Inexplicable

by Katie Estcourt

The crown is heavy. The heart is heavier.

With her family’s power declining, Princess Briar faces an impossible marry to secure her kingdom’s future, or risk its downfall.

Trapped between duty and her desire for independence, she finds herself led astray by the mysterious and captivating Lord Thornwood, a man with dark secrets and even darker motives.

Thrust into a world of betrayal and blood magic, Briar must navigate treacherous alliances and confront the harsh truths of her father’s rule in her quest for peace, all whilst struggling against her growing feelings for the man she has unintentionally bound herself to.

But in this tale of love, power, and sacrifice, Briar’s journey is only just beginning. With war looming and time running out, will she be able to save her kingdom, and those she loves, before it’s too late?

Genres: Fantasy

362 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 28, 2026

About the author

Katie is a fantasy author and teacher drawn to stories where identity, love, and power collide. Her debut novel, Inexplicable, follows a princess forced into the heart of a rebellion and into the path of a rebel who becomes impossible to hate. With awakening magic, political tension, and slow-burn longing, her writing explores what happens when compassion survives even the harshest conditions.

She writes for readers looking for emotional depth, atmospheric worlds, and a chance to put down their phone and pick up their sword.

Reviews

[Courtney]

4 stars
2 for spice

Inexplicable is a Fantasy romance with a lot of intrigue, political back stabbing and power moves. It is very much an enemies to lovers trope, very slow burn and I want you but I don’t like the main character’s dynamic especially, it’s so hard to figure out who to trust.
It was a very political heavy story with multiple kingdoms, a couple of selfish and cruel kings and the plot was very complex and detailed. I was thinking I knew what was going to happen and the authors gave me all these clues at the same time there was a whole bunch that I missed. I was really pulled into the story, a bit slow at times and still not sure about the connection between the main character’s but I am ready to find out and planning on picking up the next book in this series, very excited for it.
I received an advanced ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.

[Taylor Idema]

Thank you to the author and publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy from Netgallery

This romantasy drew me in from the first chapter. I could not stop reading it! I had to know what happened next after the Princess who was to pick her betrothed ended up kidnapped and bound to her enemy. This is a quick read that will keep you interested throughout the book! I can't wait for book two to be released to continue this story!

[Jessica Parsons]

Inexplicable was a gorgeous debut Romantasy for Katie Estcourt! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

At first I found this like a typical princess based Romantasy that was sweet and happy trotting along.
What I didn’t expect however was the immediate plot twist.

Katie so graphically and stunningly depicts Briars experience as a prisoner that I was immediately fascinated and locked in on the story. It was a plot turn I did not expect, but one I consumed entirely.

The journey that Briar takes and the truth behind Kove’s life was heartbreaking. And if there’s one thing Katie does amazingly in this book it’s make her readers feel the emotional devastation.

Even though this book ends on a “cliff hanger” as a reader I feel comfortably satisfied with the ending. Without being abandoned in a dramatic what happens next moment, Katie leaves us in a moment of peace before the real war begins in the second part to this duology, ensuring that readers feel fulfilled and hungry for the next part.

A brilliant Romantasy debut!!!! 💕💕💕

[Sunny]

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.

If you love slow-burn romantasy, morally conflicted MMCs, escalating twists, and simple worldbuilding, this might work for you? But while I was hooked in the beginning, I began noticing inconsistencies that pulled me out of that initial excitement as well as the feeling that tropes were more in focus than actual story-telling...

Compounding that frustration, the summary and tagline promise a major plot point that quite simply DOES NOT happen. I found it incredibly misleading that it says she binds herself to the enemy, when nothing even remotely close to that happens.

I had a few other issues, so I’ve tried to outline them below. ‼️This review contains spoilers‼️

✨Marketing + book’s tagline✨
I first want to talk about one of my BIGGEST frustrations…

The summary and cover tagline state that Briar is “bound to her enemy.” The summary says she is “struggling against her growing feelings for the man she has unintentionally bound herself to.”

That does not happen!

As someone who reads very analytically, that framing significantly shaped my expectations. As the story unfolded, I kept scanning for it, wondering whether anything was building toward that promised bond.

I was wrong.

There’s a moment that especially heightened my expectation. After Briar’s ring is removed, she notes: “I drew myself closer instinctively. Something about him had changed since my ring was removed. My body was drawn to him even more. I didn’t want to think about why.”

… Well, *I* want to think about why!! But in any case, it would have still annoyed me it it were the case, because, by that point, he’s no longer her “enemy”, so it still wouldn’t match the marketing framing.

Marketing shapes reading lenses. When a book signals a trope, readers will read toward it. In this case, the promised bond simply isn’t there.

There is a scene, in particular, that intensified my confusion. When Kove is explaining things about Tremane, he suddenly presses the dagger into the old scar and cuts it open while talking. Blood spills, and the text explicitly says: “More blood trickles down, pooling in the dip of his collarbone.”

Briar pulls it away from his neck, and then the moment simply moves on. They do not address the fact that he was actively BLEEDING seconds ago. He continues talking. He even sets her in his lap while she has her hands around his NECK. What happened to the blood pooling in his collarbone? Why did he cut himself in the first place?

I wondered if he was binding himself to her in that scene, but even if that WERE the case (I highly doubt), the summary explicitly states that SHE unintentionally binds herself to HIM.

Was the tagline a remnant from an earlier draft? Because as it stands, there is no on-page moment where Briar binds herself to him—accidentally or otherwise.

This absolutely altered my experience of the book. I am still frustrated about it.

