Cute and cosy. I had a really fun, easy time with it, I was more invested in the first half than in the second. I just wanted more from the world (so interesting!), the magic system, and the romance. Swan Princess meets My Lady Jane vibes but with a litlle less tension.




Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the earc.

My Lady Jane Fans will go feral over this. With the whimsy of Howl's Moving Castle and humour of The Princess Bride, Behooved manages to be both lighthearted and filled with a steamy romance that had me glued to the pages.

Bianca is someone who absolutely does not know her own worth. Her parents have always called her weak, always seen her as disposable. She has always been the dutiful daughter, always hoping to make herself useful in whatever way she can, in spite of her debilitating illness that could creep up on her at any moment. But despite all of that she's no wilting wallflower, she is someone who has trained since birth to survive, to kill if necessary, and I really loved how Stevenson almost subverted the damsel in distress trope because Aric was absolutely more the damsel than Bianca ever was. She's an easy character to like, to empathise with, someone so unsure of their own power, so used to being seen as nothing more than a chess piece on her parents board, but her marriage to Aric opens something up inside her, and I honestly loved the journey of self love and worth she went on in this book.

Though we don't get Aric's pov, and I was a teeny bit disappointed by this, he's still fairly well developed as his own character. This is by far Bianca's book, and she is where the focus lies, but I enjoyed the time's we see him open up to her, begrudgingly at first, but the more time he spends with her, the more we understand the reasons for his aloofness. He's someone who has been told he's worthless, similarly to Bianca, and it's this feeling of being broken that bridges the gap between the two.

I mentioned Howl's Moving Castle before and I really think it's a good reference for this book, not only because of the whimsy but because of the almost basic introduction to the magic and world. I don't mean that in a bad way, this was absolutely more character/romance focused and it 100% worked with the way the characters are written, but for those who like a bit more to their world building, you may be slightly disappointed. The focus lies solely with our characters and the somewhat hilarious situation they find themselves in. Be prepared for horse/riding puns a plenty, a lot of blushing and nakedness. Stevenson does a great job of dealing with some hefty topics with enough levity that they never bog the plot down in any way. Her writing style, descriptions and use of humor really propel the plot along and I found myself flying through the pages.

The romance was almost perfect, the only thing it was missing for me was Aric's POV because I needed to feel that boy pining as much as Bianca was, but that's more a personal preference and I still loved it as a whole. It's the kind of enemies to lovers where they both fall hard early on, but neither are willing to put their differences aside and admit it... until the horse situation anyway, with some grump/sunshine thrown in for good measure. These are two people who have been told they are worthless, useful only as pawns in a bigger game, and it took a long while for them to realise that they are in fact worth more than that, worth loving. But alongside this journey, Stevenson gives us a story full of pining, of want and tension and it really does scream 'save a horse, ride your husband'... in more than one way if you get my meaning.

The side plot of the assassination was well woven through the book and I enjoyed how it allowed Stevenson to bring in some side characters to add tension, drama and a whole bunch of humour to the story. I especially loved Bianca's sister Tatiana, and some of their interactions, especially after she'd married Aric had me cackling. It really is just a fun book, it reminds me of Kingfishers in a lot of way, the quirkiness and the fast paced storytelling, but Stevenson has absolutely made this story her own and I am eager to see what she writes next.

Behooved was an absolute delight from start to finish. This was silly and whimsical and heartwarming. For those of us who grew up binge watching The Saddle Club, with our Breyer figurines and persistent nagging our parents for a pony of our own.

arranged marriage
cosy fantasy
queer representation
chronic illness rep
one bed/stable trope

This book does not shy away from how silly it is and I LOVE that. 𝑫𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒏 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔? 𝑵𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒆𝒓. Vibrant, colourful world building was the expectation here and it delivered. But what really stole the show for me were our main characters, Bianca & Aric, their banter was lighthearted and fun and they absolutely melted my heart.

An endless thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book. I would absolutely love to read more from this author, especially if they continue to be as magical as this.

Full disclosure: this is a 5 star rating for the vibes.

Is the story absolutely perfect? No. Is the story perfectly lovely, hilariously witty, & deliciously sweet? 100% - and that is why it’s getting full marks from me. I’ll be honest, I could have done with a slightly slower burn with a few more days of angst between Bianca and Aric before they realise their love for each other, but the book is a quick read, and they go through so much together that I could justify it.

