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Tales of Ikronia #2
The Promise Effect
Laurel von Isildor was once a promising young sorcerer and artist, but a traumatic relationship left him jaded, bitter, and unable to use his magic. When his friends hire an empathic healer with rare abilities to help, mistrustful Laurel isn't keen on the idea. Especially once he meets the terminally cheerful golden retriever-like man.
Ash Daye is an eternal optimist with a perfect track record when it comes to healing his clients' various physical and mental ailments. But this job is more complicated than any before, particularly when intense romantic feelings develop between the two of them.
Will Ash succeed in helping Laurel overcome his emotional blocks and accept love? Or will the scars of his past, and the threat of his vindictive ex, keep Laurel from the fairy-tale ending he has always secretly dreamed of?
The Promise Effect is a guaranteed HEA 118,000 word novel that features hurt/comfort, grumpy/sunshine, tender moments, and lots of healing and understanding. Content warnings include past physical and sexual abuse mentioned and briefly shown in flashback. As before, same-sex reproduction does exist in this universe, though mpreg is not mentioned and does not occur within this story.
Ash Daye is an eternal optimist with a perfect track record when it comes to healing his clients' various physical and mental ailments. But this job is more complicated than any before, particularly when intense romantic feelings develop between the two of them.
Will Ash succeed in helping Laurel overcome his emotional blocks and accept love? Or will the scars of his past, and the threat of his vindictive ex, keep Laurel from the fairy-tale ending he has always secretly dreamed of?
The Promise Effect is a guaranteed HEA 118,000 word novel that features hurt/comfort, grumpy/sunshine, tender moments, and lots of healing and understanding. Content warnings include past physical and sexual abuse mentioned and briefly shown in flashback. As before, same-sex reproduction does exist in this universe, though mpreg is not mentioned and does not occur within this story.
484 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 10, 2024
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October 9, 2024
You had you some birthdays, could you prove it? / Show me the wisdom in your movement, show me some wisdom in your movement. (Provider – Frank Ocean).
Just thinking out loud here, but even if Goodreads didn’t have it so the star-rating was the first thing people saw in a review, it'd still be obvious if I loved a book. Oh, there would be signs alright! For one, I’d be out here peppering the words “charming” and “delightful” all over the place like I don't own a thesaurus. And let’s not forget that I could easily be caught describing the pacing of the novel as “naturalistic,” because I know for a fact that that’s definitely a favorite of mine. What else? Oh yeah, then I’d slap a few Frank Ocean lyrics on the whole thing and call it a day! No really… the Frank Ocean lyrics are the most important part. How else would people know? Anyway, this was some kind of wonderful; The Promise Effect never once failed to be just as charming and delightful as Honey and Starlight, and yet, I maintain that it actually has a bit more of an emotional impact due to its heavier subject matter and edgier main character. But even though the tone gets a little Empire Strikes Back-ed, it never strays too far away from what made me fall in love with the first book. It's a little bit like if All the Hidden Paths by Foz Meadows took place in the Shrek universe. That might sound like an insult to some, but I'm one of those who believe with the utmost sincerity that cinema peaked at Shrek and Shrek 2, respectively. Seriously though, even though it seems as such, The Promise Effect is less of a “swept-off-your-feet” romance and is more about the exploration of Laurel’s recovery and self-reflection. It's very introspective in that respect, and I really couldn’t commend the author more for taking the series in a different direction tonally while staying true to the fabric of the first installment. I also enjoyed this author’s naturalistic approach to writing out the story-beats in the way that it never follows a typical romantic genre timeline. You know; “meet-cute, then budding romance, then contrived drama, then break-up chapter, then make-up chapter, then epilogue chapter taking place years later," then we’re done (I hate epilogue chapters). And can’t lie, the author's way of allowing the characters time and space to breathe and exist outside of the conflict brought up fond memories reminiscent of the Ari and Dante books. Which, in other words, is just about the highest praise I can give… anything, really. I think it’s safe to say that L.A. Lambert is quickly becoming one of favorite authors, because as soon as I picked this one up, I swear I heard the sentiment reverberate through the air singing “You’re going to love thii~iis,” like some kind of angel’s choir. Was that too dramatic? Okay well, all I know is that even though it took a little bit longer than usual for me to finish this book, it was more because I didn’t want it to be over so quick. Because otherwise, I could have easily eaten this up between one of those seventeen-minute standing ovations at the Cannes film festival (for real though, why tf do they clap for so long). I know I’m always reading several books at once (because I don't want to be left alone with my thoughts), but there’s something about finishing a special book like The Promise Effect that leaves me feeling that unique kind of hollow. “One in a Million” by Aaliyah, for real.
Oh, I forgot to do a summary. Okay, here we go! We follow Laurel from the first book as he’s now on an active journey for recovery as his friends hire a magic therapist type guy named Ash in order to help him out with his magical block. I kind of interpreted as a metaphor for Laurel not being able to get it up all the way when it comes to his magical powers, so you might call that a... semi-hiatus! Badum tssss. Sorry, was that in bad taste? Really though, Laurel actually has a very heartwarming and meaningful character arc about moving past the blockades he puts up for himself. Which, of course, leads to Ash, a “golden retriever” boyfriend (I still don’t know what that means) who can’t help but want to get a taste of Laurel and help to bring sunshine to his gray afternoons. What makes Ash work as a love-interest is that despite his first few appearances giving off the impression that he’s mostly just an overly pushy muscle head, his narration gives much needed perspective in showing how well-rounded he is. For one, we actually get to see first-hand that he's actually rather introspective and thoughtful, and though it would be easier to portray him as a simple “rescue romance”-type character, the author goes out of their way to give him realistic insecurities that match up well with Laurel’s own laundry list of character faults. Like, a big character arc for Ash is him moving past his initial attraction phase and going out of his way to understand and love Laurel as his own person, rather than just a pretty crush to be admired. Besides, if you write a haughty and difficult character like Laurel, it’s always a good idea to try to knock them off their pedestal a little, because they otherwise tend to stay uninteresting the whole way through. It was a lot of fun to read along as Ash has to find out whether or not breaking through the millions of walls that Laurel’s put up is worth it, or if he's just a natural blondie like Goku. His persistence is well worth it, because even though Laurel is constantly acting like a dick, it really was just a phallacy. Har har. This book takes what could have easily been a generic “grumpy-guy-gets-won-over-by-overly-optimistic-guy” kind of story, but because it took the time and care needed for us to get to know the characters, it never felt like it was going down the tropes like a grocery list. But romance aside, every time I go on the Goodreads app, they like to cycle through quotes from authors and I always seem to get that John Green one that says some bullshit like “what’s the point in living if you don’t try to do something remarkable?” or whatever, and it always annoys me. Like, shut the hell up dude. I know I seem like I’m always mentioning John Green in a derisive manner, but that’s only because I’ve pretty much read every one of his books and come to the conclusion that I do not like them. The point of my side-step into hating is that I enjoyed this book's theme of Laurel being this super gifted so-and-so, yet the message isn’t about how he’s “wasting his life,” by not doing something remarkable with it, but rather that he's totally fine in focusing on being happy with how he is. He doesn’t have to be useful or "earn" his right to live, he just has to be as he is.
