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Under The Oak Tree - Novel #3
Under the Oak Tree: Volume 3
Most fairytales end with a wedding and a happily-ever-after—but this is no fairytale. The updated and official translation of Under the Oak Tree, the #1 webnovel on MANTA, continues in this third volume.
The day that Lady Maximilian has been dreading is After an arduous journey to Livadon, she must stay behind at a monastery while her husband, the renowned Sir Riftan, rides off to war with the Remdragon Knights. Consumed by worry for their loved ones, Maxi and the other noblewomen in the monastery keep themselves busy by tending to villagers in need at the local shelter.
But Maxi’s patience quickly runs thin as she fears the worst. Desperate to see Riftan, she escapes the monastery and makes her way to the battlefield. Little does she know that the horrors of war and swarms of terrifying monsters are not the only dangers awaiting her. As she confronts her painful past, the tumultuous present, and an uncertain future, Maxi faces the greatest obstacles of her life—and the gravest threats to her relationship with Riftan thus far.
This volume collects chapters 134–193 of the original webnovel by Suji Kim.
The day that Lady Maximilian has been dreading is After an arduous journey to Livadon, she must stay behind at a monastery while her husband, the renowned Sir Riftan, rides off to war with the Remdragon Knights. Consumed by worry for their loved ones, Maxi and the other noblewomen in the monastery keep themselves busy by tending to villagers in need at the local shelter.
But Maxi’s patience quickly runs thin as she fears the worst. Desperate to see Riftan, she escapes the monastery and makes her way to the battlefield. Little does she know that the horrors of war and swarms of terrifying monsters are not the only dangers awaiting her. As she confronts her painful past, the tumultuous present, and an uncertain future, Maxi faces the greatest obstacles of her life—and the gravest threats to her relationship with Riftan thus far.
This volume collects chapters 134–193 of the original webnovel by Suji Kim.
528 pages, Hardcover
First published November 29, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
April 3, 2026
Destroyed me mentally physically emotionally 🙏
No bc what do u meannnn he said he’d wait for her for years 😭😭😭😭😭😭 Ohmagosh these two are my favourite miscommunication trope ever.
RiftanMaxi are my parents. My beloveds. Padlocked to me. I love them so much it literally hurts.
Cannot wait to see what happens nexttt ahhh!
ೃ⁀➷ Thank you Del Rey for the ARC! ♥︎
No bc what do u meannnn he said he’d wait for her for years 😭😭😭😭😭😭 Ohmagosh these two are my favourite miscommunication trope ever.
RiftanMaxi are my parents. My beloveds. Padlocked to me. I love them so much it literally hurts.
Cannot wait to see what happens nexttt ahhh!
ೃ⁀➷ Thank you Del Rey for the ARC! ♥︎
February 16, 2026
This volume picks up right as Riftan leaves for war. Maxi, unable to bear the anxiety of not knowing if he’s safe, sneaks out of the temple and disguises herself to follow him. Of course, Riftan finds out. And of course… he is absolutely livid.
Before they can even properly deal with that, an attack breaks out and Maxi’s life is once again in danger after depleting her magic. She’s taken to the king’s castle, only to fall into the hands of her abusive father. This time, though, Riftan sees the abuse with his own eyes. And when I say he lost his mind, I mean it. He almost killed the Duke (i wished he did). The duke then plots to bring Riftan to trial with his knighthood, his land, and everything at stake. Maxi, in the middle of all this chaos, makes the hardest choice of all: she decides to enter the Mage Tower, knowing it means years away from Riftan.
I was crying at 6 a.m. over this book.
Riftan’s protectiveness over Maxi in this volume is on another level. He has always loved her fiercely, but here we see what that love looks like when it’s fueled by rage and guilt. Once he finally learns the full truth about Maxi’s past, every bruise, every humiliation she hid from him because of her trauma and insecurities, it doesn’t make him see her as weak. It makes him love her even more. He already placed her above everything else. Now? There’s nothing he wouldn’t do. He would wage war for her without hesitation.
“𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙣𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚. 𝙄𝙩 𝙘𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙄 𝙢𝙚𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙎𝙤 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜? 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙗𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜?”
What I love most is how both Maxi and Riftan are still flawed, still messy, but they’re slowly learning to be honest with each other. Maxi choosing the Mage Tower wasn’t weakness, it was strength. It was her deciding to become someone who can stand beside Riftan, not hide behind him. And Riftan… he’s still obsessive, still wants to carry the world alone to shield her from pain. That overprotectiveness is both his greatest love and his biggest flaw. It borders on self-destruction. But I can’t hate him for it. He loves with his whole being. And there's so much more behind the reason why he doesn't want to leave Maxi's side.
The writing doesn’t spoon-feed emotions. It lets you sit with them. And I felt everything. The anxiety. The anger. The yearning. The heartbreak.
“𝙄 𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙙. 𝙄 𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙙… 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙞𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪.”
The last few pages absolutely ruined me.
I need Book 4 immediately. I am not okay.
Before they can even properly deal with that, an attack breaks out and Maxi’s life is once again in danger after depleting her magic. She’s taken to the king’s castle, only to fall into the hands of her abusive father. This time, though, Riftan sees the abuse with his own eyes. And when I say he lost his mind, I mean it. He almost killed the Duke (i wished he did). The duke then plots to bring Riftan to trial with his knighthood, his land, and everything at stake. Maxi, in the middle of all this chaos, makes the hardest choice of all: she decides to enter the Mage Tower, knowing it means years away from Riftan.
I was crying at 6 a.m. over this book.
Riftan’s protectiveness over Maxi in this volume is on another level. He has always loved her fiercely, but here we see what that love looks like when it’s fueled by rage and guilt. Once he finally learns the full truth about Maxi’s past, every bruise, every humiliation she hid from him because of her trauma and insecurities, it doesn’t make him see her as weak. It makes him love her even more. He already placed her above everything else. Now? There’s nothing he wouldn’t do. He would wage war for her without hesitation.
“𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙣𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚. 𝙄𝙩 𝙘𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙄 𝙢𝙚𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙎𝙤 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜? 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙗𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜?”
What I love most is how both Maxi and Riftan are still flawed, still messy, but they’re slowly learning to be honest with each other. Maxi choosing the Mage Tower wasn’t weakness, it was strength. It was her deciding to become someone who can stand beside Riftan, not hide behind him. And Riftan… he’s still obsessive, still wants to carry the world alone to shield her from pain. That overprotectiveness is both his greatest love and his biggest flaw. It borders on self-destruction. But I can’t hate him for it. He loves with his whole being. And there's so much more behind the reason why he doesn't want to leave Maxi's side.
The writing doesn’t spoon-feed emotions. It lets you sit with them. And I felt everything. The anxiety. The anger. The yearning. The heartbreak.
“𝙄 𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙙. 𝙄 𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙙… 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙞𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪.”
The last few pages absolutely ruined me.
I need Book 4 immediately. I am not okay.
December 20, 2025
Riftan hater n.1
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Oh my heart. Why is this series so good? I'm in a terrible slump and still I devoured this in less than a day. The gorgeous editions these books are getting just say it all.
My heart hurts for Maxi. She goes through so much. After the ending, I absolutely cannot wait for the next book.
This is the series for everyone who keeps asking for a heroine who isn't the strongest and the bravest and the best. But is still the HEROINE.
Highly recommended!
My heart hurts for Maxi. She goes through so much. After the ending, I absolutely cannot wait for the next book.
This is the series for everyone who keeps asking for a heroine who isn't the strongest and the bravest and the best. But is still the HEROINE.
Highly recommended!
July 13, 2026
I mean this genuinely, I have read thousands of books in my lifetime and no romance has ever matched the romance in this series.
July 24, 2026
They actually spoke about their feelings in this book??? Groundbreaking.
June 20, 2026
I voluntarily read and reviewed this advanced copy through an unsolicited copy from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I originally enjoyed the first volume when it came out but the subsequent books have been nothing but disappointment. The husband was absent from the first 30% of the novel. How are we supposed to have a romance if he's not even physically present? Since the initial book, the amount of bedroom scenes has substantially decreased and the couple were rarely in the same location. There was too much filler and description of the environment rather than meaningful dialogue. I was incredibly bored considering how contrasting it was to the first volume. I was polite to accept the second and third books despite my hesitancy to continue. I'm now secure in my opinion to no longer accept any future books in this collection. It's far too long without enough payoff to sustain my attention. I wish we could go back to the start of a knight and his lady with minimal drama. What remains now is a shell of its former self. I'm grateful for this opportunity but it's time for us to part ways. This oak tree's leaves have all fallen off the branch and it's time to turn you into a rocking chair, bub.