✨First impressions✨
I was hooked initially. The opening line establishes Briar’s internal conflict—not just as a princess caught between duty and desire, but as someone already aware she is failing someone: her father’s expectations, her mother’s legacy, and perhaps herself. I loved how much we learned about her from the very first page.

The simple worldbuilding also hooked me—magic fading over generations, a weakening royal line, and a heroine who isn’t even sure she has powers. The information is not dumped and it kept me turning pages.

✨Briar✨
I liked Briar. What I found most compelling about her is her motivation. Even kidnapped, she doesn’t spiral into self-pity or make everything about romance. She reflects and realises she’s been blind to her father’s cruelty, questioning the narrative she was raised on. Her desire to escape is rooted in wanting to protect her kingdom and its people, and that consistency makes her really likeable. Even in captivity, she wants to help.

There’s a brutal turning-point scene (the attempted assault) that suggests the beginning of a harder, more dangerous Briar… but I wish that arc paid off more visibly.

There’s not much character development... In terms of skill, agency, and capability, the progression didn’t feel defined.

For example, the training scenes with Kove feel initially purposeful, suggesting that she’ll become physically capable and able to defend herself or actively shape outcomes rather than being moved by them. But even after off-page lessons, those skills never pay off later, which makes the fighting scenes seem more like a trope (charged proximity, tension-building, “MMC teaches FMC to fight”) than as an investment in her development.

I wish her arc translated more visibly into action by the end.

✨Kove / Ash✨
Kove (Ash)’s first interaction with Briar is compelling. I loved that the emphasis isn’t immediately “wow he’s breathtaking” (even though we do get there eventually). Instead it’s his presence: relaxed confidence, fighter’s aura, challenging etiquette, and his clothing being outdated for court. That is good foreshadowing. He doesn’t feel like a lord, even when Briar (somehow) doesn’t clock it.

The heterochromia (one deep brown eye, one icy blue) is such a memorable detail, and I loved that the book leans into his imposing, brutal presence rather than only aesthetic beauty.

But that also raises one of my biggest questions: if Briar’s father killed his father in front of him when he was young… how does the king not recognise the guy with one blue eye and one brown eye later when he arrives at court pretending to be Lord Thornwood? Even accounting for age, that is an insanely distinctive trait. The text never addresses whether they’d met before, whether he was concealed, whether the king “forgot” (lol?), nothing.

It’s just not dealt with, and that frustrates me.

Another thing that bothered me: in the first full description of him, there’s no mention of scars. Then later Briar is like: “How had I not noticed the scar when we danced?” and I’m sitting there like… I don’t know, you tell me?? Especially because after that point, the scars are referenced repeatedly. It makes the earlier omission feel a lot like convenience...

I also think his ability to smell others’ powers is pretty cool, but I wish it was used more broadly. It feels like it exists mainly to serve the Briar mystery, rather than shaping his worldview and interactions consistently.

The enemies-to-lovers tension is strong, and I enjoyed watching their connection deepen. The gradual reveal of his backstory worked brilliantly… except the details become inconsistent.

At one point, Kove answers Briar’s question about why the king would “spare” him by saying Elric thought he’d killed him—“failed to check my pulse after he sliced my throat.”

Except later, Kove says it wasn’t her father, it was Tremane who ripped his throat open for the ritual. So… which is it? And if the throat scar is from Tremane’s ritual, we’re STILL missing an explanation for how Kove survived the execution scene in the first place. Was he just… left there? The book doesn’t clarify, which FRUSTRATES ME A LOT.

And then in the epilogue, Kove thinks about how he almost used the dagger on Tremane, noting that “the tip had even graced the spot on his wrist where I had drunk from all those years ago.”

This directly contradicts the earlier emphasis on his throat being the site of the blood-binding. If the ritual was enacted at the wrist, THEN WHY IS THE THROAT SCAR NARRATIVELY FOREGROUNDED? HOW did he get that scar? Did the author forget to fix this detail, maybe after changing her mind on where the ritual was enacted?

The inconsistencies bothered me a lot. And the epilogue frustrated me SO MUCH more.

After spending the novel reinforcing Briar’s agency, Kove withholds life-altering information from her. And it’s framed as a noble sacrifice, his reasoning being that he would “do whatever it took to protect her future and her freedom, even if that meant making her hate him.”

He just got done telling her that he needs her to feel safe with him… So this was insane to me. For a character whose entire trauma revolves around having his free will stolen, that choice feels especially contradictory… It genuinely soured the ending for me.

I’m also left with lingering questions that seem deliberately introduced but insufficiently developed. There were moments where it felt like aspects had been revised, yet traces of the earlier version remained.

Like when Axel tells Kove, “You of all people should know that parents don’t define a person.” That implies unresolved tension surrounding his family history. Yet we’re told his father was killed when he was young, and his mother isn’t portrayed negatively or with any particular ambiguity. So what is being foreshadowed here?

If there’s more to his, the narrative needs to either lay clearer groundwork in this book or signal more explicitly that this is deliberate set-up for book 2. Otherwise, this is yet another example of something that feels like it used to mean more but was edited out, leaving behind dialogue that now gestures towards a mystery that no longer exists.

✨The magical system✨
I still feel like I don’t have enough framework for how the magical system works. Who can have magic? Is it random, hereditary, political? If the crown has been suppressing magic for generations, how are new powered people still appearing? What does “magic ebbing” actually mean?

This should have all been much clearer.

