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Unbreakable Soldiers #1
The Engineered Throne
Lord Vellem is desperate to escape. His father hides from his problems in alcohol, his mother hides from her misery in drugs, and his brother fled to the relative safety of the royal palace. Vellem found solace in the Royal Army Corp of Engineers, but true escape from a life of violence remains out of reach.
Then his brother provides him with an unexpected chance: marriage to a prince of their country's oldest enemy to help bring about peace once and for all. The marriage promises Vellem not just a fresh start in a new land, but a challenge to his famed skills in building roads and bridges.
But before he can settle into his new life, tragedy strikes, and Vellem isn't certain he's up to rebuilding the ruin left in its wake.
Then his brother provides him with an unexpected chance: marriage to a prince of their country's oldest enemy to help bring about peace once and for all. The marriage promises Vellem not just a fresh start in a new land, but a challenge to his famed skills in building roads and bridges.
But before he can settle into his new life, tragedy strikes, and Vellem isn't certain he's up to rebuilding the ruin left in its wake.
349 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 12, 2013
66 people are currently reading
1752 people want to read
About the author
Megan Derr
281 books2,929 followersMegan is a long time resident of queer romance and keeps herself busy reading and writing it. She is often accused of fluff and nonsense. When she’s not involved in writing, she likes to cook, harass her wife and cats, or watch movies. She loves to hear from readers and can be found all over the internet.
meganderr.com
patreon.com/meganderr
meganderr.blogspot.com
facebook.com/meganaprilderr
meganaderr@gmail.com
@meganaderr
meganderr.com
patreon.com/meganderr
meganderr.blogspot.com
facebook.com/meganaprilderr
meganaderr@gmail.com
@meganaderr
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews
July 29, 2025
This is one of those books that makes me remember why I love these sorts of stories that feature political intrigue, court politics, fantasy elements and romance. I ATE THIS UP LIKE A THREE COURSE MEAL.
Lord Vellem, a esteemed Colonel of the Royal Army Corp of Engineers, enters into an arranged marriage with Prince Perdith, the youngest prince of an enemy kingdom, in an effort to escape a violent home and secure peace between the warring Kingdoms. Almost immediately, it becomes apparent that objections to the union exist and Vellum is subject to assassination attempts that continue to escalate.
Was this perfect? No… Was I entertained throughout? Absolutely. As is so often the case with Derr the writing is solid, and Derr is able to spin an engaging world and give the reader characters they can invest in.
I feel like I did a bit of a disservice to this book because i got about 7% of the way through when my reading slump hit and I put it down for a fortnight, but I am SO GLAD that I did, because when I have come back to it, I have DEMOLISHED IT in as close to a single sitting as I could get. As a result though I *think* this was a bit of a slow start, but lord knows if that was me or my mood at the time lol.
I have said before that Derr seems to have refined a particular type of angst lite that comes from a character feeling loneliness and isolation that is sourced from feelings of rejection, unrequited affection and self doubt that I enjoy thoroughly each time I encounter it. I thoroughly enjoyed Vellem and Perdith in this together and honestly didn’t even mind the instances of miscommunication because, given the circumstances, I think they were understandable. I feel like the romance here wasn’t really front and centre and was a little more sub-plotty but thats how I prefer it really so it worked for me.
I think in terms of world building, plot and characters this is easily the strongest I have seen from Derr. It’s rare that at the end of a first book of an interconnected stand alone series that I am so excited to roll straight on to the next book, but I am keen to binge this whole trilogy immediately!
Also dragons! That imprint on people! And are companions that behave like cats! I want thirty of them.
(Sorry to be AWOL but I am on vacay living my best life)
Lord Vellem, a esteemed Colonel of the Royal Army Corp of Engineers, enters into an arranged marriage with Prince Perdith, the youngest prince of an enemy kingdom, in an effort to escape a violent home and secure peace between the warring Kingdoms. Almost immediately, it becomes apparent that objections to the union exist and Vellum is subject to assassination attempts that continue to escalate.
Was this perfect? No… Was I entertained throughout? Absolutely. As is so often the case with Derr the writing is solid, and Derr is able to spin an engaging world and give the reader characters they can invest in.
I feel like I did a bit of a disservice to this book because i got about 7% of the way through when my reading slump hit and I put it down for a fortnight, but I am SO GLAD that I did, because when I have come back to it, I have DEMOLISHED IT in as close to a single sitting as I could get. As a result though I *think* this was a bit of a slow start, but lord knows if that was me or my mood at the time lol.
I have said before that Derr seems to have refined a particular type of angst lite that comes from a character feeling loneliness and isolation that is sourced from feelings of rejection, unrequited affection and self doubt that I enjoy thoroughly each time I encounter it. I thoroughly enjoyed Vellem and Perdith in this together and honestly didn’t even mind the instances of miscommunication because, given the circumstances, I think they were understandable. I feel like the romance here wasn’t really front and centre and was a little more sub-plotty but thats how I prefer it really so it worked for me.
I think in terms of world building, plot and characters this is easily the strongest I have seen from Derr. It’s rare that at the end of a first book of an interconnected stand alone series that I am so excited to roll straight on to the next book, but I am keen to binge this whole trilogy immediately!
Also dragons! That imprint on people! And are companions that behave like cats! I want thirty of them.
(Sorry to be AWOL but I am on vacay living my best life)
June 3, 2021
Really, really enjoyable, but marred by some poor copy-editing.
For people who like Megan Derr's writing (like me), this is exactly the kind of thing they like. It has a satisfyingly lengthy story, an arranged marriage, sabotage, war, dragons(!), and snark.
I loved the focus on engineering, and the pride Vellem took in the expertise of his men and himself.
This was first published as a serial, a format I detest since I am greedy and impatient, and which probably explains some of the dun-dun-DUN chapter endings and the really unnecessary squabble around the mid-point.
Editing issues aside, this may be one of my favourites by Derr.
For people who like Megan Derr's writing (like me), this is exactly the kind of thing they like. It has a satisfyingly lengthy story, an arranged marriage, sabotage, war, dragons(!), and snark.
I loved the focus on engineering, and the pride Vellem took in the expertise of his men and himself.
This was first published as a serial, a format I detest since I am greedy and impatient, and which probably explains some of the dun-dun-DUN chapter endings and the really unnecessary squabble around the mid-point.
Editing issues aside, this may be one of my favourites by Derr.
August 3, 2025
4.5 - Re-read because I’ve started book 3 and realised I have very fuzzy memories from reading this 5 years ago! This was fun to read again as I remembered very little so it really just felt like reading it for the first time. Book 3 is about Bertin so I lapped up every scene with him in it.
It’s been ages since my rabid Megan Derr phase but it was nice to get back into her distinctive fantasy world building and writing style. Here we have a blend of arranged political marriage, quietly swoony romance, court intrigue and a desperate need to save the kingdom. There are assassins, plotting, and one very cute mini dragon that seems to think it’s a cat.
