“Arranged marriages were the fate of nearly all aristocratic Gauri women, each one made for power, for trade, for good of country.”
Ildiko is a
Gauri (human) woman born into a position of close relation with the royal family
of Gauri. She is married of to a Kai Prince Brishen (not human), and none of
them are particularly happy about the arrangement. Although an unexpected friendship
blossoms between them and the bond in their shared distaste of the others appearance.
“To the human Gauri she might be beautiful or banal; to him she was profoundly homely.”
It fits
well into the genre of fantasy romance, the Kai is an otherworldly race, and we
are in another world so yes it fist in very well, there is magic, mystery and customs
that are all part of the worldbuilding, that makes the book feel effortless, we
are given information as we go along, and even though we get information by
following different characters it still feels like the information and plot twists
are delivered at the right times.
“…the Kai are old, with long memories. The spirits of our dead leave this world but gift the living with their memories—what we call mortem lights. We keep those memories alive in a place called Emlek. They are our history, what defines us beyond how we look or the sorcery we’re losing.”
The Characters
are well written with depth and dimensions to them, they might not be the most relatable
of characters, but I feel like I know them how they think and talked, they came
alive to me, and that is not an easy feat. They felt real, the contradictions
of a meek woman, being raised in an oppressive patriarchal society, where she
was expected to ask the father of husband for permission before even dancing with
an ally.
“Gauri society dictated that a woman either ask her father or her husband permission to dance with another man. Kai society did not. To the Kai, it was perfectly acceptable for Ildiko to take up Serovek's invitation without Brishen's approval. Still, she hesitated.”
In the beginning
I didn’t like how meek Ildiko acted, but that feeling fated when I realized that
she was strong in her own way, and used the meekness in her own way, she showed
strength an courage where others might have failed, I cant fault her for that.
“Her own voice was calm, lacking disdain but sure and uncowed. “What sacrifices would those be, Your Majesty? I see only a groom returned home with a bride after an admittedly dangerous trip. He bears no wounds, no scars, and possesses all his limbs. I haven’t yet had the time to henpeck him to death.””
Brishen is
a kind person, he expects nothing from Ildiko but friendship and mutual respect.
He does his best to not only include her in his world but to make her feel at home
and welcome. But he is also a warrior, and as such will do whatever he can to
make avenge wrongs committed against him, his family, and his people. The contrast
helps him come alive to the reader, and you feel the depth and sense of honor
in him.
“Brishen had partially drawn his sword from its sheath when the king let out a bellowing laugh. “
The plot
was very gripping, there was a legitimate reason for the marriage, and it all
came together perfectly, I liked the theme centered around loving what’s inside
rather than focusing on what’s outside.
It had a
good pace, not to slow and not too fast, I read about both fighting scenes and
everyday chores the couple had to go through, they grew steadily closer, and I liked
that a lot.
All in all I
liked the story I felt like it was well written, and that the theme of the story
was applicable to the real world. I am going to read the second book in the
series but only because the book ended the way it did. I’m not sure I would
have chosen it otherwise.
Will I recommend
the book to others, well yes, because it is a good book just not my favorite.
3 out of 5
stars from me.
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