What do you think?
Rate this book
The Regressor King
Death, Paradise, and the gods themselves–all rejected for the sake of love.
When King James Kronenscheld dies at the hands of the Demon King, he thinks his suffering is finally over and he can join his Edwin in Paradise. And, hey, at least he’d taken the Demon King with him, right?
But then the gods try to send James to Paradise WITHOUT his Edwin, and that is simply unfathomable. So he does the unthinkable–he turns it down and negotiates for one more chance to fix his mistakes.
Armed with memories and regrets, James regresses to before he was crowned. He is determined to woo the man he lost, even if it means facing down all his previous failures. For Edwin alone will James face Wraths and plagues, court politics, and demon kings. He will avoid the horrors of the crown and attain Paradise for them both.
Failing this time means losing Edwin forever. And that is not an option.
Romantasy, High fantasy, M/M romance, inspired heavily by webtoons, calling all hop on board, this ship is about to sail!, remember to take water and bathroom breaks, don’t start this book at 8pm, time regression, fated love, reluctant ruler, PTSD, hurt/comfort, both characters are near 30, Paradise without Edwin isn’t paradise to James, competence is sexy, so says James, power couple, Edwin finds Prince James very strange, and rightfully so, Victor has climbed to the very top of the shitty life decisions tree and was hitting every branch on the way down, Helena is a BAMF princess, Royce is a pharmacologist but make it medieval, James doesn’t want the throne, no seriously, stop asking him to take it, the gods play favorites, heavy is the crown, James wishes he’d paid better attention to details the first go around, that’s currently biting him, demon portals are a pain, horse lovers unite, Titan is best horse ever, Edwin realizes his Task in this life, Edwin has no problem unaliving James’s ex, buying books is a love language
MM Romance, Regression, High Fantasy, Fated Love, Demon King, Reluctant Ruler, Hurt/Comfort
When King James Kronenscheld dies at the hands of the Demon King, he thinks his suffering is finally over and he can join his Edwin in Paradise. And, hey, at least he’d taken the Demon King with him, right?
But then the gods try to send James to Paradise WITHOUT his Edwin, and that is simply unfathomable. So he does the unthinkable–he turns it down and negotiates for one more chance to fix his mistakes.
Armed with memories and regrets, James regresses to before he was crowned. He is determined to woo the man he lost, even if it means facing down all his previous failures. For Edwin alone will James face Wraths and plagues, court politics, and demon kings. He will avoid the horrors of the crown and attain Paradise for them both.
Failing this time means losing Edwin forever. And that is not an option.
Romantasy, High fantasy, M/M romance, inspired heavily by webtoons, calling all hop on board, this ship is about to sail!, remember to take water and bathroom breaks, don’t start this book at 8pm, time regression, fated love, reluctant ruler, PTSD, hurt/comfort, both characters are near 30, Paradise without Edwin isn’t paradise to James, competence is sexy, so says James, power couple, Edwin finds Prince James very strange, and rightfully so, Victor has climbed to the very top of the shitty life decisions tree and was hitting every branch on the way down, Helena is a BAMF princess, Royce is a pharmacologist but make it medieval, James doesn’t want the throne, no seriously, stop asking him to take it, the gods play favorites, heavy is the crown, James wishes he’d paid better attention to details the first go around, that’s currently biting him, demon portals are a pain, horse lovers unite, Titan is best horse ever, Edwin realizes his Task in this life, Edwin has no problem unaliving James’s ex, buying books is a love language
MM Romance, Regression, High Fantasy, Fated Love, Demon King, Reluctant Ruler, Hurt/Comfort
762 pages, Paperback
First published February 10, 2026
113 people are currently reading
2662 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Sherwood
83 books2,074 followersAJ Sherwood believes in happily ever afters, magic, dragons, good men, and dark chocolate. She often dreams at night of delectable men doing sexy things with each other. In between writing multiple books (often at the same time) she pets her cats, plays with her dogs, and attempts insane things like aerial yoga.
She currently resides in Tennessee with aforementioned cats, dogs, and her editor/best friend/sister/partner in crime.
She currently resides in Tennessee with aforementioned cats, dogs, and her editor/best friend/sister/partner in crime.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
February 9, 2026
2.5 stars for The Regressor King, a story with an intriguing premise, but one that is ultimately too long and too cozy to live up to it. This book opens with King James dying in the last moments of battle with a Demon King after a decade long war. Upon reaching the afterlife, James declines entering Paradise in favor of reliving his life in order to be reunited with Edwin, the love of his life. The opening of the book was a great set up and seemed to kickstart a book of intrigue, politics, and efforts to change fate. In actuality, this book is a cozy, quick burn romance that is easily twice the length needed.
Due to the fact that James is reinserted into his life at age 27, just before he is due to meet Edwin, with all his memories intact, we are given a protagonist that knows everything, can think of everything, and is always one step ahead. At about 30% of the book we learn that the events from his first life won’t follow the exact timeline in round two, but this isn’t really enough to bring any level of tension to the story. For the most part, this is a book about a man reliving his life and fixing all the small and large mistakes that made him unhappy the first time around. Consequently, there is not much political intrigue as James knows how people will react and what caused problems the first time around, we don’t get to see the two main characters fall in love because James is already in love and Edwin’s soul remembers they love each other, and the stakes are low as the gods have already intervened and told the characters they are sure to get it right this time around.
Even with those flaws though, this is an easy read. If you love unceasing devotion in your main romantic leads and cozy, everyday type of love (even if it is happening with royals in a palace), this is the book for you. Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the ARC.
Due to the fact that James is reinserted into his life at age 27, just before he is due to meet Edwin, with all his memories intact, we are given a protagonist that knows everything, can think of everything, and is always one step ahead. At about 30% of the book we learn that the events from his first life won’t follow the exact timeline in round two, but this isn’t really enough to bring any level of tension to the story. For the most part, this is a book about a man reliving his life and fixing all the small and large mistakes that made him unhappy the first time around. Consequently, there is not much political intrigue as James knows how people will react and what caused problems the first time around, we don’t get to see the two main characters fall in love because James is already in love and Edwin’s soul remembers they love each other, and the stakes are low as the gods have already intervened and told the characters they are sure to get it right this time around.
Even with those flaws though, this is an easy read. If you love unceasing devotion in your main romantic leads and cozy, everyday type of love (even if it is happening with royals in a palace), this is the book for you. Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the ARC.
February 22, 2026
Somewhere between 2 and 3🌟
I find it hard to rate this story. I loved the idea of the overall storyline. The MM romance, the king who chooses to do his life over, all in the name of love. The characters were very loveable also did the side characters. You could read the author put a lot of hard work in her characters and their feelings so as a reader you felt them to.
Were it fell flat for me was that the pace. It was super slow and the book was massive (800+). So a lot of the time it felt like a struggle and hard work to get through it. And I dont want to feel that when reading a book. Also when there was a hardship or struggle to overcome, when you hoped for anxiety and tension, it didn’t came. It was resolved in a heartbeat.
So overall conclusion it wasn't for me. I would recommend it to readers who love a slow paced love story without to many tension.
I find it hard to rate this story. I loved the idea of the overall storyline. The MM romance, the king who chooses to do his life over, all in the name of love. The characters were very loveable also did the side characters. You could read the author put a lot of hard work in her characters and their feelings so as a reader you felt them to.
Were it fell flat for me was that the pace. It was super slow and the book was massive (800+). So a lot of the time it felt like a struggle and hard work to get through it. And I dont want to feel that when reading a book. Also when there was a hardship or struggle to overcome, when you hoped for anxiety and tension, it didn’t came. It was resolved in a heartbeat.
So overall conclusion it wasn't for me. I would recommend it to readers who love a slow paced love story without to many tension.
February 9, 2026
Thank you for the ARC!