This isn’t a sizzling, insta-love fantasy—it’s a slow build where the trust and loyalty slowly grows. Vellem is a great reluctant-hero type, he is clever but guarded and genuinely wants to do the right thing. Perdith is a bookish accountant/Prince, I liked the way we learnt about his feelings for Vellem. I think the mcs are well suited. I loved how slowly and realistically their love grows in the wake of tragedy - they aren’t jumping straight into sex scenes at inappropriate times. Their connection feels genuine.
Overall this is an imaginative, quietly satisfying read with a nice slow burn romance and a strong central plot. It’s been my favourite of the three books but they are all good reads and should definitely be read in order.
Initial read Sept 2020
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s been ages since my rabid Megan Derr phase but it was nice to get back into her distinctive fantasy world building and writing style. Here we have a blend of arranged political marriage, quietly swoony romance, court intrigue and a desperate need to save the kingdom. There are assassins, plotting, and one very cute mini dragon that seems to think it’s a cat.
This isn’t a sizzling, insta-love fantasy—it’s a slow build where the trust and loyalty slowly grows. Vellem is a great reluctant-hero type, he is clever but guarded and genuinely wants to do the right thing. Perdith is a bookish accountant/Prince, I liked the way we learnt about his feelings for Vellem. I think the mcs are well suited. I loved how slowly and realistically their love grows in the wake of tragedy - they aren’t jumping straight into sex scenes at inappropriate times. Their connection feels genuine.
Overall this is an imaginative, quietly satisfying read with a nice slow burn romance and a strong central plot. It’s been my favourite of the three books but they are all good reads and should definitely be read in order.
Initial read Sept 2020
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 16, 2013
2.5 stars
Sometimes, books are written to highlight a concept, a thing or a person. In this case, it's a military unit that in the US is called the Army Corps of Engineers. This is an important unit for any ground military operation: they make sure that the troops can cross the rivers, stay in good place, etc.
It's an interesting highlight; combined with monarch politics and bit of fantasy (in the form of dragons, but not more) it would have been right in my alley. The world is pseudo-historical, where there's no problem with m/m relations. A signature of Ms. Derr pseudo-historical books.
Unfortunately, what's missing here is the romance. The relationship between Vellem and Perdith is quite flat and cold. There's an effort to make it a bit angsty, but didn't really work for me.
I bought this for its m/m romance content. If I wanted to read fantasy book, there are many good fantasy books out there. As a fantasy book, it's okay. As a political fiction book, it's just so so. As a romance book, it's a meh.
But, this is Ms. Derr, so the writing is good. I did notice, though, that the writing is not that even. Perhaps because this was a serial?
Sometimes, books are written to highlight a concept, a thing or a person. In this case, it's a military unit that in the US is called the Army Corps of Engineers. This is an important unit for any ground military operation: they make sure that the troops can cross the rivers, stay in good place, etc.
It's an interesting highlight; combined with monarch politics and bit of fantasy (in the form of dragons, but not more) it would have been right in my alley. The world is pseudo-historical, where there's no problem with m/m relations. A signature of Ms. Derr pseudo-historical books.
Unfortunately, what's missing here is the romance. The relationship between Vellem and Perdith is quite flat and cold. There's an effort to make it a bit angsty, but didn't really work for me.
I bought this for its m/m romance content. If I wanted to read fantasy book, there are many good fantasy books out there. As a fantasy book, it's okay. As a political fiction book, it's just so so. As a romance book, it's a meh.
But, this is Ms. Derr, so the writing is good. I did notice, though, that the writing is not that even. Perhaps because this was a serial?
November 14, 2013
3.3 stars. A well written book, mostly action-driven and showing an intricately constructed plot. Vellem shined as a protagonist and had to cope with a lot of problems including from his close inner circle. However, I enjoy my stories with a properly developed romance which need not be erotically explicit - only credible. Here the romantic element was disappointing and seemed to become a rather poor afterthought.
On a more pleasant note, the highlights in the story for me were the moments Vellem spent with his incredibly cute pet dragon. Overall, an engaging plot that will appeal to many fans of the genre, despite the romance afterthought.
On a more pleasant note, the highlights in the story for me were the moments Vellem spent with his incredibly cute pet dragon. Overall, an engaging plot that will appeal to many fans of the genre, despite the romance afterthought.
March 10, 2015
This was an impressive fantasy tale. It's a slow burn, definitely, and the romance is more an extra flavor of intrigue than the main thrust of the plot, so to speak, but I like that. I liked Vellem, the main character, and I liked his husband even though we don't really get to know the real him for most of the book, since he's either not there or distorted with grieving. Lots of plotting, beautiful back story and world building make this a place I would love to return to.
But c'mon, why all the typos? Wrong words, misspellings, no no no. This is an awesome story that I read straight through, but the copy blemishes were jolting and pushed me out of the flow. 5 stars for story, 3 for technical execution, split the difference.
But c'mon, why all the typos? Wrong words, misspellings, no no no. This is an awesome story that I read straight through, but the copy blemishes were jolting and pushed me out of the flow. 5 stars for story, 3 for technical execution, split the difference.
November 16, 2013
I snapped this up when I saw some reviewers had given it 'enemies-to-lovers' and 'hurt/comfort' tags (two of my favourite tropes) but there was not enough of any of those things for my liking. A pleasant enough read but, it might have had more punch if there'd been a bit more sizzle and snark between the two MCs.
I also hate to say this about a Megan Derr book because I always wish her stories were longer, but I thought it a bit too long. I skimmed a fair bit.
I also hate to say this about a Megan Derr book because I always wish her stories were longer, but I thought it a bit too long. I skimmed a fair bit.
August 6, 2019
I was extremely disappointed by this. I usually really enjoy Megan Derr’s writing, but this did not click for me at all. I didn’t really get the characters, I didn’t understand the dynamic of Vellum and Perdith.
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dropped
April 28, 2015Dropped at 39%.
This started off as a very compelling and interesting read. There is quite a bit of world building involved in this story and the characters are full of personality. I loved a lot about the characters, the banter between them, the way Derr showed the closeness between them and the intricacies in their relationships. It was also nice that before we see Vellem get to Tallideth, before he ever meets his betrothed Prince Perdith, we are able to become acquainted with Vellem and get to know his own character, outside of the relationship. This better shows how his character is changed upon coming to Tallideth and how all the events there shape him.
Vellem is an engineer and a soldier first and foremost, he’s certainly no politician (which makes him much more relatable for me, personally, since I’m also no politician, although I know a bit more than even Vellem here which makes me feel pretty good). So he knows how to navigate a battlefield and how to protect himself and how to use caution when rational is needed over rashness and acting boldly (although sometimes he does allow himself to be ruled by emotion, but don’t we all?). Unfortunately, there really isn’t much action in the first third of the story despite how it makes you think, almost crave for there to be more action, a touch more suspense and intrigue. Vellem himself may not be particularly politically savvy, but he gradually comes to understand all the true implications his betrothal and marriage bring him as a foreigner marrying a prince, even if he is the fifth prince. But although Vellem is still learning and coming into a full understanding of his new position and life, this doesn’t excuse him from some important mistakes, mistakes that as a soldier and with some common sense he could rather easily avoid. I don't have any proof as I haven't gotten far enough to have the theory confirmed, but I suspect that this poor decision making on Vellem's part (sorta combined with someone else, but..) for keeping some guy around and not following through on the proper questioning is something that provides more conflict for the plot and I'm just not happy with that.
There are quite a few editing errors strewn about and some time jumps that could have been improved with at least a few more paragraphs for the transition (ex. the time jump from the journey across the mountains to suddenly arriving in Tallideth and getting off a ship. I can assume nothing important transpired during this time - have to, really - but it would be nice to not have those events simply bypassed beyond a single sentence describing the remainder of the journey as “uneventful past a bit of rain at the start”). And then there's what happens when Vellem gets to Tallideth: some more action that gives the plot more of a push, but very little of Vellem and Perdith's relationship. And while it makes sense that there wouldn't be any romance so soon upon finally meeting and that the two would be rather awkward around each other while they both try to find their footing, it still would have been nice to have a little more of the fledgling romance I'd been looking forward to getting. Unfortunately, due to events the romance just doesn't happen, at least not by 39%.
I haven’t been in much of a book reading mood lately, veering more toward the side of fanfiction (I guess since with fanfic I already know the characters, or at least the originals the fics are based on, so I don’t have to try and see if I like the new ones I’m reading about), but this one was still difficult to get into after a while. I found myself putting it down for hours at a time, a day, and being fine and almost having to make myself pick it back up, reminding myself that I was currently reading it as part of a challenge and that there were yet more to read after completing this one. But once I did start reading again I would be fine for a while, reading a few chapters and putting it down for a bit again, as you can see by my status updates.
In the end I don’t know how to feel about this one. There was a lot I liked and some I felt put off by. This certainly isn’t my favorite my Megan Derr but as I already know her from her stories Deceived of Deceived and Other Tales(back when it was available for free online on her website alongside other stories, but I think it all got taken down?) and Blood in the Water this isn’t a story to put me off reading her again.Actually I think since the two I've already read are both shorts, while this was quite a long novel, that the story length difference also had something to do with my level of enjoyment.
This started off as a very compelling and interesting read. There is quite a bit of world building involved in this story and the characters are full of personality. I loved a lot about the characters, the banter between them, the way Derr showed the closeness between them and the intricacies in their relationships. It was also nice that before we see Vellem get to Tallideth, before he ever meets his betrothed Prince Perdith, we are able to become acquainted with Vellem and get to know his own character, outside of the relationship. This better shows how his character is changed upon coming to Tallideth and how all the events there shape him.
Vellem is an engineer and a soldier first and foremost, he’s certainly no politician (which makes him much more relatable for me, personally, since I’m also no politician, although I know a bit more than even Vellem here which makes me feel pretty good). So he knows how to navigate a battlefield and how to protect himself and how to use caution when rational is needed over rashness and acting boldly (although sometimes he does allow himself to be ruled by emotion, but don’t we all?). Unfortunately, there really isn’t much action in the first third of the story despite how it makes you think, almost crave for there to be more action, a touch more suspense and intrigue. Vellem himself may not be particularly politically savvy, but he gradually comes to understand all the true implications his betrothal and marriage bring him as a foreigner marrying a prince, even if he is the fifth prince. But although Vellem is still learning and coming into a full understanding of his new position and life, this doesn’t excuse him from some important mistakes, mistakes that as a soldier and with some common sense he could rather easily avoid. I don't have any proof as I haven't gotten far enough to have the theory confirmed, but I suspect that this poor decision making on Vellem's part (sorta combined with someone else, but..) for keeping some guy around and not following through on the proper questioning is something that provides more conflict for the plot and I'm just not happy with that.
There are quite a few editing errors strewn about and some time jumps that could have been improved with at least a few more paragraphs for the transition (ex. the time jump from the journey across the mountains to suddenly arriving in Tallideth and getting off a ship. I can assume nothing important transpired during this time - have to, really - but it would be nice to not have those events simply bypassed beyond a single sentence describing the remainder of the journey as “uneventful past a bit of rain at the start”). And then there's what happens when Vellem gets to Tallideth: some more action that gives the plot more of a push, but very little of Vellem and Perdith's relationship. And while it makes sense that there wouldn't be any romance so soon upon finally meeting and that the two would be rather awkward around each other while they both try to find their footing, it still would have been nice to have a little more of the fledgling romance I'd been looking forward to getting. Unfortunately, due to events the romance just doesn't happen, at least not by 39%.
I haven’t been in much of a book reading mood lately, veering more toward the side of fanfiction (I guess since with fanfic I already know the characters, or at least the originals the fics are based on, so I don’t have to try and see if I like the new ones I’m reading about), but this one was still difficult to get into after a while. I found myself putting it down for hours at a time, a day, and being fine and almost having to make myself pick it back up, reminding myself that I was currently reading it as part of a challenge and that there were yet more to read after completing this one. But once I did start reading again I would be fine for a while, reading a few chapters and putting it down for a bit again, as you can see by my status updates.
In the end I don’t know how to feel about this one. There was a lot I liked and some I felt put off by. This certainly isn’t my favorite my Megan Derr but as I already know her from her stories Deceived of Deceived and Other Tales(back when it was available for free online on her website alongside other stories, but I think it all got taken down?) and Blood in the Water this isn’t a story to put me off reading her again.
December 23, 2016
3.5 (4.0) Stars
I enjoyed this story. I am a Megan Derr fan and I thoroughly enjoy her fantasy novels. This book is no exception. She develops interesting characters and engages the reader in riveting worlds.
I loved reading about Vallem and his eventual love affair with Perdith. Granted, Perdith really stuck his foot in it a couple times and I was livid with him for how he treated Vallem but I got over it.
Bottom line: Interesting start to an engaging series. I'm moving on to book 2.
I enjoyed this story. I am a Megan Derr fan and I thoroughly enjoy her fantasy novels. This book is no exception. She develops interesting characters and engages the reader in riveting worlds.
I loved reading about Vallem and his eventual love affair with Perdith. Granted, Perdith really stuck his foot in it a couple times and I was livid with him for how he treated Vallem but I got over it.
Bottom line: Interesting start to an engaging series. I'm moving on to book 2.
March 6, 2017
3.5 stars
So yes, took a while for the story to really capture my attention but the rest was good!
So yes, took a while for the story to really capture my attention but the rest was good!
