Duty and Love: The Last of the Heirs Book 1.5

by L.L. Riley

Plans for greatness are not achieved by relaxation. They are achieved by a plan. And perfection.

For his entire life, Jonas Mikkelson, has always wanted the best for his loved ones. With being a prince and royal advisor, he flawlessly organizes and aids his brother and sister-in-law, the King and Queen of Palaena, with ruling a kingdom.

And with his monarchs’ health and happiness restored, Jonas wants his well-deserved break and the opportunity to propose to his boyfriend, Viggo. Yet time away from his responsibilities cannot completely go ignored. Especially with new obligations being placed on him.

But as Jonas strives for excellence with his family and kingdom, his precious moments with Viggo splinter. The consequences of his failures shift—growing more dire when everything slips beyond his control. And without a plan, Jonas must confront more than his mistakes if he ever hopes to balance his role and be with the man he loves.

Duty and Love is a novella tied to the interconnected series, The Last of the Heirs. While this book can be read as a standalone, it is recommended to read after Book 1, Frost and Death, for a more emotional and impactful read.
Please advise reading without knowing the events of Book 1 will lead to some spoilers.

Genres: Fantasy

153 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 14, 2026

About the author

L.L. Riley is a fantasy romance author with a passion for turning the timeless into the extraordinary. As a lover of fairytales, folklore, mythology, and all things magical, it’s her mission to transform the familiar into richly layered stories that feel unforgettable and wholly original.
L.L. Riley writes to enchant—to stir emotion—to spark curiosity. With lyrical prose, heartfelt depth, and worlds that glitter with magic, her work reflects who she is. Playfully bold, deeply feeling, and endlessly curious. With balancing whimsy and wonder with raw intensity, she invites readers to discover her uniquely composed stories meant to leave a lingering impact beyond the final page.
When L.L. Riley isn't immersed in worlds she creates, she's a homebody with her husband, where they take turns spoiling each other senselessly with jokes, sarcasm, and endless amounts of love. They're also surrounded and constantly smothered by their four needy, greedy, and utterly adorable cats.

Reviews

[Chasing Silhouettes]

'Love. A four lettered word capable of defining and becoming something so pivotal— so profound.' (Ch 1)

MM Cozy Fantasy Romance | Prince x Scribe | Family | Pining & Longing

This is actually my 1st MM romance. I've read why choose and reverse harem, and stories with side characters as MM, but haven't read any strictly MM as MCs until now.

It's an interconnected standalone, but it is advised to read after book 1 to avoid spoilers. But I also think that there is a much stronger connection to the characters, the world, and going-ons if you start with book 1.

“Should one really be this nervous when they have the love of their life and an abundance of support from friends and family?” (Ch 8)

Jonas and Viggo are sweet together. Viggo gives off a hesistant, timid persona. Jonas is duty-driven, but quickly learns that even best laid plans can certainly go awry.

This one has a cozy and spicy feel to it. It's about longing, unraveling, finding balance, love, loyalty, and family.

'A dream I had always wanted to come true is finally real.' (Ch 11)

3.5🌟 eARC courtesy of Beyond the Pages PR

[Addy]

5 Stars 🌟
Thank you, Behind the Pages PA, for the ARC! 💙

This MM, Prince x Scribe, fantasy romance story was short, sweet, and emotion filled. I loved getting to read Jonas and Viggo's story! In many ways, their story was complicated. They were struggling to find a proper work/life balance when it came to Jonas's duties. What happens when one wants to propose, they go on a trip, and nothing seems to be going right? Frustration fueled arguments ensue, and they end up back home eventually. But despite everything, the two men managed to work through their issues for the sake of their love, and I think that is very beautiful. While not a picture-perfect depiction of fairytale love, it's a very raw, real one, and I felt for both of them. I really enjoyed this one, and I still need to go back and read the prequel as well as book 1! Somehow, I've ended up reading this series backwards. 😂 Would recommend!<3

[Beba Andric]

This was a cute and sweet of love, a love that seems to take a backseat, constantly. Jonas thinks he's finally got some time to dedicate to his lover, Viggo, except, he really doesn't. They planned a very much needed getaway and guess what, yes, duty calls... A prince and advisor to his brother, the king, he's torn but he's such a conscientious man, his obligations are always at the forefront. When the fate of kingdoms is at stake, it's fully understandable but that puts him at odds with the person he loves more than life itself, Viggo. I felt so sorry for Jonas and his dilemma, which really shows just how divided he was, how guilty he felt. Whichever way he could choose, neither was ideal.

I did enjoy the authors depiction of both, although, as much as I liked and understood Viggo's disappointment, he could have been so much more supportive of Jonas and his duty. Viggo is a brilliant mind, he's shy and reserved and the love he has for Jonas is all encompassing. Jonas is a sensitive soul, caring, loving, trying to do the right thing by his king and obligations, often putting his own wants and needs on the back burner. Which causes major tension between the two lovers and a whole heck of misunderstanding. Which, thankfully, does get resolved.

This is my first time reading this author and, even though this is a standalone, I felt like I'd missed out by not reading the previous books. But, having said that, I DID get a sense of who is who, what their respective roles were and what motivated them. I particularly enjoyed Tove and Jerricik with their open display of affection, which led Jonas to comment to Viggo, “Love is growing around me. And yet I cannot fathom how each and every day that growth of care for others remains so minuscule whenever I look at you.”

This novella apty describes the tug of war many experience, the guilt, broken promises, miscommunication, and discovering what truly is important, in finding balance and that love can conquer all, beautifully, vividly and emotionally.

[Joleen Turns Pages]

Duty and Love was an enjoyable read, but ultimately landed somewhere in the middle for me. I really liked the tension between following your heart and fulfilling the duty expected of you, and the themes of loyalty, responsibility, and sacrifice were some of the strongest parts.

The romance had some sweet moments, but I wanted a little more time for the relationship and emotional beats to develop. Some moments felt a bit too quick for me to become fully invested.

Overall, a solid 3-star read! I enjoyed it and the premise, but I was left wanting a little more depth and emotional punch. ✨

[Lindsey Adams]

⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️/ ️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I love it when authors give readers what they want! LL Riley heard her readers need for beloved side characters to get a bit more main character attention. She not only heard, she gave them a short novella to fulfill the need for more of these two MCs. Duty and Love is book 1.5 of LL’s Last of the Heirs series, giving readers a glimpse into what happened between books 1 and 2. While this can be read as a standalone, reading book 1 will help you understand why this book was needed and will make you want to continue with book 2.

Jonas and Viggo may have been side characters in book 1, but they whole heartedly earned their own story. These two are madly in love and while they may be exact opposites, their love is deep and pure. Jonas is a total Type A and loves everything being planned out and controlled. Viggo is more on the quiet, shy side, but feels deeply and lately doesn’t feel as though Jonas is leaving time for them. Jonas has vacation plans, but they keep getting pushed back as he takes on more responsibility to help his kingdom.

These two are easy to love, easy to root for, and easy to want to see happy. They support each other, while remaining honest, and their communication is respectful and open. Jonas has a plan to show Viggo he is truly the most important thing in his life, but the execution is coming along slower than he would hope. Viggo just wants to feel he is important and a priority, even though he understands Jonas' role in the kingdom.

LL gives readers such a romantic, spicy story between these two as they journey towards their own happiness. I can relate to Jonas’ need for control and plans. My back up plans have back up plans, so I fully understand that compulsion Jonas feels. Yet, I fully understand Viggo’s need for intimacy, because if you don’t make time for your loved ones, you will never get it. I am so happy I read their story and cannot wait to see them again in more of LL’s writing.

As always, review any author notes before reading.

What to Expect:
🪶Beloved Character POV
💚MM Romance
🪶Prince x Scribe
💚Found Family
🪶Extremely Shy MMC
💚Extrovert MMC
🪶Don’t Get Caught
💚Friends to Lovers
🪶Novella

[Krista Nicole]

A fun story fit in between the timeline of books 1 and 2 filled with the struggles of balancing duty and wanting to be with the one you love.

