There was so much I liked about this book and then there were also things I didn’t like.

Right from start, they form an instant connection. Which is good cause there’s no escape. I mean one is human and the other isn’t so It was refreshing seeing them kind of unlearn and relearn the things they knew about each other’s people. But there’re also things I didn’t like when it came to this. I felt we could have gone deeper into this whole different background thing but all focus was just on the surface like the whole different food and looks thing. 

I mean we know he finds her hideous and she thinks he looks like a dead eel. You’d think it’ll take them a while to be affectionate with each other because of that yet it was just too easy with them. They were always soo touchy with each other, so it was kind of hard to convince me that they were supposed to be repulsed by one another. It was like they were too perfect. They always had the perfect response, perfect communication, perfect emotions to situations, perfect in a way it was almost ridiculous. I mean when two people from different cultures and upbringing come together, there’s bound to be some miss understanding and such along the road, but they were loyal to a fault. 

Maybe it’s because they are both spares to the throne and have kind of come to terms with their roles in their respective kingdoms and all. It’s also possible they have each just decided to give their best to this marriage but I just don’t know. Something about it didn’t appeal to me.

Then there was the whole lifestyle change. Especially when it came to Ildiko. She was too perfect on that aspect. I mean she’s human(Kai). So how is it that she was ready to give up her whole life to sort of become full gauri?? She might not have directly said it but that was exactly what was done. She stopped wearing her own cultural clothes, hardly ate human food even tho she didn’t like some of the gauri food. And why is it that Brishen always complained about human food when she hardly ever said anything about his own food? It was annoying cause it felt like she was the only one adapting and making an effort.

I think it would have been better if there was a fusion of cultures when it came to them but there wasn’t. Don’t even get me started on the whole sleeping schedule thing. It was impractical because we know she’s not gauri so she’s going to need sunlight to thrive in the long run while he won’t. Yet she had to completely change her sleeping schedule to match his. This book had a good world building and would have been so good if both cultures were infused in a way. I mean I know it’s said that they can’t have children but you never know. If they eventually do have children, it would be powerful to see a fusion of the two lifestyles in some way. 

I did like her determination though. Even though I didn’t fully agree with it, it was nice to see her trying hard not to be left out. I also really liked the humour and the friendship that came with it. Even though it felt like they were more than friends but trying to pass it off as just friends, the transition to lovers was done nicely. Plus it was great that she wasn’t a virgin and kind of knew what she was doing too. I also liked that they both weren’t going to let his mother walk all over her. It was nice to see them being a united front. 

I’ll probably read the second book because I’m kind of looking forward to seeing how we continue from that chaotic ending. Plus I want to see what his mother is going to do now.