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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-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:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-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
Frankly, some of the issues were resolved a bit too easily, but the characters are readily liked and the story fun and funny. Also: kind of the point of a cosy read I think we need several more books or at least to make this a trilogy.
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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 Netgalley, Hodderscape and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
A woman forced into an arrange political marriage with a yet-to-be-crowned king from another country hailed to be a tyrant who apparently killed his mother, with pinches of her cursing him into becoming a horse after a failed attempted assassination on their wedding night and a good dose of humor, sarcasm and gentleness from the horse-guy and here you have it.
Behooved is a sweet standalone debut from M. Stevenson where the heroine doesn't always need saving (not always, but she can fare alone well- mostly) and an unusual sweet male lead that will make the whole book a whole lot better.
Bianca Liliana, Duchess of House Liliana, Flower of Damaria, is a woman of duty and honor. She would do nothing for her family and country with a medical condition that at times incapacitate her from even getting up, making her seem as the weak link, inferior if competing with her oldest sister Tatiana. Prince Aric of Gildenheim on the other hand wants nothing to with the political mess that the two countries are plotting and would rather live his whole life with his nose buried between books (honestly Aric I get you). Together they honestly make such a sweet couple it's impossible not to love them find stability and peace with the other.
There where quite some times were my mind dabbled in confusion, for example: when Bianca was told she was going to marry Aric and that her departure was set for the next week I don't understand why nobody had her learn the basic etiquette of Gildenheim, especially since the was bound to become the queen of the country, not saying she had to become better than a Gildenheim noble, but at least know the basics in terms of history (both social and historical).
Another part was (at least for me) was how time and distance was handled throwing the book. We know it took more or less 2 weeks with a ship to get to the capital, while for Bianca and Aric it took more or less again another week to reach the border between the two countries? Idk it felt strange.
And for last, when one of the masterminds was arrested, they decided to simple let it go with a device that could easily being him back, again idk but at the same time I feel like it was too simple? Naive, maybe even to just let him go like that without a guard taking him, assuring he was outside and the going back with the device.
Taking this small little rant out it was still an enjoyable book to read, hopefully we'll get some character spin-off books and maybe even a cute map to go with them.
3.5 ⭐️(The rating got higher thanks to Aric being Aric) 1.5🌶️
A woman forced into an arrange political marriage with a yet-to-be-crowned king from another country hailed to be a tyrant who apparently killed his mother, with pinches of her cursing him into becoming a horse after a failed attempted assassination on their wedding night and a good dose of humor, sarcasm and gentleness from the horse-guy and here you have it.
Behooved is a sweet standalone debut from M. Stevenson where the heroine doesn't always need saving (not always, but she can fare alone well- mostly) and an unusual sweet male lead that will make the whole book a whole lot better.
Bianca Liliana, Duchess of House Liliana, Flower of Damaria, is a woman of duty and honor. She would do nothing for her family and country with a medical condition that at times incapacitate her from even getting up, making her seem as the weak link, inferior if competing with her oldest sister Tatiana. Prince Aric of Gildenheim on the other hand wants nothing to with the political mess that the two countries are plotting and would rather live his whole life with his nose buried between books (honestly Aric I get you). Together they honestly make such a sweet couple it's impossible not to love them find stability and peace with the other.
There where quite some times were my mind dabbled in confusion, for example: when Bianca was told she was going to marry Aric and that her departure was set for the next week I don't understand why nobody had her learn the basic etiquette of Gildenheim, especially since the was bound to become the queen of the country, not saying she had to become better than a Gildenheim noble, but at least know the basics in terms of history (both social and historical).
Another part was (at least for me) was how time and distance was handled throwing the book. We know it took more or less 2 weeks with a ship to get to the capital, while for Bianca and Aric it took more or less again another week to reach the border between the two countries? Idk it felt strange.
And for last, when one of the masterminds was arrested, they decided to simple let it go with a device that could easily being him back, again idk but at the same time I feel like it was too simple? Naive, maybe even to just let him go like that without a guard taking him, assuring he was outside and the going back with the device.
Taking this small little rant out it was still an enjoyable book to read, hopefully we'll get some character spin-off books and maybe even a cute map to go with them.
3.5 ⭐️(The rating got higher thanks to Aric being Aric) 1.5🌶️
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
liked seeing their relationship develop over time but struggled with the "spell it all out to you" writing style as each MC handled their insecurities & navigated their situation. slower, repetitive middle and kind of rushed ending, but not a bad journey to be on overall. more of a coming of age story feeling than I expected.
appreciated the disability rep that was believable with how Bianca's parents regarded her and also how shocking it is to meet people who don't treat her the same way
also, yeah, he's a horse sometimes lol
appreciated the disability rep that was believable with how Bianca's parents regarded her and also how shocking it is to meet people who don't treat her the same way
also, yeah, he's a horse sometimes lol
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Intrigue, adventure, romance, and a curse that turns a guy into a horse during the day. The concept is great and if you want a fast paced book that contain the aforementioned characteristics then this is the book for you. The story itself could have benefited from a little more world building and fleshing out the characters a bit more. The intrigue part was fine, if a little predictable and some things sort of got brushed over or to the side. But this was an okay read.
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
like shrek but if shrek was a girl with celiac disease and a sword and fiona was a brooding man who turned into a horse during the day. also if shrek was bad.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Romance, adventure and magic, with a good dash of humor. A great narrator, too!
Good for fans of arranged marriages, enemies to lovers, only one bed, and deus ex magica tropes.
While the overall plot may not be surprising, the dialogue and characters kept me interested the whole time.
It's also really nice to see a book that handles a main character's chronic illness, good days and bad days, need for medication and rest days, and feelings of frustration/anger/helplessness so well. The illness isn't named, and I appreciate they didn't just magic wand it away for convenience.
Good for fans of arranged marriages, enemies to lovers, only one bed, and deus ex magica tropes.
While the overall plot may not be surprising, the dialogue and characters kept me interested the whole time.
It's also really nice to see a book that handles a main character's chronic illness, good days and bad days, need for medication and rest days, and feelings of frustration/anger/helplessness so well. The illness isn't named, and I appreciate they didn't just magic wand it away for convenience.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Funny, charming, and full of heart !!! If you’re looking for a cozy romantasy this is it.