Uh oh, now onto the not so good stuff. Gasp! Don’t worry, it’s really not that bad, but I am now kind of realizing that I formatted this review like a literal compliment sandwich. Hm, I didn’t do that on purpose, I swear. I like this book! Anyway, I wasn’t really too jazzed at the fact that this is mostly just another story about how great, beautiful, and noble rich people are. I still don’t really know how I feel about it if I’m honest. There was this Tumblr post that said something like, “when people make historical erotica its always about, like knights and princesses and kings. Well what about two peasants fucking in a barn?" …and yeah, I know that this isn’t erotica, but it still pretty much sums up my thoughts on the historical-fiction and fantasy genres. Don’t get me wrong, I love The Promise Effect and Honey and Starlight, but all the descriptions about noble bloodlines being inherently better and their “divine rights” to rule and blah blah started to make me uncomfortable. I only bring it up because I can tell that this discomfort isn’t the point like in a Game of Thrones kind of way. Sorry, but stories about the common folk are always going to be my particular cup of tea. Oh well, I guess that’s just the way it crumbles. Cookie-wise. Otherwise, I was a bit worried that the narration would start to ignore the couple from the first book, so I really enjoyed how this book made the new romance between Laurel and Ash feel natural and present, while also never moving on completely from March and Nero. In fact, it was cool how a lot of the narrative arc was centered their wedding, while also allowing us to see them through Ash and Laurel’s perspective. My favorite love stories are the ones where it feels like they don’t end when you reach the final pages, but rather let the reader know that even when the groove is dead and gone, you know that loo~oove survives. As for the villain in this novel… I won’t spoil anything, but you know how I’m always talking about forgiveness being the worst thing ever? Yeah well, again, I was super worried (I’m a worrier) that this book would repeat that same old tired issue, but it actually unexpectedly took a big swing in another direction. Pretty cool! I guess this is a bit of a spoiler, but damn, I certainly wasn’t expecting Laurel to Black Mirror’s White Bear the bad guy’s ass where the he’d end up like Shutter Island. That was kind of a confusing sentence, sorry. I don't usually talk in pop culture riddles like that, but I'm just saying that the way Laurel handles his tormentor is kind of hardcore, and I kind of dig it. Alrighty then! I hope I’ve adequately explained how much I loved this book, because I think I mostly just compared it to a lot of other stuff I also like, so it might not come across like I thought that this book was wholly and truly original to itself. Because it was! So, when I say that The Promise Effect is lovely and charming and that I heard Frank Ocean lyrics whenever I flipped through the pages, what I’m really trying to say is that I absolutely adored it. You know how it is, “ In other words, I love you.”
“There was something inherently comforting about knowing, without a doubt, that the ending would be some sparkling version of happily ever after, no matter how painstaking the journey to that point had been. He wished he could feel so certain about his own future.”
Just thinking out loud here, but even if Goodreads didn’t have it so the star-rating was the first thing people saw in a review, it'd still be obvious if I loved a book. Oh, there would be signs alright! For one, I’d be out here peppering the words “charming” and “delightful” all over the place like I don't own a thesaurus. And let’s not forget that I could easily be caught describing the pacing of the novel as “naturalistic,” because I know for a fact that that’s definitely a favorite of mine. What else? Oh yeah, then I’d slap a few Frank Ocean lyrics on the whole thing and call it a day! No really… the Frank Ocean lyrics are the most important part. How else would people know? Anyway, this was some kind of wonderful; The Promise Effect never once failed to be just as charming and delightful as Honey and Starlight, and yet, I maintain that it actually has a bit more of an emotional impact due to its heavier subject matter and edgier main character. But even though the tone gets a little Empire Strikes Back-ed, it never strays too far away from what made me fall in love with the first book. It's a little bit like if All the Hidden Paths by Foz Meadows took place in the Shrek universe. That might sound like an insult to some, but I'm one of those who believe with the utmost sincerity that cinema peaked at Shrek and Shrek 2, respectively. Seriously though, even though it seems as such, The Promise Effect is less of a “swept-off-your-feet” romance and is more about the exploration of Laurel’s recovery and self-reflection. It's very introspective in that respect, and I really couldn’t commend the author more for taking the series in a different direction tonally while staying true to the fabric of the first installment. I also enjoyed this author’s naturalistic approach to writing out the story-beats in the way that it never follows a typical romantic genre timeline. You know; “meet-cute, then budding romance, then contrived drama, then break-up chapter, then make-up chapter, then epilogue chapter taking place years later," then we’re done (I hate epilogue chapters). And can’t lie, the author's way of allowing the characters time and space to breathe and exist outside of the conflict brought up fond memories reminiscent of the Ari and Dante books. Which, in other words, is just about the highest praise I can give… anything, really. I think it’s safe to say that L.A. Lambert is quickly becoming one of favorite authors, because as soon as I picked this one up, I swear I heard the sentiment reverberate through the air singing “You’re going to love thii~iis,” like some kind of angel’s choir. Was that too dramatic? Okay well, all I know is that even though it took a little bit longer than usual for me to finish this book, it was more because I didn’t want it to be over so quick. Because otherwise, I could have easily eaten this up between one of those seventeen-minute standing ovations at the Cannes film festival (for real though, why tf do they clap for so long). I know I’m always reading several books at once (because I don't want to be left alone with my thoughts), but there’s something about finishing a special book like The Promise Effect that leaves me feeling that unique kind of hollow. “One in a Million” by Aaliyah, for real.
Oh, I forgot to do a summary. Okay, here we go! We follow Laurel from the first book as he’s now on an active journey for recovery as his friends hire a magic therapist type guy named Ash in order to help him out with his magical block. I kind of interpreted as a metaphor for Laurel not being able to get it up all the way when it comes to his magical powers, so you might call that a... semi-hiatus! Badum tssss. Sorry, was that in bad taste? Really though, Laurel actually has a very heartwarming and meaningful character arc about moving past the blockades he puts up for himself. Which, of course, leads to Ash, a “golden retriever” boyfriend (I still don’t know what that means) who can’t help but want to get a taste of Laurel and help to bring sunshine to his gray afternoons. What makes Ash work as a love-interest is that despite his first few appearances giving off the impression that he’s mostly just an overly pushy muscle head, his narration gives much needed perspective in showing how well-rounded he is. For one, we actually get to see first-hand that he's actually rather introspective and thoughtful, and though it would be easier to portray him as a simple “rescue romance”-type character, the author goes out of their way to give him realistic insecurities that match up well with Laurel’s own laundry list of character faults. Like, a big character arc for Ash is him moving past his initial attraction phase and going out of his way to understand and love Laurel as his own person, rather than just a pretty crush to be admired. Besides, if you write a haughty and difficult character like Laurel, it’s always a good idea to try to knock them off their pedestal a little, because they otherwise tend to stay uninteresting the whole way through. It was a lot of fun to read along as Ash has to find out whether or not breaking through the millions of walls that Laurel’s put up is worth it, or if he's just a natural blondie like Goku. His persistence is well worth it, because even though Laurel is constantly acting like a dick, it really was just a phallacy. Har har. This book takes what could have easily been a generic “grumpy-guy-gets-won-over-by-overly-optimistic-guy” kind of story, but because it took the time and care needed for us to get to know the characters, it never felt like it was going down the tropes like a grocery list. But romance aside, every time I go on the Goodreads app, they like to cycle through quotes from authors and I always seem to get that John Green one that says some bullshit like “what’s the point in living if you don’t try to do something remarkable?” or whatever, and it always annoys me. Like, shut the hell up dude. I know I seem like I’m always mentioning John Green in a derisive manner, but that’s only because I’ve pretty much read every one of his books and come to the conclusion that I do not like them. The point of my side-step into hating is that I enjoyed this book's theme of Laurel being this super gifted so-and-so, yet the message isn’t about how he’s “wasting his life,” by not doing something remarkable with it, but rather that he's totally fine in focusing on being happy with how he is. He doesn’t have to be useful or "earn" his right to live, he just has to be as he is.
