This book is astounding!!! The author has immeasurable wit and heart, her writing is moving and superb! Often do I find books with compelling characters or messages, but rarely do I find a WRITER who knows how to craft a phrase so effectively, so gut-wrenchingly, so profoundly!!! I cannot sing enough praises about this book, and I will DEFINITELY be keeping my eye on Natasha Siegel!

There are some tropes - enemies to lovers, opposites attract, love at first sight, schemers playing chess, schemers politicking in a garden, etc - but they didn't detract from the story. If anything, I wish more time was awarded to the happier moments between Richard and Phillip. The book is largely the moodiness and tragedy of them being separated by duty. The times they come together are often summarized - lovingly, respectfully, but all too briefly all the same.

I love love LOVE LOVE LOVE how positive the LGBTQA representation is! Only the most vindictive characters sneer at Richard and Phillip's relationship. Most courtiers are polite about it, Isabella is even encouraging, and Richard and Phillip never hold themselves back out of shame for their sexuality, only shame over the clash of demands between their hearts and their crowns. And Richard, Phillip, and Isabella make such a sweet, supportive, quasi-throuple! The scenes between them being affectionate or teasing or compassionate are SO wholesome and heart-warming! I love this book, and its message about daring to choose love, to choose trust and vulnerability and friendship. To keep alive moments of light even in the darkest of times.

Standing ovation! Cannot wait to own a copy of this book!!!!