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The Queen of Aessarion
In a world of ancient gods, myths and legends…Princess Isydoris of Atriya leads a very sheltered and privileged life under the patronage of her father, King Leafer. The wise king would do anything to protect his daughter, but he is no match for a powerful ruler from a faraway empire who suddenly comes to claim Isydoris as his future bride. This frightening man offers no explanation, and he is not afraid to spill blood to get what he wants. When he vows her small kingdom would be spared from his wrath if she does as he says, the young princess has no choice but to strike a bargain with him, even though she knows she is agreeing to a fate worse than death.The mysterious tyrant's name is Reigh Azhrael, and he is famous for only one thing—his cruelty. Ever since he ascended the throne of the vast Aessarion empire, the world has known nothing but war and misery. All seven kingdoms of Ardea fear him and his invincible army. The Aessarion emperor has no mercy for the weak. He is a monster. There is nothing kind about him.For that very reason, his shocking decision to spare an entire kingdom in exchange for the beautiful princess' hand in marriage, leaves people guessing. Can this one woman be enough to tame the beast inside him, or is she to become his next victim?
Intended for mature audiences.
Intended for mature audiences.
335 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 6, 2021
25 people are currently reading
298 people want to read
About the author
Astrid Jane Ray
4 books395 followersAstrid Jane Ray is an author who likes writing anything from poems to short stories and novels. Being a hopeless dreamer, she isn't limited to any particular genres, although she is desperately addicted to dark romance novels. Her style is best described as a mixture of dark, angst filled drama which is followed by the slow development of love and redemption.
More than writing, she likes to read and her idea of a perfect day is a good book combined with a cup of hot tea and preferably rain.
Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/astridjane_...
E-mail: astridjaneray@gmail.com
More than writing, she likes to read and her idea of a perfect day is a good book combined with a cup of hot tea and preferably rain.
Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/astridjane_...
E-mail: astridjaneray@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
October 13, 2021
✨ 3.4 too beautiful and romantic for my wretched soul stars✨
SAFETY DETAILS per request
- both each others' first and only
- no OW/OM drama/no cheating
- no dub-con/non-con
- no abuse/physical violence towards the heroine
- deaths and tortures with no gruesome details involved
TROPES
-anti-hero
-jealous/possessive hero
-enemies-to-lovers
-forced marriage
-first love
-royalty
-gods
-some other tropes that I refuse to write down here but include in the tags 🤡 because they are shamelessly spoilerish:D
.
.
.
This book is a testament to what I already knew: I shouldn’t do ARCS. Nice way to start, innit?
1) Lying and sugarcoating things don’t fall within the scope of my capabilities,
2) I am too picky for my own good these days,
3) and yes, Mr. Grey, my tastes are very singular too. But, unfortunately, there is no Anastasia in sight for me to satisfy them at full scale.
To add to the misery of the above said, I detest feeling apologetic about my criticism. But no one is safe from me, not even one of my most trusted contemporary author that is Ms. Ray, whom I deeply respect and love.
DISCLAIMER. Half of the complains I dish out have everything to do with my notoriously fashionable tastes and personal expectations (based on my experience with the author’s books) rather than the quality of the book.
🆒+🆒
First of all, I have to say that even my cynical self cannot deny that the author managed to wield a truly beautiful and romantic love story. I mean WOW. The story has a legendary quality to it, but I won’t elaborate on this aspect so as not to spoil the key mystery for any of you guys. I’ll limit myself to saying that I loved the plot twist. Astrid slowly brings her readers to the mystery resolution through dreams and other little clues scattered all over the plotline. 👏🏻
The writing style resembled the one inherent to historical romance, which is justified, considering that this fictional world reminds of the ancient civilizations and is clearly inspired by them. I have the feeling that if you know and love myths and ancient history, you will be able to enjoy the story as well as appreciate the textual allusion (and guess what legend ultimately inspired the author).
The love story between the princess Isydoris of Atriya and the emperor of Aessarion is truly tender, beautifully sad and has more depth to it than meets the eye.
SO WHAT’S YOUR PROBLEM, any sane person might want to ask. Look, I already gave multiple warnings, 🤚🏻 so I'll just leave a list of things that didn’t work personally for me right here.
🛠-🛠
💄As I already pointed out, THE WRITING STYLE in this book was superb and reminded me of historical romance books that I read once in a while.
However,
a) it seems that its eloquence turned out a double-edged sword for my reading experience. A few times I thought that all those beautifully structured sentences and elegant descriptions lessened considerably the emotional effect some of the events might have otherwise had on me, since they drew more attention to the form (verbosity) rather than the substance (emotionally charged events) of the book. I love a good balance between the two and I think that in this book the form drew my focus away, leaving me a little indifferent and detached. Am I making sense?
b) The same stands true when it comes to dialogues. As logical and justified as the sophisticated manner of the royalty’s speech is, I couldn’t help wishing that at some particularly intense moments the characters' interactions (words and phrases they interchanged) were less about a good command of the language and more about the spontaneity and brevity that more often than not warrant the emotional impact.
c) I found it strange that the princess’ slave talked exactly like her noble mistress. It would be more fitting and logical if her lexicon was much simpler for obvious reasons (she’s been a slave since the age of 13, her social standing and background don’t call for the use of language demonstrated in this book). More importantly, slight peculiarities of each character’s speech could make all the characters sound more authentic and distinguishable.
I'm forced to admit that the way the heroine’s slave talked to her (let me give you an example:)
was very out of place, given the workings of the universe created by the author. I can hardly comprehend how the princess considered a slave who told her, a noble princess (!), not to be foolish nothing short of ordinary. 🌚🌝 This is very politically correct tolerance, but there’s hardly any sense in political correctness at all when it comes to the ancient world and its perks such as slavery and tyranny:D If I’m being honest, this was not a one-time occasion and the issue involved a female dancer from the hero’s harem and a few subordinates of the heroine’s father (who was the KING, mind you) as well. 🤡
d) A few dialogues came off as too long, little short of a simple plot device to reveal the necessary information to readers (like the overheard dialogue between the heroine’s father and his advisor at the very end), which made them seem a bit unnatural and forced.
Do you want me to shut tf up already? Well, why, your wish is my command. To the next point we go (off). 🤡
💄 THE HEROINE was sweet, and kind, and kinda…annoying. It’s a good thing that she got paired up with a man possessing the patience of a saint 🧘🏽♂️…because if it were me, she wouldn’t see another day, just saying. The power of love…
Her conflict with the beautiful dancer from the hero’s harem that dared to misinform and insult her had such a big potential for making me see our heroine in a new light… Regardless, I found it off-putting that it was the hero who had to resolve the problem that emerged between his woman and one of the harem’s girl and issue the punishment. It’s just my personal preference that the conflict between women is solved without a man’s interference. In my humble opinion, it made the heroine look weak and unable to deal with never-ending obstacles that inevitably come in the wake of the new status of empress on her own. (yes, you had me pegged...i wanted a catfight. what about it???)
💄 THE HEROINE’S FATHER was a weird lad in every sense that counts. Even in the light of finding out his ulterior motives in the second half of the book, the guy’s behavior at the very beginning still keeps me scratching my head. 🤚🏻 The way his own subordinates dared to speak insolently to him (and most importantly, his subsequent reaction resembling that of a privileged immature kid), the way he wept (call me a sexist but an old man, A KING weeping in front of his nemesis…🥲) that followed the downfall of his independent kingdom …
💄 AS FOR THE HERO, the moment when the guy stopped his warrior from killing the heroine’s fiancé … so he could do it himself right in front of Isydoris’ pleading and hopeful eyes? It’s the professional wooing tactics for me…
💄 Okay. As for THE MOST SUBJECTIVE POINT IN THE HISTORY OF SUBJECTIVITY… Isydoris and Azhrael’s relationship was 🚭toxicity free🚭.
