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A review by happyeverabigail
A Reign of Rose by Kate Golden
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Read for free via the PRH Audio influencer program. I’ve gotten so much enjoyment from this series. ESPECIALLY with these narrators. I actually got the books from the library to reread my favorite parts and I could hear the narrators in my head and tbh they brought the story to life that much more. It’s dual not duet but still the 2 main characters pair so well together.
I love how well this author sustained a romantic pairing throughout a trilogy without having me ever doubt their connection and capacity for being endgame. And without a love triangle. Buuut have to mention and also CW I know this author has said there’s no SA in this series but unfortunately in this book there is what would legally be classified as sexual harassment (FMC is stripped nude in front of people without her consent at the demand of the villain of the series). It’s become a trope at this point in fantasy to have this (like literally this specifically it always confounds me as a way for authors to raise stakes without having explicit SA) and I just really wanted this to be a gold star series for me personally and I’m bummed that didn’t happen. It doesn’t affect my rating because this book is in the adult genre but fair warning.
What did affect my rating was my interest in the final climax of the battle/war. I found myself just not caring. I thought the first 40% was compelling and just as action-y as book 2 (I gave book 1 & 2 both 5 stars) but then I was like okay yeah the blade is here then it’s there can we just go back to Kane and Arwen being cute and spicy. Also, if this series and world is fully complete why did it end like that? I feel satisfied with the romance and that they’ll go the distance but there were side character and world loose strings and I’ve seen in interviews the author said there’s nothing else planned for that world. So idk that just felt a little odd but overall can say I loved this series and I’ll reread the first 2.
I love how well this author sustained a romantic pairing throughout a trilogy without having me ever doubt their connection and capacity for being endgame. And without a love triangle. Buuut have to mention and also CW I know this author has said there’s no SA in this series but unfortunately in this book there is what would legally be classified as sexual harassment (FMC is stripped nude in front of people without her consent at the demand of the villain of the series). It’s become a trope at this point in fantasy to have this (like literally this specifically it always confounds me as a way for authors to raise stakes without having explicit SA) and I just really wanted this to be a gold star series for me personally and I’m bummed that didn’t happen. It doesn’t affect my rating because this book is in the adult genre but fair warning.
What did affect my rating was my interest in the final climax of the battle/war. I found myself just not caring. I thought the first 40% was compelling and just as action-y as book 2 (I gave book 1 & 2 both 5 stars) but then I was like okay yeah the blade is here then it’s there can we just go back to Kane and Arwen being cute and spicy. Also, if this series and world is fully complete why did it end like that? I feel satisfied with the romance and that they’ll go the distance but there were side character and world loose strings and I’ve seen in interviews the author said there’s nothing else planned for that world. So idk that just felt a little odd but overall can say I loved this series and I’ll reread the first 2.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment