Honestly, this might have been a solid 5 star with the audio (or if I wasn't struggling to eyeball read at the moment) and low and behold as soon as I finished I spot the audio in a subscription... it's fine, just will reread in a year or so 🤭.

The romance was delicious. Victorian setting, strongheaded independent woman that's kindhearted vs tortured hero with bloodsoaked scarred hands. Do I need to say more? The writing is very beautiful and even though my secondhand copy was pretty banged up to begin with, I regret not annotating (I feared that it would destroy it further ^^').

I can't say much about the romance tropes without spoiling the plot but I have no notes on it. Loved the entirety, favorite scene might be either the letter or the events after 🤭.

Definitely will be on the hunt for the next book in this series, and will be looking at the other series of this author. Specifically looking at how to love a duke in ten days 👀.

Sigh, is it too soon to reread?

Was it perfect? No, there was a moment around the 75% mark that had me rolling my eyes and I wish was put into words better. But the slow yearning burn and the atmosphere and the emotional growth. It was so well done 😩. This is what I mean when I say I want a slow burn 🙌.

I loved these imperfect characters that were doing their best to learn from their mistakes and tried to communicate in a mature way even if their own past experiences pushed them to think the worst. Loved the relationship between Rhodes and his son and the healthy coparenting going on, and the relationship with his own father standing across from that. Loved the way we got to see that our fmc put her past to rest. The healing journey regarding her mom. And how Rhodes truly saw her and waited, gave her room to grow and heal. I need more like this 😩.

It's a calm, slow, steady romance. Mature. Almost cozy. 100% will reread when I get my physical copy which will be sooner than later ^^'.

Another amazing book by Grace Draven. Should've listened to @myromancehasnolimits sooner 🤭.

Loved the writing, the atmosphere, the worldbuilding, the draw of Roman Empire history in a fantasy setting, the plot, the growth of our mmc emotionally. What took me by surprise is that this was more fantasy and plot focused than it was romance focused but I liked how it was done a lot.

I only have 2 notes in the end, I wish the mmc his healing was a little more present and written, especially mentally (after the yk), and the ending felt very abrupt (something that I see a little too frequent and leaves me with a very unsatisfying resolution). But the latter, I think due to context clues in the writing, is a bridge kingdom situation were we will see these characters back in the other books even if we're following a new couple so that's why there's no wrap-up now. Fingers crossed 🤞.

Definitely will be reading book 2 soon and will definitely be rereading this in some point of the future. If you like beserker/warlord romances, this one definitely is a hit ^^.