Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This book took a little while to get going, but all the character exploration at the start was worth it because it made you really invest in the plot going forward. Kadou and Evemer are an OTP and I won't have anyone doubt it! I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for low- to medium-stakes drama with a healthy splash of romance and a lot of sarcasm thrown in. In a fantasy market saturated by series, it's also pleasant that this is a standalone, although I believe the author hasn't ruled out returning to the characters in the future. Fine by me!

This is a fantasy romance between a prince, who is a walking ball of anxiety, and his new bodyguard, who is a very by the rules man.

The Prince is desperate to prove himself to his sister the Empress (because he's been accused of something vaguely treasonous) by solving this crime that occurred. But what started as trying to solve a simple break in becomes more and more complicated as a bigger conspiracy emerges.

And as he investigates, obviously his bodyguard is forced to come along and they start bonding.

I read this whole book in an evening - not what I'd planned but I couldn't put it down and I loved this.

The fantasy element is quite minor, the have sense based magic, so the Prince can touch coins and know if they're counterfeit or not. It doesn't seem like the most useful of skills in general, but in this particular scenario very much is.

This book is very much about the romance between the two male leads. It's very slow burn, it's about them developing and changing as individuals but as a result of them spending all this time together.

We have a strong cast of supporting characters (and I very much enjoyed how much I disliked his sister). The relationship is just lovely and it's got a good plot. Uts got everything I want!

A sexy fantasy with fantastic world-building and strong, memorable characters!

I really liked a taste of gold and iron! It was a chunky book, with over 500 pages, but it really didn't feel that long. When I heard this was enemies to lovers with found family and a slowww burn romance, I was ready for it all. And I got it too! It was slow and angsty, with a ton of political intrigue! It gave me the same vibes as Winter's Orbit. I think it was a solid read, although the ending was a bit okay for me. However, I would highly recommend this if you want to find a book with m/m romance and a great plot!

Highly recommend!

A definate case of 'its not you, it's me' with this one, as I rrwlly failed to engage with the writing style and characters. It's a very insular writing style, with a lot of internal monologues and repeated thoughts that meant the characters never really felt as though they had any kind of chemistry. The style is also jarring, and doesn't really fit with the overall fantasy theme. It's a bit too... contemporary.

Speaking of fantasy - it's hardly present here and really could have done with some work in terms of world building and development. This could have easily been a historical political drama and left the fantasy aspects out of it and it probably would have worked better because what little there is I found confusing and pointless.

Not great unfortunately.

2.5*

I really wanted to enjoy this one because it sounded fascinating and the cover is gorgeous, but I just wasn't invested and my attention kept waning. Although the politics, mystery and slow-burn romance had their intriguing moments, I felt that I had to push myself through this.

It took a good while before I could actually get into the characters and the story. However, on a personal level, what I appreciated most about this book was the care with the portrayal of anxiety, which was relatable and I felt seen in many aspects of Kadou's characterisation and experience of anxiety.

Thanks to Tor and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

How do you rate a book that's 5 stars for world-building and 0 stars for story/plot/pacing? Shall we say, 2.5 stars?

In a way, this was fun to read because of the incredible world Rowland has imagined, including the gender diversity. But it felt like reading fanfiction rather than canon. Perhaps my mistake was to look at this book as a fantasy novel, when in fact it was just a romance that happened to be set in a fantasty world.

The slow-burn romance itself was frustrating because Kadou and Evemer had interminable angst-filled inner monologues and conversations that were a) repetitive, and b) made little sense. (Tip: if you've read one, you've read them all.) Tadek was a most annoying creature, though in the end he seemed to have the most character growth. He also had some great lines. Despite the tedious angsty thoughts and conversations, there was very little we get to know about how the romance actually developed, when/how feelings changed/emerged, and how/if it affected Evemer's ability to perform his duties. The author is also exceedingly coy while writing romantic scenes, which is somewhat annoying because the euphemisms were often beyond me. There was a weird hair-washing scene that I just...have no idea what it served, if it was symbolic of something, or... heck, I have no idea!