🤡Stop looking at me as if you’ve never seen me crying ugly tears over the healthy romantic relationship and the lack of abuse. 🤡 I choose anti-heroes for a reason. Naturally... meet a whole ass paragraph dedicated to whining about the thing normal people seek for in this genre:
It was too early on when I realized that Azhrael would never do or say anything to hurt his precious wifey. Just look at the first quote I cited at the very beginning of this review. The guy loved her. He didn’t give a damn about hurting MY feelings, about sating my dark needs, okay?? I was left there panting like a sick puppy after a running marathon in the hope of getting a glimpse of his unhingedness.
Not me chanting frantically KILL HER MAID KILL HER FATHER PUNISH HER RIGHT NOW throughout the book. Not me.
As the worst case scenario was unfolding before my eyes, I still had the need to at least keep wondering whether the anti-hero might snap one day due to his unhinged, volatile nature:D Waiting in suspense is one of my deeply cherished hobby and when I was ruthlessly deprived of being kept in the dark, in limbo… don’t even ask. 🤧
I craved the hurt/comfort+grovel kind of a story I normally find in Ms. Ray’s books.
I’m an angst whore and I’d be happy to see at least a few strong outer reactions of suppressing inner turmoil, anger or fury. I love emotional books with characters’ feelings more fleshed out. More often than not, the hero acted amused, smirking and snickering. As for his ruthless antics, I couldn’t care less about how many people he slaughtered while waging wars and issuing punishments. 🤷🏼♀💁🏼♀ Make me care about someone and then make the death in the form of our hero come after them. Is it too much to ask?
Azhrael was being such a softie towards Isydoris in his quest to not upset her (the fiance’s death doesn’t count. I forgot his name the moment the life left his body) that the knowledge that he was a cruel conqueror didn’t transform into the feeling that he actually was one (am I making any sense at this point?? Probably not). He was caring and tender, good for him, but what I wanted to see was the inner struggle between his demonic side and the love he felt for the heroine (as it was suggested in the blurb). He definitely lacked the edginess of Ms. Ray’s other heroes. That way his hard-won tenderness would end up being so much more satisfying. Comfort is so much better after a good s̶p̶a̶n̶k̶i̶n̶g̶ hurt, don't you think?
Was it angsty? – NO.
Was unpolitically-correct? – NO.
Did it have any grovel? – NO, because there was absolutely nothing to grovel for. 😭
Did I expect to find those three things in this book? – YES. Since those elements are normally inherent in Ms. Ray’s works. HURT ME BABE ONE MORE TIME.
Did it keep me on the edge of my seat? – NO.
Was it beautiful, romantic and sweet? – YES.
💄 I also wish there were more actions and less dialogues providing me the information in the retrospect. It would be essentially effective, considering that my emotions weren’t in a tangled mess. It’s either a plot driven or an emotionally driven story for me that has a bigger chance to lure me in line, hook and sinker.
I cannot do romantic and sweet without some particular treats these days, I swear.
Thus, I definitely recommend this book to deeply romantic souls, ancient history and mythology lovers and anyone who wants to read a safe and sweet story with a few dark elements and the love that conquers all in it.
Now I have to say (STUPID FORMALITIES) that I received an ARC in exchange for honest review. I probably took the honest part of it a bit too literally. 🤡 Never mind. Y'all have a nice day
You are my wife, and I will always be gentle with you, no matter what. I might be cruel to the rest of the world, but you are my one exception.
SAFETY DETAILS per request
- both each others' first and only
- no OW/OM drama/no cheating
- no dub-con/non-con
- no abuse/physical violence towards the heroine
- deaths and tortures with no gruesome details involved
TROPES
-anti-hero
-jealous/possessive hero
-enemies-to-lovers
-forced marriage
-first love
-royalty
-gods
-some other tropes that I refuse to write down here but include in the tags 🤡 because they are shamelessly spoilerish:D
.
.
.
This book is a testament to what I already knew: I shouldn’t do ARCS. Nice way to start, innit?
1) Lying and sugarcoating things don’t fall within the scope of my capabilities,
2) I am too picky for my own good these days,
3) and yes, Mr. Grey, my tastes are very singular too. But, unfortunately, there is no Anastasia in sight for me to satisfy them at full scale.
To add to the misery of the above said, I detest feeling apologetic about my criticism. But no one is safe from me, not even one of my most trusted contemporary author that is Ms. Ray, whom I deeply respect and love.
DISCLAIMER. Half of the complains I dish out have everything to do with my notoriously fashionable tastes and personal expectations (based on my experience with the author’s books) rather than the quality of the book.
🆒+🆒
First of all, I have to say that even my cynical self cannot deny that the author managed to wield a truly beautiful and romantic love story. I mean WOW. The story has a legendary quality to it, but I won’t elaborate on this aspect so as not to spoil the key mystery for any of you guys. I’ll limit myself to saying that I loved the plot twist. Astrid slowly brings her readers to the mystery resolution through dreams and other little clues scattered all over the plotline. 👏🏻
The writing style resembled the one inherent to historical romance, which is justified, considering that this fictional world reminds of the ancient civilizations and is clearly inspired by them. I have the feeling that if you know and love myths and ancient history, you will be able to enjoy the story as well as appreciate the textual allusion (and guess what legend ultimately inspired the author).
The love story between the princess Isydoris of Atriya and the emperor of Aessarion is truly tender, beautifully sad and has more depth to it than meets the eye.
SO WHAT’S YOUR PROBLEM, any sane person might want to ask. Look, I already gave multiple warnings, 🤚🏻 so I'll just leave a list of things that didn’t work personally for me right here.
🛠-🛠
💄As I already pointed out, THE WRITING STYLE in this book was superb and reminded me of historical romance books that I read once in a while.
However,
a) it seems that its eloquence turned out a double-edged sword for my reading experience. A few times I thought that all those beautifully structured sentences and elegant descriptions lessened considerably the emotional effect some of the events might have otherwise had on me, since they drew more attention to the form (verbosity) rather than the substance (emotionally charged events) of the book. I love a good balance between the two and I think that in this book the form drew my focus away, leaving me a little indifferent and detached. Am I making sense?
b) The same stands true when it comes to dialogues. As logical and justified as the sophisticated manner of the royalty’s speech is, I couldn’t help wishing that at some particularly intense moments the characters' interactions (words and phrases they interchanged) were less about a good command of the language and more about the spontaneity and brevity that more often than not warrant the emotional impact.
c) I found it strange that the princess’ slave talked exactly like her noble mistress. It would be more fitting and logical if her lexicon was much simpler for obvious reasons (she’s been a slave since the age of 13, her social standing and background don’t call for the use of language demonstrated in this book). More importantly, slight peculiarities of each character’s speech could make all the characters sound more authentic and distinguishable.
I'm forced to admit that the way the heroine’s slave talked to her (let me give you an example:)
Eisla’s eyes widened, and she glanced behind her shoulder. “Princess, do not be foolish. Choose your words with caution. If the reigh finds out you disrespected him again, he will not hesitate to teach you a painful lesson. You must learn to curb your tongue before it gets you into trouble.”
was very out of place, given the workings of the universe created by the author. I can hardly comprehend how the princess considered a slave who told her, a noble princess (!), not to be foolish nothing short of ordinary. 🌚🌝 This is very politically correct tolerance, but there’s hardly any sense in political correctness at all when it comes to the ancient world and its perks such as slavery and tyranny:D If I’m being honest, this was not a one-time occasion and the issue involved a female dancer from the hero’s harem and a few subordinates of the heroine’s father (who was the KING, mind you) as well. 🤡
d) A few dialogues came off as too long, little short of a simple plot device to reveal the necessary information to readers (like the overheard dialogue between the heroine’s father and his advisor at the very end), which made them seem a bit unnatural and forced.
Do you want me to shut tf up already? Well, why, your wish is my command. To the next point we go (off). 🤡
💄 THE HEROINE was sweet, and kind, and kinda…annoying. It’s a good thing that she got paired up with a man possessing the patience of a saint 🧘🏽♂️…because if it were me, she wouldn’t see another day, just saying. The power of love…
Her conflict with the beautiful dancer from the hero’s harem that dared to misinform and insult her had such a big potential for making me see our heroine in a new light… Regardless, I found it off-putting that it was the hero who had to resolve the problem that emerged between his woman and one of the harem’s girl and issue the punishment. It’s just my personal preference that the conflict between women is solved without a man’s interference. In my humble opinion, it made the heroine look weak and unable to deal with never-ending obstacles that inevitably come in the wake of the new status of empress on her own. (yes, you had me pegged...i wanted a catfight. what about it???)
💄 THE HEROINE’S FATHER was a weird lad in every sense that counts. Even in the light of finding out his ulterior motives in the second half of the book, the guy’s behavior at the very beginning still keeps me scratching my head. 🤚🏻 The way his own subordinates dared to speak insolently to him (and most importantly, his subsequent reaction resembling that of a privileged immature kid), the way he wept (call me a sexist but an old man, A KING weeping in front of his nemesis…🥲) that followed the downfall of his independent kingdom …
💄 AS FOR THE HERO, the moment when the guy stopped his warrior from killing the heroine’s fiancé … so he could do it himself right in front of Isydoris’ pleading and hopeful eyes? It’s the professional wooing tactics for me…
But then, the reigh himself reached for his heavy sword and plunged it right into Hedon's body, never taking his eyes away from hers.😩😍🥰
💄 Okay. As for THE MOST SUBJECTIVE POINT IN THE HISTORY OF SUBJECTIVITY… Isydoris and Azhrael’s relationship was 🚭toxicity free🚭.
🤡Stop looking at me as if you’ve never seen me crying ugly tears over the healthy romantic relationship and the lack of abuse. 🤡 I choose anti-heroes for a reason. Naturally... meet a whole ass paragraph dedicated to whining about the thing normal people seek for in this genre:
It was too early on when I realized that Azhrael would never do or say anything to hurt his precious wifey. Just look at the first quote I cited at the very beginning of this review. The guy loved her. He didn’t give a damn about hurting MY feelings, about sating my dark needs, okay?? I was left there panting like a sick puppy after a running marathon in the hope of getting a glimpse of his unhingedness.
Not me chanting frantically KILL HER MAID KILL HER FATHER PUNISH HER RIGHT NOW throughout the book. Not me.
As the worst case scenario was unfolding before my eyes, I still had the need to at least keep wondering whether the anti-hero might snap one day due to his unhinged, volatile nature:D Waiting in suspense is one of my deeply cherished hobby and when I was ruthlessly deprived of being kept in the dark, in limbo… don’t even ask. 🤧
I craved the hurt/comfort+grovel kind of a story I normally find in Ms. Ray’s books.
I’m an angst whore and I’d be happy to see at least a few strong outer reactions of suppressing inner turmoil, anger or fury. I love emotional books with characters’ feelings more fleshed out. More often than not, the hero acted amused, smirking and snickering. As for his ruthless antics, I couldn’t care less about how many people he slaughtered while waging wars and issuing punishments. 🤷🏼♀💁🏼♀ Make me care about someone and then make the death in the form of our hero come after them. Is it too much to ask?
Azhrael was being such a softie towards Isydoris in his quest to not upset her (the fiance’s death doesn’t count. I forgot his name the moment the life left his body) that the knowledge that he was a cruel conqueror didn’t transform into the feeling that he actually was one (am I making any sense at this point?? Probably not). He was caring and tender, good for him, but what I wanted to see was the inner struggle between his demonic side and the love he felt for the heroine (as it was suggested in the blurb). He definitely lacked the edginess of Ms. Ray’s other heroes. That way his hard-won tenderness would end up being so much more satisfying. Comfort is so much better after a good s̶p̶a̶n̶k̶i̶n̶g̶ hurt, don't you think?
Was it angsty? – NO.
Was unpolitically-correct? – NO.
Did it have any grovel? – NO, because there was absolutely nothing to grovel for. 😭
Did I expect to find those three things in this book? – YES. Since those elements are normally inherent in Ms. Ray’s works. HURT ME BABE ONE MORE TIME.
Did it keep me on the edge of my seat? – NO.
Was it beautiful, romantic and sweet? – YES.
💄 I also wish there were more actions and less dialogues providing me the information in the retrospect. It would be essentially effective, considering that my emotions weren’t in a tangled mess. It’s either a plot driven or an emotionally driven story for me that has a bigger chance to lure me in line, hook and sinker.
I cannot do romantic and sweet without some particular treats these days, I swear.
Thus, I definitely recommend this book to deeply romantic souls, ancient history and mythology lovers and anyone who wants to read a safe and sweet story with a few dark elements and the love that conquers all in it.
Now I have to say (STUPID FORMALITIES) that I received an ARC in exchange for honest review. I probably took the honest part of it a bit too literally. 🤡 Never mind. Y'all have a nice day
November 22, 2021
3. 5 stars. not bad but enemies to lovers trope should deliver more angst and spice, isn't that so?😔
October 11, 2021
If only I could give more than 5 stars it would be this book❤️ Astrid never fails to impress me!!I repeat "NEVER".
Gear up for the longest review I've ever written!!Also Astrid's fans see for yourself because you cannot miss this book or could you?
Tropes:
👑Darkromance- Check ✔️
👑Marriage of convinience-check✔️
👑Forced proximity-check✔️
👑Anti hero-check✔️
👑Enemies to lovers-check✔️
👑Smut-double check✔️
A perfect mixture of love,angst,fantasy,spells,darkness,morals,myths and ancient vibes with a pinch of classic ethics.A Reign who craves blood and wages war on a small kingdom to possess the princess of a faraway land.He demands her hand in marriage in return for sparing the kingdom.
"𝑰𝒇 𝑹𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉 𝑨𝒛𝒉𝒓𝒂𝒆𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝑨𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒚𝒂 𝒊𝒏 𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒕. 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒈𝒐 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒃𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒚
There begins the story.I loved everything about this book,either the mystery which unfolds with each passing page or the suspense which had me hooked till the last page.
𝑰𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐 𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒄𝒓𝒖𝒆𝒍𝒕𝒚?" 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒆. 𝑯𝒆 𝒔𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅, 𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒎. "𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒖𝒆𝒍𝒕𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒆. 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒖𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒓." “𝑰 𝒅𝒐 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖!" 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒆𝒓 𝒅���𝒇𝒊𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅.
The word building was fantastic and the character development and the entire vibe with different cultures and ethical activities were adding to my curiosity.The cruel Reign who was determined to win the princess's love is what I loved the most.
𝑺𝒎𝒊𝒓𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉 𝒑𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒓𝒐𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒌𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅.
"𝑰𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔, 𝑰 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒃𝒐𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒖𝒕𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒕 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒆𝒙𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈," 𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒖𝒓𝒎𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒍𝒚
And the true revelation of the mystery behind the veil of the tangled mess of her dreams and discovering their nature was whole new vibe.And that twist towards the end because who wouldn't love twists and turns?
Thank you so much for the ARC COPY!
Gear up for the longest review I've ever written!!Also Astrid's fans see for yourself because you cannot miss this book or could you?
Tropes:
👑Darkromance- Check ✔️
👑Marriage of convinience-check✔️
👑Forced proximity-check✔️
👑Anti hero-check✔️
👑Enemies to lovers-check✔️
👑Smut-double check✔️
A perfect mixture of love,angst,fantasy,spells,darkness,morals,myths and ancient vibes with a pinch of classic ethics.A Reign who craves blood and wages war on a small kingdom to possess the princess of a faraway land.He demands her hand in marriage in return for sparing the kingdom.