You follow Jonas after the outcome of book 1, he believes he will finally have some free time to be with his boyfriend Viggo and finally purpose to him. But while being the prince means he’s not on the throne himself, he ends up volunteering and taking on lots of work to help with the responsibility of ruling and meeting with other kingdom. With his plans for a vacation away being continually pushed off, he feels as though he is letting his love down, and while Viggo claims he will use his extra time for his own scribe responsibilities, Jonas can tell he isn’t happy with how little free time is left for him. Can Jonas balance his need to please and duty for his kingdom with his love for Viggo before he drifts even further away?

I really liked getting this peak into some of the side characters from the first books story and getting a bit of the timeline between books 1 and 2 for some of the main characters from those stories as well. While I’m not a Royal myself, I completely understand and empathize with Jonas’s need to please others and work as hard as he can for those he cares for even if it comes at the expense of his own personal life. It’s clear that he cares for Viggo and vice versa but also I understand Viggo being frustrated at him as well. There was plenty of tension each time they were reunited and they say distance makes the heart grown fonder but it was fun to see him slowly try to extract himself from work for his person. I can’t wait for the next book in this series with getting to see all the characters again! My rating 4.4/5!

Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!

[Poppy]

Type-A Jonas, prince of Palaena & royal adviser to Jerrick and Tove, is totally in love with shy Viggo, a scribe and healer. Together for over 6 years, Jonas is ready to propose. All he needs is the right place, the right time, and the right...everything. They are supposed to be planning a trip away from the palace, but Jonas's princely duties keep getting in the way, and he keeps saying yes to more responsibilities and breaking promises to Viggo. When Jonas gets dragged away to Axidoria to facilitate trade agreements, Viggo ignores his attempts at reaching out. The trip finally comes to fruition, but work is again involved. Will the two overcome their shortcomings and realize that their most important duty is to one another?

A good story for these two side characters in The Last of the Heirs series, but it didn't blow my socks off. I thought both Jonas and Viggo were huge red flags, though. Jonas was a people-pleasing workaholic, and when he didn't get his way, Viggo just ignored Jonas. I didn't love that the whole story was based on a lack of proper communication and broken promises. Their love was so great, but I wish we could have seen more healthy communication between Jonas and Viggo. I loved the progress the other characters, specifically Tove, made in this novella, with her powers finally being realized - it made me so happy for her. It was also beautiful to see hers and Jerrick's relationship bloom. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the series, but it's not necessary to read this novella to enjoy the other books.

Thank you to the author for providing this book for review consideration via Behind the Pages PA. All opinions are my own.

[Tori]

Rating: 4/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.

Duty and Love was a sweet, emotional romance that pulled me in with the idea of two people trying to figure out how to balance what they're supposed to do with what their hearts actually want. I really enjoyed watching that struggle unfold, especially because neither of them could simply ignore the responsibilities and expectations surrounding them.

What stood out to me most were the characters. They both had their own reasons for keeping their hearts guarded, and I appreciated that their relationship wasn't instantly perfect. There were misunderstandings, difficult choices, and moments when I wanted to reach through the pages and tell them to just talk to each other. But that also made their journey feel more believable.

I especially enjoyed watching the emotional connection between them grow. There was a tenderness to their relationship that I really appreciated, and some of my favorite moments were the quieter ones when they were able to put everything else aside and simply be themselves. Those moments made it clear that what was growing between them was more than just attraction.

The theme of duty versus love was also one of my favorite parts of the story. Both characters had obligations that mattered to them, and I liked seeing them wrestle with what they owed to others versus what they wanted for themselves. Sometimes choosing happiness isn't as simple as following your heart, and I thought the story did a nice job showing that.

I want to thank Behind the Pages LLC for the opportunity to review this book.

[Yasmin]

Thank you so much to Behind the Pages PA and the author for the eARC!

I just fell in love with this book, and it reminded me why I fell in love with the series! If you’ve read the first book in the Series, Frost and Death, you will remember Prince Jonas, King Jerrick’s brother, and his boyfriend Viggo, the healer who saved the Queen. This is a sweet novella who should be read after Frost and Death.

Jonas has a hard time saying no, especially to his brother who needs his help running and combining the two kingdoms. This is what exactly what creates tension between him and Viggo, who honestly just once want to be put first. Jonas loves Viggo with all his heart, but he also knows that he has duties where he needs to focus on the Kingdoms first.

