The adventure of a lifetime at their backs, Max and August are ready to settle into their happily ever after having just returned from Emynor together. That is, until Max realizes that she’s not cut out for royal life. When August’s advisors push him into a hasty proposal that backfires, the two are separated and back to living completely different lives; August struggles with the burdens of royal responsibility, while Max has chosen to fend for herself once again. Back on her own, Max and her little brother, Danny, encounter obstacles that are reminiscent of her time as a solo mercenary, and normal life seems palatable until they’re attacked. Unable to call on her usual allies, she must show up at August’s door once again to ask for help and face whatever is on the other side. The world of Barrien has moved quickly while Max is away, with August entering into an unexpected union, but her need to find a cure for her brother’s ailment drives her into a situation that will test her patience, fortitude, and boundaries with her ex-lover. Can the pair travel the continent to find a cure for a werewolf bite? Or will the tension of their past leave a loved one in danger?
Content Warnings: harsh/vulgar/explicit language; explicit descriptions of sexual acts including those which may be considered taboo; alcohol consumption and overuse; death and dead bodies; mention of kidnapping, abuse, and neglect; mention of harm/injury to a child; death of animal-like characters; blood and violence; use of weapons; indirect commentary on cults/religion.
I’m so thankful to Francesca for letting me be an ARC reader for her book. I was so excited to continue Max & August’s stories! I’m seriously in love with the medieval fantasy world these books take place🏰🐉🗡️
I think the character development of Max and Auggie were the best part of the book! Francesca’s excels of building well rounded, believable, lovable characters. Max is so relatable to a lot of people, including me. I’ve always felt like I don’t really fit into “normal” spaces and I’ve also spent most of my life as a loner. I also really love the witty dialogue. I was seriously cackling at some points.
I do however think too much happened in this book, and I wish it was strung out into 2 separate books! Maybe I’m just greedy because I love her books, haha. I lost focus at times, just because there was a lot going on.
The love story in this book, stole my bleeding heart!💔 everyone should expect an August or nothing because that man stood beside her no matter what!
Last of all, I was so glad we had Max’s horse bestie back because honestly, if there’s not a sassy animal companion, I don’t want it!
Thank you to Francesca Crispo for a copy of this book! I am utterly obsessed with the characters within Beloved! Following their story from the first book, we really get to dive into the life in the kingdom and see what the royal life has in store for Max and Danny. I enjoyed getting to know Danny more in this book, I feel like it really tied in Max’s love and dedication to her brother no matter the risk and sacrifices she has to make. Beloved was a beautiful addition to Beholden, and I hope there’s more in store for these characters as well! I really enjoyed the friendship between August and Amrys, I felt like it was such an important part of the store, and she kept him strong with everything going on with him and Max. I loved Magnus he was the perfect companion along with Wraith. I loved the reunion of Max and August, and I hope this isn’t the end of their story!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Synopsis: The adventure of a lifetime at their backs, Max and August are ready to settle into their happily ever after having just returned from Emynor together. That is, until Max realizes that she’s not cut out for royal life. When August’s advisors push him into a hasty proposal that backfires, the two are separated and back to living completely different lives; August struggles with the burdens of royal responsibility, while Max has chosen to fend for herself once again. Back on her own, Max and her little brother, Danny, encounter obstacles that are reminiscent of her time as a solo mercenary, and normal life seems palatable until they’re attacked. Unable to call on her usual allies, she must show up at August’s door once again to ask for help and face whatever is on the other side. The world of Barrien has moved quickly while Max is away, with August entering into an unexpected union, but her need to find a cure for her brother’s ailment drives her into a situation that will test her patience, fortitude, and boundaries with her ex-lover. Can the pair travel the continent to find a cure for a werewolf bite? Or will the tension of their past leave a loved one in danger?
Content Warnings: harsh/vulgar/explicit language; explicit descriptions of sexual acts including those which may be considered taboo; alcohol consumption and overuse; death and dead bodies; mention of kidnapping, abuse, and neglect; mention of harm/injury to a child; death of animal-like characters; blood and violence; use of weapons; indirect commentary on cults/religion.
Review: A world full of love, lust, and wonder. Learning to adjust to a new life while having a hard time letting the old one go. Characters that grow and learn to appreciate that they have been given a second chance. Learning to trust, when it is not so easily given. This world is not so unlike our own. Sometimes seeing the perspective of those that are not real, makes us or me see what is truly real. Francesca’s imagination of Max the Menace is exceptional. A rebel with a cause. Something a lot of us women look up to. Minus getting thrown in jail, battling werewolves and almost dying. A world I can easily get lost in and would recommend to anyone.
