Title: When a Princess Proposes
Author: Kerrelyn Sparks
Series: Embraced #6/Embraced by Magic #3
A pleasant if predictable romp in Earthlan
Thank you to Kerrelyn Sparks, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I could have sworn Sparks told me she was going to write about the children of the vampire series, not the Embraced series, but perhaps I misunderstood. Regardless, I’m very much okay with continuing in Earthlan. It was nice to see old favorites and hear they’re doing well. The vampire trend’s long since tired out, anyway.
I feel like Sparks should perhaps try to think of different antagonists than just more mustache-twirling, power-hungry evil men who hate the Embraced. Bram, though, was a wonderful antihero, struggling between the ingrained prejudice, his love for his siblings, and knowing instictively they were not in the right. It was really powerful when he tried to explain to Zane they were the bad guys. I was really hoping to see a scene at the end in which they went to bury Arlo but Zane, with his heat powers, somehow revived him. But alas, we received no closure on the boys in this installment.
Eviana was fun and full of life. Sparks managed to make her a spitfire without resorting to stubborn contrariness or snarkiness or other irritating attitudes. She was kind, she was intelligent, and she was sympathetic. Perhaps a bit cookie-cutter in personality, but a great character nonetheless.
Quentin was a great hero, but his character was a bit contradictory. He’d been in love with Evie for years (which a bit too convenient/lazy, denying us the falling-in-love process and inherent character development, but I’ll let it pass), he was surprised and excited when he got to be around her, but as soon as she started showing interest back, he built a brick wall and gave it a hard pass. I know he had inadequacy issues (pretty much a princess and the pauper love story), which is valid, but it just bothered me that in his mind he exalted her but in practice he wouldn’t even let himself be her friend. Got old pretty quick.
The last thing that bothered me was that the end and marriage and all was rather rushed. I understand the joke behind why the king and queen rushed it, but it still felt unnecessarily quick. It also bothered me that we didn’t have any follow-up with Erik, Evie’s twin brother, in regards to their adventure, her sudden relationship with Quentin, her marriage, and everything. Not so a much a loose end as just failure to thoroughly resolve.
Overall, aside from a few very minor issues, the characters were endearing and this was a lovely and entertaining adventure in Earthlan. I look forward to the next one! Shall it be Eric? Bram and Faith? Another pair?