At its heart this book is really about two lonely souls who are perceived to be less than ideal heirs - and are reminded of it constantly. Finding each other through duty, they help each other realise that they maybe aren’t weak but rather have strength is a different way… their unconditional support (and later love) for each other is truly lovely to watch unfold. Added to this is the absurdity of the situation, some truly laugh out loud horse innuendos and puns, and two MCs that are incredibly endearing. A perfect recipe in my eyes!

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton | Hodderscape, Stevenson & NetGalley for the opportunity to read & honestly review Behooved prior to its release.

Behooved had a lot of potential, and while it didn’t fully deliver for me, there were still things to appreciate. Bianca is a strong protagonist, and the chronic illness representation? Fantastic. We absolutely need more of that in books.

The humor and horse puns add a fun touch, but the story never fully commits to being either a lighthearted romcom or a deeper, more emotional narrative. It hovers somewhere in between, which makes it feel a little unsure of itself. The romance, too, could have been stronger—there’s a shift from mutual annoyance to miscommunication to insta-love that happens so fast, it doesn’t quite feel earned.

The pacing dragged at times, and I kept waiting for that hook that would pull me in completely. That said, there were definitely enjoyable moments, and the unique premise kept me curious enough to see how it all played out.

Overall, Behooved is a decent read with solid representation and some charming humor, even if it didn’t completely win me over. If you’re in the mood for a story with a unique setting and a protagonist worth rooting for, it might still be worth a shot! ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Netgalley, Hodder & Stoughton and M. Stevenson for this ARC.

I came into this book not quite sure what to expect, however it turned out to be a relaxing cosy fantasy, with much amusement on a curse that turns the King into a horse every day! I enjoyed the banter between our two main characters, Bianca and Aric, their relationship did take a while to warm up to me which was partly the plot and a little on my side (took a while for me to feel invested.

Bianca is a Duchess who is told by her parents she is to marry a King in a neighbouring kingdom to ensure peace, however not everything is as it seems. Aric is about to be crowned King after the unexpected death of his Mother, and is not very welcoming to Bianca, especially after he becomes cursed to turn into a horse during each day, and a man by night. The story follows their journey to remove the curse and slowly fall for each other.

The horsey innuendos definitely made me chuckle, and roll my eyes in amusement in parts. The characters were well written and had good representation. I would recommend this as an easy to read light hearted novel.

Tropes:
- Only one bed
- Chronic illness rep
- Arranged marriage/marriage of convenience
- Cosy fantasy
- Queer-normative world
- Hate to love
- Witty banter

Behooved is a delightful romantasy that strikes the perfect balance between magic, adventure, and heartfelt romance. The story flows effortlessly, drawing readers into a world where fantasy elements feel both enchanting and natural.

The male main character (MMC) is particularly compelling—charming, layered, and impossible not to root for. His journey, alongside the well-crafted plot, keeps you hooked from start to finish. The book delivers an engaging mix of romance and intrigue, making it an absolute pleasure to read.

If you love romantic fantasy with depth and warmth, Behooved is a must-read!

Horse girlies you have been summoned! (words I never expected to say while writing a book review). Behooved is a whimsical, lighthearted rom com that follows Bianca, who agrees to an arranged marriage with the prince of a *neigh*boring kingdom. After a wedding night assassination goes awry, her new husband is cursed to spend his days as a horse and his nights as his handsome former self. This book was absolutely adorable and had me giggling and kicking my feet until 3am. While a bit predictable, it was an easy to follow, low stress read and I enjoyed it immensely.

What I loved:

* arranged marriage
* disability/chronic illness rep
* cozy fantasy
* enemies to lovers

Thank you to Netgalley and HodderBooks for giving me the chance to read the e-ARC.

Based on the premise, I went into this book expecting a kind of traditional fairytale where one character has to save the other, they try to defeat the villain, and they also fall in love along the way. And it didn’t disappoint.

While it did have flaws, I had fun with it.
Our characters are forced into marriage to avoid a war, so obviously they hate each other. When the MMC turns into a horse on their wedding night, they are also forced to work together to break the spell.

The first half was a bit more enjoyable than the second one.

I would’ve liked the FMC to be a bit more bad ass, considering this is the impression I got at the beginning. The MMC was her opposite: non-violent and a bookworm. He was adorable.
The plot had a good flow; it didn’t have a lot of situations that sidetracked them from the story.
They had the chance to get to know each other better and get closer, while also struggling with their own personal issues.
I think I would’ve really liked Aric’s POV, not just Bianca’s because her inner thoughts made the writing a bit repetitive. I can understand what she struggled with, but repeating it all the time became boring at a certain point. And it might’ve helped with convincing us better about their relationship. It seemed mostly based on lust.