I was disappointed by this one I won’t lie. I’m giving this 2 stars just because I can totally see what this book was trying to be but.. it didn’t really do anything for me. The main issue I felt with this book is that moments felt extremely rushed and then there was nothing of interest happening for the next few hundred pages. It felt like every single conflict that showed up was immediately solved with absolutely no tension, I never once felt like the characters could fail at something. Everything was solved so quickly and effortlessly it just got boring by the nth time of something going ‘wrong’ and then with no effort just being fixed. I wish it expanded more on the world building because the whole thing with Gods was the most interesting part but I felt like any significant world building was just glossed over. Honestly the characters… I don’t know, I didn’t really catch the chemistry because from the getgo we were told they were sooo in love so it was just told yet I never once felt it from anything. It felt like very stale. The writing was… really not my style, yet I pushed through it all. It felt very simple and at some point I felt like it was written like a story from like 5th grade. The apparent spicy scenes were… not that good either. I don’t know, maybe from the fact I didn’t feel the chemistry.
Overall, I think the idea of it was something I appreciated but it just fell extremely flat.
I was disappointed by this one I won’t lie. I’m giving this 2 stars just because I can totally see what this book was trying to be but.. it didn’t really do anything for me. The main issue I felt with this book is that moments felt extremely rushed and then there was nothing of interest happening for the next few hundred pages. It felt like every single conflict that showed up was immediately solved with absolutely no tension, I never once felt like the characters could fail at something. Everything was solved so quickly and effortlessly it just got boring by the nth time of something going ‘wrong’ and then with no effort just being fixed. I wish it expanded more on the world building because the whole thing with Gods was the most interesting part but I felt like any significant world building was just glossed over. Honestly the characters… I don’t know, I didn’t really catch the chemistry because from the getgo we were told they were sooo in love so it was just told yet I never once felt it from anything. It felt like very stale. The writing was… really not my style, yet I pushed through it all. It felt very simple and at some point I felt like it was written like a story from like 5th grade. The apparent spicy scenes were… not that good either. I don’t know, maybe from the fact I didn’t feel the chemistry.
Overall, I think the idea of it was something I appreciated but it just fell extremely flat.
April 7, 2026
Book Review: The Regressor King by A.J. Sherwood
The Regressor King by A.J. Sherwood is a high fantasy romance built around second chances, memory, and the kind of love that refuses to accept loss. The story begins with King James Kronenscheld, who dies after defeating the Demon King, believing that at last he will be reunited with Edwin in the afterlife. But when the gods deny him that reunion, James makes an impossible choice, he rejects paradise itself and demands another chance to live his life over again.
Thrown back to a time before his coronation, James now carries all the memories of his past mistakes, regrets, and losses. This time, his goal is clear: change everything. He is determined to protect Edwin, win his love again, and avoid the path that led to tragedy. But rewriting fate is not simple. Court politics, looming threats, and the same dangers that once destroyed his future still exist and James must navigate them carefully while pretending to be a man who hasn’t already lived it all.
At the heart of the story is the evolving relationship between James and Edwin. What makes their dynamic compelling is the imbalance of knowledge. James remembers everything, while Edwin is meeting him for the first time. This creates a mix of tenderness, urgency, and quiet tension, as James tries to guide events without revealing too much. Their connection feels both fated and fragile, shaped by choices that now carry even more weight the second time around.
Beyond the romance, the book leans into classic fantasy elements: political intrigue, divine interference, and the lingering threat of the Demon King. There are also strong supporting characters, including figures like Victor, Helena, and Royce, who add depth to the world and reflect different sides of loyalty, ambition, and consequence. The narrative balances these external conflicts with James’s internal struggle, how to carry the burden of knowing what’s coming without breaking under it.
Overall, The Regressor King is a character-driven romantasy that blends time regression with emotional stakes. It’s about love that endures beyond death, and the question of whether knowing the future is a gift or a weight.
If you enjoy stories with second chances, slow-burn emotional tension, and a mix of fantasy and romance, this one offers an immersive and heartfelt journey.
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Regressor King by A.J. Sherwood is a high fantasy romance built around second chances, memory, and the kind of love that refuses to accept loss. The story begins with King James Kronenscheld, who dies after defeating the Demon King, believing that at last he will be reunited with Edwin in the afterlife. But when the gods deny him that reunion, James makes an impossible choice, he rejects paradise itself and demands another chance to live his life over again.
Thrown back to a time before his coronation, James now carries all the memories of his past mistakes, regrets, and losses. This time, his goal is clear: change everything. He is determined to protect Edwin, win his love again, and avoid the path that led to tragedy. But rewriting fate is not simple. Court politics, looming threats, and the same dangers that once destroyed his future still exist and James must navigate them carefully while pretending to be a man who hasn’t already lived it all.
At the heart of the story is the evolving relationship between James and Edwin. What makes their dynamic compelling is the imbalance of knowledge. James remembers everything, while Edwin is meeting him for the first time. This creates a mix of tenderness, urgency, and quiet tension, as James tries to guide events without revealing too much. Their connection feels both fated and fragile, shaped by choices that now carry even more weight the second time around.
Beyond the romance, the book leans into classic fantasy elements: political intrigue, divine interference, and the lingering threat of the Demon King. There are also strong supporting characters, including figures like Victor, Helena, and Royce, who add depth to the world and reflect different sides of loyalty, ambition, and consequence. The narrative balances these external conflicts with James’s internal struggle, how to carry the burden of knowing what’s coming without breaking under it.
Overall, The Regressor King is a character-driven romantasy that blends time regression with emotional stakes. It’s about love that endures beyond death, and the question of whether knowing the future is a gift or a weight.
If you enjoy stories with second chances, slow-burn emotional tension, and a mix of fantasy and romance, this one offers an immersive and heartfelt journey.
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
February 17, 2026
I had the pleasure of receiving this beautiful book and absolutely loved it!! The build up was great! Had a great story line and loved the characters. It drew me in from the very beginning the end. This was my first time reading this Author and she did not disappoint and can’t wait to read more!!
“Death, Paradise, and the gods themselves–all rejected for the sake of love.
When King James Kronenscheld dies at the hands of the Demon King, he thinks his suffering is finally over and he can join his Edwin in Paradise. And, hey, at least he’d taken the Demon King with him, right?
But then the gods try to send James to Paradise WITHOUT his Edwin, and that is simply unfathomable. So he does the unthinkable–he turns it down and negotiates for one more chance to fix his mistakes.
Armed with memories and regrets, James regresses to before he was crowned. He is determined to woo the man he lost, even if it means facing down all his previous failures. For Edwin alone will James face Wraths and plagues, court politics, and demon kings. He will avoid the horrors of the crown and attain Paradise for them both.
Failing this time means losing Edwin forever. And that is not an option.”
“Death, Paradise, and the gods themselves–all rejected for the sake of love.
When King James Kronenscheld dies at the hands of the Demon King, he thinks his suffering is finally over and he can join his Edwin in Paradise. And, hey, at least he’d taken the Demon King with him, right?
But then the gods try to send James to Paradise WITHOUT his Edwin, and that is simply unfathomable. So he does the unthinkable–he turns it down and negotiates for one more chance to fix his mistakes.
Armed with memories and regrets, James regresses to before he was crowned. He is determined to woo the man he lost, even if it means facing down all his previous failures. For Edwin alone will James face Wraths and plagues, court politics, and demon kings. He will avoid the horrors of the crown and attain Paradise for them both.
Failing this time means losing Edwin forever. And that is not an option.”
March 21, 2026
A reincarnation/back in time/do over story. I liked the two MC, they went well together. I liked that it wasn't just a do over with everything happening exactly the same. There were challenges thrown in there to make it more interesting. James and Edwin were sweet together. I liked Helena as well. The villian was easy to hate and i like that it showed that even the strongest of people can be abused and mentally worn down. (off page, alluded to). Interesting world where the gods/goddesses are more involved in lives than just a mysterious figure you worship with no return on that worship.
February 10, 2026
This was a great second chance story. I love stories where a character is “reborn” and is able to fix their mistakes. The characters are well written, even the absolute worst ones. I love how the relationships between James and the various characters develop this time around. The pacing is good. There is a buildup to the ending and it doesn’t feel rushed.