"𝑰𝒇 𝑹𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉 𝑨𝒛𝒉𝒓𝒂𝒆𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝑨𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒚𝒂 𝒊𝒏 𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒕. 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒈𝒐 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒃𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒚
There begins the story.I loved everything about this book,either the mystery which unfolds with each passing page or the suspense which had me hooked till the last page.
𝑰𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐 𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒄𝒓𝒖𝒆𝒍𝒕𝒚?" 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒆. 𝑯𝒆 𝒔𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅, 𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒎. "𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒖𝒆𝒍𝒕𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒆. 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒖𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒓." “𝑰 𝒅𝒐 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖!" 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒆𝒓 𝒅���𝒇𝒊𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅.
The word building was fantastic and the character development and the entire vibe with different cultures and ethical activities were adding to my curiosity.The cruel Reign who was determined to win the princess's love is what I loved the most.
𝑺𝒎𝒊𝒓𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉 𝒑𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒓𝒐𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒌𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅.
"𝑰𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔, 𝑰 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒃𝒐𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒖𝒕𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒕 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒆𝒙𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈," 𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒖𝒓𝒎𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒍𝒚
And the true revelation of the mystery behind the veil of the tangled mess of her dreams and discovering their nature was whole new vibe.And that twist towards the end because who wouldn't love twists and turns?
Thank you so much for the ARC COPY!
November 7, 2021
Whilst definitely not as angsty and tension filled as the author’s other books this was still good because sometimes I just want a devoted faithful hero to read about. I found this book a bit stilted at times and I felt like it was a bit too rushed in certain parts. So whilst not my favourite by this author it was still a good and worthy read for me.
August 30, 2021
The Queen of Aessarion is available for pre-order on Amazon.
November 10, 2021
This book is pure abuse. I can't believe that a female author in this day and age, would choose to use it's platform to promote abuse and rape.
The heroine is horribly abused, raped and gashlighted from beginning till the end. This book is also promoting a very dangerous concept that if your body "betrays" you or is not completely revolted during non-consensual sex , that then the act is not rape. So it makes it ok?
The hero apparently treats heroine better than others, meaning he's abusing her slightly less than others, so it makes it ok and romantic?
I'm shocked that anyone considers this as a book to recommend and I feel sorry for women who see anything romantic or even remotely redeeming in this book. I shudder to think how you are treated in your real life if this book is romantic and cute for you.
Instead of using your platform to inspire women, to empower and uplift them, you use it to say that abuse and rape is ok if a hero is good looking and treats you special?
What kind of legacy are you leaving for your daughters and sisters? Would you like for your daughter to read this and consider these things cute? I'm just shocked that a woman would write this garbage in this day and age.
Im the name of all sane women, shame on you author!
The heroine is horribly abused, raped and gashlighted from beginning till the end. This book is also promoting a very dangerous concept that if your body "betrays" you or is not completely revolted during non-consensual sex , that then the act is not rape. So it makes it ok?
The hero apparently treats heroine better than others, meaning he's abusing her slightly less than others, so it makes it ok and romantic?
I'm shocked that anyone considers this as a book to recommend and I feel sorry for women who see anything romantic or even remotely redeeming in this book. I shudder to think how you are treated in your real life if this book is romantic and cute for you.
Instead of using your platform to inspire women, to empower and uplift them, you use it to say that abuse and rape is ok if a hero is good looking and treats you special?
What kind of legacy are you leaving for your daughters and sisters? Would you like for your daughter to read this and consider these things cute? I'm just shocked that a woman would write this garbage in this day and age.
Im the name of all sane women, shame on you author!
July 12, 2022
4.5 stars
Ancient legend says that the seven gods of Erduos created humans and eventually made them to live in Ardea.
Each deity created a kingdom to his liking, and people were no longer a single group of beings, but divided into seven nations opposed by looks, customs, language, and beliefs.
...
Finally, the seventh kingdom was believed to be created by Maurel—the chief of all gods who drew power from war and violence. It was the kingdom that existed in a vast desert, but received divine blessings in all fields of life. For centuries, it thrived under Maurel's protection until it grew and expanded with such unprecedented glory that it earned the status of The Kingdom of Kingdoms. As time went on, and Maurel's servants expanded their territory by declaring war on their neighbors, people across Ardea trembled at the mention of this giant’s name, which destroyed and seized everything in its unstoppable path. It was a menacing nation that presented a threat and danger by far greater and more real than that of the gods. It was the invincible evil known as The Aessarion Empire.
And so it starts. That prologue immediately appealed to my love of Greek mythology and I knew I was hooked. Right at the beginning, this book and its dreamy world building gave me some serious vibes of the incredible Rite of the Omega duet, my favourite light novel ever 약탈혼 Yagtalhon (Predatory Marriage 🥰🤤🥵❤), and one of my favourite mythological tropes, the love story of Hades and Persephone. Add to that one of the most intriguing trope ever, that of the god who has forgotten its past due to some curse and lives among the mortals ☺ (who else remembers Christopher Pike's Immortal, one of my favourite books when I was a teen), and this book could not get more perfect!
The pace of the book was a bit slow and shrouded in mystery, where everything that happens during the 2/3 of the book is not what it seems, and there is a huge explanation in the end on the why and the how.
I have to admit that the story frustrated me at times, and I had to exercise much diligence to forge on. My main point of frustration concerned the heavy veil of mystery surrounding Azhrael and his seemingly cold and cruel behaviour to the much confused and fearful Isydoris. I felt his ambivalence as much as Isydoris did: while his intimate declarations and actions towards her were ultimately always tender and caring (except for one public slap, which he later explained and apologised sincerely for), his words were also often ominous when he hinted at teethering to the brink of unleashed wrath and that he had little patience left. There were also several hints that something great was amiss and Azhrael and others refused to tell Isydoris anything. It all reminded me of the push and pull in ARJ's other book I read, Virtue & Vanity. So much was this tension present and tedious, that I was at one point tempted to rate this book with a 4 stars.
But it all changed in the last 7 chapters. Everything, or much of everything, was explained satisfactorily, including Azhrael's behaviour, Isydoris' fear and mental torment, and why they are so fated to be with each other. Every coin has two sides. I will not say more, but I would simply advise patience until you reach these chapters and just relax into the epic tale.
I do believe that this book cannot be fully appreciated if not read from start to end without skimming. It was only then that I could measure how perfect Azhrael was and felt the depth of his love for Isydoris. Since the book is in 3rd person in Isydoris' perspective only, it was hard to know what Azhrael felt or thought, except for a few veiled visceral declarations here and there. I understand that giving Azhrael's perspective would have hurt the suspense of the story. But I think that a final epilogue in his POV would have been lovely.
The smut scenes were on the low graphical scale and I think they were meant to be more of the sensual and tasteful type. I do like more raunchy sex scenes in books, but I respect the author's choice for more tame scenes to match the atmosphere of the mysterious fairy tale she spun. One ought to have a less dirty mind from time to time, lol 🤣😉😏
There was some OW purported issues but all this was quickly and swiftly averted in a magnificent way by Azhrael. It may have been cruel what happened to the OW but it was damn satisfying to have the H resolve the h's angst in such a forthright manner which left no doubt at all where his passion and love lie 😍.
I did not rate this book a full 5 star, only because I sometimes felt that the story, esp. Isydoris' thoughts and questions, made too many roundabouts at times on the same things before moving forward. Also, the writing style lacked a smidgen of lyricality in its prose to fully enforce in a good dose of heartaching angst and epicness; I am not a writer and I have no idea how to get it done, but I do feel that this book could have put out 'all the feels' one or two notches up to turn this story into a romance of really epic proportions. There were also a few distracting typos, esp. those where the names of places/people were not written consistently throughout the story.
I loved the book nevertheless and it is now included amongst my re-reads list. This book would make a great movie imho 😊🤩.
