Scan barcode
lapis's review
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Disclaimer: As a subscriber to Jess Mahler's Substack, I received a free copy of this book (not necessarily in exchange for an honest review, but I'm reviewing none the less)
Basically, the premise is this woman, Mildthryth Rúna inherited her father's lands, but Marcel the Conqueror doesn't believe women can rule, so he says that anyone who can capture and stop her, will gain her lands and her hand.
Reimund is a second son trying his hand at this. When captured, he is asked what he'd do in her shoes, and the answer is to marry the least awful of the men because despite her military techniques, she will NOT win against Marcel the Conqueror (especially since she's been repeatedly besieged)
So she marries Reimund, with the promise that he must swear an oath of subservience. Which of course bothers him.
You may think this is a simple fantasy work. Not quite. It takes place in the future. There are references to star travel among the ancestors. While the author never states outright (at least as far as I know) it's implied the ability to do these things is lost.
Anyway, this seems to be a unique take on the Marriage of Convenience. There's misogyny of course, but the misogyny is countered. You get to see men expressing themselves (eventually), and I really loved this story (it's probably my favorite so far of what I've read of Jess Mahler's works) and there's sequel bait, so I really hope to see more
Basically, the premise is this woman, Mildthryth Rúna inherited her father's lands, but Marcel the Conqueror doesn't believe women can rule, so he says that anyone who can capture and stop her, will gain her lands and her hand.
Reimund is a second son trying his hand at this. When captured, he is asked what he'd do in her shoes, and the answer is to marry the least awful of the men because despite her military techniques, she will NOT win against Marcel the Conqueror (especially since she's been repeatedly besieged)
So she marries Reimund, with the promise that he must swear an oath of subservience. Which of course bothers him.
You may think this is a simple fantasy work. Not quite. It takes place in the future. There are references to star travel among the ancestors. While the author never states outright (at least as far as I know) it's implied the ability to do these things is lost.
Anyway, this seems to be a unique take on the Marriage of Convenience. There's misogyny of course, but the misogyny is countered. You get to see men expressing themselves (eventually), and I really loved this story (it's probably my favorite so far of what I've read of Jess Mahler's works) and there's sequel bait, so I really hope to see more
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Misogyny
I would like to say the Misogyny is countered in the story at every turn.
More...