True rating: 4.5 stars for the insta-love, but another steamy romp through Glimmer Falls and the surrounding area (which I hope we get to see more of in future books!) with a fantastically dynamic pairing between Astarion-coded (aka sexy drama queen brat [and yes this book came out before BG3, but I can't unhear any Astaroth dialog or inner voice as Astarion in my head]) Astaroth, and fitness warrior queen, "literally-kicking-ass, maybe-taking-names" Calladia.

This book is for all the masculine of center girlies with disappointed mothers, and I loved every sweat drenched minute of it to overlook the fact that we got declarations of love within....maybe a week? If I'm really stretching it?

Insta-love just isn't the trope for me, nor is the kink-baiting that seems to be a constant in contemporary romance these days, but enough slow burn and steam will get you places. It seems a bit oxymoronic to call it an insta-love and a slow burn in the same paragraph, but this book can and does do both!

This book also sets out to be different from other (problematic) small town witchy rom coms at the outset in book 1, and I have to applaud the magically adaptive world building that's been established here in the sequel.

I happily look forward to visiting Glimmer Falls again in Book 3!