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autumnwitch14's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent and Homophobia
rellimreads's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 rounded to 4. This was a solid enjoyable & sweet read. No real complaints, but it’s not like there was anything earth shattering or that it’s something I’d read over and over again.
a_reader_obsessed's review against another edition
3.0
3 Hearts - BR with LiaB!!
To be honest, I’m a bit torn about how I feel about this story. I can see how this could appeal to many and also, I can see how some might be not as enamored.
Prince Merrick has a lot of responsibility weighing on him. He’s to inherit the throne and needs to find a wife because most importantly, he needs to provide an heir. Funny that. Too bad he doesn’t fancy women. At all. However, Merrick knows his duty and he resigns himself to his fate, but it seems that his new valet Cassius, through no fault of his own, won’t allow Merrick to just easily fall in line and accept what he’s honor bound to do.
Cassius on the other hand, has a pretty big chip on his shoulder, having had to struggle his whole life to help support his family by working very very hard. Now, more than ever since his father has passed away, he must not jeopardize his new job as he’s the sole provider for his sick mum and two younger sisters. Cassius wants to hate Prince Merrick on principle, but as he gets to know him, he can’t help but admire all that the prince does for his people and see a caring man who’s just as trapped as he is.
I have to give credit because this is a thoughtful rumination on class differences and the weight of responsibility on both these men. It is realistic in the evolving relationship between a prince and his servant where crossing the social lines is unheard of and not condoned. The attraction and feels are organic, and the inner turmoil these men go through was heartfelt.
However, this has brought home the fact that I have a tough relationship with historicals (though this is very historical-lite in its fictional setting) which always encompasses MC’s who have to be in the closet, and it just makes me a complete nervous nelly, and my overall enjoyment is quite affected. Plus, for some reason the idea of a fairy tale really appeals but ultimately, it never enchants me as much as I’d like it to. Despite my personal qualms, I'm sure many will love this very romantic story about two disparate individuals who have nary a chance at finding their happy ever after with each other.
This is light in the overall angst thankfully, as well as having some good steamy scenes, but perhaps because of its fairy tale connotations, this clashed with its more contemporary leanings and thus, it felt disjointed and a bit underwhelming to me.
Regardless, Hart and Lee are typically consistent wins, and if you’re familiar with that and agree, I don’t think readers will be disappointed.
Thank you to the authors/publisher for a copy in exchange for a honest review
To be honest, I’m a bit torn about how I feel about this story. I can see how this could appeal to many and also, I can see how some might be not as enamored.
Prince Merrick has a lot of responsibility weighing on him. He’s to inherit the throne and needs to find a wife because most importantly, he needs to provide an heir. Funny that. Too bad he doesn’t fancy women. At all. However, Merrick knows his duty and he resigns himself to his fate, but it seems that his new valet Cassius, through no fault of his own, won’t allow Merrick to just easily fall in line and accept what he’s honor bound to do.
Cassius on the other hand, has a pretty big chip on his shoulder, having had to struggle his whole life to help support his family by working very very hard. Now, more than ever since his father has passed away, he must not jeopardize his new job as he’s the sole provider for his sick mum and two younger sisters. Cassius wants to hate Prince Merrick on principle, but as he gets to know him, he can’t help but admire all that the prince does for his people and see a caring man who’s just as trapped as he is.
I have to give credit because this is a thoughtful rumination on class differences and the weight of responsibility on both these men. It is realistic in the evolving relationship between a prince and his servant where crossing the social lines is unheard of and not condoned. The attraction and feels are organic, and the inner turmoil these men go through was heartfelt.
However, this has brought home the fact that I have a tough relationship with historicals (though this is very historical-lite in its fictional setting) which always encompasses MC’s who have to be in the closet, and it just makes me a complete nervous nelly, and my overall enjoyment is quite affected. Plus, for some reason the idea of a fairy tale really appeals but ultimately, it never enchants me as much as I’d like it to. Despite my personal qualms, I'm sure many will love this very romantic story about two disparate individuals who have nary a chance at finding their happy ever after with each other.
This is light in the overall angst thankfully, as well as having some good steamy scenes, but perhaps because of its fairy tale connotations, this clashed with its more contemporary leanings and thus, it felt disjointed and a bit underwhelming to me.
Regardless, Hart and Lee are typically consistent wins, and if you’re familiar with that and agree, I don’t think readers will be disappointed.
Thank you to the authors/publisher for a copy in exchange for a honest review
___tamara___'s review
DNF @ 71%
I know I'm probably in the minority with this one, but I just couldn't waste anymore time on a book I don't enjoy.
The setting is fantasy only in that it is set in an imaginary kingdom that really resembles England around the beginning of the 20th century, or at least that's how I imagined it. This is neither good nor bad, I'm just mentioning this in case someone expected a proper fantasy based on the book cover. If you asked me, I would call it a historical .
The two MCs are kind of boring, and the dialogue is all about one MC uttering a cliche declaration of love/devotion/etc and the other MC just repeating it verbatim and tacking on a ", too" at the end. This pissed me off to no end.
I couldn't see the plot going anywhere, and not in a good, keeping-me-on-my-toes way, but in a "is there a point and when will we get to it?" way. It seems the only point was to listen to the historical-type angst in the MCs heads and wait for something to actually happen.
Finally, at 71% I decided I didn't care enough to finish this story.
I know I'm probably in the minority with this one, but I just couldn't waste anymore time on a book I don't enjoy.
The setting is fantasy only in that it is set in an imaginary kingdom that really resembles England around the beginning of the 20th century, or at least that's how I imagined it. This is neither good nor bad, I'm just mentioning this in case someone expected a proper fantasy based on the book cover. If you asked me, I would call it a historical .
The two MCs are kind of boring, and the dialogue is all about one MC uttering a cliche declaration of love/devotion/etc and the other MC just repeating it verbatim and tacking on a ", too" at the end. This pissed me off to no end.
I couldn't see the plot going anywhere, and not in a good, keeping-me-on-my-toes way, but in a "is there a point and when will we get to it?" way. It seems the only point was to listen to the historical-type angst in the MCs heads and wait for something to actually happen.
Finally, at 71% I decided I didn't care enough to finish this story.
anita81's review against another edition
5.0
This was everything I could have ever wanted from a gay fairy tale
wintergirl94's review against another edition
5.0
It has been a long while since I actually cried really tears at a book. This one has me bawling. I love it. Everything about it was bliss for me.
The longing, the slow burn, the romance, I ate it all up! Thank you very much I am in heaven
The longing, the slow burn, the romance, I ate it all up! Thank you very much I am in heaven
jagiaquinto's review against another edition
4.0
I want to start off by saying that I loved this story. I loved merrick and Cassius and the tension was very good. My only point of contention was the world building. Now it does say in the beginning that this is a world of the authors own creation and I respect that. But it was rather jarring to have some modern things but then some older things that seemed to clash with one another. But over all I loved this book!
tesssiob's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
laura_editor's review against another edition
4.0
Questo romanzo mi ha lasciata un po' confusa: prima di tutto, non sono riuscita a capire in quale periodo storico è ambientato (non si fa riferimento alla tecnologia, però si parla di giornalisti che scattano delle foto, di un'automobile, ...), e questo mi ha disorientata un po' (in genere quando leggo mi piace avere un'idea abbastanza chiara del luogo e del periodo storico in cui avvengono le vicende narrate); poi ho fatto un po' fatica a "sopportare" lo stile dell'autrice, che salta dai dialoghi sdolcinati in stile Harmony allo smut più adatto a un contemporaneo. Forse voleva ricreare l'atmosfera fiabesca, ma io avrei preferito uno stile più "attuale".
Per metà romanzo, inoltre,
Per metà romanzo, inoltre,
Spoiler
i protagonisti non fanno altro che ripetere che dovranno separarsi, che non possono vivere l'uno senza l'altro, che la loro vita dopo il distacco sarà vuota e grigia... Meno melodramma e più sostanza sarebbero stai apprezzati maggiormente.rayonx's review against another edition
3.0
This book in one sentence: As the crown prince, Merrick is feeling pressured to marry and produce an heir, but all he can think about is his attraction to his new valet Cassius.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Steaminess: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Would I recommend: Yes. This was a cute little fairy tale romance. The world building is fairly ambiguous. It's set in a wintery European style kingdom, in an unspecified time period, maybe in the early 1900s? There aren't really any non-romance plot points, the only "villain" in the story is homophobia.
Tropes: HEA
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Steaminess: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Would I recommend: Yes. This was a cute little fairy tale romance. The world building is fairly ambiguous. It's set in a wintery European style kingdom, in an unspecified time period, maybe in the early 1900s? There aren't really any non-romance plot points, the only "villain" in the story is homophobia.
Tropes: HEA