I thought this was going to be really good and feel that I definitely could have but it wasn't. It was boring and not much really happened. Most of the book was historical porn and in an obnoxious, annoying way. I eventually just skipped ahead of all those parts...and this book took me awhile to read, a week, which is a long time for me. I have so many books on my tbr list and paused to work on arc reviews and I'm upset I wasted what little time I have to read, on this....maybe the second volume will be better? It had so much potential to be great but nothing ever really happened and I was so disappointed.

Thank you netgalley for letting me read this. I’ve read the under the oak tree Manhwa and have been wanting to read the novel for ages! I love maxi and riftan and wanted to learn more about them. I love this story and definitely want to read the next volume of the novel. I think the only thing was at times the translation sounded a bit clunky or formal. It wasn’t the most beautifully written book but I do love the storyline

This volume is translated from webnovel on Manta.
It contains EP 1-76 of the original webnovel.

🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

Let's start by saying if you like some fantasy with your spice, this is the book for you.
I was actually taken back by the amount of spice in this book. I wasn't upset, but I do wish the fantasy element showed up more than sporadically.

There is some character growth, but not a ton.
The story line is fine and I am interested to see what becomes of some of the side characters, but this book definitely focuses on the spice of the MCs relationship.

There are also some TWs that never get mentioned anywhere:
•SA (on page) - multiple times
•Physical Assült (on page)
These are the main ones I remember.

Thanks to Netgalley, Ballantine, Inklore, and Suji Kim for the opportunity to read this book.

This was….rough. The main character goes through so much at the hands of her father and her husband, so the connection is easy to have. However, it felt very repetitive and lacking depth.

This book really disappointed me- as a frequent webtoon reader, I was excited to see it be published in novel form! However, it's a really dull read and has a ton of issues.

This book falls not into the catagory I expected, "no plot, all vibes" but rather "no plot, all lore." I LIKE a vibes based story, but this book was three hundred pages of absolutely nothing. The main character is a textbook Mary Sue, to the point that it feels almost like parody. Literally, "How could anyone find me beautiful? I'm so thin, and I have so much thick red hair, everyone can see how UGLY AND REPULSIVE I am." I wanted to like Maxi! She has a compelling backstory as the black sheep of her family. She has a disability, which I think is important because fantasy and romance have issues with representation. But her character is just so nothing, and she's deeply boring. Riftan is almost worse, since he's such a flat character and so poorly written.

The sex in this book is not particularly notable, other than being pretty rapey. I wouldn't call this erotica, though there is plenty of sex in it. I wouldn't say it's innappropriate for teen readers, but it's definitely not a book I'd recommend just because of my opinion of its quality.

Re: the lore, there's so much of it and it's so boring. The bit of character development we do get is Maxi having a desire to learn, which drives her to improve her math skills and learn magic. This bored me out of my skull. Why do we have to learn about the weights of each currency for each country??? It comes up again ONCE and it is not important.

In short, so little happens and it is soooo long. I was utterly unimpressed and totally bored. It's only two stars because I managed to get through it and it wasn't actual dragon shit.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Under the Oak Tree by Kim Suji is a Romantasy exploring the impact of child abuse and inferiority complexes on romantic relationships. When Maximillian is arranged to marry the Remdragon knight, Riftan, a man she’s never even spoken to, her world is turned upside down. Despite their initial troubles, Riftan is revealed to genuinely care for Maxi and she is given far more freedom than she ever had under her father’s thumb.

I love the webtoon and was so excited to see that there is an official translation of the novel the webtoon is based on. If you are coming from the webtoon, the webtoon tones some things down and the lack of visuals and reliance on Maxi’s thoughts can impact the perception of different scenes. The trigger warnings at the beginning are to be taken seriously as the novel does have a pretty intense opening.

Because I’ve read the webtoon and the Riftan side chapters, I do have knowledge of what is to come next and I’m still so excited. Under the Oak Tree sucks me in and I love Maxi and Riftan as characters, I love their romance, I love their messiness, I love how their issues and trauma directly influence their relationship because they don’t talk about them due to neither party wanting to admit they aren’t the image the other has set up. My heart breaks every time I read Maxi deciding not to tell Riftan about how her father treated her because Riftan’s image is that she was treated extremely well and she doesn’t want him to think poorly of her.