Viggo knows that Jonas has a lot of responsibilities, but at the same time, he just wants some time with him alone. He just wants to have a short vacation with no interruptions. There is tension between the two of them, but it’s based on the worry that Jonas doesn’t ask for help and just can’t say no.

Overall, I loved reading this novella. We see characters from the other two books and I just loved their interactions with Jonas and Viggo. At the end, Jonas realizes that sometimes he will need to take a break from his duties and focus on his relationship with Viggo. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!

[eclecticbychoicereads]

Oh, what a delicious, sweet treat Duty and Love was! I devoured this novella in two sittings, and it truly made my day. I love being back in the world of The Last of the Heirs; I loved seeing all the characters I've already met and fallen in love with, and I loved getting to know them even better.

Duty and Love shines a new light upon Jonas, the prince and the royal advisor to his brother and sister-in-law, the King and Queen of Palaena. Jonas is a perfectionist, one who can never set aside his duty and his obligations. But it comes with a cost: his time and his energy for Viggo, the love of his life. Both Jonas and Viggo are beautiful, smart, and dedicated; they just lack the time to simply be: be together, and just live.

Oh, there's a little matter of a proposal looming over Jonas's head...

This sweet and spicy novella will melt your heart, and I can't wait for the world to discover Viggo and Jonas in all their glory.

Thank you, L.L. Riley, for having me as your ARC reader once again. It's always an immense pleasure.

[Alina]

This was such a cute short novella, I'm so happy we got to see part of Jonas and Viggo's story.

After 6 years of being together, Jonas feels ready to go one step further, but everything seems to be getting in his way of doing that. He gets stumped with more work to do for his kingdom, even being the prince, he's agreed to step up and help his brother and his new bride in the kingdom's dealing.

Viggo definitely feels like he's not being prioritized with everything Jonas keeps taking upon himself. That leads to a few conflicts the two of them have in the book.

Everything ended up in a good place for the both of them and that made me so happy!!

Also loved seeing Jonas interact with his brother, Jerrick and Tove, his bride. I felt like Jerrick finally opened up a bit to him. And Tove is so sweet!! I loved her in the first book and I was happy to see her again now.

Please read the first book before this! As it's meant to be a novella to be read after the first book!

Thank you so much to Behind the Pages PA and the author for the eARC

[Savanah]

ARC Review

As a note, the book is considered a standalone novella that is a part of a series of interconnected standalones. In my opinion, it could be a standalone without much difficulty. However, to fully understand the story, I would highly recommend reading the first book in the series, Frost and Death.

Regarding the book as a whole, I felt that the writing was well done, the characters were complex with easy to follow motivations, and the plot was good (especially considering it was a novella). I enjoyed getting to know Jonas better as a character, along with Viggo.

I also appreciated that the book was set in-between the first two books in the series. It was a nice connection point between the main stories, and it provided context that was originally glossed over when reading the second book.

Altogether, I feel that the book was well-written, and I would recommend it to those that enjoy M/M and fantasy romances.

[Jenny]

This series consists of interconnected standalones, but is recommended to read in order.

Duty and Love follows Jonas. He originally met him in book one, Frost and Death. Jonas is a prince and advisor to the crown. All he wants is to take a vacation and propose to his boyfriend Viggo, but once again duty gets in the way. Viggo is quiet and reserved while Jonas is more out going and enjoys control. You could feel both their disappointments every single time their vacation got delayed. Viggo struggles with standing up for himself and voicing the things he truly wanted. I also get why Viggo would get upset.

You could definitely feel the love these two have for one another. I loved that the author explored that its always important to show up for those we love and that sometimes we do have to make a hard choice between our duties nad our loved ones.

Thank you to the author and behind the pages for the e-arc

[Kristy aka Brooksie]

This novella focuses on Prince Jonas and his boyfriend Viggo, but it still involves characters from Frost and Death, which should be read first.

