I absolutely adored the first book by Rowland that I read a few years ago, A Taste of Gold and Iron, and I should have looked into more by her sooner, but here we are (as always, more books than time). Anyways, I finally grabbed this one from the library and holy shit I will immediately be reading more and more and more of Rowland’s works. She is up there now, for me, with Freya Marske as an absolute master class in queer romantasy that is as full in world-building as it is in heart-filling. 

 

Y’all, I am telling you, I would live in this book forever. The writing is downright freaking *hilarious.* The dialogue, the internal thoughts (omg like for real, Tam’s internal thoughts are some of the most entertaining I have ever read), the “I refuse to see what’s right in front of my nose” vibes…it’s all exactly on point. 

 

The world-building is simple, but I was fascinated by the pantheon of deities and the way the belief system worked. The folklore and mythology around said deities is explored and detailed throughout the novel, unfolding as the story does, nuanced without being overwhelming. I was especially bought into the relation of the areas of specialization of the gods with the development of the story/characters, exploring the duality of all natures and concepts. This wasn’t necessarily even the main focus of the story, but seriously, it was so great that I find myself really needing to give it real space in this review. 

 

Speaking of the main focus of the story. OMG Tam and Lyford. They jumped in with the spice hard to start and then settled into something with an aching amount of vulnerability and sweetness and tenderness. A smart and touching “grouchy and giving” opposites attract (showcasing the duality of their specific goddess to perfection). And the way they each learn to grow, into themselves and into each other, is beautiful. It’s a story of how we often have a hand in creating our own ruts, but that means we also have all the tools to get ourselves out of them…but it’s done in such a comforting way, not a “pull yourself up by the bootstraps” kind of way, and I loved it so much. 

 

This book was lighthearted and diverting AF, and yet gave so much. The story completely touched my soul. And having finished it, I am SO FULL of joy and love. Oh my goodness, it’s almost too much sweetness, but Rowland tempered it with just the right amount of prickly perfection. GAH. Everything.

 

“Think about the things you want. Go home. Tell people what those things are. Flourish and prosper.”