The Prince and the Ice King

3.5 stars

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I ever thought I would. Like, a lot a lot. For me, the only slightly weak point is the romance. I didn't dislike it, and I am pleased for the couple in a very quiet way, but I never felt like I just had to see them together. I think that's mostly because it moves a little fast, so by the time I was finally starting to ship them, they were already a couple. (Nothing bad here, but would have been happier with the ‘getting to know you' phase lasting longer.)

But, really, the romance isn't even needed, which was a nice surprise. Look, I was so enamored by the world building, the characters that inhabit said world and, mostly, the strong threads of found family and themes of finding your people, a place where you belong, that I was sold on the book long before I even was sold on the romance.

(Also, I must note that this is a ‘magic is evil' fantasy book, but there is a reason that magic is seen as evil and that is pretty much put to paid by the end of the book. So...if you have the same issues I do with ‘magic is evil' but are liking the book despite that, stick around. It gets even better.)

(And celebrate for the eBook cover, because that paperback cover is a thing of horror.)