P.S. I loved the book cover and the title! Perfect!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2024
What a great love story this was. Hard to explain the plot without giving away the whole story but the gist is that Princess Isydoris’ father’s kingdom was overwhelmed by the powerful Reigh Azhrael and his army. Tales of his pillaging and violence had spread far and wide as he looked to overtake any Kingdom he chose, forcing them to submit. When his force hits Atriya, it’s King is forced to give up his precious daughter, Isydoris, in exchange for peace. Azhrael forcibly takes her and makes her his queen.
But this was not the beginning of their love story - far from it.
This was a unique tale and kept me guessing and engrossed throughout. I’ve read @astridjane_ray previous books so I know that she writes her Heroes to be initially cruel and vile to the heroine. Azhrael was a bit cruel in the beginning but nothing to the extent of previous Heroes. You could tell that he genuinely lived to make Isydoris happy (even though his default feature seemed to be a sneer, snigger or snickering) and that there was an air of mystery surrounding his behaviour.
I only wish there was an epilogue at the end because I was so attached to their story I would’ve liked to read about them in the coming years. But that’s a minor flaw on my part.
#romancebooks #romancebookstagram #romancebookstagrammer #romancebookaddict #romanceblogger #romancebookloversclub #romancebookcovers #romancebookreaders #romancebookreview #romancenovelsforlife #romancenovels #bookstagram #booklover #booknerd #bookcovermodel #bookstagrammer #dirtybook #bookaddict #bookreview #bibliophile #dirtyreads
But this was not the beginning of their love story - far from it.
This was a unique tale and kept me guessing and engrossed throughout. I’ve read @astridjane_ray previous books so I know that she writes her Heroes to be initially cruel and vile to the heroine. Azhrael was a bit cruel in the beginning but nothing to the extent of previous Heroes. You could tell that he genuinely lived to make Isydoris happy (even though his default feature seemed to be a sneer, snigger or snickering) and that there was an air of mystery surrounding his behaviour.
I only wish there was an epilogue at the end because I was so attached to their story I would’ve liked to read about them in the coming years. But that’s a minor flaw on my part.
#romancebooks #romancebookstagram #romancebookstagrammer #romancebookaddict #romanceblogger #romancebookloversclub #romancebookcovers #romancebookreaders #romancebookreview #romancenovelsforlife #romancenovels #bookstagram #booklover #booknerd #bookcovermodel #bookstagrammer #dirtybook #bookaddict #bookreview #bibliophile #dirtyreads
July 9, 2022
Oh. MY. HEART.
Y'all are not ready for this. At all.
This is the best.
The story, the twists and turns that will take you by surprise.
Just when you think you got it all figured out....
BAM!
Here comes something absolutely insane
I had the best time beta reading this one. I adore AJR, she never fails to deliver.
Y'all are not ready for this. At all.
This is the best.
The story, the twists and turns that will take you by surprise.
Just when you think you got it all figured out....
BAM!
Here comes something absolutely insane
I had the best time beta reading this one. I adore AJR, she never fails to deliver.
July 19, 2022
I need Astrid Jane Ray to write a million more books. I read Virtue & Vanity and Resurrect last year and they were the gold standard of 5 star reads. Resurrect is quite a bit darker than Virtue & Vanity so I wasn’t sure what to expect from this.
I do read paranormal and fantasy but they are not my genre of choice typically. I faltered a bit when approaching this because of the deep fantasy aspect. I faltered for nothing. This is soooooooo good. It reminded me a lot of Kristen Ashley’s Golden Dynasty but much sweeter and with less angst. There is angst here but different than Kristen Ashley’s book.
Reigh Azhrael didn’t disappoint here, not for one second. The single POV here leaves us blind to his motivations and I wish more authors would take this approach. It really builds the tension and suspense when you don’t know what the other person is thinking.
Story 5/5
Heat 2.75/5
Angst 2.5/5
Virgin h
No manwhore
Mild OM/OW drama
No cheating
No scenes with others
No separation once together
No cliffhanger
HEA
Safety - I’d call this super safe. Im going to include some extra-spoilery safety notes below but I’d call this 100% safe if you don’t want them. The h starts out the book betrothed to OM but they haven’t wed yet scroll down for more info.
S
C
R
O
L
L
D
O
W
N
A
L
I
T
T
L
E
I hope this is far enough. So H kills OM to take h as his own bride and future queen. There’s a bit of a language barrier and an arduous journey across the kingdoms. The h is sad for her dead fiancée for a bit.
Once they are wed a conniving OW gets in the hs ear about the customs of the kingdom. The OW is part of the kings harem. She says she’s his lover and the king will eventually share her with other men when he tired of her. The h is understandably upset. The king ends up treating us to an epic OW slap down. We eventually discover the H was actually also a virgin and had waited for h. The harem was in keeping with the customs of the kingdom but he never slept with any of them.
I do read paranormal and fantasy but they are not my genre of choice typically. I faltered a bit when approaching this because of the deep fantasy aspect. I faltered for nothing. This is soooooooo good. It reminded me a lot of Kristen Ashley’s Golden Dynasty but much sweeter and with less angst. There is angst here but different than Kristen Ashley’s book.
Reigh Azhrael didn’t disappoint here, not for one second. The single POV here leaves us blind to his motivations and I wish more authors would take this approach. It really builds the tension and suspense when you don’t know what the other person is thinking.
Story 5/5
Heat 2.75/5
Angst 2.5/5
Virgin h
No manwhore
Mild OM/OW drama
No cheating
No scenes with others
No separation once together
No cliffhanger
HEA
Safety - I’d call this super safe. Im going to include some extra-spoilery safety notes below but I’d call this 100% safe if you don’t want them. The h starts out the book betrothed to OM but they haven’t wed yet scroll down for more info.
S
C
R
O
L
L
D
O
W
N
A
L
I
T
T
L
E
I hope this is far enough. So H kills OM to take h as his own bride and future queen. There’s a bit of a language barrier and an arduous journey across the kingdoms. The h is sad for her dead fiancée for a bit.
Once they are wed a conniving OW gets in the hs ear about the customs of the kingdom. The OW is part of the kings harem. She says she’s his lover and the king will eventually share her with other men when he tired of her. The h is understandably upset. The king ends up treating us to an epic OW slap down. We eventually discover the H was actually also a virgin and had waited for h. The harem was in keeping with the customs of the kingdom but he never slept with any of them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2025
This book was all guilty pleasure if you're into these storylines, and I'm 100% here for it. Like a less sexually explicit but more violent
Golden Dynasty
, which means if you're in it for the tropes of a conquering, barbarian warlord brings a female warprize into his group with language and cultural differences...ta-dah.
Although I feel like this book needs trigger warnings. Upon a 2025 reread, I don’t recall the content being so…what it was.
THE GOOD
1) All the good Golden Dynasty moments less of the onscreen explicit porn.
2) Guilty pleasure up the wazoo with Ahzrael being all gentle with Isydoris's shy nature and fear of him.
THE BAD
1) The writing is surface-level with its characterizations and plot...but with the rare exceptions, these kinds of books aren't know for their intricate storylines or characterizations.
2) Ahzrael was a bit harsh with death and judgment at times, especially when it didn't particularly serve a purpose other than to emphasize he's harsh. Heeba's disproportionate punishment in particular made him seem like a sadist. This didn’t hit me any better upon a reread, either.
3) The last 15-20% of the book's info dump was blink-or-you'll-miss-it in the sense of all the reveals happen at once before we live heavily ever after.
4) Simplistic writing and modern language at times.
FINAL THOUGHTS
At the end of the day, though, I'm really not complaining because this book was that exactly guilty pleasure I was looking for.
Although I feel like this book needs trigger warnings. Upon a 2025 reread, I don’t recall the content being so…what it was.
THE GOOD
1) All the good Golden Dynasty moments less of the onscreen explicit porn.