(Review copy from NetGalley)

DNF 45%. This book and me go together like oil and water, even if it should have theoretically been just up my alley. It was not off to a good start when I started nitpicking the dumb, nonsensical plot setup. Just in the first few percents we have: Kadou being blamed hardcore because the people who were supposed to be protecting him freaked out when he fell off his horse during a hunt, no one but Kadou raising as much as an eyebrow when the investigator into something that’d threaten the country suddenly decided there’s nothing to investigate, the prince liking to give lessons to students in cheap taverns…sure the author gives reasons for every single character being useless when the plot demands it, but none convinced me. It felt slapdash, and I know that romance is the point here but…come on. Don’t hand out idiot balls like they’re candy. Don’t make my suspension of disbelief take this much of a beating.

As for the romance…Evemer started off having an emotional intelligence of a rock, which is kind of inconvenient when guarding (and dressing? And hairstyling? And it’s later mentioned that kahyalar go on to become ministers? And some apparently check flour? Is there anything these guys don’t do?) a prince who is an Anxious Mess™. It gets better with time and I kind of wanted to see where it goes, but I was in too much of an irritable, uncharitable mood with everything else. I’d much rather cut my losses and go try to find a book I’ll actually enjoy.

This was quite a lovely, slow burn (veryyyy slow burn) fantasy story. The plot was intriguing, and the romance, when we got to it, was sweet, and there was lots of yearning, but I would have liked to see more of the main couple.

Words cannot describe how much I loved, adored and enjoyedthis, I don’t think there’s enough superlatives in the world.! Beautiful! Stunning, fare too many feels ! Kadou and Evemer sate just everything to me , Tadek is just perfect I’m obsessed and id so love a book for him in the future (please !!!) In fact most of the characters are wonderful, but my boys Kadou and Evemer, I just loved their relationship and how it developed. I was sp ecstatic when I read the anxiety portrayed, as someone who suffers from it myself, I’m so happy to see a realistic and relatable portrayal, this was done so well, sensitively abd still so honestly, I loved how it covered the physical and mental symptoms but I particularly loved how it showed the war within of your own mind and your self esteem.

The magic system, was really interesting and I liked how individual and unique it was, although I think I would have liked a bit more detail, as it felt it wasn’t touched on enough or at least for my liking, but that could be just me and that’s the only criticism I think I have for this, and it’s not a huge one, just more personal.
The writing style of Alexandra I found to be really engaging and not overly heavy on the politics of the world involved (which I always find drains me from loving a book) the descriptions, are just perfect and not too much or too little.

I’d recommend this to anyone who loves a well constructed fantasy with great characters and an addictive plot.

Thanks to netgalley, black crow PR and Tor books for a copy in exchange for an honest opinion

DNF'd the book pretty early on.

I initially thought I would like this book as the plot and premise seemed to really be my style. However it was very long, the writing was confusing (I'm still confused if Kadou is the baby daddy or the brother or the queen or is he both?), the characters weren't interesting enough to keep reading and the pace was far too slow for my personal liking.

What I Liked:

I loved the relationship and how it developed between our main boys Kadou and Evemer.

The magic system, while barely touched, was interesting and new! I like how individual it was to the person, and how their own experiences shaped their perception.

I really, REALLY liked the anxiety portrayal. It was raw and honest and so very relatable. From the mental struggles to the physical symptoms, even the ongoing baddle Kadou waged against his own mind and self esteem was so well done.

Best boy Tadek made me laugh so much. That line about the oil wrestling (IYKYK) was pure gold 😂

What I Didn’t Like:

Zeliha. That is all.

For real though, our esteemed sultan Zeliha is my least favourite character in this. Even more so than the actual bad guys, which is saying something. While she clearly loves her brother Kadou, she treats him like a small child, not a grown man. She may love him, but she doesn’t respect him, and that irked me so much while reading.

Other Impressions:

The whole “home and hearth” line reminded me of the Final Fantasy Kingsglaive movie and not in a bad way! Loved that film, and loved the meaning behind “home and hearth” in A Taste of Gold and Iron.

The writing style was engaging, the politics weren’t too heavy, the economics was interesting, and (most) of the characters were likeable! The dialogue flowed really well and the descriptions, while detailed, aren’t excessive or overly flowery.

I’d highly recommend to anyone who loves political, well-built fantasies with loveable characters and just a taste of magic.

After a slow start and difficulty initially connecting to the main characters, I wasn’t certain where A Taste of Gold and Iron was going to take me. I was delighted when the pacing picked up, the characters revealed depth to them, and the relationships developed in ways that made you squeal.