October 25, 2016
Now, first things first: OMG THAT CUTE AND ADORBS DRAGON. ALL THE HEART EYES. I WANTS IT. Ahhhhhhhh. Seriously, though, this book has the best dragon I’ve ever read about. He’s still a small one, and he’s so quirky and knows exactly what he wants—which is Vellem as his friend—and he cuddles and is territorial. I love him so much, and if there is a thing I have to complain about in this book, it is that there could be more of him. When he appeared the first time my whole face—stricke that, my whole being—came alive with joy. As you can see, I’m still very much in love with him.
Now that this is out of the way, The Engineered Throne is simply all you could hope for in a romantic high fantasy. As my kinda-excessive tags for this book show, there is war between kingdoms and, um, all kinds of violence with regard to it, if that’s your thing; there’s intrigue and betrayal, and there’s an arranged marriage mixed into all of this. The romance definitely plays an important role, but it only becomes more prominent in the second half of the book, and one could say that it rather complements the rest of the story than being the focus of it. I didn’t mind that at all and really enjoyed spending so much time with Vellem, the protagonist from whose point of view the story is told.
As I’ve come to enjoy in the author’s books before, I like that there is so much banter and humour in all the interactions and way less formality than you usually encounter in high fantasy. I find that so refreshing and way more fun. There are a few very well fleshed out secondary characters who contribute to the story and I look very much forward to the next books (The Painted Crown is coming out November 15). Actually, I cannot wait. Although I fear, there will be less of my dragon. *pouts*
Where was I? Anyway, Vellem is a very likeable character and I had a great time reading his story. He is accessible, honest and smart, but also a little insecure, and he and Perdith both need to work on their communication skills. But, under the circumstances of the very unideal start of their relationship and all that is going on in the kingdom, I really think that it’s very realistic and not some unnecessarily added angst, which is not my thing at all. Honestly, their romance thing is not anything close to smooth, and man, I was really cross with Perdith at one point, but whenever they connect, it is really lovely and charming and those kisses and… *sigh* Yeah, I really liked that.
What I didn’t like, however, is the less stellar proofing in this book. There were words missing or wrong words in the wrong places, to the extent that it took me out of the story and I had to figure out what I was reading a few times. This book could have easily been a 4.5 star read, but since I couldn’t ignore it while reading, I can’t ignore this for my rating.
Nevertheless, I recommend this book, because it is great and, wait for it, has the best dragon ;-) Enjoy!
____________________________________
Genre: High Fantasy, Romance
Tags: M/M, Gay, Arranged Marriage, Dragons, Warring Kingdoms, Intrigue/Treason
Content Warnings: Violence, Assassination, (Mass) Murder, Execution, Death of Secondary Characters, PTSD, Disabling Injury, Domestic Abuse (Off-Page), Several Mentions and Small-ish Descriptions of Past Child Abuse, Alcoholism (Father)
Rating: 4 stars
Blog: Review for Just Love Romance
Now that this is out of the way, The Engineered Throne is simply all you could hope for in a romantic high fantasy. As my kinda-excessive tags for this book show, there is war between kingdoms and, um, all kinds of violence with regard to it, if that’s your thing; there’s intrigue and betrayal, and there’s an arranged marriage mixed into all of this. The romance definitely plays an important role, but it only becomes more prominent in the second half of the book, and one could say that it rather complements the rest of the story than being the focus of it. I didn’t mind that at all and really enjoyed spending so much time with Vellem, the protagonist from whose point of view the story is told.
As I’ve come to enjoy in the author’s books before, I like that there is so much banter and humour in all the interactions and way less formality than you usually encounter in high fantasy. I find that so refreshing and way more fun. There are a few very well fleshed out secondary characters who contribute to the story and I look very much forward to the next books (The Painted Crown is coming out November 15). Actually, I cannot wait. Although I fear, there will be less of my dragon. *pouts*
Where was I? Anyway, Vellem is a very likeable character and I had a great time reading his story. He is accessible, honest and smart, but also a little insecure, and he and Perdith both need to work on their communication skills. But, under the circumstances of the very unideal start of their relationship and all that is going on in the kingdom, I really think that it’s very realistic and not some unnecessarily added angst, which is not my thing at all. Honestly, their romance thing is not anything close to smooth, and man, I was really cross with Perdith at one point, but whenever they connect, it is really lovely and charming and those kisses and… *sigh* Yeah, I really liked that.
What I didn’t like, however, is the less stellar proofing in this book. There were words missing or wrong words in the wrong places, to the extent that it took me out of the story and I had to figure out what I was reading a few times. This book could have easily been a 4.5 star read, but since I couldn’t ignore it while reading, I can’t ignore this for my rating.
Nevertheless, I recommend this book, because it is great and, wait for it, has the best dragon ;-) Enjoy!
____________________________________
Genre: High Fantasy, Romance
Tags: M/M, Gay, Arranged Marriage, Dragons, Warring Kingdoms, Intrigue/Treason
Content Warnings: Violence, Assassination, (Mass) Murder, Execution, Death of Secondary Characters, PTSD, Disabling Injury, Domestic Abuse (Off-Page), Several Mentions and Small-ish Descriptions of Past Child Abuse, Alcoholism (Father)
Rating: 4 stars
Blog: Review for Just Love Romance
September 4, 2021
Another win for me.
I love spending time in Megan Derrs worlds.
This one was as interesting as I expected, but rather sad too. While I enjoyed all the plotting and mystery, I felt I missed out on a little bit of closure. I really wanted the nurse to be found and held accountable for her actions, out of everyone she caused me the most anger. I must say I quite like Vellems no nonsense approach to justice.
The love side to this was there, but in a gentle and slow build. Although I would of liked to see a few more tender moments before things fell apart, it would of helped me believe in their love just a little more.
I really would love to see a book two with Bertin and Kestel, and then maybe we could see a few more bad guys caught and imprisoned.
My only complaint was the lack of page time for Krisanta, he was such a cutie.
ETA I still wish there was closure with the nurse, but still a good if sad read.
ETA See above
I love spending time in Megan Derrs worlds.
This one was as interesting as I expected, but rather sad too. While I enjoyed all the plotting and mystery, I felt I missed out on a little bit of closure. I really wanted the nurse to be found and held accountable for her actions, out of everyone she caused me the most anger. I must say I quite like Vellems no nonsense approach to justice.
The love side to this was there, but in a gentle and slow build. Although I would of liked to see a few more tender moments before things fell apart, it would of helped me believe in their love just a little more.
I really would love to see a book two with Bertin and Kestel, and then maybe we could see a few more bad guys caught and imprisoned.
My only complaint was the lack of page time for Krisanta, he was such a cutie.
ETA I still wish there was closure with the nurse, but still a good if sad read.
ETA See above
May 5, 2015
Enjoyed this story a lot. The arranged marriage setting is great and the political intrigue is very good. As far as plot a couple of things sure work out too conveniently to set up the story and set up the end.