✨No surnames?✨
One increasingly noticeable detail: no one in this book has a surname. Briar is simply “Briar, Princess of Eltheria.” Her father is “King Elric.” Kove is Kove. In fact, Lord Thornwood is the only character with a full name (Heath Thornwood).

The absence of last names creates a subtle disconnect to me... it’s strange, isn’t it?

✨Rich themes, uneven execution✨
A lot of things and revelations feel unevenly excavated. Briar’s ring suppressing her powers is a massive recontextualisation, but emotionally it feels like it moves on quickly. We’re also told that Briar’s mother wanted her powers hidden for protection, while her father opposed the idea. That raises enormous questions.

If the suppression was meant to keep her safe, why would her father resist it? And if he was suppressing powers across the kingdom, what was his stance on Briar’s specifically? The motivations feel slightly blurred at a point where clarity would strengthen the political and emotional stakes.

It feels like the groundwork for something larger, which may pay off in a sequel, but in this installment some threads remain more suggestive than resolved.

✨I NEED ANSWERS ABOUT SARA✨
Sara feels like the emotional and political axis of everything. But the details surrounding her feel fragmented.

We’re told that “her power had been her destruction; had burned her alive.” Except later, when Briar speaks of her necklace, she says her mother “bestowed it to me on her deathbed, insisting I carry it from that moment on.”

If her powers burned her alive, how was there a deathbed?

“Burned alive” isn’t metaphorical, since Briar immediately notes “pushing the images down” of that day, implying something literal and traumatic. If it was physical combustion, how did her mother survive long enough for a bedside farewell scene?

Right now, Sara feels more like a powerful concept than a fully excavated character. And even if book two expands on her, the internal contradiction regarding her death still feels structurally unresolved in this instalment.

Speaking of the necklace…

Kove remarks, “That’s an distinctive necklace,” which feels loaded. Then we learn: “It has been in my family for generations. I always wear it.” And that it is a symbol of Eltherian royalty, of royals with greater powers than anyone else.

Except… we learn that royalty aren’t the only ones with power. If the necklace symbolises royal magical supremacy, but magic exists outside the royal bloodline—and has for generations—then what is it symbolising? If this symbol has existed for generations, how long has the crown been suppressing or eliminating non-royal magic? Did previous kings do the same? Did no one notice? Were uprisings quashed? Was history rewritten?

The worldbuilding gestures toward deep systemic control, but stops just short of fully articulating it. Which leaves me with MANY questions…

✨Writing style✨
The writing is easy to read, emotionally direct, and very aware of genre expectations.

Written in first-person POV, we’re always inside Briar’s thoughts, and her internal conflict carries cohesively from the opening chapter through the end. Readers who prefer emotionally transparent narrators will likely connect with this approach, because the book rarely leaves you guessing about what she’s feeling.

That said, I personally found that the narration often tells me what she’s feeling rather than allowing me to fully experience it. There’s frequent reliance on familiar emotional shorthand: hearts sinking, breath catching, cheeks flushing, swallowing anxiety. Over time, the repetition makes the prose feel more conventional than distinctive.

This extends to repeated gestures and phrasing. Kove runs a hand through his hair a lot. Some emotional beats are echoed in near-identical wording—for example, Briar thinking “His words were exactly what I needed to hear” appears in two separate contexts.

There are also moments where the romantic language tips into territory that feels more scripted than organic.

For example: “And who are you?’ “I’m Briar’s”. I looked at him, confused, waiting for him to finish his sentence. […] “He’s my friend,” I clarified. Kove’s eyes twitched, the realisation of what he had said sinking in.”

I just… Who says “I’m [name]’s?” It’s trying to be swoony, but it lands closer to overly theatrical, because no one would say that to a stranger, ever.

There are also occasional word choices that distract, like: “I swallowed my arousal. That should be the last thing on my mind right now.” That phrasing is VERY unfortunate. “Swallowed” is physically loaded verb, which pulls attention away from the intended emotional restraint. The moment is meant to show her suppressing desire, but instead the phrasing becomes the focus. A simpler verb (“pushed aside,” “buried,” “suppressed”, ANYTHING) would have preserved the tension without derailing it.

✨Worldbuilding + thematic cohesion✨
I felt that the worldbuilding was clear but frequently delivered through reflection rather than scene-based detail. We’re TOLD about dwindling resources, fading magic, political alliances, and the father’s influence in fairly direct explanatory passages. I wanted more atmospheric immersion—more lived-in texture of the kingdom’s decline rather than summaries of it.

The moments that stood out most to me were the ones that leaned into sensory detail. A very simple example: “The strip of blue that had teased us earlier soon exploded into a sheet of rippling water.” I love this line.

In terms of the romantic exchanges, they followed a recognisable romantasy rhythm—charged proximity, teasing banter, lingering glances, physical awareness. I can see it appealing strongly to readers who enjoy slow-burn tension (like I do).

However, I did feel that the physical descriptions of attraction leaned heavily on familiar cues (broad shoulders, strong jaw, piercing eyes, warm breath). I personally would have loved more unique observations to make the chemistry feel less template-driven (for example, I LOVED the mentions of Kove’s heterochromia and scars! And would like more focus on those rather than the rest).

Stylistically, the prose tends to maintain a similar reflective cadence, even during higher-stakes scenes. There are moments that could have felt sharper or more urgent, but the narrative often remains in explanatory mode. This makes the story very readable, but I sometimes felt that tension was slightly softened by how much internal processing accompanied it.

A moment that stood out to me: “The stars were closeted by deep sombre clouds. I felt a tear trickle down my cheek. I could really do with seeing the stars right now. They always soothed my panic attacks and grounded me; reminded me my mother was there, watching over me. But the clouds held them hostage tonight.”

