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Emperor's Assassin #1
Betrothed to the Emperor
I was born to kill the emperor, but first, I must marry him.
I trained as an assassin while my twin sister trained to be the empress. My life will be forfeit once I murder the most powerful man on the continent, but I have no choice. If I fail, the Imperium will consume our nation and anyone who rises against them.
Too soon, we walk into the glittering imperial court, each step taking us closer to the dangerous man on the black throne, my sister’s future husband, the newly crowned Emperor of the Southern Imperium. Emperor Tallu has more spies than fish in the sea. He poisoned his own father to secure the golden crown.
When his sharp eyes skim over us, they don’t catch on my sister. They land on me, his killer.
“I choose you, Prince Airón of the Northern Kingdom. You will be my consort.” Tallu’s smile is mirthless. “Or I will reduce your entire nation to ashes.”
Betrothed to the Emperor ends with more story to tell, but the characters end on a HFN.
I trained as an assassin while my twin sister trained to be the empress. My life will be forfeit once I murder the most powerful man on the continent, but I have no choice. If I fail, the Imperium will consume our nation and anyone who rises against them.
Too soon, we walk into the glittering imperial court, each step taking us closer to the dangerous man on the black throne, my sister’s future husband, the newly crowned Emperor of the Southern Imperium. Emperor Tallu has more spies than fish in the sea. He poisoned his own father to secure the golden crown.
When his sharp eyes skim over us, they don’t catch on my sister. They land on me, his killer.
“I choose you, Prince Airón of the Northern Kingdom. You will be my consort.” Tallu’s smile is mirthless. “Or I will reduce your entire nation to ashes.”
Betrothed to the Emperor ends with more story to tell, but the characters end on a HFN.
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 24, 2025
562 people are currently reading
3261 people want to read
About the author
Kai Butler
25 books542 followersKai has been reading and writing romance novels since she was a teenager. She lives in California with her two children and her very supportive husband.
She writes M/M romance with an emphasis on HEAs and all the feels. Her current series are San Amaro Investigations and the Imperial Space Regency Novels. She likes dashing heroes and couples with banter.
She writes M/M romance with an emphasis on HEAs and all the feels. Her current series are San Amaro Investigations and the Imperial Space Regency Novels. She likes dashing heroes and couples with banter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 304 reviews
March 12, 2025
4.5 stars.
This book was an absolute triumph! It shattered my expectations in every way.
At first glance, the plot appears straightforward, but as the story unfolds, intricate and captivating patterns emerge. The political intrigue is executed with brilliance, aligning perfectly with my tastes.
The world-building in this book is so fascinating.
It offers a captivating glimpse into the various conquered countries and their costumes which made me love this more.
Airón is a protagonist you can't help but love. He presents as easygoing, but beneath the surface, he’s quite calculating. His conversations with the raven are consistently hilarious. My only critique is that he considers himself the smartest person in the court, a claim that doesn't stand up. As an assassin, he falls a little short; his obliviousness—especially regarding the hints Tallu dropped—was amusing. The author designed him to be willfully ignorant of some things to obscure the plot twist, and that aspect ultimately fell flat for me.
In stark contrast, Tallu is my unequivocal favorite. He’s a character feared by others, seen as a monster, yet he conceals a soft heart—what’s not to love? He remains an enigma throughout the story, leaving me with unanswered questions by the end. I wish some of those questions had been addressed, but I can wait to learn more about him and his plans.
Don’t let Airón mislead you into thinking he’s in control; that’s simply not the case. From the very beginning, Tallu orchestrated events, a fact made evident from the first chapter written from his perspective (though the entire book is from Airón's point of view, the author provides Tallu's perspective of their first meeting on her site) and by his suspicious behavior.
The ending, while surprising, didn’t shock me. It was clear something was amiss with Tallu; the clues were glaringly obvious to everyone but Airón.
As for the romance, it didn’t just meet my expectations—it exceeded them. The chemistry between the couple is electric. From their first encounter, you can practically feel the sparks flying. Their interactions are intense yet infused with a sweet undertone. The balance between their physical connection and emotional bond is executed flawlessly. Even during the steamiest scenes, their moments together are rich with emotional depth, making me root for their relationship wholeheartedly. This isn’t a slow burn, but it’s not instant love either—it occupies the perfect middle ground that works brilliantly for them.
I am eagerly looking forward to the release of the second book, as I have no doubt it will be just as captivating!
This book was an absolute triumph! It shattered my expectations in every way.
At first glance, the plot appears straightforward, but as the story unfolds, intricate and captivating patterns emerge. The political intrigue is executed with brilliance, aligning perfectly with my tastes.
The world-building in this book is so fascinating.
It offers a captivating glimpse into the various conquered countries and their costumes which made me love this more.
Airón is a protagonist you can't help but love. He presents as easygoing, but beneath the surface, he’s quite calculating. His conversations with the raven are consistently hilarious. My only critique is that he considers himself the smartest person in the court, a claim that doesn't stand up. As an assassin, he falls a little short; his obliviousness—especially regarding the hints Tallu dropped—was amusing. The author designed him to be willfully ignorant of some things to obscure the plot twist, and that aspect ultimately fell flat for me.
In stark contrast, Tallu is my unequivocal favorite. He’s a character feared by others, seen as a monster, yet he conceals a soft heart—what’s not to love? He remains an enigma throughout the story, leaving me with unanswered questions by the end. I wish some of those questions had been addressed, but I can wait to learn more about him and his plans.
Don’t let Airón mislead you into thinking he’s in control; that’s simply not the case. From the very beginning, Tallu orchestrated events, a fact made evident from the first chapter written from his perspective (though the entire book is from Airón's point of view, the author provides Tallu's perspective of their first meeting on her site) and by his suspicious behavior.
The ending, while surprising, didn’t shock me. It was clear something was amiss with Tallu; the clues were glaringly obvious to everyone but Airón.
As for the romance, it didn’t just meet my expectations—it exceeded them. The chemistry between the couple is electric. From their first encounter, you can practically feel the sparks flying. Their interactions are intense yet infused with a sweet undertone. The balance between their physical connection and emotional bond is executed flawlessly. Even during the steamiest scenes, their moments together are rich with emotional depth, making me root for their relationship wholeheartedly. This isn’t a slow burn, but it’s not instant love either—it occupies the perfect middle ground that works brilliantly for them.
I am eagerly looking forward to the release of the second book, as I have no doubt it will be just as captivating!
March 12, 2025
The cover was the first thing that caught my attention, it’s so pretty!! So, I decided to give this book a shot.
To start off, the world-building was really well done. Everything had specifics and the descriptions were so beautifully detailed, from scenery, to outfits, even food!! Airón is the MC who ends up being betrothed to the Emperor Tallu. Howeverrr, this Emperor is also the one he is meant to assassinate. I liked Airón’s personality the most, a little snarky and stubborn but also full of humor. While Tallu gave off Laurent vibes from Captive Prince. He protects himself with a prickly outer layer but he also has a softer side that makes subtle appearances.
At first I thought their relationship would have been a long stretched slow-burn since this is the first book. But that wasn’t the case and honestly I’m not mad about it. From the start it was clear that they were attracted to each other. Plus, I think it adds more to the story, a battle between emotions and the heavy secrets that still hang above them, including the fact that Airón is meant to kill him. I thought Terror, the chattering raven always seeking food, was a great addition. I loved the conversation he and Airón had together. Yes, Airón can talk to birds. Overall, I know I gotta be on the lookout for the second book because this one lives up to cover!!
To start off, the world-building was really well done. Everything had specifics and the descriptions were so beautifully detailed, from scenery, to outfits, even food!! Airón is the MC who ends up being betrothed to the Emperor Tallu. Howeverrr, this Emperor is also the one he is meant to assassinate. I liked Airón’s personality the most, a little snarky and stubborn but also full of humor. While Tallu gave off Laurent vibes from Captive Prince. He protects himself with a prickly outer layer but he also has a softer side that makes subtle appearances.
At first I thought their relationship would have been a long stretched slow-burn since this is the first book. But that wasn’t the case and honestly I’m not mad about it. From the start it was clear that they were attracted to each other. Plus, I think it adds more to the story, a battle between emotions and the heavy secrets that still hang above them, including the fact that Airón is meant to kill him. I thought Terror, the chattering raven always seeking food, was a great addition. I loved the conversation he and Airón had together. Yes, Airón can talk to birds. Overall, I know I gotta be on the lookout for the second book because this one lives up to cover!!
