Parts of this story were good, and other parts I disliked a lot. 

What I liked: 

- The way Chauvelin sows distrust at the wedding was really well done. 

- The same for the way Lily does something suspicious enough that Theo distrusts her but innocent enough that she didn’t actually do anything malicious 

What I disliked: 

- COMMUNICATE YOU IDIOTS. They hardly know each other when they get married and they don’t even trust each other. On the other hand, that’s also how it went in the source material so you can’t completely blame the author. 

- Everyone’s way too chill about

Araminta’s abduction

. 

- Chauvelin (Willowvale in this book) isn’t suave. Rather, he’s tactless and has no self-control. I liked the calm, intimidating version better. 

- The MC wanting to go to the elf realm comes out of the blue and she’s stupid for it. 

- The MC doesn’t actually do anything wrong, yet she’s the one apologising to everyone 5+ times. 

“Because I was frightenend for you, and because I couldn’t bear to think how badly I treated you.” You didn’t treat him badly, though. 

“I forgave you long ago, my love.” FOR WHAT 

“How could you forgive me, then? How could you?” Girlll stop 

- His apology, on the other hand, is super weak.

”I wanted to believe the best of you, Lily. But when I asked you, your answer sounded like a lie, and… I did not want to ask you more, because the thought of you lying to me was so painful.” First of all, you asked her something when she had just woken up and had no idea what you were talking about. Second of all, you let your own feelings get in the way of a resolve.

And when he does apologise, she tells him “no don’t worry, there’s nothing to forgive.” YES THERE VERY WELL IS. 

“‘Theo,’ she whispered. “You apologized already, and I have a thousand more reasons to apologize than you do.” Girl you do not. 

 I hate it when books do the thing where the female protagonist apologises for mistakes the male lead made. 

Or maybe I’m just dumb… “It makes me feel even guilter for my part in the misunderstanding” because genuinely, what part does she mean here? She did NOTHING. 

- Not the next book tease (“But that is another story”) 

- The gimmick of him being drugged and honest drags on a bit too long.