Book – The Scholar's Heart (Chronicles of Tournai #3)
Author – Antonia Aquilante
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages – 294

Cover – Stunning!
POV – 3rd person, past tense, multiple POV (Predominantly Etan and Tristan, which small instances of Philip and Amory)
Would I read it again – Yes.

Genre – LGBT, Fantasy, Adventure, Romance


** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK, BY THE AUTHOR, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **


This has to be the best in the series so far. Though I absolutely loved the light, sweetness of Amory and Philip, and the tension between Cathal and Flavian, the story of Etan and Tristan had me nearly in tears the whole way through. Not only was it heartbreaking, with a few light moments, but I've waited so long to read it and how it ends up is just so unfair, after all they've been through.

~

Well, as I expected, I absolutely LOVED this story. I've been waiting so long to read about Etan and Tristan and I wasn't disappointed. But, due to not wanting to give away spoilers and being emotionally drained after finishing it, I don't really want to say too much.

I was crying by 3%, because Tristan was still perfect, I still loved Etan and now Bria was included. It was just too much for my heart to take. Then there was that conversation between Amory and Tristan. Amory, as usual, rushing to Tristan's side in his time of need, doing everything possible to make his best friend happy and take care of him.

I hated Tristan's mother right from the start and, as the story progressed, that didn't change. I didn't much like Selene either.

Seeing both sides was so much more effective in this story, because the relationship is so much more uncertain and unsettled than the previous stories. For the first time, all I wanted to do was grab them, shake them and scream at both of them about how obvious they were, misinterpreting what they thought they knew.

The brotherly talks – Etan and Cathal, Amory and Tristan, now Maxen and Tristan too – seriously killed me. They were the absolutely heart-breaking moments for me.

~

Overall, the story was so much sadder than the others. I must have spent about 80% of it near to tears, with the rest evenly split between smiling and crying. I've always loved Tristan and Etan, since they were first introduced in this series, and that hasn't changes. But sometimes they can be such idiots!

~

Favourite Quote


“Tristan blinked bright blue eyes once, then again, at his harshly spoken question. Etan had loved those eyes, loved how bright everything about Tristan seemed to be. Now, looking at them just hurt.”

““I don't want you hurt, Etan.”
“I know. So this morning needs to be the end of it with Tristan.”
“The end of everything?””

““You can, you know,” he said quietly, trying to convey all his feelings, all that he would do for Tristan in just his voice as he spoke the words. “You can break if you need to, here, with me. I'll be here, and I'll hold on to you, and I'll help you put the pieces back together.””

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me this eARC to review.

I didn't manage to finish the other two books in this series (I got them after emailing the publisher when
I requested this one) and I just know I would not read this one.

This was a really cute read. It was a bit frustrating to see how the characters would fall into some of the usual romance tropes, like the miscommunication, but I also enjoyed how mature (in general) things ended up being.

I enjoyed this installment much more than the first book in the series, but many of the same issues persist. The writing is flat and often feels more like a fanfiction than a published work, but it's not unreadable or anything. The conflicts are fairly simple and predictable but it's good for a light read.

The writing style reminded me of a final draft for a fanfiction. The syntax was poorly executed and I felt that I wasn't reading a novel, but more of an excerpt that can be found in fanfiction websites (however, the fanfiction websites seem to have better styled writing blocks and narrative).

This book is a great fantasy read featuring a sort of forbidden lovers aspect that I thoroughly enjoyed. The book is well-paced and has excellent world building aspects without feeing as if the author is dumping a lot of information on the reader. The Scholar's Heat definitely makes you excited for the next book in the series.

This is a great third addition to the highly engaging Chronicles of Tournai series. Etan and Tristan were wonderful characters and I absolutely loved watching them grab hold of their second chance to be together. Loss, family pressure, and danger all combine to make for a page-turning story in a series I just can't get enough of.

*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley*

The Scholar's Heart is the third book in a series by Antonia Aquilante. Originally released in 2016, this reformat and re-released 13th July 2020 is ~357 pages and available in ebook format. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is an M/M romance with light racy consensual content. There is kissing and touching involved but nothing completely explicit (soaring heights, panting, etc - purple prose, but nothing else). There is a lot of misunderstanding between the characters and so incredibly much unnecessary drama along with a weird infant kidnapping subplot. The denouement seemed forced and the pacing was odd. I also spent quite a lot of the book wanting to whack Tristan with a clue-by-four and lock his revolting mother in the broom closet).