September 19, 2025
✅ Quick read
✅ Arranged marriage
✅ Politics and scheming
✅ World-building
✅ Pace
✅(🆗) Characters
✅(🆗) Plot
🆗 Romance (insta-lust) / Enemies-to-lovers
❗️❗️Trigger warnings: mention of abuse (off-page, secondary characters), mild torture (non-graphic, secondary character)
Airon is the prince of the Northern nation and was raised with one goal in mind: to kill the Emperor once his sister married him. Airon and his sister’s plan falls apart when they arrive in the capital to find that the Emperor is dead, that his son now sits on the throne, and that he chooses Airon to be his consort instead of his sister.
The world-building is interesting, and I love how the citizens of the Imperium communicate with a mix of words and hand gestures. We read about other countries that have been conquered by the Imperium, or that are fighting against them, but I wished we’d learned more about those other countries. The world-building was good, but there is potential for it to be great if only we had a little more backstory and information about the people, their beliefs, their culture, and the magic system. It was all there, all presented, but not developed enough.
The pace of the story is good, and it is a quick read. However, I feel like the book is missing a part. Everything that happened felt like a long buildup for something more, and I am still waiting for that something. It is a good book overall, but it also felt like it’s missing its climax, despite the action and court politics present.
The dragons could have been a nice addition, but this aspect of the plot was underdeveloped. I love dragons, and I do think that integrating them into the land’s history is interesting, but the ideas were not developed enough for me to enjoy them. It only left me with questions.
There used to be dragons, but Tallu’s ancestors killed them all.
Why?
Then Airon’s sister gives him a dragon egg, saying that it could help him in his mission if it ever hatched.
How? Even if it hatches, it will take time for it to be mature and helpful. Where will Airon hide it? What does the dragon represent to the Imperium?
Airon claimed to be an assassin first and foremost, willing to die for his cause, but when he is alone with the Emperor in a dark cave, he does nothing. Even worse, he saves him when there are attackers. His reasoning is logical: even if he killed the Emperor, it wouldn’t create enough chaos to destroy the Imperium from the inside, but it was still a clash. We spent the first half of the book reading about how Airon is a trained assassin, raised with the sole purpose of killing the emperor, yet he does not seize this great opportunity.
Sadly, this is representative of Airon throughout the book. We keep being reminded that he is a trained assassin, and that his sole purpose is to kill the Emperor, but instead of showing how calculated and ruthless he can be, he spends a lot of time thinking about how pretty Tallu is, and how he feels conflicted emotions when it comes to him. He is a badass fighter, but when he is not in a fight, he loses his edge and becomes quite bland, and does not feel like an assassin at all.
Tallu is more intriguing than Airon, but also lacks development. We honestly don’t know anything about him. Sure, he was thoughtful and sweet to Airon a few times, endearing him to us readers, but besides that, nada. I love mysterious characters, but I need to be intrigued by them and to want to know more about them to like them. In Tallu’s case, I am not really intrigued because what little we saw of him was either an iceberg or a more humane version with emotions, but it was never enough to make me root for him. He also first appeared as this cold Emperor, saying to Airon "I will reduce your country to ashes if you don't marry me" but besides that, he was always decent and didn’t live up to this first scene when he seemed to be a dark and badass Emperor (I am not complaining that he is decent, I am just saying that it doesn’t fit with the first impression we got from him).
This is not a slow-burn romance. It is an insta-lust relationship that evolved rather quickly. Airon is physically attracted to Tallu from the beginning, but he also comes to care about him enough not to kill him after only a few weeks of knowing him and a few interactions during those weeks. I wouldn’t say it was an insta-love romance, because they did start as enemies, and Tallu initially hated the Emperor. However, he soon changed his feelings, becoming relieved that Tallu was safe and even trying to protect him, and making it seem like a few days with the Emperor was enough to erase years of training and his whole life’s purpose.
Overall, it was not the best MM enemies-to-lovers fantasy I've read, but it was a quick read, and I am intrigued enough to give the second book a try.
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✅ Arranged marriage
✅ Politics and scheming
✅ World-building
✅ Pace
✅(🆗) Characters
✅(🆗) Plot
🆗 Romance (insta-lust) / Enemies-to-lovers
❗️❗️Trigger warnings: mention of abuse (off-page, secondary characters), mild torture (non-graphic, secondary character)
Airon is the prince of the Northern nation and was raised with one goal in mind: to kill the Emperor once his sister married him. Airon and his sister’s plan falls apart when they arrive in the capital to find that the Emperor is dead, that his son now sits on the throne, and that he chooses Airon to be his consort instead of his sister.
The world-building is interesting, and I love how the citizens of the Imperium communicate with a mix of words and hand gestures. We read about other countries that have been conquered by the Imperium, or that are fighting against them, but I wished we’d learned more about those other countries. The world-building was good, but there is potential for it to be great if only we had a little more backstory and information about the people, their beliefs, their culture, and the magic system. It was all there, all presented, but not developed enough.
The pace of the story is good, and it is a quick read. However, I feel like the book is missing a part. Everything that happened felt like a long buildup for something more, and I am still waiting for that something. It is a good book overall, but it also felt like it’s missing its climax, despite the action and court politics present.
The dragons could have been a nice addition, but this aspect of the plot was underdeveloped. I love dragons, and I do think that integrating them into the land’s history is interesting, but the ideas were not developed enough for me to enjoy them. It only left me with questions.
There used to be dragons, but Tallu’s ancestors killed them all.
Why?
Then Airon’s sister gives him a dragon egg, saying that it could help him in his mission if it ever hatched.
How? Even if it hatches, it will take time for it to be mature and helpful. Where will Airon hide it? What does the dragon represent to the Imperium?
Airon claimed to be an assassin first and foremost, willing to die for his cause, but when he is alone with the Emperor in a dark cave, he does nothing. Even worse, he saves him when there are attackers. His reasoning is logical: even if he killed the Emperor, it wouldn’t create enough chaos to destroy the Imperium from the inside, but it was still a clash. We spent the first half of the book reading about how Airon is a trained assassin, raised with the sole purpose of killing the emperor, yet he does not seize this great opportunity.
Sadly, this is representative of Airon throughout the book. We keep being reminded that he is a trained assassin, and that his sole purpose is to kill the Emperor, but instead of showing how calculated and ruthless he can be, he spends a lot of time thinking about how pretty Tallu is, and how he feels conflicted emotions when it comes to him. He is a badass fighter, but when he is not in a fight, he loses his edge and becomes quite bland, and does not feel like an assassin at all.
Tallu is more intriguing than Airon, but also lacks development. We honestly don’t know anything about him. Sure, he was thoughtful and sweet to Airon a few times, endearing him to us readers, but besides that, nada. I love mysterious characters, but I need to be intrigued by them and to want to know more about them to like them. In Tallu’s case, I am not really intrigued because what little we saw of him was either an iceberg or a more humane version with emotions, but it was never enough to make me root for him. He also first appeared as this cold Emperor, saying to Airon "I will reduce your country to ashes if you don't marry me" but besides that, he was always decent and didn’t live up to this first scene when he seemed to be a dark and badass Emperor (I am not complaining that he is decent, I am just saying that it doesn’t fit with the first impression we got from him).
This is not a slow-burn romance. It is an insta-lust relationship that evolved rather quickly. Airon is physically attracted to Tallu from the beginning, but he also comes to care about him enough not to kill him after only a few weeks of knowing him and a few interactions during those weeks. I wouldn’t say it was an insta-love romance, because they did start as enemies, and Tallu initially hated the Emperor. However, he soon changed his feelings, becoming relieved that Tallu was safe and even trying to protect him, and making it seem like a few days with the Emperor was enough to erase years of training and his whole life’s purpose.
Overall, it was not the best MM enemies-to-lovers fantasy I've read, but it was a quick read, and I am intrigued enough to give the second book a try.
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March 14, 2025
This was such a surprise and I need book two.
“I do not deserve the gift that your mother gave me.” It was my turn to stare at him. “What?” “You. Your mother gave me you..."
“Because what you are is valuable. You are a treasure... and I am Emperor of the Southern Imperium. I know how to treat treasure.”
“I do not deserve the gift that your mother gave me.” It was my turn to stare at him. “What?” “You. Your mother gave me you..."
“Because what you are is valuable. You are a treasure... and I am Emperor of the Southern Imperium. I know how to treat treasure.”
