Review: Fascinating epic fantasy romance
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 18, 2011
REVIEW CONTAINS SOME VAGUE SPOILERS.I have reviewed this book elsewhere, but since I repurchased it on Amazon, I figured might as well do it here too. The story of Arman and Kei set upon the war between their nations is one of my favorite books in this genre, and I think it is one of my favorite books period. I really love when I get to read about enemies becoming friends and maybe becoming lovers and this book delivered in spades. Arman and Kei meet in the worst possible time when Arman's people raged a war upon peaceful Darshians and Kei and some of his other people are taken hostages and taken to Arman's country. This book has everything good fantasy book should have - skillful worldbuilding, complex characters, interesting storyline. What was probably the most important to me is how slowly and believably the romance unfolded. I mean, while from enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes in romance, I can count on the fingers of my two hands and still have couple of fingers left the number of book which pulled off such trope believably. It is more often than not the total change of attitude in a matter of days or weeks and me shaking my head and wanting to throw the book against the wall.This one was so lovely. Change of attitude is extremely slow and painful, especially because it unfolds amongst some real war caused drama and grief and pain, but I could also believe that yes, Arman saw Kei for who he is and that Kei could fell in love with Arman too.These two guys are complex, they grow, they change a lot, they adjust their way of thinking and you cannot help but root for them and at the same time you can definitely see that Kei's people attitudes toward Arman will not change over night and they have a right to it, because Arman's people did start that horrible war, even if Arman was just a soldier executing the orders.Side characters are great too and they stay with you for a very long time.