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A review by doughtah
A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book was so much fun. If you like romance, fantasy, and worldbuilding that doesn't treat the reader like they're a fool, you'll enjoy A Taste of Gold and Iron. I enjoyed the pacing, the characterization, and the plot beyond the romance.
The story is built primarily around the relationship of Prince Kadou and one of his kahyalar Evemer. You get both of their points of view, flipping between the POVs a couple of times in each chapter. The pacing is really slow in some parts only because Rowland does have you sit inside their heads when something emotional happens or when they're overthinking things. It reminds me of some other stories I've read or even some RPs I've seen where the author really focuses on that interior part of the characters.
As far as characterization, I enjoyed how we saw the characters through the others eyes AND through their own eyes. It was fun to have that juxtaposition. Prince Kadou deals with extreme anxiety and it was thrilling to read through his panic attacks and sometimes just as nervewracking! At the same time, he's an honorable prince who just wants to do right by his people. And then you have Evemer, who's picture-perfect as a knight-like figure. He's serious and stoic and by-the-rules and then to see him grow through the book and his relationship with Kadou was such a blast. I really like how they grew to know one another better.
The only reason this book isn't getting a 5.0 is because while the romance was perfect, I really wanted just a smidge more politics and that's just my own little nitpick probably because it's what I've been most in the mood for in reading. The book served up a lot of politics and some economics and dropping you into a different culture's custom without explaining every single detail to you while still immersing you in it! I will likely reread this again once I have given it a little more time to stew.
Also, I really did enjoy how (I'm fairly certain) this story takes place in the same world as Rowland's other books. I look forward to seeing more of their adventures in their world! It reminds me of some other fantasy writers I adored in the past like Sherwood Smith or Terry Pratchett in terms of having a universe and setting stories there. The magic and some of the characters remind me more of Diana Wynne Jones, especially Tenzin.
The story is built primarily around the relationship of Prince Kadou and one of his kahyalar Evemer. You get both of their points of view, flipping between the POVs a couple of times in each chapter. The pacing is really slow in some parts only because Rowland does have you sit inside their heads when something emotional happens or when they're overthinking things. It reminds me of some other stories I've read or even some RPs I've seen where the author really focuses on that interior part of the characters.
As far as characterization, I enjoyed how we saw the characters through the others eyes AND through their own eyes. It was fun to have that juxtaposition. Prince Kadou deals with extreme anxiety and it was thrilling to read through his panic attacks and sometimes just as nervewracking! At the same time, he's an honorable prince who just wants to do right by his people. And then you have Evemer, who's picture-perfect as a knight-like figure. He's serious and stoic and by-the-rules and then to see him grow through the book and his relationship with Kadou was such a blast. I really like how they grew to know one another better.
The only reason this book isn't getting a 5.0 is because while the romance was perfect, I really wanted just a smidge more politics and that's just my own little nitpick probably because it's what I've been most in the mood for in reading. The book served up a lot of politics and some economics and dropping you into a different culture's custom without explaining every single detail to you while still immersing you in it! I will likely reread this again once I have given it a little more time to stew.
Also, I really did enjoy how (I'm fairly certain) this story takes place in the same world as Rowland's other books. I look forward to seeing more of their adventures in their world! It reminds me of some other fantasy writers I adored in the past like Sherwood Smith or Terry Pratchett in terms of having a universe and setting stories there. The magic and some of the characters remind me more of Diana Wynne Jones, especially Tenzin.