The Pastel Prince

Crowns of Melowynn #1

by V.L. Locey

The fate of the wilds is in his hands.



Kenton, a young druid prince, feels trapped in the bustling city life, a world away from the forests of his birth. Despite his royal duties keeping him tethered to the urban sprawl, his spirit remains tangled with the whispering trees and the ancient, mystical rhythms of the forest. But when a sinister threat endangers his people’s land and lives, Kenton embarks on a perilous journey to track down a powerful and ancient being; the lone archdruid powerful enough to stop the darkness.



Only, Beirach is nothing like the archdruids of old tales. Instead of withered and world-weary, he is younger than expected, vital, and has a magnetic charm that Kenton can’t ignore. Thrown together by fate and bound by a shared mission, Kenton and Beirach find themselves in the heart of a battle to save nature. As the dark mage’s shadow looms over the forest, they fight together and find a love as raw and wild as the forest itself.



The Pastel Prince is an M/M age gap romantasy set in a faraway land with magicks and mythical beasts, a belligerent pixie, a young druid on an epic quest, an older archdruid who’s not as washed up as he thought, Elven castles, long glances over a campfire, and a fey-tastic happily-ever-after.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, M M Romance, Magic, LGBT, Gay, Fae

223 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 17, 2025

About the author

V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, Dr. Who, Torchwood, belly laughs, yoga, reading and writing lusty tales, walking, Greek mythology, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.)

She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, and a flock of assorted domestic fowl.

When not writing lusty tales, she can be found enjoying her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania, fresh cup of java in hand.

Sign up for my newsletter here: http://vllocey.com/Newsletter

Reviews

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 4 stars ⭐️

“In all my years, I have never seen a more lovely sight than that blush coloring your cheeks.”

Usually when reading romantasies, I’m into the love story more than the fantasy. With The Pastel Prince, it was actually the other way around, and I’m not quite sure if that’s a positive or a negative thing.
The romance is described as a slow burn in the blurb, but I didn’t really feel that nice slow burn build-up, the tension between the characters. There was some cute flirting for a bit, some action, then BAM sex and I-love-you’s.
Bierach, super powerful archdruid/elk shifter, was also super duper sappy and romantic. Which, again, cute and sweet, but really not what I was expecting.

“For the love of my dear pappy’s pooter,” Tezen huffed as Beirach stared and I fiddled with my hair. “Druids in love. There is nothing more sappy.”

Well said, Tezen.
Start of the whole show is hands down feisty warrior princess pixie, Tezen. She was a great comedic relief to even out the dramatic storyline and the ultra sweet romance.

“Stop fighting. It will only enweb you more tightly.” “Suck my bouncing titties!”

And while I didn’t completely enjoy the love story portion of the book, I did get sucked into the world-building and will be coming back for more when book two comes out. Plus, I can never resist a ‘prince falling for his guard’ trope.

You, my beloved, are my sun.

I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

CW and tropes (spoilers):
- Romantasy
- Slow burn (?)
- Forced proximity
- Age gap (unknown, but they’re elves so does it really count?)
- Virgin MC
- Strict top/bottom
- Rimming
- Frotting

[Audi♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beirach and Kenton are on a mission to warn their people that elves and animals are turning to stone.
Will they make it in time?
Will they find a cure for the curse??

Their adventure, friends, and the world-building in this was entertaining. Tezen had me giggling in the dark.
The villain was shocking. The battle was juicy.
I just wasn't feeling the romance here. I love how special hair braiding was to them. BUT. I didn't feel any chemistry or burning love between them.
I still had fun, tho... I'll keep an eye out for the next book. The Lil King and his guard. so excited! 🤭

Kentons POV only.
No cheating, sharing om.
Virgin mc.
Beirach is a widow. His wife is mentioned a few times but nothing annoying.

"Beirach did enjoy my long hair. He loved to free it at night, grasp it in his fist when taking me from behind, and brushing it out after making love."

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.5 stars

I really enjoyed this story, as it’s filled with unique characters, lands, and fresh takes on druid magics. It’s billed as a romantasy, and it’s definitely a slow burn. That said, the quest is dire. Dark twists kept me intrigued and entertained. The pace is good, and the story is quiet, told through Kenton’s meekly druidic POV. He was such a sweetly devout character, and I just wanted to hug him extra tight when he discovered the extent of harm his family suffered–and how distraught he was over the desecration wrought by the dark mage on a rampage.

Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am, as a pretty constant V.L. reader, pretty certain this book the first foray into fantasy. And I was pretty excited for it, as I love fantasy. Even though I don't love age gaps, I appreciate that there was pretty much no power imbalance, with both characters sharing a good amount of strength and influence in their own right. And I like the world, it was well though out, and I could tell that even details we weren't told due to plot irrelevance were considered, like Yeti society. It's something I really appreciate and take into account when thinking of fantasy, both that the details get thought out and that the relevant details get shared.

I'm curious yet weary of the next book, again because of the age gap, but I know V.L. has a tendency to pleasantly surprise me

[Xanthe · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fabulous first fantasy romance from VL! The world building is amazing, it was very easy to imagine the scenes throughout the story, from the city, through the forests, to the mountains.
Kenton is not a fighter by nature, he is a druid elf, connected with nature. However, when called upon , he must travel back to his home village to see what is going on that has caused a raven to turn to stone. His aide on this journey turns out to be Beirach, a younger than expected archdruid.
The two are instantly taken with each other and though this is an intense and serious challenge, the long trek allows them time whilst riding to become acquainted. However, the speed at which the 'I love you's) were uttered felt a little rushed to me, considering the lack of conversation.
By far, my favourite of the book has to be Tezen, who swears fealty to Kenton after he saves her life and she is a riot of sweary proportions ironic considering she is a tiny pixie. She brings light relief and stout support when they encounter dangers on the road.
Both men are affected by what they meet upon their journey and so it's even more important that they have each other.
A wonderful trek and dangerous expedition that has some close to death's door. A highly recommended read and I am eagerly awaiting the second book of the duology.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.

[Annette✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars ✰

I am a big fantasy fan, so this book did not disappoint. We embarked on a journey with an Elf, Druid and a Pixie. The world building pulled me in from beginning to end. The writing style was something i had to get used to, but it didn’t bother me.

I do wished for a bit more info as to why the dark mage did what he did. What were his motives? Was he just born evil?

The romance was indeed slowburn, but they exchanged alot of heated gazes and moments during their journey together.
Want to thank Gay Romance Reviews for the ARC. This is my honest review.

Tropes
☽ Virgin MC
☽ Magickal world
☽ Age Gap
☽ Romantasy

[Kelsey Rhodes · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5 stars! This is the first book I've read by author V.L. Locey. There were moments where I wished the explanation of the world and magic system was more developed, but overall I really enjoyed this story. I also really liked the chemistry between Kenton and Beirach. With a little more attention on the side characters and world, this book could easily be 5 stars. Looking forward to reading the next installment in the future.

[Cynthia M Brow · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pastel Prince is the first book in the Crowns of Melowynn series. This is the story of Prince Kenton a druid and Beirach an archdruid. This was a truly wonderful romantacy. I loved the characters so much. The world building was just amazing as everything was well thought out. This book was hard to put down once I started because I had to see what was coming next. I can't wait for the next book in the series. I would definitely recommend this book.

[Edga · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

Another good read from Ms Locey. Kenton, an unlikely hero, a young elven teacher, is called upon to save the world from evil. Beirach, a seasoned warrior, and now an archdruid, (an elder), joins him in his quest. As they travel their bond grows, and is tested by the dangers they face, however, together, they have to find the key to defeat the necromancer who is the cause of the evil. Vicki's world building is first class, Kenton and Beirach travel through dark landscapes, from forests to villages which have been destroyed and people murdered, it was easy to get drawn in. The writing is so vivid, from the beginning the MCs are drawn together, their chemistry jumping from the page, I enjoyed how they developed as a couple, and how their relationship evolved and grew, both learning from the other. There's a bit of a twist near the end, that I didn't see coming, which made the story all the more interesting. I'm already looking forward to the next story in the series.

[Caroline Griffith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author but it will certainly not be my last. The fact that this is their first foray into fantasy makes this story all the better.