Of all the Romantasies I’ve read, Under the Oak Tree is, by far, my absolute favorite. It’s not for everyone, it can be triggering, the opening is dark, and it can be frustrating to see Maxi not tell Riftan, her husband, about her past, but it also feels real and raw at various points. In some ways, it is a slowburn romance because Maxi and Riftan’s romantic love takes time to develop and grow while they have strong physical chemistry. It is a an exploration of a young woman who is a survivor of some pretty horrific child abuse and a golden child-scapegoat situation as she slowly grows into the person she was meant to be and falls more and more in love with a man she didn’t even choose, a man who would do anything for her.

I would recommend this to fans of Romantasy who are open to darker themes, readers of the webtoon who want to read a translation of the webnovel the webtoon is based on, and those looking for a Romantasy with a strong focus on the daily aspects of Medieval life.

I really wanted to enjoy this one as I’ve heard a ton of great things about the comic and webtoon. However, this novel really just missed the mark altogether for me. The translation and writing were both fine and I didn’t notice any grammatical errors of any kind, but I felt like the pacing of the story was incredibly slow, that the plot was very obscure, and the “sex” scenes in the beginning really come across as rape, which made me incredibly uncomfortable. Thank you to Netgalley for ARC access!

I loved this novelization of the webcomic. It's a beautiful story of strength and love between the main characters and her husband. I highly recommend this book to fans of romance.

“Under the Oak Tree” is a cozy, romantic fantasy perfect for fans of Bridgerton. The story shows the transformation and character growth of Maxi, as she goes from a lowly daughter in her father’s household, to being the wife of a Knight and lady of the manor. The author does a great job showing Maxi’s experiences and how her new life, and Riftan, encourage her to become her own person. Please check the content warnings before picking up this novel. It is a beautiful story that does deal with heavy themes, and more open door scenes than I expected.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Cute way to tell the story of the webtoon, for people who don't want to read a comic or book with pictures also amazing cover 10/10

I found this book insanely addictive.
Very much adult fantasy (check TW)- I liked the arranged marriage trope, the romance, the magic. I literally couldn’t put this book down.
I’m anxiously awaiting the next installment as this book ended on a cliffhanger.

This novel is an absolute delight, especially for fans of the original Webtoon series. The transition from graphic novel to traditional novel format is seamless, thanks to the author's vivid descriptions that bring the characters to life. Maxi's journey from a timid, unloved daughter to a confident and beloved wife is both inspiring and heartwarming. Her relationship with Riftan is beautifully portrayed, showcasing a love that transcends societal expectations. The blend of romance, magic, and medieval knight tales is captivating, making it a perfect read for anyone looking for a bit of spice in their fantasy romance. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a well-crafted story with unforgettable characters.

I love this story so much. I am somewhat familiar with the Webtoon version, but this is so much better. Riftan is absolutely swoon worthy, and Maxi is a seeet FMC. Love seeing the progression of their relationship.

This review will be posted to Goodreads on October 29, 2024.

This was such a cozy read! I’m so glad that the cover sucked me in!

First, this is definitely an adult novel. Based on the cover art I was expecting something a bit more YA, but straight out of the gate it was evident this is written for 18+.

This book follows the story of a young girl who is married off to a knight after being cooped up in a castle for most of her life and been neglected and abused by her father. It gave me very cozy cinnamon roll vibes to watch our main character come out of her shell and begin to enjoy life and find her talents. I enjoyed the slow, day-to-day pace of her exploring her new home, learning new skills, and making friends. This book is great for people who read to unwind, rather than for thrill or suspense.
This certainly wasn’t the most gripping novel I’ve ever read, but I do really enjoy the cozy, slow stories of people finding their way in a new life.
My only complaint about this novel is that the main character has a stutter, and I was sorta hoping she would grow out of it by the middle of the story at least, which she didn’t. Hopefully she will be able to overcome it within the next book; reading her stuttering is tedious.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I’m looking forward to reading the next one!


Note to the Publisher:
It would be really helpful if you added a symbol when the scene changes within a chapter. It was a bit jarring sometimes with only an extra empty line.