February 12, 2026
Conflicted! A great story line with a second chance at romance through rebirth (kinda) where James gets to redo part of his life to get his love. Edwin who has always loved James, falls in love this time around. Together they tackle the threats their kingdom faces successfully several times over. Having said that, the book was too long to not explain the workings of the world and not include some actual challenges. I liked it but "Legends of Lobe deb Herren" will still be my favourite.
February 11, 2026
✨️I received this as an early review copy. These opinions are mine alone. ✨️
This was a great second chance love story. You knew there would be a happy ending by the end because it was deemed so by the God's from the very first chapter of the book. This had the makings to be a great read, but fell flat because of the lack of any form of tension or real conflict. It was evident from the beginning that every thing would go exactly as James wanted.
The writing was great in this, it just lacked complexity. With a book this length you would generally expect page after page of tension or unknowns, but since this was deemed to be an HEA from page 1, you didn't get that.
There was wonderful world building, the characters were great and I truly loved the idea of this story, but I think it would have made a larger impact as a fast paced novella. As a novella this would have definitely hit the mark and been a 5 star read. The almost 600 pages of this book was just page after page of James reliving his life and fixing everything he felt he did wrong, with generally no issues. He just knew what was going to be wrong and exactly how to fix it, so there was no tension, not really any conflict and even the love story went straight from 0 to 100 with no real effort. I think that maybe if he hadn't retained ed his memories of his previous life and just felt the sould deep love he had for Edwin, (like Edwin, he didn't remember anything, just felt in his soul that he was meant to be with James.) this would have been worlds different. I think it would have made the impact the author was going for.
All in all, I enjoyed this book, it was an easy to read, easy to follow story line that had worlds of potential.
⭐️ 3/5
This was a great second chance love story. You knew there would be a happy ending by the end because it was deemed so by the God's from the very first chapter of the book. This had the makings to be a great read, but fell flat because of the lack of any form of tension or real conflict. It was evident from the beginning that every thing would go exactly as James wanted.
The writing was great in this, it just lacked complexity. With a book this length you would generally expect page after page of tension or unknowns, but since this was deemed to be an HEA from page 1, you didn't get that.
There was wonderful world building, the characters were great and I truly loved the idea of this story, but I think it would have made a larger impact as a fast paced novella. As a novella this would have definitely hit the mark and been a 5 star read. The almost 600 pages of this book was just page after page of James reliving his life and fixing everything he felt he did wrong, with generally no issues. He just knew what was going to be wrong and exactly how to fix it, so there was no tension, not really any conflict and even the love story went straight from 0 to 100 with no real effort. I think that maybe if he hadn't retained ed his memories of his previous life and just felt the sould deep love he had for Edwin, (like Edwin, he didn't remember anything, just felt in his soul that he was meant to be with James.) this would have been worlds different. I think it would have made the impact the author was going for.
All in all, I enjoyed this book, it was an easy to read, easy to follow story line that had worlds of potential.
⭐️ 3/5
May 3, 2026
I do love how he tries to change things and how he creates relationships with his brother and sister, also how he tries to help as many people as possible.
Oh, how I loved the way he put that bitch queen in her place! I wish he would have slapped her, but honestly, it was better he didn't even touch her, he "slapped" her with his words! 🎆 🎇 🔥👌🤯
From the start this reminded me of that season in Sailor Moon where only she had her memories and Mamoru did not and he did not understand why she was pursuing him so much. It was exactly the same situation here, same heartbreak when the person you love does not recognize you and rejects you. That part was heartbreaking, but also so beautiful to see them fall in love again. It also reminded me of the movie What Dreams may come, where he went down to hell to find his soulmate again and he also found her again in a new life. I love that so much.
Oh, how I loved the way he put that bitch queen in her place! I wish he would have slapped her, but honestly, it was better he didn't even touch her, he "slapped" her with his words! 🎆 🎇 🔥👌🤯
From the start this reminded me of that season in Sailor Moon where only she had her memories and Mamoru did not and he did not understand why she was pursuing him so much. It was exactly the same situation here, same heartbreak when the person you love does not recognize you and rejects you. That part was heartbreaking, but also so beautiful to see them fall in love again. It also reminded me of the movie What Dreams may come, where he went down to hell to find his soulmate again and he also found her again in a new life. I love that so much.
February 14, 2026
Delightful
From word go this book delights and surprises. This power couple is #goals and love the whole world of gods, magic, and responsible leadership. Sherwood is at the height of their powers with this one., delightful premise, characters, and world building.
From word go this book delights and surprises. This power couple is #goals and love the whole world of gods, magic, and responsible leadership. Sherwood is at the height of their powers with this one., delightful premise, characters, and world building.
February 28, 2026
I must confess that I was leery at first that I would enjoy this as it starts off very dark and grim....but the concept of a second chance with full knowledge was an intriguing one. Sherwood delivers on the concept and adds in flair, romance and a few twists to keep readers on their toes. This was a very enjoyable read, highly recommended.
April 24, 2026
Plain, bald, pale, dishwater with the charisma of a Dissociative identity disorder (DID) patient.
Of 600 books, this is one of three I gave 1 star. (Until now.)
Bulletpoints: [In Jeremy Clarkson's voice]
This time in: "Overly-Comprehensive-Reviews-Of-Ruined-Books---The-Show!"
James has regressed in mental capacity.
'The Author' infantilizes his audience.
'The Publisher' may be at fault for crunching him.
'A Guy asked: "What, why 'B'?", when it was 'A' one second earlier.
'Red Herrings' are fished and released.
'Unrealistic Caricatures' are rampantly used as template-evil-characters. (Three. ,. Maybe. Four. ,. Fucking. Times. !.)
Luigi The 'Main Character' does nothing and wins bossfight.
...
*your screen flickers ominously*
...
There is a EXTREMELY HUGE disconnect between what the Author tells us about the protagonists (That they are highly intelligent and competent problem solvers.) and what they are doing and saying. ("... you're incredibly competent. You can run this kingdom blindfolded!" - some 𝓼𝓾𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓶𝓮 𝓭𝓾𝓭𝓮 says to Edwin, as an example.)
James and Edwin become quite stupid a lot of times; When the Author either writes himself in a corner or just wanted the conflict extended at any costs.
He either needed them to forget something that was ultra-important literally a-couple-seconds before , or he needs them to stay in the dark for a while longer so that the conflict stretches over the WHOLE BOOK into THE SECOND ONE, EVEN though they should really be figuring stuff out left and right, having plans upon plans upon plans, or they should be doing stuff their character demands; But aren't; Because; Author; Or; Publisher; Lazy.
It is also weirdly hard to determine what the magitechnological level of advancement is, to compare it to our timeline. I believe the book plays in something like very late Victorian England, with cars and gas lamps, so maybe 1890? About when the "The Time Machine" (2002 movie) plays. But at the same time, it reads like mid-medieval times, which is confusing.
But! It is also a creative turn on things. So it is a neutral point: I like it, but less confusion would be better.
The big problems come after Chapter 55. (Or I started paying attention to the problems at that point.) I think the Author was in a time crunch for the rest of the book. A publisher shouldn't force their ARTISTS to churn out slop. Publishing ART should be about ART primary, and money secondary.
But I don't know what went wrong. Maybe the Author was just lazy with this one. He does write a lot. ("Crunch, crunch, crunch... Mhmm! These Art-crumbles taste like profit!" - John Publisher)
James and Edwin are so competent and intelligent all the other times we hear people talk about them. But they act so, sooo stupid.
When it comes to the conflict, cheap conflict is more important for the Author than congruity of/and character. This destroys a book for me. This is this typical, almost unanimously used "forced-conflict" I hate so much. When an Author wants a big and/or long conflict in his book but has either no time or ideas and he just uses the next best thing to really force it through, stretch it goooood loooong, regardless of damage to characters, logic, story, consistency, etc...
This isn't entertaining to someone who can think! (Everyone). Not as much as it could be!
The Author infantilizes his audience. Maybe for compatibility purposes? (Broadening the audience...) It's bad.
Of 600 books, this is one of three I gave 1 star. (Until now.)
Bulletpoints: [In Jeremy Clarkson's voice]
This time in: "Overly-Comprehensive-Reviews-Of-Ruined-Books---The-Show!"
James has regressed in mental capacity.
'The Author' infantilizes his audience.
'The Publisher' may be at fault for crunching him.
'A Guy asked: "What, why 'B'?", when it was 'A' one second earlier.
'Red Herrings' are fished and released.
'Unrealistic Caricatures' are rampantly used as template-evil-characters. (Three. ,. Maybe. Four. ,. Fucking. Times. !.)
...
*your screen flickers ominously*
...
There is a EXTREMELY HUGE disconnect between what the Author tells us about the protagonists (That they are highly intelligent and competent problem solvers.) and what they are doing and saying. ("... you're incredibly competent. You can run this kingdom blindfolded!" - some 𝓼𝓾𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓶𝓮 𝓭𝓾𝓭𝓮 says to Edwin, as an example.)
James and Edwin become quite stupid a lot of times; When the Author either writes himself in a corner or just wanted the conflict extended at any costs.
He either needed them to forget something that was ultra-important literally a-couple-seconds before , or he needs them to stay in the dark for a while longer so that the conflict stretches over the WHOLE BOOK into THE SECOND ONE, EVEN though they should really be figuring stuff out left and right, having plans upon plans upon plans, or they should be doing stuff their character demands; But aren't; Because; Author; Or; Publisher; Lazy.
It is also weirdly hard to determine what the magitechnological level of advancement is, to compare it to our timeline. I believe the book plays in something like very late Victorian England, with cars and gas lamps, so maybe 1890? About when the "The Time Machine" (2002 movie) plays. But at the same time, it reads like mid-medieval times, which is confusing.
But! It is also a creative turn on things. So it is a neutral point: I like it, but less confusion would be better.
The big problems come after Chapter 55. (Or I started paying attention to the problems at that point.) I think the Author was in a time crunch for the rest of the book. A publisher shouldn't force their ARTISTS to churn out slop. Publishing ART should be about ART primary, and money secondary.
But I don't know what went wrong. Maybe the Author was just lazy with this one. He does write a lot. ("Crunch, crunch, crunch... Mhmm! These Art-crumbles taste like profit!" - John Publisher)
James and Edwin are so competent and intelligent all the other times we hear people talk about them. But they act so, sooo stupid.
When it comes to the conflict, cheap conflict is more important for the Author than congruity of/and character. This destroys a book for me. This is this typical, almost unanimously used "forced-conflict" I hate so much. When an Author wants a big and/or long conflict in his book but has either no time or ideas and he just uses the next best thing to really force it through, stretch it goooood loooong, regardless of damage to characters, logic, story, consistency, etc...
This isn't entertaining to someone who can think! (Everyone). Not as much as it could be!
The Author infantilizes his audience. Maybe for compatibility purposes? (Broadening the audience...) It's bad.
February 13, 2026
A big book, with lots of characters. The good guys are nice, sweet and adorable, and smart and heroic too; the bad guys are stupid nasty, and deserved to be booed and hissed like pantomime villains. The star of the book is, of course, the horse; who in a throwaway line we learnt had a pet cat - an entire promising story line wasted. The book is far too weighty to have a place on my comfort read shelf (where many of Ms Sherwood’s works live), but I expect I’ll happily reread it in the future.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Safety info, content warnings and tropes down below.
I was pretty intimidated by the length of this book when I got it, but I’m so glad I read it anyway. This was full of the usual low-angst sweetness you get with AJ Sherwood, two different main characters who fit together perfectly, some great world-building and possibly the coolest concept I've read in a really long time. The blurb fully sold me and it delivered. I even teared up a couple times, even though it’s generally low angst and fun at times.
It did lose steam a bit at times – it’s not easy to keep things going for that many pages – but it picked up again fairly quickly when it did. Things just went a bit too smoothly most of the time to keep the tension high through such a long story. I think my only other critique is that the switch from not being together to having wall-banging sex was a tad quick, and even that does make sense in the plot. The switch from slow burn was just a bit whiplash-y, lol.
Speaking of wall-banging sex, it’s not high spice, but I enjoyed what was there. The dynamic between the characters was great in and out of the bedroom.
New-ish words and phrases like 'body count' and 'fuck around and find out' were used, which I must admit affected my immersion in the story, as it suddenly felt very contemporary in a fantasy novel.
Would definitely recommend if you enjoy these things.
Thank you to the author for the ARC!
Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
High fantasy
World map
Time regression
Fated love
Reluctant ruler
Hurt/comfort
Yearning
PTSD
Court politics
Size difference
Low spice
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Themes of war and death
PTSD symptoms (insomnia, nightmares, losing time, hypervigilance)
On-page graphic violence
Details of past mortal injury to MC
Mentions of mass deaths during an epidemic (past)
Sexism (SCs)
Themes of classism
Disordered eating (avoiding meals due to stress)
On-page natural disaster (destruction, displacement)
Alcohol consumption
Explicit sexual content
Mention of SC preying on underage girl
Sexual coercion of a minor (SCs)
SA of a minor stopped (kissing on page, SC)
MC abducted
Death of bad guys on page
Mentions of manipulative and abusive spouse (past)
Details of war (past and present)
Off-page human sacrifice
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: Some mentions of and situations of people wanting to seduce either MC but they only have eyes for each other.
Breakup: No
POV: 1st person, dual
Genre: Fantasy romance
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
Main characters’ age: 27 and 30
Series: Standalone
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 805
Happy ending: Yes
“All you did came at a great cost. We recognize your sacrifice. It’s why you are promised Paradise now. A life with no pain, no trials, awaits you.”
“Will he be there?”
“The man you love? No. He has not acquired Paradise yet.” I closed my eyes as despair raged through me. Here I had hoped I could rejoin Edwin, but even that was denied me. Tears welled in my eyes as I choked out, “Then it is not Paradise to me.”
My world had imploded, and my soul with it. My body had kept moving, somehow, which seemed obscene. How dare my heart keep beating when his had stilled?
I’d never in my life seen a man possess that kind of rugged beauty. The first time I’d laid eyes upon him, I’d had to stop and gather my scattered wits, as he’d quite knocked me breathless.
Out of everyone, you’d make the best king by far.” He cracked open one eye.
“I used to like you.” His grumbling complaint made me grin in return.
“Come now, you know I’m right.”
“Bite your tongue. I don’t care if you are.”
Using some dexterity, I got the covers turned down, then sat him on the edge of the bed. “All right, jacket off.” He cooperated as I tugged on a sleeve, eyes still not properly open.
“Edwin,” he said with this happy little smile, “you’re handsome.” I… beg your fucking pardon? I was nice looking, but handsome? I’d never in my life been accused of being handsome. Also, rich, coming from someone absolutely fucking gorgeous.
My breath whistled in and out wetly, my fingers gripped Edwin’s hips too tightly, but he never once complained. No, instead, my Edwin embraced me, gently combed his fingers through my hair, smoothed his hands up and down my back. “I know, darling, I know. It’s all right, I have you,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.
While walking to my rooms, I dearly wanted someone to walk past us so they could see me and Edwin holding hands and I could start showing him off. Sadly, we didn’t encounter a soul, which was crushing.
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...
I was pretty intimidated by the length of this book when I got it, but I’m so glad I read it anyway. This was full of the usual low-angst sweetness you get with AJ Sherwood, two different main characters who fit together perfectly, some great world-building and possibly the coolest concept I've read in a really long time. The blurb fully sold me and it delivered. I even teared up a couple times, even though it’s generally low angst and fun at times.
It did lose steam a bit at times – it’s not easy to keep things going for that many pages – but it picked up again fairly quickly when it did. Things just went a bit too smoothly most of the time to keep the tension high through such a long story. I think my only other critique is that the switch from not being together to having wall-banging sex was a tad quick, and even that does make sense in the plot. The switch from slow burn was just a bit whiplash-y, lol.
Speaking of wall-banging sex, it’s not high spice, but I enjoyed what was there. The dynamic between the characters was great in and out of the bedroom.
New-ish words and phrases like 'body count' and 'fuck around and find out' were used, which I must admit affected my immersion in the story, as it suddenly felt very contemporary in a fantasy novel.
Would definitely recommend if you enjoy these things.
Thank you to the author for the ARC!
Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
High fantasy
World map
Time regression
Fated love
Reluctant ruler
Hurt/comfort
Yearning
PTSD
Court politics
Size difference
Low spice
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Themes of war and death
PTSD symptoms (insomnia, nightmares, losing time, hypervigilance)
On-page graphic violence
Details of past mortal injury to MC
Mentions of mass deaths during an epidemic (past)
Sexism (SCs)
Themes of classism
Disordered eating (avoiding meals due to stress)
On-page natural disaster (destruction, displacement)
Alcohol consumption
Explicit sexual content
Mention of SC preying on underage girl
Sexual coercion of a minor (SCs)
SA of a minor stopped (kissing on page, SC)
MC abducted
Death of bad guys on page
Mentions of manipulative and abusive spouse (past)
Details of war (past and present)
Off-page human sacrifice
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: Some mentions of and situations of people wanting to seduce either MC but they only have eyes for each other.
Breakup: No
POV: 1st person, dual
Genre: Fantasy romance
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
Main characters’ age: 27 and 30
Series: Standalone
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 805
Happy ending: Yes
“All you did came at a great cost. We recognize your sacrifice. It’s why you are promised Paradise now. A life with no pain, no trials, awaits you.”
“Will he be there?”
“The man you love? No. He has not acquired Paradise yet.” I closed my eyes as despair raged through me. Here I had hoped I could rejoin Edwin, but even that was denied me. Tears welled in my eyes as I choked out, “Then it is not Paradise to me.”
My world had imploded, and my soul with it. My body had kept moving, somehow, which seemed obscene. How dare my heart keep beating when his had stilled?
I’d never in my life seen a man possess that kind of rugged beauty. The first time I’d laid eyes upon him, I’d had to stop and gather my scattered wits, as he’d quite knocked me breathless.
Out of everyone, you’d make the best king by far.” He cracked open one eye.
“I used to like you.” His grumbling complaint made me grin in return.
“Come now, you know I’m right.”
“Bite your tongue. I don’t care if you are.”
Using some dexterity, I got the covers turned down, then sat him on the edge of the bed. “All right, jacket off.” He cooperated as I tugged on a sleeve, eyes still not properly open.
“Edwin,” he said with this happy little smile, “you’re handsome.” I… beg your fucking pardon? I was nice looking, but handsome? I’d never in my life been accused of being handsome. Also, rich, coming from someone absolutely fucking gorgeous.
My breath whistled in and out wetly, my fingers gripped Edwin’s hips too tightly, but he never once complained. No, instead, my Edwin embraced me, gently combed his fingers through my hair, smoothed his hands up and down my back. “I know, darling, I know. It’s all right, I have you,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.
While walking to my rooms, I dearly wanted someone to walk past us so they could see me and Edwin holding hands and I could start showing him off. Sadly, we didn’t encounter a soul, which was crushing.
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...
February 13, 2026
I had the absolute pleasure of receiving a beautiful PR box for this book, and honestly? What a way to be introduced to a new author. This was my first book by A.J. Sherwood, and I really, really enjoyed it.
The Regressor King pulled me in almost immediately. We start with King James Kronenscheld dying in battle against the Demon King and fully expecting to reunite with the love of his life, Edwin, in Paradise. Except…that’s not what happens. When the gods tell him Edwin won’t be there, James basically refuses Paradise, and bargains for one more chance. He wakes up years earlier before the crown, before everything went wrong - armed with regret, future knowledge, and one very clear goal: don’t lose Edwin again.
The story is set in a high fantasy medieval world with kingdoms, crowns, knights, and looming supernatural threats. There’s an ongoing war against demons, divine interference from the gods, and a political landscape that feels tense and unstable. I really appreciated the worldbuilding here. It’s detailed enough to feel immersive without being overwhelming. You get a strong sense of the court, the dangers beyond the kingdom walls, and the weight of leadership without ever feeling bogged down by info dumps.
What I loved most is that this isn’t just a time travel redo story. Yes, there’s strategy, politics, looming disasters, and demon level chaos, but at its heart this is a second chance love story fueled by devotion. Watching James try to court Edwin properly this time, while acting incredibly suspicious thanks to his future knowledge; was equal parts emotional and entertaining.
The romance really worked for me. I’m a sucker for a good MM book. There’s longing, tenderness, and a strong hurt/comfort thread running through the story. James is very much a “I would argue with gods and rewrite fate for you” kind of MMC, and I ate that up. Edwin is steady, thoughtful, and slowly drawn into a bond that feels inevitable even when he doesn’t fully understand why.
The fantasy elements between the royalty, battles, politics, and the constant pressure of knowing what’s coming - kept the story moving while never overshadowing the emotional core. Overall, this was a solid, emotional romantasy with time regression, second chances, and ride or die love. I’m so glad this was my first experience with A.J. Sherwood, and I’ll absolutely be picking up more from this author.
The Regressor King pulled me in almost immediately. We start with King James Kronenscheld dying in battle against the Demon King and fully expecting to reunite with the love of his life, Edwin, in Paradise. Except…that’s not what happens. When the gods tell him Edwin won’t be there, James basically refuses Paradise, and bargains for one more chance. He wakes up years earlier before the crown, before everything went wrong - armed with regret, future knowledge, and one very clear goal: don’t lose Edwin again.
The story is set in a high fantasy medieval world with kingdoms, crowns, knights, and looming supernatural threats. There’s an ongoing war against demons, divine interference from the gods, and a political landscape that feels tense and unstable. I really appreciated the worldbuilding here. It’s detailed enough to feel immersive without being overwhelming. You get a strong sense of the court, the dangers beyond the kingdom walls, and the weight of leadership without ever feeling bogged down by info dumps.
What I loved most is that this isn’t just a time travel redo story. Yes, there’s strategy, politics, looming disasters, and demon level chaos, but at its heart this is a second chance love story fueled by devotion. Watching James try to court Edwin properly this time, while acting incredibly suspicious thanks to his future knowledge; was equal parts emotional and entertaining.
The romance really worked for me. I’m a sucker for a good MM book. There’s longing, tenderness, and a strong hurt/comfort thread running through the story. James is very much a “I would argue with gods and rewrite fate for you” kind of MMC, and I ate that up. Edwin is steady, thoughtful, and slowly drawn into a bond that feels inevitable even when he doesn’t fully understand why.
The fantasy elements between the royalty, battles, politics, and the constant pressure of knowing what’s coming - kept the story moving while never overshadowing the emotional core. Overall, this was a solid, emotional romantasy with time regression, second chances, and ride or die love. I’m so glad this was my first experience with A.J. Sherwood, and I’ll absolutely be picking up more from this author.
March 13, 2026
4 ⭐️
Yes! Finally, a chonky book that was enjoyable and not a slog to read. I have been a fan of big book and I cannot lie (sorry, couldn't help not referencing the song) and have been sorely disappointed recently when those that have been long have turned out to be a disappointment. They either focused a lot on unnecessary plot or got bogged down. While this book is in no way a masterpiece of literature, it is still a fun romp and had great characters I could get behind. AJ Sherwood has a way of writing her characters that seem incongruous with the setting of fantasy, but I think that is something acceptable as this is her world and she can make her fantasy world sound and be how she wants it to be. And if it means her characters use language more in tune with what we use in our lives so be it.
It has only been recently that I have started reading LitRPG and Isekai novels and there is a dearth of books that suit my taste. This was a great addition to the slow growing list of those books that I like in those genres. James and Edwin were well written characters and while they are both Mary Sue types it kind of worked here as the MC is reliving his life so he knows what happens and is using it to his advantage and doing all of the good he can. Plus James being a type of Mary Sue and self sacrificing is a plot point and helps move the story along. While defeating the demon king is the main goal, most of the book focuses on how James can settle his base rather than actively building an army to defeat the threat. I quite liked that though the ending felt a little like a let down as it only lasted about a chapter and a half.