I originally enjoyed the first volume when it came out but the subsequent books have been nothing but disappointment. The husband was absent from the first 30% of the novel. How are we supposed to have a romance if he's not even physically present? Since the initial book, the amount of bedroom scenes has substantially decreased and the couple were rarely in the same location. There was too much filler and description of the environment rather than meaningful dialogue. I was incredibly bored considering how contrasting it was to the first volume. I was polite to accept the second and third books despite my hesitancy to continue. I'm now secure in my opinion to no longer accept any future books in this collection. It's far too long without enough payoff to sustain my attention. I wish we could go back to the start of a knight and his lady with minimal drama. What remains now is a shell of its former self. I'm grateful for this opportunity but it's time for us to part ways. This oak tree's leaves have all fallen off the branch and it's time to turn you into a rocking chair, bub.
July 9, 2026
As obsessed as always ♡
July 28, 2026
Stupid stupid ending 😭😭
May 4, 2026
For me hating the miscommunication trope as much as I do, I’m a sucker for this story
August 10, 2026
What a devastating ending. Tears streaming down my face, I had to actually take time to pause after this one. I am often able to dive directly into my next read, but this one warranted more reflection.
This series has stuck in my heart and soul. There is something so raw, poignant, and relatable about Maxi's internal struggles after a traumatic and abusive upbringing. And the long, winding road that both Maxi and Riftan must walk to understand how to love each other properly is heartbreaking and so sweet all at once.
I am impressed that the characters in this series rather blatantly show their flaws. There are multiple interactions or thoughts we come across that might make us grimace as readers. Because no, neither person in this relationship is healed enough within themselves to show up to the other effectively. But the character growth shown throughout is absolutely phenomenal. The story takes its time with this as well, so even three books in there's a good amount of journey left for both MCs.
This book shows Maxi further exploring her independence and looking to empower herself. She has to fight against a lot to do it, including Riftan himself, politics, societal norms, and rivals. But it's such a deep journey that gets into my feels. We also start to peel back a little of the 'why' on Riftan in this one, and it cuts to the core.
And again, A. Jo does a wonderful job with the narration. She makes it an incredibly immersive experience.
I cannot wait to continue this story. Keep these books coming!
This series has stuck in my heart and soul. There is something so raw, poignant, and relatable about Maxi's internal struggles after a traumatic and abusive upbringing. And the long, winding road that both Maxi and Riftan must walk to understand how to love each other properly is heartbreaking and so sweet all at once.
I am impressed that the characters in this series rather blatantly show their flaws. There are multiple interactions or thoughts we come across that might make us grimace as readers. Because no, neither person in this relationship is healed enough within themselves to show up to the other effectively. But the character growth shown throughout is absolutely phenomenal. The story takes its time with this as well, so even three books in there's a good amount of journey left for both MCs.
This book shows Maxi further exploring her independence and looking to empower herself. She has to fight against a lot to do it, including Riftan himself, politics, societal norms, and rivals. But it's such a deep journey that gets into my feels. We also start to peel back a little of the 'why' on Riftan in this one, and it cuts to the core.
And again, A. Jo does a wonderful job with the narration. She makes it an incredibly immersive experience.
I cannot wait to continue this story. Keep these books coming!
July 14, 2026
I spent this entire volume angry at Maxie. I will never understand how someone who so desperately wants to prove they're not worthless and not be seen as a burden constantly puts themselves in situations, where they're not supposed to be and end up having to be baby-sat.
WHY TAKE YOUR ASS TO THE FIGHTING!?! Because you are worried!! Girl, if you don't keep your ass at home. Fighting monsters and shit is that man's job. Like her being there will put Riftans mind at ease. And let's say he wasn't doing well did she really think she'd be able to do anything for him? Other than stress him out because now he has to worry about her goofy ass in addition to the trolls and dragons around every corner.
I will give Maxie credit for being angry when she finds out she had a miscarriage and EVERYONE knew but her. Imagine finding out about such a thing about yourself secondhand. And when crashes out about finding out she's told it's old news and she rightfully like IT'S NOT OLD NEWS TO ME! Because while yes it happened a week or two ago. She just found out today so this is very much news and a fresh wound to her.
But then she starts yet another one of her self-pity spirals and allows her father to drag her back to his home because the gossiping about her miscarriage might negatively impact her sisters chance at getting engaged/married.
These books are a constant rinse and repeat of Maxie getting into some sort of situation where Riftan swoops in at the last second to rescue her ass, and they have sex. But in this volume instead of it taking place at Riftans place these events take place on the battlefield. I know every book in this genre doesn't play out like this. But this shit is so frustrating. I can't ever really enjoy this series because unnecessary shits keeps happening.
WHY TAKE YOUR ASS TO THE FIGHTING!?! Because you are worried!! Girl, if you don't keep your ass at home. Fighting monsters and shit is that man's job. Like her being there will put Riftans mind at ease. And let's say he wasn't doing well did she really think she'd be able to do anything for him? Other than stress him out because now he has to worry about her goofy ass in addition to the trolls and dragons around every corner.
I will give Maxie credit for being angry when she finds out she had a miscarriage and EVERYONE knew but her. Imagine finding out about such a thing about yourself secondhand. And when crashes out about finding out she's told it's old news and she rightfully like IT'S NOT OLD NEWS TO ME! Because while yes it happened a week or two ago. She just found out today so this is very much news and a fresh wound to her.
But then she starts yet another one of her self-pity spirals and allows her father to drag her back to his home because the gossiping about her miscarriage might negatively impact her sisters chance at getting engaged/married.
These books are a constant rinse and repeat of Maxie getting into some sort of situation where Riftan swoops in at the last second to rescue her ass, and they have sex. But in this volume instead of it taking place at Riftans place these events take place on the battlefield. I know every book in this genre doesn't play out like this. But this shit is so frustrating. I can't ever really enjoy this series because unnecessary shits keeps happening.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2026
I genuinely adore this series ever since I first discovered it back in 2022 during COVID. This series is what reignited my joy for reading. It breaks my heart that the author has shelved any potential side stories or sequels because of persistent illegal translations. I pray everyday that she will change her mind, as I know this series has so much potential. Maxi is such a strong character it is heartbreaking to be left with a cliff hanger, uncertain as to what awaits for her, even her relationship with Riftan is clouded with uncertainty.
I reread the novels this July as a special treat originally, only now to release it was a gift to myself to see how far I have come from the girl who first read this books. She was shy, quiet, scared. Only to have blossomed into someone of confidence and pride, that is eternally grateful for the person they are today. I would like to thank these books for making me into that person, but in reality they were merely my starting point for this hard road I have since endured. If it weren’t for them I’m not entirely sure I’d be the reader I am today.
I reread the novels this July as a special treat originally, only now to release it was a gift to myself to see how far I have come from the girl who first read this books. She was shy, quiet, scared. Only to have blossomed into someone of confidence and pride, that is eternally grateful for the person they are today. I would like to thank these books for making me into that person, but in reality they were merely my starting point for this hard road I have since endured. If it weren’t for them I’m not entirely sure I’d be the reader I am today.
February 27, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Del Rey, Random House Worlds, and Inklore for the ARC of this book!
Wow does Suji Kim know how to write in a way that makes you feel every emotion while reading the story. Empowerment for Maxi’s growth as a character, enraged at the abuse from her father that she can’t seem to escape, anxiety over wondering what the outcome of the mediation with the king will be, heartbreak for Riftan because he is so overprotective and yearns for his wife but needs to work on his communication skills. This was a great next book in the series and I will definitely be reading the next one.
Wow does Suji Kim know how to write in a way that makes you feel every emotion while reading the story. Empowerment for Maxi’s growth as a character, enraged at the abuse from her father that she can’t seem to escape, anxiety over wondering what the outcome of the mediation with the king will be, heartbreak for Riftan because he is so overprotective and yearns for his wife but needs to work on his communication skills. This was a great next book in the series and I will definitely be reading the next one.
April 4, 2026
I feel like this series is a bit of a guilty pleasure for me. The writing (translation?) is iffy at times - I constantly find myself debating if the best adjectives and descriptions were being used, especially when I felt like it didn't support/fully fit the scene that I was reading. There are a lot of sex scenes (though this book doesn't have as many) that I find myself just skimming because they aren't very well done and, again, weird descriptions. BUT despite all that, here I am, at the 3rd book. Lol.
I was excited in the middle of this book because I thought we were seeing some real growth from Maxi when she was tending the injured and disguised as a female cleric. But then Riftan had to go and become overbearing and obsessive and not wanting Maxi to do anything which made me like him less and pulled the story down for me.
