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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
All hail King Mathior!🤴🏽 But for real, this guy spent 16 years of his life devoted to becoming First Warrior of his people all so that he could do whatever he wanted . . . namely, taking the exiled and conquered enemy princess, Halla, as his bride. Having saved his life by standing against her father's royal guard when they were children, Mathior is instantly convinced Halla belongs to him and works for the next decade and a half to finagle a situation where they can be together. He even saved himself for her 😍
What I didn't like: Halla was 9 years older than Mathior. I didn't have an issue with this since reverse age gaps aren't always common and there was nothing romantic about their friendship when they were children. Indeed, it's Mathior who so stubbornly pursues his bride, and Mathior who falls in love first. However, what bugged me were the near-constant references to her spinsterhood . . . all from herself! Like girl, mans literally finds you after 16 years, instantly proposes, and confesses his undying devotion, faithfulness 😏, and love without expecting anything but you in return. And she still could not get over the age hangup. I guess turning 30 means your eggs have all dried up and you're ugly. Being 16 is so much better 🤢. It made sense later in the novella for her age to become an issue with their impending marriage and her needing to determine if Mathior is fooling her to gain her people's trust or if his intentions and love are true, but it is such a consistent and annoying through line that I couldn't help but roll my eyes every time. He was obsessed despite your decrepit age. Accept it!
What didn't make a lot of sense: Mathior's father literally beheaded Halla's dad and violently conquered her people, leaving them to corrupt lords for 16 years while she's exiled to a sparse and coarse life as a nun essentially. She holds no ill will and immediately forgives and forgets. Like I get that it wasn't Mathior who did this, but I think a conversation needed to be had at least. Also, why did Mathior wait 16 years? His dad dies and frees him to become king, but was he just going to wait forever until that happened? I would have liked to see him work out another way, have a feud with his dad, etc. Finally, the 3-day wedding ceremony Ruby Dixon came up with for the Cyclopae people (who remove one of their eyes as a sign of devotion to their war god) is absolutely bonkers and not sexy to me. At least in this iteration both the king and queen had to strip in front of everyone. Equality.
What I didn't like: Halla was 9 years older than Mathior. I didn't have an issue with this since reverse age gaps aren't always common and there was nothing romantic about their friendship when they were children. Indeed, it's Mathior who so stubbornly pursues his bride, and Mathior who falls in love first. However, what bugged me were the near-constant references to her spinsterhood . . . all from herself! Like girl, mans literally finds you after 16 years, instantly proposes, and confesses his undying devotion, faithfulness 😏, and love without expecting anything but you in return. And she still could not get over the age hangup. I guess turning 30 means your eggs have all dried up and you're ugly. Being 16 is so much better 🤢. It made sense later in the novella for her age to become an issue with their impending marriage and her needing to determine if Mathior is fooling her to gain her people's trust or if his intentions and love are true, but it is such a consistent and annoying through line that I couldn't help but roll my eyes every time. He was obsessed despite your decrepit age. Accept it!
What didn't make a lot of sense: Mathior's father literally beheaded Halla's dad and violently conquered her people, leaving them to corrupt lords for 16 years while she's exiled to a sparse and coarse life as a nun essentially. She holds no ill will and immediately forgives and forgets. Like I get that it wasn't Mathior who did this, but I think a conversation needed to be had at least. Also, why did Mathior wait 16 years? His dad dies and frees him to become king, but was he just going to wait forever until that happened? I would have liked to see him work out another way, have a feud with his dad, etc. Finally, the 3-day wedding ceremony Ruby Dixon came up with for the Cyclopae people (who remove one of their eyes as a sign of devotion to their war god) is absolutely bonkers and not sexy to me. At least in this iteration both the king and queen had to strip in front of everyone. Equality.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Honestly I thought this would be a throw away book just to add to my GoodReads reading challenge, but I actually ended up enjoying it 😂
It’s short and sweet and it’s not conventional, which I liked!
The spice was okay. Solid 2/5. Nothing super special. I thought the book was really sweet for what it was though! Nice introduction to Ruby Dixon for me 😍
It’s short and sweet and it’s not conventional, which I liked!
The spice was okay. Solid 2/5. Nothing super special. I thought the book was really sweet for what it was though! Nice introduction to Ruby Dixon for me 😍
hopeful
lighthearted
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don’t know how to rate this book? I really enjoyed it, but 4 stars seems too many?
I enjoyed Halla and Mathior’s story. Honestly, I wish they got a full length book. Then maybe we could experience Halla grow into her new role/ world. Or have a chance to glean more of Mathior’s thoughts/feelings beyond the surface level “I want you. I’ve wanted you. End of story” (Okay I’m paraphrasing here)
I enjoyed Halla and Mathior’s story. Honestly, I wish they got a full length book. Then maybe we could experience Halla grow into her new role/ world. Or have a chance to glean more of Mathior’s thoughts/feelings beyond the surface level “I want you. I’ve wanted you. End of story” (Okay I’m paraphrasing here)
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I’ve been really enjoying Ruby Dixon’s Aspect and Anchor series, so it was fun to read this novella. I loved getting to learn more about Halla and Mathior who were introduced in Bound to the Battle God.
This was a great, quick read. It was a sweet story with some 10/10 steam!
This was a great, quick read. It was a sweet story with some 10/10 steam!