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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
3.75
I was smitten with the first 50 pages, easy 5 star. After that it became a lot of telling instead of showing, I want to experience the moments not hear about them in past tense as something that happened 3 days ago.
I was smitten with the first 50 pages, easy 5 star. After that it became a lot of telling instead of showing, I want to experience the moments not hear about them in past tense as something that happened 3 days ago.
fast-paced
It was a sweet, easy read. It was a little more romance heavy then I was expecting with the friends to lover being pretty well the entire focus. My biggest complaint was the characters were perfect and everything went so smoothly... pretty well no strife or issues or friction. There were zero character flaws. Even the antagonist was perfectly evil. Good book for a low stakes, fairytale love story.
Ildiko, a human noblewoman, is sent to marry Brishen, a Kai prince from a race famously known as “ugly bastards.” The Kai don’t understand human ideas of beauty, and vice versa. When Brishen first sees her, he’s appalled. Her skin reminds him of a boiled mollusk. Her red hair burns in the sunlight like a cursed torch. Her human eyes? Moving parasites lodged in her skull. “Nightmarish” doesn’t even begin to cover it. She, in turn, tells him that if she’d seen him as a child, she would’ve beaten him to death with her dad’s mace. And that’s before the wedding.
And yet, somehow, they click.
Their first meeting is hilarious. They’re both so honest about how awful the other looks, and it’s refreshing. There’s no fake politeness, no pining. Just two people trying to make the best of a political marriage by absolutely roasting each other. And somehow, it’s sweet. Their friendship blooms fast and naturally. The skipped wedding isn’t even disappointing because watching them become allies through laughter is way more satisfying.
There’s a moment where Ildiko goes cross eyed at him and Brishen just about jumps out of his skin, yelling “Lover of thorns and holy gods!” like she just cursed his bloodline. And her reply? She doubles down and offers to move only one eye next time. I was howling. Every moment of banter is this weirdly perfect mix of absurd and affectionate.
What’s brilliant is that this doesn’t take away from the emotional depth. For all the teasing and eye-rolling, there’s genuine care. The moment Brishen tells her he’s not human, and she just mumbles, “You’re still mine” in her sleep? It hit. It really hit.
And yes, the last act takes a turn. Brishen is tortured, his eye is cut out, and I wanted blood. But even then, the love between them holds firm. No melodrama, no whining, just two people who found something solid in the most unlikely of places.
The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but not the kind that ruins your night. They’re safe, they’re together, and for now, that’s enough.
Friends to lovers just might be superior
And yet, somehow, they click.
Their first meeting is hilarious. They’re both so honest about how awful the other looks, and it’s refreshing. There’s no fake politeness, no pining. Just two people trying to make the best of a political marriage by absolutely roasting each other. And somehow, it’s sweet. Their friendship blooms fast and naturally. The skipped wedding isn’t even disappointing because watching them become allies through laughter is way more satisfying.
There’s a moment where Ildiko goes cross eyed at him and Brishen just about jumps out of his skin, yelling “Lover of thorns and holy gods!” like she just cursed his bloodline. And her reply? She doubles down and offers to move only one eye next time. I was howling. Every moment of banter is this weirdly perfect mix of absurd and affectionate.
What’s brilliant is that this doesn’t take away from the emotional depth. For all the teasing and eye-rolling, there’s genuine care. The moment Brishen tells her he’s not human, and she just mumbles, “You’re still mine” in her sleep? It hit. It really hit.
And yes, the last act takes a turn. Brishen is tortured, his eye is cut out, and I wanted blood. But even then, the love between them holds firm. No melodrama, no whining, just two people who found something solid in the most unlikely of places.
The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but not the kind that ruins your night. They’re safe, they’re together, and for now, that’s enough.
Friends to lovers just might be superior
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
I was lied to by Bookstagram, this one does not do Romantacy any better than the other books that are being hyped up right now. These people in an arranged marriage are starting to fall for each other on day 3? Uhmm no thnx. Especially not because they're different species that are supposed find each other revolting. Why are they touching each other lovingly already so quickly lmao
emotional
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No