I appreciated the epilogue and the extra notes as I wanted to learn what happens to Edwin and James post victory. Loved the book and enjoyed it greatly.
Yes! Finally, a chonky book that was enjoyable and not a slog to read. I have been a fan of big book and I cannot lie (sorry, couldn't help not referencing the song) and have been sorely disappointed recently when those that have been long have turned out to be a disappointment. They either focused a lot on unnecessary plot or got bogged down. While this book is in no way a masterpiece of literature, it is still a fun romp and had great characters I could get behind. AJ Sherwood has a way of writing her characters that seem incongruous with the setting of fantasy, but I think that is something acceptable as this is her world and she can make her fantasy world sound and be how she wants it to be. And if it means her characters use language more in tune with what we use in our lives so be it.
It has only been recently that I have started reading LitRPG and Isekai novels and there is a dearth of books that suit my taste. This was a great addition to the slow growing list of those books that I like in those genres. James and Edwin were well written characters and while they are both Mary Sue types it kind of worked here as the MC is reliving his life so he knows what happens and is using it to his advantage and doing all of the good he can. Plus James being a type of Mary Sue and self sacrificing is a plot point and helps move the story along. While defeating the demon king is the main goal, most of the book focuses on how James can settle his base rather than actively building an army to defeat the threat. I quite liked that though the ending felt a little like a let down as it only lasted about a chapter and a half.
I appreciated the epilogue and the extra notes as I wanted to learn what happens to Edwin and James post victory. Loved the book and enjoyed it greatly.
February 20, 2026
This Book Just Became One of My Favorites
Like any other avid reader, when asked what’s your favorite book, I usually look at the asker with horror—how to choose amongst the hundreds of books I have read? It usually one of my students asking so I toss out a few favorite authors hoping that they’ll read something from their catalog. AJ Sherwood was added to the list a few years ago when I stumbled upon her book “How I stole the Princess’s White Knight and Turned Him to Villainy.” And then proceeded to read everything she has written. Everything. Of her wonderful, vast, and varied catalog this book is now one of my favorites. It was sooo good. I wanted to read it all in one setting but I had to adult and this book is a bit of a chunk. No part of this book is unnecessary or there just to be filler. The plot moved well. I can’t believe it’s 220,000 words. It was like watching a 3 hour movie and having it feel like 30 minutes.
This book has everything. It has gods, time travel, magic, court intrigue and love that will not quit even in death. It has lots of action and lots of plot. I love the main characters, James and Edwin. They are perfectly imperfect and grow throughout the novel. The plot is great, reads, and moves well. It makes sense and the ending leaves no incomplete storylines (I have read more than a few books lately that left plot threads dangling). It also includes a host of fully formed side characters. It is really everything I could ask for in a fantasy novel. If you like fantasy, BL or just a really good book. Read this one. You won’t regret it. I will be rereading this one as a favorite for years to come.
Like any other avid reader, when asked what’s your favorite book, I usually look at the asker with horror—how to choose amongst the hundreds of books I have read? It usually one of my students asking so I toss out a few favorite authors hoping that they’ll read something from their catalog. AJ Sherwood was added to the list a few years ago when I stumbled upon her book “How I stole the Princess’s White Knight and Turned Him to Villainy.” And then proceeded to read everything she has written. Everything. Of her wonderful, vast, and varied catalog this book is now one of my favorites. It was sooo good. I wanted to read it all in one setting but I had to adult and this book is a bit of a chunk. No part of this book is unnecessary or there just to be filler. The plot moved well. I can’t believe it’s 220,000 words. It was like watching a 3 hour movie and having it feel like 30 minutes.
This book has everything. It has gods, time travel, magic, court intrigue and love that will not quit even in death. It has lots of action and lots of plot. I love the main characters, James and Edwin. They are perfectly imperfect and grow throughout the novel. The plot is great, reads, and moves well. It makes sense and the ending leaves no incomplete storylines (I have read more than a few books lately that left plot threads dangling). It also includes a host of fully formed side characters. It is really everything I could ask for in a fantasy novel. If you like fantasy, BL or just a really good book. Read this one. You won’t regret it. I will be rereading this one as a favorite for years to come.
Review of advance copy
The story of James the King and Edwin, his forever love.
After saving his world, and returning a demon to hell, James dies, as has Edwin. On his way to Paradise, he’s told Edwin won’t be there. He refuses to go without him. Forcing his escorting Angel to call a SUPERVISOR, he requests to go back to the past to set things right for him and Edwin. Wish granted. Though he doesn’t regret his decision, it does seem like he’s given himself an impossible task.
James and Edwin’s relationship was sweet. I liked them together. The story centered around James but Edwin was the stronger character. His care of James gave the story life and color. The book has modern language, but a feudal setting, which at times could be a bit jarring.
The story is peopled with some great characters I really liked and great characters that were throughly unlikable. The author was able to make both the good and the bad compelling. Including a horse named Titan, who stole the show in every page he was on.
I can’t even begin to do a decent review because of spoilers. I’ll just say there was a lot going on. Intrigue, dastardly deeds, royals behaving like children, invested gods, and an epic romance that demanded a Happily Ever After. My only complaint was that the ending seemed rushed.
800 pages is quite a time commitment but this book was well worth it.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
After saving his world, and returning a demon to hell, James dies, as has Edwin. On his way to Paradise, he’s told Edwin won’t be there. He refuses to go without him. Forcing his escorting Angel to call a SUPERVISOR, he requests to go back to the past to set things right for him and Edwin. Wish granted. Though he doesn’t regret his decision, it does seem like he’s given himself an impossible task.
James and Edwin’s relationship was sweet. I liked them together. The story centered around James but Edwin was the stronger character. His care of James gave the story life and color. The book has modern language, but a feudal setting, which at times could be a bit jarring.
The story is peopled with some great characters I really liked and great characters that were throughly unlikable. The author was able to make both the good and the bad compelling. Including a horse named Titan, who stole the show in every page he was on.
I can’t even begin to do a decent review because of spoilers. I’ll just say there was a lot going on. Intrigue, dastardly deeds, royals behaving like children, invested gods, and an epic romance that demanded a Happily Ever After. My only complaint was that the ending seemed rushed.
800 pages is quite a time commitment but this book was well worth it.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
Review of advance copy received from Author
oh wow wow wow!! Wow! This story is just epic. Completely unique multiple plot lines twisting and coalescing into one addictive saga!
I lovedddddd James and Edwin. James such epic pining killed me dead, to come back to the love of your life and miss him while you see him my god AJ Sherwood you cut James no slack. I am intimidated by Edwin. Huge heart, so smart and a looker and my god the way he cares for James (inspite of James) I am just awwwing here. James who is dealing with a boat load of trauma when he regresses.
I love the way AJ Sherwood lays out this fantasy. The writing is so unique and cheeky and funny. I was snort laughing through a lot of the inner dialogue. Which is very rare for me when reading books like this. Usually I am blown away by the world building and the action and the quests and the adventure and there is alllllll of that here and more but the writing is smooth and almost conversational and I read for three days straight cause I couldn’t put it down. I cannot do a better job of describing it, you’ll have to read it to experience it.
I mean the nap under the desk was equally touching and swoony and so funny. Which is a great description of James and Edwin’s dynamic - touching and swoony and so funny in parts
I loved the younger royals and Galbraith and the Knights and Glass and oh so many of the other characters.
I loved living in this world , I found it hard to let go once it was done. Highly recommend checking it out.
I lovedddddd James and Edwin. James such epic pining killed me dead, to come back to the love of your life and miss him while you see him my god AJ Sherwood you cut James no slack. I am intimidated by Edwin. Huge heart, so smart and a looker and my god the way he cares for James (inspite of James) I am just awwwing here. James who is dealing with a boat load of trauma when he regresses.