My doubts originally came from Kadou’s character. While the representation of a main character with crippling anxiety was refreshing to see and handled accurately, it did make it hard to connect to him to start with. It may be a dominant part of his personality, but we didn’t see any other side to him. Once you delve under that surface panic, you get a complicated prince desperate to help his realm and his sister but with absolutely no desires on the throne himself – which I loved.

Evemer, however, won me over instantly. Stoic and unmoving, he tries to hide every emotion with a focus purely on doing his duty and nothing more. Naturally, as events unfold, it’s the growing depth of Evemer’s emotions that give you the giddy feelings, as much because he’s allowing himself to feel.

I enjoyed the position Evemer is in for Kadou. He’s not a bodyguard; not a servant. He’s a mixture of all of the above and it’s not a position I’ve seen a character in before. It gives the personal intimacy coming from doing a man’s hair for him, to the fierce protectiveness of trying to keep him safe in a world full of knives.

This is not quite enemies-to-lovers, but there are similar traits. Both are convinced the other doesn’t care while being convinced it’s impossible for that to change. Throw in a fake-dating trope taken to the extreme and you’ve got a chaotic mess of emotions that make for amusing and moving reading.

The pacing and the plot starts out slow, which again is why I initially wasn’t sure. It took a while to figure out what the events meant and the repercussions they had due to how this society works. But it again doesn’t take long for that to start picking up, and by the time you’re a third in, it’s a gripping story full of mystery and deceit.

There’re hints of a magic system but not as the main focus. Some – including Kadou – can touch-taste metal, able to know if a coin is pure or debased with other metals. There are also characters able to tell when someone is lying. The magic helped move the plot along and ironed out otherwise sticking points rather than being a centre part to the story.

The world-building is based on the Ottoman Empire. Not an era I know a lot about, but it was easy to follow the structure and immerse yourself in this world once you’ve figured out how family is depicted in this time.

Despite initial misgivings, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was unable to put it down towards the end. Full of character development and an interesting plot.

Thrilling! Beautiful! So. Many. Feelings! I love Kadou and Evemer so much and I want them to be happy forever. Tadek is amazing and I’d happily read another book which is just about him. All the secondary characters are great and the world building was really well done. A really enjoyable read! I’m definitely reading more of Rowland’s work.

This is perfect for fans of TJ Klune and Freya Marske!

An absolutely addictive romance with the most gorgeous slow burning pining I've read in a long time.

'A Taste of Gold and Iron' takes its time to introduce the main character Kadou and his motivations, he is a very shy and anxious person, which reminded me a lot of 'The Goblin Emperor'. I can also see why some readers would be frustrated with the mc as he's also very passive.
This novel has little world building (though what we see is quite interesting), but it shines in its characters and their development. It's a soft and slow paced romance in a fantastical setting with a subplot of political intrigue. I have to admit, the book lost me a bit in the last third and I felt impatient as the romance and the plot felt unorganic.
Overall a well executed romance, that kept me entertained for the most part.
3,5 stars.

I ended up DNFing this at 70% but I had definitely read enough to form an opinion about it.

I appreciate the author for the queer and representation and anxiety representation but apart from that this book felt so dull.

To put it simply, I was bored. The narrative was way too slow and repetitive. The mystery element is not written well and anyone with half a brain would know the culprit behind all the chaos.

The romance was okay....the romance development felt stilted at times and I honestly couldn't bring myself to care about the main couple.

This is definitely a book which I could have finished if I pushed myself but I didn't cared enough about the story or the characters to put myself through it.

This is one of those stories you become completely immersed in whilst reading as the world-building is so rich and the characters so layered. The plot is sort of secondary to the slow unfolding of a beautiful relationship between a prince and his bodyguard. Kadou and Evermer are both complex and engaging characters and I'd love to read more about them one day (please can we get a sequel?!). The side characters are also wonderfully portrayed and I have so many favourites (Tadek and Eozena especially). I'd love a book featuring Tadek as there is so much to explore with him and he deserves a happy ever after of his own.

The humour and snark are pitch perfect whilst being balanced with a sensitive depiction of mental health issues such as anxiety/panic disorder and issues of self-esteem. The author explores the concept of fealty in great detail and it was rewarding to read about and better understand where these characters were coming from. There wasn't much plot but I didn't care at all and the book stands strong without numerous action scenes and a fast pace. Highly recommended.

