Read my reviews of previous books in the Riehse Eshan series:
A Knife and a Blade (#1) | A Whisper and a Breath (#2) | A Shadow and a Storm (#3) | An Oath and a Promise (#4)
Did this epic series need an extended epilogue? Probably not, because we already got to see the events that truly mattered to guarantee Ren and Mat’s happily ever after. They are married, Ren is the undisputed ruler of his kingdom, and events have been put in motion toward gender and sexual equality across the entire continent. However, a happily ever after doesn’t mean that life stops, and I’ll never be mad at more glimpses of some of my favorite characters. This novella, which includes healthy doses of the spice, snark, and political intrigue I loved from the main series, gives us a good look into the struggles Ren and Mat experience in ruling while maintaining a relationship plus a few residual consequences of the actions they took in the grand finale of the previous book.
The story opens with all the attitude and spice we know and love from these two men. Blaike leaves us with more than bonus smut, however, as this day out of the lives of Ren and Mat devolves into Mat doing what Mat does best…pissing off everyone around him and then saving the day through his stubbornness. The initial mood of their day shifts when Mat is thrown into a political situation he doesn’t love but still does his best to navigate as Ren’s representative; then, as more information is gathered, the danger escalates quickly. Initially, it’s unclear whether all events are connected, but luckily Mat has all the loyal guards (and a certain gardener) we know and love to support him.
Despite the presence of magic in this world, Blaike has never fallen into the trap of using it as the ultimate problem-solver (and even notes a handful of times when it caused more problems than solutions). For this last time out, though, Mat’s ability serves as a clever vehicle to let readers see far into the future of not only Mat and Ren but also many of the secondary characters we’ve grown attached to. The action and plot of this novella are essentially the framing device for the true epilogue that does show the long-term happily ever after for our favorite king and his bratty consort.
If you enjoyed the main series, this is absolutely a follow-up you won’t want to miss. And if I haven’t already yelled at you online that you should read these phenomenal fantasy romance books, consider this yet another strong recommendation. I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready to truly leave this world, but I’m also already excited for Blaike’s next project.
Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.
One thought on “Book Review: A Throne and a Crown (Riehse Eshan #4.5) by Adelaide Blaike”