Unfortunately, I am DNFing this ARC.

There is a brief message at the beginning of the E-book mentioning that there will be contant in the book that may be disturbing to some viewers, and to practice precaution when reading for one's mental health. It also mentions "explicit sexual content" in the same message, but there are no details in any regard to any of these sensitive subjects being alluded to.

Although I am not one to be deterred because of certain themes and events in books, this unfortunately has deterred me from continuing. I don't believe it to be fair or beneficial to readers to read such a vague message at the beginning of the book, only to get less than 10 pages in before a father is verbally and physically assaulting his daughter who has a stutter, as well as two seperate rape scenes (one as a flashback) within only pages of each other. Although I am not an author myself, I have read many ARCs and almost all of them have detailed, appropriate content/trigger warning lists, especially when the content is described as vividly as this. Whether or not there will be a more detailed content warning list in the published book, starting a book out with such potentially triggering scenes without proper warning I believe is only going to harm readers when starting their reading.

The structure of these first three events were all so close together that I was unable to develop any judgement or relationship to the main character, Maxi. Because of this, I found myself feeling nothing but sympathy for this character who we know nothing about other than her very severe stutter and debilitating anxiety. If the goal is to make us feel that way, then I understand, but it it not how I prefer to start reading a new book.

I will admit, I don't know how helpful this feedback will be, considering I didn't make it far enough into the book to give feedback on anything other than the content warning list and the first chapter. But I wanted to submit my feedback nonetheless, because I think such changes would only benefit potential readers. I'm not even someone who has many triggers to content when reading, but that's usually because I've read beforehand that there will be general troubling themes throughout the book without it spoiling the content. I have read many books that demonstrate a lack of understanding or an active distaste for writing detailed warning lists, and to each their own, But often times, ignorant or less experienced authors (even some well-known authors, unfortunately) take advantage of this in order to shock readers with unexpected troubling material, which I find unethical and selfish more often than not. I am in NO WAY implying this was the author's intention, but I want to express my perspective on this so the author can consider it and avoid any potential readers feeling that way about her work. I enjoyed what I read of the prose, and the plot of the book seems very promising! But I can't say much other than that without giving feedback in bad faith since I didn't make it far enough into the book.

I hope this feedback was helpful and clear, and I apologize for not being able to finish the E-ARC sent to me. Unfortunately, the vagueness of the content warning message led to me having a negative experience in the first chapter, and the structure of layering three such potentially triggering events in the first few pages, while also lacking any information or connection to the main character, was just too much for me to desire continuing. Thank you for sending this ARC to me! I hope to read more from this author in the future :)

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

Under the Oak Tree, a Romantasy by Kim Suji, explores the messiness that comes from a long life of abuse and how this effects your romantic relationships, especially in how it makes it nigh on impossible to communicate your thoughts, feelings, and desires to your significant other. Maximilian, usually known as Maxi, is the daughter of the rich and powerful Duke Croyso, known for his strictness and authority, but not for his near-constant abuse of Maxi because of her failing to live up to his standards, especially because of a stutter she has. One day, however, she is told she is to marry Sir Riftan, commander of the Remdragon Knights, whom she has never met, only having snuck a few glances at her father's castle. Soon she is married and their wedding is consummated right before Riftan leaves for the dangerous Red Dragon Campaign, from which he returns the greatest hero in the knigdom.

Going into this book, be sure to heed the trigger warnings, they are not to be taken lightly. An adaptation of an existing webtoon with great popularity, this book follows the relationship between Maxi and Riftan, rife with misunderstandings and and miscommunication, but full of devotion bordering on obsession, as they slowly come to know each other living at Riftan's castle on the other side of the continent.

When I say that their relationship is messy and that these two are TERRIBLE at communicating with each other, I mean it, but it makes their genuine love for each other which continues to grow throughout the book all the more interesting, especially as this book does not shy away from darker themes. I will say though that I did know a fair amount about the story before I went into this, as one of my friends is a huge fan of the original webtoon and they are always talking about it, so I knew what was coming as far as the trigger warnings and messier parts of their love go and was prepared, but I can definitely say that I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I would recommend this to fans of Romantasy who are open to darker themes, readers of the original webtoon, and those looking for a story that doesn't shy away from the messier aspects of living after an abusive childhood.