While there were things left under developed (the world and the magic system), unresolved (a confrontation with Bianca’s parents, who plotted everything and were left unpunished) and things that I don’t think were handled well (Bianca’s apothecary’s reveal at the end and how she handled it, basically brushing over it), it was entertaining.
Go into it for a good time, but expect plot holes and unresolved issues.

This book was an expected delight! From the blurb I was expecting something reminiscent of a fairy-tale retelling, but actually this book was surprisingly unique and I loved it. World building was good, characters were brilliantly fleshed out, and the drama was high. The romance felt natural, and I really enjoyed the magic. I'll definitely be looking out for more from this author!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

This was a fast paced, easy and fun fantasy read with romcom moments, but also had a solid fantasy plot with twists that kept me hooked.

Fans of My Lady Jane will love this as there’s some big similarities between MLJ and this book! This book is definitely an adult fantasy though as there are a couple of spicy scenes.

I loved the representation of queer normative characters and chronic illness in this book. I loved the author’s note about their own experience with Celiac Disease and how this motivated them to write a fantasy character that deals with the same issues.

This book has 2 of my all time favourite tropes - marriage of convenience and only one bed! And they were done really well.

Bianca and Aric are both great characters, and their relationship development felt like mutual healing. Both have been made to feel worthless by their parents, and watching them work through their insecurities together was heartwarming. Their connection felt inevitable and real, and their journey toward overcoming their personal struggles was lovely to read. I just know people will love Aric as he’s a slightly grumpy cinnamon roll MMC who loves books and flushes A LOT!

We follow Bianca, she travels to the neighbouring kingdom to marry the prince, on their wedding day an assassination attempt leaves Aric turning into a horse and together they flee for safety- beginning the story of slow-burn romance.

To me this book reads less romantasy and more a romcom, I think it would be enjoyed by people who don’t like fantasy much.

Likes:
The book is well written, easy to read and engaging. It’s a simple plot but the unique aspect of character turning into a horse made the story enjoyable and fun.

The story has great chronic illness representation, we see Bianca suffering with a sickness which is incorporated into the story in an important and fluid way- later on in the book we find out something about her sickness which I thought sullied rep. Nevertheless, it was still quality rep.

The characters have likeable personalities, Aric follows the trope of a grumpy character, initially their relationship starts rocky as they were forced into the marriage and experience a miscommunication trope.
Throughout the book the characters have natural banter and funny interactions. I mean, turning into a horse must have some funny moments.

I loved the little creatures of this world at the beginning, we see a creature on the boat and in the forest which were very cute moments and I wish we experienced more.

Dislikes:
It’s a very weak fantasy plot, the politics are lacklustre(I wish the world and politics of both countries and their magic were expanded more) and the plot only felt important during first and last portion of the book.

We spend too much time travelling whilst they’re on the run and it lost my interest, it felt like multiple things were repeated during this time causing the story to feel stale. We did have some fun moments during this time though, but to me it felt like their travelling journey was just a bonding vacation between them and It didn’t feel like stakes were high enough for someone being the princes assassin.

The book loves its one bed trope. I felt like it was overused, it was funny occasionally but got boring.

——

3.5 star, I had fun and enjoyed my time but it was an average experience for me. It’s a great debut novel and I think people into more romance will enjoy it more.

Conceptually I think there's a lot to like about this. Accidental magic that turns the prince into a horse. Two countries with very opposing views and infrastructure around magic. Political intrigue. Lots of fun staples of romance tropes such as only one bed and misunderstandings and arranged marriage. Also I fricken love magic horses.

Ultimately I think the execution was just serviceable, the romance was fine and the prose unmemorable.

It’s taken me a couple days to write this review as I’ve been so sad to have finished it and I’m really missing the characters and being in that world. I really hope there will be a sequel so I can be reunited with them all. We follow Bianca who agrees to marry the neighbouring kingdom’s heir Prince Aric, but not out of love but out of duty to her country and parents. I really connected to Bianca, she has a chronic illness and having multiple chronic illnesses myself, I could really relate to how she felt and the judgements she experienced. It broke me seeing how her parents spoke to her, which in turn affected how Bianca viewed herself and how she assumed everyone must view her the same way. Bianca is so much stronger than she has been made to believe. I’m so thankful Prince Aric helped her see the truth. There is humour and banter and i really got attached to the characters and their journey. Aric turning into a horse on their Wedding Night following an assassination attempt wasn’t how they expected the night to go but honestly I’m glad. It gave them time to get to know each other and build their trust with each other.
Loved it so much. I can’t wait for everyone to read it. I want to be back with these characters already

PLEASE BRING MORE FROM THIS AUTHOR AND THIS WORLD

"Behooved" is a fun and breezy read that hits the mark if you're in the mood for something light. I really enjoyed how smooth it was to read, and the connection between Arin and Bianca totally stole the show—they brought a nice mix of humor and warmth to the story.