The image of the clouds “holding them hostage” it mirrors her loss of control (she is LITERALLY being held hostage herself) in a subtle but powerful way.

One thing I did appreciate is the thematic cohesion in the writing. Control (social, magical, political) runs through almost every interaction. The idea of women being managed, powers being suppressed, alliances being weaponised, and identity being shaped by expectation is consistent throughout, which I quite enjoyed. Even when I found the prose familiar, that thematic throughline kept the story feeling focused.

✨Familiar things: ACOTAR + Cinderella✨
There are noticeable echoes of existing romantasy staples here, particularly A Court of Thorns and Roses. I know many of these are common genre tropes, but the parallels felt strong enough to stand out. And they felt super unnecessary too.

Kove’s magical binding and “a good guy portraying as a bad one” sacrifice arc invites obvious comparison to Rhysand. Briar’s bargain with Galdur mirrors the bargain in ACOTAR as well. Even seeking out a morally ambiguous entity for cryptic answers recalls the Bone Carver scenes. Then there’s the Cinderella-coded moment with Galdur’s glamour fading at midnight, which felt so random?

Sure, these tropes work for a reason, but when multiple recognisable beats stack up, the story risks feeling genre-adjacent rather than fully distinct.

✨Final thoughts✨
The opening is strong, the pacing is addictive, Briar is likeable, Kove is compelling, and the themes of control/suppression give the story weight beyond the romance. For a big chunk of the book, I was convinced this would be five stars.

But the further I read, the more the cracks showed: structural inconsistencies in Kove’s backstory, unanswered questions that feel like leftover edits, an unexplained magic system, and an epilogue that undercuts established values in a way that frustrated me a lot.

I wanted to be impressed (it IS a debut), but the inconsistencies bothered me a lot. It honestly felt like this book was written with a lot of focus on tropes rather than the rest. And I am still super annoyed about the misleading tagline, because the marketing absolutely shaped my expectations and then didn’t deliver what it promised.

[Megan]

Thank you to Cranthorpe Millner Publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a honest review - and for granting me a space on the book tour!

The crown is heavy. The heart is heavier. With her family’s power declining, Princess Briar faces an impossible marry to secure her kingdom’s future, or risk its downfall. Trapped between duty and her desire for independence, she finds herself led astray by the mysterious and captivating Lord Thornwood, a man with dark secrets and even darker motives. Thrust into a world of betrayal and blood magic, Briar must navigate treacherous alliances and confront the harsh truths of her father’s rule in her quest for peace, all whilst struggling against her growing feelings for the man she has unintentionally bound herself to. But in this tale of love, power, and sacrifice, Briar’s journey is only just beginning. With war looming and time running out, will she be able to save her kingdom, and those she loves, before it’s too late?

Briar is someone who has remained sheltered her entire life, and it is blatantly obvious. There are complains about the restrictiveness of her life, which is incredibly understandable when you have no say. But it did feel a little bit like Briar was willingly complacent. She mentions sneaking out and being “one of the people” but there are only a few brief mentions of this and that she somehow also could not recognise the hardships they faced. It feels a little bit like she’s willingly kept the rose tinted glasses on because part of her didn’t want to lose her privileges and position - irregardless of the complaints. Blessedly, she did improve as the story continued, especially as she realised just how far removed from reality she was. I would have liked to have seen her get more stuck in with things, really making an effort. Hopefully this will be something in the forefront in the sequel - it would massively help her cause!
Ash is quite the enigma. Blowing hot and cold, it can be hard to get a good read on him. I did like the growth we see from him across the book, particularly his comfort levels when it came to being honest and open. I do think there is a lot we haven’t explored with him which is a shame, but hopefully we will in the next book. I would love to have events from his POV for sure!

The blurb for this book drew me in instantly. I don’t normally opt for a slow burn, but the chance of reading a book about a princess led astray and possibly changing the world was too good to miss. This book has a very good plot but part of me was hoping for a bit more? We get a lot of violence and I loved that Briar’s eyes were opened to the true state of the kingdom, however we don’t see her trying to actively make steps to improve things - or even talk to the people she comes across. Yes, there is anger directed towards her but she just took it, instead of trying to change it. I just wanted a bit more than playing it safe. Character wise, it’s rather restricted to the same few people. I’ll admit the slow burn was greatly enhanced by the fact Briar and Ash were alone the majority of the time - but this reader needs more people involved. Having more faces appear and contribute to the story raise the stakes massively. And considering the position Briar is in, those stakes need to be high for the inevitable payoff to be worth it. Now, speaking of slow burn… this is SLOW. As in, the majority kf the book, nothing happens. There is a lot of longing stares and emotional gestures which works, but do not expect there to be romance in this story. Despite being a massive romance lover, and a slow burn avoider, I did like the “will they, won’t they” vibes going in here. The focus remained more on the plot than any possible romance for sure. The ending definitely has me interested in what could happen next. It brought a few things to an end whilst also opening up new questions and avenues the story could take. I will say that this is more of a 3.5 rating overall but I have rounded it up. I’m definitely interested in seeing where the sequel takes us.

Overall, Inexplicable is a great fantasy story for the slow burn lovers!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you again to Cranthorpe Millner Publishers for an advanced copy of this book and for letting me participate in the book tour!

[Georgia]

Review of Advanced Copy from NetGalley

The story is engaging enough to keep you turning the pages, and I did find myself invested, particularly in the slow-burn romance between Briar and Ash. Their dynamic was one of the stronger elements of the book, and it developed at a satisfying pace without feeling rushed.

However, the plot itself felt a little predictable at times. It often seemed like the story was trying to hit familiar tropes rather than letting the narrative flow naturally. For example, the scene where Briar is learning self-defence felt like it was setting her up for growth, yet in later fight scenes she’s just as helpless as ever. That inconsistency made some of her development feel superficial.

I was also a bit disappointed by the tagline, “tied to the throne, bound to the enemy.” It suggests a much stronger, more literal connection than what actually happens in the book. Briar is never truly “bound” to the enemy in any meaningful way, and I kept expecting something like a blood vow or a deeper bond with Ash to emerge—but it never did. As a result, the tagline feels somewhat misleading.

That said, it’s still an enjoyable read with compelling character relationships, even if the execution doesn’t fully live up to its potential.

[Erin Arkin]

In the ever-evolving landscape of romantasy, finding a debut that balances well-done world-building with genuine emotional stakes can be a challenge. However, Katie Estcourt’s Inexplicable manages to do exactly that. Serving as a lush introduction to a world where power is both a birthright and a curse, this novel is a must-read for fans of fantasy who crave magic, political intrigue, and the kind of slow-burn romance that keeps you turning pages well into the night.

Inexplicable introduces us to a world where the veneer of royal stability is beginning to crack. For generations, the royal family’s power has been fading, leaving the kingdom vulnerable. At the center of this brewing storm is Princess Briar. Faced with the crushing weight of expectation, Briar is presented with an impossible choice: enter a strategic marriage to secure her kingdom’s future or watch its total downfall.

However, the political chessboard is upended when Briar is thrust into the heart of a rebellion (and personal vendetta). It is here that the story truly takes flight, shifting from a tale of courtly duty to a high-stakes journey of survival and discovery. The narrative is punctuated by twists that ensure the pacing never falters, making the world feel lived-in and dangerous.

Briar begins the novel as a princess defined by her obligations. Her initial arc is one of duty; she is a woman who believes her value lies solely in what she can provide for her crown. As the story progresses and she learns more about herself, her father, and her kingdom, we see a transformation in her.

Briar’s journey is not just about physical survival, but about the "awakening magic" within her. As she uncovers truths about her lineage and the reality of the kingdom she was meant to protect, she sheds her role as a pawn and begins to seize her own agency. Her evolution from a sheltered royal to a woman who is so much more is compelling and relatable, grounding the fantastical elements of the plot in a very human struggle for identity.

Kove/Ash is defined by the tension between his mission and his growing connection to the "enemy" princess. As he and Briar are forced together, his "impossible to hate" nature comes to the fore. We see a man who is navigating his own transition from a hardened soldier to someone who must reconcile his goals and own challenges with his burgeoning feelings for Briar. Their "enemies-to-lovers" dynamic is fueled by a slow-burn longing that feels earned, rather than rushed, making their chemistry the emotional heartbeat of the book.

What makes Inexplicable stand out is Estcourt’s ability to explore how compassion can survive in the harshest of conditions. The book is an intoxicating tale of love, power, and sacrifice that sets a high bar for the rest of the series.

As an introduction to the world and characters, this debut is great. It lays a foundation of political unrest and personal vengeance while ensuring the reader is deeply invested in the fates of Briar and Ash/Kove. By the time the final page turns, the stage is set for an epic continuation. I will definitely be picking up the next book to see what happens next for these characters and to see exactly where this story goes. For any reader looking for a slow-burn fantasy, Inexplicable is the perfect place to start.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

[⋆˚࿔ Luiza 𝜗𝜚˚⋆]

•°. ❝ He was staring at me like I'd become something sacred. Like I was no longer just a woman, but like | was the embodiment of hope. ❞ *࿐

✎ᝰ. ★★★.25 stars
✎ᝰ. 0.5/5 spice level
✎ᝰ. tropes:
𝜗𝜚 enemies to lovers
𝜗𝜚 slow burn
𝜗𝜚 morally gray MMC
𝜗𝜚 arranged marriage

˗ˏˋ ꒰ ✉︎ ꒱ ˎˊ˗

First of all, I would like to thank Cranthorpe Millner Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’m honestly a bit disappointed that neither the tagline, “bound to the enemy,” nor one of the announced tropes, “arranged marriage,” actually came to be during this book. I think I would have enjoyed this reading more had I not been waiting for these plot points to happen. This book was also described as a romantasy, but for more than half of it I truly forgot it was supposed to be a fantasy, as the magical aspect was minimal, with only a few scattered mentions of people having powers. Because of this, the first half of the novel felt more like a royal x rebel take on a mafia or dark romance story.

As for the characters, Briar annoyed me for the entirety of the book. Her self-pitying inner monologue was frankly irritating, and her hot-and-cold personality gave me whiplash. I couldn’t pinpoint what her character was meant to be like, as she alternated between a defenseless, cowardly girl with no backbone and a suddenly brave woman, then back to being a coward, all within the same page. It truly felt like she had multiple personalities throughout the book, as if the author couldn’t decide how she wanted Briar to be, which made most of her actions and decisions seem out of place.

Ash, our MMC, felt like a copy-paste of all the other morally conflicted MMCs out there, with nothing that made him stand out. Although I usually like these types of MMCs, for some reason Ash didn’t really work for me, and I found myself rooting for both Axel and Heath over him. I’m not sure if this was meant to be a love triangle, or even a love square, but it ended up feeling like one to me.

