*3.75

When you relate to a robot more than other people…

kinda spoilery read at ur own risk

Well this was definitely…something™. I originally wanted to read Forged in Frost because I thought this book would be more focused on the dragons (spoiler: it was not). And I think I was right in that assumption due to the series quite literally being called Of Dragons and Fae. But more spoiler the only dragon in here was actually just the love interest who was only a dragon shifter anyways so…I’m basically saying I got absolutely nothing. I was starved.

Besides the lack of dragons—which was annoying and the main reason I wanted to read this story—I was pretty astounded by how young Forged in Frost read. Everything about this story is juvenile; down to:
* The characters: who are 19+ but act 13 at most. The 13 yr old character was more mature than the adults…
* The plot and twists: which read exactly like every YA fantasy ever
* The underdeveloped world and magic system: the world was SUPER interesting, and all the Fae races and factions could have ended up being really cool but everything felt very 1D (young YA…)
* And the very young style of writing.
Like, this book was just as corny as it gets. We literally had characters saying (these are actually direct quotes):

”And you think a scrawny hatchling like yourself can stop me?”

”You won’t get away with this, you know. My friends will come for me.”

and

”If you want to get to my friends, you’ll have to go through me first.”

Author, this is supposed to be a NA book. This dialogue literally reads like Scooby Doo type of shit. And no shade to Mystery Incorporated, I frl grew up with those characters and I still sit down to watch that show when it’s on TV to this day, but when I’m reading an adult fantasy romance I don’t want this type of corny ass dialogue in the book I’m reading. I literally starting laughing out loud when the FMC started spewing these cheesy ass lines. Girl no villain is going to be scared of your corny ass.

So anyways…I think my main problem was this book is that it read so young. This was literally just younger YA with “aged up” characters and (allusions to) smut. I think this story could have been a really cool take on the prophecy trope and the fated/chosen one + adding dragons into it?! The way this could have been a new favorite for me was so high. But our FMC literally had a grasp of her powers that she knew nothing about four days prior. It was just so YA and absolutely hilarious to me. I genuinely couldn’t take her serious, or any of these characters, for that matter.

The romance was also so cringe. These two characters are supposed to be fated mates and they, first of all, have absolutely no chemistry, but they also read like middle schoolers that have a crush on each other. The amount of blushing and corny ass banter between these two was insane. I genuinely didn’t know if I wanted to laugh or cry. There was one scene in here where the FMC was trying to beat the villain and the villain said something like

”She’s mine!”

And the MMC was like

”She belongs to no one but herself

Cold-hearted rake? This man was literally a giant teddy bear, puh-lease. Honestly I don’t know if it’s my PMS talking or just the book itself, but this book made me violently sob the ugliest happy, fluff tears.

Cold-Hearted Rake is a very lighthearted historical romance, primarily following our heroine Kathleen who’s Earl husband Theo, of 3 days has just died. Following his death, his cousin, Devon, inherits Theo’s rundown estate, and all the issues, debt, and unexpected new family members that come with it. Theo not only left behind his wife, Kathleen, but also his 3 younger sisters, Helen, Cassandra, and Pandora. Devon and his brother West, wants to sell the estate, and forget about the Earldom completely, but Kathleen has other ideas. With more pushing from Kathleen, Devon decides to fix up the estate, and help his acquired family find suitable matches. Both Kathleen and Wes are determined not to fall in love with each other, but obviously that doesn’t work out.

This is my second Kleypas novel (my first being Someone to Watch Over Me, a bow street runner amnesia historical romance), and it will certainly not be my last Kleypas. Devon as a hero was so fucking sweet, both to his cousins, and Kathleen. I was literally melting for him the entire time. His nicknames for Kathleen, oh my god. Love, sweetheart, Angel. Why can’t this man be real???

And both the primary and secondary romances were absolute top notch. Devon and Kathleen had the best chemistry and their banter was so fun. Kathleen was set on the family being properly in mourning for Theo, and in comes in Theo’s rake cousin Devon who shakes the whole house awake. Their back in forth was so delightful, and I just adored them together. The secondary romance was so fucking sweet as well. Helen and Devon’s friend, Rhys Winterbourne, have a small romance in here and they were absolutely beautiful to read about. Helen is a very shy and sweet MC, and Winterbourne is a (historical) billionaire with an alphahole personality. But the way he treated her. I’m literally swooning thinking about it, they were so so cute.

I loved this book so much, I can’t even believe it. This might be my favorite historical I’ve ever read. The relationships, the family dynamics, the humor, and Kleypas’s prose. It might have just all been fluff, but I don’t care. I’m so excited to read Marrying Winterbourne, I can’t wait for Helen and Rhys to get their HEA. Ok, going to go fangirl some more <33

Cold Hearted Rake: ★★★★★

ITS SO CUTE

*3.5

Cute and fun but not much plot. I think novellas just aren’t really my thing. I feel like they don’t have enough substance for me to fully care or connect to a story. I would read something else from this author though, I really liked these characters and their chemistry. The writing was also solid. I just think I needed more time to really like this. Grumpy/Sunshine remains superior though.

Update 1: August 2023
Yes, I know this character has a chronic illness. I also have a chronic illness. In my opinion this was shitty rep, and to keep describing Violet as a fragile little bean