This was just what I needed to read. When I first found out that Francesca was going to turn Beholden from being a standalone to having a sequel, I was intrigued. Biggest reason is that, while we do see a good character arc for Max the Menace in her mercenary days, I felt that August also alters her future trajectory while also claiming his birthright... So then, what does that mean for Max's future?
This book answers this question beautifully. We see the dissonance in Max finally be able to safely provide for Danny and keep him safe, all while living a life she does not believe she deserves or fits in to. August, being the ever doting and golden retriever MMC, just wants her along for the ride that is life. While trying to align their differences, that is all Max can see glaring back at her, how she does not fit in this current life, but also, does she now fit into her old monster hunting ways.
I love the ability Francesca has in allowing her characters to explore themselves both mentally and physically. In this Dual POV, we get to see the internal battles both August and Max face in their new worlds and titles, when their real battle is trying to not lose the other and themselves along the way. I have always felt the comfort that Francesca's storytelling gives me, the warm blanket that gives comfort during the good and protection during the trails our main characters face. We are able to see the battling of belonging and how one does not have to conform to fit into a particular mold, especially when your golden retriever never wants to change you.
This series is so much fun to read, and I will always grab a Francesca Crispo book if it's in front of me. So maybe you should too
As the sequel to “Beholden”, Francesca absolutely NAILED it with “Beloved”! While Beholden was originally going to be a standalone, Francesca heard the pleas of the people and wrote an incredible sequel!!! Our favorite mercenary Max and now king (former prince) August return! Max and August’s relationship is tested as Max tries to adjust to the quiet, subdued life of royalty, and August adapts to his new role as the king. However, when pushed too far, they go their separate ways, once again navigating life on their own. With no other options left to cure her brother, Max returns to seek August’s help.
Read this if you love: ⚔️ Mercenary x King 🖤 A sassy horse companion! 🐴 🏰 A loving miniature dragon 🔥 ⚔️ Banter 🖤 Dungeons & Dragons vibes 🗡️ 🏰 Adventure ⚔️ Magical creatures ✨
I truly love Francesca’s sense of humor and it really shines in her books. Just like in the first book, I adored the relationship and all the interactions between Max and her horse Wraith. Francesca Crispo also portrays the delicate and complex nature of relationships: from the sweet and silly moments to managing change and handling grief. The way dealing with grief is portrayed in this book is so tender and genuine. Everybody handles their heartache differently, and we have to be kind and patient with each other through it all. I always love an adventure story, and I felt thoroughly transported to the world of Barrien. For anyone looking for an adventure, you should absolutely read “Beholden” and “Beloved”!
First and foremost, thank you so much to Francesca Crispo for giving me the opportunity to be an ACR reader for her sequel to Beholden.
This is my favorite series by Francesca, and I'm so glad she is giving us an opportunity to return to Barrien and these wonderful characters. Her strengths are creating compelling and complex characters we can empathize with. Max is my favorite female character from any of the books I've read in at least two years. She's a badass and a loner without being angsty or cliché.
I love the conflict she gave Max in this second book, it seems like a natural reaction to the big life change that she's faced with, and August's emotional journey parallels that nicely as well.
However, the plot meandered for me a lot in this book. Her characters are rich enough that we actually don't need a ton of subplots pulling them in different directions in order for their story to be entertaining. For the first third of this book I actually had no idea where the story was going or what the main conflict was going to be. I think there was opportunity to actually write two separate books from the various subplots in this story, and given how much I love Max and August, I wish she had! :)
That being said, my struggle with the plot is my only critique of the second book in the series (I'm saying series because I'm hoping for more!). Otherwise, I was so thrilled to revisit this intriguing world, and get more time with these characters!
I had the honor of reading this book’s predecessor, Beholden, last spring, as an ARC, and I was lucky enough to get an ARC for its sequel!
Like Beholden, Beloved is a comical, spicy, Dungeons-and-Dragonsy story that focuses on Max, a renowned assassin, and her lover/boyfriend/king (What are they? Even Max isn’t sure), August.
Francesca Crispo is a whiz with the one-liners — I have so many highlighted quotes in my digital ARC that made me laugh. I forgot how chaotic and loveable Max and August are, and I think the author did a great job staying true to their characters from the first book, while developing them both individually and together in this sequel.
It’s fairly spicy, so if that’s not your thing, it may not be for you. If it is your thing, you should love it.
The story is quick to get into, with easy to understand worldbuilding, and great dialogue and banter. I would especially recommend it for people just starting to get into fantasy reading! The DND vibes carry through from the first book — like seriously, I think whoever was playing Max rolled at least a couple ones over the course of this story.
