Rainbow Reviews

BOOK BLURB:
Two young men are forced to wed as the result of a drunken oath foolishly made by their fathers. What effect will their union have on the rest of their lives?

BOOK REVIEW:
Upon their return home, two former enemies, and now allies, decide to seal their truce by agreeing to marry their next born children. The arrangement seems to be a match made in heaven: Agamo has only daughters and Khanis, only sons. Fates play a trick, though, when Agamo’s wife gives birth to a son, Suryo!

Despite the parents’ protests, the priests will not let them renege on the oath, and by doing so, anger the gods. And so, Alasson, son of Khanis, must marry Suryo, son of Agamo. In order to prevent any further humiliation, the fathers agree that the two sons will marry in secret, for a year. Once the year has passed, Suryo will join the priesthood and Alasson will marry Agamo’s last daughter and become his heir.

It’s under these unusual circumstances that Suryo and Alasson meet. Neither is thrilled about being forced to marry the other, especially the fact that they must consummate the marriage in order for the oath to be fulfilled.

Although the ‘mortal enemies are forced to marry’ plot has been done before, L.E. Bryce manages to weave a heart-warming tale of friendship, and love, with this novel. Suryo and Alasson don’t fall into bed, or into each other’s hearts, at once like in so many other stories. There’s an animosity there, brought about by a forced marriage, and the author doesn’t glance over that.

Bryce shows the evolution of the relationship between the two characters, who are both strong in their own ways, and by the time they have their first sexual encounter, it feels like the next, and right, step in their relationship.

I was pleasantly surprised by this story. I found the characters likeable and the story engaging. I was especially touched by the epilogue, which is wonderful and has a last sentence that left my heart practically bursting with happiness.

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