Overall, I would recommend Inexplicable to readers who enjoy dark romantasy novels with a stronger focus on romance than fantasy, insta-lust with a slow burn, conflicted main characters, and a politically driven, royalty-focused romance.

•°. ❝ "I've never been good, Briar." "Who said I wanted good?" ❞ *࿐

✎ᝰ. trigger warnings (possible spoilers): death of a parent (off-page), death, murder, kidnapping, abuse, child abuse, violence, torture, war violence, attempted rape

[Holly Herrington]

3.5 to 4 stars

Inexplicable is one of those fantasy debuts that isn’t perfect, but has enough going for it that I’m glad I read it—and I’m definitely curious about what comes next.
The setup is really strong: a kingdom with fading magic, a royal family losing its grip on power, and a princess being pushed into a political marriage she doesn’t want. It starts as court intrigue but slowly shifts into something darker with rebellion, secrets, and blood magic layered in.
Briar is a more subtle main character. She starts off very sheltered (and yes, a little frustrating at times), but her growth feels realistic. It’s less about her suddenly becoming powerful and more about her realizing how much she doesn’t know—and deciding to face that. If you like character-driven stories where the development is gradual and internal, she’s easy to get invested in.
Ash/Kove is honestly a big reason to read this. He’s morally gray, guarded, and a bit unpredictable in a way that keeps things interesting. The dynamic between him and Briar is a true slow burn—like very slow. It’s more tension, mistrust, and quiet moments than outright romance, but if you like that “will they/won’t they” energy, it works.
The worldbuilding has a lot of potential. The ideas around suppressed magic, political control, and hidden history are really interesting, even if not everything is fully explained yet. Some parts feel a little underdeveloped or inconsistent, but it reads like groundwork for a bigger story rather than a complete picture.
One small heads up: the “bound to her enemy” tagline doesn’t quite play out the way it sounds, so I’d go in without expecting a literal magical bond. (Maybe setting up for the next book?)
Overall, I’d recommend this if you like slow-burn romantasy, morally complicated characters, and stories that focus more on emotional tension than nonstop action. It feels very much like a book one (setting things up rather than delivering all the payoff) but it has enough intrigue and character work to make it worth the read. Whether I continue with book two will honestly depend on whether those lingering questions get real answers rather than just more loose threads

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Kate Estcourt for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Leanne]

Inexplicable is an atmospheric, emotionally charged fantasy that blends court politics, forbidden magic, and a quietly simmering romance into a story that feels both intimate and full of consequence. Princess Briar stands at the centre of it all, a young woman pulled between the expectations of a fading royal line and her own longing for independence. Every choice she makes carries weight, not just for her kingdom but for the person she’s becoming.

Briar’s internal struggle is one of the novel’s strongest threads. The pressure to marry for stability is suffocating, yet her desire to carve out a life on her own terms is portrayed with real nuance. When Lord Thornwood enters the picture—enigmatic, magnetic, and undeniably dangerous—the story shifts into darker, more intriguing territory. Their connection is complicated and full of tension, the kind that makes every shared moment feel charged with possibility and risk.

The worldbuilding adds depth without overshadowing the characters. Blood magic, political unrest, and shifting alliances create a sense of instability that mirrors Briar’s personal turmoil. As she uncovers uncomfortable truths about her father’s rule and the cost of peace, the stakes rise in a way that feels organic and compelling. Her bond with Thornwood only heightens that sense of danger, blurring the line between trust and peril.

What lingers is the feeling of a heroine standing on the edge of transformation, knowing that love, power, and sacrifice are about to collide. With war looming and time slipping away, the story sets the stage for a journey that promises even greater challenges ahead.

A darkly romantic, elegantly written fantasy perfect for readers who enjoy political intrigue, morally complex love interests, and heroines learning to claim their own strength.

With thanks to Katie Estcourt, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Kathleen Hoffman]

Thank you to Cranthorpe Millner Publishers and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I’m so on the fence with this one. The beginning had me hooked and while it slowed down a bit throughout, I was still rather interested all the way to the end. I finished this in one sitting. Here’s the problem though…. It felt like a first draft and I’m not talking about punctuation and grammar.

There were so many ideas in this book. That was great for the world building as you really got an in-depth description(s), but not good from an overall concept aspect. When there’s too many ideas, the execution can be sorely lacking. While it wasn’t terrible, a lot of ideas were undeveloped or simply forgotten…. hence the first draft comment.

The highlights of this book: the heroine. She was brave but in a subtle way. She just genuinely wanted what’s best for everyone and that’s very admirable in a FMC. I liked her throughout the entire book.

The not so great part… in addition to the above statement… is it’s very tropey. Think one horse, one bed, grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, etc.. This book had ‘em all. Again though, none of them felt fully developed on the page.

Will I read the next one? I’d like to say yes, but it’ll really depend, because while this was good, it wasn’t good enough for me to jump on the next book.

3 stars… has the potential for more but would need some hefty changes prior to the book releasing.

[emma]

Inexplicable is a fast paced debut fantasy with a delicious slow burn romance and high stakes plot. The writing style is absolutely gorgeous and made it so easy to get lost in the story. I was invested from the very first page and stayed up way past my bedtime to devour it!

What you can expect:
👑 Romantic fantasy
✨ Only one bed
❤️‍🔥 Slow burn romance
💔 Twists and betrayals
⚔️ First in a duology

Briar is such a strong willed FMC, who I absolutely adored! She starts off as a kind, slightly rebellious and yet ignorant princess but throughout the book, she learns some hard truths and slowly adapts to her changing reality. I can tell that her character development is far from over and I cannot wait to see how she grows in the sequel.

