Bow Before the Elf Queen by J.M. Kearl

What a great start to the 2025 reading year.

This is a super quick read and very easy to get through. It’s definitely romantasy/fantasy in its themes and overall plot, but it reads much more like a romance-first story set in a fantasy world. The fantasy aspects are simple and easy to understand.

We see a lot of little slice-of-life moments throughout the storytelling that really let you witness the feelings develop on-page. These small moments feel organic and aren’t just implied growth or told only through grand, plot-moving events.

I enjoyed the balance struck with the MMC as well. He’s finally an MMC I could see holding a healthy relationship long-term. He’s morally gray and ruthless when needed but also lighthearted and understanding when the mask of his responsibilities comes off. It really helps that both main characters are 25 or older, and they feel like healthy, mature adults.

A minor dislike was the perpetuation of the “mean girls” trope that’s very popular right now. The author managed to display such a healthy balance in the MMC, so it’s a shame she didn’t apply that same energy to the female friendships and relationships.

The general vibes and story fall somewhere between Viciously, Yours and Quicksilver, with a bit of These Hollow Vows mixed in.

Overall, it was enjoyable, easy to understand, and quick to read. However, nothing stood out as super unique or memorable.

I’d still recommend it as a good book, just not a groundbreaking one.
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#bowbeforetheelfqueen #jmkearl #bookrecommendations #bookreview #kindleunlimited