3.5 out of 5 stars
This is a decent new romantasy. If you liked Lore of the Wilds, The Cruel Prince or A Court of Thorns and Roses I'm willing to bet that you'll like this novel too. It's Assistant to the Villain adjacent too, although much sexier. You know the formula: a young woman with unusual skills and a finely honed sense of independence, a deal with a powerful, dark man (literal and figurative), the deal turns personal, etc. If you like that recipe, you'll also like this cake.
It was an absorbing read. Kierse is a very talented thief. She exists in a monster haunted world in which the Monster Treaty mostly keeps everyone in line, though the monsters are straining the boundaries of the treaty. Kierse is hired by one monster to steal from another. She can't believe how easy it seems to be—until the robbed-from monster shows up and easily captures her. It's Beauty and the Beast. She has no choice but to accept his terms, which chafes, but she has friends that she needs to keep safe.
These stories hinge on our perception of the male main character. What is his motivation? In this world it boils down to whether he wants to protect humanity or rule them. Kierse is very much a protector and therefore liable to interpret Graves in a similar light. But can she trust her judgement of him?
Honestly, the novel is written better than many romantasy books on the market right now, but its predictability reduced the star value to three for me. Add an extra half-star for using the Holly King/Oak King myth, which I adore. Your mileage may vary. If Beauty and the Beast is your jam, I recommend you grab this one.
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