Perdith is a bit mercurial for my taste and surprisingly Vellen is at times too passive. My only real grudge however was with the time jumps in the story. I don't begrudge that they exist but they are so sudden sometimes it took me a few minutes to figure out what had happened. It makes trying to keep a timeline of what's going on very hard.
Perdith is a bit mercurial for my taste and surprisingly Vellen is at times too passive. My only real grudge however was with the time jumps in the story. I don't begrudge that they exist but they are so sudden sometimes it took me a few minutes to figure out what had happened. It makes trying to keep a timeline of what's going on very hard.
November 16, 2013
For a tense read about the political intrigue of countries planning to go to war against each other, this was quite gentle and thoughtful.
I loved the accepted reality of the men becoming husbands. It seemed their sexual preferences determined their chosen (albeit arranged) partner and no more was said about it.
I also liked that there was not an instant lust between Vellum and Perdith. Their attraction grew from mutual respect and admittedly from some fairly dire circumstances, and it really did take ages to build up to the smexy.
I found this absorbing and intriguing.
I loved the accepted reality of the men becoming husbands. It seemed their sexual preferences determined their chosen (albeit arranged) partner and no more was said about it.
I also liked that there was not an instant lust between Vellum and Perdith. Their attraction grew from mutual respect and admittedly from some fairly dire circumstances, and it really did take ages to build up to the smexy.
I found this absorbing and intriguing.
February 11, 2020
Editing issues aside (though there were many) I really enjoyed this book. I liked Vellem, and although Perdith had some less than stellar moments and really hurt Vellem, I was glad Vellem was able to forgive him.
I would have liked to see more of the battles rather than just getting an accounting of the aftermath, but there was a lot to this book and that would have just made it that much longer. I liked the addition of the dragon, though he got lost at times and could have played a much bigger role.
Overall a nice fantasy story of political intrigue.
I would have liked to see more of the battles rather than just getting an accounting of the aftermath, but there was a lot to this book and that would have just made it that much longer. I liked the addition of the dragon, though he got lost at times and could have played a much bigger role.
Overall a nice fantasy story of political intrigue.
August 5, 2022
DNF @ 13%
This was the first Megan Derr book I tried and it didn't go well. The part I read was almost entirely world building with the characters doing things and going to places purely to show off different parts of their world, rather than advancing the plot. The second MC was nowhere in sight by 13% and the slow, plodding pace indicated it would be a while until he showed up, which isn't what I want in a romance.
I also got irritated by the flat, emotionless writing. The boring info-dumpy pace was finally interrupted by . I thought these things would shake up the boring slog, but no. In particular, Vellem reacts with very little concern over these situations and goes right back to casual chit-chat with side characters. We're told the police have been called, but the investigation happens off-page (if it happens at all) and after spending two seconds trying to identify and failing, Vellem moves on as if these things never happened. He's not shaken up, disturbed, frightened, concerned, upset or anything other than his normal cheerful self. Vellem's strange reaction made me lose confidence in the story and the writing.
Another annoyance was the overuse of made-up profanity, which were used excessively by most characters. Most of the phrases were modern day slang that just had words replaced to fit into the fantasy setting, which felt lazy to me. For example: 'for God's sake' became 'for Blue Lady's sake', 'what in the name of God' became 'what in the name of the White Lady' or 'what in the name of the Moons' or 'what in the name of the Pantheon'. The author's favorite phrase seemed to be 'fuck me twice', which was used constantly. But the one that made me drop the story was used when Vellum was bathing and got interrupted by news of a message. The author changes 'to hell with bathing' into 'to Depths with bathing', which I had to puzzle over for a while until I understood what the author was trying to say. Not only was this whole aspect overdone to the point of distraction, but it felt lazy and kind of cringey.
Sealing the book's fate for me was the sloppy writing style, which included missing words and typos that were bad enough to throw me out of the story. Clearly, the author is wonderful at world building, but her writing style and her storytelling style aren't for me.
This was the first Megan Derr book I tried and it didn't go well. The part I read was almost entirely world building with the characters doing things and going to places purely to show off different parts of their world, rather than advancing the plot. The second MC was nowhere in sight by 13% and the slow, plodding pace indicated it would be a while until he showed up, which isn't what I want in a romance.
I also got irritated by the flat, emotionless writing. The boring info-dumpy pace was finally interrupted by . I thought these things would shake up the boring slog, but no. In particular, Vellem reacts with very little concern over these situations and goes right back to casual chit-chat with side characters. We're told the police have been called, but the investigation happens off-page (if it happens at all) and after spending two seconds trying to identify and failing, Vellem moves on as if these things never happened. He's not shaken up, disturbed, frightened, concerned, upset or anything other than his normal cheerful self. Vellem's strange reaction made me lose confidence in the story and the writing.
Another annoyance was the overuse of made-up profanity, which were used excessively by most characters. Most of the phrases were modern day slang that just had words replaced to fit into the fantasy setting, which felt lazy to me. For example: 'for God's sake' became 'for Blue Lady's sake', 'what in the name of God' became 'what in the name of the White Lady' or 'what in the name of the Moons' or 'what in the name of the Pantheon'. The author's favorite phrase seemed to be 'fuck me twice', which was used constantly. But the one that made me drop the story was used when Vellum was bathing and got interrupted by news of a message. The author changes 'to hell with bathing' into 'to Depths with bathing', which I had to puzzle over for a while until I understood what the author was trying to say. Not only was this whole aspect overdone to the point of distraction, but it felt lazy and kind of cringey.
Sealing the book's fate for me was the sloppy writing style, which included missing words and typos that were bad enough to throw me out of the story. Clearly, the author is wonderful at world building, but her writing style and her storytelling style aren't for me.
April 13, 2025
Lovely read that got a lot heavier than expected.
Read the review on the blog!
Content warnings include: violence, PTSD, war situations, events that can be compared to modern day terrorist attacks, amputation, domestic abuse, child abuse, execution, hostage situations, attempted assassination.
In The Engineered Throne, Colonel Vellem of the Royal Army Corp of Engineers is sent into the enemy country to marry the youngest prince as an act of peace.
But someone really doesn't want the marriage to take place, making more and more complications and threats arise only to culminate in a horrific event that changes everything.
From the very start it's clear that this is not a light-hearted book. Vellem's father, a Duke who has fallen from grace, is a violent and abusive alcoholic, while his mother is spends most of the time drugged out of her mind. Luckily he has a brother, Koit, with whom he has a very close and loving relationship despite their frequent ribbing and cursing each other - though Koit spends most of his time away in the palace in the role of a minister.
There are several arcs about overcoming various forms of trauma, loss, grief and completely being thrown off one's track in the most drastic fashion - and to get there, the horrible things have to happen first, and I had trouble holding back tears quite a few times while reading.
