Reviewing: A Deal With The Elf King by Elise Kova
A Deal With The Elf King
By Elise Kova
☆☆☆☆/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
“I’ve gained a castle and a crown I never asked for and lost everything I ever wanted”
A Deal With The Elf King is a rich fantasy that shook me to the core. The story was well thought out, organized and magical in all the right ways. However, I feel like the story didn’t meet its full potential. The story pulled on tales such as Hades & Persephone and Beauty & The Beast and related it to a new fantasy world. Between the slow-burn fantasy romance and the bittersweet happily ever after this story touched my heart. The only reason it did not receive the whole 5 stars, as I was tempted to give it, was because the plot was a little bit too slow for my taste, but I'll touch on that later.
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The elves come for two things: war and wives. In both cases, they come for death.
Three-thousand years ago, humans were hunted by powerful races with wild magic until the treaty was formed. Now, for centuries, the elves have taken a young woman from Luella's village to be their Human Queen.
To be chosen is seen as a mark of death by the townsfolk. A mark nineteen-year-old Luella is grateful to have escaped as a girl. Instead, she's dedicated her life to studying herbology and becoming the town's only healer.
That is, until the Elf King unexpectedly arrives... for her.
Everything Luella had thought she'd known about her life, and herself, was a lie. Taken to a land filled with wild magic, Luella is forced to be the new queen to a cold yet blisteringly handsome Elf King. Once there, she learns about a dying world that only she can save.
The magical land of Midscape pulls on one corner of her heart, her home and people tug on another... but what will truly break her is a passion she never wanted.
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-Worldbuilding-
Personally, I think the worldbuilding in this book was excellent. The author gave you just enough information at a time, to where you were not overwhelmed and were left wanting more. I would consider this a high fantasy (a fantasy story is set in an alternative fictional world, typically with magical elements) because there are so many magical elements, new worlds and concepts. The story definitely takes a lot of following and you can get lost easily. I wouldn’t say that's necessarily a fault in the story, but it can be a turn off for many readers. I enjoy high fantasies as well as low fantasies (magical and fantastical elements intrude into the real world), so this wasn’t a turn off for me.
“For the first time since coming to Midscape, I realize, in this moment, I don’t want to be anywhere else but here”
-Characters-
The characters in this story we’re well developed and likable, unless they were meant to be disliked of course. Each character was introduced quite naturally, it didn’t seem forced or awkward. The characters themselves also felt very natural, not one-dimensional like some characters in other books. They also had very purposeful interactions with other characters, but also very realistic conversations. Small talk, jokes, nicknames, they were all there but the author still found a way to make each interaction purposeful, and mean something.
“Was it enough?” I rasp.
“It was enough, you are more than enough.”
-Plot-
The plot is the only part where this book lagged a little bit, and the main reason it didn’t get the full 5 stars. The first third of the book was super slow and a little bland. It was really hard for me to stay engaged. However, since I have had this on my wishlist forever I decided to push through and finish it and woah I am glad I did. Once you get through that lag in the plot it is a racing rush of feelings and events. It is kind of like a roller coaster actually, the first while is slow and kind of a drain to get through but the anticipation of the top keeps you going. Then, the ride down gives you an exhilarating rush of adrenaline and makes you want to scream, in the best way possible. It is totally worth-it though, and I am glad that I persevered through the climb up!
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Overall, I believe this stand alone is a must read for any fantasy lover! I thoroughly enjoyed it and have added it to my favorites shelf. This book met my (pretty high) expectations for it, although I wouldn’t say it exceeded them
If you loved “A Court Of Thorns and Roses” and “The Cruel Prince” this is for you!
Follow the author: https://elisekova.com/
Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Deal-King-Married-Magic-Novels/dp/1949694283/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
!!Book Trigger Warnings!!
Addiction
Alcohol consumption
Animal death
Confinement
Drug use
Gaslighting
Kidnapping attempt
Violence
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