Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
No stakes and repetitive but light enough to be enjoyable.
Rating: 7/10
This is a pretty short fantasy romance, and I think its short length is the reason my rating isn't higher.
The story begins when a princess saves the son of her kingdom's conqueror, a so-called 'barbarian'. Years later, now king himself, he decides to marry the woman who saved him.
While I enjoyed the romance with an older woman and a younger man - something we don't see often, I do think the word choices - 'spinster' and 'barbarian' are kind of suspect. I mean, they come across as derogatory.
I also think that not near enough attention is given to the fact that this king took over a kingdom and then left his lieutenants to take advantage of the people, and then, years later, all is forgiven when his son marries their princess. I know Dixon was writing romance, and this is a short book, but the story needed some kind of acknowledgement of the effects of the takeover. There is one woman who addresses it in the book, but that's brushed aside quite quickly. Equally, I dislike the conquerors being called 'barbarians' because they're different.
It just feels like not enough care was taken with the parts of the story that weren't about the romance.
This is a pretty short fantasy romance, and I think its short length is the reason my rating isn't higher.
The story begins when a princess saves the son of her kingdom's conqueror, a so-called 'barbarian'. Years later, now king himself, he decides to marry the woman who saved him.
While I enjoyed the romance with an older woman and a younger man - something we don't see often, I do think the word choices - 'spinster' and 'barbarian' are kind of suspect. I mean, they come across as derogatory.
I also think that not near enough attention is given to the fact that this king took over a kingdom and then left his lieutenants to take advantage of the people, and then, years later, all is forgiven when his son marries their princess. I know Dixon was writing romance, and this is a short book, but the story needed some kind of acknowledgement of the effects of the takeover. There is one woman who addresses it in the book, but that's brushed aside quite quickly. Equally, I dislike the conquerors being called 'barbarians' because they're different.
It just feels like not enough care was taken with the parts of the story that weren't about the romance.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
So cute and I adore how it’s an age gap where the woman is older. Refreshing!
This was a quick and low angst high heat romance. I will definitely read the next books in the series.
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Well that was absolutely delightful. (If you want low stakes, adorable love and just a very positive experience then this one sitting romance is for you)
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
2.5 Stars
Cute, light and quick. That about sums it up.
Honestly? I didn't like it as much as I hoped. I'm usually not a fan of the reverse age gap with an older woman/younger man but this one I didn't mind. I liked their backstory. It was sweet if not a little too brief to build on. But one of the reasons I don't usually choose stories with this trope is because of what happened in this one.
Yes, the heroine Halla is older than the hero Mathior. Did we have to use it as a road block for the heroine to use at every turn? I don't think so. For such a short book it was mentioned many many times how old she was, or how much "older she was than him. She was what, eight years older? Something like that. And yet we're forced to read this thought and insecurity on repeat until the end.
I didn't enjoy that. So, I struggled to finish what was already a short book.
Did I love it? Nope. Like it? Not particularly. It was cute and I appreciate what RD was aiming for here but there was just too much focus on her age and how insecure that made the heroine for my liking. Especially for a novella. Can't love em all.
Cute, light and quick. That about sums it up.
Honestly? I didn't like it as much as I hoped. I'm usually not a fan of the reverse age gap with an older woman/younger man but this one I didn't mind. I liked their backstory. It was sweet if not a little too brief to build on. But one of the reasons I don't usually choose stories with this trope is because of what happened in this one.
Yes, the heroine Halla is older than the hero Mathior. Did we have to use it as a road block for the heroine to use at every turn? I don't think so. For such a short book it was mentioned many many times how old she was, or how much "older she was than him. She was what, eight years older? Something like that. And yet we're forced to read this thought and insecurity on repeat until the end.
I didn't enjoy that. So, I struggled to finish what was already a short book.
Did I love it? Nope. Like it? Not particularly. It was cute and I appreciate what RD was aiming for here but there was just too much focus on her age and how insecure that made the heroine for my liking. Especially for a novella. Can't love em all.
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes