I went into this one really hoping I’d love it - magic, romance, a murder mystery? It sounded like everything I enjoy wrapped into one story. And to be fair, it started off strong. The world felt lush and the setup was super intriguing: a marriage contract, a love triangle of sorts, and a vowsmith with a mysterious past? Yes, please.

But… somewhere around the halfway point, it kind of lost me.

The plot began to drag, and I found myself getting bored when I should’ve been fully hooked. The tension between the characters, especially Nic and Dashiell, had potential, but it didn’t quite deliver the emotional punch I wanted. There were definitely some interesting twists and the writing itself was solid, but the pacing just threw off the momentum.

Overall, I’d say it was okay. Not bad by any means. It just didn’t completely hold my attention the whole way through. If you’re into slower burn historical fantasy with a touch of romance and mystery, this might still work for you. But for me, it landed right in the middle.

3.5 stars rounded up and my thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the eARC!

I really wish I could have liked this one a lot more, but I just got bored halfway through. I stopped caring about the characters to the point where it wasn't fun reading. I set it down for a bit and came back to it, still not interested.

The writing is very well done and the murder mystery aspect was intriguing, but Nic was so boring as a protagonist.

I'm rounding my star rating up mainly because of the potential it had. Ide is a great writer, the story just wasn't for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book came highly recommended to me and contained tons of elements that I love: queer, exes-to-lovers, historical, murder-mystery, romantasy, with a shy, lonely, artistic protagonist whose dad is mean to him!! These are some of my biggest jams, and I was prepared to go crazy over this book. But alas, the story quickly lost my interest and never gained it back. To be frank, I would've DNFed it around the 15% mark if it hadn't been an ARC. I've explained some of my struggles with the book below (poor pacing, overly-convoluted plot, underdeveloped characters and worldbuilding); however, I'd still encourage readers who are intrigued by the premise to give it a try! Maybe it will hit you differently than it hit me - and if not, you'll most likely figure that out early on.

Regarding the plot: it built slowly and unevenly, with a series of mysterious happenings and suspicious deaths about which the characters seemed oddly unconcerned until well into the book. When they finally started looking into the deaths, their investigations were mostly inconclusive, turning up more mysterious hints and clues that they couldn't immediately interpret and/or that seemed unrelated to the central mystery. I became frustrated and confused by the pile-up of question marks and dead ends. Finally (vague spoiler for ending of book), from about the 75-97% mark, a cascade of revelations happened in quick succession, some of them replacing the revelation that had just been announced - "Wait, forget what I just explained, this is what actually happened!" The wonky pacing and overly-convoluted plot made the climax of the book feel rushed and unsatisfying, even though it delivered a happy ending.

Regarding the characters: they were likeable enough, but a bit two-dimensional without much backstory or emotional depth. They sometimes seemed like they were just going through the motions of the plot, with their motivations unexplained and their reactions implausible. The romance aspect of the story unfortunately suffered for this; I never felt invested in Dash and Nic's relationship. And I was particularly annoyed by the (plot spoiler) third act "break-up" initiated by Nic: his internal reasoning for it made no sense to me, and it didn't seem necessary to the plot either.

Regarding the worldbuilding: the magic system was intriguing, but wasn't developed or explained enough for me to really understand how magic operates in this alternate-Regency universe. The unfamiliar terminology - vowsmith, automaton, Brilliance, sasinage - felt like it was mostly thrown in for flavor, which is a shame because the magical marriage contract was so central to the book. And I honestly still have no idea if (vague plot spoiler) ghosts exist in this universe or not! I also came away confused about the acceptability of queerness in this universe, as it seemed widely-accepted in many ways (e.g. men can marry each other) and yet stigmatized for Nic and Dash's relationship in particular.

Ultimately, I felt that this book was trying to do too much and cover too many genres, which resulted in its falling short on several fronts.

A cute, charming little cozy mystery-romance!

This book had a very unique charm to it, and it overall was a fairly good read. The biggest knock for me was the pacing. This book had lots of moments where the plot seemed to drag, and I definitely think it could've been a little bit shorter. At times it just felt very uneven in the way it flowed from one point to the next which did make it harder to read.