Will I read the next book? Yep. I will. I need to see how this story proceeds and hopefully Maxi will continue in her growth and hopefully Riftan can snap out of whatever is his problem.
I might be being overly generous for my rating of this book, but I do keep reading them, so *shrugs*.
3 stars.
Thank you #NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was excited in the middle of this book because I thought we were seeing some real growth from Maxi when she was tending the injured and disguised as a female cleric. But then Riftan had to go and become overbearing and obsessive and not wanting Maxi to do anything which made me like him less and pulled the story down for me.
Will I read the next book? Yep. I will. I need to see how this story proceeds and hopefully Maxi will continue in her growth and hopefully Riftan can snap out of whatever is his problem.
I might be being overly generous for my rating of this book, but I do keep reading them, so *shrugs*.
3 stars.
Thank you #NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2026
WHO IS GIVING THIS BOOK GOOD REVIEWS WHY DOES IT HAVE 4.5 STARS
actually i think the reason is most riftan haters have stopped reading this book
riftan is absolutely awful to maxi, i'm so glad that
actually i think the reason is most riftan haters have stopped reading this book
riftan is absolutely awful to maxi, i'm so glad that
May 26, 2026
One of the most beautiful books I have ever read 🩷
June 25, 2026
SCREAMING. SOBBING. I NEED THE NEXT BOOK NOW. THE ENDING DESTROYED ME!!! 😭💔 ASDFGHJK. I dont think I can survive until November for the next book.
July 21, 2026
Im obsessed, and cannot wait for the next one! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time
August 1, 2026
The ending bumped this up to five stars because WHAT?! Three years?! “I LIED”
Brb crying need this next book asap
Brb crying need this next book asap
July 2, 2026
Only took them like 2.5 books to actually talk to each other
July 6, 2026
The miscommunication trope is killing this series for me. Several times I put the book down because I was getting so frustrated 😩 most likely won’t be reading the next one. So much potential
June 29, 2026
"I lied".
Two words could not destroy me more. I was sobbing when the book ended.
Why the four stars instead of my normal 5. I feel like we spent too much time in the basilica. I feel we could have moved that along but I get what the author was trying to do. This is also where the story stops being a romance and becomes more of a war story. I liked it but I didn't love it and the sheer amount of suffering both Riftan and Maxi go through- it's a lot.
This becomes a lot to handle.
So what happened? War happened, Riftan went off, Maxi stayed behind promising to stay out of trouble but when has she ever let herself just be fine with that? Never. The answer you are looking for is never. So of course when shit hits the fan our girl sets out with new found friends and goes to the front to support (and look out for) Remdragon Knights and Riftan.
Without telling him, telling anyone, and going through a lot of shit to get there (in disguise no less). Needless to say the plan lasts until page 140 or something and Riftan susses her out.
The back and forth between them is sweet, the war is ramping up with danger on all sides, and while I fully support Maxi having her own agency....she also has to deal with the consequences of said actions. And when the war comes to a close she's depleted her mana, she's lost a baby she was unaware of, and she's right back where she started in Castle Croyso- with her father.
If you thought things were shit before they are about to get worse.
Riftan, finally able to deal with the loss of the miscarriage, what Maxi did in order to clinch the win from the monsters, all the suffering she went through, finally shows up to try and see his wife. He was on clean up duty and was shaken by the events of the war. The duke, desperate to avoid a divorce- not that cares what happens to Maxi or her happiness- does not let him see her and when Maxi finds out Riftan came for her, tries to see him and gets the shit beat out of her for the millionth time by her father.
It's almost misery porn. Almost.
But her sister comes in and leads Riftan to the room the duke is using to beat his daughter. He then beats the shit out of her dad and nearly kills him. And while anyone with an ounce of sympathy would love to see this old shit die, it's good the knights pulled him off but now the duke and Riftan are screaming war at each other. Maxi's worse fear happens to her. Riftan sees her for what she is. Not a pampered favoured daughter of a duke, but an abuse victim. This sets off a bad dynamic with them as Riftan would do anything to protect her, and Maxi doesn't want to be smothered to death by his love.
They love each other too much.
The king gets involved and things are going to shit right quick and VERY POLITICAL. After it became apparent that the duke could not best Riftan on the field of battle he went the political route and wanted him put on trial for assaulting him. And while the king is fond of Riftan he needs to keep his nobles happy and be impartial in the proceedings. The duke is also wealthy enough to be the kings favourite as well. Before they boot this to a very public trial, they have to meet first to see if they can avoid it. Come to an understanding.
It's not looking great on the home front either. Riftan is neglecting his duties as lord, he isn't letting Maxi lift a damn finger, or move around the castle or do ANYTHING. And while she appreciates her time with him, she knows something is up. It comes to light that the duke is crying foul to the king and they all need to go to a meet up to discuss what happened.
It becomes very clear Riftan could lose his knighthood, his lands, even his knights. And while they could escape together in exile, Maxi could not live with herself if he chose her over everything. After all he did to get where he is.
And this is where Princess Agnes comes up with a plan. A plan I hate with my entire being, a plan that knocked one star off this book.
Maxi has to go to the Mage Tower, the same place Ruth ran from, for four years. Not only is leaving Riftan, she's not able (for some stupid rule) to speak to him- for four years. The reason the duke backs down is because she declares herself a mage, meaning he wasn't beating his daughter he was beating a mage from the Mage Tower and they have POWER. They can take back their mages leaving him vulnerable. They can investigate him for wrong doing and cause some serious damage if he's found out. It's messed up that she's only getting the proper help, and Riftan out of trouble, is if she's a mage. So Maxi, being Maxi, agrees to go to the Mage Tower, leaving Riftan behind even though it solves all their problems.
But at this point it's good that shes leaving. He loves her to the point of smothering her. She loves him too much to run away and ruin his life. They need some space and reflection. I just don't like that she has to leave to do it. I feel they could have worked together for another solution. However the novel was always hinting at Maxi becoming a mage. She wants to protect herself for once and stand out of his shadow.
Which leads me to the ending where Riftan swears he's not waiting for her. When she's gone he's not waiting around for her to come back. He did it once and he's not doing this to himself again.
But he lied.
And he will wait.
Yes, it's messy, yes I hate that they can't speak to each other for four years, yes I really-REALLY- hated that Riftan was out of his mind for most of the book with worry for her, but I love this story and couple.
And that's why I'm picking up the next volume. I have to know how she reacts when she sees him again and how they come back together after being ruined for so long.
Two words could not destroy me more. I was sobbing when the book ended.
Why the four stars instead of my normal 5. I feel like we spent too much time in the basilica. I feel we could have moved that along but I get what the author was trying to do. This is also where the story stops being a romance and becomes more of a war story. I liked it but I didn't love it and the sheer amount of suffering both Riftan and Maxi go through- it's a lot.
This becomes a lot to handle.
So what happened? War happened, Riftan went off, Maxi stayed behind promising to stay out of trouble but when has she ever let herself just be fine with that? Never. The answer you are looking for is never. So of course when shit hits the fan our girl sets out with new found friends and goes to the front to support (and look out for) Remdragon Knights and Riftan.
Without telling him, telling anyone, and going through a lot of shit to get there (in disguise no less). Needless to say the plan lasts until page 140 or something and Riftan susses her out.
The back and forth between them is sweet, the war is ramping up with danger on all sides, and while I fully support Maxi having her own agency....she also has to deal with the consequences of said actions. And when the war comes to a close she's depleted her mana, she's lost a baby she was unaware of, and she's right back where she started in Castle Croyso- with her father.
If you thought things were shit before they are about to get worse.
Riftan, finally able to deal with the loss of the miscarriage, what Maxi did in order to clinch the win from the monsters, all the suffering she went through, finally shows up to try and see his wife. He was on clean up duty and was shaken by the events of the war. The duke, desperate to avoid a divorce- not that cares what happens to Maxi or her happiness- does not let him see her and when Maxi finds out Riftan came for her, tries to see him and gets the shit beat out of her for the millionth time by her father.
It's almost misery porn. Almost.
But her sister comes in and leads Riftan to the room the duke is using to beat his daughter. He then beats the shit out of her dad and nearly kills him. And while anyone with an ounce of sympathy would love to see this old shit die, it's good the knights pulled him off but now the duke and Riftan are screaming war at each other. Maxi's worse fear happens to her. Riftan sees her for what she is. Not a pampered favoured daughter of a duke, but an abuse victim. This sets off a bad dynamic with them as Riftan would do anything to protect her, and Maxi doesn't want to be smothered to death by his love.
