S.E. Wendel delivers another fabulous entry to her Monstrous World Series!

This time we have a cozy, intimate romance that sees two lonely souls find comfort and home with one another. Protagonists Molly (love her name!) and Allarion are brought into a marriage of convenience and from it blossom into a partnership of equal measure. They open their hearts to learning more of each other, and in turn of themselves, they find ways to beautifully challenge each other, they build a marvelous foundation of friendship, and from it all, they brew a soft, sweet love which completes them fully.

I continue to admire immensely in S.E. Wendel’s writing her care in developing plot and world-building. We come for the romance, and we stay for it and because the world is so inviting and magnificent. I especially love the magic system in this one. It felt so unique and intricate whilst still being wholly accessible and engaging. And then there’s the House! What a lively character in more ways than one! That facet of the story brought such vibrancy into the narrative, I loved it to bits!

I was instantly endeared by Allarion's approach to courting, because for as badly as he went about it, by being welcomed into his POV we see the innocence and purity of his thought process. He is so gentle and loving and desirous to see his home complete— with Molly by his side. It truly is so endearing even as I was laughing over how he created his own miscommunication by not approaching Molly first on all his intentions.

Molly is thrown for a loop when she feels purchased into marriage by Allarion, but I love how she gives him a chance when she recognizes he harbors no malice. And I especially loved how she becomes a teacher to him in the ways of her world— just as he becomes a teacher to her of his world left behind. They are a wonderful complement to one another. I would have liked more passion in their romance, it at times did not quite connect, but I still felt so endeared by both characters. It's easy to love them, it really is. The path of their romance is very refreshing to witness as well. Something else I greatly admire of Wendel's world-building is how she ensures each love story is its own, often times interconnected series will see couples go about their romance in similar manners, but here, each love story truly stands on its own. It makes the adjoining adventures all the more worthwhile to follow. I don't want to miss a single one!

This series remains one that brings such smart, clever plotting, intricate, immersive world-building, and endearing characters to root for; oh! and fabulous romances to swoon over!

Thank you to S.E. Wendel for this complimentary advanced copy, I leave this honest review voluntarily.