Well, I just read that in one sitting. No shame. While the romance angle vastly confused me, it was, nevertheless, enjoyable. Tehl as a character kind of seems off and has been hard to relate to despite much of the book being from his POV. I think part of that stems from the fact that he actively tries to have no personality and doesn't seem to know what the heck he wants in life. Though, I'll give him a bit of a break and say he did have the weight of an angry and hungry kingdom thrown upon his shoulders. He cares enough for his people that he doesn't have time for wants and needs. I understand, I get it, but it makes me unable to grow any sort of attachment to him. His brothers at arms and by blood Sam and Gav keep the story about our good Prince from too much seriousness and give us done much needed comedic relief and banter.
Sage on the other hand, just had me so confused. Literally I was just like "UGH GIRL JUST TELL THEM WHO YOU ARE AND THAT YOU WERE NOT JOINING THE REBELLION. RIGHT? RIGHT? SILLY. "
and then you find out exactly who she is and you're like oh shit. FROST KAY WHY DID YOU HIDE THAT FROM ME YOU KNIVING SNEAK.
You, along with the court, don't really get to know who Sage is and what role she is meant to play in the overall scheme of things until close to the end. But oh, when you find out and she gets her own agency back, IT. IS. GRAND.
this could have been a 4 star book EASILY. but the characters need desperately to be fleshed out. I need Sage's background. How she became so enmeshed in certain group and the obsession of a man named Rafe.
I need to understand Tehl more. He can be aloof to his people and kingdom. But it does no good to be aloof to the reader.
Also why do all the Princes thing she's the most beautiful thing to walk the Earth. COME ON. Major eye rolls Everytime they talked about just how beautiful she was. Eff that. Sage is a muthfuckin kickass warrior and her beauty is what gets you? *sigh*
Now, let's give a shout out to how much fun the midsummer festival was. It was amazing and hilarious and emotional, and HOT.
Overall a solid 3 stars in the fantasy realm. And yes, the moment I put book 1 down, I picked book 2 up.