Phew, this book sure is something! I will start off by admitting that when I first started A Taste of Gold and Iron I was 80% convinced that it would be a disappointing read for me. I’d recently seen a relatively negative review of it, and the on-ramp for the world-building in terms of character names and terminology was quite steep. There are lots of terms like kahyalar, Oissos, satyota, and altin and quite a few characters to become familiar with right at the start. However, dear reader, I am very glad to have been wrong in my prediction, because once I was settled with the world and the cast, I was hooked and I absolutely raced through the second half.

The book is told from two different points of view – both in third person narrative: the first is Prince Kadou, crown prince and Nervous Wreck, and the second is Evemer Hoskadem, member of Kadou’s core guard and Mr Stoneface. The main point of conflict in this story is political and economic, with a break-in at the Shipbuilder’s Guild occurring the same day as the birth of the Queen’s daughter, risking secrets the country of Arasht has used to build itself up as the strongest economic power in the known world. Kadou is tasked with investigating it, and is keen to prove to his sister that all he wants is to build up the country, and has no designs on the throne. However, having confided some fears to one of his guards, a misunderstanding causes his intentions to come under suspicion and he has to work even harder to earn the Queen’s good graces.

This is where Evemer comes in, as he is known for his rigidity and even temper, and he is tasked to keep an eye on Kadou to avoid further political disasters. Evemer looks down on the prince, thinking him carless and superficial, but soon realises that Kadou is an extremely anxious person, constantly worrying about the effect every small action might have on others, and as the two men continue their investigation they realise that they both underestimated the other. It’s a classic opposites-attract story, and it was a delight to watch the two of them start pining for each other. Because this is, most definitely, a kissing book. There is political tension, and some great action scenes, but the core of A Taste of Gold and Iron is the romance that develops between Kadou and Evemer.

It was built up exquisitely, with some well placed tropes (‘You have to kiss me so they don’t recognise us’ is great), and I think I was as full of longing by the end as they were. I also loved the supporting cast, especially Melek and his hilarious outbursts and Commander Eozena, the most badass of them all. In fact, the more I think of it, the more I feel like I should reread it and appreciate it all from the start… and that says it all, really! The only thing I struggled with was picturing the setting, which I can often do quite well, but that’s a small complaint! If you like slow-burn romance, with a light fantasy setting and a bit of a mystery, then you should pick this book up right away!

CONTENT WARNINGS:

This book contains scenes of violence, death, loss of parents, trauma, bullying and mental health. The representations of anxiety in this book are exceptionally accurate and this may trigger some people with mental health conditions. If you are feeling particularly vulnerable right now then this may not be the best read for you. I say that with love and kindness as someone who has anxiety and depression. There are scenes of kidnapping, attempted kidnapping by drugging, and there is a racial slur on page.

Please note that this review discusses mental health, particularly living with anxiety in detail.

If you are feeling particularly vulnerable right now then this may not be the best read for you. I say that with love and kindness as someone who has anxiety and depression. I do not want anyone to be triggered because of me <3

Reminiscent of the Ottoman Empire, A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland is a tale of fealty, politics and desire. Sister of the sultan, Kadou is Prince of the kingdom of Arasht and Duke of the Harbors. When his sister gives birth to a daughter he is relieved to no longer be heir. While others might have been interested in the throne Kadou would prefer to be out of the spotlight. From a young age he has felt the weight of responsibility, so much so that it feels like it is suffocating him. He is terrified to do anything in case his actions cause something to happen, to harm someone. It is a lesson he and his sister were painfully taught by tutors after their parents died, leaving the two young children orphans and under the care of the state. While his sister was slightly older and able to process the lesson, Kadou was not and the trauma developed into chronic anxiety.

When an altercation with the body father of the sultan’s child turns ugly and leads to some serious consequences, Kadou is not just humiliated, he loses access to his kahya, a personal bodyguard, who had been helping him with his anxiety. His new bodyguard, Evemer is completely different to Tadek, stiff and formal and Kadou is certain that Evemer hates him. To redeem himself in the eyes of the court, he takes responsibility for investigating the break-in at the shipbuilder’s guild as his role of Duke of the Harbors. The investigation soon leads to a much bigger conspiracy involving counterfeiting, one that could lead to the ruin of the kingdom and that Kadou is uniquely qualified to help solve. He can touch-taste precious metals with their fingers, telling which coins are real and which are fake.