They love each other too much.
The king gets involved and things are going to shit right quick and VERY POLITICAL. After it became apparent that the duke could not best Riftan on the field of battle he went the political route and wanted him put on trial for assaulting him. And while the king is fond of Riftan he needs to keep his nobles happy and be impartial in the proceedings. The duke is also wealthy enough to be the kings favourite as well. Before they boot this to a very public trial, they have to meet first to see if they can avoid it. Come to an understanding.
It's not looking great on the home front either. Riftan is neglecting his duties as lord, he isn't letting Maxi lift a damn finger, or move around the castle or do ANYTHING. And while she appreciates her time with him, she knows something is up. It comes to light that the duke is crying foul to the king and they all need to go to a meet up to discuss what happened.
It becomes very clear Riftan could lose his knighthood, his lands, even his knights. And while they could escape together in exile, Maxi could not live with herself if he chose her over everything. After all he did to get where he is.
And this is where Princess Agnes comes up with a plan. A plan I hate with my entire being, a plan that knocked one star off this book.
Maxi has to go to the Mage Tower, the same place Ruth ran from, for four years. Not only is leaving Riftan, she's not able (for some stupid rule) to speak to him- for four years. The reason the duke backs down is because she declares herself a mage, meaning he wasn't beating his daughter he was beating a mage from the Mage Tower and they have POWER. They can take back their mages leaving him vulnerable. They can investigate him for wrong doing and cause some serious damage if he's found out. It's messed up that she's only getting the proper help, and Riftan out of trouble, is if she's a mage. So Maxi, being Maxi, agrees to go to the Mage Tower, leaving Riftan behind even though it solves all their problems.
But at this point it's good that shes leaving. He loves her to the point of smothering her. She loves him too much to run away and ruin his life. They need some space and reflection. I just don't like that she has to leave to do it. I feel they could have worked together for another solution. However the novel was always hinting at Maxi becoming a mage. She wants to protect herself for once and stand out of his shadow.
Which leads me to the ending where Riftan swears he's not waiting for her. When she's gone he's not waiting around for her to come back. He did it once and he's not doing this to himself again.
But he lied.
And he will wait.
Yes, it's messy, yes I hate that they can't speak to each other for four years, yes I really-REALLY- hated that Riftan was out of his mind for most of the book with worry for her, but I love this story and couple.
And that's why I'm picking up the next volume. I have to know how she reacts when she sees him again and how they come back together after being ruined for so long.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My rating: ★★★★☆ (4 stars)
(ARC via NetGalley — thank you!)
married couple learning to communicate 🤝 character growth 🤝 me still being emotionally attached to maxi and riftan years later
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
okay but...at this point i feel like i'm in this series for life.
when i first discovered Under the Oak Tree, it was through the manhwa, and i absolutely fell in love with it. the art the emotions the chemistry between maxi and riftan everything just worked for me.
so naturally i picked up the novels. and while i enjoyed the first two volumes, i have to admit that some of the magic i felt while reading the manhwa didn't always translate in quite the same way for me. certain emotions, expressions and moments that felt incredibly powerful visually didn't always hit with the same intensity on the page.
did i end up liking the novels more than the manhwa? no. did i still enjoy reading them? absolutely.
and because of that i was genuinely excited (and very grateful) when i received an ARC of Volume 3 through NetGalley.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
now what i loved was MAXI. always maxi.
one of the things i've consistently appreciated about this series is that her growth never feels instant.
she's still insecure and uncertain and trying to find her place but every book shows her taking another step forward and honestly? that's what keeps me invested. her development feels earned and there's something incredibly satisfying about watching her slowly build confidence in herself instead of suddenly becoming a completely different person overnight.
and riftan...sir, please learn how to communicate! respectfully. i adore him, but there were multiple moments where i wanted to physically sit him down and force him to have a proper conversation.
which, to be fair, has always been part of his character. he loves fiercely he protects fiercely he worries fiercely and sometimes that creates just as many problems as it solves.
which leads me to their relationship.
their relationship has never been a romance built on perfect communication.
it's built on misunderstandings(and there are A LOT)fear, devotion, longing and that's exactly why it works because underneath all the frustration, you can feel how deeply these two care about each other.
even when they're making me want to scream.
which they do.
frequently.
what i appreciated about this volume was that this felt like a continuation of the emotional journey rather than simply moving pieces around for the plot.
the focus remains where it should be which is on Maxi's growth, their marriage and learning how to become partners instead of simply husband and wife. later on those quieter moments often ended up being my favorite parts.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
what didn't fully hit was how i still found myself comparing certain scenes to the manhwa.
and honestly?
the manhwa remains my favorite version of this story.
there are moments where the artwork, expressions and visual storytelling convey emotions that just land harder for me. that's not necessarily a criticism of the novel itself it's simply the version of the story that connected with me most.
there were also a few sections where the pacing felt slower than i wanted.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
overall, this felt like coming back to characters i've known for years.
maybe the novels don't completely replace the experience i had reading the manhwa but they do add layers. they give me more time with these characters and at the end of the day, that's exactly why i keep coming back.
So if you liked the Under the Oak Tree manhwa or a character focused fantasy romance with marriage in trouble but not really kinda romance and slow realistic personal growth...you'll probably enjoy this continuation.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
final thought;
did i still prefer the manhwa? yes.
was i still ridiculously happy to spend more time with maxi and riftan? also yes. 💜🌳✨
(ARC via NetGalley — thank you!)
married couple learning to communicate 🤝 character growth 🤝 me still being emotionally attached to maxi and riftan years later
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
okay but...at this point i feel like i'm in this series for life.
when i first discovered Under the Oak Tree, it was through the manhwa, and i absolutely fell in love with it. the art the emotions the chemistry between maxi and riftan everything just worked for me.
so naturally i picked up the novels. and while i enjoyed the first two volumes, i have to admit that some of the magic i felt while reading the manhwa didn't always translate in quite the same way for me. certain emotions, expressions and moments that felt incredibly powerful visually didn't always hit with the same intensity on the page.
did i end up liking the novels more than the manhwa? no. did i still enjoy reading them? absolutely.
and because of that i was genuinely excited (and very grateful) when i received an ARC of Volume 3 through NetGalley.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
now what i loved was MAXI. always maxi.
one of the things i've consistently appreciated about this series is that her growth never feels instant.
she's still insecure and uncertain and trying to find her place but every book shows her taking another step forward and honestly? that's what keeps me invested. her development feels earned and there's something incredibly satisfying about watching her slowly build confidence in herself instead of suddenly becoming a completely different person overnight.
and riftan...sir, please learn how to communicate! respectfully. i adore him, but there were multiple moments where i wanted to physically sit him down and force him to have a proper conversation.
which, to be fair, has always been part of his character. he loves fiercely he protects fiercely he worries fiercely and sometimes that creates just as many problems as it solves.
which leads me to their relationship.
their relationship has never been a romance built on perfect communication.
it's built on misunderstandings(and there are A LOT)fear, devotion, longing and that's exactly why it works because underneath all the frustration, you can feel how deeply these two care about each other.
even when they're making me want to scream.
which they do.
frequently.
what i appreciated about this volume was that this felt like a continuation of the emotional journey rather than simply moving pieces around for the plot.
the focus remains where it should be which is on Maxi's growth, their marriage and learning how to become partners instead of simply husband and wife. later on those quieter moments often ended up being my favorite parts.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
what didn't fully hit was how i still found myself comparing certain scenes to the manhwa.
and honestly?
the manhwa remains my favorite version of this story.
there are moments where the artwork, expressions and visual storytelling convey emotions that just land harder for me. that's not necessarily a criticism of the novel itself it's simply the version of the story that connected with me most.
there were also a few sections where the pacing felt slower than i wanted.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
overall, this felt like coming back to characters i've known for years.
maybe the novels don't completely replace the experience i had reading the manhwa but they do add layers. they give me more time with these characters and at the end of the day, that's exactly why i keep coming back.
So if you liked the Under the Oak Tree manhwa or a character focused fantasy romance with marriage in trouble but not really kinda romance and slow realistic personal growth...you'll probably enjoy this continuation.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
final thought;
did i still prefer the manhwa? yes.
was i still ridiculously happy to spend more time with maxi and riftan? also yes. 💜🌳✨
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Book Review: Under the Oak Tree Volume 3 by Suji Kim
By Volume 3, Under the Oak Tree has settled into a familiar tension: Lady Maximilian is determined to grow into a capable mage and adult human being, while her husband, Sir Riftan Calypse, remains convinced that the safest place for her is somewhere very far away from sharp objects, monsters, and general reality. The book opens with Maxi parked at a monastery while Riftan and the Remdragon Knights ride off to deal with a monster crisis in Livadon. The arrangement is meant to protect her, which is thoughtful in the way that locking someone in a very comfortable box can be thoughtful. Unsurprisingly, Maxi eventually decides she'd rather risk death than continue living as a decorative liability and sets out toward the battlefield.
