Genre: Fantasy/Romance
Aren has been running her father’s tavern and getting her twin sisters’ ready for the prince’s upcoming visit all on her own. She is used to acting alone since her mother’s death. Her father is too sick and frail and her sisters are so beautiful they need to be protected at all costs. When Prince Dietan finally arrives, Aren is surprised that he doesn’t seem that interested in meeting a potential princess, which is supposed to be the purpose of his trip. Nearby kingdoms are threatening to attack and if he were to find a suitable princess a war could possibly be avoided between the countries. Instead, Dietan wants to know where a reclusive witch lives and Aren knows he will need help if he wants to find her. Meanwhile, Aren is attacked on her way back to the tavern and Dietan arrives to save her, while clearly using magical means. She learns he has a secret that has been plaguing him for years and if he can’t find someone to help him the secret will probably kill him. In order to travel and try to find a solution to his curse, he needs a bride by his side to help explain his tour around the country. Now that Aren has found suitable matches for her sisters she desperately wants to see outside their town and this could be her chance. She agrees to pose as Dietan’s bride to be, but as they continue to head toward danger and enemies on all sides, they begin to form an attraction for real. Can Aren help Dietan break the terrible Rings of Fate curse? Can they ever truly be together? Is their alliance meant to be?
This engaging fantasy story pulls the reader in from the beginning because Aren is such a great character. She can do it all: run the tavern, run the family home, and take care of everyone. Yet, when she is attacked she cannot fight them on her own and is grateful when Dieten steps in. He gives her the possibility of being able to explore and be something other than the person everyone has come to rely on. While she loves her family, she definitely feels like everything is resting on her shoulders and she isn’t sure this is the life she really wants. Dietan, on the other hand, has huge expectations on him as well, but the curse has limited him in every way. If he could find a way to break the curse he might be able to truly fulfill his true leadership potential. As their journey begins it becomes obvious that they need each other in order to attain their goals. Romantasy readers will devour this story.
Young Adult Book Reviews 