This is the first book of a duology for the Crowns of Melowynn and it sets the stage of the world built of elves, druids, pixies, yetis, Gods and Goddess as well as kings and queens. We learn very quickly that as in many lands, one's station is very important and sometimes despite station differences can lead to judgement and strife. Kenton is one such example of this as he is constantly judged by his appearance, mainly the color of his skin. He was however chosen as a child to look over Aelir a young man destined for greatness and primed to rule. When the most unnatural effects begin to descend upon all that Kenton loves he is tasked with determining their cause. He must first call upon an Arch druid named Beirach who will accompany him on his journey. But when the two meet sparks fly in a way it never has for either man. Kenton expected an old gangly man and Beirach never knew he could feel as he once did for his beloved wife. While their time can be considered a slow burn, their desire and lust are not, it's fiery and deeply felt but there is a pressing matter at hand.


While on their journey they encounter more of this evil that plagues nature and all who try to stop the spread. Along the way they meet the brash and brazen Tezen, a pixie princess who is the furthest thing from a pretty little thing. She swears her loyalty and friendship to the two men and gives us spirited banter throughout the story. She will quickly become one of your favorite side characters of 2025. While on this journey, it becomes clear that this disease of the lands is deliberate and the culprit will deliver another devastating blow to Beirach.

After an intense encounter, the group find themselves in the home of dwarves who are also family to Beirach. It is during this time that Kenton and Beirach have the time to spend together and can explore their connection to one another. It is also during this time that both men feel that these feelings are not fleeting and neither is their time together. But with danger on the horizon they must put this love on the back burner.


As they continue the journey, they gain another set of hands in Bissori who is quite helpful in his ability to communicate. The group finally comes up the destroyer of an that is good and must find a way to channel their inner strengths to defeat them.

While this story has a happy ending for our couple it is not the end. Book 2 will allow us to meet Aelir the now older and wiser young man that was under the care of Kenton. Things will change abruptly and set into motion the push and pull off duty vs happiness. I am so glad we do not have long to wait to book 2.

This is romantasy filled with action, angst, humor and sexy times. The author builds a wonderful and mystical world that also is host to real life issues. I think it is safe to say that fantasy is a welcomed addition to the author's skill set!

[Alexander Last · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at around 80%
I tried really hard to finish this book, but I just couldn't make myself. The world is interesting if underdeveloped, but that is truly one of the only positive things I can say about it.

The plot is not very well done or interesting. There's a big curse happening that is going to kill everyone Kenton loves and cares for basically, but there's no true sense of urgency in anyone's actions. The villain feels like a stock villain complete with evil monologuing, truly evil just to be evil. There's also inconsistencies in some of the backstory. Beirach first says when talking about his wife passing that he took his son with him to the temple he works at in an attempt to help his son, but then later on when talking about how his son was doing evil magic he says his son left right after his wife died and he came across the temple years later. This is then referenced again in the son's evil villain speech as he mentions his father making him live at the temple, so which one is it? Did Beirach bring his son with him to the temple, or did he find the temple after traveling for years on his own? Also, and this is truly unimportant, but just how fast are ravens able to fly, because it takes ten days on horseback to reach Kenton's village and throughout the journey Kenton is sending messages back and forth to the castle, sometimes getting a response in incredibly fast times. Is the forest just super dense so it's more difficult to travel through on land but isn't actually that far from the castle or have I just underestimated the speed and stamina of ravens?

The things mentioned above are things I could maybe forgive if the characters or relationships were interesting enough, but they weren't. The two main characters are basically perfect and have no flaws and fall in love almost instantly and with no build up. We are told they talk to one another, but it's not really shown all that much as they travel, they just go from some light flirting to declaring their love for one another. There's also the fact that every character in this book either talks like a generic fantasy stock character, with a very stiff and 'poetic' way of speaking, or they speak like the fantasy equivalent of a twelve year old who just learned about cursing and sex and is very eager for you to know that. The only character I felt slightly deviated from this was Kenton's brother, but he only spoke around three or so times, and when speaking to Kenton about his relationship with Beirach he also began speaking in the same similar stilted way.

Overall this book was not for me and I wish I had given up on it earlier.