Nic and Leaf, both of them were very enjoyable characters. Nic's character was fun to follow, and his story was easy to latch into. But Leaf was just an amazing side character! Her energy and personality made her very easy to follow and root for. At times, I was rooting for her more than the other characters. Nic and Dashiell's relationship was cute, and overall, I enjoyed it. That being said I do think it could've been more angsty and tension-filled. Would've loved to see more teasing and spice. We got a dash, but the potential for more went wasted. The pacing of their relationship throughout the book was one of my biggest issues with this book. It was a little too turbulent, and it felt like it moved at a weird pace compared to the plot. I also wish we could've seen the world from Dashiell's POV. I feel like there was a lot missing from their dynamic, and I think getting to see the world through his eyes would've helped a lot.

Now for the thing that got me the most was the big "reveal" at the end. It just felt a little anticlimactic if that makes sense. And it's not really that it was predictable per se, it was more that it just kind of unraveled in a manner that felt very meh to the build that was happening. I guess I was just hoping for more drama.

The ending though, I did really enjoy. I liked seeing the characters in their HEAs which were all deserved. It was a nice way to wrap up the book and give us an after shot of their lives after the reveal prior.

Overall, this book was an enjoyable light read. 100% would recommend to readers looking for a cozy, queer mystery that has a nice romance and some hints of spice.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating: 4/5

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. - Freya, arc & monthly book box pick reviewer

The Gentleman and His Vowsmith is a historical fantasy mystery with a beautiful m/m romance, set in Regency England. I liked the main couple and the mystery elements, but the other parts not so much.

I couldn't possibly tell you much about the worldbuilding. I still don't understand how magic works there. I understand that they use sigils for magic (how, why; I have no idea.) They say that contracts are also very important, and I again have no idea why. Nic's father kept telling him that it must hold, and Dash gave an explanation much later in the book, something about threads that are interconnected, but to be honest, I don't get it. Sure, magical threads of fate (?) are interconnected but how and why? Why are the contracts so important???? What does a vowsmith even do? Just make contracts? Is it only they who can do it? Why? How? "Brilliance" was also mentioned a couple of times, and I think it means magic, even though "magic" was also used, so the terms might be intrechangeable or "Brilliance" is about vowsmithing? I have no idea. I don't mind vague rules in magic systems actually but I do want to understand how it works.

Since I didn't understand much about those contracts, it didn't help me understand the motive behind the murders, either. One person was a clear suspect, but other than that, I just didn't have enough information and understanding for anything. And the resolution? Quite anti-climactic, I'm afraid. On the other hand, I had no idea who did what until the final revelations, so that was good.

Nic is our main character, and he is such a lovely character to have a journey with. He grows throughout the story, and his trajectory to happiness was a beauty to behold. In the beginning, he felt hopeless and imprisoned within his life controlled by his overbearing father who "owned" everybody in the family. But his friendship to Leaf let him grow and actually find strength in her who has been determined to gain her freedom for years. Leaf's honesty and bravery made him be honest with himself and brave to fight for his future, too. Their friendship is actually one of the two best things in the book, the other being Leaf herself.

Leaf is Nic's betrothed but they grow to be friends instead. She is asexual and very honest with what she wants and doesn't want and also with what she likes and doesn't like. She is outspoken and honest and brave and doesn't stop. Her wit and humour really stood out in the book. However, I don't get the "gay as a spoon" or how Nic found it funny. Then, there is the whole "word gay being used in Regency England setting" discussion...

Dash, our love interest, was also an okay character. Very handsome, very polite, very good at his job, and very competent in magic. And oh how he loves Nic.

I came for the m/m romance, and it was lovely and little spicy, but the worldbuilding left me confused, so I'd say that The Gentleman and His Vowsmith was an okay read if you focus on the romance and the friendship arcs.

The characters were hands-down my favorite part of the book! Which totally tracks because I love character-driven books. I really enjoyed spending time with Nic, Dash, and Leaf, especially being along for the ride while Nic and Leaf blossomed from strangers into close friends who understood each other so well. Leaf was the stand-out favorite for me, what a great character!

While the magic seemed really fun and interesting, I genuinely am still not sure why it was so important aside from creating a "have and have nots" scenario. The vibes of historical fantasy with steampunk, murder mystery, and romance together was a really fun combo. I liked that the world seemed to be queernormative, though being gay is fine but you'll still be expected to have children and pass on your magic somehow.

It's rare (possibly a first?) that I say this, but I actually think this book would have benefited from being made into a duology. While it is almost entirely a "locked room" (locked manor) mystery, I really could have used some more world building, more magic, more time building the mystery, and more time with a couple of the characters, I'd have loved some other POVs, even if only brief glimpses.

