Omg this was SO GOOD??? A very easy but engaging fantasy with tons of political intrigue and so many twists! While there is no magic in this fantasy world, I honestly didn’t miss it with our badass FMC Lara who is just so smart and strong and talented! I also think this would make this book a really good intro to fantasy if you’re new to the genre :)

Lara is such a great character, I loved watching her unlearn a lifetime of bias and come to terms with the fact that not everything is as it seems in her world while also falling for Aren, his land, and his people. While we initially expect Aren to be a cruel king, we quickly learn that is not the case, and I found that it definitely set him apart from other fantasy love interests! 

I found this read to be a breath of fresh air in the romantasy genre, and I will be immediately starting the next!

I will say that I didn’t totally love the audiobook narrators, as their voices for other characters felt a bit awkward, but overall it was still a good listen!