Ash is a very intriguing character and I loved how he became so willing to fight for Briar. The romance between them is a beautifully written slow burn where they gradually build trust and get to know one another. I am very excited to see their relationship blossom further in the second installment.

The plot kept me engaged and extremely invested in both the main characters and the side characters (I loved Axel and Heath so much!!).

Inexplicable is such an incredible romantasy and I absolutely adored it! It is definitely one of my favourite reads of the year so far and I am in desperate need of Inevitable (the second book, which I will INEVITABLY love).

Thank you to Cranthorpe Millner Publishers for sending me a copy of the book!

[andshe.reads]

I'm sorry, & excuse insensitive language but where the F#@K are the 5 star reviews at because Inexplicable just made it to the top of my favourite reads this year. Oh & excuse me whilst I sit & sob silently knowing I have to wait for the sequal 😭

This was an outstanding debut romantasy that follows Briar 👸 who is torn between political duty & personal freedom. She becomes captured & her journey begins amid a backdrop of magic, war & betrayal.

I adored Briar, I felt her struggles so deeply, that marriage for duty vs autonomy is relatable in so many different ways. Her strength was admirable & I can't wait to see how things pan out for her in the sequal.

In my opinion, Estcourt really set the tone, I sensed a strong, moody, dark & atmospheric setting throughout which went well with the storyline & characters.

There's some well loved tropes featured -

Political intrigued
Enemies to lovers
Dark magic / blood magic
Personal desire vs Royal honour/duty

Inexplicable is a trope-rich romantasy with high stakes, emotional elements & a deep dark immersive setting. I for one highly recommend to all fantasy / romantasy lovers especially those who enjoy the magical element.

Thank you to Cranthorpe Millner Publishing for a copy of the book.

[Elena Vasile]

I will start by saying I bought this as ‘Blind date with a book’.

I nearly DNF’ed the book, there are a few things that really made me question whether to carry on or not:
- the world building is simple, easy to follow but nothing mind blowing
- the magic system is non-existent, people have powers, maybe just royalty and then you find out that it’s not the case
- the UK book has not been proofread properly
- the story stretches at times unnaturally to fit around tropes. It feels like it was planned by the tropes first and made to fit
- the emotion is lacking through the dialogue, it is just explained in Briar’s inner monologue, which made me quite disconnected from their story and the characters
- it suddenly turns into Cinderella goes to the ball, complete with magical outfit, chariot, ‘fairy’ godfather character and midnight curfew
- the twist at the end is weak, a lot feels again stretched unnaturally and it does not feel convincing
- I am not sure even at the end why it’s called Inexplicable and why the cover mentions ‘Tied to the throne, bound to the enemy’. But maybe that is just me missing something?!

Having said all of this, it is a debut book, which is what convinced me to continue to the end and then give it 2 stars, rather than 1.

[Emma]

Review of advanced copy received from NetGalley

3.5 ⭐'s - Inexplicable is a dark romantasy debut following Princess Briar, who is trapped between royal duty and her own desire for freedom. With her family’s power fading and her kingdom at risk, Briar is expected to marry for political security, but everything becomes far more complicated when the mysterious Lord Thornwood enters her life.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere, romantic tension and darker magical elements in this.

Briar’s struggle between duty and independence gave the story an interesting angle and the romance had that dangerous, secretive pull that works so well in romantasy.

I did want a little more depth from the worldbuilding and side characters, as some parts felt like they were setting up more than fully developing everything here, but as book one of a duology it definitely kept me interested.

Overall, this was a strong and very readable debut! I’ll definitely be interested to see where Briar’s story goes next.

[Elena Zinonos]

What a dark, atmospheric world I’ve been travelling in the last few days. The story is a blend of political intrigue and blood magic. I forgot to mention this is a debut novel.

The story begins with Princess Briar, who is the main character, getting ready to attend an evening tailored to her with the bound to find her suitor for the best future of Eltheria. During this time, she meets the forbidden fruit Lord Thornwood, who isn’t approved by her father, because this is not a great strategic move to merge the Eltheriaa kingdom with another strong kingdom, either. Add tension and slow-burning chemistry to spark the fire.

Towards the end, the characters are facing challenges. Memories are rising to the surface, and a well-hidden secret is finally in the open. The main character shows no shock when she remembers with a bit of help the secret.

I don’t want to give out much because this book is worth reading. It’s an enjoyable book with an addictive pacing. I can’t wait for the second book in the duology.

[Rose]

[ ARC REVIEW ]

It wasn’t bad. I just have so many issues with the characters and story that it was constantly taking me out of it. For example, she needs to marry for an alliance. But they throw a whole ball so she can “choose” her new husband? Except really her father will only approve of one man( a prince) because, as previously mentioned, the whole point is that they need an alliance. So why not just make a deal and marry her off to the prince and not make such a fuss about it?

The MMC’s deal he made with the devil for his mother is sad and all but… surely he’s not that stupid? I mean it’s outrageous.

And the whole book everyone is making the FMC feel like trash because she hadn’t done anything to help the kingdom. Bruh. She’s a princess. She was literally being married off against her will. And you think she could’ve saved her people? Leave the poor girl alone.

Among other things. But I really wanted it to get better. The romance really seemed to come on abruptly even if you knew it would happen. But the MMC randomly goes from complete jerk to sensitive nice guy in .02 seconds.

Overall I wasn’t a fan and will likely not stick around for book 2. I am grateful to the publisher for approving me and allowing me to give it a chance.

