This is the first novel of a series all set in the same world that includes Day (light) elves , Night (dark) elves and humans.  All three groups have access to magic although not all humans can access magic.  Humans are late comers and split the elf world and all three groups hate each other and do not understand each other. 

So obviously this first story is a romance between a human and a night elf.  

The story and characters and world and narrative are not particularly unique to the fantasy world.  This is not a bad thing.  It is not a copy of any one book but just the usual fantasy tropes and nothing more.  

What I found was refreshing was the lack of the usual romantasy tropes.  This is just a simple romance between two ordinary beings although from different cultures.  They don't even speak the same language. 

Neither protagonist is particularly talented in magic or swordplay.  They are in their respective armies as a courier and a scout.  They don't have sway they are not secretly royalty that are slumming it.  The FMC has a debilitating anxiety condition that has her shut down in any stressful situation.  I thought at first she was just tamping down some major and rare magic power, but no.  She just has anxiety condition. 

The MMC is not grumpy or overly gregarious.  

Typically we have to wait for 80% of the book before they admit their feelings for each other and get to business but in a refreshing and much more realistic turn the sex comes first as they are adults who find each other attractive and are also kind of lonely.  

Usually the only time we get to intimacy early is if they are fated mates or there is "insta lust" which many readers decry as "body betrayal trope".  But there is none of that here proving that sex can happen even if feelings are not fully developed.  Its perfectly OK. 

I love a good fated mates story so I have no problem with spicy scenes early and often but this build up is so real.  

I don't know right now if I will continue this series as I fell in love with the characters more than the setting.   I always get disappointed at first when I love the couple