The plot largely unfolds amid the Livadon campaign, where ruined villages, injured soldiers, and increasingly unpleasant monsters make it clear that war isn't an abstract concept. Maxi arrives with limited magical training but a stubborn determination to prove she's not useless. She assists with healing, supports soldiers where she can, and slowly begins to function as something other than Riftan's extremely anxious spouse. Watching her navigate the chaos of a military camp while trying to use magic she's still learning provides much of the story's momentum.
Riftan's reaction to this development is, predictably, not calm. What distinguishes his protectiveness in this volume from generic romance hero possessiveness is the specific texture of his fear. He doesn't doubt Maxi's worth. He doubts the world's willingness to be careful with her. That's a more sympathetic and more interesting problem, and Kim uses it well. The arguments between them are frequent and emotionally wearing in the way real relationship friction is wearing, less a flaw of the book than a feature of its honesty about how long it actually takes two people to recalibrate around each other. Both characters move, incrementally and imperfectly, toward something that looks more like partnership than guardianship.
That shift in their dynamic is worth noting because it sets the stage for what the book is really doing underneath the campaign plot. Maxi's arc isn't just about proving herself to Riftan. It is about proving something to herself. Raised by an abusive father who convinced her she was weak and worthless, she's spent most of her life assuming she can't handle difficulty. The war becomes the unlikely setting where she tests that assumption and finds it increasingly inaccurate. She's not the most powerful mage on the field and certainly not the most confident, but she proves she can endure fear, make decisions, and help people when it matters. In a series filled with knights and monsters, Volume 3 quietly argues that the most important battle Maxi fights is the one against the version of herself she was taught to believe in. For a volume that spends so much time in muddy war camps and tense marital arguments, it ends up being genuinely satisfying. Not quite perfect, but strong enough to earn a very solid 4 stars.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
By Volume 3, Under the Oak Tree has settled into a familiar tension: Lady Maximilian is determined to grow into a capable mage and adult human being, while her husband, Sir Riftan Calypse, remains convinced that the safest place for her is somewhere very far away from sharp objects, monsters, and general reality. The book opens with Maxi parked at a monastery while Riftan and the Remdragon Knights ride off to deal with a monster crisis in Livadon. The arrangement is meant to protect her, which is thoughtful in the way that locking someone in a very comfortable box can be thoughtful. Unsurprisingly, Maxi eventually decides she'd rather risk death than continue living as a decorative liability and sets out toward the battlefield.
The plot largely unfolds amid the Livadon campaign, where ruined villages, injured soldiers, and increasingly unpleasant monsters make it clear that war isn't an abstract concept. Maxi arrives with limited magical training but a stubborn determination to prove she's not useless. She assists with healing, supports soldiers where she can, and slowly begins to function as something other than Riftan's extremely anxious spouse. Watching her navigate the chaos of a military camp while trying to use magic she's still learning provides much of the story's momentum.
Riftan's reaction to this development is, predictably, not calm. What distinguishes his protectiveness in this volume from generic romance hero possessiveness is the specific texture of his fear. He doesn't doubt Maxi's worth. He doubts the world's willingness to be careful with her. That's a more sympathetic and more interesting problem, and Kim uses it well. The arguments between them are frequent and emotionally wearing in the way real relationship friction is wearing, less a flaw of the book than a feature of its honesty about how long it actually takes two people to recalibrate around each other. Both characters move, incrementally and imperfectly, toward something that looks more like partnership than guardianship.
That shift in their dynamic is worth noting because it sets the stage for what the book is really doing underneath the campaign plot. Maxi's arc isn't just about proving herself to Riftan. It is about proving something to herself. Raised by an abusive father who convinced her she was weak and worthless, she's spent most of her life assuming she can't handle difficulty. The war becomes the unlikely setting where she tests that assumption and finds it increasingly inaccurate. She's not the most powerful mage on the field and certainly not the most confident, but she proves she can endure fear, make decisions, and help people when it matters. In a series filled with knights and monsters, Volume 3 quietly argues that the most important battle Maxi fights is the one against the version of herself she was taught to believe in. For a volume that spends so much time in muddy war camps and tense marital arguments, it ends up being genuinely satisfying. Not quite perfect, but strong enough to earn a very solid 4 stars.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
July 3, 2026
Il y a beaucoup d'aventures dans ce roman à la couverture magnifique dessinée par Siana Park (elle a également illustrée la superbe couverture du roman 4!)
On est en guerre, Maxi a pu suivre Riftan pour un moment, mais elle est en sécurité au monastère, alors que le conflit fait rage et que les corps des soldats arrivent régulièrement en ville. Lorsqu'une occasion se présente pour se rapprocher de l'action, elle n'hésitera pas. Au contraire du résumé du livre, qui présente la décision de Maxi comme une résolution, c'est beaucoup plus nuancé: cette opportunité lui permet de se rendre utile. Cela rend le tout très crédible. Cette partie fait environ la moitié du roman, soit la saison 4 du webtoon.
Ensuite, on passe au dénouement de plusieurs non-dits et incompréhensions de l'histoire. Ce qui fait un bien fou, car il y a longtemps que les lecteurs attendent que le secret de Maxi n'en soit plus un. Sans en dire beaucoup, mentionnons que la révélation est à la hauteur de la longue attente. En fait, il y aura plusieurs secrets révélés pendant cette deuxième moitié du roman, pour le duo d'amoureux, mais également dans l'entourage de Maxi. On éclaircit enfin le passé, et chacun comprendra un peu mieux le ressenti de l'autre.
Et pourtant... Riftan réagit en couvant encore davantage Maxi. Ça en vient maladif, à tel point que même ses chevaliers s'inquiètent. Surtout qu'il risque de tout perdre, le duc Croyso ayant bien des atouts dans son sac... Et c'est Maxi qui agit, malgré son grand déchirement. Elle le fait pour eux, mais aussi pour elle. Ce qui montre à quel point elle est devenue forte, malgré la terreur que son père lui inspire encore.
On est toujours dans un monde complètement inégal où les femmes ne sont que des servantes, sous l'emprise de leur père (ce qui a permis à Croyso tous ses abus): "All I did was discipline my child properly. Only God knows the effort I put in to fix that atrocious impediment of yours." (p. 447), puis ensuite de leur mari qui, même s'il est beau, fort et aimant, peut devenir étouffant: "Legally speaking, a woman is the property of her husband." (p. 438)
"I'm sure this affair has enlightened you to how society treats women." (p. 462) Et c'est pourquoi la décision finale que prendra Maxi est également un choix pour elle, qui change complètement l'histoire, et modifie aussi la tangente de cette romance qui flirtait parfois avec la relation toxique...
Le roman 4, à venir cet automne, nous donnera peu de détails sur la suite, car on entre dans l'histoire du point de vue de Riftan (ce qui sera vraiment intéressant aussi). Il faudra attendre le roman 5 pour poursuivre le développement du duo... Une longue, longue attente douloureuse...
On est en guerre, Maxi a pu suivre Riftan pour un moment, mais elle est en sécurité au monastère, alors que le conflit fait rage et que les corps des soldats arrivent régulièrement en ville. Lorsqu'une occasion se présente pour se rapprocher de l'action, elle n'hésitera pas. Au contraire du résumé du livre, qui présente la décision de Maxi comme une résolution, c'est beaucoup plus nuancé: cette opportunité lui permet de se rendre utile. Cela rend le tout très crédible. Cette partie fait environ la moitié du roman, soit la saison 4 du webtoon.
Ensuite, on passe au dénouement de plusieurs non-dits et incompréhensions de l'histoire. Ce qui fait un bien fou, car il y a longtemps que les lecteurs attendent que le secret de Maxi n'en soit plus un. Sans en dire beaucoup, mentionnons que la révélation est à la hauteur de la longue attente. En fait, il y aura plusieurs secrets révélés pendant cette deuxième moitié du roman, pour le duo d'amoureux, mais également dans l'entourage de Maxi. On éclaircit enfin le passé, et chacun comprendra un peu mieux le ressenti de l'autre.