I love the way AJ Sherwood lays out this fantasy. The writing is so unique and cheeky and funny. I was snort laughing through a lot of the inner dialogue. Which is very rare for me when reading books like this. Usually I am blown away by the world building and the action and the quests and the adventure and there is alllllll of that here and more but the writing is smooth and almost conversational and I read for three days straight cause I couldn’t put it down. I cannot do a better job of describing it, you’ll have to read it to experience it.
I mean the nap under the desk was equally touching and swoony and so funny. Which is a great description of James and Edwin’s dynamic - touching and swoony and so funny in parts
I loved the younger royals and Galbraith and the Knights and Glass and oh so many of the other characters.
I loved living in this world , I found it hard to let go once it was done. Highly recommend checking it out.
February 13, 2026
Even after 804 pages, 20-1/2 hrs of audio, am I too greedy to say that I wanted more? What would have wrapped this up with a bow, IMO, is if we could have seen them as the old men that they were told they would die as. Just a glimpse into their future after everything was all said and done would have been perfect. But again, that is just me being greedy and wanting more. I love this author and when I found out they were creating this book I was like, I'm all in and waited impatiently for it to be released. We start out with James having defeated the demon king, but dying in battle. When he is ready to head off into the afterlife, he finds out that his love Edwin isn't there to go with him. At that point he was like, no, nope, not doing it. So he strikes a bargain and is sent back 10 yrs to set some wrongs to right, the main one is not getting married to his banshee of a wife and to let Edwin know of his love for him. Needless to say, not everything goes as planned as there are other forces at work. I loved watching these two navigate their day to day challenges along with fighting against the wishes of others. I'm glad there was no unnecessary misunderstandings between our MC's. Their love rolled off the pages and there was never any doubt. Zachary Zaba did an awesome job narrating this book.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I wasn’t sure what to expect when going into this, the book overview intrigued me alot I had to read it but this would be my first mm romance with no extra female lover interest. And hey I loved it, both mmc were perfection, I throughly enjoyed them both.
This book was written perfectly, in a way that made you become invested in every moment, when a king wins a war but also doesn’t get forever with his love so he fights to regress (do over his life) to help his lover to both obtain paradise in the end.
James is devoted to his love, but also his county, his people. Watching him struggle to achieve what he needs to win a war and devastating trials while maintaining his life choice was hard, but seeing him fight, believe and keep going was perfection. He’s such a smitten kitten.
Edwin is so smart, he’s exactly the right other half for James, he keeps him grounded and looks after him when he’s overwhelmed. The trials that Edwin goes through is incredible to watch as he grows in confidence and strength I throughly enjoyed his growth into an amazing leader.
Overall the characters (even the ones you roll your eyes at), the whole story, the world, the drama, the villains, the goal and end game were all amazing and I loved it all and definitely recommend it to everyone. Will be checking out more written by AJ Sherwood.
This book was written perfectly, in a way that made you become invested in every moment, when a king wins a war but also doesn’t get forever with his love so he fights to regress (do over his life) to help his lover to both obtain paradise in the end.
James is devoted to his love, but also his county, his people. Watching him struggle to achieve what he needs to win a war and devastating trials while maintaining his life choice was hard, but seeing him fight, believe and keep going was perfection. He’s such a smitten kitten.
Edwin is so smart, he’s exactly the right other half for James, he keeps him grounded and looks after him when he’s overwhelmed. The trials that Edwin goes through is incredible to watch as he grows in confidence and strength I throughly enjoyed his growth into an amazing leader.
Overall the characters (even the ones you roll your eyes at), the whole story, the world, the drama, the villains, the goal and end game were all amazing and I loved it all and definitely recommend it to everyone. Will be checking out more written by AJ Sherwood.
April 21, 2026
As much of a cozy read as possible when there are actual evil demons involved. A lot of warm feelings as Prince James relives his life in an attempt to win the man who didn't step forward and save his kingdom from destruction wrought by demons. Bear in mind, he DID save it in his earlier life, just died doing so. When the angels said he could go to Paradise, he asked, "Is my man there? He's not?! Well, that's hardly a Paradise! Let me try again!"
When reading a romance, you expect the happy ending, the question is - how do you get there? Well, I never once thought James and Edwin wouldn't get there - mostly because their gods kept sticking their noses in and saying "Don't worry, you got this". (I actually mean that literally.) The largest drawback for me, though the stakes seemed small for a love story set during a potential demon apocalypse (and you definitely don't expect that!), was how the time period was weirdly not medieval nor early modern nor modern... They wore suits, rode in carriages drawn by horses, had (sometimes) gas lighting with their magic and spoke like modern people. I decided, since it was being this cozy, I would just enjoy and not bother my head.
A cozy, fun time, with some spots of hotness and awwwww, sprinkled with shavings of metal. Worth the read.
When reading a romance, you expect the happy ending, the question is - how do you get there? Well, I never once thought James and Edwin wouldn't get there - mostly because their gods kept sticking their noses in and saying "Don't worry, you got this". (I actually mean that literally.) The largest drawback for me, though the stakes seemed small for a love story set during a potential demon apocalypse (and you definitely don't expect that!), was how the time period was weirdly not medieval nor early modern nor modern... They wore suits, rode in carriages drawn by horses, had (sometimes) gas lighting with their magic and spoke like modern people. I decided, since it was being this cozy, I would just enjoy and not bother my head.
A cozy, fun time, with some spots of hotness and awwwww, sprinkled with shavings of metal. Worth the read.
February 13, 2026
In this compelling 800-page journey, we follow James, who, after his untimely death, makes a heartfelt request to the gods: to be sent back ten years into the past. His goal, To rectify his past mistakes and pursue the love he should have cherished—the charming and intelligent Edwin.
As James navigates this second chance, he realizes that his quest for love is complicated by Edwin’s initial suspicions about his peculiar behavior. Determined not to repeat his past errors, James embarks on a mission not only to win Edwin’s heart but also to protect those around him from the new challenges and injustices he encounters.
In his refusal to claim the throne, James becomes embroiled in political tensions that put his siblings, especially his sister, Princess Helena, in precarious positions. As he grapples with external pressures to assume his royal responsibilities, he must also confront those who seek to undermine Helena’s rightful abilities to rule.
This is a beautifully written narrative weaves themes of love, redemption, and the complexities of choice, keeping readers invested in James’s struggle to balance personal desires with familial duty. I loved James story so much. @sherwoodwrites
As James navigates this second chance, he realizes that his quest for love is complicated by Edwin’s initial suspicions about his peculiar behavior. Determined not to repeat his past errors, James embarks on a mission not only to win Edwin’s heart but also to protect those around him from the new challenges and injustices he encounters.
In his refusal to claim the throne, James becomes embroiled in political tensions that put his siblings, especially his sister, Princess Helena, in precarious positions. As he grapples with external pressures to assume his royal responsibilities, he must also confront those who seek to undermine Helena’s rightful abilities to rule.
This is a beautifully written narrative weaves themes of love, redemption, and the complexities of choice, keeping readers invested in James’s struggle to balance personal desires with familial duty. I loved James story so much. @sherwoodwrites
Review of advance copy
A.J. Sherwood has delivered her most ambitious work to date with The Regressor King, a novel that masterfully weaves high-fantasy stakes with a profound M/M romance. Having tracked this story’s development from its initial Patreon drafts, I found the expanded final version to be a significant achievement in storytelling. The use of time regression introduces a unique emotional weight, as the protagonist, James, must navigate the burden of his memories while stepping into his role as a reluctant leader. His relationship with Edwin serves as the story’s anchor; Edwin’s steady and perceptive nature provides a necessary balance to James’s trauma-informed competence. Together, they navigate a world of meddling gods and political unrest with a level of communication that is truly refreshing for the genre. It is a compelling exploration of choosing love over destiny, punctuated by excellent worldbuilding and a memorable supporting cast. I am grateful to the author for providing an advanced copy of this book; receiving this ARC was a privilege, and all opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
March 11, 2026
3.5 stars
Brilliant story idea and loveable characters! But too cozy and simple in writing to do it justice.
