Merlin and Arthur finally together - or not?
Once more I have to admit to not thoroughly reading the synopsis of this book before requesting it. All it took for me to be persuaded was magic, arranged marriage, m/m, prince, and spy. Therefore, the story really took me by surprise. I was amazed by Max' first troubles and his self-determined but surely dangerous reaction to them. Given my spare knowledge, I had no clue where this Story world take me. Nonetheless, and with every glimpse I got at the author's Instagram page, I became more excited to explore the story and the world. Magic is such a complex and variable topic that I was eager to see Ben Alderson's take on it.

Reminded of other favorite books
Starting this story shortly after rereading and watching Red, White, & Royal Blue, I mistook Max' discomfort for some unallowed sexual tension between him and the first prince we encountered. I simple mention this mistake to point to the fact that I was horrified by the outcome of their meeting. The fantasy in my head quickly turned into a nightmare that caught my full attention. From there, the story could go everywhere. I accompanied Max through several fast chances in his life and felt every breath of relief and recognition with him. And when there were finally some people seeing through the enforced facade, I indulged myself in these tingling scenes. But, as I was reminded of Sarah J. Maas' A Court of Thorns and Roses series next, I couldn't really trust any of the characters helping Max, no matter how much I begged for their truthfulness.

Nothing is certain, everything is possible
I surely enjoyed this first book in this new series. For me, it was all about finding the courage to stand up for oneself and learning who to trust. And about magic. I can't wait to experience morse of Ben Alderson's plot twists, his thrilling fights and more... intimate encounters between the characters, and his world building. Although I felt like sometimes loosing track of the temporal development within this book and missed some transitions, I quickly got back on track and was riveted to my seat.  And then this finale... I am so happy we got a good cliffhanger to confirm what I suspected. This was an emotional but not a worthy or satisfying finale fight to be THE finale fight. I'm really excited to continue this story and to accompany Max' on his future adventures.

In conclusion
My first book of Ben Alderson will surely not by my last. I enjoyed Max' story a lot, the deeply desperate and emotional moments as much as the tingling ones between him and his potential love interests. This narrative gave me chills and amazing vibes, which is the perfect combination to enjoy a magical, queer, and brave book.

This one was true to the advertisedment of being an LGBTQ book--not just side characters in this one!! I absolutely loved the story and thought the pace was just right. It has a cool magical system and magical creatures. I'd say fantasy with a steamy romance sub-plot. I was anxious, horrified, angry, and might have ended up crying at the end a little bit. I will be reading more from this author!! The audio was good and it was really creepy at times. It's amazing how just changing your voice a bit can just make your skin crawl. It really made cringe away from one evil characters hit just right and make those emotions of disgust pop to the surface.

Trigger warnings: Rape (not explicit)

I have loved all the Ben Alderson books I've read. Very spicy and a great romance. Really nice to see Netgalley repping LGBTQ authors!

Unfortunately this one didn't hit quite all the high notes for me. It is marketed as adult but skews very ya, IMO, which I thought it took away from the story. The plot is interesting, but is clumsy and it almost felt like too much was happening, taking away from it overall.

I likely will not continue with this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC.

I loved this book. The first 60% was intriguing and twisty - a relatively slow pace, but gripping and with lots of really interesting world-building and fleshing out of 3 dimensional characters. The last 30% was fantastic, and slightly chaotic, and I absolutely couldn't put it down.

The romance is a slow burn, and there's a cliffhanger at the end of this, as well as a whole lot of death and destruction, but despite that, it feels like a weirdly cosy read.

If you like classic fantasy stories and MM romances you have to give this one a go.

This was enjoyable, but not great. The pacing was a bit up and down and it lacked the romance I was looking for. However, I feel like this sets us up for a smoother, more enjoyable read as we move through the series and I can’t wait!

Prepare for a review that’s all over the shop.

HEIR TO THORN AND FLAME was much darker than I thought it would be and despite the fact it is (as described) NA Fantasy Romance, somehow I felt it was far more fantasy leaning than romance, despite the presence of love-triangle and arranged marriage tropes. Not that any of that is bad, it just meant I had to adjust my expectations somewhat while reading. That said, the book is dark (not ‘dark romance’ exactly, but more along the lines of grim fantasy?) and I think maybe more should’ve been made of that in the marketing.

