The cover really got me with this one. It's breathtaking. And the premise sounded promising. However, I could not make it past 5%. I never read the webtoons so maybe it came across different in that format, but it just doesn't flow right for me. I can't get behind this romance that has started with rape. And miscommunication or lack of communication is my absolute least favorite. I understand the fmc may have some issues but the mmc could have at least tried helping her along since he doesn't seem like the absolute worst (other than the marital rape of course).

Three years ago, Sektor the Red Dragon woke up, and the king called his men to subdue the beast, which included Maxi’s father and his knights. To avoid having to go, Maxi’s father, or the Duke of Croyso, had his eldest daughter Maximilian arranged to marry one of his lowborn knights called Riftan Calypse to shift his duty to this knight instead.

Now, Riftan who subdued the dragon, is returning and Maxi’s father is worried he will divorce her because Riftan was offered a marriage alliance with King’s daughter, a Princess.

However, when Riftan appears, he takes Maxi with him to his home instead. No word of divorce. And Maxi wonders if she can prove to him that she’s worthy of being his wife.

Well, this was an interesting read 😆

This read very much like a web comic or webtoon rather than an actual book. There’s a lot of unnecessary drama that occurs in here, but because of where the story originated, it totally made sense how it was written. Should it have been made into a book? Maybe not, but I still enjoyed it!

To me it’s a rather fast paced book. Nothing really happens and there’s a lot of smexy scenes that I didn’t expect and I mean a lot! It focused a lot on the relationship between Riftan and Maxi, which still needs work by the end of the book.

I actually enjoyed it a lot. Sometimes I need that book that is an easy read between other heavier books, and this was what I needed when I read it. I do recommend it! Love the cover too!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the gifted e-ARC to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I think the story has potential but sometimes it borderline feels like Riftan is taking advantage of her. I get that he’s obsessed with her but give the girl some time to warm up to you my gosh. I just wish we had a little more character development and that their relationship developed in a way that didn’t immediately jump into the physical but focused on their hearts.

I adore the manhwa but the novel fell a bit short for me.

From the start, this book was incredibly captivating and fascinating. It immediately captured my attention and held it. To be honest, I didn't anticipate that conclusion, but it was appropriate! The idea of a young, abused woman searching for her place in a world where men determine her fate is a good one. She nevertheless demonstrates a strong will and a determination to be capable and helpful. Overall, I like Maxi, the main character. She isn't always happy with Riftan, her husband and love interest. He can be kind and sweet at times. Others find him easily irritated. It's a little annoying that we don't know much about Riftan, so he's a mystery. I hope that books in the future will clarify

Lady Maximilian was married off to a knight so her cruel and awful father could avoid having to participate in a dragon hunt. The knight leaves right after their wedding night and she doesn't hear anything from him until he returns for her 3 years later. Sir Riftan may have been low-born, but he's honorable enough to want to honor the wedding vows he took and is ready to start being Lord of Anatol along with his lady wife. Neither communicates and Maxie spends every second fearing that her less-than-ideal upbringing will come to light and Riftan will abandon her. It takes facing up to her fears and realizing that she's capable of more than she thought possible for her to finally start finding some courage, but will that help make her marriage successful?

It's fanfiction wrapped up in very pretty packaging and in need of some good editing. It's not the worst, but it's overly sentimental and anxiety-inducing with how much the heroine is always freaking out about everything. She has a reason to be the way she is and it's not a trauma that is quickly overcome, I would just have preferred a female character that develops a backbone sometime before the last 10 pages of the book.

Maybe it's the decades of reading romance and similar stories done right or maybe it's that those decades make me too old to get the hype of this printed fanfiction. Still, I also regularly read fanfiction and there are so many better-told stories out there. I don't get it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inklore for the chance to read it!

Thank you Random House and Netgalley for this ARC.

I didn't read the original version of this story, so the blurb was what lured me in and I was super excited to read it. However, it just didn't deliver for me. I'm at 76% and can't read anymore - I just don't feel like much is happening and Maxi's lack of character growth is frustrating. The relationship between Maxi and Riftan lacks chemistry as well. I will say, I think Ruth is a great character - watching the relationship between him and Maxi grow was somewhat redeeming.