The reveal was surprising and a bit all over the place, leaving me feeling like I couldn't have guessed even if I tried (I usually don't as I like to be surprised). The epilogue was very sweet and satisfying! I enjoyed all of the elements but I just wanted a bit MORE.

3.5/5 rounded up

In an age of arranged marriages, Lord Nicholas Monterris finds himself bound by duty in a lock in where Lady Leaf's family and his are negotiating the terms of the marriage and everyone including chaperones are in the home until done. A vowsmith directs and certifies the contract and the one working on this contract happens to be Dashiell who served Nic's Dad as an apprentice when they both were growing up. They had fallen in love but had not seen each other since Dashiell left knowing they could never be together because of their class status. Lady Leaf has no interest in marriage or kids either and befriends Nic fast as he and Dashiell rekindle their relationship. As people start dying in the household, they go on a hunt together to find out why and who besides them has motive to prevent the marriage via murder and they discover that there is no money or inheritance for Nic and there are a lot of secrets including ghosts. Murder, mystery, ghosts, supernatural powers/magic, love, friendship and family duty all bundled into one mystery. 3.5 stars for me!

Thank you to Saga Press and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

To save his crumbling family estate, playboy Lord Nicholas Monterris has finally agreed to take a wife. As is tradition, that means the families of the bride and groom will be magically locked into the Monterris family manor while the magical marriage contract is negotiated and signed. To make a bad situation worse, the vowsmith for the bride's family is none other than Dashiell sa Vare, an old flame of Nicholas's who ended their relationship years ago suddenly and without warning. But all past feuds have to be set aside when people start turning up dead. Someone doesn't want this marriage to go through and they're willing to kill to make it happen. Nicholas, Dashiell, and bride-to-be Leaf have to work together to find the murderer before they end up the next victim.

THE GENTLEMAN AND HIS VOWSMITH is a well-mixed blend of Regency murder mystery and queer romantasy. It takes two rival noble families and their underlings, traps them in an isolated manor house, and mixes in a little murder and a dash of ghostly apparitions. The result is a pot bubbling over with emotions, ranging from love to resentment. In the forced proximity, people are forced to confront their unspoken affections and hash out long simmering hatred. All of this is underpinned by the overall gothic tone, the dark hallways and eerie sights that leave the guests wondering if the murderer is human...or something else.

And with all this talk of passion, now is the time to mention that this is definitely a spicy romantasy. If you're not a fan of explicit scenes, don't pick this one up. Things get hot and heavy between our leads in short order, and it carries on throughout the book. Honestly, as much as I enjoyed the catharsis of two pining lovers finally satiating themselves, at a certain point I was wishing they would keep their hands off each other for five minutes so we could get back to the murder solving.

(I also want to mention that if you're concerned that the bride in this situation gets the short end of the stick, don't worry. This isn't a situation where she's being cheated on or otherwise getting left out in the cold. She's being forced into the marriage as much as Nicholas and for various reasons is perfectly fine with him wanting to be with someone else.)

I did enjoy the queer reimagining of the Regency era, with same sex pairings fully accepted. This doesn't mean Regency society is suddenly perfect. Social stratification still exists (a noble cannot simply marry a "lowly" vowsmith") and you're still expected to carry on the family name through marriage (even if it requires something like a "stud" clause for those who don't want to sexually partner with their spouse). Nobody blinks an eye, however, at the idea of same sex relationships, as long as all the other social norms are being followed.

Overall the mystery itself is a solid twisty affair, with plenty of clues and red herrings to keep the reader on their toes. There's lots of family drama to unpack, with each new revelation providing another motive for murder. I admit, I was slightly underwhelmed by the eventual reveal of the murderer at the end of the day (given the range of options I had considered), but the journey to get to that point was satisfying.

In short, do you like murder mysteries? Do you like romantasy? If you answered yes to both questions, then do yourself a favor and pick up THE GENTLEMAN AND HIS VOWSMITH.

Thank you NetGalley and Saga Press for my gifted eARC.

It takes me nearly a week to read a fantasy novel, but this one was impossible to let go of. This was finished at a record pace.

I absolutely adored Leaf, and I think the readers will too. The banter is top notch and kept me engaged and connected to the characters, and the gothic atmosphere of the estate was brought to life by the author, This is a book I could jump into and never come back.

The only reason I didn't bump it to 5 stars is because the story gets a little slow around the middle, and the mystery was a bit predictable, But overall, I really enjoyed this.

Summary:
Lord Nicholas Monterris is trapped; caught between a sense of duty and desire, and resigned to an arranged marriage with Lady Leaf Serral. Both of their families are confined to the halls of Monterris Court as the terms of theit union are determined, the likes of which are overseen by Dashiell sa Vare — Master Vowsmith and former flame to the final heir of the Monterris estate. 

It is only hours into negotations before a sudden death is uncovered, followed promptly by another, and it quickly becomes clear that something sinister is afoot. If there is to be any hope of discovering the truth behind this rising threat, Nic must team up with both his betrothed and former lover if they and their loved ones hope to make it out of Monterris Court alive.

Tropes + Themes:
* MLM Romance + Ace Rep
* Queer-Normative Regency Era
* Cozy Fantasy Murder Mystery
* Slow Burn Romance
* Forbidden Romance
Second Chance Romance 


Review:
Touted as a historical fantasy and queer romance, one that fans of Freya Marske and Alexis Hall would enjoy, I was immediately interested in reading this book. As a reader whose interests align to both of the aforementioned categories, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel!


What I Loved:
* Leaf: What an endearing and loveable character! From the moment she appeared, I knew she was going to be my favorite, and remained as such throughout the duration of the story. 
Between her affinity for mystery novels, inclination for adventure + a fearless demeanor, it is hard not to love her. I would happily read an endless number of works about Leaf!
* Nic + Dash: The angst! The yearning! The banter! Three features that I love between a pairing in a romance novel, and this book certainly did not disappoint in that regard. Even with the history and miscommunications between them, you cannot help but feel drawn to the pair of them + root for their happy ending.
* Nic + Leaf: The dynamic between the heir and his bethroted was another favorite of mine! I wasn’t sure what would come of this pairing; I had expected their union might result in a lavender marriage or perhaps a poly relationship. It turned out to be neither of those things, but their genuine friendship and care for one another is truly lovely.
* Queer/Ace Rep: As a queer person, it means so much to see books feature characters who identify as such, in any capacity. There is truly something to be said about seeing aspects of yourself represented in fiction. I also loved that one of the character in the story was ace; I don’t identify as such myself, but I loved this representation, particularly in regency-era romance!

What I Didn’t Love:
* Characters: There were a lot of characters in the story, and it was sometimes challenging to keep up with all of their interactions, and how each of them were connected to each other.
* Pacing: The first half of the story moved a little slower than what I typically prefer, in terms of Nic + Dash’s romance, as well as the murder mystery. However, this did improve during the second part of the book, where the latter is concerned!
* World-Building: The magic system featured in the book wasn’t as comprehensive or well-explained as it could have been. As the reader, I did not have much of an understanding of how it functioned, and how it impacted the greater landscape of the story.
* Conclusion: While I definitely enjoyed the ending of the book, I did find myself a bit underwhelmed with the conclusion to the mystery aspect of the story.

Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice:
🌶 🌶🌶

A big thank you to NetGalley + Saga Press for a free ARC in exchange for a honest review!

This book had heaps of elements that I adore in fiction: gothic estate setting, locked room murder mystery, queer protagonist, and MAGIC! And while I connected instantly with the MMC’s humor, adoration of his valet, and his pull between family duty and individual desires, the plot often rambled and I struggled to stay invested in the middle portion of the book.

The plot unfolds over a marriage contract ‘lock-in’ at Nic’s family’s crumbling gothic estate. Nic’s betrothed is Lady Leaf (who I adored!), and the Vowsmith executing the contract is Nic’s former childhood friend/ex-lover. So there is angst, longing, and a hot forbidden subplot that I really enjoyed, but the murder mystery portion was confusing to me as there were a lot of characters to keep sorted. The magical system was neat, but not fully developed or explained. Plenty of suspects and some sinister automatons kept the tension mid-stakes and there is definitely a satisfying reveal and wrap-up for my favorite characters.

Not a stand-out for me, but I will definitely read IDE’s future novels based on her characterization and inclusive themes.

It took me a little while to get into this book, but once I did, I was interested in the plot a great deal. The magic rules weren't 100% clear to me at all times, but it didn't cause problems. I was definitely surprised by the solution to the mystery.

This book is doing a lot, and honestly, I loved most of it. The setting is this Regency-ish world where magic exists, queer people are just accepted, and noble obligations get in the way of romance, not identity. That alone made it stand out. The two male leads had great chemistry, and the whole “locked in a mansion, people start dying” setup gave me major Agatha Christie energy.

The worldbuilding was my favorite part. I loved the combination of class politics, murder mystery, slow-burn romance, and magic... but it also felt like the book couldn’t quite hold all of that at once. There were automatons powered by magic and built from spare parts, which was fascinating and weird and full of potential, but never fully explored. Same with the magic system. It’s there, it’s clearly complex, but we only skim the surface. I kept wanting more detail, more explanation, more anything.

That said, I still had a great time reading it. The dynamic between the leads kept me rooting for them (even if the miscommunication stuff wore a little thin), the mystery was genuinely compelling, and I adored Leaf as a character. And I really appreciated the way the female lead was written. She expresses what feels like ace or aro-spectrum vibes, and instead of pushing her to change, the response is just "be yourself." It’s not a huge moment, but it stuck with me.

There’s a lot to love here, even if it occasionally overreaches. I'd absolutely read another book in this world, especially if it slows down long enough to show us more of how it's built.

Im officially shelving this as not for me. I stopped reading at 11%. I truly thought I would be into this one but this book and I are simply not vibing together.

The premise of The Gentleman and His Vowsmith seemed like something I would love, but unfortunately this didn't work for me.

The Gentleman and His Vowsmith by Rebecca Ide is a delightful blend of sweet romance and captivating mystery, infused with a touch of magic. This charming novel is thoroughly enjoyable on all counts, leaving readers spellbound from beginning to end. It feels as though someone has waved a magic wand over the classic game of Clue, creating a truly enchanting reading experience.

The Gentleman and His Vowsmith is a captivating regency-era historical fantasy that blends murder mystery, low fantasy, and MM romance into an engaging and unique story. Centered around the marriage contract negotiations of Nic, the heir to a Duke, and Leaf, orchestrated by Nic’s former lover Dashiel, the plot takes an unexpected turn when a murder and eerie occurrences connected to Nic’s complicated family history unfold. The narrative unfolds like a nearly locked-room mystery, where tension builds, keeping you on your toes.

While the story begins slowly, and there are moments where the fantasy elements feel minimal, the romance is undeniably compelling. The angst and yearning between the characters, particularly in the second-chance romance between Nic and Dashiel, offer a satisfying emotional payoff. For readers who enjoy a story where the romance takes center stage amid mystery and intrigue, this is sure to hit the mark.

Though the murder mystery kept me guessing, I did feel the resolution of the main mystery left me with complicated feelings. As I read, I imagined numerous possible outcomes, none of which played out, which may leave some readers with a desire for a more definitive conclusion. However, for others, this unpredictability will be part of the charm, adding to the suspense.

Despite these minor reservations, The Gentleman and His Vowsmith is an enjoyable standalone with a dash of Bridgerton-esque vibes, a sprinkle of magic, and a heartfelt, slow-burn romance. If you’re a fan of gay romance, mystery, and historical fantasy, this book delivers a delightful read and leaves me eager to see what else this author has in store.

Part gothic romance, part murder mystery, with a dash of Regency drama, a splash of second chance romance, and a sprinkle of magic. Add in a possible descent into madness, messy family politics, and a wonderful reluctant fiances turned friends relationship. Mix it together and toss with gorgeous writing and you get The Gentleman and His Vowsmith.

I LOVE a queer historical romantasy and was eager to dive into this one after being immediately swept away by the premise. The magic system was reminiscent of Freya Marske’s work, the world of KJ Charles’ wonderful backlog of queer Edwardian/ Victorian romances with a touch of Agatha Christie-esque locked room mystery. I really enjoyed the tension and angst between Nic and Dash, cut by the wonderful comedic presence that was Leaf. Overall, while I did really enjoy this story, I do think it could’ve gone with some trimming in parts to keep it streamlined and avoid repetition. It’ll definitely go down well with fellow queer romantasy lovers!

Nic and Dashiel are adorable, and I would protect Leaf with my life. I enjoyed the murder mystery, closed-set telling of this story overall, but there were some details and world-building aspects that felt unexplored or ignored in a way that was almost distracting. Super fun magic system, though and the characters were so great!