Uh oh, now onto the not so good stuff. Gasp! Don’t worry, it’s really not that bad, but I am now kind of realizing that I formatted this review like a literal compliment sandwich. Hm, I didn’t do that on purpose, I swear. I like this book! Anyway, I wasn’t really too jazzed at the fact that this is mostly just another story about how great, beautiful, and noble rich people are. I still don’t really know how I feel about it if I’m honest. There was this Tumblr post that said something like, “when people make historical erotica its always about, like knights and princesses and kings. Well what about two peasants fucking in a barn?" …and yeah, I know that this isn’t erotica, but it still pretty much sums up my thoughts on the historical-fiction and fantasy genres. Don’t get me wrong, I love The Promise Effect and Honey and Starlight, but all the descriptions about noble bloodlines being inherently better and their “divine rights” to rule and blah blah started to make me uncomfortable. I only bring it up because I can tell that this discomfort isn’t the point like in a Game of Thrones kind of way. Sorry, but stories about the common folk are always going to be my particular cup of tea. Oh well, I guess that’s just the way it crumbles. Cookie-wise. Otherwise, I was a bit worried that the narration would start to ignore the couple from the first book, so I really enjoyed how this book made the new romance between Laurel and Ash feel natural and present, while also never moving on completely from March and Nero. In fact, it was cool how a lot of the narrative arc was centered their wedding, while also allowing us to see them through Ash and Laurel’s perspective. My favorite love stories are the ones where it feels like they don’t end when you reach the final pages, but rather let the reader know that even when the groove is dead and gone, you know that loo~oove survives. As for the villain in this novel… I won’t spoil anything, but you know how I’m always talking about forgiveness being the worst thing ever? Yeah well, again, I was super worried (I’m a worrier) that this book would repeat that same old tired issue, but it actually unexpectedly took a big swing in another direction. Pretty cool! I guess this is a bit of a spoiler, but damn, I certainly wasn’t expecting Laurel to Black Mirror’s White Bear the bad guy’s ass where the he’d end up like Shutter Island. That was kind of a confusing sentence, sorry. I don't usually talk in pop culture riddles like that, but I'm just saying that the way Laurel handles his tormentor is kind of hardcore, and I kind of dig it. Alrighty then! I hope I’ve adequately explained how much I loved this book, because I think I mostly just compared it to a lot of other stuff I also like, so it might not come across like I thought that this book was wholly and truly original to itself. Because it was! So, when I say that The Promise Effect is lovely and charming and that I heard Frank Ocean lyrics whenever I flipped through the pages, what I’m really trying to say is that I absolutely adored it. You know how it is, “ In other words, I love you.”
“There was something inherently comforting about knowing, without a doubt, that the ending would be some sparkling version of happily ever after, no matter how painstaking the journey to that point had been. He wished he could feel so certain about his own future.”
April 29, 2024
After a chance meeting in a coffee shop, it’s love at first sight for Ash, but not for Laurel. Laurel's been hurt badly by an ex, and isn't interested in being love-bombed by some weird, over-confident stranger. When it turns out that Ash is a healer hired to help Laurel work through the trauma caused by his horrible ex, Ash gets another chance to show Laurel that his motives are pure. But with all that Laurel has been through, can he learn to trust again? And if he does, will he believe that he is worthy of Ash's love?
I'm a complete sucker for a golden retriever/aloof black cat romance and I really loved this one. Ash is a sweet cinnamon roll that should be protected at all costs! This is the second book I've read from LA Lambert and- as with the first- I'm impressed with his character development and the world building around magic and the interplay between aristocracy and bloodlines in Ikronia. And okay I really like the dragons too 🥰🥰. I was happy to see Perrin again 😍. The story is really intelligently crafted with lots of fun little easter eggs. I appreciated reading about Ash guiding Laurel through the healing process without having to have a front-row seat to all that Laurel had been through with his ex. If you have triggers around abusive partners then you may want to proceed with caution, but the story is much more about hope and moving on than reliving past injustices. For those of you who are petty like me, the ending with the ex was super satisfying (I won't say more to avoid spoilers).
The Promise Effect can be read as a standalone but I recommend reading Honey and Starlight (book 1) first because it's really good!
Rating: 4.5
Angst: 3/5
Steam: 2.5/5
I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.
I'm a complete sucker for a golden retriever/aloof black cat romance and I really loved this one. Ash is a sweet cinnamon roll that should be protected at all costs! This is the second book I've read from LA Lambert and- as with the first- I'm impressed with his character development and the world building around magic and the interplay between aristocracy and bloodlines in Ikronia. And okay I really like the dragons too 🥰🥰. I was happy to see Perrin again 😍. The story is really intelligently crafted with lots of fun little easter eggs. I appreciated reading about Ash guiding Laurel through the healing process without having to have a front-row seat to all that Laurel had been through with his ex. If you have triggers around abusive partners then you may want to proceed with caution, but the story is much more about hope and moving on than reliving past injustices. For those of you who are petty like me, the ending with the ex was super satisfying (I won't say more to avoid spoilers).
The Promise Effect can be read as a standalone but I recommend reading Honey and Starlight (book 1) first because it's really good!
Rating: 4.5
Angst: 3/5
Steam: 2.5/5
I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.
May 9, 2024
5*****
When I was reading the previous part, I got to know the character of Laurel, and I became really intrigued about what would happen next with this character. I really enjoy so-called "damaged" characters, who have encountered something dark in their life journey and then have to deal with that trauma and overcome it. It gives me a very satisfying feeling while reading the book.
I have to admit, the author really wrote a book that aligned well with my tastes, which could have gone completely differently because Laurel is a character with quite a rich sexual history! As a traditionalist, I generally don't like books about characters who engage in casual sex, for various reasons, partly due to my professional experience and scientific background - unfortunately, statistics mercilessly indicate that such individuals are much more likely to cheat, and their satisfaction with subsequent relationships is significantly lower than that of people with fewer partners. Because I can't separate statistics and reality from idealistic fantasy in books in my own mind, it casts a shadow on my view of a particular character, I have hard time vibing with them, and I simply don't believe that such relationships stand a chance. It kind of puts me off from such books.
However, for all the people who are similar to me and don't fancy characters who engage in casual sex, I want to reassure you right away - what is depicted in this book is something completely atypical, and the explanation of certain behaviors from Laurel's past was very satisfying and 100% sufficient for me to believe that his future with Ash can actually be stable.
Here's a minor spoiler: Laurel actually didn't from those past encounters, so his experience with Ash was something new and unique. I wouldn't have been convinced at all, but the author made sure to provide a strong justification for why Laurel , and it really came out nicely. I really liked how everything tied together.
