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A review by ninegladiolus
A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Going into Alexandra Rowland’s A Taste of Gold and Iron, I thought it likely I’d enjoy it; after all, bodyguard/charge dynamics are a forever favourite of mine, especially with a royal/commoner flavor. What I didn’t expect was for this novel to sweep me off my feet into a lush, detailed, evocative world and take me on a heartfelt journey with the characters within it.
Prince Kadou, brother to the queen, has never been keen on the idea of power or the spotlight. When Kadou becomes entangled in a misunderstanding that results in his disgrace, he has to prove his loyalty to his sister and queen. Tasked with investigating a break-in at the Shipbuilder’s Guild, the stoic and distant Evemer is assigned as Kadou’s court-appointed bodyguard. The two unearth a conspiracy with far deeper roots than they imagined, one that could ruin the entire kingdom.
If I had to describe A Taste of Gold and Iron in one word, it would be this: intimate. From the romance to the economics, there’s a layered intimacy about this world that makes it a delight to sink into. Sometimes this intimacy has a sensual bent (there’s a bathing/washing scene that lives in my head rent-free), a tactile delicacy (the magic system), or the lightly voyeuristic feel of observing things meant unseen (the complex politics of the royal guard).
As a lifelong lover of worldbuilding, I can’t stress enough how well crafted this world is. The economy upon which several plot elements hinge on is explained and dimensional. The political structures are clearly delineated and make sense at every level of extrapolation. The matriarchal society, a personal favourite of mine, isn’t just the toxic patriarchy but reversed! There’s a normalized gender outside of ‘he’ or ‘she’ and never once is it an issue!
And the romance… Listen, a slow burn has to be done well to hold my attention, and in this case, I was utterly spellbound. I saw this described in multiple places as an enemies to lovers romance, but I disagree with that assessment; while not particularly a fan of the prince, Evemer is certainly on his side. Loyalty kink fans, however, will find a lot to love about this romance. Kadou and Evemer grow both together and independently in believable ways and their journey feels earned.
Finally, the anxiety representation in this book spoke volumes to me. I tend to be incredibly particular with depictions of anxiety in fiction. Kadou’s struggles and perseverance in the face of those struggles felt both vulnerable and powerful to me.
If you want to be transported by a wonderful, luxurious fantasy queer romance, look no further than A Taste of Gold and Iron. This novel is a favourite of 2022 for me and one I will definitely re-read and recommend in the future.
Thank you to Tordorcom and Netgalley for an advance review copy. All opinions are my own.
Prince Kadou, brother to the queen, has never been keen on the idea of power or the spotlight. When Kadou becomes entangled in a misunderstanding that results in his disgrace, he has to prove his loyalty to his sister and queen. Tasked with investigating a break-in at the Shipbuilder’s Guild, the stoic and distant Evemer is assigned as Kadou’s court-appointed bodyguard. The two unearth a conspiracy with far deeper roots than they imagined, one that could ruin the entire kingdom.
If I had to describe A Taste of Gold and Iron in one word, it would be this: intimate. From the romance to the economics, there’s a layered intimacy about this world that makes it a delight to sink into. Sometimes this intimacy has a sensual bent (there’s a bathing/washing scene that lives in my head rent-free), a tactile delicacy (the magic system), or the lightly voyeuristic feel of observing things meant unseen (the complex politics of the royal guard).
As a lifelong lover of worldbuilding, I can’t stress enough how well crafted this world is. The economy upon which several plot elements hinge on is explained and dimensional. The political structures are clearly delineated and make sense at every level of extrapolation. The matriarchal society, a personal favourite of mine, isn’t just the toxic patriarchy but reversed! There’s a normalized gender outside of ‘he’ or ‘she’ and never once is it an issue!
And the romance… Listen, a slow burn has to be done well to hold my attention, and in this case, I was utterly spellbound. I saw this described in multiple places as an enemies to lovers romance, but I disagree with that assessment; while not particularly a fan of the prince, Evemer is certainly on his side. Loyalty kink fans, however, will find a lot to love about this romance. Kadou and Evemer grow both together and independently in believable ways and their journey feels earned.
Finally, the anxiety representation in this book spoke volumes to me. I tend to be incredibly particular with depictions of anxiety in fiction. Kadou’s struggles and perseverance in the face of those struggles felt both vulnerable and powerful to me.
If you want to be transported by a wonderful, luxurious fantasy queer romance, look no further than A Taste of Gold and Iron. This novel is a favourite of 2022 for me and one I will definitely re-read and recommend in the future.
Thank you to Tordorcom and Netgalley for an advance review copy. All opinions are my own.