March 17, 2025
it drives me nuts to read books like this with scheming and political intrigue when i don’t think the main character is competent😬😬 like ur telling me airón was raised his whole life to go to another country and murder the king (albeit under the impression he’d have much more freedom to move around under the radar since he didn’t anticipate being the king’s consort) but he didn’t think it would be necessary to pay attention to the lessons about the court rules or the politicking or literally anything but the physical training to kill??? wouldn’t his mother and trainers make damn sure he was as prepared as possible to handle anything?? bc maneuvering the court would have been necessary and inevitable even with his original position! but now he’s fucking LOST at all times, just guessing and coming up with honest to god shit fucking plans….i mean how much more fucking obvious could he be about the scheming he was doing🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️ he was NOT good at it, how am i supposed to respect and fear him as a born and bred assassin honestly💀💀 and, again, ur coming to another country ready to deceive everyone in order to kill the king, but ur not trained well in something as simple as lying???
also why didn’t the sea serpents kill airón’s dumbass when he decided it was a good idea to jump in the lake??? weren’t they hungry as shit??? in the beginning of the book, people were pretending to push mfs into the lake to be eaten by the sea serpents, but when airón jumps in it’s ‘oh they must not think i’m food bc i’m wearing clothes and they haven’t tasted human’….um ur telling me these assholes like the king’s cousin haven’t ever fed a human to the sea serpents for shits and gigs??? not buying it….also airón then kills the king’s cousin and a few of his servants and pushed them into the lake and the sea serpents immediately gobble them up!? clothes and all like huh!? and then after the sea serpents get their first delicious taste of human, airón jumps BACK into the lake to make his getaway and the sea serpents leave him alone!?!!?……😒sure….
and i’m confused about the king….all the citizens are shitting their pants over his power and ruthlessness and i’m gonna keep it a buck here…..i didn’t see a SINGLE ounce of that…..apparently he’s big and bad and purged all these council members and rumored to have killed his family blah blah blah, but i never felt like there was a single instance where i was shown and convinced of this instead of just being told. keeping a resting bitch face is a great visual, but what else does he have?? electro mage powers, apparently, since he was able to aborb some electricity at one point but that’s the tiny extent we see of his powers or of anything possibly “scary” that was shown about him…..considering the fact he covered up his cousin’s assassination by pretending to have killed him in cold blood, furthering the hysteria over his mercilessness, i don’t at all believe the rumor he killed his parents and brother….where is the ruthlessness!! plus, we didn’t get any political scheming from tallu himself??? he seemed like a step behind the whole time and airón was like three steps behind. like i can’t take them seriously when they both seem kinda incompetent and lost….
and the “romance” was nowhere to be found….zero chemistry….airón was thinking shit like “he is everything” while kissing the king and i’m like ??? unfounded ! you kissed him once or twice and now it’s everything??? where tf is this shit coming from??? why is the king so enamored with airón in the first place pls, i don’t get it. i felt zero build up of feelings but was getting random handjobs…..which feel so out of place with no chemistry or build up.
i think this could have been interesting and fun if the characters weren’t so seemingly dumb and if there was an actual foundation for sexual or romantic tension. i expected some twist where the king shows how cutthroat and vicious he could be, but instead he lays down and accepts his possible death…..i mean wtf, so disappointing. like i get it’s just the first book, but i literally don’t understand anything about the king’s motives or the reason behind his reactions and i wish that had been hinted at more before the book ended.
also why didn’t the sea serpents kill airón’s dumbass when he decided it was a good idea to jump in the lake??? weren’t they hungry as shit??? in the beginning of the book, people were pretending to push mfs into the lake to be eaten by the sea serpents, but when airón jumps in it’s ‘oh they must not think i’m food bc i’m wearing clothes and they haven’t tasted human’….um ur telling me these assholes like the king’s cousin haven’t ever fed a human to the sea serpents for shits and gigs??? not buying it….also airón then kills the king’s cousin and a few of his servants and pushed them into the lake and the sea serpents immediately gobble them up!? clothes and all like huh!? and then after the sea serpents get their first delicious taste of human, airón jumps BACK into the lake to make his getaway and the sea serpents leave him alone!?!!?……😒sure….
and i’m confused about the king….all the citizens are shitting their pants over his power and ruthlessness and i’m gonna keep it a buck here…..i didn’t see a SINGLE ounce of that…..apparently he’s big and bad and purged all these council members and rumored to have killed his family blah blah blah, but i never felt like there was a single instance where i was shown and convinced of this instead of just being told. keeping a resting bitch face is a great visual, but what else does he have?? electro mage powers, apparently, since he was able to aborb some electricity at one point but that’s the tiny extent we see of his powers or of anything possibly “scary” that was shown about him…..considering the fact he covered up his cousin’s assassination by pretending to have killed him in cold blood, furthering the hysteria over his mercilessness, i don’t at all believe the rumor he killed his parents and brother….where is the ruthlessness!! plus, we didn’t get any political scheming from tallu himself??? he seemed like a step behind the whole time and airón was like three steps behind. like i can’t take them seriously when they both seem kinda incompetent and lost….
and the “romance” was nowhere to be found….zero chemistry….airón was thinking shit like “he is everything” while kissing the king and i’m like ??? unfounded ! you kissed him once or twice and now it’s everything??? where tf is this shit coming from??? why is the king so enamored with airón in the first place pls, i don’t get it. i felt zero build up of feelings but was getting random handjobs…..which feel so out of place with no chemistry or build up.
i think this could have been interesting and fun if the characters weren’t so seemingly dumb and if there was an actual foundation for sexual or romantic tension. i expected some twist where the king shows how cutthroat and vicious he could be, but instead he lays down and accepts his possible death…..i mean wtf, so disappointing. like i get it’s just the first book, but i literally don’t understand anything about the king’s motives or the reason behind his reactions and i wish that had been hinted at more before the book ended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2025
Oh. My. Gods.
It ended and I just… NEED MORE.
🗡️Swapped betrothal
🐦⬛Arranged Marriage
🗡️Magic, Mages, fantasy creatures 🐉
🐦⬛I Claim You
🗡️Assassin x Emperor
🐦⬛I can’t fall for him…
🗡️So many secrets
🐦⬛Slow Burn
It ended and I just… NEED MORE.
🗡️Swapped betrothal
🐦⬛Arranged Marriage
🗡️Magic, Mages, fantasy creatures 🐉
🐦⬛I Claim You
🗡️Assassin x Emperor
🐦⬛I can’t fall for him…
🗡️So many secrets
🐦⬛Slow Burn
March 21, 2025
DNF at 70%
Something about this just didn't mesh with my brain chemistry. I usually like Michael's voice acting, but it seemed out of place here. It wasn't bad, it just didn't match the genre.
The story itself, while a lot of things happened, didn't actually spark my imagination.
Something about this just didn't mesh with my brain chemistry. I usually like Michael's voice acting, but it seemed out of place here. It wasn't bad, it just didn't match the genre.
The story itself, while a lot of things happened, didn't actually spark my imagination.
March 7, 2025
5,5 *FANTASTIC* stars
HOW FµCKING GREAT.
As Mrs. Butler described it with accuracy: it’s the perfect middle ground between her San Amaro and Exiled Heir series (for those of you who know them).
TL;DR: Just read the book, it’s amazing.
MCs
I very much loved how different Tallu was from the author’s last main magic/ranked MCs, he was much softer despite his tremendous power (magical as well as his Emperor’s status) and you could feel how he immediately latched on Airon to show him this locked side of him.
At first I wondered if it was all a ploy of his, pretending, but I was too influenced by Airon’s pov who wants to treat him as an enemy and an end despite his rapidly developing soft spot for his future husband, and also, as a reader, discovering how alone he was in his court, it’s no wonder.
Airon’s was GREAT, I loved his personality, how mouthy and funny he was in any situation, how he sometimes played the fool and sometimes showed his highly competent assassin’s skills, and how he always follow his internal compass even if it led him to make choices that are totally in conflict with his original mission of ensuring Tallu's murder and the fall of the Empire.
He might have been out of his depth a few times and have had to improvise, and he might not have been properly trained to navigate the court and the customs of the Empire like his sister had but it might be why Tallu chose him and trusts him more than anyone here.
I’m soft for characters who are soft for each other only hehe
In a way, they reminded me of Tavia Lark’s MCs in Prince and Assassin (a huge compliment coming from me) because of their dynamics, even if they’re vastly different characters and stakes aren’t quite the same.
WORLDBUILDING
Fantastic worldbuilding as usual. You’re eased into this new fantasy world with fluidity, never overwhelmed nor lost by locations, character’s names nor their purpose or the relationships between everyone because it’s done so masterfully that everything is introduced bit by bit. How easy it was to picture the palace and its many rooms and corridors and gardens despite being a city inside a city, everything comes alive under the author’s plume. You can feel that there is much more yet to discover of this world, lore, nations and history, and even if most of the magic has been eradicated, you have glimpses of how diverse and widespread it was before (and you’ll soon discover pockets of resistance).
SECONDARY CHARACTERS
I freaking loved every character (and loved to despise the hateful ones), because they’re all so well rounded and all have a significant impact in the imperial court and in the sequence of actions. No one is left behind if they’ve been named, and the new few faces introduced at the end, we know we’re gonna see them again.
Everyone has their little habits, facial tics, interests and backstory and I was gobbling everything. I can imagine Eonaî’s strength and cleverness despite meeting her for two chapters, Sagan’s sense of humour behind his mask of duty, Nohe’s respectability and passion for her job, Terror’s assholishness but willingness to help Airon for entertainment purposes or scraps of food, Piivu’s youth and frailness that you’d want to protect despite what he already suffered, Asahi’s stoicism and sense of honor that you’d like to shake sometimes like Airon’s trying to do, and I could go on and on…
CL
I have sooo many questions that will undoubtedly be answer in the sequel – secret plans and hidden loyalties and relationships and goals – and I can’t wait to see how much stronger and cunning they’ll become when trust will be a given between them and I can’t wait to watch their enemies fall into their traps or under Airon’s assassin blade.
I’m SO eager for the next book, and will re-read this one with great pleasure in the meantime.
Recommended 200%.
I received an ARC in exchange of an honest review.
HOW FµCKING GREAT.
As Mrs. Butler described it with accuracy: it’s the perfect middle ground between her San Amaro and Exiled Heir series (for those of you who know them).
TL;DR: Just read the book, it’s amazing.
MCs
I very much loved how different Tallu was from the author’s last main magic/ranked MCs, he was much softer despite his tremendous power (magical as well as his Emperor’s status) and you could feel how he immediately latched on Airon to show him this locked side of him.
At first I wondered if it was all a ploy of his, pretending, but I was too influenced by Airon’s pov who wants to treat him as an enemy and an end despite his rapidly developing soft spot for his future husband, and also, as a reader, discovering how alone he was in his court, it’s no wonder.
Airon’s was GREAT, I loved his personality, how mouthy and funny he was in any situation, how he sometimes played the fool and sometimes showed his highly competent assassin’s skills, and how he always follow his internal compass even if it led him to make choices that are totally in conflict with his original mission of ensuring Tallu's murder and the fall of the Empire.
He might have been out of his depth a few times and have had to improvise, and he might not have been properly trained to navigate the court and the customs of the Empire like his sister had but it might be why Tallu chose him and trusts him more than anyone here.
I’m soft for characters who are soft for each other only hehe
In a way, they reminded me of Tavia Lark’s MCs in Prince and Assassin (a huge compliment coming from me) because of their dynamics, even if they’re vastly different characters and stakes aren’t quite the same.
WORLDBUILDING
Fantastic worldbuilding as usual. You’re eased into this new fantasy world with fluidity, never overwhelmed nor lost by locations, character’s names nor their purpose or the relationships between everyone because it’s done so masterfully that everything is introduced bit by bit. How easy it was to picture the palace and its many rooms and corridors and gardens despite being a city inside a city, everything comes alive under the author’s plume. You can feel that there is much more yet to discover of this world, lore, nations and history, and even if most of the magic has been eradicated, you have glimpses of how diverse and widespread it was before (and you’ll soon discover pockets of resistance).
SECONDARY CHARACTERS
I freaking loved every character (and loved to despise the hateful ones), because they’re all so well rounded and all have a significant impact in the imperial court and in the sequence of actions. No one is left behind if they’ve been named, and the new few faces introduced at the end, we know we’re gonna see them again.
Everyone has their little habits, facial tics, interests and backstory and I was gobbling everything. I can imagine Eonaî’s strength and cleverness despite meeting her for two chapters, Sagan’s sense of humour behind his mask of duty, Nohe’s respectability and passion for her job, Terror’s assholishness but willingness to help Airon for entertainment purposes or scraps of food, Piivu’s youth and frailness that you’d want to protect despite what he already suffered, Asahi’s stoicism and sense of honor that you’d like to shake sometimes like Airon’s trying to do, and I could go on and on…
CL
I have sooo many questions that will undoubtedly be answer in the sequel – secret plans and hidden loyalties and relationships and goals – and I can’t wait to see how much stronger and cunning they’ll become when trust will be a given between them and I can’t wait to watch their enemies fall into their traps or under Airon’s assassin blade.
I’m SO eager for the next book, and will re-read this one with great pleasure in the meantime.
Recommended 200%.
I received an ARC in exchange of an honest review.
March 5, 2025
4.5⭐
I wasn't surprised to find myself relly enjoying this story of an assassin falling for his target in a rich fantasy world. Airón is alone in enemy territory, trained for assassination and stealth, not seduction and political scheming. While I don't think the story reinvents the wheel or anything, it's compelling, competent, and doesn't feel like a cliche. I was hooked.
There are many characters but it's not too hard to keep track of them, and the variety brings the world alive. There are plenty of likeable characters and the again villains one loves to hate. The relationship between the main characters is pretty instalust with a big dose of danger. I'm not quite dying for them yet, but we're at barely there HFN, I think the best bits are still to come.
All in all the book ends in a very 'to be continued...' manner. It's an interesting turning point, though I wouldn't necessarily call it a cliffhanger. I'm not usually eager to tackle unfinished series, but I feel confident recommending this one already. The sequel is set out to be published soon, and it defnitely feels like the story will grow to be even more epic.
This was my second read from the author. I quickly applied for ARC after seeing the subject matter. I'll be sure to finish this series, thank you!
I wasn't surprised to find myself relly enjoying this story of an assassin falling for his target in a rich fantasy world. Airón is alone in enemy territory, trained for assassination and stealth, not seduction and political scheming. While I don't think the story reinvents the wheel or anything, it's compelling, competent, and doesn't feel like a cliche. I was hooked.
There are many characters but it's not too hard to keep track of them, and the variety brings the world alive. There are plenty of likeable characters and the again villains one loves to hate. The relationship between the main characters is pretty instalust with a big dose of danger. I'm not quite dying for them yet, but we're at barely there HFN, I think the best bits are still to come.
All in all the book ends in a very 'to be continued...' manner. It's an interesting turning point, though I wouldn't necessarily call it a cliffhanger. I'm not usually eager to tackle unfinished series, but I feel confident recommending this one already. The sequel is set out to be published soon, and it defnitely feels like the story will grow to be even more epic.
This was my second read from the author. I quickly applied for ARC after seeing the subject matter. I'll be sure to finish this series, thank you!
March 7, 2025
“Are you saying you don’t consent?”
“Unfortunately for you”—Tallu leaned in close, purring into my ear—“your consent is not required."
Now that's a great start to a book/series!
4+ stars
I just jumped into this one without thinking ahead or checking the author's other work, if I had I would've known this would not have a HEA, it does not have a HFN, it's a trilogy, you have to wait and suffer. Fine by me. I thoroughly enjoyed this.
Are you going to kill me foreplay is something I didn't know I needed.
Then, he turned to me, and I felt pierced through by his gaze. He saw into me. “Well,” Tallu purred, “Prince Airón, do you intend to kill me?” (That is the question, isn't it.)
Also, apparently I am a fan of passive-aggressive bowing.
Smiling, I bowed even less than him, and when I straightened, I saw the expression on his face turn furious.
So many enemies to keep track of. Political intrigue and drama, everyone is a backstabbing throne-climbing asshole, and even the raven is a dick. The raven is probably my second favorite character after the MCs.
Animal talk:
“Hello,” I said to the birds in the tree.
“Food,” one said back.
“Food food food.”
“Food?” another asked, hopping up to my windowsill.
“I don’t have any food,” I said. “I was wondering what you’ve seen?”
“Food,” the bird said, annoyed, turning back to catching the flying insects. (If I ever imagined a conversation between myself and birds, I think that's how it would go. 🤣)
The Raven:
“You are the one everyone is in a flurry about? Pah. You aren’t worth even a second look. Why is everyone so consumed with you?” The raven made a shrieking noise again, and I gaped. “If you give me two fish, I won’t tell anyone your secret!”
I stood, trying to keep my eyes away from the closed window, where the raven on the other side was yelling, “Two fish! Fine, one fish! But if I do not get my fish, I will tell someone!”
“Are you an idiot? They said you weren’t.” The raven clucked and tilted its head. “I won’t talk before fish.”
“Now. I want my payment.”
“I have no fish,” I said.
“Pah. They said all northerners have fish. Fish everywhere. In your pockets. In your furs.” (I just can't with this raven. 😂)
There's an obviously torturous slowburn going on here.
He pushed up, almost unseating me, but I had ridden northern wolves, and I could hang on.
Between the world-building and the political intrigue drama, consider me hooked.
I had to remember whale songs sung to missing mothers, whole pods destroyed by imperial ships.
Even the scenes where they weren't being intimate felt intimate.
His fingers were stained red with blood. “I have to warn you, I do not share.”
Weddings in the north started at the midday, when both parties walked out as far as they could onto the ice and made offerings to each other and to the great northern bear. (Big fan of the world-building.)
I also enjoyed the sardonic humor.
“The emperor has requested your presence,” Asahi said. “I can see that. He did it with the subtlety of an ox during mating season.” (Asahi, one of the Emperor's Dogs, is a great side character.)