Et pourtant... Riftan réagit en couvant encore davantage Maxi. Ça en vient maladif, à tel point que même ses chevaliers s'inquiètent. Surtout qu'il risque de tout perdre, le duc Croyso ayant bien des atouts dans son sac... Et c'est Maxi qui agit, malgré son grand déchirement. Elle le fait pour eux, mais aussi pour elle. Ce qui montre à quel point elle est devenue forte, malgré la terreur que son père lui inspire encore.
On est toujours dans un monde complètement inégal où les femmes ne sont que des servantes, sous l'emprise de leur père (ce qui a permis à Croyso tous ses abus): "All I did was discipline my child properly. Only God knows the effort I put in to fix that atrocious impediment of yours." (p. 447), puis ensuite de leur mari qui, même s'il est beau, fort et aimant, peut devenir étouffant: "Legally speaking, a woman is the property of her husband." (p. 438)
"I'm sure this affair has enlightened you to how society treats women." (p. 462) Et c'est pourquoi la décision finale que prendra Maxi est également un choix pour elle, qui change complètement l'histoire, et modifie aussi la tangente de cette romance qui flirtait parfois avec la relation toxique...
Le roman 4, à venir cet automne, nous donnera peu de détails sur la suite, car on entre dans l'histoire du point de vue de Riftan (ce qui sera vraiment intéressant aussi). Il faudra attendre le roman 5 pour poursuivre le développement du duo... Une longue, longue attente douloureuse...
Review of advance copy
A "Romance" That Punishes Its Heroine Instead of Loving Her
(I already marked this as a spoiler, so if you continue reading despite the warning, that's on you.)
I will preface this rant review with this:
𝘙𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘺, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘔𝘢𝘹𝘪. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘺 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘳. 𝘏𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳… 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵.
So, by the end of Book 1, Maxi is forced to leave Anatol to train as a mage. This decision is not made out of personal ambition or selfish desire, but rather it's part of a calculated plan that Princess Agnes thought of in order to protect Riftan from the political and legal consequences of his actions.
Major spoiler: After discovering the Duke brutally abusing Maxi, Riftan nearly beats him to death. While this is arguably the only genuinely redeemable action Riftan ever takes on Maxi’s behalf, it places him in danger of punishment. Maxi’s departure is meant to protect him, not herself.
As expected, Riftan is upset by this decision and unfairly lashes out at Maxi. He refuses to see Maxi off when she boards the ship and coldly tells her that if she leaves, he will not wait for her, and he'd erase her from his mind—essentially forgetting all about her. He shouts at her, tells her to "get the hell out" of his room, and Maxi ends up leaving in tears. Only after she's gone does he collapse emotionally, admitting that he lied, that he would, in fact, wait for her and that he cannot live without her. The narrative frames this breakdown as a moment of realization and supposed emotional growth. Three years later, Maxi returns.
At this point, we're led to expect some form of reckoning or at least an acknowledgment of his earlier cruelty, relief at her safe return, or even a sincere attempt at reconciliation. Instead, Riftan does the opposite. Upon their reunion, he pointedly ignores her. He avoids her, refuses conversation, and withholds any emotional engagement. This behavior is not neutral or passive; it's actively punitive. He spends the early part of Maxi’s return emotionally stonewalling her, forcing her into uncertainty and distress while never explaining himself, as "punishment" for leaving him. This prolonged emotional manipulation culminates in the infamous "banquet scene."
In retaliation, Maxi provokes Riftan by attending the banquet in a deliberately revealing dress and dancing with another man right in front of him. Her actions are immature and reactive, sure, but they are also a direct result of Riftan’s sustained avoidance and refusal to communicate. Rather than addressing the underlying conflict, Riftan responds with violence disguised as passion. He forcibly pulls Maxi away and has sex with her in a guest room. This doesn't occur once, nor in a momentary lapse of control.
He confines her with him for an entire week.
During this time, he repeatedly has rough sex with her despite her physical discomfort, emotional distress, and explicit protests. At one point, Maxi is crying and begging him to stop, yet he ignores her pleas—pretending as if he can't hear her. The scene itself doesn't read as consensual reconciliation but instead—at least from my perspective—as coercion sustained over days of emotional avoidance. When he finally stops, he smugly asks her, “Isn’t this what you wanted?”—a statement that reframes her earlier attempt to provoke communication as justification for her suffering.
What makes this sequence absolutely disgusting and egregious is that it follows directly after Riftan’s supposed realization at the end of Book 1. There's a noticeable lack of remorse, no offer of an apology for his earlier withdrawal, no accountability for his emotional punishment of Maxi upon her return, and no acknowledgment of the harm he's caused both before her departure as well as after her return. Instead, the story substitutes communication with sexual dominance and expects the reader to interpret this as romantic intimacy rather than borderline sexual abuse.
Far from demonstrating growth, this arc confirms that Riftan’s internal feelings—his guilt, fear, and obsession—never translate into meaningful behavioral change. Maxi bears the emotional consequences alone, and it pains me to witness an otherwise wonderfully written female lead be reduced to a sex object because of the ML's emotional volatility.
All of this, including the blatant marital rape scene on their wedding night, is exactly why this story has been such a disappointment for me and why I despise Riftan so much. For the majority of the narrative, all his actions have done is reinforce Maxi's insecurities, doubt her capabilities, regress her self-esteem, insult her autonomy, and sabotage all of her attempts at self-improvement. Meanwhile, Riftan repeatedly claims her body after every heated argument that was perpetuated by his utter lack of maturity and refusal to communicate and compromise. He does literally the bare minimum of character growth by the final volume of the novel, but it comes far too late into Maxi's journey, and by that point, he's already hurt her too many times for his "growth" to feel even remotely meaningful. We don't get a cathartic apology scene after reading through 80+ chapters of emotional avoidance towards Maxi just because, again, she made the choice to leave him for 3 years as a means to protect his ungrateful ass. Instead, we get a disgustingly drawn out, dub-con sex scene that lasts for several chapters, and then we witness him pathetically beg Maxi not to leave him again because the author assumed that him groveling to his wife was an effective substitute over him taking real accountability for the inconsiderate, domineering, and obsessive behavior he's demonstrated throughout the majority of the story. Even when he admits to what he's done, he never truly accepts responsibility for it or offers Maxi a sincere apology, so moments that 𝘥𝘰 seem to convey character development completely fall apart. Plus, even if Riftan 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 to accept responsibility, Maxi would ultimately spoil his attempts by faulting 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 for his emotional instability, saying that she simply didn't love or trust him enough, which is allegedly what caused him to act out at all or some nonsense—as if his broken pride, bruised ego and emotional immaturity are hers to manage.
If you're expecting a "happy ending," after what was essentially a hellstorm of poorly-written and incredibly arbitrary misunderstandings and miscommunication, then, honestly, it's best if you look elsewhere. At some point, Riftan finally tells Maxi that he's "proud" of her, but along with the lack of accountability or proper apology for his emotional avoidance during the entire first half of Book 2, him telling Maxi he's "proud of her" feels more like a hollow platitude than anything meaningful. Then at the end, he makes a dramatic scene by declaring a "knight's oath" to Maxi, but again, the gesture is incredibly hollow because of everything he had done to her and never once apologized for. All in all, I'd say to just drop it. It's 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨, but I wouldn't call it a positive or even a 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 ending. I think it speaks for itself when Maxi, in her own words, admits she's begun to feel more like a younger sibling than a spouse to Riftan because of his seemingly withered passion for her. So, after the festering disaster of watching them fumble and fail in their relationship, that's the best we get? The FL is left feeling like the little sister to her once obsessively horny husband. What mess this story has been, I swear.
(I already marked this as a spoiler, so if you continue reading despite the warning, that's on you.)
I will preface this rant review with this:
𝘙𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘺, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘔𝘢𝘹𝘪. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘺 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘳. 𝘏𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳… 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵.
So, by the end of Book 1, Maxi is forced to leave Anatol to train as a mage. This decision is not made out of personal ambition or selfish desire, but rather it's part of a calculated plan that Princess Agnes thought of in order to protect Riftan from the political and legal consequences of his actions.
Major spoiler: After discovering the Duke brutally abusing Maxi, Riftan nearly beats him to death. While this is arguably the only genuinely redeemable action Riftan ever takes on Maxi’s behalf, it places him in danger of punishment. Maxi’s departure is meant to protect him, not herself.
