FMC: Lennie
MMC(s): Espen, Øyvin
Tropes: MFM, Why Choose, Elemental Magic, Nordic Fae, Enemies to lovers, Allies to lovers
> Reviewer add: Safer sex, Condom use, Magical Realism, fae politics, fae factions, fae royalty, hate sex
Perspective: First, multiple
Plot or character driven: Both
Spicy scenes breakdown:
> Present? Yes
> Detailed? Yes.
> Multiple, with only one character? No.
> Multiple, with both/multiple characters? Yes.
> Personal favorite? Yoga time with Espen.
> Anything else to note?
Burn speed: Medium-fast, first scene @ ~40%
Can this be read as a stand-alone: Yes. I believe it’s the first of a series.
Re-Readability: Yes.
Content/Trigger Warnings/Enticements: Family politics (minor).
I received an advanced reader copy of this book, and this is my voluntary, honest review.
“Images of the two fae men flitted through my mind: Espen and his beaming smile and positivity, that mop of hair constantly falling across his brow, and Øyvin with his stoic no-nonsense attitude that was fortified by his sense of duty to the fjord. Both of them tugged on something deep inside me.”
Photographer (and somewhat spicy disaster) Lennie misses her cruise ship to the next port of call after she catches some weird flash in the woods. Having to remain in their small town, she befriends some of the locals, and finds there is a lot more here than what meets the human eye.
I liked this. The guys all had distinct personalities, Lennie has a distinct personality and while she might not be graceful, she’s still sure of herself. I found the two different romances very nicely done, and very authentic (one being very much enemies-to-lovers, or at least loathing-to-liking, and one allies-to-lovers). At some points the book did feel a bit slow to me, and I wish the scenes between them had been longer, but that is personal preference. While I have a hit or miss with fantasy at the moment, I’m finding that this new crop of Scandinavian fantasy I really enjoy.
This is a first from this author for me, and I’ll continue with this series.