A review by diana_raquel
Solomon's Crown by Natasha Siegel

adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

“My liege," I said, bowing low.
"My Lord Aquitaine," he replied, as he stood from the bench. "Is the gate broken, or do you make a habit of vaulting over walls?"
"Only when you are on the other side of them.” 

I was perusing the shelves at my favorite bookstore - you know, as one does - when I came face-to-face with this book and fell in love with the cover (you know the old saying "never judge a book by its cover"? Well, when it comes to books, I don't think that saying is accurate). At that point, I never heard of Natasha Siegel and when reading the synopsis of the book I got intrigued. It seemed like a thing that I would like. A queer medievalist alt-history romance between two widely know history figures? Shut up and take my money!!

But, alas, I was skeptical. How many times do I think that I will like a book, because it has all the elements that I like and comes up short or I hate it? Case in point: ACOTAR! Nevertheless, and because I'm a masochist and like to make mistakes, I brought the book. And love it!!!

I have to say that, at first, given the sorta melancholic and nostalgic tone of the first pages, I was like "oh, s***, this is gonna end in tragedy! It will be this epic love story and then one of them is gonna die". I was so sure it was gonna end in tears! Imagine my surprise when it was a epic love story with a happy ending!
 

If you like alt-history, enemies to lovers, and political intrigue I truly recommend this book! As the author herself put it, this book is "joyously queer"! Its a delightful return to the past (albeit a fictionalized one) full of intrigue, love and drama! 

One of the best reads of 2023!!
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