In this part, the world-building was slightly less elaborate, which didn't bother me at all because I had already read the first volume, where the outline of this world was quite well described. But it's a reason why I would recommend to everyone to first familiarize themselves with the first volume before diving into the second, because reading this part as a standalone would certainly deprive the whole thing of a broader context, which is very - very important, so I absolutely believe that starting with the first part is necessary.
I really liked how the author handled the plotline, everything literally fell into place perfectly, just as I wanted, and once again, there was a trope that I usually really dislike (miscommunication), but even though there was a certain issue here, it was really well and wisely done! Seriously A grade for this!! And I didn't mind at all why certain things happened because they were logically woven into the whole plot thread, and that made me truly appreciate the author's skill in constructing such crises in the storyline.
The scene of (temporary) really triggered a lot of emotions in me; my hands were literally shaking, so much emotion the author put into that scene. He really described the scene of emotional breakdown and emotional overload very well from a book craftsmanship perspective.
The book is really easy to read, the style is great, very interesting, the dialogues are intelligent and very satisfying. This author really has a great - great talent, and I expect great things from him.
Although the next part, from what I learned from the author, will contain a character and a storyline that unfortunately doesn't suit me, so I'll pass on the third part, but maybe more books will appear in this series with different characters, and I'll be able to return to reading his books because they are really great and simply amaze me how beautifully this author creates the stories.
I hope this author will stand out because he really has tremendous talent and writes really well; I rarely saw such good craftsmanship when it comes to the style of writing as with this author.
I highly recommend this book to everyone; reading it is truly satisfying, and I will strongly recommend it to all fantasy romance lovers.
I read the ARC; this is my honest opinion.
When I was reading the previous part, I got to know the character of Laurel, and I became really intrigued about what would happen next with this character. I really enjoy so-called "damaged" characters, who have encountered something dark in their life journey and then have to deal with that trauma and overcome it. It gives me a very satisfying feeling while reading the book.
I have to admit, the author really wrote a book that aligned well with my tastes, which could have gone completely differently because Laurel is a character with quite a rich sexual history! As a traditionalist, I generally don't like books about characters who engage in casual sex, for various reasons, partly due to my professional experience and scientific background - unfortunately, statistics mercilessly indicate that such individuals are much more likely to cheat, and their satisfaction with subsequent relationships is significantly lower than that of people with fewer partners. Because I can't separate statistics and reality from idealistic fantasy in books in my own mind, it casts a shadow on my view of a particular character, I have hard time vibing with them, and I simply don't believe that such relationships stand a chance. It kind of puts me off from such books.
However, for all the people who are similar to me and don't fancy characters who engage in casual sex, I want to reassure you right away - what is depicted in this book is something completely atypical, and the explanation of certain behaviors from Laurel's past was very satisfying and 100% sufficient for me to believe that his future with Ash can actually be stable.
Here's a minor spoiler: Laurel actually didn't from those past encounters, so his experience with Ash was something new and unique. I wouldn't have been convinced at all, but the author made sure to provide a strong justification for why Laurel , and it really came out nicely. I really liked how everything tied together.
In this part, the world-building was slightly less elaborate, which didn't bother me at all because I had already read the first volume, where the outline of this world was quite well described. But it's a reason why I would recommend to everyone to first familiarize themselves with the first volume before diving into the second, because reading this part as a standalone would certainly deprive the whole thing of a broader context, which is very - very important, so I absolutely believe that starting with the first part is necessary.
I really liked how the author handled the plotline, everything literally fell into place perfectly, just as I wanted, and once again, there was a trope that I usually really dislike (miscommunication), but even though there was a certain issue here, it was really well and wisely done! Seriously A grade for this!! And I didn't mind at all why certain things happened because they were logically woven into the whole plot thread, and that made me truly appreciate the author's skill in constructing such crises in the storyline.
The scene of (temporary) really triggered a lot of emotions in me; my hands were literally shaking, so much emotion the author put into that scene. He really described the scene of emotional breakdown and emotional overload very well from a book craftsmanship perspective.
The book is really easy to read, the style is great, very interesting, the dialogues are intelligent and very satisfying. This author really has a great - great talent, and I expect great things from him.
Although the next part, from what I learned from the author, will contain a character and a storyline that unfortunately doesn't suit me, so I'll pass on the third part, but maybe more books will appear in this series with different characters, and I'll be able to return to reading his books because they are really great and simply amaze me how beautifully this author creates the stories.
I hope this author will stand out because he really has tremendous talent and writes really well; I rarely saw such good craftsmanship when it comes to the style of writing as with this author.
I highly recommend this book to everyone; reading it is truly satisfying, and I will strongly recommend it to all fantasy romance lovers.
I read the ARC; this is my honest opinion.
May 13, 2024
THIS BOOK
*sigh*
I enjoyed this SO MUCH 🥺
I loved the magical world, I loved the characters, all the hurt/comfort but I HATED the CONSTANT change of POVs. I didn’t need to be in the POV for whoever was speaking, it was jarring and really annoying. I didn’t wanna be in Mallory’s POV, or the previous characters or the main couple’s parents, I hated it. It wasn’t even done through chapters, no, it switched during conversations - you have to really pay attention instead of just enjoying yourself on the ride.
-I was also bummed that there’s so much emphasis on Laurel’s trauma and how Ash is going to need to be in his mind and feel/see everything for him to heal him but we don’t get to see that as much as we’re told that they did that session and the aftermath.
-Laurel needed to GROVEL for what he said to Ash during the third act break up, comparing him to his rapist was the lowest blow, even if he was just lashing out because he was scared, that late into the story after everything they had healed and gone through, there needed to be focus on how distraught he was at what he said to Ash. I understand Laurel was broken for a very long time and he says the right things once he’s back in Ash’s arms but I needed more than the half-hearted apology before ash told him to stop talking and he immediately went to “ I wouldn’t want to listen to me either” no, I wanted him in shambles,tears, on his knees begging Ash to forgive him and give him another chance to show how much he’ll cherish him. Laurel was definitely the winner in this relationship, Ash was perfect and at times he even felt a little robotic but then the bursts of emotions and bits of nerves and anxiety would creep out a tiny bit- those were nice to see.
-So many mentions of them being married and having kids and the epilogue just gives me their marriage ceremony. 😒 Ash was courting Laurel but after they got back together it went quickly onto the epilogue so we don’t get to see anymore dates, anymore courting, who decided on the date of the marriage? Who decided when it was time? What did people think of their literal soul magic binding to each other ??? This was a looooong book, there should’ve been some parts set aside for them after the break up instead of the typical tying things up and jumping to epilogue.
In conclusion, loved most of it. Will I read the next one ? I really want to see Cedar get his own ‘good boy’, he deserves to get someone that will love him and prove he’s their one and only after what his last relationship ended like but the only detail that’s out about the next book is that it will be sometime in spring of 2025. I’m not sure I’ll still remember this by then but if it comes up on my radar I’ll at least give it a try.
*sigh*
I enjoyed this SO MUCH 🥺
I loved the magical world, I loved the characters, all the hurt/comfort but I HATED the CONSTANT change of POVs. I didn’t need to be in the POV for whoever was speaking, it was jarring and really annoying. I didn’t wanna be in Mallory’s POV, or the previous characters or the main couple’s parents, I hated it. It wasn’t even done through chapters, no, it switched during conversations - you have to really pay attention instead of just enjoying yourself on the ride.