Planning a much-needed getaway together gets sidetracked by Jonas’ tedious job as advisor to the King (his brother), and the King and Queen need to tie up the alliances between their kingdoms. This, of course, needs to be done with their advisor at their side. So much for a long-awaited romantic getaway! Various issues arise, and it seems to put a bit of a kink in their relationship.

Expectations
Prince x Scribe
M/M Fantasy Romance
Court Life
High Expectations
One Cave
Surprises & Blindfolds
Unconditional Love
Helpful Alliances
Work Stress
HEA
Spice

Thank you to the author for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I love these stories and the world she has created.

[Akansha]

Thank you Behind the Pages for the review copy.

An MM romance between a prince and the scribe, Duty & Love is a novella with sweet moments and emotional confessions. We have an established couple as the main couple so there isn't that sizzling tension I usually like but I know what I was signing up for so I don’t hold it against the book.

I wish Jonas was not as dismissive of his relationship for the most of the story, I know that was kind of the point of his character growth but it seemed unfair. The story begins with Jonas's brother and sister in law asking him to accompany on an official trip knowing fully well he was going to take a trip with his boyfriend. And then he practically forgets Viggo for most of the trip.

The proposal looks forced when they were already having issues.

[kall]

My Rating 3.5

Duty & Love was an enjoyable read and a super quick novella.

The story follows Jonas, a prince and royal advisor who is always trying to do what is best for everyone around him. Between his family, the kingdom and his responsibilities he is used to having everything planned and under control.

But when those responsibilities start getting in the way of his relationship with Viggo, Jonas has to face what really matters and how to balance duty with the man he loves.

I do think you could read this without reading the first book, but personally I think it would be more enjoyable after book one. Having more context for the characters and events would definitely help make the story feel more emotional.

Overall, this was a quick and enjoyable fantasy novella about love, duty and trying to find balance when everyone seems to need something from you.

[vampire•ink•drinker]

I swear, every time I step back into LL's world, it feels like coming home.
This novella is no exception. I loved getting Jonas and Viggo's story.

Jonas' need to have a plan for everything and his relentless drive for perfection? Whew... that hit a little too close to home. And Viggo? His quiet, gentle heart had me wanting to wrap him in the biggest hug.

Their relationship is full of so much warmth and genuine love that I couldn't help but smile while reading.

This was the perfect bite sized read. I flew through it in one sitting and it was exactly the little hit of dopamine I needed.

It was also so much fun catching up with familiar characters and revisiting a world I've grown to love.
Everything comes together beautifully, and honestly... who doesn't love a happy ending?

I'm already looking forward to returning to this world again and can't wait to see what LL has in store for us next.

[Dani]

Do you absolutely have to read the first book in the series? No, but if you do, the characters and some of the events mentioned will make more sense.

In summary, this book is about work-life balance and prioritising what is most important to you. We get a lovely couple who finally decide to spend some well-deserved time off together, but sadly, that doesn't happen, and it puts a strain on their relationship.
Novellas can be hit or miss for me, and I'm sad to say that this one didn't add much to the overall story. It was cute and quick to read, but it didn't leave me feeling like it contributed anything significant. A lot of the conflict came down to miscommunication, and I wasn't a fan of that.
It was an okay read, but I wouldn't consider it mandatory reading as part of the series.

I received a free copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dawn]

Great novella for the events that happen between books 1 & 2 and I loved the insight into more of the side characters. The love between Jonas and Viggo was so joyful, however their journey in this is peppered with misunderstanding and miscommunication. Whilst it made me want to shake them both, I was glad to see them both communicating more healthily as they managed to make more time for each other. For anyone that has people-pleasing workaholic tendencies, they can surely emphasise with Jonas' struggles between his growing royal duties and making room for his partner. A beautiful epilogue for this relationship.

[Emily Hourihan]

I liked it. This is my first book from the author. I thought that it was a quick and easy novella. A nice romantic love story. I liked the romance and the writing was very intriguing. I will definitely read more from this author. I love the character driven story. I also think that I might read the rest of the series. Nothing was wrong with it. I wish I started with book one so that I could understand the world better. Overall, a great read. I want to thank behind the pages for giving me a chance to read the earc early.