And...a truly cock tease of an ending...
What would he look like if I wrapped my mouth around his cock?
Argh, what a horrible awful despicable way to tease us at the end of a book...it's going to be a long wait for the next two in the trilogy! No regrets. Highly recommend.
“Unfortunately for you”—Tallu leaned in close, purring into my ear—“your consent is not required."
Now that's a great start to a book/series!
4+ stars
I just jumped into this one without thinking ahead or checking the author's other work, if I had I would've known this would not have a HEA, it does not have a HFN, it's a trilogy, you have to wait and suffer. Fine by me. I thoroughly enjoyed this.
Are you going to kill me foreplay is something I didn't know I needed.
Then, he turned to me, and I felt pierced through by his gaze. He saw into me. “Well,” Tallu purred, “Prince Airón, do you intend to kill me?” (That is the question, isn't it.)
Also, apparently I am a fan of passive-aggressive bowing.
Smiling, I bowed even less than him, and when I straightened, I saw the expression on his face turn furious.
So many enemies to keep track of. Political intrigue and drama, everyone is a backstabbing throne-climbing asshole, and even the raven is a dick. The raven is probably my second favorite character after the MCs.
Animal talk:
“Hello,” I said to the birds in the tree.
“Food,” one said back.
“Food food food.”
“Food?” another asked, hopping up to my windowsill.
“I don’t have any food,” I said. “I was wondering what you’ve seen?”
“Food,” the bird said, annoyed, turning back to catching the flying insects. (If I ever imagined a conversation between myself and birds, I think that's how it would go. 🤣)
The Raven:
“You are the one everyone is in a flurry about? Pah. You aren’t worth even a second look. Why is everyone so consumed with you?” The raven made a shrieking noise again, and I gaped. “If you give me two fish, I won’t tell anyone your secret!”
I stood, trying to keep my eyes away from the closed window, where the raven on the other side was yelling, “Two fish! Fine, one fish! But if I do not get my fish, I will tell someone!”
“Are you an idiot? They said you weren’t.” The raven clucked and tilted its head. “I won’t talk before fish.”
“Now. I want my payment.”
“I have no fish,” I said.
“Pah. They said all northerners have fish. Fish everywhere. In your pockets. In your furs.” (I just can't with this raven. 😂)
There's an obviously torturous slowburn going on here.
He pushed up, almost unseating me, but I had ridden northern wolves, and I could hang on.
Between the world-building and the political intrigue drama, consider me hooked.
I had to remember whale songs sung to missing mothers, whole pods destroyed by imperial ships.
Even the scenes where they weren't being intimate felt intimate.
His fingers were stained red with blood. “I have to warn you, I do not share.”
Weddings in the north started at the midday, when both parties walked out as far as they could onto the ice and made offerings to each other and to the great northern bear. (Big fan of the world-building.)
I also enjoyed the sardonic humor.
“The emperor has requested your presence,” Asahi said. “I can see that. He did it with the subtlety of an ox during mating season.” (Asahi, one of the Emperor's Dogs, is a great side character.)
And...a truly cock tease of an ending...
What would he look like if I wrapped my mouth around his cock?
Argh, what a horrible awful despicable way to tease us at the end of a book...it's going to be a long wait for the next two in the trilogy! No regrets. Highly recommend.
March 24, 2025
4.25⭐
This book was really good. I liked it very much. Could be better? Absolutely. I'm counting on the next installment to make amends.
Upon reading the bonus chapter of one of the main character's POV that isn't included in the book, I finally have my answer as to why, despite the good world building, good main and side characters and a good plot that's a bit heavy on the political court scheming, this book wasn't absolutely fantastic to me - and it would've been, had it had that second POV.
🟡 A regal, wealthy Emperor / a northern hunter-prince
🟣 Both in their 20's, I'm guessing a bit of an age gap, but not much
🟢 Apparently most people here are bisexual, but these two lean towards men
🟠 A bit of a size difference
🔵 Alternate universe, looks like a mild and a bit more futuristic GoT
🟣 Magic
🟡 Multiple kingdoms, but one is the most powerful
🌶️ Sadly almost none of the sex scenes, it's implied they both want it, there's some kissing and quick frotting, it's more of a surprise for both
The story is well thought-out, no doubt about it and to get a better reading experience, do read the bonus chapter first, because all throughout the book you'll be wondering too many times what Tallu, the Emperor of The Imperium, really thinks and feels about everything going on in his kingdom. His input is of great importance, he holds many answers and to not get at least a bit of Tallu's side of things was a big mistake.
The Imperium is the southern kingdom that's immense, wealthy, opulent and during the war about 2 decades ago conquered the majority of the other lands and kingdoms and killed off their people, including the various mages that have quite an importance in the book.
Imperium made an arrangement with the Northern Kingdom to marry their heiress when the time comes, so we're starting out with Northern Kingdom's heiress Eonai being sent to marry Tallu, but her brother Airon, the trained assassin, is actually there to murder him.
Throughout the whole story you're blatantly aware that Tallu knows Airon's come to kill him, but he decides to keep him close, not only does he want him profoundly (told in the bonus chapter), he also decides to marry him instead of his sister.
"I knew I was not as broad or large as other northern men, but I still stood a good few inches above most of the men I had met in the Imperium. It was disconcerting to be faced with someone larger than me, his eyes looking me over as though I was his thing, his possession."
Tallu and Airon are (almost) never intimate, in fact they don't really spend much time together, but the interactions they have, are intense. It's understandable they're not together as much, since Airon is on a mission and the rules of the royal couple are such that the Emperor has his own house and the Consort another, they don't live together at all after the wedding, so even before they were married it made sense they didn't spend as much time together, it was also unprecedented the Consort would be a man.
"He couldn’t soften around me. I couldn’t handle that; I couldn’t handle the way that this cold man who’d casually threatened to restart a war that would end my people was gentle when he turned his hand so we were palm to palm."
After the wedding we don't get to their living arrangements yet, we just know Tallu doesn't share, as is the custom in these kingdoms (they have poly relationships), so I'm really looking forward to finding out if they'll actually live together.
Airon is plotting to kill Tallu until his last breath, until the very last scene in the book, but he eventually doesn't.
At that point you already know that Tallu is aware of everything; he's a powerful electro mage and I'm not sure how many other gifts he has, because it sure looked like he knew exactly what Airon was thinking, at all times.
"I couldn’t let myself fall for this dangerous, powerful man. No matter what weakness he showed me. I smiled back at him and reminded myself of what was absolutely true: I was going to kill him."
The whole time Tallu was waiting for that final blow, all in the hopes of getting a serious and loyal partner for his vision or his mission - what mission that is, we can't say, because we have absolutely no input about his intentions or thoughts. He's got quite the past, he's mysterious and you just can't tell what he's up to. But he's up to something big.
The story is really good, I loved reading it, there's so much of the political scheming and action that you won't be bored, I think Airon's talking to animals needs to be explored more, he's also highly trained as an assassin, so I'm hoping he'll be put to good use, not just be a kept husband.
There's a dragon egg involved as well.
I liked the touch of dragons, I always love dragons, so I'm hoping the egg hatches and with the next installment we're most likely going up north to complicate matters even further, so I'm really hoping the author doesn't just skip months and months after this ending in the next installment and just says - 6 months later we live together, we've had sex, it's fantastic, all off-page of course - and then just bring us the politics.
No, we need to have this relationship development on-page. Absolutely.
We simply can't have these two characters without both of their POV's as well, so I'm asking this author to please include Tallu's POV in the next installment.
This was one of the rare books I actually liked lately, that I actually enjoyed this year, so please don't fuck it up!
Respectfully.
This book was really good. I liked it very much. Could be better? Absolutely. I'm counting on the next installment to make amends.
Upon reading the bonus chapter of one of the main character's POV that isn't included in the book, I finally have my answer as to why, despite the good world building, good main and side characters and a good plot that's a bit heavy on the political court scheming, this book wasn't absolutely fantastic to me - and it would've been, had it had that second POV.
🟡 A regal, wealthy Emperor / a northern hunter-prince
🟣 Both in their 20's, I'm guessing a bit of an age gap, but not much
🟢 Apparently most people here are bisexual, but these two lean towards men
🟠 A bit of a size difference
🔵 Alternate universe, looks like a mild and a bit more futuristic GoT
🟣 Magic
🟡 Multiple kingdoms, but one is the most powerful
🌶️ Sadly almost none of the sex scenes, it's implied they both want it, there's some kissing and quick frotting, it's more of a surprise for both
The story is well thought-out, no doubt about it and to get a better reading experience, do read the bonus chapter first, because all throughout the book you'll be wondering too many times what Tallu, the Emperor of The Imperium, really thinks and feels about everything going on in his kingdom. His input is of great importance, he holds many answers and to not get at least a bit of Tallu's side of things was a big mistake.
