Heather’s Bookshelf: Esperance
Author: Heather Frost
Released: 11/18/22
Genre: NA Fantasy/Romance
“Twelve strangers. Six marriages. One year in Esperance. That was the emperor’s decree, and none of them had any choice in it.”
“Esperance” begins with six arranged marriages. Most of the couples are complete strangers, including Amryn Lukis and General Carver Vincetti (also known as the Butcher). The weddings were arranged by the emperor in an attempt to bring the different kingdoms together, but not everyone is as eager about his plan or the fact that they have to be stuck in Esperance for a year.
Amryn’s a rebel secretly working against the empire. She also happens to be an empath, which is strictly forbidden.
Carver’s an established general intent on finding the rebels infiltrating his kingdom. Neither of them is prepared for the other. While the rest of the couples are focused on getting to know each other, Amyrn and Carver are determined to focus on their missions while not drawing attention to themselves. But they have more in common than they originally think and as they get to know each other an undeniable attraction ignites.
When one of the newlyweds is murdered, everything gets even more muddled. Carver’s desire to find the culprit drives a wedge between he and Amyrn. Will they be able to reconcile and find the killer before it’s too late?
Trigger Warning: violence, murder
Overall, I enjoyed this story. There’s a murder mystery and a bit of a war story wrapped in a romance with elements of fantasy. It’s told through two points of view: Amryn and Carver. The two main characters are each strong, driven, and idealistic. They also happen to be adorable when it comes to each other and their absolute lack of understanding when it comes to their own feelings. The author does an amazing job of establishing each character individually while gradually building the romance between the two of them. The back stories of each character is also detailed with elements of tragedy that contribute to each character and the present day plot. The ancillary characters are also described in a way that makes them memorable and complementary to the main characters. The relationship between Carver and Argent is especially endearing while also adding a bit of comic relief to an otherwise rather tense tale. The scenes on the mountain were especially tension-filled. Amyrn’s empathic abilities add a nice twist and fantastical thread that runs throughout the story as well. I do wish there had been some little clues that, looking back, would have revealed the traitors along the way. The ending was a bit of a cliffhanger, but somehow felt as thought it completed the main tale. I would love to read a sequel and find out more about what happens to Amryn and Carver.
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
OVERALL REVIEW:
A tale filled with fantasy, mystery, and romance. Two strong POVs complement each other and enhance the connection between the characters.
Want to learn more about the author?
Check out my interview with Heather Frost
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