-I was also bummed that there’s so much emphasis on Laurel’s trauma and how Ash is going to need to be in his mind and feel/see everything for him to heal him but we don’t get to see that as much as we’re told that they did that session and the aftermath.
-Laurel needed to GROVEL for what he said to Ash during the third act break up, comparing him to his rapist was the lowest blow, even if he was just lashing out because he was scared, that late into the story after everything they had healed and gone through, there needed to be focus on how distraught he was at what he said to Ash. I understand Laurel was broken for a very long time and he says the right things once he’s back in Ash’s arms but I needed more than the half-hearted apology before ash told him to stop talking and he immediately went to “ I wouldn’t want to listen to me either” no, I wanted him in shambles,tears, on his knees begging Ash to forgive him and give him another chance to show how much he’ll cherish him. Laurel was definitely the winner in this relationship, Ash was perfect and at times he even felt a little robotic but then the bursts of emotions and bits of nerves and anxiety would creep out a tiny bit- those were nice to see.
-So many mentions of them being married and having kids and the epilogue just gives me their marriage ceremony. 😒 Ash was courting Laurel but after they got back together it went quickly onto the epilogue so we don’t get to see anymore dates, anymore courting, who decided on the date of the marriage? Who decided when it was time? What did people think of their literal soul magic binding to each other ??? This was a looooong book, there should’ve been some parts set aside for them after the break up instead of the typical tying things up and jumping to epilogue.
In conclusion, loved most of it. Will I read the next one ? I really want to see Cedar get his own ‘good boy’, he deserves to get someone that will love him and prove he’s their one and only after what his last relationship ended like but the only detail that’s out about the next book is that it will be sometime in spring of 2025. I’m not sure I’ll still remember this by then but if it comes up on my radar I’ll at least give it a try.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2024
This was such a sweet romance! You could tagline this as "Trauma Healing: The Book", which was utterly endearing to read, how Laurel went through healing from his tragic past. This is a very slow-paced, character-driven novel, with lots of heart and lovable MCs. We love to see our characters thrive!! 👏👏
I did get a bit mad at Laurel for making stupid decisions 🤣 But hey, it created some good drama, and kept me hooked! I still love him regardless. 💕💖
There was the same thing in this book as the previous book in this series that wasn't for me (mpreg being possible within the book's universe) but it never happens to the MCs! Overall, still a greatly enjoyable book by a talented and wonderful author! ✨
I did get a bit mad at Laurel for making stupid decisions 🤣 But hey, it created some good drama, and kept me hooked! I still love him regardless. 💕💖
There was the same thing in this book as the previous book in this series that wasn't for me (mpreg being possible within the book's universe) but it never happens to the MCs! Overall, still a greatly enjoyable book by a talented and wonderful author! ✨
May 13, 2024
Lots of hurt/comfort, slow burn but medium heat, patient/therapist
From the glimpses of Laurel in book 1, I didn't expect him to have such a sad backstory and traumatic past. Also his surprising talent of glass making.
I'm half/half on Ash's character. I love the advice and his friend approach to Laurel at first, even after falling in love at first sight with Laurel. But sometimes he can be a bit forceful in his advances and his assumptions, and as a reader that kinda knows what happened to Laurel, I felt super uncomfortable for Laurel. So sometimes I like Ash but sometimes don't.
Anyway, I still enjoyed the book because I got to know Laurel much deeper than his initial impressions in Book 1, and he finally got his power back and his revenge. Can't wait for the next book! Highly anticipating Cedar's book, whichever his is in the series. He seems like such a great friend to Laurel and so down-to-earth.
From the glimpses of Laurel in book 1, I didn't expect him to have such a sad backstory and traumatic past. Also his surprising talent of glass making.
I'm half/half on Ash's character. I love the advice and his friend approach to Laurel at first, even after falling in love at first sight with Laurel. But sometimes he can be a bit forceful in his advances and his assumptions, and as a reader that kinda knows what happened to Laurel, I felt super uncomfortable for Laurel. So sometimes I like Ash but sometimes don't.
Anyway, I still enjoyed the book because I got to know Laurel much deeper than his initial impressions in Book 1, and he finally got his power back and his revenge. Can't wait for the next book! Highly anticipating Cedar's book, whichever his is in the series. He seems like such a great friend to Laurel and so down-to-earth.
April 27, 2024
This story was every bit as amazing as the first one in this series. Laurel may feel like he doesn’t deserve anything good but Ash is determined to prove him wrong. Ash is all brightness and light, while Laurel is all prickly and stubborn. In this stunning book, Ash is a healer who has been hired by Nero to try and help his friend Laurel heal from the trauma he has been dealing with. It is such a gorgeous book and I just don’t have the words to describe how good this story is. There is a lot of growing and healing in this book that isn’t easy but Ash is with him every step of the way. There is also communication and forgiveness and loads of unconditional love. This book is worth a read but please be aware if you have triggers related to abusive ex partners.
May 13, 2024
I absolutely love the world building and the characters.... this story is totally a grumpy/sunshine trope with plenty of angst. The only thing that really bugged me - it was hard to keep track of who was "speaking" in each chapter as it would vary quite a bit !! I did plod on though and it did get "smoother" as I continued on. I finished the story because I really wanted to see the HEA for Laurel but I'll add that I ended up enjoying the story !! Can't wait to see who's next !!
May 9, 2024
Going back to this world and meeting March and Neroki again was wonderful. And I had been looking forward to reading Laurel full story and his hea. However although Laurel has a lot to heal from and his character development is interesting, Ash would steal the scene with his absolute cuteness and sunshine personality. He's totally convinced that Laurel and he are bonded and destined to be together and his determination in trying to convincing Laurel is adorable. My favourite moments where when they could see each other's feelings through their magic, I melted then! Ash was absolutely perfect for Laurel.
May 13, 2024
perfection
I absolutely loved March and Nero story but this one hands down is so much better emotionally fulfilling, laurel we met in the last book and he was a pain and he was in pain this book we meet Ash a healer sent to help laurel and he does with so much love , grace and understanding I love how laurel trauma isn’t just overcomed by some one loving you I love the emotional depth and growth of these characters feel genuine this book was so well written I can’t wait for cedars though I still hope he ends up with Marchs brother !
I absolutely loved March and Nero story but this one hands down is so much better emotionally fulfilling, laurel we met in the last book and he was a pain and he was in pain this book we meet Ash a healer sent to help laurel and he does with so much love , grace and understanding I love how laurel trauma isn’t just overcomed by some one loving you I love the emotional depth and growth of these characters feel genuine this book was so well written I can’t wait for cedars though I still hope he ends up with Marchs brother !
May 12, 2024
This is the second book in this series! This is Laurel and Ash's story and I really enjoyed their story! Great world building and very interesting characters! I read an advanced copy of this book and this is my unbiased review!
May 13, 2024
He was promising in his younger years but his life has turned bad so he is in need of a healer. He hates the idea of someone coming in and it is even worse when he meets them. Can they help him? Will he allow them to help him? See if he will
May 9, 2024
Good Hurt/Comfort Story
This was a good hurt/comfort story. I appreciated the way things developed for Laurel and Ash.
