I tend to avoid books with any rape in them, it is usually a cheap trope thrown in to traumatize a character or show someone's evil, and is rarely handled properly in fantasy. This book surprised me, in how nuanced it was about Velasin's feelings and his recovery. His guilt, his grief, everything around it. Yes, this is very much a hurt/comfort romance, but it is also very much a story of healing and building trust. Throw in some court mystery and gay pining: Voila! I enjoyed the novelty of new terms like metem, tiern etc., and hope to read more books in this universe.