“With my sword and with my life, I vow to keep you safe, Penellaphe,” he spoke, voice deep and smooth, reminding me of rich, decadent chocolate. “From this moment until the last moment, I am yours.”
“Honest? I prefer the version of you that wears no mask or veil.”
Hawke
“I’m not afraid to speak the truth. He may be powerful, but he’s just a weak man, who proves his strength by attempting to humiliate those more powerful than he is. Someone like you, with your strength? It makes him feel incompetent-which he is. And your scars? They are a testament to your fortitude. They are proof of what you survived. They are evidence of why you are here when so many twice your age wouldn’t be. They’re not ugly. Far from it. They’re beautiful, Poppy.”
Hawke
“Did you know that an Atlantian can only marry if both halves are standing in the soil of their land? It’s the only way for them to become whole. We go home to marry, my Princess.”
Hawke
— Story Synopsis —
A Maiden…
Chosen from birth to usher in a new era, Poppy’s life has never been her own. The life of the Maiden is solitary. Never to be touched. Never to be looked upon. Never to be spoken to. Never to experience pleasure. Waiting for the day of her Ascension, she would rather be with the guards, fighting back the evil that took her family, than preparing to be found worthy by the gods. But the choice has never been hers.
A Duty…
The entire kingdom’s future rests on Poppy’s shoulders, something she’s not even quite sure she wants for herself. Because a Maiden has a heart. And a soul. And longing. And when Hawke, a golden-eyed guard honor bound to ensure her Ascension, enters her life, destiny and duty become tangled with desire and need. He incites her anger, makes her question everything she believes in, and tempts her with the forbidden.
A Kingdom…
Forsaken by the gods and feared by mortals, a fallen kingdom is rising once more, determined to take back what they believe is theirs through violence and vengeance. And as the shadow of those cursed draws closer, the line between what is forbidden and what is right becomes blurred. Poppy is not only on the verge of losing her heart and being found unworthy by the gods, but also her life when every blood-soaked thread that holds her world together begins to unravel.
Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
— My Thoughts —
I’m ashamed to say that this is my first fantasy romance. I’ve always avoided reading fantasy romance books because I worried about being ‘disconnected with the characters’ and that the plot would be ‘too complicated’… BUT I LOVE THIS 😩 I think fantasy romance is on my list of favourite genres 😋
The slow burn was BURNING in this one. At the start, I was dying for the story to progress faster because so much information was being dumped. Thank God I gave this book a chance because after I crossed the 20% mark, the dialogues were so good and the plot got more interesting. The banter and flow of conversations and thoughts felt so natural, almost like a movie playing in my head.
The plot twist too!! I was jaw-dropped and I felt betrayed too 😆 I love the characters so much. Every single one of them was so likeable and played their respective roles in pushing the plot forward. The tensions were so well written too.
Perhaps it’s because it’s my first time reading a fantasy romance book, but I felt like the plot wasn’t predictable. I do have moments where I thought, “Haha, what if Hawke isn’t as trustworthy as he seems to be?” But then I’d push the thought away 😭
Overall, loved this book! Devoured it within two days of reading. I’ll be moving on to A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire next. Hopefully it’s as good as this one!
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