Tricia Levenseller crafts a potent mix of two heirs from kingdoms with a inverted gender structure. When Princess Olerra requires a husband, she sets her sights on the younger prince, whose sweet, docile temperament would meet her needs and support her bid to be Crown Princess of Amarra.
In Brutus, crown prince Sanos, despairs of being able to protect his brothers, his mother and his sister from the evil machinations of his truly repellent King and father. In a drunken blur, Olerra kidnaps Sanos and makes her way to the kingdom. But Sanos is a warrior and unwilling to submit to her ministrations, rewarding or punishing, alike.
With secrets that each are keen to protect, vested interests and a slew of political maneuvering, the tale progresses in introducing the matriarchal society of Amarra, where women rule the roost. There is a slow burn romance with some kink and a lot of soul searching as the protagonists face their trials and overcome their consequences. I enjoyed the parallels drawn between the two societies and the slow building of trust between the MCs. This was a quick read for me and I was able to complete it in a day. A must read for fans of Daughter of the Pirate King!
Thank yous to FEIWEL and Netgalley for the arc!