[David Wickham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was an interesting book. I'm usually not a big fan of epic fantasy, sticking mostly with urban fantasy, but this was a good exercise in getting me out of my comfort zone as a reader and reviewer.

The story starts out in the city of Renedith and we’re introduced to one of our main characters, Kenton, who is serving as tutor to the heir of the realm, Aelir. They are all elves, but Kenton stands out since he is a country elf, and Aelir and the Court are all city elves. They worship different Gods and have different belief systems. Kenton is also green. His family and other country elves worship Danubia, who seems to be an omniscient nature Goddess. Kenton was called by her personally to go to Renedith and serve as Aelir’s tutor. His influence is strong over the boy. The country elves are treated as second class citizens in the kingdom. Aelir states that he will stop the discrimination once he’s in charge. He has come to believe that all the elves are equal. Kenton isn’t necessarily well liked by others who want to see the old ways preserved.

The Court gets word of what is originally thought to be a plague affecting Kenton’s home area. Animals and people had been found petrified. Kenton is sent to investigate. He is first sent to meet up with the archdruid Beirach Dreyath. He is under the impression that Beirach is elderly, but he finds an incredibly hot man. Beirach is the first to suggest that it is not a plague, but an attack by a dark mage. Let’s just say he knows what he’s talking about.

They later find themselves with a pixie, Tezen, whom Kenton saved from spiders. I think the author included her more for comic relief that anything. She swears like a drunken sailor but is a valued member of the party due to her fighting skills.

We get a happy ending, so I’m not going to spoil anything. I liked the characters. They were well developed, and the plot was interesting. My only complaint, and it’s really not a true complaint, is that the characters were so formal in their speech. Kenton worked for a prince. Beirach is an archdruid. They would of course be used to speaking like that. I would have liked to see them loosen up a bit.

We also get lots of spicy scenes between Kenton and Beirach. If you don’t find the story appealing, skip to the spicy scenes. It’s worth your while.

I recommend this book so hopefully you’ll enjoy it as well.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
I really loved this romantacy!
Kenton is just the sweetest druid elf. He is sent on a dangerous mission, but needs some help.
Beirach is an older and wiser archdruid - but he is by no means old - and he is going to help Kenton on his mission.
Both MC's are really likeable, each has his own unique qualities, and both are instantly attracted to the other - an attraction that is left simmering for a good portion of the book as their mission takes precedence. While this journey allows them time to get to know one another, it also causes a lot of pain, turmoil, and heartbreak that they must push through to get to the final battle. Along the way they encounter others who help them on their mission, and some, like Tezen the pixie, who add depth to the story along with some laughs, for she is a ribald character with some uniquely interesting statements. In the end, Kenton and Beirach prevail, their love blooms, and they have a wonderful, hard earned HEA.
This story is told from Kenton's POV. I found the first quarter of the book to be a bit slow moving, it had a huge info dump that took a bit to organize in my head, but was also interspersed with moments of interest. The rest of the book flew by as the story progressed and one event after another occured, thickening the plot, and keeping me invested in the outcome. Overall, I found this book to be highly entertaining and enjoyable.

I received an ARC from GRR, this is my honest opinion.

[E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

“The Pastel Prince” by V.L. Locey is the first book in the ‘Crowns of Melowynn’ series and features a young druid named Kenton and the archdruid Beirach, who is to help Kenton defeat the dark threat that is manifesting as a menace that turns living beings to stone. Their quest is full of revelations, some that may be impossible to overcome.

This adult gay fantasy story introduces a world that has various class stratifications, including a distinction between the forest elves and those who live in the city. I enjoyed learning about Kenton’s shenanigans to rescue the birds and his connection to nature, plus his relationship with his young ward. The connection between him and Beirach was a little forced and quick for me, but I did like the care that they showed for each other. The pixie is a great counterpoint and provided lots of elements of light relief, but the quest and its resolution wasn’t as satisfying for me as I would have liked. I understand that it’s difficult to do all of the world-building in the first book of a series, so I hope the sequel ties up some of the dangling threads, and I look forward to seeing how Kenton’s young ward turns out.

A copy of this title was provided for review

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. The world-building was fantastic, the drama engaging, and the passion sublime. Kenton is a forest druid who was sent by the Goddess to the city to teach the young heir the ways of the elves. Kenton's people naturally have an olive green skin tone, but due to Kenton's time away from the forest, his skin has turned a pastel green. Kenton is considered a prince by the city people although he doesn't like to use titles. He experiences discrimination, as the pale-skinned city elves look down on his country ways and greenish skin hue. When a deadly plague hits the forest communities, turning all the living animals to black stone, Kenton is asked to go to a certain remote temple to connect with a high druid and, then, both are to investigate the cause of the sickness.

When Kenton goes to the temple, he expects to meet an old, wizened druid. Instead he meets Beirach, a gorgeous high druid in his prime. Kenton, an innocent, is immediately attracted to the strong, large, and magical druid. When they go off to fight the evil invading their land, they grow close. Will they be successful in their mission and will they have a relationship at its conclusion? This is Book One is a duet. I enjoyed this story greatly and look forward to reading the next book.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you go into a fantasy world with lots of bits and pieces to sort through, it can take some time… or at least it does for me. But once I get a handle on the world, it’s off to the races! It was helpful that the story was single POV in first person through Kenton’s eyes. He was a great character and I especially loved his connection with nature along with his sweet soul. It would have been great to have a little more dialogue between the MCs, but I am a confessed dialogue junky.

There was a lot going on in their travels with twists I did not see coming, and the attention to details was very impressive. Things were explained in ways to be able to immerse into the journey, and keep the reader turning the pages to know what was coming next. And in typical Locey fashion, side characters were not pushed far to the back. Tezen was fabulous! She easily could steal scenes when she was on the page.

I would recommend this to readers looking for a fantasy filled with details to wrap around you, characters that have a quest with a mystery to solve, some heat, and main characters’ love to cheer for. (4.5 stars)

[Jeanette Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pastel Prince is the first book in the Crowns of Melowynn duality. Melowynn is a fantastical land of elves, humans and other supes (like pixies and trolls). It's adventure fiction at it's best. The quest -is hunting down a dark elf who turns humans and animals to stone.
Druid Kenton is well matched with his companion, arch druid Beirach. There's a considerable age gap between the two. Between that, duty and respect due to an elder and the seriousness of their quest, we get lots of pining and longing looks. The first half of the book is mostly a hot simmer. Helped along by a foul mouthed pixie. The steam and sizzle worth the wait.
Vey exciting adventure. The story focused on the quest story line, the sweet love story just an extra bonus. The storyline was original. Plot moved and tension ratcheted up so nicely. Really enjoyed Kenton's druidic power, his ability to interact with flora and fauna and Beirach's use of his elk horned staff.
A quick, fun read. Satisfying ending. Would love to read further adventures for the two druids.
I received an advanced copy of this book from GRR and this is my review.

[Harrison Hicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's quite a bit of fun to be had in this fantasy adventure from Locey. Seemingly inspired by "Dungeons & Dragons", it's a tale of Kenton and Beirach, two elf druids in the world of Melowynn. Kenton is an advisor and tutor to the young prince of Renedith when he is tasked with investigating a mysterious plague that turns its victims to stone. He is assisted by Beirach, an experienced archdruid and shifter as they explore the forests of Melowynn for clues.

Beirach and Kenton are joined by Tezen, a rambunctious pixie, and find that the disease is one of magic wielded by a powerful necromancer. There are a few small twists as the plot moves along at a brisk pace, with several scenes stolen by Tezen (who's quite an entertaining character), before the company completes their quest.

It's a solid entertainment with a fun fantasy plot, even if a bit thin on the tension. For one matter, I was curious to follow up about Kenton's "destiny" as he was touched by Danubia. Was his quest with Beirach the destiny that was foretold or is it still to come? Still, a strong 3.5 rounded up to a 4.

[Manon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful fantasy romance with elves, druids, a pixie and a quest to rescue the land.

Where to start - it's a great world building. Lots of details to take in but it's not overwhelming and you can easily follow the set up. It's told from Kenton's view, when he is tasked to travel and investigate a thread.

The book reads a bit like a D&D game, it's very funny in lots of parts, there is excitement and danger, it's cute and Kenton and Beirach are masters of throwing longing looks over the camp fire.

There is an age gap but Kenton is an old soul in a young body, there is no power imbalance, these two work as equals. I love how he accepts Beirach's painful past and tries to sooth him.

Obviously all will end well, there are no real surprises but nevertheless, the story is very satisfying. You feel like you are going with them on their trip, joining them in, not just standing by.

I can't wait for the secod book, I do hope we will see glimpses of Kenton and Beirach again in it.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

entertaining

Rating: 4🌈

V.L. Locey has written a new entertaining MM fantasy romance in The Pastel Prince, the first novel in her Crowns of Melowynn series.

It’s an age gap, slow burn romantasy that’s setting the stage and foundation for the world and stories to follow.

Locey has managed a magical horrifying journey, a terrifying mystery, an epic adventure, and a developing relationship to engage the reader’s imagination and hold our attention.

Mages, elves, pixies, and various other creatures and types of magical elements that will continue to be explored as the series deepens its knowledge of the political system and its history, little of which is set down here.

Kenton, the young Druid and Beirach , the archdruid , were a solid well written couple and strong start to a new series.

If you love fantasy romance, check them out and this series from VL Locey!


Fabulous Cover by Meredith Russell

Crowns of Melowynn:
The Pastel Prince #1
The Ivory King #2 - 2/6/2025

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kenton was selected by his goddess to travel to a city state to help with the training and education of the young prince. Kenton is from the forest and the city is not his favorite place. When his home is threatened by a curse, Kenton travels to find the archdruid who is strong enough to help him fight the curse and save the land. Expecting an old man, Kenton finds instead Beirach. Beirach is not at all what he expected and he is strangely attracted to Kenton. Together, the two set out and along the way find more than they thought possible.

The Pastel Prince has everything you want in a romantasy. There are castles, a young druid on a mission, an older archdruid who still has so much to offer, a snarky pixie, elves, and a few others thrown in to make the reading intriguing. In addition, close proximity leads fantastic feelings and longing looks over the night time fire. With all of this, you cannot go wrong with this captivating story. Book two is sure to be a winner as well.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Elizabeth D · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 It took me a little while to get into this, I think because I didn’t love Kenton’s drooling over Beirach (to the point of staring at his naked form while he was sleeping. That one skirted the line for me). But I got invested and really enjoyed once Tezen and eventually Bissori joined them and they all quested together, and when Beirach and Kenton’s admiration for one another was expressed in other ways as they got to know one another more.

I appreciated all the nature magic and different races with their different beliefs and practices. (There was a fair bit of respect, as well as plenty of room for improvement when it came to equality.) The quest was intriguing, and I liked how we had a nice little chunk of time afterward to deal with the aftermath and everyday reality. This is a rich world with lots of possibilities.

Aelir was adorable, and I’m really looking forward to his book!

I received an ARC from GRR. This is my honest review.

[Kashonna Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable book. I got rpg vibes. I immediately thought about Dalish vs City elves. The story was easy to follow along. The world building was great. The characters made you laugh and cry.
Kenton our young druid is better than me. I don't think I could just leave my home and take on a task that wasn't fully explained to me just because a goddess said so. The poor elf was only 10 yrs old when he was told to take on the task and wasn't given much to go on. He was sent off to the city where he wasn't treated the best and wasn't able to learn the magic his clan using. After many years living that life he is then sent off to investigate a possible plague that could pose a threat to the city. The only help he is given comes in the form of the archdruid Beirach.
Now these 2 have to go out and find out what has caused the plague and stop it before the Head elf of the city sends a force to burn down the area.
If you enjoy action fantasy books, I definitely recommend this.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable "journey" fantasy novel with a lovely slow burn romance between druids Kenton and Beirach. But it was missing some of the tension that I prefer in books like this where a lot is at stake. I think that's for two reasons:

1. Beirach, the archdruid, is way too perfect. Not much of even a minor flaw to him. Kenton is also quite the good man, but at least we see a few weaknesses from him. I was hoping during the most crucial conflict scene that we were going to learn that Beirach had at least one chink in his character, but it didn't happen.

