Category: Non-Traditional Romance

Red Kingdom by Rachel L. Demeter

On By TracyIn Check Content Warning/Triggers, Fairytale Retelling, Gothic Historical, Historical Paranormal/Fantasy, Medieval (1066-1540), Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Non-Traditional Romance, Part of a Series, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Red Kingdom (Fairy Tale Retellings, #2)Red Kingdom by Rachel L. Demeter

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Fairy Tale Retellings, #2

Released: April 10, 2024

Princess Blanchette Winslowe of Norland is awakened to an attack on her father’s castle and barely escapes the carnage thanks to a loyal villager and his son. But her escape is short lived when the infamous Black Wolf hunts her down and takes her prisoner. Blanchette is horrified to discover her entire family (save her married sister) have all been killed during the takeover of the castle. She believes that Sir Rowan – the Black Wolf – is a monster as well as a traitor to Norland. But not all is as it seems and as she begins to learn the truth of her father’s reign, the more the scales fall from her eyes and the walls around her heart begin to crumble.

Sir Rowan Dietrich, known as the Black Wolf of Norland was once a loyal retainer and served the King, but when his wife is murdered to teach Rowan a lesson, his rage simmers and he begins to plot his revenge. It takes years, but finally Rowan has gathered an army to oust King Bartholomew and liberate Norland from his corrupt reign. When he learns the princess escaped, he personally tracks her down and returns her to the castle. He believes that she was aware of her father’s deeds and turned a blind eye. He soon learns that Blanchette is not the shallow, pampered princess he thought her to be and soon begins to fall in love with her. But there is still evil afoot and their road to HEA will not be easy or without pain.

Just like the last book, this book is phenomenal, and the writing transports you to the medieval kingdom of Norland and keeps you there until you read the last page and then makes you wish it hadn’t ended! This is a dark fairytale retelling that is very loosely based on Little Red Riding Hood, dark being the operative word. The book has battles, murder, heartache, heartbreak, unspeakable acts of cruelty (most off page), loss, war, a very slow-burn romance, mild love scenes, betrayal, healing and finally a HEA. This is the second book in the series, but the books can be read as standalone titles. I would caution sensitive readers to check out the content warnings before reading this book as there are triggers and acts that may be extremely upsetting to some readers.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own. *

The Queen and the Knave by Sarah M. Eden

On By TracyIn Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Mystery, Non-Traditional Romance, Part of a Series, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

The Queen and the Knave (The Dread Penny Society, #5)The Queen and the Knave by Sarah M. Eden

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Dread Penny Society, #5

Release Date: September 5, 2023

Picking up where the previous book ended, Moirin Donnelly, the Dread Master, is frantic to save her members from the Tempest and to stop the woman’s reign of terror. But unfortunately for Moirin, it seems like the Tempest is always one step of her and when her members begin to disappear, is clear that she is going to need help. She trusts Constable Fitz Parkington, to an extent, but Moirin has secrets that could destroy her and by association Fitz, so despite the attraction she feels for him, the risk to both of them is too great. But before she can even worry about that, she needs to stop the Tempest before she kills any of her “dreads.

Fitzgerald “Fitz” Parkington, has finally been promoted to the Detective Division of Scotland Yard and hopes that the promotion will enable him to finally find out what happened to his grandfather twenty years ago, who disappeared without a trace and left nine-year-old Fitz all alone and homeless. But before he can even start looking into that matter, he finds himself pulled into the troubles of the DPS and the Tempest. For years he has been helping the members, but recently Moirin has been holding his attention, he knows she is keeping secrets, but he isn’t sure he cares. And if they survive the coming storm, he plans to prove it to her.

This installment of The Dread Penny Society is the climax of the story that has been building since the first book. Personally, I wouldn’t classify this book as a Historical Romance, it is more mystery and historical fiction, with just a hint of a romantic connection between Moirin and Fitz, but that hint is potent, and while the book has a happy ending, I wouldn’t call it a “happily ever after” at least not for Moirin and Fitz as a couple. As with the previous books, there are two Penny Dreadful novellas interwoven into the book and as with the previous books, I skipped over them while reading the story and read them after I finished the book. For me, reading them as they are placed is distracting and breaks the flow of the actual story – but they are delightful additions and are not to be missed! This is the fifth book in the series and I strongly suggest reading the books in order, because they are definitely not standalone titles.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*