As expected, Riftan is upset by this decision and unfairly lashes out at Maxi. He refuses to see Maxi off when she boards the ship and coldly tells her that if she leaves, he will not wait for her, and he'd erase her from his mind—essentially forgetting all about her. He shouts at her, tells her to "get the hell out" of his room, and Maxi ends up leaving in tears. Only after she's gone does he collapse emotionally, admitting that he lied, that he would, in fact, wait for her and that he cannot live without her. The narrative frames this breakdown as a moment of realization and supposed emotional growth. Three years later, Maxi returns.
At this point, we're led to expect some form of reckoning or at least an acknowledgment of his earlier cruelty, relief at her safe return, or even a sincere attempt at reconciliation. Instead, Riftan does the opposite. Upon their reunion, he pointedly ignores her. He avoids her, refuses conversation, and withholds any emotional engagement. This behavior is not neutral or passive; it's actively punitive. He spends the early part of Maxi’s return emotionally stonewalling her, forcing her into uncertainty and distress while never explaining himself, as "punishment" for leaving him. This prolonged emotional manipulation culminates in the infamous "banquet scene."
In retaliation, Maxi provokes Riftan by attending the banquet in a deliberately revealing dress and dancing with another man right in front of him. Her actions are immature and reactive, sure, but they are also a direct result of Riftan’s sustained avoidance and refusal to communicate. Rather than addressing the underlying conflict, Riftan responds with violence disguised as passion. He forcibly pulls Maxi away and has sex with her in a guest room. This doesn't occur once, nor in a momentary lapse of control.
He confines her with him for an entire week.
During this time, he repeatedly has rough sex with her despite her physical discomfort, emotional distress, and explicit protests. At one point, Maxi is crying and begging him to stop, yet he ignores her pleas—pretending as if he can't hear her. The scene itself doesn't read as consensual reconciliation but instead—at least from my perspective—as coercion sustained over days of emotional avoidance. When he finally stops, he smugly asks her, “Isn’t this what you wanted?”—a statement that reframes her earlier attempt to provoke communication as justification for her suffering.
What makes this sequence absolutely disgusting and egregious is that it follows directly after Riftan’s supposed realization at the end of Book 1. There's a noticeable lack of remorse, no offer of an apology for his earlier withdrawal, no accountability for his emotional punishment of Maxi upon her return, and no acknowledgment of the harm he's caused both before her departure as well as after her return. Instead, the story substitutes communication with sexual dominance and expects the reader to interpret this as romantic intimacy rather than borderline sexual abuse.
Far from demonstrating growth, this arc confirms that Riftan’s internal feelings—his guilt, fear, and obsession—never translate into meaningful behavioral change. Maxi bears the emotional consequences alone, and it pains me to witness an otherwise wonderfully written female lead be reduced to a sex object because of the ML's emotional volatility.
All of this, including the blatant marital rape scene on their wedding night, is exactly why this story has been such a disappointment for me and why I despise Riftan so much. For the majority of the narrative, all his actions have done is reinforce Maxi's insecurities, doubt her capabilities, regress her self-esteem, insult her autonomy, and sabotage all of her attempts at self-improvement. Meanwhile, Riftan repeatedly claims her body after every heated argument that was perpetuated by his utter lack of maturity and refusal to communicate and compromise. He does literally the bare minimum of character growth by the final volume of the novel, but it comes far too late into Maxi's journey, and by that point, he's already hurt her too many times for his "growth" to feel even remotely meaningful. We don't get a cathartic apology scene after reading through 80+ chapters of emotional avoidance towards Maxi just because, again, she made the choice to leave him for 3 years as a means to protect his ungrateful ass. Instead, we get a disgustingly drawn out, dub-con sex scene that lasts for several chapters, and then we witness him pathetically beg Maxi not to leave him again because the author assumed that him groveling to his wife was an effective substitute over him taking real accountability for the inconsiderate, domineering, and obsessive behavior he's demonstrated throughout the majority of the story. Even when he admits to what he's done, he never truly accepts responsibility for it or offers Maxi a sincere apology, so moments that 𝘥𝘰 seem to convey character development completely fall apart. Plus, even if Riftan 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 to accept responsibility, Maxi would ultimately spoil his attempts by faulting 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 for his emotional instability, saying that she simply didn't love or trust him enough, which is allegedly what caused him to act out at all or some nonsense—as if his broken pride, bruised ego and emotional immaturity are hers to manage.
If you're expecting a "happy ending," after what was essentially a hellstorm of poorly-written and incredibly arbitrary misunderstandings and miscommunication, then, honestly, it's best if you look elsewhere. At some point, Riftan finally tells Maxi that he's "proud" of her, but along with the lack of accountability or proper apology for his emotional avoidance during the entire first half of Book 2, him telling Maxi he's "proud of her" feels more like a hollow platitude than anything meaningful. Then at the end, he makes a dramatic scene by declaring a "knight's oath" to Maxi, but again, the gesture is incredibly hollow because of everything he had done to her and never once apologized for. All in all, I'd say to just drop it. It's 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨, but I wouldn't call it a positive or even a 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 ending. I think it speaks for itself when Maxi, in her own words, admits she's begun to feel more like a younger sibling than a spouse to Riftan because of his seemingly withered passion for her. So, after the festering disaster of watching them fumble and fail in their relationship, that's the best we get? The FL is left feeling like the little sister to her once obsessively horny husband. What mess this story has been, I swear.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2026
Once again, I loved this even more then its predecessor.
A sure plus was that everything unfolded much quicker than in the webtoon where Maxi's time at the Basilica stretched over many, many chapters. Also, by the end of the book, the current status of the webtoon was surpassed, which I had been hoping, so I loved not knowing what would happen next.
Unfortunately, what still stands out is that Riftan is so bad at communicating ... I mean, why not put his need to have her safe in words instead of sending her away so harshly?
On the one hand, it absolutely speaks well for him that he wants to bear all burdens for both of them. On the other hand, it makes him appear rather obsessive that he won't acknowledge her desire and need to share said burdens. Then again, she rarely really fought him on that, it's like they always started a discussion and didn't finish it. Besides, his behaviour is a result of his upbringing, so not really his fault – which only means it'll be glorious when he finally learns and changes.
I enjoyed hearing more about how he fell for her from afar though and want more still.
Princess Agnes was a good friend to Maxi here and as such served as a catalyst of female empowerment in a story sorely lacking female relationships. In that regard, the two noble ladies and the female cleric Maxi spend considerable time with were a nice addition as well. After all, she was just surrounded by men and maids otherwise.
It was interesting to meet the king who fortunately is not a one-dimensional ruler. Meanwhile, Maxi's sister remains a mystery, now more than ever. First she was nasty to her, then she helped her by helping Riftan but then she tried to tell her things about herself like their father did. Ultimately, she was just projecting and Maxi stood up to her, but I'm not sure about their relationship regardless.
Speaking of their father, I hate that man so much.
I greatly disliked how she first reacted to him , but that said, her fears did make sense when one considers how everyone, i. e. her father and sister, even her benevolent nursemaid, kept saying that a divorce would be a sure thing. Her doubts in Riftan made sense when one considers how he sent her away.
It is actually the reaaoning of everyone, the king included, that didnt make sense.
Plus, the sheer nerve of her father's plan made me see dark red. That is certainly not what I had in mind when I wondered if her father would reappear in the story at some point. Therefore, I naturally relished the consequences Riftan made him suffer . A murderous aura radiating off Riftan, you say? Yes, please.
At least in the aftermath of her father's presumptous meddling, Riftan and Maxi finally started talking properly. They truly grew closer than ever here ... only to be literally pulled apart by the ending.
I was shocked, deeply shaken, in denial even, had unshed tears in my eyes. And yet Riftan was more severely distressed than me. I loved how the last chapter was described from his men's POV though, they have their lord and lady's back so much it's not even funny.
So yeah, this was excellent, the best one so far, it had the most action but also the most anguish. Now to wait for the next one with bated breath ...
A sure plus was that everything unfolded much quicker than in the webtoon where Maxi's time at the Basilica stretched over many, many chapters. Also, by the end of the book, the current status of the webtoon was surpassed, which I had been hoping, so I loved not knowing what would happen next.
Unfortunately, what still stands out is that Riftan is so bad at communicating ... I mean, why not put his need to have her safe in words instead of sending her away so harshly?
On the one hand, it absolutely speaks well for him that he wants to bear all burdens for both of them. On the other hand, it makes him appear rather obsessive that he won't acknowledge her desire and need to share said burdens. Then again, she rarely really fought him on that, it's like they always started a discussion and didn't finish it. Besides, his behaviour is a result of his upbringing, so not really his fault – which only means it'll be glorious when he finally learns and changes.
I enjoyed hearing more about how he fell for her from afar though and want more still.