Problems occurred and were resolved within a few chapters. Again and again. It was repetitive and boring after a while. Only the main plot with the demon king was keeping my interest. But overall, the book was way too long.
There was no real depth to the side characters. Only James and Edwin were halfway fleshed out. Their relationship was the best part of the story. Other than them, all the bad people were depicted as stupid and mean, and all the good people were very obviously nice and intelligent. Everything was so black and white it was frustrating. Everyone, including the MCs, acted a bit childish and unrealistic.
Also, the sugary sweet writing style didn't lend itself well for this kind of dramatic and high stakes storyline. I found myself wishing someone else would have come up with this idea because this could have been a 5 star read. Sadly, it didn't evoke any strong feelings in me. Everything was too cute and simplistic to take it seriously.
Still, I rooted for James and Edwin to succeed, so that is something, I guess?
Brilliant story idea and loveable characters! But too cozy and simple in writing to do it justice.
Problems occurred and were resolved within a few chapters. Again and again. It was repetitive and boring after a while. Only the main plot with the demon king was keeping my interest. But overall, the book was way too long.
There was no real depth to the side characters. Only James and Edwin were halfway fleshed out. Their relationship was the best part of the story. Other than them, all the bad people were depicted as stupid and mean, and all the good people were very obviously nice and intelligent. Everything was so black and white it was frustrating. Everyone, including the MCs, acted a bit childish and unrealistic.
Also, the sugary sweet writing style didn't lend itself well for this kind of dramatic and high stakes storyline. I found myself wishing someone else would have come up with this idea because this could have been a 5 star read. Sadly, it didn't evoke any strong feelings in me. Everything was too cute and simplistic to take it seriously.
Still, I rooted for James and Edwin to succeed, so that is something, I guess?
March 18, 2026
This used to be one of my favorite authors, but the last several books were a bit disappointing, and it's become obvious with this one that no editors are even used.
I would have given this book a 2 or 3 star, despite the misspellings and desperate need for an editor, up to the point of using the phrase "butterfly effect" in an essentially medieval fantasy setting, especially when it wasn't used in reference to weather but the actual "time travel"... There were far too many modern phrases before this - "put your money where your mouth is" "right out of the gate" - no mention of horse racing - "took off like a shot" - no mention of guns, even the bow is only mentioned a few times - and the overly modern agenda of pushing women's rights that doesn't even go anywhere. Seriously what was the point of that when nothing even comes of it? It was extra fluff that didn't progress the story at all, and the book already had a lot of fluff.
The characters are so similar to those in the author's other books this could have been marketed as an alternate universe for them... The internal monologue for both characters basically followed the same patterns and "quirks" and got old fast.
I would have given this book a 2 or 3 star, despite the misspellings and desperate need for an editor, up to the point of using the phrase "butterfly effect" in an essentially medieval fantasy setting, especially when it wasn't used in reference to weather but the actual "time travel"... There were far too many modern phrases before this - "put your money where your mouth is" "right out of the gate" - no mention of horse racing - "took off like a shot" - no mention of guns, even the bow is only mentioned a few times - and the overly modern agenda of pushing women's rights that doesn't even go anywhere. Seriously what was the point of that when nothing even comes of it? It was extra fluff that didn't progress the story at all, and the book already had a lot of fluff.
The characters are so similar to those in the author's other books this could have been marketed as an alternate universe for them... The internal monologue for both characters basically followed the same patterns and "quirks" and got old fast.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is an emotionally charged romantasy that makes one thing very clear: Paradise isn’t Paradise without Edwin. Blending high fantasy stakes with a deeply personal M/M romance, it uses time regression in a way that actually hurts—because remembering the past doesn’t make things easier, it just makes the choices heavier. James is a wonderfully written reluctant ruler, shaped by regret, trauma, and hard-earned competence, and his devotion to Edwin is the emotional backbone of the story. Edwin, in turn, is steady, perceptive, and quietly formidable, grounding the chaos around them.
The world is full of sharp edges—meddling gods, court politics, demon kings, and inconveniently timed demon portals—but it never loses sight of its heart. The hurt/comfort is satisfying, the side characters shine (special mention to the best horse to ever live), and the pacing has that addictive, just-one-more-chapter feel inspired by webtoons. This is a story about choosing love over crowns, fate, and even the gods themselves. Fair warning: don’t start it late at night.
The world is full of sharp edges—meddling gods, court politics, demon kings, and inconveniently timed demon portals—but it never loses sight of its heart. The hurt/comfort is satisfying, the side characters shine (special mention to the best horse to ever live), and the pacing has that addictive, just-one-more-chapter feel inspired by webtoons. This is a story about choosing love over crowns, fate, and even the gods themselves. Fair warning: don’t start it late at night.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was not sure what to expect when I dove into this best of a book, but I was pleasantly surprised. This was my first book by AJ Sherwood and I am sold.
James is an adopted prince who decides instead of going to paradise he wants to go back in time and help his one true love get to paradise too. He never got to tell Edwin just exactly how he felt, so he wanted a second chance.
This book was full of magic, villains, amazing world building, but the best of all was the love story between James and Edwin. Edwin is brilliant, has a huge heart, and he is handsome.. he was the perfect combo. He isn’t confused as to why the Prince is so interested in him, but for some reason his soul knows James. James still has his memories.
You won’t want to put this book down! You will find yourself cracking up at the inner dialogue. And just swooning over James pining for Edwin. It’s a chunker of a book, but don’t let it scare you away, it’s worth the pages. You will fly through it and not even realize how big it is once you start.
James is an adopted prince who decides instead of going to paradise he wants to go back in time and help his one true love get to paradise too. He never got to tell Edwin just exactly how he felt, so he wanted a second chance.
This book was full of magic, villains, amazing world building, but the best of all was the love story between James and Edwin. Edwin is brilliant, has a huge heart, and he is handsome.. he was the perfect combo. He isn’t confused as to why the Prince is so interested in him, but for some reason his soul knows James. James still has his memories.
You won’t want to put this book down! You will find yourself cracking up at the inner dialogue. And just swooning over James pining for Edwin. It’s a chunker of a book, but don’t let it scare you away, it’s worth the pages. You will fly through it and not even realize how big it is once you start.
February 12, 2026
It may have taken AJ Sherwood a year to write it... but I devoured this book in like 36 hours.
When a book starts off with James annoying the feathers off an angel so badly that she calls for a supervisor... it's gonna get real fun!
This is the epic tale of James and Edwin and one man's absolute refusal to pass into his eternal Paradise without the man he loves. Instead he bargains for a second chance to fix things the second time around.
I loved the snark and banter, the sibling affection, the love that defied death, time, and royal machinations. James is strong and kind, and selfless to a fault. Edwin is his perfect counter being intelligent, savvy, and as he put it: just a little mean when it comes to protecting James.
High fantasy, magic, gods and goddesses who interfere in the best way, knights, a sassy as hell horse, demonic bad guys, and two men who love each other so much that it defies kings and queens and shapes a country for generations to come.
Chef's kiss perfection from start to finish. All the stars.. seriously.. all the freaking stars!!!
When a book starts off with James annoying the feathers off an angel so badly that she calls for a supervisor... it's gonna get real fun!
This is the epic tale of James and Edwin and one man's absolute refusal to pass into his eternal Paradise without the man he loves. Instead he bargains for a second chance to fix things the second time around.
I loved the snark and banter, the sibling affection, the love that defied death, time, and royal machinations. James is strong and kind, and selfless to a fault. Edwin is his perfect counter being intelligent, savvy, and as he put it: just a little mean when it comes to protecting James.
High fantasy, magic, gods and goddesses who interfere in the best way, knights, a sassy as hell horse, demonic bad guys, and two men who love each other so much that it defies kings and queens and shapes a country for generations to come.
Chef's kiss perfection from start to finish. All the stars.. seriously.. all the freaking stars!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews