This book was a little too slow paced for me. Ultimately it felt like not much happens in the span of the whole story, and it ends incredibly abruptly. I liked some of the lore and the character interactions were sometimes interesting but overall this felt like a very repetitive read without much substance. Certain aspects of the romance turned me way off and I just couldn’t ever fully get into the story because it all felt like filler that was leading up to something that never happened. I definitely went out of my comfort zone on this read and it just missed the mark for me, it may just be the book isn’t my style but I found it hard to finish.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Banter: 🔥🔥🔥

💖Single POV Romantasy
💖Damsel in distress vibes
💖Main Character transformation

This is a tale of a girl who feels utterly helpless in her abilities. She is forced into a marriage and at first it seems like a bad thing but comes to love her relationship with her partner. She is a misunderstood woman who feels the need to keep her secrets from him all for fear of being rejected. Eventually, things begin to change as she grows into her role as the lady of the castle.

What I Loved: There was so many steamy moments in this book between the two main characters and really warmed up the conflict at the beginning. I love how the Riftan ( MC’s love interest) sees past her stutter and is obsessed with her. There was a change in the main character which changed her from being a dainty shy flower into someone who is determined to help and make something of herself in anyway possible with the help of those around her. I do see this main character coming into herself in terms of her power and her strong will to change things for the betterment of not only herself but her situations.

What I Did Not Like: There was a sense of confusion between the two main characters in this book, Maxi and Riftan have a hard time truly sharing their feelings and getting things clear. At times, it seems like Maxi’s natural stutter and her shyness but I truly felt like shaking this character into saying what she needed to say so she wouldn’t feel pushed around. I did not feel there was a strong plot in this story and felt that the end was a little rushed. It doesn’t seem to have a great balance between romance and fantasy but thinking about it, there will be more volumes of Under The Oak Tree so it doesn’t seem like a big issue.

Overall, this is a great choice if you like a lot of steamy scenes and minimal fantasy as this is a duke’s daughter and a knight romance and sort of enemies to lovers from the perspective of Maxi (the MC).

Special thanks to the Publisher and the Author for providing a complimentary digital Electronic Advanced Reader Copy (E-ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest, and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.

I found this to be a cozy, enjoyable read once past the first few chapters, as we're mostly following the main character as she adjusts to her new life as a married lady. I appreciate that the book opens with a note from the author warning that it contains triggering content (our main character's father is emotionally and physically abusive, and the scenes with him are quite graphic; Maxi's first handful of encounters with her new husband are non-consensual and awful for her, and she's essentially abducted from her home in the beginning), and I wouldn't recommend this to anyone triggered by that type of content.

It's nice to see Maxi's relationship with Riftan improve over time, as she gets more comfortable with him and he gets to know her better, and following along with her as she learns how to take care of her new home and builds relationships with the others around her is what gives this such a cozy vibe for me. That said, it is frustrating to be in the head of someone who's so unsure of herself, and so unwilling to speak up and communicate, for the whole book. It's another case of "if they would just communicate with each other, all their problems would solved".

Towards the end it felt slower, because we're still simply following Maxi along in her day to day life. There isn't much conflict, or much progress with her self-confidence or willingness to actually communicate with the people around her. Overall, this first volume feels very much like a set-up for the next, where hopefully we'll see some conflict, some happenings, some progress. I would recommend this as a companion for anyone reading the manhwa, less so as a standalone experience.

In the enchanting world created in the book ‘Under the Oak Tree’ we follow the main female character Maximilian (known as Maxi). Maxi is the resilient daughter of the Croyso family, and due to the cruel treatment, she has struggled with inferiority complex.
But, thankfully fate steps in and Duke Croyso (her Father) arranges for her to marry Riftan Calypse, who is a peasant knight.
Their first night together is fleeting, due to the fact that Riftan departs for war the next morning.

Three years later, Riftan returns victorious, and Maxi fears he may seek a divorce, which would result in a death sentence for her. As their story unfolds, Maxi’s transformation from a timid young woman to a beacon of strength captivates readers. She defies societal norms, discovering her true worth beyond being mere marriage material.