I've seen ads for the webtoon everywhere, so jumped at the chance to read the novel version, but this may be a case where the visual adaptation is an improvement on the webnovel. The novel is mired down in misunderstandings and represents Maxi and Riftan's relationship as very, very physical and not much else because of that. They don't have an opportunity to learn about each other or grow if neither of them ever talk to each other, and getting trapped in Maxi's narration means that we know that she will never broach the subject herself.

That said, the setup is interesting, and you /want/ to root for them, to see Maxi drawn out of her shell and grow in confidence.

This book was very intriguing and interesting from the very beginning. It drew me in right away and kept me hooked. I have to say, I didn’t expect that ending but it was definitely fitting!

I was obsessed with Under the Oak Tree when it was an internet manga. I did everything I could to find this on the Internet. And I’m so happy that this has been made into as he realized book. You obviously have to know what you’re in for when you pick up this book because it definitely has that manga vibe. But if that is your vibe (which turns out is my vibe.), then I would recommend this to everyone! Maximilian and Riftan are an absolute love story (a tiny bit old fashion love story) but an absolute to die for a love story.

Thank you in #Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

<i>Thank you to Inklore for a chance to read an arc this book! 🖤 </i>

<i>5⭐️</i> Even better than I remembered it! tropes: arranged marriage, miscommunication, romantasy | high steam | digital

<i> "Riftan had come to occupy the deepest recesses of her heart; he had the power to shatter her, to crush her will to live." </i>

<i> characters </i>
🩶 Maximilian is the daughter of the Duke of Croyso. She is kind but has a stutter and major anxiety that is worsen by her father's abuse. She's really trying her best and I loved her. She has really bad self-esteem and self-worth. She wants nothing more than to be liked and appreciated. But has a hard time believing others can love her as she is.
🩶 Riftan was originally a lowborn knight that became a revered swordmaster. He is so obsessed with Maxi that he doesn't see her sometimes. He is so caring but sometimes too protective.

<i> favorite bits</i>
🖤 I originally read the fan translation but never finished and am so excited it's being officially released in english!
🖤 I love seeing Maxi grow and flourish once she became more comfortable with her new home and had her needs met.
🖤 One of my favorite things about Maxi and Riftan's relationship is that you don't doubt that they care and have feelings for each other but don't truly understand each other but want to. Riftan has made so many assumptions about Maxi so he sees her as someone who should be pampered and protected but doesn't understand how she wants more than that. Maxi views love as something that can only happen if she is useful to others but doesn't understand that she can just be herself and still deserve love. Both of them have this wall up because of their own past and insecurities and I just want them to be happy NOW!!
🖤 I also loved how fleshed out the side characters felt and how they all felt different and interesting. I loved seeing their growth and how Maxi built a relationship with them.

<i> "You’re my wife now,” he said between kisses. “There’s no turning back, whether you like it or not." </i>

<i> final thoughts: </i>
I have two wolves in me. One wants to catch up to the official chapter updates online or wait for volume two be released... I DON'T KNOW 😭😭😭 But I do know I really loved reading this!

Check out my socials <a href="https://linktr.ee/buffyreads here</a> for more reviews!

Under the Oak Tree was whimsical and fun. I would have like a bit more depth at times but really enjoyed it and plan to buy it for out collection.

I would give this around a 4 stars, the first chapter or two is kind of rough to read due to SA, but this happens in the manwha/ comic as well. Outside of that, this is a story about a girl learning to live outside of her family that she was abused and put in the shadows. There are a lot of spicy scenes but it's a about a 3 on the spice scale for me, nothing to insane or graphic overall. I will say it was still an enjoyable read, the cover is gorgeous, and I can't wait to read the second one. I don't think it should be getting as many downvotes as it is now, overall I hope to get this book on my shelf soon. I also can't wait for the comic to be finished and reading that as well, this story is really nice. There are plenty of moments that make you feel supportive of both characters and rooting for them.

