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A review by _isabel_
An Oath and a Promise by Adelaide Blaike
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
What a ride!
I can't believe I've finally managed to reach the end of this complex, gripping story. And although I think I loved book three just a smidge more, I still enjoyed the hell out of this fourth book.
"An Oath and a Promise" is a compelling conclusion to the Riehse Eshan series, and although there's a fifth novellla/installment (which I'm assuming will be a lot less stressful and anxiety-inducing than this one; I hope at least: please, no more death and violence *sobs*), Mat and Ren's HEA was as satisfying as I hoped it would be.
I really enjoyed the story in this one: it's packed with daring escapes, kidnapping attempts, violence and confrontations and political scheming; it's also packed with heartfelt romance, panty-melting, kinky steam, banter and a whole lot of funny moments.
I think, after four books, I can firmly say that Mat's probably my favourite: he's still as quick-to-assume and prickly as he was in the first book, but I loved seeing him bloom into this version of himself, where he can be himself, without shame and recrimination and fear. I loved it for him, and he honestely deserves the world after what he was put through, in the previous books but also in this one too. He's messy disaster with a bratty attitude and a tendency to martyr himself for the people he loves and cares about: in other words, my favourite kind of character.
Ren, I admit, was a biiiit more difficult for me to love wholeheartedly because his non-stop flirting can get tiring after a while; but I admit I did end up loving nonentheless. Plus, he's so damn devoted to Mat it made me tear up more than once... and yeah, I adored those two idiots to bits.
All the side characters were absolutely fabulous: from Valeri and Astrid to El, Luis and Jiron. I loved them all, and I can't wait to see them all again in the final novella (and to also read Jiron's novella about his own shot at happiness after the events of this book *tears up*)
Like I said, I loved book three a smidge more because I think I liked the plot more there, and because Ren's non-stop flirting and innuendos got on my nerve more than once. This book is definitely a bit more darker, and a whole lot of traumatic, violent things happen to our beloved characters, and although the banter was a much needed way to lighten the mood, it sometimes felt more than a little forced. Like, I wished the tone had been more serious at times, more high-stakes, Idk.
Anyway, regardless, I still enjoyed it and I'll be diving into the fifth novella asap, as soon as my heart stops beating out of chest and my blood pressure can take. Whew, what a ride.
TWs/CWs: sexual assault (with the magical equivalent of drugging) and repeated threats of rape, violence, death, mutilations, drug use, torture, misogyny, homophobia and transphobia, brief suicidal ideation.
I can't believe I've finally managed to reach the end of this complex, gripping story. And although I think I loved book three just a smidge more, I still enjoyed the hell out of this fourth book.
"An Oath and a Promise" is a compelling conclusion to the Riehse Eshan series, and although there's a fifth novellla/installment (which I'm assuming will be a lot less stressful and anxiety-inducing than this one; I hope at least: please, no more death and violence *sobs*), Mat and Ren's HEA was as satisfying as I hoped it would be.
I really enjoyed the story in this one: it's packed with daring escapes, kidnapping attempts, violence and confrontations and political scheming; it's also packed with heartfelt romance, panty-melting, kinky steam, banter and a whole lot of funny moments.
I think, after four books, I can firmly say that Mat's probably my favourite: he's still as quick-to-assume and prickly as he was in the first book, but I loved seeing him bloom into this version of himself, where he can be himself, without shame and recrimination and fear. I loved it for him, and he honestely deserves the world after what he was put through, in the previous books but also in this one too. He's messy disaster with a bratty attitude and a tendency to martyr himself for the people he loves and cares about: in other words, my favourite kind of character.
Ren, I admit, was a biiiit more difficult for me to love wholeheartedly because his non-stop flirting can get tiring after a while; but I admit I did end up loving nonentheless. Plus, he's so damn devoted to Mat it made me tear up more than once... and yeah, I adored those two idiots to bits.
All the side characters were absolutely fabulous: from Valeri and Astrid to El, Luis and Jiron. I loved them all, and I can't wait to see them all again in the final novella (and to also read Jiron's novella about his own shot at happiness after the events of this book *tears up*)
Like I said, I loved book three a smidge more because I think I liked the plot more there, and because Ren's non-stop flirting and innuendos got on my nerve more than once. This book is definitely a bit more darker, and a whole lot of traumatic, violent things happen to our beloved characters, and although the banter was a much needed way to lighten the mood, it sometimes felt more than a little forced. Like, I wished the tone had been more serious at times, more high-stakes, Idk.
Anyway, regardless, I still enjoyed it and I'll be diving into the fifth novella asap, as soon as my heart stops beating out of chest and my blood pressure can take. Whew, what a ride.
TWs/CWs: sexual assault (with the magical equivalent of drugging) and repeated threats of rape, violence, death, mutilations, drug use, torture, misogyny, homophobia and transphobia, brief suicidal ideation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Misogyny, Homophobia, Death, Rape, and Violence
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts