To see a romance develop from just a fling to deeply in love is something magical.

In the previous book the view we had of Emrys really wasn't all that great. And to be honest, he's still often a dick in this book. But everything is different when it relates to Torquil. Emrys has a real big soft spot for them and will do anything to make them happy. Seeing that soft side come out was absolutely wonderful.

Emrys already quite enjoyed Torquil from the start as they were lovers for a long while before this book even starts. This is such an interesting start to the book. They know each other intimately and enjoy spending time together but there is still this separation between them because of their station. When that changes though, both of them are thoroughly confused with what it means for the two of them. Them slowly figuring out those feelings throughout most of the book was so beautiful to see. They want to be together but in some ways the world really is out there preventing that. These contradictions makes for a lot of hurt for them and me too during the book. But then when there are moments when they're together the sparks fly and it's so damn wonderful.

Torquil is such a lovely person. I really enjoyed having a nonbinary character in this book and seeing their lives. It's interesting that in the book them being nonbinary causes no friction in their world, while them being both human an fae is where all the bigotry of the people come out. It made for a book that felt wonderful as a refuge for queer feelings, but at the same time was still a shitty world full of prejudices and negativity. Torquil handles this all in stride, but at the same time is still deeply hurt. Honestly I was hurt by it too, because damn some people are vile in this book. Torquil does work really hard to try to change this attitude of people though and it made me so proud of him from start to finish of this book. 
I also really enjoyed seeing more of his press work in this book. The Tribune is essential to book one (and this one too to be honest), so it kind of felt like a behind the scenes episode seeing all of that. It was just fun to see Torquil combine snippits of gossip together for the paper, and talking to all the servants getting his information together. It gave the book some down to earth fun that I really enjoyed.

I also need to mention that I read the last 55% of the book in one go and sobbed so hard at the ending. It was late, more like morning, I was still reading and needed to know how it finished. And just sobbed happy tears full of emotions.

Concluding this is a wonderful sequel with winter fun and romance of companions growing closer and I would literally recommend it to everyone.


I received an eARC and this was my honest review.