Although it's the third book in the series, I didn't have any trouble following the storyline. The plotting is capable and the writing is quite good. The characterizations are well done and the dialogue is generally good and not clunky. It's just the unnecessary drama and the plot filler which dragged it down for me personally.

I didn't feel much chemistry between the two main characters and the resolution is sweet, but lacked verisimilitude for me. I also felt the fantasy setting was lacking. Yes, the royal family are shapeshifters, and there's a minor (unresolved in this book, presumably the plot of book 4) subplot element about the kingdom's border protection spells weakening, but it just felt like incidental scene-dressing. I would recommend this one to current fans of the series or fans of drama filled M/M romance.

Three stars, probably 4 for current fans of the series.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

This is the first book I have read of this series and while it was the third book I didn’t find myself lacking in information.
The book was well written and helpfully had a few comments here and there that allowed me to enjoy it without feeling like I was missing out too much information.
I think from reading this book I will go back and read the others that came before it before starting on the rest of the series as I have some questions I want answering.

Going back to this book however it was engaging and easy to read. The characters were well thought out and their story interesting especially with the twists and turns of their relationship.

I liked that it wasn’t a smooth resolution, they both had to fight for their love and understand their feelings. Especially when both were coming from places of hurt. The kidnapping added an extra element into the mix bringing them closer together and allowing them to see them as a family unit.

Overall it was a good book and I enjoyed reading it.

It's good ending to the this series that I enjoyed.
The plot is fast paced and full of twists and turns, the characters and the dynamic of the relationship are interesting, the world building is well done.
I recommend it.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I received a copy of this book to review via Netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity.
I really enjoyed this book. It seemed more mature than those previous books in the Chronicles of Tournai series. The characters had experienced love together, however life had caused them to pull apart. I enjoyed watching Etan and Tristan build their trust in one another, building up to breaking point near the end of the book. It gave a different aspect to the love stories previously seen in the book which were of 2 newly met people. Etan and Tristan had a past together which meant drawing threads from previous books in with this one.
This book had more expansive world building than previously. I liked reading about Tournai and learning more about the background setting to the books. Maybe, the further one reads into the series, the more we learn about Tournai.
I also liked the family relationships in the book, which showed both positive and negative aspects to these relationships. Reading about characters who were the main characters in other books was also interesting as it shows them from an outside perspective and allows the reader to see what happens next with them in regards of the story, something I often want to know about after I finish a book so this appealed to me greatly. Don't worry, the author stays true to her characters and does not alter them by having them feature in other books.
There was some action throughout the book but the end was action packed and dramatic. I sped through the last 100 pages wanting answers. But I won't reveal them here, you'll have to read the book yourself to find out.
After reading her books, Antonia Aquilante is one of my new must read authors as I have thoroughly enjoyed her writing and I would recommend her books to anyone.

A happily ever after romance.

This is a story based around two men who are in love with each other- Etan and Tristan. Within this world love between two people of the same sex is not disproved of and men can , with magical support, have children. In this story all of the main couples of note are gay and within secure relationships.
The main thread of the storyline is around Etans and Tristans love story, with some time devoted to a kidnapping and use of magic.

From a personal viewpoint I was really pleased to follow a relationship between men. However, the women in the story are all determinedly against a child being bought up by their father (any father) and resort to kidnap in order to carry the day. The Mother , always Mother, and sister are almost grotesqueries in their insensitivity.

With such an interesting dynamic I think I would say- could’ve been better.

Not for you if you like layered and detailed plotting. Great as a quick read!

This is the third book in a fantasy series, and likely best enjoyed when read in sequence, though it can be read as a standalone.

Etan is a cousin to Philip, the Crown Prince of Tournai, a small but well-situated country with a bustling trade port in its capital city of Jumelle. Etan lives in the palace with Philip his consort-husband Amory and Etan's brother Cathal who is married to Flavian, an artist who escaped the emperor of Ardunn's plots to enslave him for his Talent. Etan and Cathal are ministers (of a sort) in the governance of Tournai, indispensable to both Philip and Amory--with whom they are both family and close friends.

Two years ago Etan fell hard for Amory's childhood friend Tristan, and he thought his love was reciprocated, though they had no physical demonstrations. Etan is a shy man, a noted scholar at the university in addition to his duties to the crown. He didn't quite know how to approach Tristan with his desire for intimacy, especially because he was sensitive to Tristan's heartbreak when Amory married the Prince. Over their acquaintance, Etan--who is usually best at home in his library--makes time to spend with Tristan socially. He was about to propose marriage when Tristan stuns Etan by deciding to marry a woman, and their friendship essentially disintegrates. A year has gone by and Tristan's wife has just died in the process of childbirth. And duties to Tristan's place as Amory's oldest friend necessitate bringing Tristan and Etan back together.