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
This was a good hurt/comfort story. I appreciated the way things developed for Laurel and Ash.
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
May 16, 2024
Good, but the Angst
This is Laurel and Ash's story and I really enjoyed their story, even if there is alot of angsty moments, good world building, characters and storyline.
🚨🚨🚨 PLEASE be aware if you have triggers related to abusive ex partners, physically and sexually.
This is Laurel and Ash's story and I really enjoyed their story, even if there is alot of angsty moments, good world building, characters and storyline.
🚨🚨🚨 PLEASE be aware if you have triggers related to abusive ex partners, physically and sexually.
July 9, 2024
This will remain an all time favourite for the rest of my life.
The growth and development of the MCs is incredible. I am a lover of the redemption arc.
10/10 will buy as a hard cover if the author releases it!
The growth and development of the MCs is incredible. I am a lover of the redemption arc.
10/10 will buy as a hard cover if the author releases it!
May 11, 2024
Exquisitely written and delightful MM hurt-comfort magical romantasy
I loved book 1 of this series and book 2 delivers an equally addictive, engaging and thoughtful read about two fascinating characters with an undeniable and unique connection. Both have magic powers, but, for awful reasons—TW for on-page flashback to SA—one’s magic is blocked. The other has been hired to help him with his own special healing magic. This is a story and world for fans of K. L. Noone, Tavia Lark, Eliot Grayson, and Cari Z.
I loved this book from the moment commoner healer Ash sees snooty aristocrat Laurel from afar and is just…drawn to him, tells him flat out they are meant to know each other and be part of each other’s lives, much to Laurel’s disbelief, and Ash never wavers from that promise. (Oooh maybe I finally figured out the title?! I was wondering what that meant LOL). Ash has been hired by the prince (one of the heroes from book 1) to help a friend, and it turns out, Laurel is that friend, so, much to a startled Laurel’s dismay, he and Ash see each other again much sooner than either expects. The connection is marvelous and they have terrific chemistry, despite (because of?!) Laurel’s wary, prickly, jaded outlook (he has been SO hurt, poor baby). With Ash’s positive, I’m-there-for-you-no-matter-what vibe, Laurel has no hope of putting him off. Even Ash’s background as an illegitimate commoner and Laurel’s privileged blueblood heritage can’t get in the way of the real connection they have, though it adds some nice tension to the read.
Everything Laurel thinks makes him unlovable is attractive in Ash’s eyes, and it’s charming and heartbreaking and wonderful to see Ash gently remove Laurel’s high walls, brick by brick, excuse by excuse, and Show him he’s here for all of it and what Laurel thinks makes him broken is what Ash thinks makes him strong and heroic. Also Ash thinks Laurel looks like a fairy king, which is freakin’ adorable.
Laurel’s been through it with a horrific first relationship that left him doubting his ability to ever enjoy sex, left him without his artistic, creative magic (it goes awry), left him trying desperately to prove he can be physical, over and over with empty, meaningless sex and relationships that could never go anywhere. An aside—this is a society that, while it doesn’t really look down on promiscuity, doesn’t encourage it either and in some ways does place value on purity, and I did get an icky squicky feeling about why Laurel’s past happened and, in one place, how it was used against Laurel by the villain, and I could have done without knowing about Laurel’s previous relationship with his bestie the prince (I hated it in book 1, too, I’m just not a fan of former lovers staying buds/in each other’s lives, I’d rather not hear about it at all, but that’s definitely a Me issue). But I appreciated the way Laurel and Ash talked through their pasts and faced it all together. When they finally do get physical together, they have a lovely true-intimacy (in part thanks to Ash’s magical gift) that shines from the pages and was hopeful and sexy and positive.
Another note, I love the rituals of courting that the author created, that old-fashioned sense of courtesy, of honoring your chosen lover, and making sure they’re cared for. It’s beautiful.
There’s so much to overcome, and Laurel does not make it easy on Ash, but, Ash wouldn’t have it any other way. Laurel will have to ultimately face his demon, but with Ash in the background cheering him on and being there, you know all will be well.
The magic is…magical ha ha sorry, the romance is well-paced and so rewarding, and the world is one I’d love to visit.
HEA, grumpy-sunshine, hurt-comfort, golden retriever-black cat, commoner-aristocrat romantasy. No cheating or emotional cheating or any om/ow drama or others in the present timeline. Fantastic storytelling. Highly recommended.
My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for the ARC; this is my free and impartial opinion.
I loved book 1 of this series and book 2 delivers an equally addictive, engaging and thoughtful read about two fascinating characters with an undeniable and unique connection. Both have magic powers, but, for awful reasons—TW for on-page flashback to SA—one’s magic is blocked. The other has been hired to help him with his own special healing magic. This is a story and world for fans of K. L. Noone, Tavia Lark, Eliot Grayson, and Cari Z.
I loved this book from the moment commoner healer Ash sees snooty aristocrat Laurel from afar and is just…drawn to him, tells him flat out they are meant to know each other and be part of each other’s lives, much to Laurel’s disbelief, and Ash never wavers from that promise. (Oooh maybe I finally figured out the title?! I was wondering what that meant LOL). Ash has been hired by the prince (one of the heroes from book 1) to help a friend, and it turns out, Laurel is that friend, so, much to a startled Laurel’s dismay, he and Ash see each other again much sooner than either expects. The connection is marvelous and they have terrific chemistry, despite (because of?!) Laurel’s wary, prickly, jaded outlook (he has been SO hurt, poor baby). With Ash’s positive, I’m-there-for-you-no-matter-what vibe, Laurel has no hope of putting him off. Even Ash’s background as an illegitimate commoner and Laurel’s privileged blueblood heritage can’t get in the way of the real connection they have, though it adds some nice tension to the read.
Everything Laurel thinks makes him unlovable is attractive in Ash’s eyes, and it’s charming and heartbreaking and wonderful to see Ash gently remove Laurel’s high walls, brick by brick, excuse by excuse, and Show him he’s here for all of it and what Laurel thinks makes him broken is what Ash thinks makes him strong and heroic. Also Ash thinks Laurel looks like a fairy king, which is freakin’ adorable.
Laurel’s been through it with a horrific first relationship that left him doubting his ability to ever enjoy sex, left him without his artistic, creative magic (it goes awry), left him trying desperately to prove he can be physical, over and over with empty, meaningless sex and relationships that could never go anywhere. An aside—this is a society that, while it doesn’t really look down on promiscuity, doesn’t encourage it either and in some ways does place value on purity, and I did get an icky squicky feeling about why Laurel’s past happened and, in one place, how it was used against Laurel by the villain, and I could have done without knowing about Laurel’s previous relationship with his bestie the prince (I hated it in book 1, too, I’m just not a fan of former lovers staying buds/in each other’s lives, I’d rather not hear about it at all, but that’s definitely a Me issue). But I appreciated the way Laurel and Ash talked through their pasts and faced it all together. When they finally do get physical together, they have a lovely true-intimacy (in part thanks to Ash’s magical gift) that shines from the pages and was hopeful and sexy and positive.
Another note, I love the rituals of courting that the author created, that old-fashioned sense of courtesy, of honoring your chosen lover, and making sure they’re cared for. It’s beautiful.
