It’s been a weird year. I foolishly thought i would have a lot of reading time in January and February and then i got Covid. I did read, but writing was a step too far. Then i started a grad course in Internal audit and risk management. Which has been interesting, but my final assessment is in, so in order to distract me from crippling anxiety about passing, i shall attempt to write some book reviews.
I think i grabbed this book because a SBTB post. Possibly about the crazy sauce blurb. Anyway, it was kindle unlimited, so at least i can now delete it.
A brief summary: here be spoilers
Kael, a barbarian king, discovers that his chamberlain has sent out to the kingdoms around for a bride for him when one shows up. She turns out to be drugged and declares she will kill him, and then she will go home and kill the spider she saw in her mother’s chambers.
Kael has come to the throne by killing the horrible king before and his courtiers don’t know how to deal with him. He is a barbarian, but he believes in kindness and justice. While also being incredibly violent. Anyway, he declares we will return his drugged bride home, kill the spider and return. So they set off together. She comes from a magic wielding country, he dislikes/distrusts magic. They travel together. He is in lust. Just to be clear, there is no sex in the first 2/3 of the book, but there is lots of description of his state of arousal and what he is thinking about.
Anyway en route he displays his generosity of spirit and skill in killing people. She falls in love. Towards the end, they get married, there is sex – although not really described. They travel a dangerous wood, defeat the giant spider, yell at her parents for treating her bad and go home.
As fluff, this book was passable. The story did take some turns, but also set up some of the more interesting shifts so that they made sense without being telegraphed.
Will i read again? Nope