I already was a fan of this story through the webtoon story but in this novel format, it really opened up my eyes.
I read so many things that I totally missed in the illustrated version. This novel also gave me details and descriptions that you don’t see in the webtoon. Overall, i loved how it was translated into novel form without changing the deep emotions and thoughts that Maxi has during her time as a married woman. Also, Riftan seemed like a completely different character to me in this. We get a little bit more emotion from here, i think. Something that I totally overlooked in the webtoon. I love this story and I will very much look forward to the next volume and I will totally buy this book when it releases. That cover and those stenciled edges are everything, represents the story so well!

Lady Maximilian is the daughter of the powerful Duke Croyso, but she is rarely allowed outside her family’s sprawling castle for fear that her stutter will tarnish their noble name. When she is forced to marry Sir Riftan, a lowborn knight caught in one of her father’s schemes, Maxi doesn’t dare hope for happiness, let alone love. Her stumbling communication and his gruff manner sour their relationship before it can begin, and Riftan leaves without a word the morning after their vows are exchanged.

Now, three years after their disastrous wedding night, Riftan has returned as a war hero. To Maxi’s surprise, despite rumors that he was offered marriage to Princess Agnes, a beautiful and renowned sorceress, Riftan still wants Maxi for his wife. And when he comes to claim her, his longing becomes a desire that bewilders Maxi, even as she is overcome by the scorching heat that Riftan’s presence ignites within her. As she learns to navigate the intricacies of her new life, Maxi will find herself and her courage, and discover that she is anything but powerless.

I was sooooo excited to see that this story was made into a novel after being a fan of the Webtoon for a long time (still reading that as well).
The author made it possible for me to really visualize the characters that she had previously portrayed in a graphic novel and I thought it was so amazing to be able to have that image in my head as I read.

Maximilian (Maxi) is the unloved older daughter of the Duke of Croyso. All her life she was made to see herself as less than and worthless due to her speech impediment. She lacks confidence and is unaware of so much due to how her father treated her throughout her childhood. She always came second to her sister, because she was perfect and didn't lack according to their father.

Upon wedding Riftan one of the most fearless and strong and well-renowned knights of the realm she was forced to stay home by her father not knowing better and not knowing that her husband wanted her at his home. After 3 years of fighting, he comes back to take her home with him and to start their lives together. Maxi fears that he will hate her just as her father has all her life, but is surprised to find out that he thinks that she was a cherished daughter of the duke and knew only wealth. Therefore he showers her with riches even though he could care less for them himself. He wants her to have the best and to never feel like she stooped lower than she should've by marrying him.
Slowly with his love, she begins to grow into a strong confident woman who is loved by him and his people.

Throughout the first volume, Maxi slowly begins to learn what is required of her as the wife of Riftan and the lady of their castle. She gains the trust of the maidservants and learns to use her knowledge to assist the Mage Ruth in all things healing and magic.

I totally recommend this story for those who love a good little spicy romance mixed with magic and old knight tales.

3.5 stars.
I originally went into this book blind.
I totally judged it by the cover and thought it was going to be YA. I was WRONG.
Check your triggers before reading this one though. the beginning was a little crazy.
I did like the story for the rest of the book and would continue reading the rest of the series when it comes out.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine: Inklore for giving me the opportunity to read the book for an honest review!

To be honest I read the manga on Manta and was so overjoyed when I saw it would be released in this form. I’m absolutely in love with this story. The fantasy world is so rich and the romance between Maxi and Riftan is so steamy but also so so sweet. I’m obsessed with their story and watching Maxi begin to gain her confidence is so heartwarming and I can’t wait for more volumes! The books look absolutely beautiful and I can’t wait to add them to my bookshelf!

When I saw this book and read the synopsis. I was hooked and had to read it. I look a good comic and this one being turned into a novel was amazing. I was hooked from the very first line and a really did not want to put this one down. While the characters are kind of out there in ways, it is important to remember that this is a fictional book and everything is fake. I loved this one and cannot wait to read volume 2. 4 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the free copy of Under the Oak Tree: Volume 1 by Suji Kim in exchange for my honest and free review.