That aside, HEIR TO THORN AND FLAME has an interesting world with some really cool magic. There were a few pacing issues for my preferences, and I would have liked a little more depth to the supporting characters, but the cliffhanger ending is really good and, in my opinion, makes up for the slightly slow start.

Max himself was a struggle for me to root for in places (he’s a little petulant/short-sighted?) but it made for intriguing dynamics. I enjoyed the morally-grey love interests, Camron and Simion more. However, I think I enjoyed them more as characters in their own rights, rather than necessarily seeing a particular romantic chemistry with Max? Unusually for a love triangle, I found myself switching my support between the two ‘options’ throughout the story, so at least Max’s conflict there is well set-up and his struggle to trust either feels understandable and believable.

Ultimately, HEIR TO THORN AND FLAME has a lot of potential and I can see myself enjoying the series as a whole, even though I didn’t utterly love this particular instalment.

This was an audioARC: The narration was, in general, well done. The narrator gives good variety to their inflections and the emotion of the writing. However, I thought one or two voices were a touch overdone.

Wow. This was just such a fun read! Magic and romance is all I ever want in a book and this had heaps of both. I throughly enjoyed this book and am beyond excited that this is the first in what I can only hope is a lengthy series. I adored the plot twists and how we were being feed exciting details of the magic system. I have many questions (good ones) that I hope I will get the answers to in the next book!

I was feeling in a Fantasy mood when I noticed this MM fantasy romance. I really liked the sound of the book in the synopsis, specifically the "forced marriage" sounded like a romance I'd love. As for the audio, the story starts with a bang, and grabs your attention. The narration is perfect. A voice for each character to help; you follow everyone as they are introduced. I really enjoyed listening to the story unfold, and am looking forward to book 2.





Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book.

I think I liked this book? I’ll be honest, I came so close to quitting with the first quarter’s plot line- it felt trite and unnecessary and unbelievable-even-in-fantasy. I devoured the last 75% of the book and will be tuning in for the sequel. Max is a bit petulant for a main character, but I’m here for Camron!

Heir to Thorn & Flame is a NA fantasy with non-stop plot that will keep you hooked. It follows Max Oaken who accidentally discovers he possesses magic when he kills the heir to the throne. But rather than being killed, he has to become the boy he killed and is forced into a marriage with Prince Camron. He can't trust anyone, not his best friend Beatrice or Simion, the spy sent from the North. But as a power struggle begins between the kingdoms, Max must try to protect his parents, his secret and his heart.

I loved this book, it was slow to begin with but once it got going, I had the audiobook on no matter what I was up to, just to find out what happened next. If you can keep going past what the blurb tells you, I promise it gets exciting. The initial opening chapters do hook you in though. It just felt like some chapters could be merged at the beginning or edited down to keep the pace up but I'd say from the wedding onwards, it's high pace.

The world building was cleverly done, I liked that Max was basically as clueless as the reader when it came to the world of magic so he was asking all the 'silly' questions for us, learning at the same time. I particularly loved when he sees the Driads for the first time, it's a proper gasp moment for both him and the reader.

The characters are rounded out, I love that no one is fully good or bad - so much more realistic! It keeps you guessing and there were a lot of surprises. I also liked that there was context for why characters made decisions, they were rarely reckless which is sometimes where fantasy goes and it's a peeve of mine. I'd maybe have liked to seen more disabled representation, I'm always curious how it works in a world like this, especially with magic involved.

If you're in this for the romance, prepare to be teased! There are a couple of love interests and those intimate scenes between them are vulnerable and feel viable despite what's going on in the world. I'm really looking forward to the next book as I have hopes that one of the romances builds.

I'd really recommend the audiobook if you're hesitant about fantasy in general but also this book was incredibly well read by Ewan Goddard, the range in their voice with the characters was really fun.

I was given access to an audio-book version of this books via NetGalley. The narrator was alright but I will admit, the first few chapters made me want to put down the book. This was not due the narrator though, I feel they really put emotion and life into the story. It was just the first two chapters that felt...lacking. I am not sure, it just did not make me want to dive deeper etc. I was not falling in love with it. Yet, I pushed on and did find some semblance of joy in the characters but mostly the world overall is what I fell for.

I was really hoping for more fantasy but did feel it was a little more a coming of age or something along those lines. The fantasy aspects of the book were fantastic though! I loved the detailed word building and that is what kept pulling me back into the book. Well...that and the development of the characters throughout the story. This is truly a novel where you see growth in characters, I was so happy for this.

I will say that I was a little tired of Max at times. I would actually roll my eyes at certain parts of the book and my husband thought I was rolling my eyes at him once...oops! He just felt very immature in many scenarios. I do feel the romance happened very quickly but then again, some sections of the book felt rushed while others seemed to glide right thought the pages. I would have loved to see more depth there. I also don't understand the political choice of marriage but then again, I am not one for politics. That is the part of fantasy novels that I don't really get into. I did go into this expecting more fantasy  with magic and mystical beings but there was way more hurt and betrayal than I expected. It felt as if every chapter there was something new that I might not have seen coming, a new betrayal or twist that made my gasp and go "Wait...whaaattt?"

The magick system was something refreshing though. It was described well and I really want to learn more. Introducing a new magical system is tricky and has many aspects that need to be done well but Alderson did fantastic!

All in all, this was a well written story. There were some slow paced moments that had me fidgety but others were filled with romance, passion, betrayal, magick, and death. Overall, I give this book 3 stars. It was a good read but I feel there is room for improvement too.

Heir to Thorn and Flame by Ben Alderson is a queer fantasy romance book following a new mage who finds himself entrapped in political machinations outside his realm of experience and expertise when he discovers his powers. Max is a servant to a cruel noble family before the heir to the throne attacks him in the woods. When Max fights back, he uses magic for the first time. His deadly reaction convinces the king to declare Max heir to the throne so he can make use of power that hasn’t been seen in the South in years. Max soon finds himself in an arranged marriage to Prince Camron, all the while, political agents from the magical Northern kingdom are arranging his escape. Max is unprepared for the powerful forces he never knew were working against him.

At times, the banter and character relationships were charming. I enjoyed Max’s longtime friendship with Beatrice, the lesbian blacksmith in town who is secretly from the North. Her steadfast loyalty to her friend who just so happens to be the mage she was sent to find and bring back to the north is honorable. I also think Max’s adoptive parents were lovely and supportive. Overall, I enjoyed the characterization of many of the side characters.

The same cannot be said for Max’s two love interests Camron and Simion. First, Camron was a wonderfully sympathetic character who supported Max wherever he could. Perhaps this is a misunderstanding attributed to listening to the audiobook rather than reading the print copy but there was no logical reason for the betrayal at the end of the book. While I am aware he was possessed by a phoenix, the only thing that makes me hold out hope for narrative cohesion is a possible redemption arc in a later book. After all, I would not be surprised if someone who had the abilities of a phoenix regenerated. This betrayal arc gave me the impression that at some point, a narrative twist would happen, and we would learn he was not the real villain, but that never happened. Meanwhile, we have Simion, a love interest who had brief cute moments with Max interspersed with a series of interactions that could be described as friendly or nice at best. I very rarely am presented with two love interests and find both character relationships wanting in a fantasy romance book. Let me tell you, I desperately wanted to like one of them.

Also, please explain to me why Dane dies twice in this book. She miraculously lives for a grand total of ten seconds before being killed again. It was shocking to the point of incomprehension, where I was tempted to laugh more than cry. In general, every character's death and betrayal had the emotional feeling of watching A24’s 2013 movie, The Spectacular Now, which starred Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller. At one point, they are in the middle of a fight and Shailene Woodley steps out of the car only to be hit by a car and end up in the hospital. Nevertheless, I persisted in part due to clever worldbuilding and the characters I was rooting for.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio for an earc of audiobook for Heir to Thorn and Flame by Ben Alderson in return for an honest review.

A deliciously enticing Tale!

This book is everything Ben Alderson promises and more, yet another impressive jewel in his already regal crown! It’s got magic, intrigue, dragons, romance and a touch of danger… I was hooked! As a long time fan, Dare I say, this might be his best book yet and an absolute must read.

Ewan Goddard Lends their voice to the audiobook in a stellar performance (in my opinion) easily keeping me satisfied as I listened and I highly recommend the experience of listening to them narrate this epic tale.