The Imperium is the southern kingdom that's immense, wealthy, opulent and during the war about 2 decades ago conquered the majority of the other lands and kingdoms and killed off their people, including the various mages that have quite an importance in the book.
Imperium made an arrangement with the Northern Kingdom to marry their heiress when the time comes, so we're starting out with Northern Kingdom's heiress Eonai being sent to marry Tallu, but her brother Airon, the trained assassin, is actually there to murder him.
Throughout the whole story you're blatantly aware that Tallu knows Airon's come to kill him, but he decides to keep him close, not only does he want him profoundly (told in the bonus chapter), he also decides to marry him instead of his sister.
"I knew I was not as broad or large as other northern men, but I still stood a good few inches above most of the men I had met in the Imperium. It was disconcerting to be faced with someone larger than me, his eyes looking me over as though I was his thing, his possession."
Tallu and Airon are (almost) never intimate, in fact they don't really spend much time together, but the interactions they have, are intense. It's understandable they're not together as much, since Airon is on a mission and the rules of the royal couple are such that the Emperor has his own house and the Consort another, they don't live together at all after the wedding, so even before they were married it made sense they didn't spend as much time together, it was also unprecedented the Consort would be a man.
"He couldn’t soften around me. I couldn’t handle that; I couldn’t handle the way that this cold man who’d casually threatened to restart a war that would end my people was gentle when he turned his hand so we were palm to palm."
After the wedding we don't get to their living arrangements yet, we just know Tallu doesn't share, as is the custom in these kingdoms (they have poly relationships), so I'm really looking forward to finding out if they'll actually live together.
Airon is plotting to kill Tallu until his last breath, until the very last scene in the book, but he eventually doesn't.
At that point you already know that Tallu is aware of everything; he's a powerful electro mage and I'm not sure how many other gifts he has, because it sure looked like he knew exactly what Airon was thinking, at all times.
"I couldn’t let myself fall for this dangerous, powerful man. No matter what weakness he showed me. I smiled back at him and reminded myself of what was absolutely true: I was going to kill him."
The whole time Tallu was waiting for that final blow, all in the hopes of getting a serious and loyal partner for his vision or his mission - what mission that is, we can't say, because we have absolutely no input about his intentions or thoughts. He's got quite the past, he's mysterious and you just can't tell what he's up to. But he's up to something big.
The story is really good, I loved reading it, there's so much of the political scheming and action that you won't be bored, I think Airon's talking to animals needs to be explored more, he's also highly trained as an assassin, so I'm hoping he'll be put to good use, not just be a kept husband.
There's a dragon egg involved as well.
I liked the touch of dragons, I always love dragons, so I'm hoping the egg hatches and with the next installment we're most likely going up north to complicate matters even further, so I'm really hoping the author doesn't just skip months and months after this ending in the next installment and just says - 6 months later we live together, we've had sex, it's fantastic, all off-page of course - and then just bring us the politics.
No, we need to have this relationship development on-page. Absolutely.
We simply can't have these two characters without both of their POV's as well, so I'm asking this author to please include Tallu's POV in the next installment.
This was one of the rare books I actually liked lately, that I actually enjoyed this year, so please don't fuck it up!
Respectfully.
April 23, 2025
B+ for the narration; B- for the story - 4 stars
Betrothed to the Emperor is the first book in the new Emperor’s Assassin series by not-quite-new-to-me author, Kai Butler (I have a couple of their other books in audio but haven’t got around to listening to them yet!) I liked the sound of it; a fantasy romance between an assassin and his target with lots of secrets and intrigue, and with Michael Ferrauiolo in the narrator’s chair, I knew the performance would be a good one.
Prince Airón of the Northern Kingdom has accompanied his twin sister, Eonaî, to the Court of the Southern Imperium where it is expected that she will wed the new Emperor, Tallu – and that he will assassinate the Emperor soon after the ceremony. Airón knows his life will be forfeit, but he has been trained his whole life for this mission and is not about to fail his mother or his kingdom, which will be assimilated into the Imperium if Tallu is not stopped. So it throws something of a spanner in the works when Tallu declares his intention to marry him, Airón, and not his sister, and tells everyone in their retinue – inclding Eonaî – to return home immediately.
Airón now has to assume the dual role of betrothed and assassin, the latter of which would be a lot easier if Tallu wasn’t so damned attractive or so different to how Airón had expected him to be. He’s clever, imperious, and wily, and is feared by all around him – yet he shows Airón a different, softer side of himself he shows to no-one else. Airón realises the danger he faces is much more than that of simply being killed in retribution for the assassination. He could so easily fall for the Tallu he is coming to know – and that isn’t part of the plan. But the more he learns about Tallu and the knife-edge he’s walking between the various court factions, the more Airón finds himself charmed by Tallu’s obvious affection and questioning his mission. There’s a lot more going on here than he’d realised and pretty soon, he’s going to have to decide which of his two options - killing Tallu or keeping him alive – is the better one.
I started listening to this one a few weeks ago when I had a lot of crappy stuff going on in my life, but I just couldn’t get into it so I shelved it. When I came back to it, I realised that the book is actually pretty slow to start, so it wasn’t just my crappy timing making it tough to get into. As the first book in a new series, Bethrothed to the Emperor has a lot of set up, and while the worldbuilding is good, the story does take a while to get going.
A large part of it revolves around politics and intrigue and is filled with secrets, especially about what happened to Tallu’s family and his reasons for the purges he instigated when he took the throne. The author takes their time with the worldbuilding, which is organic rather than doled out in info-dumps, and has set up an interesting dynamic between the two leads – two men from opposing kingdoms and different cultures who are warily circling each other while trying to ignore the pull of the attraction growing between them. I enjoyed their interactions – they’re flirty with an undercurrent of danger, and when Airón and Tallu are together on the page, their chemistry sizzles and the story races along. The problem is that they spend a fair amount of this story apart, and as we’re in Airón’s PoV the whole time, I found my attention wandering while I waited for their next scene together.
I liked them both, especially Tallu, who is brooding and enigmatic with a surprising kind of innocence about him that only Airón gets to see. But I had to ask myself how Airón, who was basically brought up kill an Emperor, somehow didn’t think it was necessary to pay attention to the lessons his sister was given about the court rules and politics or anything besides learning how to do the actual killing. Granted, he’d expected to have less to do with the court and be able to fade into the background since he hadn’t anticipated having to marry the Emperor himself, but he thinks ‘if only I’d listened in that lesson about…’ far too often for someone who is supposed to have been planning this mission for years.
Michael Ferraiuolo is a talented narrator and one I listen to regularly. His voice is smooth and easy on the ear, and the narration is well-paced and features a good variety of distinct character voices – his female voices are expecially good. His portrayal of the two leads is excellent – he gives Tallu a smoky, seductive tone that really fits the character’s enigmatic nature, while Airón sounds more upbeat and straightforward. The star turn, however, has to be Mr. Ferraiuolo’s interpretation of Terror, the Raven, who provides Airón with valuable information (in exchange for fish) and isn’t afraid to pull him up when he’s being an idiot.
Betrothed to the Emperor is the first book I’ve listened to by Kai Butler, so perhaps this kind of series opener is their usual MO, and maybe it’s on me that I expected and hoped for more romance. I do like this kind of story – fantasy with lots of politicking and intrigue - so maybe I just listened to it at the wrong time. Although this opening salvo in the series didn’t really wow me, the strong final quarter and the revelation at the end have intrigued me sufficiently to make me want to continue with the series.
Betrothed to the Emperor is the first book in the new Emperor’s Assassin series by not-quite-new-to-me author, Kai Butler (I have a couple of their other books in audio but haven’t got around to listening to them yet!) I liked the sound of it; a fantasy romance between an assassin and his target with lots of secrets and intrigue, and with Michael Ferrauiolo in the narrator’s chair, I knew the performance would be a good one.
Prince Airón of the Northern Kingdom has accompanied his twin sister, Eonaî, to the Court of the Southern Imperium where it is expected that she will wed the new Emperor, Tallu – and that he will assassinate the Emperor soon after the ceremony. Airón knows his life will be forfeit, but he has been trained his whole life for this mission and is not about to fail his mother or his kingdom, which will be assimilated into the Imperium if Tallu is not stopped. So it throws something of a spanner in the works when Tallu declares his intention to marry him, Airón, and not his sister, and tells everyone in their retinue – inclding Eonaî – to return home immediately.
Airón now has to assume the dual role of betrothed and assassin, the latter of which would be a lot easier if Tallu wasn’t so damned attractive or so different to how Airón had expected him to be. He’s clever, imperious, and wily, and is feared by all around him – yet he shows Airón a different, softer side of himself he shows to no-one else. Airón realises the danger he faces is much more than that of simply being killed in retribution for the assassination. He could so easily fall for the Tallu he is coming to know – and that isn’t part of the plan. But the more he learns about Tallu and the knife-edge he’s walking between the various court factions, the more Airón finds himself charmed by Tallu’s obvious affection and questioning his mission. There’s a lot more going on here than he’d realised and pretty soon, he’s going to have to decide which of his two options - killing Tallu or keeping him alive – is the better one.
I started listening to this one a few weeks ago when I had a lot of crappy stuff going on in my life, but I just couldn’t get into it so I shelved it. When I came back to it, I realised that the book is actually pretty slow to start, so it wasn’t just my crappy timing making it tough to get into. As the first book in a new series, Bethrothed to the Emperor has a lot of set up, and while the worldbuilding is good, the story does take a while to get going.
A large part of it revolves around politics and intrigue and is filled with secrets, especially about what happened to Tallu’s family and his reasons for the purges he instigated when he took the throne. The author takes their time with the worldbuilding, which is organic rather than doled out in info-dumps, and has set up an interesting dynamic between the two leads – two men from opposing kingdoms and different cultures who are warily circling each other while trying to ignore the pull of the attraction growing between them. I enjoyed their interactions – they’re flirty with an undercurrent of danger, and when Airón and Tallu are together on the page, their chemistry sizzles and the story races along. The problem is that they spend a fair amount of this story apart, and as we’re in Airón’s PoV the whole time, I found my attention wandering while I waited for their next scene together.
I liked them both, especially Tallu, who is brooding and enigmatic with a surprising kind of innocence about him that only Airón gets to see. But I had to ask myself how Airón, who was basically brought up kill an Emperor, somehow didn’t think it was necessary to pay attention to the lessons his sister was given about the court rules and politics or anything besides learning how to do the actual killing. Granted, he’d expected to have less to do with the court and be able to fade into the background since he hadn’t anticipated having to marry the Emperor himself, but he thinks ‘if only I’d listened in that lesson about…’ far too often for someone who is supposed to have been planning this mission for years.
Michael Ferraiuolo is a talented narrator and one I listen to regularly. His voice is smooth and easy on the ear, and the narration is well-paced and features a good variety of distinct character voices – his female voices are expecially good. His portrayal of the two leads is excellent – he gives Tallu a smoky, seductive tone that really fits the character’s enigmatic nature, while Airón sounds more upbeat and straightforward. The star turn, however, has to be Mr. Ferraiuolo’s interpretation of Terror, the Raven, who provides Airón with valuable information (in exchange for fish) and isn’t afraid to pull him up when he’s being an idiot.
Betrothed to the Emperor is the first book I’ve listened to by Kai Butler, so perhaps this kind of series opener is their usual MO, and maybe it’s on me that I expected and hoped for more romance. I do like this kind of story – fantasy with lots of politicking and intrigue - so maybe I just listened to it at the wrong time. Although this opening salvo in the series didn’t really wow me, the strong final quarter and the revelation at the end have intrigued me sufficiently to make me want to continue with the series.
September 3, 2025
3,5
Ця книга потрапила мені в настрій, так що я успішно дала собі насолодитись історією і не намагалась дотошно все аналізувати. Бо моментів за які можна зачепитись тут достатньо, але рятувало, що це було легко та цікаво читати с;
Ця книга потрапила мені в настрій, так що я успішно дала собі насолодитись історією і не намагалась дотошно все аналізувати. Бо моментів за які можна зачепитись тут достатньо, але рятувало, що це було легко та цікаво читати с;
April 14, 2025
2★ – What I liked about this book - Speedrun:
- The premise
- Maybe the first 50-ish pages until I realised I didn't care for it
Notes:
- Lackluster world-building
- I don't want to talk about the writing
- One-dimensional, inconsistent characters
- Supposedly competent MC who's anything but
- The terrifying tyrant emperor? Literally just some dude with a serious case of resting bitch face
- Nonexistent relationship development
- Where was the tension, the chemistry?
- This sure was political but without the intrigue
- The ending couldn’t have been more anticlimactic if it had tried
TW: Arranged/coerced marriage, war themes, genocide, violence, death
- The premise
- Maybe the first 50-ish pages until I realised I didn't care for it
Notes:
- Lackluster world-building
- I don't want to talk about the writing
- One-dimensional, inconsistent characters
- Supposedly competent MC who's anything but
- The terrifying tyrant emperor? Literally just some dude with a serious case of resting bitch face
- Nonexistent relationship development
- Where was the tension, the chemistry?
- This sure was political but without the intrigue
- The ending couldn’t have been more anticlimactic if it had tried
TW: Arranged/coerced marriage, war themes, genocide, violence, death
February 13, 2025
4.5 Stars
March 15, 2025
I never clicked "want to read" so fast.
I follow the author already
I follow the cover artist already
I love lgbt enemies to lovers
I love high fantasy
I am so ready!
I follow the author already
I follow the cover artist already
I love lgbt enemies to lovers
I love high fantasy
I am so ready!
May 14, 2025
2.5 stars. The instant mutual attraction made the novel less interesting than it could have been, and the pacing felt off at times, especially in the middle. Tallu, initially presented as cunning and feared by nearly everyone, was too easily influenced by Airón (even taking into account the fact that there is much we don't know about the emperor); the reader is also bombarded with bits and pieces of information about elemental magic, fantastical creatures and different cultures, but so far it all seems convoluted and without much prospect of future insight. Perhaps some of these flaws could have been overshadowed by good chemistry and a more charismatic MC, but as it was, the story failed to hold my attention.
July 28, 2025
I love a good Romantasy, I don’t venture into them often but I am so so glad I took a random review on booksta and let it convince me to read this book.
This is book one in a trilogy, book 2 just recently came out and I am so glad because the cliffy is pretty steep. I’m so sad the third doesn’t come out til October.
The world building is wonderful, it’s not too heavy and overly done. The political intrigue is top notch, again not too much you can’t follow but enough to keep you guessing.
I love the almost instant chemistry between Tallu and Airon. They have an instant connection whether Airon wants it or not, you get to have the ‘will they, won’t they’ trope in spades. (Even if you kind of know it won’t go that way). There is some spice, but it doesn’t take center stage. It’s sprinkled in well with the story, adding flavor instead of being a primary goal.
Again I am so glad I found this series and highly recommended it to my fantasy lovers. You won’t be disappointed
This is book one in a trilogy, book 2 just recently came out and I am so glad because the cliffy is pretty steep. I’m so sad the third doesn’t come out til October.
The world building is wonderful, it’s not too heavy and overly done. The political intrigue is top notch, again not too much you can’t follow but enough to keep you guessing.
I love the almost instant chemistry between Tallu and Airon. They have an instant connection whether Airon wants it or not, you get to have the ‘will they, won’t they’ trope in spades. (Even if you kind of know it won’t go that way). There is some spice, but it doesn’t take center stage. It’s sprinkled in well with the story, adding flavor instead of being a primary goal.
Again I am so glad I found this series and highly recommended it to my fantasy lovers. You won’t be disappointed
March 10, 2025
That is the smartest raven
October 28, 2025
I'm discovering new favourites left and right this summer, it seems!
Pretty sure this is self-published, and it does show in certain places, but I found the story and the world building so enchanting and compelling it is easy to overlook some small details. It seems the author is sharing each chapter on Patreon prior to publishing, and the only complaint I have about that is that it sometimes seems like certain things are said twice. I do find it a bit annoying when someone tells Airón something and a couple of chapters later it seems like he hears it for the first time. Maybe go over the entire book from start to finish to iron out the details before publishing?
I love how everything is revealed bit by bit, and we have to be engaged with the story to find out more about this world, the characters and history. I am particularly fond of stories with complex world building, different cultures and intense political scene. The last one I do find a bit lacklustre. I'm not sure if Airón is supposed to pretend he's completely clueless because in the next chapter he does something that completely tips his hand. I do find Airón hilarious and very direct, and as I tend to be the same, it made my quite fond of his character (not to mention he's an ASSASSIN, I mean come on!).
Tallu is a bit more mysterious, and we're not sure if he's a high-functioning sociopath or just someone entangled in something and completely over his head. Does he really have feelings for Airón or is Tallu simply using him to make a political point?
Not to spoil anything, but the final scene does get into, and it ends in a cliffhanger. If the second book wasn't already published I would be mad as I'm not very fond of cliffhangers and long wait.
Finally, as a side note, this isn't very spicy (maybe it gets spicier farther in the series) but I would give it barely one out of five in terms of spiciness. Not necessarily a bad thing, though I admit in my personal taste, it would have only made the book better.
