Unfortunately I DNF’d this book. It just wasn’t vibing with me. Not to yuck somebody’s yum though! I’m sure this book would be absolutely incredible to others! 💗

I am so incredibly pleased to read the official translation of the Under the Oak Tree novel after being a dedicated reader of the webtoon/manhwa on Manta for so long!! The plot and characters do not necessarily align with the currently popular "romantasy" genre staples of strong female protagonists and world-shaking storylines, but that just made this feel like a breath of fresh air. There isn't much plot at all in this first volume, as it mostly covers Riftan and Maxi reuniting after spending the first 3 years of their marriage completely separated and thus getting to know each other while settling into their estate.

Fair warning that this is a story of Forced Marriage where the main couple fall in love AFTER, so if you are uncomfortable with sexual relations between characters who aren't in love yet (and has dubious consent) then you might want to skip this! Riftan and Maxi struggle to communicate and understand each other for a LONG TIME; progress is definitely made throughout volume 1 but it is slow, and they sometimes backslide. I found this realistic in that sense, because Maxi is a person with tremendous internal struggles regarding her perceived image and role as Riftan's wife combined with her upbringing as a victim of abuse and neglect. Riftan, on the other hand, has an intense inner conflict between his attraction to Maxi and a sense of inferiority as a knight marrying a duke's daughter, leading him to frequently misunderstand her and fail to express his own feelings adequately. His lust is very much at the forefront most of the time, and there are ample scenes throughout the book where he aggressively initiates sex with Maxi; even though she gradually comes to accept and then desire it, and sometimes even initiates, Riftan is consistent in his pushiness which may be viewed unfavorably by readers.

Overall I won't be surprised if some people find it frustrating to read these two, but the efforts Riftan and Maxi make as individuals and as a couple are the whole POINT of the journey in my eyes, so I'm invested! I was also surprised at how much is covered in just this first volume (episodes 1-76 of the manhwa) so I will look forward to volume 2!!

5 Stars

I have been wantting to read this book since I went to a convention and mistook Maxi and Riften for an older anime RomeoXJuliet. Other then the hair color and size difference the simmilarities stop there.

Starting off I read the noval before the Manwa so I wasn't really sure what to expect beyon my Friend telling me it was amazing and I needed to read it. So I got the arc and I did.

Maxi is the sweetest and I am loving watching her character grow from the timid abused child into the Lady of the mannor..

Riften is the biggest scarriest cinimon role of husband.

Ruth is so much fun and provides a great catalist to balance Rifent and brotherly love to his romantic.

Onto the plot. I wasn't expecting to much being the first book but it was so much more then that. We got to see how her insicurites and his lack of understanding caused both tense and funny conflict though out their reuniting and travel to their home. This continues on and off but with much less frequency as the couple starts to understand and grow together.

The world is put together beautiful and it doesn't feel like the trnslation lost any of the story I'm already preordering book 2 and I have book one set to pick up in November!

Thank you so much for the ARC

I absolutely loved the webtoon of this, and the novel was no different. So great to revisit the story and see more of the characters!

I didn’t realize this was previously a graphic novel and might have enjoyed it a little more had I read that first. That being said, it was an enjoyable story. Medieval fantasy/romantasy. The world building was unique, fun, and I enjoyed Maxi’s character development. Spicy and especially so in the beginning. A tad uncomfortable in the dubious consent area.

Thank you NetGalley, Inklore, and Suji Kim for a copy of this ebook in exchange for my review.

This book has all the drama, love, and self-discovery you never knew you needed, wrapped in a medieval fantasy package that’ll have you hooked before you can say, "dragon wars."

Let’s start with Maxi, our lovely protagonist. She’s got a stutter, which in her father’s eyes is basically a crime worse than, oh, I don’t know, stealing the crown jewels. So, naturally, what does he do? Ships her off to marry a "lowborn" knight. The logic here is impeccable, right? And just when you think Maxi’s life can’t get any weirder—three years later, said knight, who’s been off slaying dragons (as one does), comes back to claim his bride. Romantic? Awkward? Both? You bet. Now the question is: Can these two crazy kids make it work? Will they find love, or are they doomed to a life of awkward small talk over medieval porridge?

This book is loooong, but don’t let that scare you. Every page keeps you glued to the story, and if you’re familiar with the webcomic, it sticks to the script. But here’s the kicker—just when you’re deep into the feels and totally not ready for it to be over, BAM it ends. I’m talking major cliffhanger.

So, if you’re into epic love stories, power plays, or just need something to obsess over, *Under the Oak Tree* has got you covered. Just don’t blame me when you’re as impatient for the next volume as I am!

I was excited for this book. I thought it was going to be a graphic novel, and even after learning it was a traditional novel, I was still ready to dive in. But, unfortunately, I'm not sure what I dove into.

If you are fan of the comic, you will probably enjoy this novel.
If you are not already familar with the comic, you might not enjoy this novel.

I felt like I was missing information that might have been established in comic panels. Mostly descriptions. I was fuzzy on the worldbuilding and this book was a whole lot of pages for very little plot.

For some reason I thought this would be a manga/graphic novel. I couldn't really get into the way this book started however and the writing felt clumsy to me unfortunately. I like the idea of this book though and maybe I will return to this later. 2.25/5

Not typically something I would choose for myself. With that being said it was a good book. Thank tou netgalley and publisher for allowing me to read this one.

Suji Kim’s Under the Oak Tree: Volume 1 is a captivating fantasy romance that follows the journey of Maximilian (Maxi), a noblewoman with a stutter and deep insecurities, and Riftan, a knight who marries her before leaving for war. The novel explores Maxi’s personal growth, her relationship with Riftan, and her struggle to overcome her past traumas.

Set in a richly detailed medieval world, the story masterfully balances romance with fantasy elements, featuring intricate world-building and political intrigue. The emotional depth of Maxi’s character development is one of the highlights, as she learns to assert herself and understand her worth. The relationship between Maxi and Riftan evolves with heartfelt moments, though it is also marked by misunderstandings and vulnerability, which adds a realistic touch to their dynamic.

The first volume lays the groundwork for a larger, sweeping narrative, with a focus on inner strength, love, and healing. Fans of slow-burn romance and fantasy will appreciate the rich character-driven storytelling and immersive world-building.

If you like spicy with minimal fantasy then this book is for you. I didn’t realize this was a manga series that is now being published as a novel. Not my favorite read this year but still not bad.

Not sure if this title felt less toxic as as a comic, but since the first 20 pages start with both abuse and rape it just leaves a sour taste in your mouth. Not to mention that the main character doesn't speak a complete sentence during any of those pages. Yea, she has a stutter and is repressed due to the abuse, but this just doesn't send the right message. Unfortunately the cover and the edges are the biggest draw here. Overdone tropes and poor writing make this a bad choice overall. Not sure if it even fit in with the Romantasy vibe as there seems to be no real story. I'd put it with the rest of paperback romance if I were selecting for that collection.

This was such a roller coaster of a light novel to read and cannot believe how much I loved reading it. Can’t wait for the next novel!!

Delightful read- scratches exactly the itch I read web novels for.

This is the tale of a girl who has been treated badly by everyone in her life, and now has only a teaspoon of self esteem. She thinks her husband from an arranged marriage hates her and thinks she brings no value.

Her husband has the appearance and reputation of a brute, but actually cares very deeply for her. He’s a bit randy and assertive, shall we say.

This story is largely a compendium of misunderstandings between the two of them, along with our FMC Maxi slowly building self confidence and abilities. This book is alllll misunderstandings, which I love but I know many don’t. And it’s going to be for the long haul. But I love this dynamic of two people both thinking they’re in unrequited love due to their underlying trauma when it’s done well, and I think it is here. And Maxi is such a cutie as she learns to do things and starts to make friends.

CWs for dubious consent. basically I think the book goes along with the idea that she is just too nervous to agree but Maxi is presented as very passive in these scenes.

This book was really sweet and I really enjoyed reading it. I found the main character a little frustrating to deal with, but considering the trauma, maybe I just didn't understand it fully. I did empathize with the main character. The story itself was endearing and I found myself still wanting to know what was going to happen and how it was going to end. It was definitely spicier than I was expecting and they managed to make it spicy and sweet all at once.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Publisher for the ARC of Under the Oak Tree: Volume 1 in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are my own.**

4.25⭐️

I read a lot of manga and graphic novels and sometime they don't translate well to actual novels, but this did a fantastic job! There are a lot of tropes and styles that a more western audience might not be familiar with, especially drawn in by a pretty cover and intriguing premise, and it may take them time to adjust- if you are one of these people, read some fantasy/romance manga first, it will help you!!

The actual story was quite interesting, and I won't give anything away. But the translation was good, and I felt like I was actually reading a manga. The main character goes through a lot, but she grows. I hope to continue this series.

Got this off NetGalley after seeing how beloved the web comic seemed to be. Turns out not to be my thing as the noncon really isn’t my thing. I appreciate the rep for stuttering, but trying to read the stuttering lines just makes my head hurt and I think it could have been done better. DNF at chapter 3 as I just wasn’t into it and found it hard to read.

The cover of this book immediately drew me in. It is absolutely gorgeous! Personally, I didn't like the main character and found it hard to get through the story because of her, so I did DNF this pretty early on.

I was a huge fan of this story when it was on Mantra. Some changes were definitely made unless I’m misremembering and I’m not thrilled with all of them. The first half feels very rape-y between the FMC and MMC and despite Maxi being his wife, I’m not a fan of that. There also no communication between them. While that may be character flaws that are legitimate, it made much of the story a bit cringy. I wanted to love this but there were just some things I couldn’t get passed.

Thank you @netgalley for giving me an arc kindle edition of Under the Oak Tree! I really wanted to like this, as it was highly anticipated and looked really interesting. However, I couldn’t quite get behind the fmc. It just felt like a woah is me kind of thing, and I was hoping she’d have some major growth for what she endured, and I was really unimpressed with her male counterpart. I love a slow burn fantasy romance, but the intimate scenes seemed a little out of place and frequent. I thought the overall story and concept was interesting, and I could be interested in reading the following books, but as of now, it just wasn’t a personal favorite. I’d give this a solid 3 stars