I really wanted to love this! It reminded me of Grace Draven's RADIANCE (which I LOVED) and well, I've always had a thing for dark elves, ever since my D&D days. While I enjoyed plenty of aspects about this book, there were also parts that sadly fell flat for me.

I loved the prose, so beautifully written and the words really flowed. I loved the descriptions and the scenery, and the names in Silen (the human kingdom) reminded me of being somewhere in Italy. I enjoyed reading about the characters, especially the dark elf queen, Aless' family, and the Brotherhood. And I loved so much of the lore and magical beasts - the unicorns and pixies and fairies!

I liked Aless and Veron individually, but I didn't feel any chemistry for them together. It seemed like they fell in love very quickly and easily, and considering her hatred and disgust for his kind just before their wedding.

I think my biggest quibble is how a lot of things weren't explained. Why was Aless called the Beast Princess? What did Veron's full title mean? To name a few. I wasn't sure if I should have read the author's other books to understand the world a little better. Some of the names in the Dark Elf queendom were really over-the-top and hard to pronounce (and while I understand that it is fantasy, I thought the names were a little ridiculous-sounding).

And the ending was one big HEA (again, which I love, if done well), but felt hastily put together, with a lot of components thrown in that came out of nowhere.

All that being said, I most likely will read the sequel. ( )

Romantic fantasy with a perfect elf, an average princess, and a side of geopolitics which requires another five books to understand. But, it struck me in the right sort of mood, so I had fun.

I have read the first book in Honfleur's Blade and Rose series, so I understood enough of the references to know that I would probably have to read further into that series in order to learn more about the human/elf conflict and Aless's history as the Beast Princess. As it was, most of the politics had me totally lost, but I didn't feel bad skimming those sections.

Because, y'know, I came for the romance - and all the tropes that come with it. Married-but-not-in-love-but-pretending, the angst machine I-didn't-tell-you-something-cause-its-never-the-right-time-and-now-you-feel-betrayed, and the frustrating classic being-noble-and-sacrificing-oneself-for-the-many.

Just pull on your swoony elf hat and gush over elf boy Veron, and don't worry too much about the rest. ( )