[Kayla]

This one was an entertaining read that's quickly paced and will keep you on the edge of your seat with all that happens. I didn't know going in that so much would happen, and the high drama certainly kept me going from page to page, needing to know how it all came together. I enjoyed the characters and have already fallen in love with this world after the other books so this added to the enjoyment. The HEA was sweet and well deserved after everything, a satisfying conclusion to Jonas and Viggo's story.

[Fay]

3.5 stars

This is a sweet and spicy novella that takes place after the events of the first book, Frost and Death.

It follows Jonas, a prince and royal advisor to his brother, the king, and his boyfriend, Viggo, who’s a scribe.

I loved getting a closer look at these characters as Jonas struggles to balance his responsibilities and their relationship.

This was a lighter, feel-good read, with a few minor speed bumps along the way, that captured some sweet family moments and showed that, ultimately, love conquers all.

[Michie]

This was such a cute novella about Jonas and Viggo! I was so happy to get to see more of their story and it just had me kicking my feet with happiness.

Like the rest of the books in the Last of the Heirs series, the biggest theme is found family so I loved getting to see some of my favorite characters again (looking at you Beau). The pining and yearning between Viggo and Jonas was so good! Balancing work and relationships are hard, and it was so fun watching them find the best ways to handle both. I loved being back in this world and can’t wait for the next story!

[Diamanti]

Hello, people!
First of all, let me mention that this book is the #1.5 book in the series The Last of the Heirs.
The protagonists are Viggo and Jonas. Their relationship is tested quite a bit and their duty weakens them at times.
Although it is a novella, I think the characters are developed to a very good extent and the story has dynamics and tension.
As for the author's writing, it is sweet, tender, enjoyable and pleasant.

Many thanks to the author and PA @behindthepagespa for the eARC!

This is my honest review!

[Jade_Reads2019]

This book was a very welcome break from all my regular reading. I absolutely adored the characters and the scenery was perfect. I devoured this book within a few hours and had the best time. L.L Riley just does an immaculate job of making you feel all the cosy vibes. This one was very sweet and heart warming at its finest.
Thank you to the author & @behindthepagespa for providing an E-ARC, it’s been an absolute pleasure to read this ahead of time.

[Michelle Stewart]

I really like this series. I love that each book can survive on its own but reading them all brings the stories more depth.
I loved how much both Jonas and Viggo loved each other. They survived misunderstandings, fights and distance and still managed to make it work.
I did have a hard time with the nicknames. It felt weird to me. I did love their connection though so I guess nicknames come with that.
I received an advance review copy and these thoughts are my own.

[Angela Griffin]

I loved this quick little prequel novella. Jonas and Viggos story is so sweet, and I loved that it covered the resolution to Tove’s problem. As someone who is an over thinker and has to make sure everything is just right I could relate to Jonas a little, but I’m glad that boy got out of his head finally and learned how to delegate. Viggo is such a quiet sweetheart. 🥹 I received this an ARC of this book and am giving my honest review. Thank you!

[Amanda]

This is such a quick and sweet novella. I love Jonas and Viggo in this story. I read this in two sittings. I will say if you haven't read book 1 then you may be a little bit confused, but the main focus of the story is Jonas and Viggo's relationship. Jonas is the prince and royal advisor to his brother the King. He struggles to balance all of his duties and be there for his boyfriend, Viggo. Viggo is quiet and studious who understands that duty comes first but at some point even the most understanding person gets tired of always being second.

[Kayleigh Stelling]

This was such a beautiful story! I already loved all the characters from the other books in this series and it was great to get a little more of Jonas and Viggo. It was very short but still enjoyable and impactful. I related a lot to Jonas and his need to always be working. This was my first MM romance read and I think it’s a great choice to dip your toe in. I highly recommend Duty and Love as well as the rest of LL Riley’s writing.
4/5⭐️
1/5🌶️

[Dy’s Bookshelf]

This is usually my type of book, but I decided to give it a shot. It’s a cozy love story and I definitely clicked with the MMC who is a perfectionist and it harms his personal life… it’s a quick read with beautiful intimacy between the two male characters and a great display of family dynamics when things aren’t easy. If you’re looking for a good palette cleanser with feel good vibes and some crazy tension, definitely give this a read!