Pretty sure this is self-published, and it does show in certain places, but I found the story and the world building so enchanting and compelling it is easy to overlook some small details. It seems the author is sharing each chapter on Patreon prior to publishing, and the only complaint I have about that is that it sometimes seems like certain things are said twice. I do find it a bit annoying when someone tells Airón something and a couple of chapters later it seems like he hears it for the first time. Maybe go over the entire book from start to finish to iron out the details before publishing?
I love how everything is revealed bit by bit, and we have to be engaged with the story to find out more about this world, the characters and history. I am particularly fond of stories with complex world building, different cultures and intense political scene. The last one I do find a bit lacklustre. I'm not sure if Airón is supposed to pretend he's completely clueless because in the next chapter he does something that completely tips his hand. I do find Airón hilarious and very direct, and as I tend to be the same, it made my quite fond of his character (not to mention he's an ASSASSIN, I mean come on!).
Tallu is a bit more mysterious, and we're not sure if he's a high-functioning sociopath or just someone entangled in something and completely over his head. Does he really have feelings for Airón or is Tallu simply using him to make a political point?
Not to spoil anything, but the final scene does get into, and it ends in a cliffhanger. If the second book wasn't already published I would be mad as I'm not very fond of cliffhangers and long wait.
Finally, as a side note, this isn't very spicy (maybe it gets spicier farther in the series) but I would give it barely one out of five in terms of spiciness. Not necessarily a bad thing, though I admit in my personal taste, it would have only made the book better.
March 19, 2025
Audio 5⭐️
Book 5⭐️
I read this, and then a couple weeks later I listened to the audiobook. Both are absolutely amazing. I caught so much more the second time through. The world building is phenomenal, and the plot has a LOT going on. In a really good, kept me interested and invested, kind of way. Airón is a fascinating character. What must it be like to know your life’s purpose from birth, and it is to end the life of another - knowing you’ll likely die in the process? The story is fully from Airón’s POV, which makes sense or else things would be spoilery. By the end, it seemed like we were just starting to get an idea of what Tallu is like. Lots of twists and turns, and you never know who to trust! Terror is one of my favorite characters.
Book 5⭐️
I read this, and then a couple weeks later I listened to the audiobook. Both are absolutely amazing. I caught so much more the second time through. The world building is phenomenal, and the plot has a LOT going on. In a really good, kept me interested and invested, kind of way. Airón is a fascinating character. What must it be like to know your life’s purpose from birth, and it is to end the life of another - knowing you’ll likely die in the process? The story is fully from Airón’s POV, which makes sense or else things would be spoilery. By the end, it seemed like we were just starting to get an idea of what Tallu is like. Lots of twists and turns, and you never know who to trust! Terror is one of my favorite characters.
July 24, 2025
4.5 electric stars
“Is that something you’d expect?” Tallu was staring at me now, and his eyes had gone narrow. His fingers were stained red with blood. “I have to warn you, I do not share.”
i was trying to wait for the complete series to tackle these, but then i forgot about that and just went with it and mann, this was delightful. not quite the enemies-to-lovers i was craving, but still an utter delight.
kinda throws me off that the northener, that lives somewhere that sounds way more arctic than, say, nothern or eastern russia, is a blonde and white, and not based on the inuit, felt kinda iffy? but gotta be me being used to atla and whatnot.
nevertheless, the powers were cool, the wolrd-building was cool, and it made me want to read the rest of the series as soon as possible.
“Is that something you’d expect?” Tallu was staring at me now, and his eyes had gone narrow. His fingers were stained red with blood. “I have to warn you, I do not share.”
i was trying to wait for the complete series to tackle these, but then i forgot about that and just went with it and mann, this was delightful. not quite the enemies-to-lovers i was craving, but still an utter delight.
kinda throws me off that the northener, that lives somewhere that sounds way more arctic than, say, nothern or eastern russia, is a blonde and white, and not based on the inuit, felt kinda iffy? but gotta be me being used to atla and whatnot.
nevertheless, the powers were cool, the wolrd-building was cool, and it made me want to read the rest of the series as soon as possible.
July 27, 2025
Not a huge fan of fantasy because of the info-dumpness of it all, I can't always wrap my head around the world-building (blame my mom-brain) but this one was so digestible and fun to finish.
April 8, 2025
Overall, this was a solid read. I’m a sucker for world building and high fantasy and the attempt here had a lot of interesting nuggets that made the story different than other high fantasy reads.
The reason for docking two stars is the main character was a bit insufferable and repetitive. We’re constantly reminded that he was an assassin and he needed to do the deed, he read like a lot of the Mary Sue female characters who are “badass” and “fighters” but who spend the entire time inner monologuing about how pretty another boy is.
The love story itself wasn’t really developed which is understandable given this is intended to be a series but the book would’ve benefited more from politics, more magic, more world building and less so trying to make this character another Throne of Glass pretty deadly blonde girl (whoops I meant boy).
The reason for docking two stars is the main character was a bit insufferable and repetitive. We’re constantly reminded that he was an assassin and he needed to do the deed, he read like a lot of the Mary Sue female characters who are “badass” and “fighters” but who spend the entire time inner monologuing about how pretty another boy is.
The love story itself wasn’t really developed which is understandable given this is intended to be a series but the book would’ve benefited more from politics, more magic, more world building and less so trying to make this character another Throne of Glass pretty deadly blonde girl (whoops I meant boy).
February 27, 2025
exciting magical new start to a series, great characters
Rating: 4.5🌈
Kai Butler’s new fantasy series, Emperor’s Assassin, gets off to a fast, and absolutely magical start with Betrothed to the Emperor. Right from the beginning, Butler plunges the reader and her protagonist into a strange, and mystical realm where the wealthy are masked by not only the makeup and outfits they wear but the rigidity of the culture and politics of the Empire that has consumed so much of the Kingdoms around it.
It’s a highly detailed and disturbing place, a perfect place to start a plot of assassination. And a story full of twists and tricks and incredible creatures .
Butler really is creating a universe that can expand with its series storylines, going forward into other parts of the world, exploring new cultures and their unique instruments of war.
As this happens, so does a remarkable relationship between Emperor of the Southern Imperium, Emperor Tallu and Airón of the Northern Kingdom, who gets chosen to be his consort.
Exactly how that occurs and all the events that happen afterwards are just why I can’t wait for the next book to be released. The chemistry is excellent, the cast that surrounds the pair amazing and equally interesting. And the various layered aspects of the storyline that are being generated by Butler are so intriguing that I want to see more of everything the author is planning.
If you are a fan of this author, like me, I’m sure you’ll have grabbed this up. I’m highly recommending it to fantasy lovers too.
Emperor’s Assassin series:
- [x] Betrothed to the Emperor #1
- [ ] Emperor’s Wrath #2 - June 23,2025
Cover by Hannah Latham at oexasart.
Rating: 4.5🌈
Kai Butler’s new fantasy series, Emperor’s Assassin, gets off to a fast, and absolutely magical start with Betrothed to the Emperor. Right from the beginning, Butler plunges the reader and her protagonist into a strange, and mystical realm where the wealthy are masked by not only the makeup and outfits they wear but the rigidity of the culture and politics of the Empire that has consumed so much of the Kingdoms around it.
It’s a highly detailed and disturbing place, a perfect place to start a plot of assassination. And a story full of twists and tricks and incredible creatures .
Butler really is creating a universe that can expand with its series storylines, going forward into other parts of the world, exploring new cultures and their unique instruments of war.
As this happens, so does a remarkable relationship between Emperor of the Southern Imperium, Emperor Tallu and Airón of the Northern Kingdom, who gets chosen to be his consort.
Exactly how that occurs and all the events that happen afterwards are just why I can’t wait for the next book to be released. The chemistry is excellent, the cast that surrounds the pair amazing and equally interesting. And the various layered aspects of the storyline that are being generated by Butler are so intriguing that I want to see more of everything the author is planning.
If you are a fan of this author, like me, I’m sure you’ll have grabbed this up. I’m highly recommending it to fantasy lovers too.
Emperor’s Assassin series:
- [x] Betrothed to the Emperor #1
- [ ] Emperor’s Wrath #2 - June 23,2025
Cover by Hannah Latham at oexasart.
dnf
July 21, 2025yeah gonna have to dnf this. started off promising but felt like it skipped like an entire chunk of story, so it ended up feeling very rushed and there was basically no build up for the relationship at all. like where are the actual interactions that should lead them to falling for each other rather than insta loving it? so disappointing too bc the concept sounded like it could be fun.
July 10, 2025
BROTHERRRRR WDYM THAT ENDING HAS ME CONFUSED GO BACK EXPLAIN YOURSELF LOL
September 7, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
March 9, 2025
Very good writing and a story that kept me reading. Wish I didn’t have to wait for vol 2
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