female main character who is not sunshine and rainbows. Elma is complex and her self doubt is nearly out measured by her self loathing. Born to a kingdom soaked in the blood of its enemies, Elma dares to believe that positive change is possible after learning the truth of her kingdom’s cruelty.
Elma’s somber attitude is well balanced by her would be assassin Rune. He’s outspoken and unafraid of the truly horrific past between their countries. His candor and willingness to watch Elma change her kingdom for the better makes him easy to fall in love with.
Elma’s somber attitude is well balanced by her would be assassin Rune. He’s outspoken and unafraid of the truly horrific past between their countries. His candor and willingness to watch Elma change her kingdom for the better makes him easy to fall in love with.
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Loved it I picked the book and in a day I devoured it. Enemies to lovers with a touch of Romeo and Juliet. With awesome writing full of action.