Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Red White and Royal Blue meets The Goblin Emperor in this enchanting slow-burn LGBTQIA+ Romantasy set in the mystical realm of Soeria, where a prince must choose between duty and heart.

In the heart of Soeria, where royal bloodlines carve the paths of destiny, Prince Darien Garros, the kingdom's beloved second son, faces the age-old clash between duty and desire. For years, Darien has dodged the court's expectations to find a suitable match, yearning instead for a love that values the man behind the crown. His longing seems answered in Tag Leara, whose charm and genuine affection ignite a hope Darien dared not admit.

Yet, fate is a fickle master. A sudden tragedy propels Darien into a role he never sought, challenging his deepest convictions. As the weight of legacy and the whispers of power threaten to suffocate him, Darien confronts the ultimate test. Torn between the call of his blood and the pull of his heart, he stands at a crossroads that could reshape the future of Soeria itself.

With every choice comes a price, and Darien must decide: Will he follow the stringent demands of royalty, or will he choose the perilous path of love? In a world where allegiance and affection collide, Prince Darien's story is a testament to the enduring battle between the crowns we bear and the hearts we hold dear. 

Book Review

This is a gay fairy tale, best appreciated if the readers understand the definition of “olio”: a dish of many ingredients; hodgepodge; or potpourri; miscellany: an olio of gadgets. And not to be confused with oleo / margarine – particularly as I prefer butter.

 

Without defining time or place, there is a sense of orientalism in the story, though challenged by blond characters with blue eyes. These figures are genuine in portrayal, attuned to family. Darien, the primo hero, shows enough self-deprecation to approach such realism as to gain the readers’ affection. And the language also defines familial relationships reflective of character presentations. The written style is sufficiently poetic (i.e., “The air is thick with conversations, the cacophony combining with…”) Darien’s would-be lover is of a middle-class family from a neighboring kingdom. There is pending conflict between all the neighboring kingdoms, which adds mystery and risk to the olio presented.

 

Darien and boyfriend Tag eventually spend nights in a single bed, which is deemed “courting” – quite politely it would seem! “My shirt is quickly gone too, my pants, and soon his naked body is pressed against mine, nothing daring to come between us.”

 

Without re-presenting the changing plot, sufficient to say there is much drama, loss of hope, risks and rewards. Unlike most fables, the characters here develop according to the exigencies of their situations. Light events rise to operatic conflicts. And being rapt by the story, the reader is apt to proceed apace! Our tale evolves into a gothic challenge and heavily stress soap opera. Mystery abounds, and villains season the issues.

 

I won’t disclose too much – the ending will be sufficiently sweet to risk literary diabetes – but worth every moment.

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by the author for the purpose of a review.

 

Additional Information

Format	ebook, print and audio
Length	Novel
Heat Level
Publication Date	25-February-2025
Price	$8.99 ebook, $14.89 paperback
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/Princes-Heart-Ben-Chalfin-ebook/dp/B0CWG8WW71