I also loved the footnotes feature (at least in the digital copy) that explain all the mystical creatures and other little things unique to the setting.
I fell in love with Max and August in book one, Beholden, and was thrilled when I found out book two was in the works. Finally getting back into their world was exciting, but I was honestly nervous about where this story was going to go.
I should have known Crispo would take care of us. She did them justice and gave us everything we needed in this book.
”…and just like every other time I’d kissed Max the Menace, I thought it might not be such a bad way to die.”
Seeing August embrace his love for Max was my absolute favorite part of this story. The big lug is head over heels for Max and I love it. Poor guy…just wasn’t able to help Max with her troubled feelings.
”I was an outsider, no matter what was happening between me and August. I’d always be an outsider in Barrien, in Dalcester, in the world of normal people and their normal lives.”
Seeing Max struggle with fitting in, and question how she could ever fit in to August’s life broke my heart, but also made be relate to her. The feelings of inadequacy, and underserving hit home with me. She let those feelings take control of her and I feel it broke my heart as much as it did August.
”The world as I knew it, the world I’d struggled to remain in but was growing to love, was over.”
I love the way they love each other and I love the way they fight for each other.
“You’re right. You’re a pain in the ass, Max the Menace, and you don’t fit seamlessly into my world. But I’d change the world a million times over for you to feel comfortable in it. I don’t care where you came from. I just care that you’re with me because that’s where you belong.”
I adore Francesca Crispo as a person—and her writing? Somehow even better. Being part of her street team has been such a joy, and Beloved just solidified why I’ll follow her anywhere. 💛
Max and August’s journey in this sequel is raw, tender, and full of the kind of emotional tension that makes you want to throw the book and hug it at the same time. 😂
From royal pressure to mercenary grit, shifting alliances to surprising unions (😱), Beloved pulls you back into the world of Barrien and doesn’t let go. I loved watching Max fight for her brother while navigating heartbreak, stubborn pride, and some truly chaotic werewolf vibes. It’s a story about second chances, impossible choices, and what it really means to be loved—not just by others, but by yourself.
Beloved is a thrilling, high-stakes, romantic, and delightful read! This book combines the best of fantasy and romance with rivals, werewolves, danger, tension, and unexpected alliances. This book is full of drama! I did not read Beholden, the first book in this series, prior to reading Beloved. I was a bit lost at times and highly recommend starting with the first book in the series! The characters are unique and have big personalities which helped me get to know them fast. I always love this author's fantasy reads! Fair warning, her books are spicy but so much fun with unique plots and epic adventures!
“August promised to spend the rest of his days exploring the deepest parts of my soul, while I promised to adventure to the ends of the earth with him by my side.”
Absolutely phenomenal.
Throughout the entire book we see so much growth between Max and August while also seeing personal growth with both characters. The two grow as people the entire time and balance each other out perfectly! We get to see so much internal turmoil worked through and overcome. Beloved made me laugh, yell at fictional characters, and it was HOT as hell. Truly an absolutely incredible read and I will never get enough of Francesca’s books!
Francesca brought back Max and August, humor, all the Dungeons and Dragons vibes back and added more spice to this sequel. The tiny dragons and all the creatures made for such a fun plot point. Francesca also writes grief so nicely and it had its more emotional moments.
If this spicy romantasy sounds like your jam, make sure to check it out!!!
Thrilling, filled with all the emotions, growth, adventure, spice, found family and love! Devoured it in one day, so happy to be back with Max and August
Max is trying to find her spot in the royal family but is struggling to say the least. She’s used to being on her own and doing what she wants, when she wants, so I can’t blame her! August is right there to support her and bring joy into her life in let’s say…all sorts of various ways 😉. Max continues to be a thoughtful person and brings something to August that I don’t think he even realizes he needed but I feel only made him fall further in love with her. Unfortunately, Florian is still playing games and manages to make Max doubt everything that she knows in her heart to be true so she leaves with Danny because she thinks it’s for the best. Will she find her way back to the love of her life (even though she’s too stubborn to admit it haha)? Check out Beloved to find out!
I hope there is more to come for these two because I have loved their story and overall character development throughout these two books!
I highly recommend this fantasy read with monsters, potions, spice, and cults that was hard to put down.
This story has some of the sweetest, most romantic exchanges!
When I read book 1, Beholden, I wasn't expecting the story to continue BUT I AM SO GLAD IT DID. The characters grow and change so much more in this book and it's beautiful.
The best parts for me were the longing and the unexpected alliances.
Favorite Quotes: "She's good for you." "Shut up. I'd rather learn to walk without either of my legs than learn to be without you again"
"I'd been gone." "But you were still around. Your heart was still beating. That was enough for me to keep going."