Pages & Pressings

(4.5/5 stars)

NO SPOILERS

It’s okay when it’s in a 3-way. It’s not gay when it’s in a 3-way.

I haven’t had this much fun reading a fantasy book in so long! This book was so delightful, funny, and interesting, and it was exactly what I needed to get me out of a reading slump.

This was a very romance-driven fantasy book and probably one of the best, in my humble opinion. I thought I would be turned off by the spice in this book, but I was genuinely so intrigued that I welcomed it. It’s so rare that I find a queer love triangle, but in this case a love triangle where all 3 members are participatory and no one loses.

The fantasy aspect was there, but takes a backseat to the romance. This is book one in a duology, and there’s potential here for the fantasy and magic elements to flourish. The magic and fantasy (royalty) bits were interesting, and I wish we saw more, but I would never recommend this book to someone who wants an intricate fantasy. Everything about Warrior Princess Assassin was straight-forward and genuinely just easy. It serves it’s purpose well, and I think it definitely deserves space in the bookish sphere. This is one of those books that works well if you don’t want to think too hard and just have a good time.

The only negative thing I can say about this is that we spend a lot of time circling on the same ideas: What if they’re lying to me? They’ve already lied to me and they can lie again? I think they’re being sincere, but I have to push my feelings away. I think it became a little overkill, but I can’t fault it too much because it did work within the plot. Everyone is secretive and conniving, and if not secretive then they’re unknowing of what’s going on. The characters constantly work with only bits and pieces of information and have to piece it together themselves. Maybe it was just the ease of the conflict that left me wanting, but there’s not much you can ask for in the circumstances of the book.

My rating definitely reflects more of my enjoyment than the actual chops of the book, which I honestly don’t think are bad at all. The book had such a clear voice with the use of italics that I feel is reflected in my own voice, so I found it all very natural. The banter was funny at times and not at all cringy. This book doesn’t leave you feeling enlightened or inspired, but that’s not a bad thing. Sometimes you just need a laugh and some cute romance in a familiar setting and that’s what this book did perfectly.