A review by infergnome
A Duet with the Siren Duke by Elise Kova

dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This is the 4th book in the Married to Magic universe. I read the first three and loved the world and Kova's writing style. It was so immersive and easy to read, and I loved the characters! That's why this is such an unfortunate disappointment. The first 60% of the book is S L O W. I couldn't believe how long it took me to read; it felt like my Kindle progress bar was mocking me. There was SO much setting description that my eyes started to glaze over after the 15th mention of how the shells were arranged in some particular room. I thought the main premise was fascinating, and I found myself rooting for the characters even though they weren't my favorite. The last 30% of the book is where all the action occurs, so I wouldn't blame those who couldn't slog through a boring book to get some excitement. The tone and writing felt so different from the previous books, and I found myself constantly doubling back because I wasn't focused on the book. Overall, it wasn't a bad read but definitely my least favorite in the series so far. I hope that #5 is more reminiscent of the earlier novels.