2) Guilty pleasure up the wazoo with Ahzrael being all gentle with Isydoris's shy nature and fear of him.
THE BAD
1) The writing is surface-level with its characterizations and plot...but with the rare exceptions, these kinds of books aren't know for their intricate storylines or characterizations.
2) Ahzrael was a bit harsh with death and judgment at times, especially when it didn't particularly serve a purpose other than to emphasize he's harsh. Heeba's disproportionate punishment in particular made him seem like a sadist. This didn’t hit me any better upon a reread, either.
3) The last 15-20% of the book's info dump was blink-or-you'll-miss-it in the sense of all the reveals happen at once before we live heavily ever after.
4) Simplistic writing and modern language at times.
FINAL THOUGHTS
At the end of the day, though, I'm really not complaining because this book was that exactly guilty pleasure I was looking for.
November 7, 2021
Astrid had outdone herself. Out of all her books, TQOA has to be my favorite! (I’m partly biased as it covered ancient civilization and I’m a tad obsessed with it myself XD) The story of Isidorys and Azhrael truly resonates as a legendary love story. (Especially since I understand what legend this story is based on!) The plot is so carefully written with attention to emotions that it took my breath away and I found myself completely mesmerized with the story. The aspect of arranged marriages and anti-hero’s isn’t something that’s new from Astrid’s other works, but I found myself particularly attached to Isidorys. I loved the balance of her character: between soft and kind-hearted, along with courage and her boldness. I adored the fact both Isidorys and Azhrael were true to one another and were each other’s first. How incredibly smitten Azhrael was by Isidorys was heart-warming, as she was the only one whom he treated with such affection and cherished deeply. The only thing I wish was that the book included an Epilogue, the ending left me wanting more as I still had some unsolved questions. How would they navigate the future? Overall TQOA has to be one of the best books I have come across with so far, it met the high expectations I was setting for it before its release. It showed that no matter how much time or events pass, love remains intact when it’s your destiny.
Thank you to Astrid for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review :)
Thank you to Astrid for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review :)
February 4, 2022
The vibes are similar to the Winter King by CL Wilson, but h is a lot more of a pushover. She was very annoying at times and her motivations weren’t 100% believable. This book can definitely be split into two: the first part which is a solid 4 stars very engaging, good dialogue, lots of chemistry between leads and interesting plot. However, it kind of peters off somewhere around the 50% mark and the plot twist and overall conclusion is a disappointment.
Read
November 13, 2021DNF. I usually love stories with a barbarian hero and a gentle heroine, but this one did not keep my interest. And I did not like that the hero was okay his men raping the female slaves.
April 29, 2022
“I will always be gentle with you, no matter what.”
- said after he smacked her so hard she bled. Alexa, play clown music.
- said after he smacked her so hard she bled. Alexa, play clown music.
dnf-read-less-than-25-percent
July 13, 2022The premise was interesting, but the writing wasn’t for me. Too much smirking and snickering, couldn’t get past 13%.
January 21, 2025
3.75 stars
This kinda scratched the post-the golden dynasty itch, with a plot and characters that were a lot different from that book. Perhaps a golden dynasty x bound to the battle god.
The human empire is made of several kingdoms, named after the gods who created them. Isydoris was from the kingdom of fertility while Azhrael was from the kingdom of war(?), where his god was the chief of all gods. Azhrael had been wreaking havoc to put all the kingdoms under his thumb, and Isydoris's kingdom was last. He had killed her betrothed and in exchange for her family's and kingdom's safety, she was to go and wed Azhrael willingly. She reluctantly agreed.
Azhrael's kingdom was full of savagery. His men indulged in raping slave girls and death penalties were always the way to go. He pretended not to be able to speak her language to see her true self. Even though she was supposed to be this gentle princess from a gentle kingdom, she was damn bratty. She kept insulting him despite knowing that she had multiple lives depending on her. All her insults were translated by this slave girl assigned to be as her lady in waiting. He didn't seem to mind though. He was gentle behind closed doors, and tried to show her that she was the one who had power of him (which was really sweet)--save for that one moment where he lost face in front of his men and slapped her, which he was immediately remorseful about.
Azhrael didn't force himself on her throughout their journey back to his kingdom, as their first act needed to be after their wedding and have Isydoris's virgin blood smeared on their bed sheets to be shown to their people. The wedding was interesting. A priest had sex with a slave girl, who then had her throat cut. Her blood was mixed with wine and herbs for Isydoris to drink. After that, Isydoris started to feel some sort of inexplicable change. She was starting to have dreams of her and Azhrael being in love, but she couldn't remember them when she woke up.
There's also this necklace that Azhrael gave her but the significance of it was never explained until the end.
Isydoris also suddenly gained full knowledge of Azhrael's language that made her acclimating to the brutal culture easier. She joined him in court and saved two people from death but we never saw these people again. There was some other woman drama as an enslaved dancer, who used to be another kingdom's princess, warned Isydoris that the men liked to share their women and that Azhrael had a harem of women at his disposal. Azhrael cleared up the misunderstanding and revealed that he had never touched any women before her. The dancer was punished. I was half-expecting her to come back and be a vengeful villain, but we also never saw her again.
The only "villain" in the story is Isydoris's ability to regain her memories. Azhrael took her back to the temple where they had their wedding. There, she read the tragic love story of god Maurel and goddess Ismene, which were Azhrael and Isydoris. The story made her regain her memories and Azhrael told her the full story. Maurel and Ismene met in the land of the gods and fell in love in secret. Ismene told her father that she wished to wed Maurel, but her father disapproved. Her father had the god of magic to put a spell on her, making her forget about Maurel and also sending her to the human realm. This is where I think the lore gets a bit murky. The logistics was a bit confusing but I guess all the gods ended up banished to the human realm because of Maurel/Azhrael. Even Maurel turned human to search for Ismene. He had tried multiple times to get her over the century to remember but could never succeed because he insisted on not marrying Isydoris before she remembered. The logistics of the gods' lives in the human realm was also unexplained. Idk. So the now-mortal-gods like Isydoris's father also got reborn over and over again since they're mortals? But they have their memories intact? Do they have the memories since they're babies? And always be the ruler every time? But then how did the children spawn? Isydoris' mom died a long long time ago before the banishment so like what.
What I'm trying to say is, if this is Maurel's first attempt to get Isydoris to remember, then it'd make a bit more sense since they just spawned into the human realm I guess, instead of being born as a human baby and grew up again and again.
Anyways, once Ismene got her memories back, they both somehow become gods again so they must return to their realm. And that's it. No epilogue.
There were just lots of little things here and there that were brought up but soon set aside, as if forgotten. I like the general gist of the story, the beginning and the middle-ish but the ending was kinda a mess.
There wasn't any real threat to either of the characters. The one threat, if Isydoris failed to remember, is that she'd have no chances to revert to becoming an immortal anymore. But that's revealed after she got her memories, so it's not really important.
And ohmygosh, there were so much talking. The dialogues were boring and Isydoris was just being a brat over the same things over and over again. The talks with her slave girl were especially dreadful because the slave was essentially only telling her to use her brain many many times. They didn't form any bonds. I think both Azhrael and Isydoris didn't have any close bonds to other people other than themselves in Azhrael's kingdom. It made them feel rather isolated.
Overall, the book contained some elements that I wished I would've gotten in the golden dynasty, but it wasn't as satisfying as it's missing nuances.
This kinda scratched the post-the golden dynasty itch, with a plot and characters that were a lot different from that book. Perhaps a golden dynasty x bound to the battle god.
The human empire is made of several kingdoms, named after the gods who created them. Isydoris was from the kingdom of fertility while Azhrael was from the kingdom of war(?), where his god was the chief of all gods. Azhrael had been wreaking havoc to put all the kingdoms under his thumb, and Isydoris's kingdom was last. He had killed her betrothed and in exchange for her family's and kingdom's safety, she was to go and wed Azhrael willingly. She reluctantly agreed.
