Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher. This has not influenced my review.*
Just like the first book, this one was so much fun and gave me such happy feelings. Seriously, the characters were just so likeable and funny, and I loved the friendly and familial relationships just as much as the romantic ones.
The biggest difference between this and the first book though (other than the main characters) was that this was not a slow-burn romance at all. Lesto and Shemal already had feelings for each other when the book started, and they sorted out the worst of their miscommunication within the first 20%. The rest of the book was mostly everyone teasing the crap out of Lesto—the great High Commander who hadn’t had a lover in a long time—for being smitten and some plot stuff causing problems from outside the relationship. There was some angst from Shemal, worry that Lesto wouldn’t want him, and it got to be a little drawn out when it was still going on in the final third of the book, but I enjoyed the story enough that I didn’t really mind. I felt bad for Shemal that he would still feel that way. I suppose feelings don’t always make sense and, if someone has been hurt or put down or made to feel a certain way in the past, it can be hard to overcome that even if a situation seems so obvious to outsiders.
And oh! This is maybe a very mild spoiler for the first book if you haven’t read it, but I liked that the main character was missing an eye. Not that I want characters to be injured, but you know what I mean. I would’ve liked to see a little more about it, like maybe even just something about how fighting is more difficult or different since his depth perception would be different now, but it wasn’t magically cured, and he wasn’t treated as anything less than whole because of it, so I’ll call this a win for disability rep.
One more thing I liked and have noticed in both books so far is that not only is the society completely accepting of same-sex relationship as being a run-of-the-mill thing, the gender stereotypes are also less rigid. For example, the men wear a lot of the type of the jewelry that would be considered feminine in modern, Western society.
So overall, I think this one wasn’t quite as good as the first book for me since it was a little more romantically mushy and didn’t seem like that much actually happened, but I liked the characters and enjoyed the book nonetheless!
Recommended For:
Fans of Book 1 in Megan Derr's Tales of the High Court series. Anyone who likes M/M high fantasy, lovable characters, humor, and sweet books that make you smile.
More Books in the Series:
Book Review: The High King’s Golden Tongue (Tales of the High Court Book 1) by Megan Derr
Book Review: The Pirate of Fathoms Deep (Tales of the High Court Book 2) by Megan Derr
Book Review: The Heart of the Lost Star (Tales of the High Court Book 3) by Megan Derr
I can totally get behind romantically mushy and enjoyable if it’s like this! The miscommunication trope I have to be in the mood for sometimes, but thankfully that’s sorted quickly in this one.
Me too, apparently! Who knew? Lol. Megan Derr brings out my mushy romance loving side.
Glad to hear you enjoyed this book. That sounds kinda nice for a chance to hae the miscommunication cleared up so soon. The romances in this series sound very well done. That’s neat the missing eye disability was handled so well. Great review!
Thanks 🙂 Yeah, I was surprised they cleared it up as fast as they did! Thanks!
You had me at “pirate criminal” lol. I can’t say no to pirates. I’ve only read one Megan Derr book so far but I’ve been wanting to give more a try. This one will definitely be going on my TBR list now. I want to read more books that leave me with the happy feeling you are talking about. lol! There are so many SUPER angsty books out right now that leave me with a little book hangover. lol. Great review!
Lol I have to admit there wasn’t actually any pirating going on in this book, but pirates are definitely interesting! So far I’ve really enjoyed all of her books that I’ve read! And this series is perfect if you want that happy feeling 🙂
Hooray for a missing eye! 😛 No, I totally get what you mean. I really should read this and the previous book.
Lol yeah it sounded kinda weird when I wrote it. They’re really sweet books!
I haven’t read this book or the first book. But it sounds really fun. I haven’t been able to enjoy fantasy all that much lately, but I do love the sounds of this one. How fun that is has also romance in it. Sounds very promising!
Great review Kristen!
They are a lot of fun to read 🙂 And the romances are super sweet! Thanks!
I think I already bought the first one because of you. Hope to read it soon.
For What It’s Worth
Can’t wait to hear what you think 🙂
This series sounds sooo good, Kristen! The epitome of “summertime fantasy reading,” ya know? Fun, funny, dismantles homophobia in fantastical societies AND it has good disability rep? Perfect happy reading. It’s also good to know that the MCs sort out their romantic miscommunication in the first section of the story — so unusual for a romance plot line!
It’s a series that’s a lot of fun! I guess it is the perfect summertime kinda fantasy. And yeah, it’s definitely unusual for the characters in romance to actually talk and sort things out early!
Nice cover on this one, I think you’re showcased it before? I’ve definitely seen it and for some reason I almost got a steampunkish kinda vibe, but I guess looking closer I’m not sure why? lol either way it sounds pretty good. I love that line in the blurb about the “two idiots” 🙂
Yeah I did use this particular cover for a cover characteristics about mountains, I believe lol. Good memory! But nope, no steampunk. Maybe those little star things at the top kinda looked like gears? It was a really fun book though!
Awesome review, Kristen. Sounds SO good, I’m not familiar with epic/high fantasy butI’m planning to give it a try. I hope you can give me your recommendations of this genre. ?
Thanks! This series is a lot of fun!
This book sounds good! I mean, I love me a good old slowburn but the fact that the romance in this seemed to be fun, even if there was some angst going on. I like the fact that same-sex relationships are so accepted and there is more fluidity when it comes to gender. I always wonder why fantasy reads end up having societies so similar to our own. It’s good when things are changed as it gives you a new perspective.
Yeah I prefer slow burn, but this book was still just a lot of fun! And it is nice sometimes to see differences like same sex relationships being accepted. Like you said, why are fantasy worlds always so similar to our own?
I like the sound of this series. I will have to add the first one to my tbr list. Great review!
It’s a really sweet, fun series. Thanks!
This one sounds like a lot of fun, Kristen:). Thank you for sharing it.
It’s definitely a fun series 🙂