2. Maybe it was just me, but I felt like the dangers inherent in many of the scenes on the journey were really quickly dispelled. By the time they got to the big showdown, I wasn't even worried for the four heroes involved. This wasn't because the story was weak, but more because we didn't have to ask "What's going to happen next?" for very long before we were reassured.

[Anne Barwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Kenton and Beirach’s story. The world building is fabulous and I loved that their gods are real, and the different elves/druids. Tezen is a highlight, with her colourful language, and determination.

I liked the difference Kenton is making in teaching Aelir, and I’m looking forward to his story. I also liked the insidious class system with the city elves looking down on others. I love Kenton’s abilities and ability to communicate with plants and animals. He’s far more capable than he gives himself credit for.

I loved his and Beirach’s growing friendship and relationship, and the twist in the story about the dark mage. Poor Beirach’s been through a lot. He deserves his HEA.

I also liked Kenton’s relationship with his family, and how their quest quickly becomes very personal. I loved Agathe and Bissori. Their relationship and banter are fun.

The final showdown with the dark mage is tense and the conclusion bittersweet.

[Jack Harkness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frog spit, wild boar's pucker, pink lotus oil, tiny golden coronet, Kinda, two copper trollop, summer synodic

"The Pastel Prince" is a marvelous MM fantasy romance by V.L. Locey. This epically written book features a masterpiece of world-building with sublime imagery. The storyline is enchanting and fantastic. Learning about and familiarizing myself with the Melowynn territory and Verboten forest was slow going at first. But eventually everything springs to life.

Kenton Amergin, a young forest elf, is an endearing MC. Equally delightful and likeable is the other MC, Beirach Dreyath, the older archdruid, half-human/half-wood elf-elk shifter. Kenton and Beirach are on a mission to determine if the rumblings of a mysterious and dangerous forest elf affliction are true or not.

This book is truly engrossing and enjoyable. I loved reading this very much and ardently recommend it.

[Lillian Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a massive D&D nerd I absolutely adored this story. The world building is lush and yet unobtrusive. The quest is such that I can imagine our party being sent on something similar (if we had a druid or a cleric - I know, what party doesn't have a cleric, unless they did and she left the game in a snit). The characters have near perfect D&D backstories; touched by a goddess, tragic family backstory, disgruntled royal, randy dwarf.
But fear not, there's no need to know anything about D&D to adore this story. It's beautifully crafted fantasy adventure with a road trip and a gentle age gap romance.
It also has much to say on acceptance, racial equality, and the treatment of the natural world but wrapping it up in a fantasy world makes the message palatable rather than preachy.
I loved it.

[Book Hoarder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kenton was a young druid princess who was chosen by the Godess at the age of ten to travel to a city state and assue the role of teacher to the young heir apparent. An adult now and still aching for his beloved forest, a messenger arrives with a tale of catestrophic magical danger to Kenton’s people. Kenton must travel to a temple in the forest and team up with an Archdruid to travel farther and save his people.
Beirach is much younger than expected and the two draw close on their way to confront the magic that is striking down thier people.
Great world building and delightful character developent
The Pastel Prince is the first in the Crowns of Melowynn series. Kenton and Beirach do get their HEA.

[L H · Rating 5 out of 5]

​Relocated to the city from his beloved forest Kenton, a druid prince, is given royal duties that keep him in an urban setting. And he stays there until danger comes to his beloved forest, he sets out to find help to fight the forces that threaten. When he finds Beirach, an archdruid, is nothing like he was expecting. Instead of being frazzled, Beirach is young and attractive and Kenton is interested and drawn to him. These two were a good pairing and their adventure was fascinating and not always what I could see coming. I kept reading and could not put this down until it was done. This was well done and I would recommend reading it if you have not.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Alias11 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this first book in a new series, described as romantasy, a mix of romance with an engaging fantasy adventure. The world-building is extensive, with a lot of information provided, and the romance is very slow-burn to start. These two elements resulted in a book that was a bit slow to start, but once it ramped up, I found it compelling and hard to put down. The romance takes a bit of a backseat to the mission, but eventually the MCs confess their feelings and fine a well-deserved and rewarding HEA. I loved the sweet MCs, Kenton and Beirach, and the sassy and racy comedic relief provided buy the pixie Tezen. This is a unique and engaging story, and I look forward to the next in the series.

I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.