The author excels in character development, crafting angsty knights who easily win our favor. The blend of historical romance with a dash of spice! adds intrigue, and the dark castle setting sets the stage for mystical discoveries. Maxi’s journey is one of resilience, love, and self-discovery.

"Under the oak Tree" is a must-read for those seeking a powerful tale of love against all odds. I eagerly await the next installment!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing an advance copy. 🌟

Prior to reading this novel I had absolutely no exposure to the webcomic or anything else, so I went into this blind. That being said, all of my opinions of characters are based off of this work alone.

Overall. I liked this. I really couldn’t put it down. There was something so driving about wanting to continue. Even now, I hate that I am done with this book. I want more of these characters, more story, more development.

I really like Maxi. I love getting a softer more feminine protagonist. I think lately fantasy has overwhelmingly favored “badass” heroines. Maxi is soft and delicate. She has been through hardship and misery, but remained soft and kind. She is not weak, but her strength isn’t physical, which I really appreciate. I like that she has faults and struggles. I like that she isn’t just a prodigy immediately. Maxi is probably my favorite part of this book.

That being said. I don’t always care for Riftan. This book contains sexual encounters between Riftan and Maxi, and if I am being honest, the first few encounters were uncomfortable for me to read. This might just be me over analyzing or something, but it didn’t feel to me like the chemistry or honestly consent were clear.


That aspect definitely improved as the novel continued, but that introduction to Riftan made me wary of him going forward. While he is never outwardly mean to Maxi, he also doesn’t really take the opportunity to get to know her on a more personal and less sexual level. Riftan is clearly attracted to Maxi, but he never really takes the time to learn about her. I’m pretty sure Maxi and Riftan are endgame but honestly, I would almost rather her end up with the sorcerer. At least he genuinely helps Maxi, spends time with her, and is learning about her as a person.

Anyways, complaints aside. I liked it. I was engaged. The characters feel real. I just wish it wasn’t over. I will for sure be reading book two

4/5 stars

I went into this story excited because I had heard great things from friends! As an avid fantasy romance reader I was looking forward to a story adapted from a webtoon, but was left underwhelmed.

Long story short, I was immediately offput when a very large trigger was not mentioned prior to reading. This isn’t a trigger I have, but could definitely foresee readers being blindsided. Because of this, I lost interest in the story because I couldn’t move on from it and eventually had to dnf.

I really wanted to enjoy this book, but it turns out it’s just not for me.

I read the first season of the comic adaptation on Manta, so I was curious about the source material. Unfortunately what was a guilty pleasure in sequential art is almost painful to read in prose.

Some things that are a little off putting in the comic adaptation are downright distracting in the novel, like Maximilian’s stutter and the stilted dialogue. Because we get a different glimpse into each character’s thought through the narration it emphasizes the non-consensual aspects of Maxi and Riftan’s marriage.

This book was not necessarily for me. I enjoyed the spice and the storyline, but the FMC really wasn’t the kind of person I like to read about. Questioning herself and being meek while I know that may appeal to some it didn’t for me. I know a lot of people however that will love this book and will recommend it appropriately.

This novel blew me away. I am absolutely obsessed with Maxi and Riftan. This book was so beautifully written and had me immersed in the story the entire duration of me reading it. I enjoyed it so much that I preordered on Amazon so I can have the physical copy.

*Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review!*

this was just lovely .i enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed the webcomic.I am also in love with this special edition and I have preodered it and can't wait to have it on my bookshelf.

One of my fave tropes marriage of convenience was done and executed well. love the disability rep but also loved the character development. Not much to say about the plot but I personally think it was character driven which I had no issues with! would recommend!

Thank you netgalley for the arc.
Unfortunately i did DNF. This book just wasn’t my cup of tea. It was rather mundane and on slow side. But that’s not to say others won’t love it!

I received a partial ARC of “Under the Oak Tree” in exchange for my honest review.

This story is a gem! First off, I am a complete sucker for any story with characters with disabilities. Especially when they are presented as strong, compassionate and capable… and @SujiKim does that with Maxi. I adore these characters so much. Maxi is resilient, smart, kind and fierce despite her own insecurities. And Riftan is so well written, he’s not perfect but is kind and clearly loves Maxi in the sweetest way. Even grumpy Ruth is endearing and loveable in his curmudgeon way. While I was only given the first 11 of 47 chapters the story was compelling and sweet. The spice hits hard, straight out of the gates but is classy, respectful, well written and just the right amount of smutty.

Read this if you like:
➡️ Arranged Marriages
➡️ Differently Abled
➡️ He’d Do Anything For Her
➡️ Grumpy Magic Friends
➡️ Unique Magical World
➡️ Gas Pedal Spice


⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🔥🔥🔥🔥

#UndertheOakTreeVolume1TheNovel #SujiKim #disabilityrepresentation #romantasy #spicyread #manta #grumpysunshineromance #NetGalley

So I had never read manhwa/webcomic books, I didn’t know this book was one of those, however NetGalley gave me the opportunity to read this.
The first chapter of the book, I didnt even finish. I was Very turned off and uninterested. I had finished another book and came back a week later. I am Glad I did not DNF that early in as then I didnt think this book would be for me. Minus the long chapters. I did enjoy the book, It didn’t require much thought. It was a fun effortless read. However there was little to no plot. Maxi and Riftan annoyed me quite a lot with their communication, and her stuttering. Towards the last chapter is when we really got anything new to add to the book. I’m unsure if I’ll read the second part, mainly just based off interest to see where it goes.

Dang it ! This book snuck right into my heart. I loved it so much! I need Vol 2 immediately.

The author truly built a world I just melted into. I love when the female lead character needs to grow and find strength so they can come into themselves . This book has so much power !! Maxi is more than her father believes she is. With in these pages you will find the trauma and pain that she had to endure. Then you will see her collect her strength and stand. Shes more than just a daughter to marry off. I am her number 1 fan! The things that she finds in her arranged marriage and dark castle will leave you in awe.

The author really grasped the character development. So many angsty knights that just win your favor. Truly a beautiful book with a dose of smut. Take your historical romance and turn it on its head with this book. Get the lust and power of king henry with a sprinkling in of mystical monsters. I’m ready for the next journey.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this eARC. I read Under the Oak Tree as a web comic and was absolutely obsessed with the story and the characters. Seeing Maxi’s journey of self discovery, of healing, and finding her confidence is so beautiful and getting to read it on a deeper level with the Novel has been an incredible experience. The writing was stunning and picturesque and really left me eager for the next page. I cannot wait to have the physical copy in my hands this November.

Disclaimer: I received this arc with the mindset that I would give an honest review. Thank you so much!!

I was initially drawn into this book because of the art on the cover. It is really beautiful and the color scheme is really catching. Then I was drawn in further when I realized this chapter book was based on a webcomic that I read once upon a time ago. I really enjoyed the webcomic so I knew that I would enjoy this book.

Because this was once a webcomic or a manhwa, the pacing to this book is a little off. I still enjoyed it but it is important to note that for those who may struggle with book pacing. I really enjoyed Maxi’s character and the battle that she went through mentally for this book. Her character growth was often hindered by our male main character Riftan. Maxi is not a strong-willed character but that is due to her history of abuse and having a male that has a dominating personality means that he is not as accepting to her character as one would think he ought to be.

Because of the nature of how this book is adapted, the conclusion to this book was lacking. But that is due to the fact that it is not complete. I want to recommend this book but I want to see what happens next to our characters in the next book.

Thank you so much to Random House Publishing Group Suji Kim, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! Maxi is the daughter of a Duke, who mistreats her because of her speech impediment (a stutter) and her shyness. The Duke arranges that she will marry Sir Riftan (a knight and former mercenary) in order to avoid defeating a dragon. As Maxi gets acquainted with her new home, she learns that she gets treated a lot differently.

I started reading this not knowing/reading the manhwa, and I thought it was…ok? There isn’t much of a plot, and every time Maxi and Riftan are alone (every other chapter maybe) it gets very spicy. However, they each have insecurities and secrets that they have to deal with, but they grow over the course of the book. I enjoyed reading the scenes with Maxi and the other knights and with Ruth (even though they are a bit caustic, they still help Maxi learn magic). It gets more interesting at the end, with a quest for the soon-to-be-knights, and a minute possibility of Maxi joining them, if she could master powerful magic.

TLDR this was okay. 2.5

This story follows maxi as she learns how to fake it till she makes it as a head mistress, lady of the castle.
Maxi had an arranged marriage to Riftan so her father could avoid going off to war. Three years later, he’s back and he… loves her? What ensues is definitely a bit of a toxic relationship but mostly because both characters are just trying really hard to be what they think the other person wants them to be. The plot is very slow moving and basically is just following Maxi as she becomes more confident and starts to learn some things and her relationship with Riftan grows but she starts to realize that something is amiss.
I liked the wording and the flow of this book. I did want to keep reading, despite the pace being so slow. Not a lot of Noteworthy things happen in this book unfortunately.
I didn’t like that there were times were it seems the characters have forgotten what they said. There were three times that I noticed, a character would say something at one point, and either repeat it like it’s the first time later or say something contrary to it later. I didn’t like that it ended, seemingly in the middle of a chapter. I feel like you could have just published the whole thing. Even if it’s 600 pages, that’s better in my opinion. I also didn’t like that this book is atleast 20% sex. Super on page sex. I’m not a smut girly, and you can skip it but it’s like pages worth of sex, and sometimes you think it’s done and then it’s sex again.

I have a feeling that the next book will have some more going on so I kind of hope that they will cut some unnecessary stuff and just combine the two for a shorter big book or just go for it and make a 600 page book. People will read it.
Content summary 🖍️abuse, sexual assault pretty much, on page sex, toxic relationship, magic, some gore 🖍️

I loved this story! It’s a webcomic I really enjoyed and I’m so glad that the author turned it into a chapter book. I enjoyed reading it so much. I always wanted more from the plot and characters when I was reading the webtoon, and the chapter book gives me exactly that. I’m so happy that this was written into a book, and I can’t wait to see more of it as it comes out. I decided to give this book a 4 star rating because although the story was enjoyable and filled with cute romance and tension I found that there was something missing.

Thank you to NetGalley/Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine: Inklore for the e-arc! Major TWs for noncon/dubcon and historic physical/emotional abuse.

I was super excited to see this book being traditionally published and getting a definitive english translation after previously reading part of the manwha. It's been long enough since I read it that some details have slipped my mind, but I know I liked it for the same reason I persisted with this novel: I wanted to see Maxi grow. Don't get it twisted, this is a character-driven romantasy about someone recovering from a deeply traumatic upbringing. Her romantic interest does not always help!! I would argue he makes things worse most of the time!

Maxi and Riftan are both incredibly insecure and have a lot of trouble communicating as a result. This is literal for Maxi as she has a stutter, but is mostly derived from years of abuse that has left her meek, scared, and feeling worthless. Riftan is a lowborn knight who has earned the title of lord through battle, and he feels inadequate to be married to the daughter of a duke. This explains but does not excuse his actions, temper, and the way he speaks to Maxi. The dynamic ends of being pretty toxic, as Maxi grows dependent on him despite him treating her more like an object than a real person. It's not a relationship that I can root for, in all honesty, but there is reflection near the end.

Due to the nature of the book having originally been published as a webnovel, the pacing is a little slow and meandering. There's a fair bit of repetition and the inclusion of unnecessary details. The ratio of plot to sex is... unbalanced, to say the least, especially for many of the first depictions being non-consensual. The book as a whole gets a lot better in the second half, but it just ends without ANY conclusion. I really hope they consider smoothing that out in the final release because it's very unsatisfying to just cut off. But the translation and localization throughout was pretty good, it all read really naturally.

Overall, I'm not sure I would be able to recommend this book to the general public until the series is complete and I can see the full arc of character development with both Maxi AND Riftan. Until then, maybe stick with the manwha, or at least start there to see if it interests you.