But there are hints of light as well: the story takes place on a fantasy continent where swords are used but guns and explosives are common - but there are also dragons. They don't have a terribly huge role, but a small one becomes Vellem's almost permanent companion, and he is the cutest thing. I liked the contrast of fantasy elements mixed with the engineering and general science aspects, though I will also admit that there are a lot of details missing in the woldbuilding, and things do not always make perfect sense.
I liked the political intrigue part of the plot, with Vellem not being an experienced or entirely willing player himself but nevertheless forced to get involved - either way, he's always determined to do his best, and he isn't incompetent.
Various side characters stand by his side, like his brother Koit, his secretive and ominously competent cadet Bertin, and Perdith, the accountant prince Vellem is arranged to marry.
There is a bit of romance between the two, but it's not a biggest part - the focus is more on how Vellem wants to be content with his new husband and share a mutual understanding and respect rather than fall madly in love. This notion is returned by Perdith, but circumstances make this not as easy as it seems, and then of course there's Vellem's reputation that precedes him way more than he every imagined...
While I did greatly enjoy this, there are also plenty of flaws. The interpersonal drama is quite overplayed at parts, and a bit melodramatic, and is not always paced perfectly. This played into the super emotional parts of the novel and may have been done deliberately, but you really have to just go along with the flow in order to not get a bit sick of it.
As I mentioned before, the worldbuilding also isn't the most elaborate. I loved the base ideas, and on a surface level it holds up, but there really isn't much depth to it, and some of the details are not well thought out or almost seem contradictory? The biggest example of that are the dragons - most that are encountered on page are really small, yet there seem to be bigger ones, but the distinction of size, how many there are, where they come from, their role in the military, etc., is never brought up.
The book is also in desperate need of editing, at least the version I bought. While I personally think there could be some tweaks to the pacing that would improve it, the much more glaring problem are the many, many spelling errors.
But for all those complaints, I still had a great time with this! I loved the plot, the drama, the characters, and how emotional and hard hitting it was.
Overall a great arranged marriage fantasy novel with interesting characters and a tear-jerking, exciting and engaging plot.
Read the review on the blog!
Content warnings include: violence, PTSD, war situations, events that can be compared to modern day terrorist attacks, amputation, domestic abuse, child abuse, execution, hostage situations, attempted assassination.
In The Engineered Throne, Colonel Vellem of the Royal Army Corp of Engineers is sent into the enemy country to marry the youngest prince as an act of peace.
But someone really doesn't want the marriage to take place, making more and more complications and threats arise only to culminate in a horrific event that changes everything.
From the very start it's clear that this is not a light-hearted book. Vellem's father, a Duke who has fallen from grace, is a violent and abusive alcoholic, while his mother is spends most of the time drugged out of her mind. Luckily he has a brother, Koit, with whom he has a very close and loving relationship despite their frequent ribbing and cursing each other - though Koit spends most of his time away in the palace in the role of a minister.
There are several arcs about overcoming various forms of trauma, loss, grief and completely being thrown off one's track in the most drastic fashion - and to get there, the horrible things have to happen first, and I had trouble holding back tears quite a few times while reading.
But there are hints of light as well: the story takes place on a fantasy continent where swords are used but guns and explosives are common - but there are also dragons. They don't have a terribly huge role, but a small one becomes Vellem's almost permanent companion, and he is the cutest thing. I liked the contrast of fantasy elements mixed with the engineering and general science aspects, though I will also admit that there are a lot of details missing in the woldbuilding, and things do not always make perfect sense.
I liked the political intrigue part of the plot, with Vellem not being an experienced or entirely willing player himself but nevertheless forced to get involved - either way, he's always determined to do his best, and he isn't incompetent.
Various side characters stand by his side, like his brother Koit, his secretive and ominously competent cadet Bertin, and Perdith, the accountant prince Vellem is arranged to marry.
There is a bit of romance between the two, but it's not a biggest part - the focus is more on how Vellem wants to be content with his new husband and share a mutual understanding and respect rather than fall madly in love. This notion is returned by Perdith, but circumstances make this not as easy as it seems, and then of course there's Vellem's reputation that precedes him way more than he every imagined...
While I did greatly enjoy this, there are also plenty of flaws. The interpersonal drama is quite overplayed at parts, and a bit melodramatic, and is not always paced perfectly. This played into the super emotional parts of the novel and may have been done deliberately, but you really have to just go along with the flow in order to not get a bit sick of it.
As I mentioned before, the worldbuilding also isn't the most elaborate. I loved the base ideas, and on a surface level it holds up, but there really isn't much depth to it, and some of the details are not well thought out or almost seem contradictory? The biggest example of that are the dragons - most that are encountered on page are really small, yet there seem to be bigger ones, but the distinction of size, how many there are, where they come from, their role in the military, etc., is never brought up.
The book is also in desperate need of editing, at least the version I bought. While I personally think there could be some tweaks to the pacing that would improve it, the much more glaring problem are the many, many spelling errors.
But for all those complaints, I still had a great time with this! I loved the plot, the drama, the characters, and how emotional and hard hitting it was.
Overall a great arranged marriage fantasy novel with interesting characters and a tear-jerking, exciting and engaging plot.
July 23, 2014
I have kind of mixed feelings about this, so I'll just jot down some thoughts about a few different things.
The romance:
This was much more fantasy than romance. I liked Vellem a lot as I got to know him over the course of the book, but I never really felt much chemistry between him and Perdith. There were times when I didn't understand why Perdith was treating Vellem poorly and since the whole book was from Vellem's point of view I never really got a good explanation. Vellem forgave Perdith but I didn't really, so I wasn't satisfied when they finally got together. They spend very little page time actually together and I thought the resolution of their problems happened too easily and quickly. I did like Perdith though, so I wasn't entirely dissatisfied.
The fantasy:
I liked the fantasy elements, but there were lots of things I really wanted more detail on. . I was never confused during the story, but I guess I liked the world enough to want to know everything about it. I would read a sequel, especially if it was about who I thought had hilarious, bickering chemistry, although I don't know how that would work since . Ok, now I'm just being silly.
The writing:
I thought it flowed fairly well, but gosh, those typos! There were missing words and extra words left and right. Also tons of typos that resulted in real words that weren't the right word for the context, like "sent" where "scent" was correct, or "vial" for "vile." That definitely tripped me up while reading.
On sex and dragons:
There was very little of both.
So, I liked it, but it is definitely not my favorite by this author.
The romance:
This was much more fantasy than romance. I liked Vellem a lot as I got to know him over the course of the book, but I never really felt much chemistry between him and Perdith. There were times when I didn't understand why Perdith was treating Vellem poorly and since the whole book was from Vellem's point of view I never really got a good explanation. Vellem forgave Perdith but I didn't really, so I wasn't satisfied when they finally got together. They spend very little page time actually together and I thought the resolution of their problems happened too easily and quickly. I did like Perdith though, so I wasn't entirely dissatisfied.