Tristan never loved his wife. He preferred men, as his father knew, but Tristan felt pressured to marry a woman to create heirs for the shipping company he now runs. As the eldest of the family, Tristan runs the business since his father died shortly after his wedding. That was the reason to marry with haste, after all. He didn't hate his wife, but they were more cordial acquaintances than lovers, and he's mourning the loss of her in his baby daughter Bria's life. Tristan is furious that his high-handed mother sent the Prince's chief healer away during the birth because his healing Talent could have saved his wife--and he's appalled that his mother has plans to take his infant to her own home to raise. No, he will not allow this, but his mother is sneaky. If she can't raise the baby herself she's going to pressure Tristan into another marriage to a woman who can raise the baby. It's a problem.

Tristan is happy to welcome Etan back into his life, but he's quick to notice that Etan is not the same close friend anymore. He's reserved and their relations are strained. Tristan doesn't understand, and he's shocked when Etan sends his an evil eye one night when their paths cross, because Etan witnesses Tristan leaving teh gathering with intent to bed a man he picked up there. Etan has never gotten over the hurt he felt when Tristan married, but he's never spoken about the depth of his feelings with anyone, let alone Tristan. Some hard truths have to come out if these men are going to salvage thier friendship, and plan for a future together.

As with the previous books, there is court intrigue and troubles both within and abroad. Tristan's troubles are all domestic, and he's pitted against his own mother for the right to live his adult life as he sees fit. He's a doting father, and his love for Bria grows by the day. It is in contrast to the machinations of his mother that Tristan begins to see Etan in a new light. And, he's eager to pursue a lasting liaison if Etan is willing. Etan, for his part, saw Tristan as his forever person, and he's afraid to let himself love him again and get his heart obliterated. Still, he follows the counsel of Cathal, begining a physical relationship with Tristan if they can remain monogamous. He still keeps his emotions separate, for a time--even when Tristan is all in. And, when Etan finally decides to give his whole heart back to Tristan, it's at the exact moment Tristan needs his unconditional love the most, because Bria is in danger this daddy is a hot mess.

I really liked the story, and how Etan and Tristan navigate their paths to reconnection. Their previous friendship was a solid foundation, but Tristan soon realized he was more selfish in that arrangement, never seeing or comprehending the lengths that Etan went to to allow their friendship to flourish. His awakening to these situations has come at a hard cost, but he strives every day to do it better, and be a better man. He regrets the compromises he made that shut Etan out of his life, but his love for Bria is a boon. The love story grew reliably and equally this second time around. Expect some real courting, lots of court business, and scholars getting a handle on new and exciting information. Tristan makes the big leap for love, and Etan is not long in following him.

Not sure where this series is going, but there are plenty of royal cousins who could get the happily Ever Afters in the service of Tournai.

In the wake of perusing the initial two parts, I was unquestionably eager to at long last read Tristan and Etan's story. After Tristan watched his closest companion get hitched and start a family, I urgently needed him to likewise locate an upbeat consummation and read on about his fellowship with Etan. I would prefer not to ruin a lot in my audit, however I got myself frustrated in a ton of the occasions paving the way to his completion.

Having Tristan wed, have a youngster and become a single man simply didn't agree with me. I needed him to battle for his bliss and to not settle, in any event, for a withering guardians wish. I likewise felt like there was an absence of correspondence among Tristan and Etan when there didn't have to be. They do in the long run speak with each other on their actual sentiments, yet it is kind of a constrained discussion.

Generally speaking, I liked that the writer contacted more on the enchantment and shape moving in this book in contrast with different books. It was a decent summer perused however so I would prescribe it to any individual who has begun this arrangement.


#ascholar'sheart
#Netgalley

After reading the first two installments, I was definitely excited to finally read Tristan and Etan's story. After Tristan watched his best friend get married and start a family, I desperately wanted him to also find a happy ending and read on about his friendship with Etan. I don't want to spoil too much in my review, but I found myself disappointed in a lot of the events leading up to his ending.

Having Tristan marry, have a child and become a widower just didn't sit right with me. I wanted him to fight for his happiness and to not settle, even for a dying parents wish. I also felt like there was a lack of communication between Tristan and Etan when there didn't need to be. They do eventually communicate with one another on their true feelings, but it is sort of a forced conversation.

Overall, I did like that the author touched more on the magic and shape shifting in this book in comparison to the other books. It was a nice summer read though so I would recommend it to anyone who has started this series.