[Beth’s Book Corner]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Firstly, i was very grateful to receive an ARC of Inexplicable from NetGalley

I found this book really easy to get into and the world felt engaging from the start which made it a quick and enjoyable read.
I liked a lot of the chatacters and found them easy to connect with, although at times the relationships felt like they were a bit rushed and built on a bit of blind trust, where I would have liked to have seen them build stronger foundations.
The story flowed well and kept me intrigued, even if some parts felt a little predictable and tropey.
Overall, a nice read and I would happily read on in the series.

[Beki W]

The ending is CRIMINAL!!!! HOW can you end it on such a cliffhanger! Eager to find out what happens next and really enjoyed reading this one!!

Tropes;
🐎🛌one bed/ one horse- you know im a sucker for that.
🗡enemies to lovers
💔Betrayals and twists and turns galore.

Yes one part made me cry. Extra points for that.

Loved the two main characters together as well. Absolute swoooon. The emotional connection- top tier, what i love to see in a romantasy 🤩

The only thing that really urked me is the editor really did the author dirty. Shocking proof reading and so many mistakes which really took away from the amazing story thats been written. Made me wanna rage and also cry for the author.

[Kasey Connors-Beron]

I received an ARC of Inexplicable thanks to the publisher through NetGalley and leave this review voluntarily.

I enjoyed reading Inexplicable. I like the power concept and how everything is explained. It is very much a show, not tell type of writing, which I love. There were few points that felt like they dragged, instead it felt like there was something happening at every turn. The internal conflict in the love interest is wonderful portrayed and it made me love the character. I cannot wait for book 2.

[Melissa]

Don't you just hate it when the man your father hasn't picked to be a potential suitor (but you did) ends up being part of a plot to destroy your kingdom?

I was invested in knowing what was up with Ash and his hatred and reactions that I had to keep reading.

I enjoyed how the story unfolded, with different reveals throughout.

I felt there were a few small areas that were overexplanatory and the compulsion didn't feel consistent.

I can't wait to read book two in the duology to see where this goes.

(ARC provided by NetGalley)

[Jo ♡]

Thank you so much to the Publisher and Author for this ARC.

BOOKS LIKE THIS IS WHY I READ, TOP KNOTCH ROMANTASY!!

All I can say is WOW, WOW, WOW! If I could rate it 6 stars I would! this is probably going to be my top read of 2026!!
Devoured this book in 2days, I couldn't put it down.
It made me laugh, cry, shock, and was a hell or a ride. This story will live rent free in my head.
I need book 2 ASAP, it was just too good!!
thank you again, it was an honour to read and will never stop hyping!!!

[Joanne]

This is Katie's first published book. The cover is gorgeous! The plot is an interesting one with twists and turns and there's some great characters to discover. Greed for power is a big theme and the people's need for a fairer world is too. Princess Briar is a lonely sheltered girl who discovers the world is not as good and happy as she was led to believe. When she realises the injustice in her kingdom she vows to fight to make things a lot better for her countrymen. How can you not root for her with that attitude? I'm really looking forward to book 2.

[Dharika]

Thank you Netgalley for giving me an ARC of this book!

This is a really great fantasy romance book that I devoured in a day. It was very easy to read and digest and you were very quickly hooked and captured by Briar's story. It is an enemies to lovers, slowwwwwww burn romance.

This is also a fantastic book for someone to read who is new to the genre or would like to try a fantasy romance book with political intrigue at least for book 1, a more plot driven book rather than romance driven.

[Brittany]

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book had a good premise. We have a girl that has to get married to save her kingdom, a controlling father and a handsome lord. I was just disappointed in the story. We spend most of the book as the Princess learning to be strong and in the end she does nothing to save herself. It was very frustrating. I was just not a fan in the end.

[Charlotte]

Thank you so much for the ARC of this book!

For a debut Romantasy , this was really very good! I enjoyed the plot and I genuinely look forward to the second book. No spice and this is going to be the slowest of slow burns but I enjoy that!

My only criticism is that with this being a first-person pov, the lack of contraction words (won’t / don’t) so it didn’t read as informally. It’s a very small criticism and otherwise a very enjoyable book!

[Ashley (ashbash_92)]

atmospheric, emotionally charged with a blend politics, forbidden magic, a simmering romance into a story that feels both intimate and consequential . Princess Briar stands at the centre of this story, a young woman pulled between the expectations of her role and her own independence. Every choice she makes carries weight, not just for her kingdom but for the person she’s becoming.

I love this story, the world building, the writing and can’t wait to see where we go next

[Jessica Lee]

Thanks so much to Cranthorpe Millner for a E-Arc of the book.

I really enjoyed reading this book, the length was just right for the first book in a romantasy duology and what an amazing debut novel for the author.

I read this book in just a few sittings as it was very engaging.

It has some of my favourite tropes of slow-burn romance and enemies to lovers.

If you love a good romantasy book, you will love this. I can't wait to read book 2!

[Sinead Smith]

A fresh take on a captor-captive narrative and with yearning that makes you want the best outcome for the main characters. I liked the emotive language used to describe the naivety of the FMC who is sheltered and learning how to come into her own power and control her own destiny. A great little read and a good pallet cleanser for the more hefty novels that are part of a romantasy series out there. Excited for book 2!

[Maddy Crawley]

An addictive romantasy debut with stunning writing, compelling characters, and a romance that burns at just the right pace. The plot is packed with tension, surprises, and emotional moments that kept me hooked throughout. A beautifully crafted fantasy that’s incredibly easy to lose yourself in. Can’t wait for the next book!