Unfortunately, I had to DNF this title early on. The opening scenes included troubling content, including abuse from the main character’s father and a non-consensual encounter with her husband, who, based on other reviews, later becomes her main love interest. Despite the trigger warnings, I was uncomfortable with how non-consensual moments were framed as ‘misunderstandings’ or as the male character 'knowing' what the MC wanted before she did. I came into this book unfamiliar with the manhwa and was expecting something different based on the description. As I skimmed forward to see where the story was headed, I found more unsettling content and very little plot beyond the romance.

Although I saw potential in the mythical elements and political intrigue, I couldn’t move past the repeated lack of agency given to the main character, especially in scenes where her verbal ‘no’ is dismissed by her husband. I can see how this might be a story of personal growth and empowerment, especially if the main character eventually learns to stand up for herself, but as other reviews also noted, much of the book leans heavily into smut over storyline, so I ultimately gave up around 20% in. This one just wasn’t a fit for me.

“Under the Oak Tree” has a very special place in my heart. It was the manhwa that introduced me to light novels. I had originally read the novel when it was translated and made available on Amazon, so I was super excited when it was officially picked up by a traditional publisher. It is an amazing character driven medieval fantasy story. It follows our main female character, Maximillian (aka Maxi), the daughter of Duke Croyso, a powerful nobleman. For her whole life, she has been secluded and abused by her father due to her stuttering impairment. She was then forced to marry Riftan, a lowborn knight, as part of her father’s scheme to get Riftan to take his place in the deadly Red Dragon Campaign. Their first interaction left much to be desired. However, after returning from a victorious three-year campaign, Riftan takes Maxi home to his estate in Anatol where their life together truly begins.

The character development in this novel is so well done. Maxi is not your typical bad-ass, sassy heroine. She has had a traumatic past that has left her feeling worthless and unlovable. In the beginning we meet her as this timid character who is too afraid to speak up. However, after leaving her abusive home and being surrounded by people who care for her, we slowly watch her grow into this confident and capable woman. Although, the journey is still a struggle for her, I really do admire her perseverance and strength, especially her thirst for knowledge and her desire to learn healing magic. As for Riftan, I love his loyalty, protectiveness, and tenderness to Maxi. His love for her knows no bounds. However, he can be very direct and harsh at times. He can also be very dismissive to some of Maxi’s desires. Although we know it stems from a good place of wanting her to live comfortably and protected, it can also be very restrictive. Riftan is definitely not a character that is easily warmed up to at first. His inability to express his feelings is frustrating, but as the story progresses and we learn more about his past, you can’t help but fall in love him as well.

The romance is definitely intense and passionate. Miscommunication and misunderstanding are huge part of the story. Although the characters grow to love each other, the first few sexual encounters between Riftan and Maxi can be uncomfortable. When I first read it, I didn’t think much of it, because I was warned ahead of time of what to expect. However, reading it again three years later, I realize how jarring it can be. I understand that this story was written in a medieval time period where there is a lack and questionable sexual education (as seen from what Maxi was told by her maids when she lived at Croyso’s estate), but I think a trigger warning is warranted, not just for the dubious consent, but also for the physical/mental abuse in the story. There is also a lot of information about the world in this novel. Although I wished it was more incorporated into the story instead of block of text of information, I do appreciate the author’s attempt for a detailed world-building.

Overall, I really loved this story. I have read this novel when it was available on Amazon. The journey these characters go through and how much they grow as individuals is just amazing. It is filled with longing, angst, love and self-discovery. It also takes a realistic look into the relationship and brings up the question is love enough? It is a very slow pace, character center novel, but so worth it. I cannot wait for the future volumes to come out.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I've loved this story for so long and am so happy it's getting a english adaptation! A young woman who has been living a sheltered and abused life is forced to marry a lowborn knight in one of her father's schemes.... yet to her great surprise she finds that there is love growing there and that her own happiness might finally be here. Lady Maximillian is the daughter of the Duke of Croyso and shes been forced to stay hidden in her family's home due to her family not wanting her stutter to tarnish the family's noble name. When she is forced into a marriage with Sir Riftan, a lowborn knight, due to her father's scheme.... she couldn't be more scared. Her timid and shy stuttering nature vs his gruff manor makes their relationship have a sour beginning when Riftan leaves without a word on the morning after their vows are exchanged.... and now three years later he has returned as a war hero and he still wants Maxi for his wife despite rumors that a princess has offered for his hand in marriage.... Riftan has actually been longing for Maxi ever since he met her, he's been in love with her and wants nothing more than to be with her. As she is moved into his world and his home, Maxi must find the courage to claim her own happiness after a lifetime of being powerless, she has to find a way to speak for herself and claim the love that awaits her. This series is one of my favorites and its such a fantastic adventure. I can't wait to read the other official english books and am so happy to be able to read this now!!! It's such a beautiful and touching story of growth, love, and healing, and I would absolutely recommend it!

