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lastblossom's review
adventurous
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Thanks to NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
tl;dr
A steamy historical romance centered around a love of music with just a splash of danger. Plot is a little thin.
About
Lady Azalais' father is being held for ransom, and her brother seems content to leave him to die. With no other options, she decides to disguise herself as a minstrel and retrieve him herself. But the journey is a dangerous one, and she'll need an escort. Sir William is a knight who prefers music over killing, so when the opportunity arrives for him to escort a minstrel through dangerous territory on a secret mission, he jumps at the chance. The two of them instantly bond over a shared love of music, but as the journey winds on, they might find they have a lot more in common. If their secrets don't separate them first.
Thoughts
Fans of romantic pining and steamy lovemaking scenes rejoice - this book has both of those in spades. The leads spend a lot of the book pining for each other, separated by societal expectations. When they finally decide to eschew said expectations, they dedicate a lot of energy to making up for lost time. Interestingly, the scenes in which they play music together are written with the same sort of intimate language as sex scenes. I was initially surprised, but that choice lends powerful support to their romantic connection and makes their interest in each other a lot more stable. I was also surprised by the thoughtful portrayal of Azalias' emotional experience with disguising herself as a man - specifically her feelings of vulnerability and self-consciousness. The plot itself is fairly straightforward, with very little by way of political intrigue.
Potential readers should be aware that sexual assault is one of the recurring themes of the book. There are two actual events (not between the MCs), a couple threats, and a lot of discussion on the topic.
tl;dr
A steamy historical romance centered around a love of music with just a splash of danger. Plot is a little thin.
About
Lady Azalais' father is being held for ransom, and her brother seems content to leave him to die. With no other options, she decides to disguise herself as a minstrel and retrieve him herself. But the journey is a dangerous one, and she'll need an escort. Sir William is a knight who prefers music over killing, so when the opportunity arrives for him to escort a minstrel through dangerous territory on a secret mission, he jumps at the chance. The two of them instantly bond over a shared love of music, but as the journey winds on, they might find they have a lot more in common. If their secrets don't separate them first.
Thoughts
Fans of romantic pining and steamy lovemaking scenes rejoice - this book has both of those in spades. The leads spend a lot of the book pining for each other, separated by societal expectations. When they finally decide to eschew said expectations, they dedicate a lot of energy to making up for lost time. Interestingly, the scenes in which they play music together are written with the same sort of intimate language as sex scenes. I was initially surprised, but that choice lends powerful support to their romantic connection and makes their interest in each other a lot more stable. I was also surprised by the thoughtful portrayal of Azalias' emotional experience with disguising herself as a man - specifically her feelings of vulnerability and self-consciousness. The plot itself is fairly straightforward, with very little by way of political intrigue.
Potential readers should be aware that sexual assault is one of the recurring themes of the book. There are two actual events (not between the MCs), a couple threats, and a lot of discussion on the topic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual violence and Sexual harassment
Minor: Death, Blood, War, and Classism