Princess Agnes was a good friend to Maxi here and as such served as a catalyst of female empowerment in a story sorely lacking female relationships. In that regard, the two noble ladies and the female cleric Maxi spend considerable time with were a nice addition as well. After all, she was just surrounded by men and maids otherwise.
It was interesting to meet the king who fortunately is not a one-dimensional ruler. Meanwhile, Maxi's sister remains a mystery, now more than ever. First she was nasty to her, then she helped her by helping Riftan but then she tried to tell her things about herself like their father did. Ultimately, she was just projecting and Maxi stood up to her, but I'm not sure about their relationship regardless.
Speaking of their father, I hate that man so much.
I greatly disliked how she first reacted to him , but that said, her fears did make sense when one considers how everyone, i. e. her father and sister, even her benevolent nursemaid, kept saying that a divorce would be a sure thing. Her doubts in Riftan made sense when one considers how he sent her away.
It is actually the reaaoning of everyone, the king included, that didnt make sense.
Plus, the sheer nerve of her father's plan made me see dark red. That is certainly not what I had in mind when I wondered if her father would reappear in the story at some point. Therefore, I naturally relished the consequences Riftan made him suffer . A murderous aura radiating off Riftan, you say? Yes, please.
At least in the aftermath of her father's presumptous meddling, Riftan and Maxi finally started talking properly. They truly grew closer than ever here ... only to be literally pulled apart by the ending.
I was shocked, deeply shaken, in denial even, had unshed tears in my eyes. And yet Riftan was more severely distressed than me. I loved how the last chapter was described from his men's POV though, they have their lord and lady's back so much it's not even funny.
So yeah, this was excellent, the best one so far, it had the most action but also the most anguish. Now to wait for the next one with bated breath ...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley, Random House Worlds, Penguin Random House, and Inklore for this ARC. From the very beginning of this series, it has been clear that Maxi and Riftan are not simply lovers separated by circumstance—they are two broken souls who desperately need to come true with each other. In Volume 3, that emotional truth deepens in ways that lingered long after I turned the final page.
This volume does not rush healing. Instead, it lingers in misunderstandings, pride, fear, and longing. Maxi continues her steady, hard-earned growth—learning her own strength, her own voice, and her own worth. Riftan, equally wounded in his own way, loves fiercely. Watching them struggle toward one another—rather than simply fall together—feels painfully real. Their love is not soft fantasy; it is complicated, bruised, and deeply human.
What struck me most in this volume is the emotional tension. Every conversation feels weighted. Every silence feels loud. There is so much unsaid between them, and yet so much feeling beneath the surface.
The world-building continues to expand, adding layers of danger and political tension, but the heart of the story remains the fragile, stubborn bond between Maxi and Riftan. Their relationship is not built on grand declarations alone—it is built on vulnerability, missteps, and the terrifying act of letting someone truly see you.
I don’t know what these two will face next, and that uncertainty makes my heart ache. The path ahead will not be easy—I am certain of that—but I hope with everything in me that they find their way through it together.
Suji Kim has an extraordinary talent. She does not simply write romance—she writes emotion in its rawest form. Her storytelling allows the reader to truly feel: the hope, the anger, the devotion, the quiet resilience. Few authors can make you inhabit a character’s heart so completely. This series has become more than a story; it is an emotional experience.
Without question, Under the Oak Tree, Volume 3 will be my favorite book of the year.
#life #lifethoughts #momblogger #journaling #journal #journals #UnderTheOakTreeVolume3 #RandomHouseWorlds #PenguinRandomHouse#Inklore #NetGalley #BookReview #FiveStarRead #MustRead #EmotionalReads #CharacterDriven #FantasyNovel #BookTok #Bookstagram #ReadersOfInstagram
This volume does not rush healing. Instead, it lingers in misunderstandings, pride, fear, and longing. Maxi continues her steady, hard-earned growth—learning her own strength, her own voice, and her own worth. Riftan, equally wounded in his own way, loves fiercely. Watching them struggle toward one another—rather than simply fall together—feels painfully real. Their love is not soft fantasy; it is complicated, bruised, and deeply human.
What struck me most in this volume is the emotional tension. Every conversation feels weighted. Every silence feels loud. There is so much unsaid between them, and yet so much feeling beneath the surface.
The world-building continues to expand, adding layers of danger and political tension, but the heart of the story remains the fragile, stubborn bond between Maxi and Riftan. Their relationship is not built on grand declarations alone—it is built on vulnerability, missteps, and the terrifying act of letting someone truly see you.
I don’t know what these two will face next, and that uncertainty makes my heart ache. The path ahead will not be easy—I am certain of that—but I hope with everything in me that they find their way through it together.
Suji Kim has an extraordinary talent. She does not simply write romance—she writes emotion in its rawest form. Her storytelling allows the reader to truly feel: the hope, the anger, the devotion, the quiet resilience. Few authors can make you inhabit a character’s heart so completely. This series has become more than a story; it is an emotional experience.
Without question, Under the Oak Tree, Volume 3 will be my favorite book of the year.
#life #lifethoughts #momblogger #journaling #journal #journals #UnderTheOakTreeVolume3 #RandomHouseWorlds #PenguinRandomHouse#Inklore #NetGalley #BookReview #FiveStarRead #MustRead #EmotionalReads #CharacterDriven #FantasyNovel #BookTok #Bookstagram #ReadersOfInstagram
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I am obsessed with this series to an unhealthy degree, nearly as obsessed as Riftan is with Maxi. When I described this book series to coworkers, they said, "Wow, that book sounds bad,” and part of me agrees with them. I almost feel like my five-star rating is an insult to true five-star books. The Under the Oak Tree series is the most beautiful, never-ending train wreck, and I have loved every minute of it so far. The series is incredibly toxic and messy, and I probably shouldn’t love it as much as I do. Riftan and Maxi have one of the most unhealthy, codependent relationships that is almost constantly spiraling into disaster.
Riftan was an obsessive partner who constantly undermined Maxi's agency. He refused to let her make choices for herself and wanted her to be dependent on him for everything. Every time she tried to get involved in his life and learn about him, he shut her out and told her not to worry about those things, yet he also wanted to be involved in every aspect of her life. He frequently kept important information secret from her because he didn't want to upset her. While he meant well overall, his behavior was still concerning. I wouldn’t go as far as saying he was physically abusive, but he did drag her around by the arm frequently throughout this series and often used his size difference to intimidate her. Additionally, he told her to shut up a few too many times for my liking. If it were up to me, Maxi would have divorced him and found someone new to fall in love with.
Having Maxi as the main character was equal parts endearing and mind-numbingly insufferable. I couldn’t believe that it took three books for Maxi to gain some self-esteem and grow a backbone. What a painful but rewarding journey. The ending of book 3 made me so proud of her, and I almost cried real tears. As I finished the book, I was quite literally yelling, “Yes, girl, run away! Get away from him! Flee!” while pumping my fist in the air. I don’t know how this series ends, but I’m assuming Maxi and Riftan are unfortunately endgame, so hopefully, he fixes himself during their time apart.
I can't stop reading because I need to see Maxi happy and confident. I also need to see the ending of this tragically unhealthy relationship. Hopefully, I can get my hands on an arc of book 4!
Riftan was an obsessive partner who constantly undermined Maxi's agency. He refused to let her make choices for herself and wanted her to be dependent on him for everything. Every time she tried to get involved in his life and learn about him, he shut her out and told her not to worry about those things, yet he also wanted to be involved in every aspect of her life. He frequently kept important information secret from her because he didn't want to upset her. While he meant well overall, his behavior was still concerning. I wouldn’t go as far as saying he was physically abusive, but he did drag her around by the arm frequently throughout this series and often used his size difference to intimidate her. Additionally, he told her to shut up a few too many times for my liking. If it were up to me, Maxi would have divorced him and found someone new to fall in love with.
Having Maxi as the main character was equal parts endearing and mind-numbingly insufferable. I couldn’t believe that it took three books for Maxi to gain some self-esteem and grow a backbone. What a painful but rewarding journey. The ending of book 3 made me so proud of her, and I almost cried real tears. As I finished the book, I was quite literally yelling, “Yes, girl, run away! Get away from him! Flee!” while pumping my fist in the air. I don’t know how this series ends, but I’m assuming Maxi and Riftan are unfortunately endgame, so hopefully, he fixes himself during their time apart.
I can't stop reading because I need to see Maxi happy and confident. I also need to see the ending of this tragically unhealthy relationship. Hopefully, I can get my hands on an arc of book 4!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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