When Evemer first joins Kadou’s service he is fresh out of training to be a kahyalar, one of the loyal guards dedicated to serve the royal family. The kahyalar (kahya singular) are trained in a variety of subjects not just defence, they are the future ministers of government and military. They are not just guards or bodyguards, the relationship they have with the royal family are very personal. It is about fealty, of swearing an oath and giving yourself completely to that person for the duration of that oath (in a non-sexual capacity unless both consent). The kahylar do everything for the royals, including clothing and bathing them, and they do it out of choice not servitude. In return, they are treated with respect, as people with voices and opinions of their own. As Kadou explains to someone from outside Arasht, they trust them with their lives and if they trust them when to draw a sword how could they not trust them when to hold their tongue?

Evemer is chosen for being new, and also for his exemplary record. The sultan wants someone who will not grow as close to Kadou as his last khaya, who he ended becoming lovers with and political complications ensued, resulting in the death of two kahaylar. So when Kadou thinks that Evemer hates him, he’s not far off because the rumour mill has been spinning and as usual it doesn’t know the full story. Evemer is the complete opposite of Kadou, and he grows very frustrated with him at first. He has no idea what is happening, why the prince of the realm is such a mess, however, beneath Evemer’s stiff exterior is a kind heart and a devotion to his duty. He made an oath, and he is damn well going to do that job to the best of his ability!

As the two of them unravel the mystery of the break in and the counterfeiting, Evemer unravels the mystery of Kadou and realises that his original judgements were based on incorrect information. The longer he spends time with the prince he realises how much Kadou struggles every day, and he starts to help him. Their relationship grows, and yes, it’s going where you think it is; straight into bed. This is a book that was promoted with a whole bunch of tropes and personally, I don’t mind. Their relationship is beautiful, it’s sweet as can be, and the sex scenes are saucy and hot!

I made the mistake of looking through some reviews, and once again, I can’t help but feel that many people have no grasp on what living with a chronic health condition or disability is like. Kadou’s anxiety isn’t the butterflies in your stomach feeling you have before a big event or an interview. It’s huge, all encompassing, overwhelming and more importantly chronic. I don’t think many people understand that there is a very big difference between feeling anxious and chronic anxiety. It is in every single thing you do. You hear a noise and your mind fills in the blanks. Someone says something even remotely suggestive, and you wonder if you did something. Rowland does a brilliant job of showing this in the way Kadou thinks through every single interaction with people

I found A Taste of Gold and Iron to be a very authentic account of someone living with chronic anxiety, at least in my experience. This may contradict to other people’s experiences with anxiety and that doesn’t mean mine or theirs is incorrect. Anxiety is such a diverse condition as all mental health conditions are, and I’m going to break down what parts spoke loudly to me.

Kadou’s thought patterns hard to follow because they were all over the place. When my anxiety is flaring my thoughts are not linear. They don’t even make sense sometimes, especially if paranoia is involved. I was nodding as I read through Kadou’s thoughts, tracking his processes and thinking how they made sense to me. It’s not just me; I’ve experience being around other people with chronic anxiety and I have seen them react to the tiniest things, to pick up on something I have said and react to it. I’ve been in both Kadou and Evemer places and there aren’t enough words to explain how wonderful it was just be seen so explicitly.

I know that this type of thought process is a lot because I live with it every. single. day. I would ask readers to remember that when they’re reading this book. What you may find annoying is a reality for many of us. It may not be for everyone, and that is fair enough, but please consider for a moment that books like A Taste of Gold and Iron are extremely important because they open readers eyes to situations they cannot/do not access. I would not wish a mental health condition on anyone, however, one day someone you care about may have one and yes, a saucy fiction book can help you understand them better.

Rowland writes Kadou as a complete mess and that is because that is what chronic untreated anxiety does to a person. Chronic anxiety has very real and long term effects on the body, all of which Rowland shows in A Taste of Gold and Iron. As a result of his anxiety Kadou isn’t sleeping properly, and he’s not eating unless prompting. This in turn leads to more health problems as his body is not getting the rest or nourishment that it needs. All of this has physical and mental effects that stack on top of what was already happening in the body. So yes, Kadou is a mess. Who wouldn’t be?

In A Taste of Gold and Iron mental health doesn’t even exist as a concept, there definitely is not any treatment for it. Kadou refers to his anxiety as his “cowardice”; he doesn’t recognise himself as ill and refuses to get medical help because no one will believe him. Unfortunately, mental health stigma is still very much alive and kicking and too many people feel this way. I appreciate that Rowland went down this path instead of writing scenes with a healer/doctor, it gave it much more authenticity. This is also the first book where I’ve ever seen an author properly tackle the trauma of inheritance of young rulers and the weight of royalty on their head rather than portraying it as luxury and power. For someone with anxiety or a mental health condition power and responsibility is terrifying.

I personally felt very seen by Evemer as someone who appears very strict, sticks to rules and kept their head down to do their job. When I was working I was that person, and I don’t feel like enough characters quite capture what Rowland did with him here. The way he thought things through and reacted to certain scenarios was very familiar. There were a lot of great characters in A Taste of Gold and Iron and even if I didn’t particularly like them, they were very dimensional. I particularly liked how realistic the sultan was with a life wrapped up in politics and pomp, and how she was fed up with not being able to just be a person. Zeliha longed to just take a day off and just do silly stuff with her brother like they used to do as a kid, and it reinforced how trapped both siblings were in their roles as rulers.

There are a lot of layers and emotions in this book, however, there is humour mixed with the dread, angst and anxiety. Although it occurs to me that some of the humour might appeal more to people with anxiety. For example, Kadou talking to himself and his brain responding. He has conversations with his own fear, and I was just sitting there like…. yup so done this. There’s a particular one where he’s talking himself into action when he hears something in the room, and he’s saying to it, are we just going to lie here and let ourselves be torn apart by a tiger?! I live in Britain as opposed to an exotic fantasy location so I’ve never jumped to a tiger, but I have legitimately laid in a bed when home alone and heard a noise and my anxiety has jumped to is that a cat or a bird coming in the window? It’s not big enough or loud for a person, so I logically have ruled that out, but a small animal is perfectly possible. As I have several chronic health conditions I talk out loud to my body all the time, not just to my head or in my head. So I loved Kadou’s random conversations and I found them comfortingly amusing.

I’ve said a lot of positive things about A Taste of Gold and Iron, but as you can see it’s a three and a half star not a five star. I have no familarity with the Ottomon Empire or Turkish, I did not even recognise the language in the book was Turkish until I read some reviews. Likewise other people have spoken about the inclusion of a well known Muslim slur. My opinion is that if you can take the time to create an entire fantasy world you can create new words in a language. We’re not talking about going full Tolkien and creating an entire language, we’re talking about a selection of words. There is no need to appropriate a language or to include a slur. I feel that some authors forget that they are the masters of their own universe and have the power to do things like this. This book is promoted as being reminiscent of the Ottomon Empire, not based on it so again, the room for creativity is there. There was no need for the cultural appropriation.

Then there’s the counterfeit plot which to be honest, was very obvious and at times felt like it got a bit forgotten. The main focus of this book is the journey, the characters and their relationships. While the metal touch-tasting is very interesting the plot of A Taste of Gold and Iron is Kadou and Evemer’s relationship. A lot of the information about finances and economics that came with the counterfeitting plot I have to admit I skim read a lot of it. I would have liked a bit more magic, but I’ve seen Rowland mention something about small magic systems on Twitter so from that I gather that was never going to be a large part of the world-building for her. It certainly did make things a bit more interesting.

I keep finding books like A Taste of Gold and Iron where they have excellent representation in some ways and then failed in others. I would ask that people keep an open mind when reading A Taste of Gold and Iron, not because of the author’s mistakes but because it can give you some insight into what it is like to have chronic anxiety. Even if you can’t finish it or it’s not to your taste, please try to look at it in the way I have described it. As I said, one day you may find yourself in Evemer’s shoes and looking after someone with a mental health condition.

Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me. I had a hard time getting into the story and connecting with the characters.

The pacing felt off to me. There were a lot of plot elements that felt added on and not fully thought through.

I'm sure lots of people will like this book though.