Sure, the plot is pretty predictable and doesn't get too deep, but that's exactly what you want from a book like this. It delivers exactly what I was expecting: a well paced, enjoyable escape without any heavy drama. All in all, a good pick for a laid-back read

When the heir apparent of Gildenheim, Price Aric, threatens war, Bianca of Damaria agrees to travel to his kingdom and forge an alliance through marriage. But despite having pushed for the wedding, Aric appears to hate Bianca on sight. When an assassination attempt on their wedding night goes wrong and Prince Aric is magically turned into a horse, Bianca and her new husband – man by day and horse by night – find themselves reluctant allies on a quest to break the curse and save Aric’s throne.

I had the BEST time with this. It was so fun, engaging and fast-paced – I flew through it in half a day.

Behooved takes a classic storyline – arranged marriage to secure a political alliance that’s not quite as it seems thanks to threats to the crown – and puts a new spin on it: a man turned into a horse. While arguably a bit ridiculous, the horse girl in me loved it and not *just* because of the horse element.

I really enjoyed the development of both the storyline and the relationship between Bianca and Aric. The growth of their relationship from distrust and miscommunication to understanding and support was well done and paralelled the physical journey they went on to get answers. The further they travelled, the further their relationship progressed, with some funny moments along the way.

There was so much to love about this book:
- The representation of Bianca’s condition/illness
- The queernormativity of the world
- A fun, engaging storyline
- The development of solid communication and a strong relationship
- Some hilarious moments with Aric in his horse form.

I cannot recommend this enough to those of you looking for a fun, fast-paced and cosy fantasy romance with a husband-turned horse.

Thank you to Hodderscape via Netgalley for the opportunity to read ahead of publication in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thanks the publisher and NetGalley for providing me an ARC of "Behooved" by M.Stevenson.

2,5⭐️

I didn't have a lot of expectations for this book; the summary sounded fun, reminding me of " The Swan Princess," even though here it's the prince who turns into a horse. I was really surprised by the beginning; while I thought the writing lacked descriptions and depth, I found myself very invested in the story. The first 145 pages (40%) were very good: fast-paced but with a strong foundation of world-building. Despite the seriousness of the story (arranged marriage), there were fun moments (I laughed a lot). And then... I don't know what happened; maybe I had expectations, and that's why I was so disappointed with how the story evolved.

One of my biggest problems is the target audience of the book; it's written as if it reads like a YA, but it's not. The MCs are 26 and 28 years old, yet they acted like horny teenagers to me. There is a lot of emphasis on physical appearances and attractions. I wasn't expecting any spicy scenes, and while they weren't very detailed, it was so cringe-worthy... I am not a big fan of spice, but that doesn't mean it can't be well written; however, here... I almost died from embarrassment.

The romance lacked feelings, emotions, and a real bond between the characters. It was flat; I felt like they just liked each other because they appreciated how they looked . The focus was too much on fleshly desire. When I am told a book is a slow burn, I am expecting yearning, longing, and not sex scenes at not even 50% of the book. I gave up on a swooning romance when Bianca said to Aric (not even halfway through the book): "I always wanted you," because at the beginning, she said again and again that she despised him. It's an arranged marriage; they spoke once before marrying, so explain to me how she could want Aric from the moment she laid her eyes on him . This is not romantic feeling, but physical attraction.

Bianca was fine at the beginning; the representation of her chronic illness is good , but it doesn't make for a strong FMC. For someone 26 years old, she thinks like a 16-year-old and is too focused on the feelings of Aric's body against hers . Also, she is badass, and it's the kind of FMC I like the least because strength isn't just about how you wield a sword. It's a shame because I really liked her background and her relationship with her family. On the other hand, I liked Aric a lot. He is kind, compassionate, passionate, and funny (even though he is described as cold and aloof in the summary). I loved his way of thinking, and it's a real change from all the love interests you can find in romantasy.

