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Tales of Ikronia #1
Honey and Starlight
Introducing L.A. Lambert’s debut novel, a sweet slow-burn fantasy romance set in the kingdom of Ikronia!
March Cesari is a prim and proper noble who values routine, consistency, and tradition. When he comes of age to begin receiving marriage proposals, he imagines he’ll end up with someone like himself- polite and respectable.
Nero Aracovin, the cocky and carefree Crown Prince of Dragons, is perfectly comfortable with his easygoing life. When the king demands that he show some ambition by courting March, he is less than thrilled with the fussy young man. But with the threat of being shipped off to the royal military if he doesn’t comply, he doesn’t have a choice.
As the two of them attempt to work through their unpleasant history, as well as the external conflicts that seem to want to keep them apart, they are forced to reconsider the lives they thought they wanted for themselves.
Honey and Starlight is a guaranteed HEA 93,000 word novel that features snarky banter, oddball friends, a meddling king, and a mischievous dragon that loves to tease his bonded human pal.
No content warnings but note that while same-sex reproduction does exist in this universe, mpreg is not mentioned and does not occur within this story.
March Cesari is a prim and proper noble who values routine, consistency, and tradition. When he comes of age to begin receiving marriage proposals, he imagines he’ll end up with someone like himself- polite and respectable.
Nero Aracovin, the cocky and carefree Crown Prince of Dragons, is perfectly comfortable with his easygoing life. When the king demands that he show some ambition by courting March, he is less than thrilled with the fussy young man. But with the threat of being shipped off to the royal military if he doesn’t comply, he doesn’t have a choice.
As the two of them attempt to work through their unpleasant history, as well as the external conflicts that seem to want to keep them apart, they are forced to reconsider the lives they thought they wanted for themselves.
Honey and Starlight is a guaranteed HEA 93,000 word novel that features snarky banter, oddball friends, a meddling king, and a mischievous dragon that loves to tease his bonded human pal.
No content warnings but note that while same-sex reproduction does exist in this universe, mpreg is not mentioned and does not occur within this story.
387 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 2, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
August 11, 2024
Excuse me but I need your chemistry, don't you wanna be my fantasy? (Let’s Pretend We’re Married – Prince).
The only problem with reading books that you love is that the more you read them, the less book there is to read! It’s an issue for the ages, surely. No Joke, I’d constantly find myself torn between wanting to continue this because I was having a great time and taking a break because I didn’t want it to end! And now that I’m over and done with this book, I’ve got to say that I feel a little numb. So... what do I do now? I'm lost! Well, don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. Anyway, this was good. But not just good good, it’s good in bold. There’s interesting lore to the fantasy world hinted at, yet it doesn’t get in the way of the lovely romance, there’s a naturalistic approach to the “enemies-to-lovers” trope so March’s and Nero’s relationship doesn’t feel cooked up in a lab, and most importantly… there’s telepathic dragons! If I’m being honest, I really couldn’t ask for more in a story. So yeah, when I say it’s good, I'm kind of understating it, because what I'm really saying is that it’s good in the way where it has absolutely consumed my entire life for the past couple of days until the only remnants of my personality are coming up Honey and Starlight. I know I’m always comparing everything I read to songs or movies or shows, but while reading this, I was constantly reminded of this other wonderful book called Sebastian by Sam Argent; a similarly lovely story about a non royal guy whose pretty boy swag was too powerful for a helplessly smitten prince. See? I can do book comparisons too! No need to force a reference to some random ass move in this review. Yay! Okay well, this did remind me a little of The Proposal, but I digress. Um otherwise, I don’t really know how else to say this, but while flipping through this book, I couldn’t help but be reminded a little of fanfiction. Like, the kind of "just-one-more-chapter-and-then-I'll-sleep" kind of fanfiction. It was that addictive! And sure, this comparison came to mind also because I wouldn’t say that this story was perfectly written, as the author would almost always say stuff like, “the raven-haired male” or “The blonde noble” when a simple “him” would suffice nine times out of ten. Seriously, sometimes overwriting can hurt more than the tried-and-true methods! Okay wait, let me reel this back in real quick so I can get this review out of "backward compliment" territory. I am so willing to ignore all of my nitpicks, “there is no war in Ba Sing Se”-style, because other than the frequently repetitive prose, I undeniably enjoyed this style of writing! The love and care that the author put into this work is shown clearly, and I can’t help but feel incredibly fond of this book’s vibe. It's nice because the story could have easily read as an overindulgent mess with self-insert characters, but the fact that it manages to portray a romance sweeter than cotton candy (Majin Boo) is nothing short of a miracle. Basically, I dig it.
It’s interesting because this book does the whole “everyone’s perfectly beautiful" thing and it never really bothered me. I know that seems hypocritical because I’m always going on and on about how I’m not a fan and it's boring and blah blah blah, but I kind of liked it here. Maybe it's because March was the prettiest and most the time everyone was only fawning over him (I can only take so much adoration), but I think it's mostly because March's looks helps underline a point about his personality. And the way it actually ended up being a plot point was smart because it makes it so the novel is actually saying something, you know? Through March’s characterization, I'd say that this book actually had a pretty accurate and sensitive representation of anxiety, and how it can affect anybody regardless of their appearance. A lot of the other characters scoff at his insecurities because "he looks like that!," but some people just can't help it. We can never know what's going on in another person's mind. And while I have to admit that I was getting a little tired of March’s constant reticence towards Nero's advances (like, do you like the way he flicks his tongue or nah?) at first, because of how March’s complex backstory is written, we learn why it makes perfect sense as to why he has both an inferiority and superiority complex when it comes to these things. Normally I always find it a little frustrating how the characters only really seem to dislike each other because they need to fit into the trope box, so I was really impressed with the way the author was able to work in popular story conventions with a relationship that feels earned. Besides, the way that March was always in his own head and how easily embarrassed he got over seemingly nothing were incredibly relatable character traits, and I often found myself cringing at his dramatic reactions because... damn, have I been there! As an aside, and as someone who also gets embarrassed rather easily, I’ve found that it helps to just say it plainly. Like, sometimes just saying “Woah, that was embarrassing!” out loud actually turns that “yikes” moment into a simple “yike” (just one) moment. Yeah so, I liked March. It was especially nice to see his relationship with Nero develop throughout the story because the “go-with-the-flow” vibe to their dynamic never felt contrived to fit into an algorithmic writing style. Nero starts off as an overly confident jerk who’s spoiled and headstrong, but then something really special happens... he actually starts to change from how he was from the start of the novel, it’s great! I know this is like, nothing groundbreaking, as characters changing and evolving is basically the anchor of all good stories, but as someone who reads a lot, you’d actually be surprised at how few of these love-interests end up differently from the beginning of the story. I liked The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks a lot, but let's be real, forty year-old Monty is hardly any different from his seventeen year-old self! Here, Nero is written in a way where he not only changes, but he also puts in the proper work to earn forgiveness, and I think this book is all the better for it. A simple “sorry” really does go a long way, in the real world and fantasy land. And if nothing else, making it so the charmer has to sit down and be humble is always going to get me in my feelings. Romance stories work best if I like both characters (Captain Obvious, I know), and I found March and Nero's push-and-pull actually enticing in a way that I've often seen advertised but hardly ever realized. Alright, end of essay time! Ahem... in conclusion; Honey and Starlight by L.A. Lambert (#ad) was a lovely and fun story that goes down smooth like honeyed tea. It's really, really good! And you know what good means to me.
“Cute,” he decided, once he’d finished reading the letter.
“You say that about everything I do.”
“I haven’t lied yet.”
The only problem with reading books that you love is that the more you read them, the less book there is to read! It’s an issue for the ages, surely. No Joke, I’d constantly find myself torn between wanting to continue this because I was having a great time and taking a break because I didn’t want it to end! And now that I’m over and done with this book, I’ve got to say that I feel a little numb. So... what do I do now? I'm lost! Well, don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. Anyway, this was good. But not just good good, it’s good in bold. There’s interesting lore to the fantasy world hinted at, yet it doesn’t get in the way of the lovely romance, there’s a naturalistic approach to the “enemies-to-lovers” trope so March’s and Nero’s relationship doesn’t feel cooked up in a lab, and most importantly… there’s telepathic dragons! If I’m being honest, I really couldn’t ask for more in a story. So yeah, when I say it’s good, I'm kind of understating it, because what I'm really saying is that it’s good in the way where it has absolutely consumed my entire life for the past couple of days until the only remnants of my personality are coming up Honey and Starlight. I know I’m always comparing everything I read to songs or movies or shows, but while reading this, I was constantly reminded of this other wonderful book called Sebastian by Sam Argent; a similarly lovely story about a non royal guy whose pretty boy swag was too powerful for a helplessly smitten prince. See? I can do book comparisons too! No need to force a reference to some random ass move in this review. Yay! Okay well, this did remind me a little of The Proposal, but I digress. Um otherwise, I don’t really know how else to say this, but while flipping through this book, I couldn’t help but be reminded a little of fanfiction. Like, the kind of "just-one-more-chapter-and-then-I'll-sleep" kind of fanfiction. It was that addictive! And sure, this comparison came to mind also because I wouldn’t say that this story was perfectly written, as the author would almost always say stuff like, “the raven-haired male” or “The blonde noble” when a simple “him” would suffice nine times out of ten. Seriously, sometimes overwriting can hurt more than the tried-and-true methods! Okay wait, let me reel this back in real quick so I can get this review out of "backward compliment" territory. I am so willing to ignore all of my nitpicks, “there is no war in Ba Sing Se”-style, because other than the frequently repetitive prose, I undeniably enjoyed this style of writing! The love and care that the author put into this work is shown clearly, and I can’t help but feel incredibly fond of this book’s vibe. It's nice because the story could have easily read as an overindulgent mess with self-insert characters, but the fact that it manages to portray a romance sweeter than cotton candy (Majin Boo) is nothing short of a miracle. Basically, I dig it.
It’s interesting because this book does the whole “everyone’s perfectly beautiful" thing and it never really bothered me. I know that seems hypocritical because I’m always going on and on about how I’m not a fan and it's boring and blah blah blah, but I kind of liked it here. Maybe it's because March was the prettiest and most the time everyone was only fawning over him (I can only take so much adoration), but I think it's mostly because March's looks helps underline a point about his personality. And the way it actually ended up being a plot point was smart because it makes it so the novel is actually saying something, you know? Through March’s characterization, I'd say that this book actually had a pretty accurate and sensitive representation of anxiety, and how it can affect anybody regardless of their appearance. A lot of the other characters scoff at his insecurities because "he looks like that!," but some people just can't help it. We can never know what's going on in another person's mind. And while I have to admit that I was getting a little tired of March’s constant reticence towards Nero's advances (like, do you like the way he flicks his tongue or nah?) at first, because of how March’s complex backstory is written, we learn why it makes perfect sense as to why he has both an inferiority and superiority complex when it comes to these things. Normally I always find it a little frustrating how the characters only really seem to dislike each other because they need to fit into the trope box, so I was really impressed with the way the author was able to work in popular story conventions with a relationship that feels earned. Besides, the way that March was always in his own head and how easily embarrassed he got over seemingly nothing were incredibly relatable character traits, and I often found myself cringing at his dramatic reactions because... damn, have I been there! As an aside, and as someone who also gets embarrassed rather easily, I’ve found that it helps to just say it plainly. Like, sometimes just saying “Woah, that was embarrassing!” out loud actually turns that “yikes” moment into a simple “yike” (just one) moment. Yeah so, I liked March. It was especially nice to see his relationship with Nero develop throughout the story because the “go-with-the-flow” vibe to their dynamic never felt contrived to fit into an algorithmic writing style. Nero starts off as an overly confident jerk who’s spoiled and headstrong, but then something really special happens... he actually starts to change from how he was from the start of the novel, it’s great! I know this is like, nothing groundbreaking, as characters changing and evolving is basically the anchor of all good stories, but as someone who reads a lot, you’d actually be surprised at how few of these love-interests end up differently from the beginning of the story. I liked The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks a lot, but let's be real, forty year-old Monty is hardly any different from his seventeen year-old self! Here, Nero is written in a way where he not only changes, but he also puts in the proper work to earn forgiveness, and I think this book is all the better for it. A simple “sorry” really does go a long way, in the real world and fantasy land. And if nothing else, making it so the charmer has to sit down and be humble is always going to get me in my feelings. Romance stories work best if I like both characters (Captain Obvious, I know), and I found March and Nero's push-and-pull actually enticing in a way that I've often seen advertised but hardly ever realized. Alright, end of essay time! Ahem... in conclusion; Honey and Starlight by L.A. Lambert (#ad) was a lovely and fun story that goes down smooth like honeyed tea. It's really, really good! And you know what good means to me.
“Cute,” he decided, once he’d finished reading the letter.
“You say that about everything I do.”
“I haven’t lied yet.”
March 3, 2024
Honey and Starlight is the first in the Tales of Ikronia series and first of all I have to swoon over the title that is based on the eye colours of the main characters 😍. Adorable! I loved the book- I'm a sucker for royal romances and this one is fantastic. The book is an opposites-attract, animosity to lovers slow burn story with excellent banter, humour, magic, and best of all- dragons!
❤️"Though Nero was always aware of March's beauty, the times when the prince could stare unobserved were rare. Rarer still were the times when it didn't put a stiffness in the noble's spine, or make him react defensively. Seeing him in the relaxed posture with his eyes closed in pure, innocent pleasure, long lashes brushing against his cheekbones, sent a metaphorical sword across Nero's kneecaps" ❤️
Now of marriageable age, March Cesari is ready to find the arranged marriage of his dreams. March is very practical and wants a partner who will elevate his social standing and enable him to live a comfortable life. March is a bit vain (in a very endearing way) and knows that his good looks are his ticket out of his small hometown. He's self-conscious about his rural upbringing and very cautious with maintaining his most valuable assets- his appearance and his virginity. Needless to say he isn't thrilled to learn that he is to be shipped off for 3 months to be courted by the prince of a neighbouring country. Neroki, the prince, has antagonized March in the past with his carefree playboy ways. Nero makes March nervous with his lack of regard for propriety and the rules that March considers to be so important. Neither want to get married to the other, but will a little forced proximity lead to a change of heart?
What an incredible debut novel! I really liked the world building and secondary characters. Myca was a scene stealer and I am excited for his book. I wish the dragon concept had been more a part of the story (I loved the part where Nero and March go on a date up to the mountains) but I think that it may be more central to the plot of subsequent books in the series. My only other small complaint is that I found it a bit distracting when the author referred to characters by their physical characteristics rather than their names, but that's probably because I'm one of those few people who don't 'see' the books I read as a movie in my head. I had to work to recall which character was the "raven haired patrician" and it took me out of the flow of the story for a split second each time. With that said I didn't hate it, and it won't stop me from enthusiastically reading more from L.A. Lambert!!
Rating: 4.5
Angst: 2/5
Steam: 2.5/5
I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.
❤️"Though Nero was always aware of March's beauty, the times when the prince could stare unobserved were rare. Rarer still were the times when it didn't put a stiffness in the noble's spine, or make him react defensively. Seeing him in the relaxed posture with his eyes closed in pure, innocent pleasure, long lashes brushing against his cheekbones, sent a metaphorical sword across Nero's kneecaps" ❤️
Now of marriageable age, March Cesari is ready to find the arranged marriage of his dreams. March is very practical and wants a partner who will elevate his social standing and enable him to live a comfortable life. March is a bit vain (in a very endearing way) and knows that his good looks are his ticket out of his small hometown. He's self-conscious about his rural upbringing and very cautious with maintaining his most valuable assets- his appearance and his virginity. Needless to say he isn't thrilled to learn that he is to be shipped off for 3 months to be courted by the prince of a neighbouring country. Neroki, the prince, has antagonized March in the past with his carefree playboy ways. Nero makes March nervous with his lack of regard for propriety and the rules that March considers to be so important. Neither want to get married to the other, but will a little forced proximity lead to a change of heart?
What an incredible debut novel! I really liked the world building and secondary characters. Myca was a scene stealer and I am excited for his book. I wish the dragon concept had been more a part of the story (I loved the part where Nero and March go on a date up to the mountains) but I think that it may be more central to the plot of subsequent books in the series. My only other small complaint is that I found it a bit distracting when the author referred to characters by their physical characteristics rather than their names, but that's probably because I'm one of those few people who don't 'see' the books I read as a movie in my head. I had to work to recall which character was the "raven haired patrician" and it took me out of the flow of the story for a split second each time. With that said I didn't hate it, and it won't stop me from enthusiastically reading more from L.A. Lambert!!
Rating: 4.5
Angst: 2/5
Steam: 2.5/5
I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.
March 4, 2024
hi, so, yeah.
going from big to small, the worldbuilding was fine. it may be slightly generic but hey, the dragons were fun. i also liked the lil' peeks of politics we get in the book. the side characters were also just fine. beritz was a delightful father >.<
the book is a classic player/virgin trope (but fantasy edition). nothing wrong with that i suppose, since the characters were at least pretty distinct and had personalities other than being the player & virgin. nero came a little close though, with his constant...implications.
but my two biggest peeves were these:
i checked my kindle, and the book had the phrase "raven-haired noble" FORTY TWO times. not including other epithets of "raven-haired __" it's driving me insane istg. added with the fact that it's always "the noble said" "the noble did" bro 😭😭just use 'his' - i know he's a noble thx.
and the relationship development is so wacky. march & nero are supposed to hate each other?? after having a sour relationship for years you wouldn't expect them to be straight-up friends after a couple days in close proximity. where is the resentment and the simmering tension and the slow turning points in the path to becoming lovers?
going from big to small, the worldbuilding was fine. it may be slightly generic but hey, the dragons were fun. i also liked the lil' peeks of politics we get in the book. the side characters were also just fine. beritz was a delightful father >.<
the book is a classic player/virgin trope (but fantasy edition). nothing wrong with that i suppose, since the characters were at least pretty distinct and had personalities other than being the player & virgin. nero came a little close though, with his constant...implications.
but my two biggest peeves were these:
i checked my kindle, and the book had the phrase "raven-haired noble" FORTY TWO times. not including other epithets of "raven-haired __" it's driving me insane istg. added with the fact that it's always "the noble said" "the noble did" bro 😭😭just use 'his' - i know he's a noble thx.
and the relationship development is so wacky. march & nero are supposed to hate each other?? after having a sour relationship for years you wouldn't expect them to be straight-up friends after a couple days in close proximity. where is the resentment and the simmering tension and the slow turning points in the path to becoming lovers?
January 23, 2024
Incredibly well written. So immersive. You truly feel like you’re with the characters as you read. The imagery is incredible and the writing is amazing. The romance is slow burn and well built, but doesn’t plateau at all. Was given an ARC to read and wow I’m so glad I pushed this to the top of my TBR
December 3, 2024
so effing adorable
August 16, 2024
I downloaded the sample of "Honey & Starlight"—"a prim and proper noble meets a cocky and carefree Crown Prince". The blurb appealed to me—I'm a sucker for Uptight Meets Louche, especially if the introverted pendant sways the careless layabout to the side of spreadsheets, day planners and a perfectly tidy desk—but I digress. So why did the sample leave me cold?
Here's a paragraph from the first page
To be fair to the author, I stopped at this point in the sample—perhaps things improve later on. But if page 1 makes me feel as if I'm reading with a stone in my shoe, a mosquito bite on my elbow and a raspberry pip in my hollow tooth, I'm going to pass on page 2.
Here's a paragraph from the first page
Even if it was an arranged marriage, he wanted a healthy and mutually satisfying bond, like what his parents had. On the same hand, he wasn’t willing to compromise on a husband that could provide for him and their eventual children, both financially and with a name and title that they could be proud to carry.I think I'm repelled by the tone-deafness of the language. There's the Ernie Wise touch of "like what his parents had", and the frankly baffling "on the same hand", not to mention the laziness of "compromise on a husband". And "who could provide for him", please. I could point to other infelicities in the sample—there's POV hopping, anachronistic language, awkward vocabulary ("he travelled through the kitchen").
To be fair to the author, I stopped at this point in the sample—perhaps things improve later on. But if page 1 makes me feel as if I'm reading with a stone in my shoe, a mosquito bite on my elbow and a raspberry pip in my hollow tooth, I'm going to pass on page 2.
January 31, 2024
YA Fantasy
Grumpyish / Sunshine
Arranged dating
Pining
Prince and noble
Dragons
Low angst
HEA for the couple
This story was so so so fun, entertaining, sweet and romantic and I was so obsessed with them from the very first pages! Looking at how their tension and hate, which hides fears on one side and pining on the other, slowly reveals attraction, and becomes understanding, sweetness, care, love, was so so nice! I fell in love with March and Nero, their world, their dragon, their family and friends and I can't wait to see what happens to all of them in the next books ❤️
Grumpyish / Sunshine
Arranged dating
Pining
Prince and noble
Dragons
Low angst
HEA for the couple
This story was so so so fun, entertaining, sweet and romantic and I was so obsessed with them from the very first pages! Looking at how their tension and hate, which hides fears on one side and pining on the other, slowly reveals attraction, and becomes understanding, sweetness, care, love, was so so nice! I fell in love with March and Nero, their world, their dragon, their family and friends and I can't wait to see what happens to all of them in the next books ❤️
February 13, 2024
✦ first, details
✧ March is invited by Neroki’s father, King Beritz, to spend time at the royal palace or whatever, because Beritz believes that March is absolutely The One that can put Neroki in place. However, March and Neroki have a past — as much as a couple of privileged, elite 20-year-olds can have a past — that predisposes March to dislike Neroki. Beritz, however, is counting on this: if Neroki can’t get March’s affections, he will at least learn a lesson in humility; and if Neroki succeeds, well, March is the husband that Beritz hand-picked for Neroki.
✧ Although their reunion gets off to a rocky start, Neroki slowly but surely works his way past March’s defenses, to the point where he actually gets March to agree to dating. Neroki also begins to see beyond March being “prissy” and “stuck-up” to see the insecurities etc etc that March tries to hide, and they begin to gain Mutual Respect and Admiration for each other. Also, it must be made clear, it absolutely helps that they both have the hots for each other.
✧ A noble whose son was rejected as Neroki’s potential husbando comes in last-minute to cause havoc and get himself killed. His efforts were not in vain as 1) Neroki proved himself to be ready to fight to the death for would-be wifey March, 2) wifey March gets a chance to show off his archery skills, and 3) it serves as an excuse for “why we should forgive Laurel so please read the sequel to this novel.”
✧ Neroki proposes and they plan to get married. But I don’t think I needed to tell you that.
*:･ﾟ*:･ﾟ*:･ﾟ*:･ﾟ*:･ﾟ*:･ﾟ*:･ﾟ*:･ﾟ*
Sort of like Pride and Prejudice, but with gays and dragons
✦ story and characters
The execution was much better than I expected, and the story was cute, if a little stilted. That said, the climax (hehe) of Duke Terin kidnapping March to enact some kind of half-baked dastardly plan was hardly gripping, or even comprehensible. I would have preferred if this were just slice-of-life, I think, instead of having an attempt at a swords-and-daggers plot that only really came to fruition around 90% into the book. At that point it felt kind of shoved in, like Lambert felt that there had to be some excitement.
Man, you think Neroki struggling to hold back his libido isn’t enough excitement?
The MCs were okay. They at least had distinctive personalities that didn’t overly grate, although the two of them being dumb 20-year-olds wasn’t a trip in the park either: Neroki a prince used to getting his way and apparently not asking for consent, and March being like “I’m a noble who is too good for anyone to touch me unless their net worth is at least $50M”. At least we sort of got some character development for both, although in the end I’m not that attached to either of them.
The side characters were also fine, although Laurel is an annoying shithead who got forgiven too easily. “But he has such a Dark and Tragic Background!” Okay, but that’s a reason, not an excuse, and I absolutely did not read him apologizing to March.
✦ world-building
Non-existent. It takes place in a generic fantasy world with kingdoms, magic, and telepathic mind-reading dragons, but Lambert is silent on the structures underlying the world: magic systems, draconic powers, alliances. Why exactly would someone be willing to commit crimes if their child was rejected as Prince Neroki’s spouse?
✦ grammatical pet peeves
Lambert kept using “pretty male” and “raven-haired noble”, again and again, to the point that I wanted to hit someone every time I read it. My bruh.
✦ overall
An entertaining enough story that kept me reading. The development of Nero and March’s relationship was interesting, but was interrupted by unsolicited daggers plot.
✧ March is invited by Neroki’s father, King Beritz, to spend time at the royal palace or whatever, because Beritz believes that March is absolutely The One that can put Neroki in place. However, March and Neroki have a past — as much as a couple of privileged, elite 20-year-olds can have a past — that predisposes March to dislike Neroki. Beritz, however, is counting on this: if Neroki can’t get March’s affections, he will at least learn a lesson in humility; and if Neroki succeeds, well, March is the husband that Beritz hand-picked for Neroki.
✧ Although their reunion gets off to a rocky start, Neroki slowly but surely works his way past March’s defenses, to the point where he actually gets March to agree to dating. Neroki also begins to see beyond March being “prissy” and “stuck-up” to see the insecurities etc etc that March tries to hide, and they begin to gain Mutual Respect and Admiration for each other. Also, it must be made clear, it absolutely helps that they both have the hots for each other.
✧ A noble whose son was rejected as Neroki’s potential husbando comes in last-minute to cause havoc and get himself killed. His efforts were not in vain as 1) Neroki proved himself to be ready to fight to the death for would-be wifey March, 2) wifey March gets a chance to show off his archery skills, and 3) it serves as an excuse for “why we should forgive Laurel so please read the sequel to this novel.”
✧ Neroki proposes and they plan to get married. But I don’t think I needed to tell you that.
*:･ﾟ*:･ﾟ*:･ﾟ*:･ﾟ*:･ﾟ*:･ﾟ*:･ﾟ*:･ﾟ*
Sort of like Pride and Prejudice, but with gays and dragons
✦ story and characters
The execution was much better than I expected, and the story was cute, if a little stilted. That said, the climax (hehe) of Duke Terin kidnapping March to enact some kind of half-baked dastardly plan was hardly gripping, or even comprehensible. I would have preferred if this were just slice-of-life, I think, instead of having an attempt at a swords-and-daggers plot that only really came to fruition around 90% into the book. At that point it felt kind of shoved in, like Lambert felt that there had to be some excitement.
Man, you think Neroki struggling to hold back his libido isn’t enough excitement?
The MCs were okay. They at least had distinctive personalities that didn’t overly grate, although the two of them being dumb 20-year-olds wasn’t a trip in the park either: Neroki a prince used to getting his way and apparently not asking for consent, and March being like “I’m a noble who is too good for anyone to touch me unless their net worth is at least $50M”. At least we sort of got some character development for both, although in the end I’m not that attached to either of them.
The side characters were also fine, although Laurel is an annoying shithead who got forgiven too easily. “But he has such a Dark and Tragic Background!” Okay, but that’s a reason, not an excuse, and I absolutely did not read him apologizing to March.
✦ world-building
Non-existent. It takes place in a generic fantasy world with kingdoms, magic, and telepathic mind-reading dragons, but Lambert is silent on the structures underlying the world: magic systems, draconic powers, alliances. Why exactly would someone be willing to commit crimes if their child was rejected as Prince Neroki’s spouse?
✦ grammatical pet peeves
Lambert kept using “pretty male” and “raven-haired noble”, again and again, to the point that I wanted to hit someone every time I read it. My bruh.
✦ overall
An entertaining enough story that kept me reading. The development of Nero and March’s relationship was interesting, but was interrupted by unsolicited daggers plot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2025
It took me a while to get through this book, but wow—what a surprise! I didn’t see this coming at all. The writing style is completely different from L.A. Lambert’s other book I’ve read, and this beautifully crafted fantasy pulled me in so deeply that it was hard to put down even for a second.
The story centers around a prince and a young, captivating nobleman who arrives at the palace as a potential suitor. I immediately liked March—his strong sense of purpose and steadfast character made him so compelling. Plus, he was charming to boot!
And dragons! It was such a joy to read about these majestic creatures. The scenes where Nero spoke with them were climatic and beautifully written, making the communication between them feel authentic and believable. The magic in this world intrigued me as well—I found myself wishing for even more exploration of it.
The final scene was particularly memorable, with March's precise archery skills offering a satisfying touch to the climax. It was such a delightful moment! This story was both thrilling and heartwarming, and I can’t wait to dive into the second book.
A truly solid fantasy novel, crafted with exceptional language and vivid imagination. It showcases a different side of this author compared to Instant Bond, highlighting their impressive talent and versatility in storytelling!
The story centers around a prince and a young, captivating nobleman who arrives at the palace as a potential suitor. I immediately liked March—his strong sense of purpose and steadfast character made him so compelling. Plus, he was charming to boot!
And dragons! It was such a joy to read about these majestic creatures. The scenes where Nero spoke with them were climatic and beautifully written, making the communication between them feel authentic and believable. The magic in this world intrigued me as well—I found myself wishing for even more exploration of it.
The final scene was particularly memorable, with March's precise archery skills offering a satisfying touch to the climax. It was such a delightful moment! This story was both thrilling and heartwarming, and I can’t wait to dive into the second book.
A truly solid fantasy novel, crafted with exceptional language and vivid imagination. It showcases a different side of this author compared to Instant Bond, highlighting their impressive talent and versatility in storytelling!
April 23, 2024
Pretty Good
I will say that the beginning of this book for me was rocky. I personally don’t like a slow burn enemies to lovers trope, but the world building kept me around and I’m so glad that I finished the book. I really enjoyed this author writing style, because each character, even if they weren’t a main character have their own POV, and dialogue went back-and-forth, and we could hear their thoughts right away. I don’t think I’m explaining it right but when you read it, you’ll understand lol!
I will say that the beginning of this book for me was rocky. I personally don’t like a slow burn enemies to lovers trope, but the world building kept me around and I’m so glad that I finished the book. I really enjoyed this author writing style, because each character, even if they weren’t a main character have their own POV, and dialogue went back-and-forth, and we could hear their thoughts right away. I don’t think I’m explaining it right but when you read it, you’ll understand lol!
July 8, 2024
What a wonderful story!! I absolutely loved the characters and their dynamic. March and Nero were so cute with their flirty banter, soft enemies to lovers with an arranged marriage.
Now, one thing that wasn't for me is how mpreg is possible within the universe of this book. But it never happens to the MCs, never is witnessed presently even in a side character, so it was okay!
Another thing that takes some getting used to is how this is written in an omniscient POV. Meaning, we are hopping from head to head, paragraph to paragraph never staying in any one character's POV for any given scene. But I still really liked the overall writing style, and it flowed well for me to follow along fine!
Besides all that, I still loved the whole story, the world building with dragons and royalty, and how the characters fell in love!! The push and pull between March and Nero was delicious, and I was just anticipating when the big love declarations would happen 🤌🤌 I was intrigued with each scene and adored even all the relationships with the side characters! Needless to say, I'm really looking forward to Laurel's book 💖
That being said, March and Nero together forever. They are sweethearts and I will protect them at all costs 😤💕💖
Now, one thing that wasn't for me is how mpreg is possible within the universe of this book. But it never happens to the MCs, never is witnessed presently even in a side character, so it was okay!
Another thing that takes some getting used to is how this is written in an omniscient POV. Meaning, we are hopping from head to head, paragraph to paragraph never staying in any one character's POV for any given scene. But I still really liked the overall writing style, and it flowed well for me to follow along fine!
Besides all that, I still loved the whole story, the world building with dragons and royalty, and how the characters fell in love!! The push and pull between March and Nero was delicious, and I was just anticipating when the big love declarations would happen 🤌🤌 I was intrigued with each scene and adored even all the relationships with the side characters! Needless to say, I'm really looking forward to Laurel's book 💖
That being said, March and Nero together forever. They are sweethearts and I will protect them at all costs 😤💕💖
September 14, 2024
Honeyed prose that sparkle like starlight
This book exudes romance. It’s effectively a courtship between young March Cesari and Prince Neroki of Ikronia. It’s set in a beautifully, simple magical world of dragons and wizards. But it’s focus doesn’t lie in the world of fantasy, no it lies in the romantic journey of these two wonderfully written characters.
As you open the pages of this book, you begin to loose yourself in the swooning nature of the prose and find yourself falling in love with the characters that inhabit the magical world created by LA Lambert. By the end of the first chapter, where you’re introduced to March and his family, you find yourself not wanting to leave this new world. A world where etiquette and propriety form the foundation of this modern day fairytale. But it’s a fantasy world where magic takes a backseat in favour of character growth and psychological insight. Where the seeds of love are cultivated by enemies but nurtured by lovers. And where a boy and his dragon work together to capture a Nobleman’s heart.
No, this isn’t a fantasy book or one of sword and sorcery. It’s a beautifully written, slow burn romance that pulls you into its world and makes you never want to leave. And that is probably the most magical thing about it. So if you want to read an expertly written enemies to lovers, with characters that bristle to life on the page, then this is the book for you.
This book exudes romance. It’s effectively a courtship between young March Cesari and Prince Neroki of Ikronia. It’s set in a beautifully, simple magical world of dragons and wizards. But it’s focus doesn’t lie in the world of fantasy, no it lies in the romantic journey of these two wonderfully written characters.
As you open the pages of this book, you begin to loose yourself in the swooning nature of the prose and find yourself falling in love with the characters that inhabit the magical world created by LA Lambert. By the end of the first chapter, where you’re introduced to March and his family, you find yourself not wanting to leave this new world. A world where etiquette and propriety form the foundation of this modern day fairytale. But it’s a fantasy world where magic takes a backseat in favour of character growth and psychological insight. Where the seeds of love are cultivated by enemies but nurtured by lovers. And where a boy and his dragon work together to capture a Nobleman’s heart.
No, this isn’t a fantasy book or one of sword and sorcery. It’s a beautifully written, slow burn romance that pulls you into its world and makes you never want to leave. And that is probably the most magical thing about it. So if you want to read an expertly written enemies to lovers, with characters that bristle to life on the page, then this is the book for you.
March 15, 2024
yay that was fun
That was fun. I love this world. The world build was amazing I’m intrigued with how the characters had a magic of a sort, but nothing over the top when you think of magic and fantasy. It will be interesting to see how everyone’s magic plays out. I love how these two got together. I love their banter. I loved how they eventually supported each other but honestly the friends have me wanting more and it would be cool if the king found another person. Can’t wait for the next book.
That was fun. I love this world. The world build was amazing I’m intrigued with how the characters had a magic of a sort, but nothing over the top when you think of magic and fantasy. It will be interesting to see how everyone’s magic plays out. I love how these two got together. I love their banter. I loved how they eventually supported each other but honestly the friends have me wanting more and it would be cool if the king found another person. Can’t wait for the next book.
April 25, 2024
I would say that was quite good. The writing was a bit strange but got used it. I didn't like the repeated adjective of raven-haired ..it was too frequent , like around 50 times total, which is insane. Other adjectives could be used. I look forward to the next book!
February 5, 2024
This was so good, cute story with so many wonderful characters and dragons! I can’t wait for Myca’s story! This will definitely be a good series.
March 11, 2024
Nero & March
I'm rounding this up from 3.5. I did like the overall story but there were a few things throughout the story that didn't work well for me.
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
I'm rounding this up from 3.5. I did like the overall story but there were a few things throughout the story that didn't work well for me.
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
April 21, 2024
4.5*
The world created by L.A. Lambert is intriguing, with quite impressive world-building, I was amazed by how interestingly the author put it all together.
Dragons, magic, knights, and on top of that, cameras, newspapers, and airships.
A weird mix, really, but surprisingly it worked!
From the beginning, this book evoked different feelings in me than I wanted, and that was interesting! Usually in books, I want the characters to sleep together, but here I was gritting my teeth, wanting it to be postponed as long as possible! :) An uncommon phenomenon.
I really liked the character March, although I had a bit of an issue with Naroki. Naroki is a chaser, he wants what he can't have and I was scared if it could work. I would love to see them in 20 years to make sure they are together :)
Generally, I don't like the playboy+virgin trope because in real life, I know it ALWAYS ends in broken hearts, but in this case, I managed to read it as it was just... well written! :) So the author managed to keep me interested!
And the story itself was quite good, no event overshadowed the main theme, which was the coming together of this couple, getting to know each other. And that's good, sometimes I feel overwhelmed in fantasy stories with too much additional, plot-driven thread. Here, I felt it was a romance, and that's exactly what I wanted.
The dragon motif was interesting! I would like to read more about them, really interesting characters!
And Laurel intrigued me! I have to read a book about him! I like those twisted types, broken inside.
Really good read, different than expected, and... that's what I craved, so despite some imperfections, even though my rating is 4.5, I round it up to 5 because for the whole creativity, and freshness - the book definitely deserves attention!
The book was recommended to me in a Facebook group thread where I asked for something less typical than what mainstream authors usually write about. And it definitely fulfilled its purpose!
The world created by L.A. Lambert is intriguing, with quite impressive world-building, I was amazed by how interestingly the author put it all together.
Dragons, magic, knights, and on top of that, cameras, newspapers, and airships.
A weird mix, really, but surprisingly it worked!
From the beginning, this book evoked different feelings in me than I wanted, and that was interesting! Usually in books, I want the characters to sleep together, but here I was gritting my teeth, wanting it to be postponed as long as possible! :) An uncommon phenomenon.
I really liked the character March, although I had a bit of an issue with Naroki. Naroki is a chaser, he wants what he can't have and I was scared if it could work. I would love to see them in 20 years to make sure they are together :)
Generally, I don't like the playboy+virgin trope because in real life, I know it ALWAYS ends in broken hearts, but in this case, I managed to read it as it was just... well written! :) So the author managed to keep me interested!
And the story itself was quite good, no event overshadowed the main theme, which was the coming together of this couple, getting to know each other. And that's good, sometimes I feel overwhelmed in fantasy stories with too much additional, plot-driven thread. Here, I felt it was a romance, and that's exactly what I wanted.
The dragon motif was interesting! I would like to read more about them, really interesting characters!
And Laurel intrigued me! I have to read a book about him! I like those twisted types, broken inside.
Really good read, different than expected, and... that's what I craved, so despite some imperfections, even though my rating is 4.5, I round it up to 5 because for the whole creativity, and freshness - the book definitely deserves attention!
The book was recommended to me in a Facebook group thread where I asked for something less typical than what mainstream authors usually write about. And it definitely fulfilled its purpose!
March 6, 2024
The story was very interesting, it caught my attention right away and couldn’t stop reading. This playboy prince is of age and his father is looking for a partner to reign him in, and found the perfect one in a virgin noble, March, who is an expert archer, and has beautiful eyes. March agrees to stay at the castle for 3 months to get to know the prince, and then evaluate whether to get married to the prince or just think of the three months as a learning opportunity.
I love the dynamic of prim and proper March in contrast to the playboy prince Neroki. They start off rocky due to their past, but as time goes on, the prince and March come to an agreement to not make their 3 months hell, and just try to get along.
Although most of the story was spice free, this is still an open door book. So for spice scale, I’d say it’s about a 1, where it was mostly towards the end,
No fantasy story is complete without a dragon, and this one is about the dragon prince. I don’t read a lot of stories with dragon in it, so I don’t know if this story’s dragon tales are common, but I loved how they communicated with their humans.
I really liked this book, after finishing the last pages, I immediately wanted to rate it a 5 star, but struggled to say why I liked it, but just that I do. I guess the story was refreshing, and had parts that made me laugh. The slow burn didn’t bother me, as there were other elements that was interesting, overall it’s just a fun book to read. I highly recommend.
I love the dynamic of prim and proper March in contrast to the playboy prince Neroki. They start off rocky due to their past, but as time goes on, the prince and March come to an agreement to not make their 3 months hell, and just try to get along.
Although most of the story was spice free, this is still an open door book. So for spice scale, I’d say it’s about a 1, where it was mostly towards the end,
No fantasy story is complete without a dragon, and this one is about the dragon prince. I don’t read a lot of stories with dragon in it, so I don’t know if this story’s dragon tales are common, but I loved how they communicated with their humans.
I really liked this book, after finishing the last pages, I immediately wanted to rate it a 5 star, but struggled to say why I liked it, but just that I do. I guess the story was refreshing, and had parts that made me laugh. The slow burn didn’t bother me, as there were other elements that was interesting, overall it’s just a fun book to read. I highly recommend.
March 13, 2024
This is an arranged pairing, where the playboy needs to be tempered down, and the rule follower needs to loosen up a bit.
So the handsome prince (Nero) in our story is the playboy, but it's more that he is just enjoying life and the privilege that he has. There is no cheating, or even a hint of it during the courting, so for those of you who don't like that, you are good. Nero is threatened by his father to take the courtship seriously, so that is his motivation for trying to make peace with his intended, March. Add in the fact that March wants absolutely nothing to do with him, Nero has to actually work at something for once.
March has structured and planned out his life so he will get the best match possible for himself and family. And when he is of age to marry, he has a stack of offers to choose from. While Nero wants nothing to do with Nero, he cannot pass up the learning opportunity being at the castle for a few months will grant him. He sees it as a way to bring even more status and usefulness to his future husband. March definitely needs to find something for himself, and Nero may have a good way to nurture that.
So the handsome prince (Nero) in our story is the playboy, but it's more that he is just enjoying life and the privilege that he has. There is no cheating, or even a hint of it during the courting, so for those of you who don't like that, you are good. Nero is threatened by his father to take the courtship seriously, so that is his motivation for trying to make peace with his intended, March. Add in the fact that March wants absolutely nothing to do with him, Nero has to actually work at something for once.
March has structured and planned out his life so he will get the best match possible for himself and family. And when he is of age to marry, he has a stack of offers to choose from. While Nero wants nothing to do with Nero, he cannot pass up the learning opportunity being at the castle for a few months will grant him. He sees it as a way to bring even more status and usefulness to his future husband. March definitely needs to find something for himself, and Nero may have a good way to nurture that.
March 3, 2024
I devoured this book - it was so good.
Well written, intriguing characters and a slow burn romance that gave me all the gooey feels.
Nero had to work hard to win March’s heart. The tension bubbling away between them was built up deliciously. The dates he arranged were sweet and romantic.
March was sweet and his insecurities made him that much more real and down to earth. He was like a delicate flower who needed the right care, attention and reassurance to fully bloom. Being around Nero slowly made him come out of his shell.
Fantastic book and I really enjoyed it. I’m definitely adding this author to my favourite list and look forward to reading more books in this series!
*I voluntarily read this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else's*
Well written, intriguing characters and a slow burn romance that gave me all the gooey feels.
Nero had to work hard to win March’s heart. The tension bubbling away between them was built up deliciously. The dates he arranged were sweet and romantic.
March was sweet and his insecurities made him that much more real and down to earth. He was like a delicate flower who needed the right care, attention and reassurance to fully bloom. Being around Nero slowly made him come out of his shell.
Fantastic book and I really enjoyed it. I’m definitely adding this author to my favourite list and look forward to reading more books in this series!
*I voluntarily read this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else's*
April 21, 2024
Promising
I really enjoyed this book. There were definitely some flaws, but that's to be expected from a debut novel. What I found more important was that the pacing, plot, and general tone of the book were all well done. I enjoyed the 3rd person POV, although it did flip a bit too much. I wouldn't say it was confusing, but it was a bit jarring at times. Some other issues included things like repetitive word choice, suboptimal phrasing at times, and one flashback that could have been done in a more polished way. 3.5 🌟 rounded up for a new author and a good book regardless of its issues.
I really enjoyed this book. There were definitely some flaws, but that's to be expected from a debut novel. What I found more important was that the pacing, plot, and general tone of the book were all well done. I enjoyed the 3rd person POV, although it did flip a bit too much. I wouldn't say it was confusing, but it was a bit jarring at times. Some other issues included things like repetitive word choice, suboptimal phrasing at times, and one flashback that could have been done in a more polished way. 3.5 🌟 rounded up for a new author and a good book regardless of its issues.
March 11, 2024
Terrific debut novel
After I had read this I found out that this is LA Lambert’s debut novel and I was even more impressed than I was before. It’s a great book and even more impressive when you consider that it’s his first book. A very slow burn mm story that has magic, dragons and royalty running through it. I don’t usually like slow burn but there is a really good reason behind it which made it better for me. There are definite fantasy elements but the thing that stands out for me is relationships, both friendships, family and couples. Anticipating book two.
After I had read this I found out that this is LA Lambert’s debut novel and I was even more impressed than I was before. It’s a great book and even more impressive when you consider that it’s his first book. A very slow burn mm story that has magic, dragons and royalty running through it. I don’t usually like slow burn but there is a really good reason behind it which made it better for me. There are definite fantasy elements but the thing that stands out for me is relationships, both friendships, family and couples. Anticipating book two.
April 20, 2024
This was so good!
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this story but I just knew I had to read it! March and Nero are simply exquisite! Perrin is awesome. This was such a sweet tale of two completely opposite people putting aside differences and first impressions to really get to know each other. It’s a bit of a slow burn but March needed that to know Nero was sincere. Such a beautiful book and I can’t wait to read Lauren’s story next.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this story but I just knew I had to read it! March and Nero are simply exquisite! Perrin is awesome. This was such a sweet tale of two completely opposite people putting aside differences and first impressions to really get to know each other. It’s a bit of a slow burn but March needed that to know Nero was sincere. Such a beautiful book and I can’t wait to read Lauren’s story next.
May 17, 2024
Pretty good!
The world building was lovely, and I enjoyed that all of the characters were fleshed out as human, with varied motivations yet still just filled with wonderful things vs flaws. It was a little strange reading the omniscient point of view - not quite used to that one. Meaning each character immediately got a glimpse into their thoughts and emotions rather that first person or switching viewpoints by chapter. But the author still managed a nice story!
The world building was lovely, and I enjoyed that all of the characters were fleshed out as human, with varied motivations yet still just filled with wonderful things vs flaws. It was a little strange reading the omniscient point of view - not quite used to that one. Meaning each character immediately got a glimpse into their thoughts and emotions rather that first person or switching viewpoints by chapter. But the author still managed a nice story!
March 13, 2024
He is a noble who likes things in a proper manner and he is about to reach the age of finding someone to love. They love their carefree life and are not happy when told they need to court him. The situation is not going to be easy for either of them. Can they learn to accept each other? Will outside affairs affect them? Follow their journey
January 8, 2026
I absolutely loved this look. the world building was exquisite and it was like I had a movie in my head. I adored the grumpy/sunshine dynamic between the two characters and how they played off each other. The dialogue was great and not cheesy in the meet cute bits, which a lot of authors fall into. I'm so excited to read the rest of the series and off to read book two. long live prince Neroki and his boyfriend March Cesari and the colourful support cast of Ikronia.
April 11, 2024
A great first!!
It is my understanding that this is the very first book published by this author. What a wonderful book it is, too. The characters are well fleshed out, the writing is smooth and it keeps ones attention. Very glad I took the chance!.
It is my understanding that this is the very first book published by this author. What a wonderful book it is, too. The characters are well fleshed out, the writing is smooth and it keeps ones attention. Very glad I took the chance!.
March 17, 2024
New Author Read
Nero and March are opposites and their relationship was slow to build but the author does create a world with promise.l, there is magic, drama, dragons, and sweet courting.
Nero and March are opposites and their relationship was slow to build but the author does create a world with promise.l, there is magic, drama, dragons, and sweet courting.
February 11, 2024
An easy read with a cute concept (I love myself a royal romance) and beautiful writing. I loved the parent characters! But all in all, I was sadly a bit underwhelmed. The fantasy elements (dragons, magic etc.) weren't as important to the plot as I hoped and I'm not a big fan of a f*ckboy/virgin couple in general. I also definitely would not consider this a slow burn. But it's a solid first volume and I will consider giving the second book a read because Laurel seems like a hoot.
May 3, 2024
March annoyed me for being so antagonistic towards Nero for the first half of the book, but he grew on me after he mellowed out in the latter half.
This was more slow-paced and slice-of-life than I expected. There wasn't much action or stuff going on until the latter half when there was outside conflict.
The slow burn of the relationship was very appropriate and I actually thought March would wait until after their marriage for the consummation.
Very excited for Laurel's book next. Our broken boy and such an interesting character. I feel for him. Loved the side characters that were Nero's friends and both characters had great family/parents.
This was more slow-paced and slice-of-life than I expected. There wasn't much action or stuff going on until the latter half when there was outside conflict.
The slow burn of the relationship was very appropriate and I actually thought March would wait until after their marriage for the consummation.
Very excited for Laurel's book next. Our broken boy and such an interesting character. I feel for him. Loved the side characters that were Nero's friends and both characters had great family/parents.
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