I wanted to like this book, I really did. I enjoyed the manga when it first came out so when I saw there was a novel version I wanted to check it out. I don’t know if something was lost in translation or what but I had a hard time with the story. The characters didn’t engage me and my mind kept wondering to other things. I did, however, think the premise of the story was good and will give the next one a try but on a whole this one left me wanting.

I really enjoyed this book. Not quite a 5 start but a good solid 4. It has a good premise a lonely young abused woman trying to find her place in a world where men decide her fate. Despite this she shows a strong will with a determination to be useful and competent. I overall like the main character Maxi. Not always thrilled with her husband and love interest Riftan. At times hes sweet and kind. While others he has a short temper. Riftan is a mystery as we don't know much about him its a little frustrating. I hope future books shed light on him looking forward to reading the series as it continues

I was excited to read Under the Oak Tree because I had heard good things about it, however, there is rape/sexual assault and abuse in the very first chapter. Even with trigger warnings, I would have a difficult time recommending this book because I feel like it glamorizes unhealthy relationships and abuse.

I have been a fan of "Under the Oak Tree" for a LONG time - from the adventures of trying to find official sources, to following the Manta comics as it updated, to being thrilled when it was put on Amazon Kindle to now -- I am so glad to see Suji Kim's beautiful story be brought to the USA, and I cannot wait to hold the official book in my hands. Maxi and Riftan's story is not without its own fraught trials. They both have significant trauma to overcome, and it is a little frustrating being the reader and seeing them not communicate clearly. But knowing the full story like I do, it is beautiful to see the origins (kinda) of their story and how much they truly grow separately and together.

Despite this being a translation, there is something so beautiful and magical about the world and its simplicities along with the magic. I am sure it is just as beautiful, if not more beautiful, in Korean. I love the world building and the side characters add so much richness and dimension to the scenes and are not just "window dressing." I love that the stakes are high and the characters struggle and fail and succeed. I have been singing praises about this story for months, and I cannot wait to continue to do so!

Maximilian, otherwise known as Maxi, is the daughter of the Duke of Croyso. She grew up ostracized from the wealthy society and basically locked up and hidden from anyone but servants because of her stutter. All of her life she was unloved by her only surviving parent-her dad which caused her to have lack of confidence, anxiety and self hatred. She has an arranged marriage to a well known highly ranked Knight, Riftan who just completed a journey to kill a strong dragon. The story starts out with Riftan finding out after his 3 year long mission to kill the dragon, his wife is still living with her father so he comes to take her to his castle.

She is shocked to see that Riftian is nothing like her father but still has her worries to trust anyone after all the abuse she went through. Riftian believes that she is a cherished and loved daughter of the Duke so he treats her lavishly and spoils her with all of his riches. He believes he is beneath her.

Throughout the book she blossoms into a more confident woman, although she still isn’t 100 percent confident and is shy around some people. Maxi learns what it is to be loved and respected as the Wife of Knight Riftian. Being the lady of the castle has boosted her confidence and self worth.

This book has the best medieval vibes with the monsters and royalty. This book offers emotional depth and will leave you waiting for more. It is inspirational to see the woman she becomes and I can’t wait to see her at 100 percent confidence!

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

DNF @ 37%.

Note that I have not read the original manhwa of this story and am approaching this purely based on the novel. That said, the description of this was lovely but the book itself does not hit.

Pros:
-Riftan has big "my wife" energy if you're into that
-Maxi seems realistically characterized for someone who has been locked up and abused by her father for her entire life
-The cover is absolutely gorgeous

Cons:
-WTF is up with all the rape? Riftan rapes Maxi REPEATEDLY in this book and Suji Kim does not appear to think this is a bad thing but rather that it's romantic that he "just can't resist her" even when she is REPEATEDLY telling him no; additionally, though there are content warnings for the abuse that Maxi suffers at the hands of her father, there are NONE in regards to all this sexual assault. This is not something that triggers me but I'm shocked that a book that INCLUDES a content warning completely ignores the rape part????
-In addition to the rape, the very language of the sex scenes (which are frequent) is deeply unsexy; describing saliva hanging between their mouths? Ew.
-As there is no POV from Riftan, he is very under-characterized; mostly just snapping at people and raping Maxi. This does not make him a compelling hero in any way and he and Maxi lack any chemistry to boot.

Thank you to netgally and the publisher for the opportunity to read this earc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was startled by the amount of nonconsensual intercourse there was right at the start. I was very disappointed in the character growth of Maxi as well, or lack there of. She never told Riftan about what she endured at the hands of her father, she never does anything without self doubt. She definitely is strong for enduring the years of abuse but she needs to grow a backbone. I was distracted by how often she just passed out from fatigue as well, I swear it was in every chapter. Her embarrassment about everything also got old very quickly.

I give this 3 stars because I did find the story interesting and wish it had lived up to what it could have been. The magic system seemed well developed and I wish there had been more about it. I really would have liked some POV from Riftan and the fight with Sektor or even just him telling the tale. I also very strongly want Riftan to learn about his father-in-laws abuse and teach that man a lesson.

🍁arranged marriage
🍁forced proximity
🍁single pov
🍁fantasy


The story is not bad, I like how Riftan is gentle with Maxi, considering how she is not treated well when she was growing older because of her stuttering, but sometimes she annoys me.. lol! Because she is soo naive of everything.. but granted it is not her fault she know nothing much about politics and stuff.. but still.. ahaha.. but the story is worth reading!

I received an eARC of this novelization via NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 stars rounded up.

As someone who was a huge fan of the original comic, I had high hopes for this. I wasn't expecting it to feel so much like a screenplay script. I would have loved to have seen even more character development. While some of the side characters were able to get more development, others were not. Honestly, I prefer the manga/comic over this novelization.

Full Review: https://medium.com/@briannashrout/under-the-oak-tree-the-novel-earc-review-8bbd7c22cb70

I'm torn by my rating of this novel in contrast to the webtoon, because all of the flaws in Riftan's aggressive approach to marriage really shine a negative, forced light on Maxi's reluctant acceptance of her new lot in life. It's a fantasy, and some relationship things can be overlooked when put into context of the time and setting, but you really need to read it in its visual form. It's like a TED Talk that you watch versus one you hear on NPR: it's really a visual medium. I was excited to grab the novel, though, because I wanted to see how the illustrated version translated to narrative. I don't think I'll pursue further novelizations of webtoons I enjoy because it's just not the same.

This unfortunately was not for me. I wanted to enjoy this story however the writing was not my favorite for a few reasons. One, the dialogue did not feel natural and did not flow well or sometimes make very much sense. Two, the plot moved slow and there was unnecessary scenes that added nothing to the story. The chemistry between the characters was not there in my opinion. This was set up to be a great story but sadly fell flat for me.

This book disappointed me. I love the cover and the title. I liked the description. I did not like the read.

The main female lead is a poor abused aristocrat with a stammer. Her father hates her, he marries her off to a knight so he doesn't have to go to war himself. The man she marries, who she doesn't know, is awful to her, and the morning after the marriage is consummated, he leaves. It's really more like rape, because she's pretty scared, and he's not interested in her feelings. When he finally comes back after three years at war, she thinks he's going to divorce her because that's what her father tells her, after he slugs her in her side, and if that happens, well...her life will be worth nothing. Her husband, the war hero, doesn't divorce her, he takes her to his estate, but he's pretty awful to her. He still has sex with her of course, and she starts to like it, even though she thinks he hates her. Sigh.

As they travel to the estate it turns out he expected her to travel to his estate after he left, like the day after they met and didn't talk, just had sex, and doesn't listen to her when she tells him she didn't know he had an estate and didn't know he wanted her there. I mean, how much of a jerk is this guy? Turns out he's all mad because he's convinced she knew. This miscommunication trope is so heavy handed, I can't even stand it. I mean, for real. Anyways, he treats her like dirt and she takes it like a doormat, until the he finds out the truth and she makes his estate a home. Also, the writing was not great, it was not good either. I gave up. I couldn't finish one volume, and this is supposed to be a series. I have no doubt it will find an audience, but that's not me. Bummer.