As for the plot , it was somewhat predictable. I wasn't surprised at all, and since I had enough of Bianca, I just wanted it to end soon.

It's the first book by M. Stevenson, and while it wasn't for me, I think it will be enjoyable for people who like romantasy and want light reading. There were good ideas, but it lacked enough depth and investment on my part to really love it (plus the cringe sex scenes).

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Summary:
Behooved is a cozy fantasy filled with magical mishaps, political intrigue, and a slow-burn romance. The story follows Bianca, who is sent to a neighboring kingdom to marry its new king and secure peace between their lands. However, their wedding night takes a disastrous turn when an assassination attempt leads to a spell gone awry—transforming her new husband, Aric, into a horse.

Forced to travel across the kingdom in search of a cure, Bianca and Aric embark on a journey filled with danger, discovery, and unexpected companionship. As they work together to unravel the mystery behind the attack, their relationship gradually deepens, leading to a beautifully developed romance.

What I Loved:
✨ A Heartfelt and Natural Romance – The relationship between Bianca and Aric unfolds in a way that feels organic and deeply rewarding. Their slow-burn dynamic is full of trust-building moments, mutual appreciation, and sweet, heartfelt interactions.

✨ A Unique Blend of Magic and Political Intrigue – The story weaves together fantastical elements with courtly drama, keeping the stakes high and the plot engaging. The balance between magic, mystery, and character growth kept me fully invested.

✨ Meaningful Themes and Representation – I really appreciated the inclusion of both bisexual and chronic illness representation. Additionally, the book explores themes of self-worth, challenging the idea that perceived flaws equate to weakness.

What Could Be Improved:
📖 Humour Could Have Been More Playful – Given the premise, I was hoping for a bit more tongue-in-cheek humour. While the story is charming, leaning further into its comedic potential could have made it even more delightful.

📖 The Pacing May Not Suit Everyone – While I personally enjoyed the steady progression of the romance and character development, readers looking for fast-paced action might find some sections a bit slow.

Overall Thoughts:
Behooved is a charming, lighthearted fantasy with a lovely romance, engaging world-building, and meaningful themes. It balances adventure, political intrigue, and emotional depth while keeping the story cozy and comforting. I just wish it had leaned slightly more into its humour! That said, I’m definitely looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.

⭐ Final Rating: 4/5 Stars

I think a fun time can be had with this book in which a prince suddenly turns into a horse on his wedding night, but only if you're really along for the ride (ha!) and turn your brain off a little while reading. Otherwise this will be a frustrating read, and I'm speaking from experience. I know it's a weird thing to say about a fantasy book that shouldn't be taken too seriously, but there is no logic to be found here. Bianca is married off to the neighboring kingdom so war may be avoided. Her parents kinda hate her, but she is an ever-dutiful daughter who wants to protect her country and quickly accepts her fate. Even though her betrothed is rumored to be a murderer. Their first meeting is cold, and their wedding night would have been too, if Prince Aric hadn't suddenly turned into a horse during an assassination attempt. They gallop away into the night and the rest of the book is about them trying to figure out what the hell just happened. Me too, because there is so much I didn't understand:

- Bianca heard the rumors about her future husband and knew this wouldn't be a union of love, but she still is so very offended by literally everything he does. Like, he asks her to join him for breakfast via letter, and she simply cannot believe he wouldn't come and ask her that in person. Girl, he is the ruler of this kingdom?
- Bianca brings a dagger to her first meeting with Aric when there's literally a war at stake?
- And is it really enough to only send one woman and her staff to a foreign kingdom to ensure an alliance?
- Aric thinks that Bianca sent the assassin although she was in danger too. Honestly, they belong together if they misunderstand each other on purpose every time.
- The way they were trying to figure out who actually sent the assassin when there was a great total of like 3 characters introduced by name, and only one who would benefit from Aric's death.
- The world building doesn't go beyond: There's this country where magic is strictly regulated and that country where magic roams freely, and they better don't make war.
- Speaking of the magic: Everyone with magic potential has to be trained for NINE years, so that they are not a danger to the public. But Bianca's sister can do what she wants, just because, I guess?
- Said sister gave Bianca a spell that she might use when she's in danger. It's a spell that turns an attacker into a horse. It turns an attacker into a horse while they still have full conscience, giving them a super heavy body with which they may kick or trample Bianca to death even better. Wouldn't it be smarter to turn them into a guinea pig or something?