The fantasy:
I liked the fantasy elements, but there were lots of things I really wanted more detail on. . I was never confused during the story, but I guess I liked the world enough to want to know everything about it. I would read a sequel, especially if it was about who I thought had hilarious, bickering chemistry, although I don't know how that would work since . Ok, now I'm just being silly.
The writing:
I thought it flowed fairly well, but gosh, those typos! There were missing words and extra words left and right. Also tons of typos that resulted in real words that weren't the right word for the context, like "sent" where "scent" was correct, or "vial" for "vile." That definitely tripped me up while reading.
On sex and dragons:
There was very little of both.
So, I liked it, but it is definitely not my favorite by this author.
January 13, 2015
Where do I start.
A good editor could have truly helped this book; getting rid of 'twice cursed' this or other every third page.
I tried. I really did. Until I could not any more.
The story was there, always just out of reach.
A good editor could have truly helped this book; getting rid of 'twice cursed' this or other every third page.
I tried. I really did. Until I could not any more.
The story was there, always just out of reach.
December 8, 2013
Loved everything about this except for the fact that the romance part fell flat for me. I just wasn't feeling it between the two MCs. (which is unfortunate because I'm a huge fan of this author)
December 30, 2022
Meh. Uneven world building, ridiculous plot and even worse, main characters that I didn't care about.
January 16, 2022
I really liked the politics and military plot, so it balanced out the weaker romance. I never felt the emotional connection there, but I enjoyed everything that was going on around it.
February 24, 2014
This review can be found at The Blogger Girls review site.
4.5 stars
On the recommendation of his brother, Lord Vellem from Belemere is arranged to marry Prince Perdith of Tallideth in an attempt to end the war between the two countries. With peace in sight and the wedding only months away, things take a decidedly bad turn when more than one attempt on Vellem’s life is made, pushing the marriage to happen sooner than desired. Unfortunately, that doesn’t stop tragedy from striking again in a way that changes both Vellam and Perdith’s lives. Now with more responsibilities then they ever thought they’d have, they both have to get accustomed to not only ruling a kingdom but having a stranger as a husband.
Well, this was not the story I was expecting! To be honest, I was thinking this would be closer to steampunk themed than fantasy but how wrong I was! This book had so much happening and so much loss that it was very tragic and heart-wrenching at times. It’s filled with betrayal and suspicion and just when things start looking up, something happens that brings everyones’ hostilities back up and makes things way more tense then they were to begin with. Yes, I am purposely being vague! LOL. But this is the type of book that is enjoyed much more when you experience the revealing at the same time as the characters. It’s a great book and an even better journey especially if you love fantasies.
Speaking of the characters, there will be readers that don’t like Perdith for the way he acts but it was easy for me to understand him and what he’s been through. Originally low-key and wrapped up in numbers, he’s forced to bring out the King in himself and change in a way that others will respect. Underneath it all, he��s still shy and nervous but lets Vellem see his wild and care-free side in bed. At the same time, Vellem is this lowly soldier that doesn’t understand politics even though he knows his war strategies. He’s been through a lot and while he might be clueless in being Regent, he knows how to demolish and rebuild structures. The two together are a force to be reckoned with and brings truth to the saying, “Two heads are better than one”.
My only issues with this story was that it needed more editing. There were a lot of typos and punctuation errors not to mention Vellem’s dragon, Krisanta, (who is just so lovable and amazing!) tended to be forgotten a lot then would show up out of the blue. Also, some chapters picked up weeks/months after certain events were trying to be decided. It was a tad confusing because I couldn’t figure out exactly how much time had passed and I really would have liked to see some of these scenes played out so that we could see when/how plans were formed. I am left with one question that was never answered, though. How in the world are Vellem and Perdith supposed to produce an heir that’s of BOTH their bloods?! Am I sensing a sequel?? With hopefully mpreg?! Oh, yeah, I went there, people!
Beside that, this was an amazing book. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Ms. Derr writes fantastic fantasies that I can’t get enough of. It still amazes me with how much she’s written that she can come up with unique worlds and this one is no different. If you enjoy a good fantasy with some mystery, deception, a little angst, great characters and an amazing world, give this one a try. It’s definitely not worth missing!
4.5 stars
On the recommendation of his brother, Lord Vellem from Belemere is arranged to marry Prince Perdith of Tallideth in an attempt to end the war between the two countries. With peace in sight and the wedding only months away, things take a decidedly bad turn when more than one attempt on Vellem’s life is made, pushing the marriage to happen sooner than desired. Unfortunately, that doesn’t stop tragedy from striking again in a way that changes both Vellam and Perdith’s lives. Now with more responsibilities then they ever thought they’d have, they both have to get accustomed to not only ruling a kingdom but having a stranger as a husband.
Well, this was not the story I was expecting! To be honest, I was thinking this would be closer to steampunk themed than fantasy but how wrong I was! This book had so much happening and so much loss that it was very tragic and heart-wrenching at times. It’s filled with betrayal and suspicion and just when things start looking up, something happens that brings everyones’ hostilities back up and makes things way more tense then they were to begin with. Yes, I am purposely being vague! LOL. But this is the type of book that is enjoyed much more when you experience the revealing at the same time as the characters. It’s a great book and an even better journey especially if you love fantasies.
Speaking of the characters, there will be readers that don’t like Perdith for the way he acts but it was easy for me to understand him and what he’s been through. Originally low-key and wrapped up in numbers, he’s forced to bring out the King in himself and change in a way that others will respect. Underneath it all, he��s still shy and nervous but lets Vellem see his wild and care-free side in bed. At the same time, Vellem is this lowly soldier that doesn’t understand politics even though he knows his war strategies. He’s been through a lot and while he might be clueless in being Regent, he knows how to demolish and rebuild structures. The two together are a force to be reckoned with and brings truth to the saying, “Two heads are better than one”.
My only issues with this story was that it needed more editing. There were a lot of typos and punctuation errors not to mention Vellem’s dragon, Krisanta, (who is just so lovable and amazing!) tended to be forgotten a lot then would show up out of the blue. Also, some chapters picked up weeks/months after certain events were trying to be decided. It was a tad confusing because I couldn’t figure out exactly how much time had passed and I really would have liked to see some of these scenes played out so that we could see when/how plans were formed. I am left with one question that was never answered, though. How in the world are Vellem and Perdith supposed to produce an heir that’s of BOTH their bloods?! Am I sensing a sequel?? With hopefully mpreg?! Oh, yeah, I went there, people!
Beside that, this was an amazing book. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Ms. Derr writes fantastic fantasies that I can’t get enough of. It still amazes me with how much she’s written that she can come up with unique worlds and this one is no different. If you enjoy a good fantasy with some mystery, deception, a little angst, great characters and an amazing world, give this one a try. It’s definitely not worth missing!
February 28, 2024
4.5 stars - This is not a love story, this is a war story. Death, tragedy, betrayal, distrust, politics, murder, disfigurement, miscommunication, war... It's not a happy story.
And still, though it made me cry and mourn with the characters, I enjoyed it very much. There is not much detailed violence and the focus is mostly on Vellem trying not succumb to despair while managing an ever bigger growing crisis and his at times rather dire personal life. You feel how tired he is, desperately trying his best to help and not give up hope. You see the different reactions the characters have to the events, and how they all struggle with it (how the stress builds and their reactions become more emotional), doing their best in a dire situation. It's a beautiful and sad story. And though it did make me cry a little, I wasn't sad after reading it, it felt real that characters actually died and got hurt and the ending was one of tired hope and the possibility of a happy future.
There is one point I have to criticise (besides the editing, I expected better): many things and characters were glossed over and I would have liked to read more about them .
The first time I rated it five stars, the second time I lean more towards four stars, the third time it's five stars again.
And still, though it made me cry and mourn with the characters, I enjoyed it very much. There is not much detailed violence and the focus is mostly on Vellem trying not succumb to despair while managing an ever bigger growing crisis and his at times rather dire personal life. You feel how tired he is, desperately trying his best to help and not give up hope. You see the different reactions the characters have to the events, and how they all struggle with it (how the stress builds and their reactions become more emotional), doing their best in a dire situation. It's a beautiful and sad story. And though it did make me cry a little, I wasn't sad after reading it, it felt real that characters actually died and got hurt and the ending was one of tired hope and the possibility of a happy future.
There is one point I have to criticise (besides the editing, I expected better): many things and characters were glossed over and I would have liked to read more about them .
The first time I rated it five stars, the second time I lean more towards four stars, the third time it's five stars again.
April 21, 2021
Finally done. I liked the premise but not the execution. It really needed better (copy-) editing for one and was really boring in parts. What bothered me most was that the romance seemed really toxic to me. Vellem has been abused by his father his whole life and then his new husband decides to hit him, give him the silent treatment because 'Vellem didn't talk to him about something,' belittles Vellem and all he's done for the kingdom while his husband was still unconscious. Sorry, but that is not just 'miscommunication', that's behaving like an ass at best and abuse and gaslighting at worst. Yes, Perdith grieves for his family but it's not really big part of the story and while Vellem is quick to allow it as an excuse, it's never really resolved/discussed. There is no emotional intimacy between them because they only meet halfway through the book and then spend most of their time not talking to each other. So when they finally 'clear up their misunderstandings' it feels forced and fake for the sake of 'but it's supposed to be a romance'.
The dragon was cute but sadly didn't save it for me. I was hoping the sequel would focus on Bertin, probably my favourite character, but since it doesn't I think that's it for me and this series.
The dragon was cute but sadly didn't save it for me. I was hoping the sequel would focus on Bertin, probably my favourite character, but since it doesn't I think that's it for me and this series.
December 5, 2022
Ein Roman, den ich aufgrund seiner Charaktere immer wieder gerne lese.
Vellem ist Sohn einer Grafen und Anführer einer Truppe von Ingenieuren in der Armee von Belemere. Als ausgerechnet er ausgewählt wird, Perdith, den jüngsten Prinzen von Tallideth, zu heiraten, um endlich Frieden zwischen den beiden lange verfeindeten Königreichen zu schaffen, willigt er ein. Lieber baut er Brücken und ein Königreich wieder auf, als weiter im Krieg kämpfen zu müssen. Doch seine Hochzeit mit Perdith steht unter keinem guten Stern. Attentäter und Drohungen sollen ihn aufhalten. Und auch in der Kommunikation mit dem Prinzen gibt es das ein oder andere größere Missverständnis. Können Vellem und Perdith auch im Angesicht der Katastrophe ihren beiden Ländern Frieden bringen?
Gelungene Slow-burn Romance vor einem High Fantasy-Setting und ja, es gibt auch total niedliche Drachen. Love it. <3
Vellem ist Sohn einer Grafen und Anführer einer Truppe von Ingenieuren in der Armee von Belemere. Als ausgerechnet er ausgewählt wird, Perdith, den jüngsten Prinzen von Tallideth, zu heiraten, um endlich Frieden zwischen den beiden lange verfeindeten Königreichen zu schaffen, willigt er ein. Lieber baut er Brücken und ein Königreich wieder auf, als weiter im Krieg kämpfen zu müssen. Doch seine Hochzeit mit Perdith steht unter keinem guten Stern. Attentäter und Drohungen sollen ihn aufhalten. Und auch in der Kommunikation mit dem Prinzen gibt es das ein oder andere größere Missverständnis. Können Vellem und Perdith auch im Angesicht der Katastrophe ihren beiden Ländern Frieden bringen?
Gelungene Slow-burn Romance vor einem High Fantasy-Setting und ja, es gibt auch total niedliche Drachen. Love it. <3
November 15, 2013
Well written book with very engaging protagonist. The book is more fantasy than romance - the romance is very much secondary, which may bother some readers. That was not the case with me. Derr is using the tropes - arranged marriage, character in the foreign land - in the best possible way. Vellam's pet dragon was the cutest addition to the story though he could be used better. I liked the secondary characters as well: Bertin (who may be having his own Prince in the future, if I'm reading this right), Koit and others. It's dissapointing that such a well written book suffered from editing errors - such as missing or repeated words. As an ESL reader I often miss finer language points, but not this time which means it will be much more noticeable to native or more careful readers. All in all, a treat to fantasy lovers.
June 27, 2022
4 stars
This is a favourite of mine.
I love Vellum and feel sorry for him half the time.
He has great pride in his work as an engineer and is trying his best to navigate a mind field he has no understanding of. He is a solider not a politician and he does his best to keep his new country going when disaster strikes.
Unfortunately because he and Peridith had no time to get to know each other before the disaster, there were some teething problems and with the added stress of everything going on they struggled to communicate and connect.
Once they actually started talking and listening to each other they got along famously.
Looking forward to continuing on with the series
This is a favourite of mine.
I love Vellum and feel sorry for him half the time.
He has great pride in his work as an engineer and is trying his best to navigate a mind field he has no understanding of. He is a solider not a politician and he does his best to keep his new country going when disaster strikes.
Unfortunately because he and Peridith had no time to get to know each other before the disaster, there were some teething problems and with the added stress of everything going on they struggled to communicate and connect.
Once they actually started talking and listening to each other they got along famously.
Looking forward to continuing on with the series
September 28, 2016
Megan Derr is quickly becoming one of my go-to authors for awesome m/m and LGBT fantasy. I love the depth of the worlds she creates, and the world in The Engineered Throne is no exception. I always have the sense that there is so much more to the world than I can see as the reader, which is a wonderful feeling—like there's so much more out there for me to discover. I'm eager to read the second book coming out this November.
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