I really wanted to include a specific quote in my review for this book, but I'm having trouble finding it and I'm an impatient bitch, so we're just not including it.

Maybe I'm just really into trashy romance novels recently but I fucking loved this book. It feels like this is what a condensed version of JLA's From Blood and Ash would have been without

Casteel's deception plot

. I love that series so it makes sense I would love this too.

It was interesting coming to this after having read A Touch of Darkness because the writing style was so much different and engaging. To me it seems like Scarlett St. Clair really found her voice in this story, and I can't wait to read the second one in December!

I honestly think this one is spicier than the others I’ve read by this author. I loved the love story. It was enemies to lovers but in the best way. I loved the protagonist. I enjoy how she learns and grows as the novel progresses to become a more developed, understanding person - which is how I think we should all live. There was a bit of predictability in the plot and there were a few grammatical issues that led me to a four star rating as opposed to a five star rating. 

3.75 ⭐️

Genre: Fantasy/Romance
Age group : Adult
POV : First person / single POV
Characters: 4.5/5 ⭐️
Plot: 4.5/5 ⭐️
Setting/Themes: 4.5/5 ⭐️
Writing: 4/5 ⭐️
Spice : 3.5 ⭐️

• Please check TWs & CWs
• mature language, sexual scenes, violence, murder, sacrificial fires, bloodletting, death, gore, slaughter, war, fire injury, genocide 
• tropes: forced marriage, rebirth & more

“I do not pray,” he said. “But I begged for you.”

PHEWWWWWW. man did I love this. I really didn’t expect much, I wasn’t looking forward to loving it, but I did. The plot and theme of the story is so interesting, this book ended on a thrilling cliffhanger and I’m so excited for the next. The spice was good <3 The writing was good, it did though, make me laugh at some parts. Why? I’d assume that a book full of royals with formal language and poshness would evade from the usage of the word “fuck” but I was wrong, I guess. 🤭

Isolde. Ooh la la. This woman. I loved her, through and through. She a badass, with wit and an intelligent mind. I’ve always loved independent and strong women and that was exactly what Isolde was. 

Adrian. Adrian is a HUUGE SIMP and I am living for it. You know the Kind of kings that are feared by the world but would bow to their queen? Yes , that’s who Adrian is. I love Adrian, I do. 

However, I did have a bunch of issues as well (hence the hesitance to give this 4 - 5 ⭐️) 

- From what I understand, Isolde is a black woman. Referring to her as an Islander and not clearly stating that she is a woman of the BIPOC community bothered me, it really did. Please feel free to correct me if I’ve got this mistaken. 
- I loved the MLM & WLW relationships amongst the supporting characters, but I truly would love to hear more about these characters’ stories as well. I’m assuming that we’ll hear more in the next book (so not really an issue) 
- spoiler:  I am furious about Isla’s death. Furious, upset, heartbroken. 

Overall, it was a good read and I enjoyed it more than I expected to. Stoked for the next book !