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ehmannky's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I thought it would be hard to beat my love of the Reluctant Royals series, but, wow, Cole does not disappoint in the expansion to that universe. Following up with Shanti and Sanyu was lovely, because Cole left such a tantalizing hint at their dynamic in A Prince On Paper. And we got to have all the cameos from the previous series (Also, Netflix or someone. Please adapt the expanded Royals Universe). And the whole theme of being traumatized and hurt in the past and being shaped by that trauma does not excuse shit behavior. Wonderfully handled.
There's nothing I didn't like about it. I love the trope of falling in love with the person you're married to and the dialogue that Cole uses for these characters was so good! Like, "Come sit on your throne, Wife." Excuse me, but this was one of the many lines that were it not in the middle of a 12/10 sex scene I would have had to put the book down to fully digest the power of it. This also felt like an example of a third-act breakup done extremely well, as the tensions that led to the fight between Shanti and Sanyu are clearly laid out and it didn't feel like a fight done so that the characters could come back together later.
There's nothing I didn't like about it. I love the trope of falling in love with the person you're married to and the dialogue that Cole uses for these characters was so good! Like, "Come sit on your throne, Wife." Excuse me, but this was one of the many lines that were it not in the middle of a 12/10 sex scene I would have had to put the book down to fully digest the power of it. This also felt like an example of a third-act breakup done extremely well, as the tensions that led to the fight between Shanti and Sanyu are clearly laid out and it didn't feel like a fight done so that the characters could come back together later.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Grief, and Death
Minor: Vomit
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