Reviews

If you’re new to Tavia Lark’s brilliant Perilous Courts series, read them all, you’re welcome. If you’re along for the ride, book 5 offers another fabulous entry into a world of magic, fantastic creatures, court intrigue, and best of all, steamy and intimate romance found in unexpected places. And one hero’s explosion at the other when he’s pushed beyond the limits of patience is one of Lark’s best scenes yet. Not to mention one dragon’s decision to ask forgiveness, not permission…

Anyway, it’s all best read in this delightful romantasy, featuring middle brother and Draskoran prince Marek Dire and Sei Mallory, the man and grail—a valuable channeler/enhancer of others’ magic—he’s charged with bringing safely home to marry his older brother. Too bad his older brother has pulled a runner, leaving Marek holding the wedding ring.

The innocent Sei has no idea of his worth and that many would risk death to steal him and control him for their own, including possibly draining him to the point of madness and death. Marek’s faced with stepping into his brother’s shoes and both protecting and marrying this man for the good of the kingdom. But dang, the man is SO agreeable. And clueless about his own worth. Has he no thoughts and desires of his own?

Sei has been trained from birth to accept he’ll belong to another and his main purpose is to enhance their power. Being shoved out of his comfort zone and shown he can not only make his own choices but command his own future is shocking and exhilarating. Except…soon the choice he wants to make is to woo his reluctant accidental betrothed to his side and show him all they can be together. Too bad the man is urging him to be independent while refusing to do the one thing Sei wants most—for Marek to make use of him as the powerful grail Sei has trained to be all his life. And to give Sei something else he never knew he would long for…Marek’s company.

With a little…okay, a lot…of meddling from one amazing fellcat (seriously, fellcats are THE BEST), a dragon (also the best…maybe slightly second best…? Nah they’re both the best!), a morally questionable younger brother, and a company of servants and soldiers who don’t want Marek to overlook the greatest thing to ever happen to him, these two will not only get to know each other, they’ll find a gift neither ever expected, and the journey is funny, intimate, steamy and rewarding. With subtlety and nuance that is best savored and absorbed word by word, the author builds a strong and credible relationship that evolves from an unwanted power imbalance to cautious friendship to tentative trust and then respect and finally all-out, blazing love. As political machinations foment around them and danger simmers in the backdrop, the two stumble into lust and love in a journey to remember. The plot is less danger-driven than previous books, but that just puts the focus more on the wonderful romance, and it all explodes into a satisfying ending that will leave readers both gratified and wanting more of this wonderful world.

HEA, arranged marriage and groom switch, opposites attract, court intrigues, meddling fellcat and dragon, all the Feelings. No cheating or emotional cheating. Highly recommended, as is the entire series.

My thanks to the author for the ARC; this is my free and impartial opinion.

yamuna_rai's review

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adventurous emotional funny relaxing sad tense 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? Yes

4.0

ramiram's review

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3.0

3,5. Not as good

silverberries's review

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emotional relaxing fast-paced

3.0

alexreadsome's review

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lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

3.0

grover_25's review

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3.0

What I liked:
- Loska (Marek’s dragon) seriously the best character
- purple rats
- Sei making friends left and right
-How cozy Sei always seemed with Osric
-fellcats in general lol
-trans characters

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