There’s so much to overcome, and Laurel does not make it easy on Ash, but, Ash wouldn’t have it any other way. Laurel will have to ultimately face his demon, but with Ash in the background cheering him on and being there, you know all will be well.
The magic is…magical ha ha sorry, the romance is well-paced and so rewarding, and the world is one I’d love to visit.
HEA, grumpy-sunshine, hurt-comfort, golden retriever-black cat, commoner-aristocrat romantasy. No cheating or emotional cheating or any om/ow drama or others in the present timeline. Fantastic storytelling. Highly recommended.
My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for the ARC; this is my free and impartial opinion.
May 17, 2024
This part appealed to me more than the first part, despite the significantly poorer world-building and the forced inclusion of dragons.
However, a note on the outset: the cover. I've seen this book mentioned in a few posts on Facebook groups, but I completely ignored it while scrolling because it seemed like a typical contemporary book, suggesting breakfast with Auntie and afternoon tea.
Is this supposed to be the cover of an epic fantasy? No, the author didn't do a good job with marketing the book; all they need to do is click on top fantasy books on Amazon and see what covers sell. What we have here is shooting oneself in the foot; the cover doesn't encourage at all.
However, my friend strongly encouraged me, she praised it, so I finally read both parts. As for the first one, I wasn't convinced, but I liked the second one much more.
Firstly, Laurel was a character with a genuinely tragic past, so his later behaviors were understandable to me. I once read an identical story of a r*ped woman trying to "heal" herself from trauma through risky casual sex, so this is an actual case. There was only one thing unclear to me: the fact that Laurel didn't enjoy sex, but... was drawn to Nero. Does this mean that he didn't enjoy it with him either? That wasn't explained.
Overall, this part revolves around an interesting theme of magical psychological healing, which I've encountered only once in a book, almost identical, tip-top, it's a Polish book "Secrets" by E. Raj. It has EXACTLY the same theme, almost 1:1, where Rothgar heals an elven prince who was r*ped, through telepathic/empathic intervention, dissolving his memories and making them stop being painful.
The book was a similar read to the first part, quick and smooth, and the author deserves credit for truly knowing how to write in a way that intrigues and make me root for the characters; it's hard to put the book down.
Regarding sex, this author doesn't do many descriptions, they're not too detailed, and the chemistry between the characters isn't felt as strongly, but in fantasy books, it's more justified than in contemporary ones.
The end of the book is, in my opinion, its weakest part. Nero repeated in part 1 that nobody rode on Perrin with him, and now suddenly Laurel can't wait a few hours longer for the train and suddenly has to fly on a dragon, on which nobody rode before Nero and March? Stretched, to say the least. But I understand that the author wanted to show us dragons in this book as well, but didn't know how to do it naturally.
It may seem like I'm complaining, but it's really not that bad; the book is significantly more credible and less fairy-tale-like than the previous one, which bordered on naivety.
It's also much darker and better constructed. It was a good read.
I know from my friend that the next part is supposed to be about Myca and Cedar, which unpleasantly hit me because after all, Cedar had a problem with an unfaithful fiancé, Myca really doesn't seem like a pillar of trust and safety for someone hurt by infidelity; will we get a replay from part one? A naive 'transformation' of a character into an ideal husband? Hopefully not!
Cedar deserves better than a spoiled college brat. And no, Myca is not a "delightfully impish younger brother," he is just spoiled and has zero moral values, which is sad, since books nowadays show less and less of that, instead promoting hedonism without showing consequences of it, and even more, showing... it has no consequences! It is simply harmful for young people and steers them in a bad way, NOT into long-term happiness but short-term gratification, which increases their endorphin level and addicts them to short, intense pleasure, and dulls them to the normalcy of long-term relationships.
But maybe I'm writing this unnecessarily, and the author will offer us some third way out of this situation in the next volume; I really hope it won't be a replay from volume one, because we had it already the "tame the playboy" trope, not again :(
However, a note on the outset: the cover. I've seen this book mentioned in a few posts on Facebook groups, but I completely ignored it while scrolling because it seemed like a typical contemporary book, suggesting breakfast with Auntie and afternoon tea.
Is this supposed to be the cover of an epic fantasy? No, the author didn't do a good job with marketing the book; all they need to do is click on top fantasy books on Amazon and see what covers sell. What we have here is shooting oneself in the foot; the cover doesn't encourage at all.
However, my friend strongly encouraged me, she praised it, so I finally read both parts. As for the first one, I wasn't convinced, but I liked the second one much more.
Firstly, Laurel was a character with a genuinely tragic past, so his later behaviors were understandable to me. I once read an identical story of a r*ped woman trying to "heal" herself from trauma through risky casual sex, so this is an actual case. There was only one thing unclear to me: the fact that Laurel didn't enjoy sex, but... was drawn to Nero. Does this mean that he didn't enjoy it with him either? That wasn't explained.
Overall, this part revolves around an interesting theme of magical psychological healing, which I've encountered only once in a book, almost identical, tip-top, it's a Polish book "Secrets" by E. Raj. It has EXACTLY the same theme, almost 1:1, where Rothgar heals an elven prince who was r*ped, through telepathic/empathic intervention, dissolving his memories and making them stop being painful.
The book was a similar read to the first part, quick and smooth, and the author deserves credit for truly knowing how to write in a way that intrigues and make me root for the characters; it's hard to put the book down.
Regarding sex, this author doesn't do many descriptions, they're not too detailed, and the chemistry between the characters isn't felt as strongly, but in fantasy books, it's more justified than in contemporary ones.
The end of the book is, in my opinion, its weakest part. Nero repeated in part 1 that nobody rode on Perrin with him, and now suddenly Laurel can't wait a few hours longer for the train and suddenly has to fly on a dragon, on which nobody rode before Nero and March? Stretched, to say the least. But I understand that the author wanted to show us dragons in this book as well, but didn't know how to do it naturally.
It may seem like I'm complaining, but it's really not that bad; the book is significantly more credible and less fairy-tale-like than the previous one, which bordered on naivety.
It's also much darker and better constructed. It was a good read.
I know from my friend that the next part is supposed to be about Myca and Cedar, which unpleasantly hit me because after all, Cedar had a problem with an unfaithful fiancé, Myca really doesn't seem like a pillar of trust and safety for someone hurt by infidelity; will we get a replay from part one? A naive 'transformation' of a character into an ideal husband? Hopefully not!
Cedar deserves better than a spoiled college brat. And no, Myca is not a "delightfully impish younger brother," he is just spoiled and has zero moral values, which is sad, since books nowadays show less and less of that, instead promoting hedonism without showing consequences of it, and even more, showing... it has no consequences! It is simply harmful for young people and steers them in a bad way, NOT into long-term happiness but short-term gratification, which increases their endorphin level and addicts them to short, intense pleasure, and dulls them to the normalcy of long-term relationships.
But maybe I'm writing this unnecessarily, and the author will offer us some third way out of this situation in the next volume; I really hope it won't be a replay from volume one, because we had it already the "tame the playboy" trope, not again :(
July 10, 2024
3*** minus one point for the awful cover.
I actually started reading the series with this book and then read the part one. Now don't get me wrong, the books is much better than part one, which is just horrible.