The list goes on, but I think that these are enough examples to illustrate my frustration with this book. The romance gave nothing either. Let me tell you how their relationship developed:

Step 1: Miscommunication
Step 2: Banter
Step 3: Love

Mind you, it's been like 5 days. And don't forget the never-ending traveling during step 2 where every inn along the way had of course only one bed. You know, the bed where the spice can happen. The entire book reads like YA, but of course it's actually not, we have to check off the popular tropes.

Take my review with a grain of salt, this book was clearly not for me. There were some things I liked, like the chronic illness representation or the way how gender didn't matter in this world, but that's really not enough to sing praises for this book.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Hodderscape for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

4.75⭐. Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC.

I'll just first preface that Behooved is silly, whimsical, and definitely focuses more on the romance than the fantasy worldbuilding. The mystery and the main antagonist aren't really that deep or multidimensional respectively. I needed to be sold on the romance first and foremost above everything else for me to like to this book.

Fortunately, it hits all the necessary checkboxes on what I'd like out of fantasy romances: a relationship that takes well-enough time for the couple to organically fall in love, an attraction borne out of appreciation for the other's virtues & respect for each other rather than OH NO THEY'RE HOT, appropriate stakes that it doesn't feel jarring when the couple starts having sex in the midst of it all, and none of that weird bioessentialism. Oh, and bi4bi protagonists!

After a rocky start where tempers flew between the royal newlyweds Bianca & Aric, once they realize they were both unwitting pawns of a greater scheme and that the other wasn't as awful as they expected, they quickly settled in a likeable civility with each other. Aric even apologized for his rudeness towards her. Even though he was misled into having a less than flattering preconception of Bianca's character and so his initial frostiness was understandable, he still didn't excuse himself for his poor treatment. After which, he really bloomed into such a charming love interest for our heroine. I have little patience for bickering between love interests that are meant to pass off as ~sexual tension~ but aren't that necessary when you really think about it.

I love that they actually took the time to get to REALLY know each other, making up for the lack of courting they never got to do before their rushed arranged marriage. They learnt about each other's passions, and most poignantly, their respective insecurities as children of royals. One of the tropes I tend to find frustrating in multiple fantasy romances is at least one-half of the couple insisting on keeping secrets from the other. In Behooved, Bianca is hesitant of confiding in Aric about her chronic illness due to being taught her whole life to keep her "weakness" to herself lest she be exploited by others. But Aric finds out about it soon enough since she can't exactly hide it completely while both are on the run, and he is just freaking observant of his wife. And once that Secret is out of the way, it makes their relationship all the more stronger. Aric is tender and attentive to Bianca's needs, and even validates her when she berates herself for being too ill.

No but I ADORE how both of them grew to believe in each other when they themselves did not. Bianca sees Aric's gentle heart, love for books and respect for the environment as important traits to becoming a good ruler. Aric sees Bianca's selflessness and compassion to protect others at her own expense as traits that make her strong. And for the first time, the parts of themselves that they have always felt ashamed of were validated by someone else. Is it any wonder that they fell in love? ♡ I didn't even mind the Only One Bed trope being used here, because I do find it more interesting when it's a married couple feeling self-conscious about it, which is something even a little bit subversive.

(Perhaps my only teeny tiny nitpick about their romance is when they confess their love for each other, there's that line of mutual "I wanted you from the moment I saw you", which ... looking back, I don't buy because there was a lot of apprehension from both of them towards this arranged marriage. And I didn't get Love At First Sight vibes.)

The disability representation we got in Bianca was written sensitively and wholesomely, which isn't too surprising given how the author M.Stevenson also has celiac disease. I love that Bianca is the more "active" of the couple; she enjoys fencing and is more trained in weaponry as opposed to Aric. One thing I also appreciated was that she's not portrayed as some kind of "Super Disabled Person". That her chronic illness is something she can just Overcome If She Puts Her Mind Into It. The story doesn't imply that all she needs is to do is try hard enough, or push herself enough. Bianca experiences flares at inconvenient timings; it's not something she can control. She doesn't get cured, and all she can do is manage her symptoms. There's a respect for Bianca's body and condition with her receiving support in the form of accommodations in mind to help her cope.

The side characters don't exactly get as much development since the story largely focuses on Bianca & Aric, but I do find them charming enough. Particularly Bianca's lesbian twin Tatiana, and Aric's righthand woman Marya. Spin-off, anyone? The queernormativity is a delight. I would've preferred an extended ending where Bianca confronts her parents for the mess they put her in (as well as their shitty parenting), but it's not a huge deal that we didn't get it.