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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
adventurous
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
This book was a bit of the standard romantasy story. Only instead of a dark shadow daddy, there was now a love interest who turned into a white horse. Was this an improvement compared to other similar books? I don’t think so. I think I have never found anything quite as unattractive as a talking horse.
If you are bored and have no inspiration to read, then this might be the right book. But set your expectations low, and I hope you were a horse girl when you were younger so you can connect with it a bit more than I did.
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
For me, there was a slight mismatch in tone with this one. A young princess is sent to marry the heir apparent of the neighboring kingdom of Gilden at that kingdom's demand, and instead on their wedding night accidentally turns him into a horse and they go on the run.
Princess Bianca, who, interestingly seems to have a gastroenteritis condition that, along with tough parents who only want dutiful daughters to use as political pawn, defines her *entire* existence, has to wield daggers, skulk about the country, unravel a mysterious spell, and engage in court politics whilst falling in love with her husband. Only, her whole life she's been told she has to hide her condition, her weakness, and never show any vulnerability at all.
So she can't admit to her husband she loves him. Or her condition. Because her parents have disdained her for both not being magical and also being weak.
Her husband, Aric, secretly also has a disapproving parent and is bookish and beta hero and empathetic and caring and been compared to his more courtly and disdainful half brother his whole life.
They spend alot of time on the road reassuring each other that caring, and traveling whilst in pain are proof that they are both very strong individuals indeed.
Let's just say, if the story had stuck to Bianca learning this, and being reassured multiple times, it probably would have been less wearisome. But after all of Aric's reassuring Bianca she's strong when she cares-- to have him suddenly turn around and need reassurance made the overall tone of this more YA for me than adult.
But then they get to the steamy times because they are, in fact, in luuuurrrv, and then its fairly adult and explicit. So for my own personal taste, I wish we had either an entirely more YA tone and feeling to this or conversely, more grownup and complicated emotional arcs. It was cute, but you could just watch My Lady Jane tv show and kind of get the same thing with an overall more adult (and humorous) situation.
Princess Bianca, who, interestingly seems to have a gastroenteritis condition that, along with tough parents who only want dutiful daughters to use as political pawn, defines her *entire* existence, has to wield daggers, skulk about the country, unravel a mysterious spell, and engage in court politics whilst falling in love with her husband. Only, her whole life she's been told she has to hide her condition, her weakness, and never show any vulnerability at all.
So she can't admit to her husband she loves him. Or her condition. Because her parents have disdained her for both not being magical and also being weak.
Her husband, Aric, secretly also has a disapproving parent and is bookish and beta hero and empathetic and caring and been compared to his more courtly and disdainful half brother his whole life.
They spend alot of time on the road reassuring each other that caring, and traveling whilst in pain are proof that they are both very strong individuals indeed.
Let's just say, if the story had stuck to Bianca learning this, and being reassured multiple times, it probably would have been less wearisome. But after all of Aric's reassuring Bianca she's strong when she cares-- to have him suddenly turn around and need reassurance made the overall tone of this more YA for me than adult.
But then they get to the steamy times because they are, in fact, in luuuurrrv, and then its fairly adult and explicit. So for my own personal taste, I wish we had either an entirely more YA tone and feeling to this or conversely, more grownup and complicated emotional arcs. It was cute, but you could just watch My Lady Jane tv show and kind of get the same thing with an overall more adult (and humorous) situation.
This is such a sweet , cozy fantasy. Decent world building with great about of diversity within side characters. Some queer representation, FMC is Bi and her sister is lesbian. NO BESTIALITY FOR THOSE WORRYING. There is some spice but it's less than one page a scene and not really all that descriptive. Overall, super enjoyable.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
It's just the kind of silly, heartwarming bit of fun that I thought it would be!
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
I didn't expect much when I started this book. I was pleasantly surprised. I really like the sensitivity and vulnerability of the MMC. It is rare to read a book where the make isn't an alpha. It was a nice book to read after reading a few stressful books in a row. It was a win here!
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Cozy romantasy + horses + plot similar to the movie “The Swan Princess”? Sign me up. Aric and Bianca’s relationship grows throughout the story and their banter is adorable. I appreciate that Aric is a green flag - we need more of those. The world and magic systems are digestible for easy, casual reading.
A common complaint I saw online was the lack of spice. If you’re looking for tons of smut, this book isn’t for you because it’s SLOW BURN (literally says it on the back). This slow burn romantasy was a good palette cleanser. It’s predictable, but consistent. Was it one of the best books I’ve ever read? No. Was it entertaining enough to enjoy the read? Yes.
A common complaint I saw online was the lack of spice. If you’re looking for tons of smut, this book isn’t for you because it’s SLOW BURN (literally says it on the back). This slow burn romantasy was a good palette cleanser. It’s predictable, but consistent. Was it one of the best books I’ve ever read? No. Was it entertaining enough to enjoy the read? Yes.