It actually gave me hope that part one could be even better, but it was the other way around. :(
So this is the story of Laurel, a character we met in part one. I was actually shocked that Laurel is much more likeable here, and in part one he was just a villain with not much of a redemption arc. Here we actually have an explanation for Laurel's behavior.
I enjoyed the book overall, even though there's almost no plot other than sitting and talking and having weird therapy. That's the whole premise.
I enjoyed the flashbacks as they added depth to Laurel, and he's actually the only character in this series that has some solid depth, props to the author. Keep it up!
This author tends to focus on the character's sexual past or present - as a basis for the personality.
It was like that in part one (Nero was a dog and March was a virgin - that's all it was) and here we have a bit more, although the second MC here didn't have much to go on beyond the fact that he was a bastard son of a noble and that was his "main" problem.
He was portrayed as the perfect therapist, but he fails miserably here as he and Laurel are stuck in therapy, so he's just meh-therapist. Overall, not very interesting.
One thing made me take away a full point:
The author makes fun of the phrase "my body is my temple," as if being respectful of one's body is something to be ridiculed and stupid? Really? So we should not go to the gym, not eat good, healthy food, not be selective with our sexual partners?
We should not respect our bodies with what we put in them?
Such a backward, harmful and toxic approach!
Self-respect is still a thing, dear author.
Reading other reviews, I got an idea of what we'll have in part three.
Another "promiscuous type" + "pure type" couple, so no, I'm off the boat.
I can feel the dog-type character will be empty-headed and hedonistic as Nero.
The author seems to love this type of people:
1) pretty and not very smart
2) promiscuous
The author really needs to invent more types of couples :D
One word about the cover:
The person who did it... - they obviously lost the original font from the volume one. :D So unproffesional.
I actually started reading the series with this book and then read the part one. Now don't get me wrong, the books is much better than part one, which is just horrible.
It actually gave me hope that part one could be even better, but it was the other way around. :(
So this is the story of Laurel, a character we met in part one. I was actually shocked that Laurel is much more likeable here, and in part one he was just a villain with not much of a redemption arc. Here we actually have an explanation for Laurel's behavior.
I enjoyed the book overall, even though there's almost no plot other than sitting and talking and having weird therapy. That's the whole premise.
I enjoyed the flashbacks as they added depth to Laurel, and he's actually the only character in this series that has some solid depth, props to the author. Keep it up!
This author tends to focus on the character's sexual past or present - as a basis for the personality.
It was like that in part one (Nero was a dog and March was a virgin - that's all it was) and here we have a bit more, although the second MC here didn't have much to go on beyond the fact that he was a bastard son of a noble and that was his "main" problem.
He was portrayed as the perfect therapist, but he fails miserably here as he and Laurel are stuck in therapy, so he's just meh-therapist. Overall, not very interesting.
One thing made me take away a full point:
The author makes fun of the phrase "my body is my temple," as if being respectful of one's body is something to be ridiculed and stupid? Really? So we should not go to the gym, not eat good, healthy food, not be selective with our sexual partners?
We should not respect our bodies with what we put in them?
Such a backward, harmful and toxic approach!
Self-respect is still a thing, dear author.
Reading other reviews, I got an idea of what we'll have in part three.
Another "promiscuous type" + "pure type" couple, so no, I'm off the boat.
I can feel the dog-type character will be empty-headed and hedonistic as Nero.
The author seems to love this type of people:
1) pretty and not very smart
2) promiscuous
The author really needs to invent more types of couples :D
One word about the cover:
The person who did it... - they obviously lost the original font from the volume one. :D So unproffesional.
May 7, 2024
This story was engaging, a slow-burn, poetic, fated romance, with hurt/comfort at the center of their love. I stayed up way too late reading, unable to put golden retriever Ash and black cat Laurel down. I enjoyed the cameo with the Neroki and March, as well as Perrin and others from book 1.
My favorite parts of this book were the stories Laurel’s parents shared with him about their courtship and arranged marriage. It’s nice to get more dimension to the parents.
Definitely check your triggers for this book. My take on it is that it’s a little difficult to read. It does not leave me happy and warm.
I can not wait for the third book, L.A. Lambert has woven such an interesting universe with Ikronia (*I need pronunciation help with the word). Although mpreg is mentioned in this book, it doesn’t happen in the book, but I kinda sorta want it to happen in the third book, whether it be an mpreg March or mpreg Laurel. (::fingers crossed::)
My favorite parts of this book were the stories Laurel’s parents shared with him about their courtship and arranged marriage. It’s nice to get more dimension to the parents.
Definitely check your triggers for this book. My take on it is that it’s a little difficult to read. It does not leave me happy and warm.
I can not wait for the third book, L.A. Lambert has woven such an interesting universe with Ikronia (*I need pronunciation help with the word). Although mpreg is mentioned in this book, it doesn’t happen in the book, but I kinda sorta want it to happen in the third book, whether it be an mpreg March or mpreg Laurel. (::fingers crossed::)
May 12, 2024
Truly one of my favorite series. As someone who has been through some of what Laurel has dealt with, Lambert did an incredible job of writing both the trauma as well as the aftermath. Not just how it affects him but those around him and the complicated feelings he is dealing with. It was healing for me, in a way. Seeing someone struggle with similar thoughts and feelings as I did helped me to understand better my own emotions with my own issues. I am also always obsessed with the trope of someone knowing the other person needs that love and affection but they won't accept it (i.e. Dawn and Ogie in Waitress), so Ash and Laurel's relationship was such a feel good romance for me. And of course seeing Nero and March and how they're doing now was so much fun. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone looking to heal their inner traumatized heart and/or looking for a lovely grumpyxsunshine relationship dynamic.
May 15, 2024
I am a big fan of stories where one of the characters has that ex- you love to hate and then finds the perfect someone to help them get past that. We get that here with Laurel and Ash. I enjoyed the fact that Ash the healer was the sunshine character and had been able to maintain a life-affirming, optimistic attitude despite all the damage he's seen as a healer. He may have had a 100% success rate prior to Laurel, but it definitely isn't clear initially that Laurel isn't going to be the case that breaks that string of successes. I also enjoyed seeing the way the author dealt with the ethical dilemmas that arise when a healer and a patient begin to have romantic feelings for each other. Great story and characters.
January 13, 2026
This book is a lot darker than the first book, but the characters are perfectly written for it. Ash is the very definition of the do-gooder, but his love for Laurel is exactly what Laurel needs to heal and realise that he is worthy of love. Laurel at first is a very emotionally damaged person who lashes out rather than admit how he feels, but as the layers come off we see how he is desperate for love, and someone to say it's ok to not feel ok. won't spoil the rest of it, but very well crafted storytelling. Loved it, need the next book like right now lol
May 24, 2024
L.A. Lambert was a new author to me when I was reading The Promise Effect and I was blown away. I loved Laurel and his struggles and I loved Ash and his goal to help Laurel. The story had amazing characters, amazing plot and just beautifully written.
June 28, 2025
Emotionally intense story of Laurel’s eventual healing from severe abuse to being able to love fully. While second in the series, I read it first and had no problems, although I do plan to read the first book later, likely when the third comes out.
May 19, 2024
That was good! I'm glad that Laurel got his happy ending. Can't wait for the next book, Cedar interests me!
May 25, 2024
Other than the fact that the book has a boring cover, I found it very enjoyable—really good writing!
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