Bride

Bride by Ali Hazelwood, 399 pages

As the daughter of the leader of the Vampyre Council, you'd think Misery would have a pretty great life of leisure. But instead, she's spent most of her 25 years living among the Humans, first as a collateral hostage and later because she couldn't feel comfortable back in Vampyre territory. Now her ruthless and distant father is using her as another kind of hostage, marrying her off to Lowe, an Alpha for the Weres. Yup, once again, Misery is stuck in a dangerous situation in the midst of longtime enemies of her people. But this time, Misery has a motive of her own for venturing into Were territory — and while she seems to disgust her new husband, Lowe also seems to be a much kinder and more honorable person than she ever expected.

I don't really read much paranormal romance, but this seems to be a good one, and perfect for fans of the new romantasy genreblend who want a little more spice and fewer dragons. There's a degree of the annoying "oh just talk to each other already" trope that permeates this book, though the whole "our species are mortal enemies" thing explains that away pretty well. I'd only caution fans of Ali Hazelwood's other romances, which are pretty funny and free of werewolves — this one is a bit of a swerve from her past books.

A Strange and Stubborn Endurance

A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows, 528 pages

Velasin has left his home country of Ralia as part of an arranged marriage to Cae, the son of the ruler of Tithena. Vel was originally intended for Cae's sister, but when the Tithenian envoy learned of Vel's preference for men, they offered up Cae's hand instead. Neither man expected this match, particularly because such pairings are forbidden in Vel's homeland, but they're determined to be friends if nothing else. Trouble is, someone in Tithena isn't a fan of the marriage, and they're going out of their way to try to break it up.

This is an interesting twist on the courtly intrigue brand of fantasy novels, with the vastly different attitudes toward LGBTQIA people and relationships in Ralia and Tithena adding a dimension that isn't often present in this sort of book. The mystery at the center of the book, the slow-building trust and love between Cae and Vel, and Vel's growth and healing over the course of the book make this a compelling read (though it should be noted that there are depictions of rape and suicidal ideation in this book, so head in with open eyes). A sequel comes out this winter, and you can bet I'll be reading it.

Portrait of a Scotsman

Portrait of a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore, 408 pages

Hattie wants only three things: to become a better artist, to fight for a noble cause, and to marry for love. Unfortunately, as a high society daughter, her chances for any of these is slim, particularly when she learns that her father has promised her hand to an unscrupulous financier in a business deal. Soon, she's wed to Lucian Blackstone, a man known throughout England as a devil who's happy to gain from the downfall of his peers. But on an unexpected trip to Scotland, Hattie learns that there's more to her new husband than appears...and he soon learns the same about her.

This is a fun romance set against the backdrop of women's rights, workers' rights, and the changing technology of the 19th Century. Somehow, it's all woven together well, and while there are certainly unbelievable elements, it's still an enjoyable read. I'll have to check out more of Dunmore's series focusing on suffragists.

A Bride's Story

 

A Bride's Story Volume 9 by Kaoru Mori  227 pp.

This installment in this graphic novel series about the Silk Road involves the time building up to Pariya's engagement to Umar. Pariya is a difficult person to like because her inability to put into words what she means and her reclusiveness. Her attributes seem to be that of someone on the Autism spectrum. She likes Umar and hopes they will be betrothed but finds it impossible to put it into words with both her family and Umar. In addition her family is still reconstructing their home and business that was destroyed by invaders in a previous volume. The author/illustrator does an excellent job of depicting Pariya's frustration and anguish over her difficulties. I am always impressed by the elaborate detail she puts into every illustration. Now that they are betrothed, I hope the next volume will include the wedding of Pariya and Umar.