I devoured this book like a Kai eating a scarpatine or a Gauri eating a potato.

On a serious note and on behalf of all delicious spuds - we have heard a great dishonor toward the baked potatoes in both the Haradis Kingdom and Guar. As a fan of the humble potato "boil, mash em, stick em in a stew" I take offence I say, great offence to the slanderous accusations of the potato-thing at the wedding banquet. Slanderous I say! Have some lightly salted fries dear Kai-folk and then get back to us on that.

I had heard whispers of this book out there yonder in the Romancebooks / CozyFantasy subreddits and the consensus there was it was a book with minimal conflict and a rather endearing love story. Out in the wider Fantasy community, it was trashed as having no action and rather boring. Listen; I'm all for great quests and Armageddon and fighting dragons and flying on dragons into the heart of a war using magnificent fine magery skills and - you get it. That's my jam right there. But this book was all kinds of sweet, gentle, and about overcoming differences without the hullabaloo world-ending drama. There was sufficient conflict to satisfy those who want to see the world burn. And the setup for the next few books promises all that fantasy flaming rivers of blood good stuff.

Some excellent world building in just a few pages: In a world where a few surviving (slowly fading) Elder Races coexist with the Human Race and it is clear that the former are in no way human except for perhaps being bipeds and humanoid (in accordance with the monstrous humanoid fantasy trope) it was refreshing to see how each race perceived the "otherness" of the opposite through a tender love story. One of my favorite moments in the opening chapter:

"She turned to face him, her parasite gaze scrutinizing every part of his booted feet to his hands resting on his knees to his eyes he knew glowed back at her from the hoods shadow."
Brishen, describing human eyes as parasites because of the difference in color or and the white sclera which Kai do not have, was both hysterical and maybe aliens haven't made contact with us because we look "perpetually hysterical with fear" like horses.

And just like that, a loveable character is born. I loved both Brishen and Ildiko.

I rarely add new authors to my list of favorites but Grace Draven just barreled deep down to my barely beating romantic heart and ignited a flame and so she gets a seat next to my greats.