It’s entertaining and has all the tropes readers love. But with that comes repeated dialogue and scenes just in different locations. I’m all for a fantasy romance (and the romance is very good), but there were so many repeated romantic scenes that other characters got completely lost, events didn’t connect, and motivations or relationships were flat or non existent.

Spoilers ahead!

For someone so intelligent, Paedyn did not critically asses the resistance before just jumping in with them. For having a best friend in the castle who she already forgot once, she sure never sought Adena out. For a manipulative king, we were told a lot of his evils and kindness towards his sons but never shown. How can the queen be such a good mom to Kai but then truly love the king who tortured him?

All the other side characters were great. Perfect amount of development and were key components to spurring the main characters along their journies. But the dynamics between the two boys and their parents, or Paedyn and Adena, was so much telling and not showing that the fallouts of those relationships were nothing. They meant nothing and made no sense.

One final note, if I read “laughed” or “chuckled” one more time I was gunna scream. 

If you don’t care about literary prowess and just want a book with great romantasy vibes, you’ll love this book. If you do care, be warned.