Release Date: November 5, 2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Inklore for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

This was my first introduction to Under the Oak Tree, and I really enjoyed the story. Maxi, or Maximilian, is the daughter of the Duke of Croyso, and a lifetime of neglect, abuse, and isolation has left her with low self-worth and confidence. She is married off to the fearless knight Riftan and whisked away to his estate to start their new life together. Maxi’s character development is charming; watching her gradually find herself and grow in confidence was really rewarding.

The medieval-fantasy world is intriguing, too, with hints of magic systems and backstories involving dragons, werewolves, and other mysteries woven throughout. I’m really looking forward to Volume 2!

Under the Oak Tree surprised me more than any other book this year, and I am so glad I read it. I requested this ARC on NetGalley because the premise of knights, epic fantasy realms, love, and discovery of oneself are some of my favorite themes. I didn't know that this was an adaptation of a webnovel on MANTA, so I basically walked in blind. My summary: A high society woman struggles to overcome her abusive background while her new life rewires her brain to accept happiness in life as an option, in an X-rated folktale setting.

Maxi (short for Maximilian), suffers from a chronic stutter and is abused by her father because of it. Deemed unworthy to be a duke's daughter, she endures a neglected, sheltered, and unloving upbringing. Reading through Maxi's journey of healing through her trauma, in turn, healed some parts of myself. Maxi and I share a similar background, so watching her heal brought both joy and sorrow. While the intricacies of Maxi's characterization are somewhat subtle in the writing, she is anything but a flat character. The depths of her unraveling her trauma and healing from it are heartwarming to experience, especially through her relationship to the esteemed knight, Riftan Calypse. While their banter and love is adorable and just enchanting, the spicy scenes in this book are extremely tasteful. Overall, the writing is incredible.

This adaptation brought me to tears, and I was enraptured with the writing style. There are so many different hidden threads to this novel that I can't wait to discover. I am MAD that I can't read the second one right away. (Yes, I could read ahead on MANTRA, but I would like to wait and hopefully receive the next ARC.)

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House for sending me an ARC! All opinions are my own.

Wow, Under the Oak Tree absolutely blew me away! The smut in this book is incredibly powerful—it’s intense, steamy, and definitely not for the faint of heart. Suji Kim does an amazing job of balancing raw passion with deep emotional connections, making every encounter feel meaningful and charged.

The story revolves around themes of desire, vulnerability, and personal growth, and the characters really resonate with you. I found myself completely immersed in their journey, feeling every emotion as they navigate their complicated relationship. The setting, especially the oak tree, adds a beautiful layer of symbolism and intimacy to their encounters.

If you’re looking for a romance that combines strong character development with sizzling chemistry, this is definitely the book for you. Under the Oak Tree is a must-read for anyone who loves their romance with a side of steam!

This was very vivid and lush. I really enjoyed the female main character’s development and story arc. The romance was so enjoyable too and I found the plot to be engaging and entertaining!

Gonna start off by saying that this book probably the most number of spicy scenes in a book I’ve read in a long time. Which isn’t a bad thing, but was definitely a bit unexpected (even after skimming some of the other reviews for the book ahead of time). They weren't overly graphic, but they were frequent. In some ways it felt a little like a fanfic for the plot to spice ratio.

In terms of the story itself, I felt like most of the plot was happening when the FMC and MMC were apart, the few times that they were. As the book is advertised as a romance, I felt like that shouldn't be the case. To me, it felt like I was a good ways into the book before any real plot started to show up. Considering its the first in a (presumably) lengthier series, it makes some sense that the plot is slow to appear and move forward? But it felt a little bland as a result of my wanting something to actually happen.

I didn’t love the MMC, Riftan. He seemed to be all over the place and very inconsistent. Maxi was okay. I didn't love her but I didn't hate her. I felt for her situation to some degree but I also felt frustrated that the little bit of progress she seemed to be making kept being roadblocked by the men in the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC.

I have read parts of this web novel previously and really enjoyed it and feel like it does not translate well to novel form.

I was so excited about the premise of this book, and I'll be honest, I was really thrown off by how intense the assault was at the start of the story. It honestly just kind of threw me and I never got into the story. I think with proper content warnings, readers could have a better sense of whether or not this is going to be the right read for them.

I also think this story would be better served in a more visual format or in about half the length as a novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had to DNF this ARC 6% of the way in because of material related to rape and sexual assault. In the very first chapter, the main character, Maxi, is raped by her newly-wed husband Riftan, yet this book sets up their relationship as a romance. I recommend more specific trigger warnings at the beginning of the novel, as the author's note only mentions that this novel "contains explicit sexual content that may not be suitable for all audiences."

Note: I have not read the manwha,

Unfortunately I was not a huge fan of this book and the only reason was the beginning which I was not expecting to have such strong themes of SA. It really put me off the whole book specially because it didnt seem marketed in that way. I really wanted to love it, but I couldn’t get past that and it made it hard to be able to continue the story.

I think for some people this book will be amazing, it was just not it for me because I was triggered and was not able to prepare as there was no warning of this prior. If there were a warning, I couldve came into this experience with a much different outlook

I was excited about reading this book—the plot seemed so promising! But, while I enjoyed parts of it, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations.

I was drawn in by the storyline, especially seeing Maxi, sheltered and unsure, start to find her voice in a restrictive medieval world. Her journey was inspiring, and I rooted for her as she began standing up for herself. Riftan’s character intrigued me too, though I wish there had been more depth to both of them. They each have defined personalities, but something feels missing, like we’re only scratching the surface.

The worldbuilding gives off those familiar fantasy medieval vibes, which I always enjoy. It’s not the most unique, but it sets the tone well. And honestly, I think this story works better as a webtoon, with a great artwork it could bring more emotion and layers to the characters and setting.

It’s an easy, quick read with a story that kept me interested enough to pick up the next volume. Despite some simplicity in the writing and character development, I’m curious to see how Maxi’s journey continues and if her relationship with Riftan deepens over time. Fans of straightforward, character-driven fantasy romance may enjoy this as a light read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I read this back in 2021 as a manwha after being influenced by a random Instagram ad, and I was so enamored by the story that I found the web novel online somehow, read what was uploaded (I think it was Ch. 250 something) in a week, then proceeded to forget the plot after being steamrolled by my MA thesis research. 🤪

So when I found out that this got picked up for traditional publishing, I RAN to request it. Not only did this bring back memories of my minuscule studio apartment in Warsaw, but honestly, I think this was the start of my toe dip into romantic fantasy. 💖

The story follows Maximillian Calypse, the horrifically abused daughter of a wealthy duke who forced her to marry lowborn knight, Riftan, in order to avoid his duties. Now that Riftan has returned victorious from a brutal three-year campaign, he’s come back to escort his estranged wife to his estate. I will be honest and say that I don’t know what drew me to these characters in the first place. Maybe I loved the dynamic of two awkward people falling in love with each other; maybe it was the classic damsel in distress that’s rescued by a dashing knight; maybe I needed some romance in my life because my boyfriend was an ocean and a continent and a half way from me and I was lonely. . . . I dunno. But something about this story and these two just wormed their way into my heart and never left. I will say that I forgot about how SPICY (well, for me it’s spicy) this story was and man oh man was I in for a surprise. I was once again reminded that I am a prude when it comes to scenes like this. 😳

The one thing I really noticed about this is that the chapters are MUCH longer and I think 4-5 chapters from the web novel got condensed into one, so if you’re interested in reading this, be prepared for some long chapters. 📖

Al in all, I had a great time being back with this world and these two awkward lovers, and I’m honestly thinking about getting the published comic book. . . Big thank you goes out to Inklore and NetGalley for accepting my request to read this in exchange for an honest review, and to the author, Kim, for literally being my introduction to smutty romantacy. 🫡

Publication date: November 5!

Overall: 4.75/5 ⭐️