Azhrael's kingdom was full of savagery. His men indulged in raping slave girls and death penalties were always the way to go. He pretended not to be able to speak her language to see her true self. Even though she was supposed to be this gentle princess from a gentle kingdom, she was damn bratty. She kept insulting him despite knowing that she had multiple lives depending on her. All her insults were translated by this slave girl assigned to be as her lady in waiting. He didn't seem to mind though. He was gentle behind closed doors, and tried to show her that she was the one who had power of him (which was really sweet)--save for that one moment where he lost face in front of his men and slapped her, which he was immediately remorseful about.
Azhrael didn't force himself on her throughout their journey back to his kingdom, as their first act needed to be after their wedding and have Isydoris's virgin blood smeared on their bed sheets to be shown to their people. The wedding was interesting. A priest had sex with a slave girl, who then had her throat cut. Her blood was mixed with wine and herbs for Isydoris to drink. After that, Isydoris started to feel some sort of inexplicable change. She was starting to have dreams of her and Azhrael being in love, but she couldn't remember them when she woke up.
There's also this necklace that Azhrael gave her but the significance of it was never explained until the end.
Isydoris also suddenly gained full knowledge of Azhrael's language that made her acclimating to the brutal culture easier. She joined him in court and saved two people from death but we never saw these people again. There was some other woman drama as an enslaved dancer, who used to be another kingdom's princess, warned Isydoris that the men liked to share their women and that Azhrael had a harem of women at his disposal. Azhrael cleared up the misunderstanding and revealed that he had never touched any women before her. The dancer was punished. I was half-expecting her to come back and be a vengeful villain, but we also never saw her again.
The only "villain" in the story is Isydoris's ability to regain her memories. Azhrael took her back to the temple where they had their wedding. There, she read the tragic love story of god Maurel and goddess Ismene, which were Azhrael and Isydoris. The story made her regain her memories and Azhrael told her the full story. Maurel and Ismene met in the land of the gods and fell in love in secret. Ismene told her father that she wished to wed Maurel, but her father disapproved. Her father had the god of magic to put a spell on her, making her forget about Maurel and also sending her to the human realm. This is where I think the lore gets a bit murky. The logistics was a bit confusing but I guess all the gods ended up banished to the human realm because of Maurel/Azhrael. Even Maurel turned human to search for Ismene. He had tried multiple times to get her over the century to remember but could never succeed because he insisted on not marrying Isydoris before she remembered. The logistics of the gods' lives in the human realm was also unexplained. Idk. So the now-mortal-gods like Isydoris's father also got reborn over and over again since they're mortals? But they have their memories intact? Do they have the memories since they're babies? And always be the ruler every time? But then how did the children spawn? Isydoris' mom died a long long time ago before the banishment so like what.
What I'm trying to say is, if this is Maurel's first attempt to get Isydoris to remember, then it'd make a bit more sense since they just spawned into the human realm I guess, instead of being born as a human baby and grew up again and again.
Anyways, once Ismene got her memories back, they both somehow become gods again so they must return to their realm. And that's it. No epilogue.
There were just lots of little things here and there that were brought up but soon set aside, as if forgotten. I like the general gist of the story, the beginning and the middle-ish but the ending was kinda a mess.
There wasn't any real threat to either of the characters. The one threat, if Isydoris failed to remember, is that she'd have no chances to revert to becoming an immortal anymore. But that's revealed after she got her memories, so it's not really important.
And ohmygosh, there were so much talking. The dialogues were boring and Isydoris was just being a brat over the same things over and over again. The talks with her slave girl were especially dreadful because the slave was essentially only telling her to use her brain many many times. They didn't form any bonds. I think both Azhrael and Isydoris didn't have any close bonds to other people other than themselves in Azhrael's kingdom. It made them feel rather isolated.
Overall, the book contained some elements that I wished I would've gotten in the golden dynasty, but it wasn't as satisfying as it's missing nuances.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2022
10*
Ticked all my boxes for a great fantasy read. Was averaging 3*/3.5* in the first half. Went straight to 10 extreme romance stars for the last half.
Only issue I had was over usage of "snigger" and "smirk" but ignored it as story was too good/brilliant to be annoyed overly much.
True romantics would love this.
I NEED MORE books from author.
Ticked all my boxes for a great fantasy read. Was averaging 3*/3.5* in the first half. Went straight to 10 extreme romance stars for the last half.
Only issue I had was over usage of "snigger" and "smirk" but ignored it as story was too good/brilliant to be annoyed overly much.
True romantics would love this.
I NEED MORE books from author.
November 8, 2021
Wow. I really enjoyed this book. A dark fantasy with an unusual plot.
This is the first book by this author I've read and it wouldn't be the last.
This is the first book by this author I've read and it wouldn't be the last.
November 11, 2021
As always this author never disappoints😍
October 11, 2023
This hero made my jaw drop. I never would have thought that I, a person who loves reading about villains and the hardships the heroine always goes through while being with that villain WOULD SAY NO TO THIS HERO 😮 I've never EVER read a book about a villain so cruel as this one right here.
Let me begin with the first part that made me nearly lose my mind. So Azhrael, the hero (villain) kills Isydoris's (heroine) fiance in front of her eyes. Isydoris is in love with Hedon and the scene where they kissed each other and he called her "my love" made me want to cry because I FELL IN LOVE WITH HIS CHARACTER 🤯 Hedon is the first side character I wished was the main hero and it confused me to no end. So what does Isydoris do? She sleeps with the villain AND ENJOYS IT 😅 Wait a minute, are you serious with me right now? IF I WAS IN LOVE WITH ANOTHER MAN I WOULD DIE FOR HIM, BECOME A SLAVE, LIVE MISERABLY FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE AND FIGHT TO MY LAST BREATH FOR MY LOVE ...!!!!
The book explains that her people would die if she doesn't sleep with the enemy, then what? Marry Azhrael, sleep with him, but when he turns his back? FUCKING STAB HIM IN THE BACK AND BE DONE WITH IT 😐 She never even tried to kill him. Not once. Forget killing him, she never even tried to make up a plan to stop his madness. Isydoris had ONE dream about Hedon and mentioned him here and there but too soon she was all over Azhrael and becoming no better than one of his slave girls!
The second scene that made me drop this book? She sees his brutality. Azhrael kills her people, his people kill each other because of stupid games and where the winner rapes the pitful scared slave girls and he kills and tortures people WHILE LAUGHING and enjoying himself 💀 This made me uncomfortable but didn't stop me from reading. The scene I couldn't and would never accept? Isydoris DRINKS THE BLOOD OF A GIRL BEING MURDERED IN FRONT OF HER BECAUSE THAT'S THE TRADITION OF BECOMING A QUEEN AND IF THAT IS NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU RUN, THEN SHE HAS THE MOST AMAZING SEX THE NEXT DAY WITH THAT BRUTE AND STARTED TO THINK OF HIM AS GENTLE AND KIND 😨
This is just disgusting, for real. At this point I can't keep reading while closing my eyes for all the horror that keeps happening around them. I pity all those souls being sacrificed because the hero and heroine needs to be together. He killed all of those poor people and tortured even more to be with her. His people kills each other as if it's a fucking sport and she drinks a young girl's blood just to become a queen and have power. I would rather see Isydoris becoming a slave and tortured for the rest of her life if it means saving all those pitful souls being sacrificed because of her.
Don't read if you have a sensitive stomach. I usually love this author's stories because her writing style is really good and she creates good villains but in this book? I can't stomach this villain, I'm sorry. He is supposed to be my type, but I think he is too selfish to call himself a king and I thought she is supposed to change him so he starts treating his people, and other poor souls a lot better but nope. She is as bad, if not worser than him.
Now I know my type of villain. I just discovered it today. I will go search for him and leave you all to decide if you want to give this a chance.
Let me begin with the first part that made me nearly lose my mind. So Azhrael, the hero (villain) kills Isydoris's (heroine) fiance in front of her eyes. Isydoris is in love with Hedon and the scene where they kissed each other and he called her "my love" made me want to cry because I FELL IN LOVE WITH HIS CHARACTER 🤯 Hedon is the first side character I wished was the main hero and it confused me to no end. So what does Isydoris do? She sleeps with the villain AND ENJOYS IT 😅 Wait a minute, are you serious with me right now? IF I WAS IN LOVE WITH ANOTHER MAN I WOULD DIE FOR HIM, BECOME A SLAVE, LIVE MISERABLY FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE AND FIGHT TO MY LAST BREATH FOR MY LOVE ...!!!!
The book explains that her people would die if she doesn't sleep with the enemy, then what? Marry Azhrael, sleep with him, but when he turns his back? FUCKING STAB HIM IN THE BACK AND BE DONE WITH IT 😐 She never even tried to kill him. Not once. Forget killing him, she never even tried to make up a plan to stop his madness. Isydoris had ONE dream about Hedon and mentioned him here and there but too soon she was all over Azhrael and becoming no better than one of his slave girls!
The second scene that made me drop this book? She sees his brutality. Azhrael kills her people, his people kill each other because of stupid games and where the winner rapes the pitful scared slave girls and he kills and tortures people WHILE LAUGHING and enjoying himself 💀 This made me uncomfortable but didn't stop me from reading. The scene I couldn't and would never accept? Isydoris DRINKS THE BLOOD OF A GIRL BEING MURDERED IN FRONT OF HER BECAUSE THAT'S THE TRADITION OF BECOMING A QUEEN AND IF THAT IS NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU RUN, THEN SHE HAS THE MOST AMAZING SEX THE NEXT DAY WITH THAT BRUTE AND STARTED TO THINK OF HIM AS GENTLE AND KIND 😨
This is just disgusting, for real. At this point I can't keep reading while closing my eyes for all the horror that keeps happening around them. I pity all those souls being sacrificed because the hero and heroine needs to be together. He killed all of those poor people and tortured even more to be with her. His people kills each other as if it's a fucking sport and she drinks a young girl's blood just to become a queen and have power. I would rather see Isydoris becoming a slave and tortured for the rest of her life if it means saving all those pitful souls being sacrificed because of her.
Don't read if you have a sensitive stomach. I usually love this author's stories because her writing style is really good and she creates good villains but in this book? I can't stomach this villain, I'm sorry. He is supposed to be my type, but I think he is too selfish to call himself a king and I thought she is supposed to change him so he starts treating his people, and other poor souls a lot better but nope. She is as bad, if not worser than him.
Now I know my type of villain. I just discovered it today. I will go search for him and leave you all to decide if you want to give this a chance.
January 20, 2023
I loved it! Azhrael was my kind of guy. A bad guy to everyone else but a soft guy just for her. I especially loved that part where he got rid of the dancer and made her life miserable just for making Isydoris doubt herself and him. However, towards the end, I was confused and needed some clarity. Spoilers down below:
Is this all happening in a single timeline? Meaning she doesn't die and reincarnate again? Reigh Azhrael mentioned that he tried to make her remember a few times but failed. My understanding was that many years had passed. So, was she dying and reincarnated? And to the same father and mother? And she didn't remember him every time? Or was she just taken back home and started all over again?
Isydoris mentioned that she didn't like her time in the world of gods, so was that where she was born and then went down to the human world? I wondered what happened to the human world after their powerful ruler left. Did he leave someone to replace him?
Maybe I missed the answers in the book, but I was really confused.
Is this all happening in a single timeline? Meaning she doesn't die and reincarnate again? Reigh Azhrael mentioned that he tried to make her remember a few times but failed. My understanding was that many years had passed. So, was she dying and reincarnated? And to the same father and mother? And she didn't remember him every time? Or was she just taken back home and started all over again?
Isydoris mentioned that she didn't like her time in the world of gods, so was that where she was born and then went down to the human world? I wondered what happened to the human world after their powerful ruler left. Did he leave someone to replace him?
Maybe I missed the answers in the book, but I was really confused.
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July 27, 2022300 books completed ☺️
September 22, 2022
Disgusting.
July 13, 2023
4 stars.
Beautifully Written!
Beautifully Written!
January 9, 2024
stayed up until 3
Couldn’t put it down stayed up really late just to finish it ! I’m exhausted but it was worth it!
Couldn’t put it down stayed up really late just to finish it ! I’m exhausted but it was worth it!
March 29, 2025
Meh. Got bored. FMCs is an idiot. And the MMC (gasp!) is not cruel or rapey enough.
October 18, 2022
The relationship was far too toxic to be considered a good romance read for me. The guy is just an abusive asshole and no amount of 'he's the god of war, and therefore should be violent' will change that.
November 10, 2021
The first half of this book is enchanting. The worldbuilding is lush and detailed. The writing is lyrical and atmospheric.
...And then the MMC can't stop "smirking". Oh my god, does he smirk. He smirks in every chapter from chapter 10 to 25, sometimes upwards of six or seven times. He smirks knowingly. He smirks teasingly. He smirks gently. He smirks with amusement. He smirks with satisfaction. He smirks with approval. He smirks with mystery. He smirks with self-contentment. The man has a smirk for everything, and honestly, I could get over it—if he wasn't also constantly "snickering" and "sniggering". Sorry, but there is no universe where you can convince me that the simpering, tittering love interest is also an alpha male.
Regardless, it was still an above average read until about the 50-60% mark, when everything interesting about the book is erased with some banal plot device, and it becomes a sickeningly cheesy love fest between two characters who haven't grown at all. Just because the latter is not my jam doesn't mean it's not perfectly reasonable in a romance book, so The Queen of Aessarion was hovering around a 3 star review.
...But then the MMC gives half of his to the powerless-but-gentle FMC, who then states "Now I am your true queen". The end. So I guess the moral of the story is be kind and lovely and maybe a volatile and violent man will change for you because true love and, if you're really lucky, he'll deign to empower you? Seriously though, I can't tell whether or not this is actually intentional tradwife messaging packaged up in some attractive-to-wider-audiences romance tropes.
P.S. For anyone who cares, the sex scenes are not as explicit as you would expect for a dark romance marked with a "mature audiences" warning.
...And then the MMC can't stop "smirking". Oh my god, does he smirk. He smirks in every chapter from chapter 10 to 25, sometimes upwards of six or seven times. He smirks knowingly. He smirks teasingly. He smirks gently. He smirks with amusement. He smirks with satisfaction. He smirks with approval. He smirks with mystery. He smirks with self-contentment. The man has a smirk for everything, and honestly, I could get over it—if he wasn't also constantly "snickering" and "sniggering". Sorry, but there is no universe where you can convince me that the simpering, tittering love interest is also an alpha male.
Regardless, it was still an above average read until about the 50-60% mark, when everything interesting about the book is erased with some banal plot device, and it becomes a sickeningly cheesy love fest between two characters who haven't grown at all. Just because the latter is not my jam doesn't mean it's not perfectly reasonable in a romance book, so The Queen of Aessarion was hovering around a 3 star review.
...But then the MMC gives half of his to the powerless-but-gentle FMC, who then states "Now I am your true queen". The end. So I guess the moral of the story is be kind and lovely and maybe a volatile and violent man will change for you because true love and, if you're really lucky, he'll deign to empower you? Seriously though, I can't tell whether or not this is actually intentional tradwife messaging packaged up in some attractive-to-wider-audiences romance tropes.
P.S. For anyone who cares, the sex scenes are not as explicit as you would expect for a dark romance marked with a "mature audiences" warning.
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