Book Reviews

Book Blurb

The only way for Prince Rin to save his kingdom is to marry a king and bear a child, but will he survive his fate?

In a world where two kingdoms are constantly at war, Prince Rin, heir to the throne of the Kari kingdom, has been demanded as a war conquest by King Merinej of Jeda. The prince must travel to his enemy’s kingdom and share the king’s bed, bearing him a child, or the war will continue. But the prince will not lower himself to what he sees as nothing but the title of a whore, so he demands a contract requiring the king to be faithful to him. After all, giving Merinej a child will threaten Rin’s life.

Even going into the marriage headfirst, Rin expected nothing more than a business arrangement. Instead, he receives affection, yet the more surprising realization is his willingness to give love back. However, the king cannot save Rin from those who wish him harm, and their union might be over before it can fully bloom.

Reader Advisory: This book is best read in sequence as part of a series.

Publisher's Note: This book was previously released by another publisher. It has been considerably expanded, revised and re-edited for release with Totally Bound Publishing.

Book Review

The age-old, and in our thinking now somewhat outdated, custom of marrying off a prince to seal a peace treaty with a foreign nation is the starting point of this story. It seems cruel, doesn't take into consideration what the individual wants, and can only lead to unhappiness and heartbreak. Right? Well, I am relieved to say that in this rendition of the story not all ends up as badly as it starts. The fantasy background provides a great setting, and for those who like stories including male pregnancy, this book will be a treat for that reason alone. The fact that both Prince Rinin (the one being married off) and King Merinej (the one doing the conquering) are strong characters makes for a wonderful tale of love found in unexpected places.

Prince Rinin, or Rin for short, enters this agreement thinking he will lose everything, and that includes his life. Nevertheless, he insists he will not be a part of the king's harem nor a slave. I admired him for standing up for himself despite the fact that he is scared to death. His attitude is very much that of a true prince even if he believes he will never rule. He might not even survive childbirth, but he faces his fate with pride and knowing that he did everything he could to preserve his dignity.

King Merinej, or Merin for short, is only seen trough Rin's eyes in this book, but in this case, I think it was a good choice. The mystery of who he is and what he wants is only lifted gradually, and we learn about him at the same pace as Rin. From the very beginning Merin doesn't seem as cruel or imposing as the reports have made him out to be. No wonder; the stories all came from his former enemies, and Rin's people were not likely to admit the king was actually a just man.

If you like fantasy stories in far-away settings, if royal etiquette and male pregnancy fascinate you, and if you enjoy seeing two men come together as true despite the unequal and involuntary way their relationship started, you will probably like this short book. I was certainly fascinated by it and look forward to the sequel.

 

 

 

 

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

Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Novella, 62 pages/19680 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	01-August-2014
Price	$3.50 ebook
Buy Link	https://www.pride-publishing.com/book/kings-conquest