Thank you to NetGalley, Second Sky, and Ben Alderson for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My first impression of this book was that it read as a YA coming of age novel. Don’t get me wrong I love those kinds of books but that was not what I was expecting or hoping for from this.

The world building was absolutely amazing and everything I hope for in fantasy books.

I loved the in-depth descriptions we got of the characters and I loved seeing them develop throughout the book.

Camron was my favorite character by far! He deserved so much better tbh.

Max on the other hand… UGH I just felt like he needed to grow up!!! He just seemed like a toddler in the body of a 25 year old man.

While not my favorite book, I do look forward to reading the next one.

"Heir to the Throne & Flame" offers an intriguing fantasy tale, narrated skillfully by Ewan Goddard, who keeps listeners engaged throughout the journey. However, while the narration shines, the book falls short in connecting readers to the main character and other personas.

On the positive side, Ewan Goddard's narration breathes life into the story, infusing it with emotion and excitement. His captivating performance adds depth to the plot and makes the listening experience enjoyable.

Unfortunately, I found it challenging to connect with the main character and the supporting cast and I think the writing style of telling instead of showing was a bit distracting for me as well. Overall, I think those that would enjoy a fantasy world with dragons, magic, and LGBTQ+ storyline may find this book worth exploring.

I was given an audiobook copy of this book by Netgalley free of charge in return for an honest review.

This is book is so hard to describe. It's a beautiful epic and seeped in history and intrigue.

When the story starts we meet Maximus Oaken a servant in the Gathrax Manor. Invisible until Threatened by Prince Julian Gathrax , and crying out to the ancient forest for aid he kills the Prince with his newly found magic.

When this is discovered he is captured and dragged into a new and deadly game. Become the murdered prince or risk his family being hurt or even killed .

Forced to live a lie , and unsure of who he can trust Maximus is left wondering where he will end up.

This is a beautifully woven slow burn romance. I loved each and every moment of this story.

This world needs more @benaldersonauthor.
Fantasy
Romance
Two Men
Arranged Marriage
Oh MY YES! Though some of it was slow going, I enjoyed the plot and story. These character will keep you engaged, long after you complete the book.
I'm looking forward to the next release - building upon the storyline.

I received a ARC from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I meeeean, magee, dragons!?!? Ben alderson you nailed it.
I was so excited to read this book, in the beginning of the book it was kinda boring and I didn't understand what was going on. But in the halfway the story held my attention. unfortunately if I speak more about the book it will be a spoiler, but I'm looking forward to the next book , there's is soooo much going on here.
*Camron ily pal, but I'm simion all the way

Heir to Thorn and Flame is the first book in a new series, Court of Broken Bonds, by Ben Alderson. I've casually enjoyed Alderson's work before, and this was about what I expected for the start of a new series.

note: I listened to the audiobook, so I do not know how to spell some of the characters names. I am doing my best!

Highlights:
- The magic system is fresh and unique. I was very interested and invested in the lore and technicalities.
- The court politics and kingdom/queendom feuds caught my attention. To me, this is the juicy part of fantasy/royalty based novels, and this did it for me!
- The characters are lovable. Maximus was a lovebug and I wanted to hug him so many times during this novel.
- I appreciate that the plot was substantial and was not just "journey through the forest for half of the book" like some other fantasy novels I've read recently. The plot was engaging, kept me guessing, and was satisfying overall!
- The casual acceptance of queer relationships and non-male leaders was a huge plus for me. That is always needed in this genre!

Room to improve:
- The pacing was not right for me personally. The beginning was fast, the middle was slow, and the end was medium. I wish it was more fluid throughout the book, rather than very choppy pacing between sections.
- The personalities of the supporting cast of characters did not sit right with me. I felt like Simion and Beatrice's personalities changed too many times, and I wasn't quite sure what the "real" core was for both of them. Camron's character made sense in this regard due to the plot.
- At times, it felt like the plot was happening to Maximus rather than Maximus making choices to further the plot. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but a personal pet peeve of mine.

Overall, I am rating Heir to Thorn and Flame 3 of 5 stars, which is "this was good" on my 1-5 star scale.

Thank you Ben Alderson, Bookouture Audio, and Second Sky Books for this ARC audiobook in exchange for my fair and unbiased review!