Book Review: Fierce Heart (Elven Alliance #1)

Fierce Heart

Tara Grayce

5/5

An arranged marriage where the two main characters are both reasonable and optimistic about their situation? I knew from the start that I'd love it. It feels like Grace Draven's Radiance- not so much of a copy but just of similar tropes. No ugly element here though, but the same kind of mutual understanding that built a solid relationship.

Essie's such a great character. She sees the possibility of war between elves and humans, a resurgence of a war that killed her father when she was very young. Instead of stepping aside and allowing her brother to deal with it, she offers herself in a strategic marriage that would unite the kingdoms. Her brother doesn't even support it really, she pushes it because she knows it's the right choice. There's a major culture shock, the elves and humans haven't really interacted so intimately in hundreds of years and she had no real idea what she was getting herself into. She dives right in though and refuses to be put down by the rigidity of the kingdom.

I think she's really a great character for me because she's so good at doing the rational right thing. No one's ever perfect, but protagonist sometimes make such painfully wrong decisions that it doesn't feel natural. Essie communicates her shortcomings and tries to fix them, she makes a great princess. Farrendel has had a lot more struggles in life than Essie has, his silence is a really great balance for her spirit. There's no implication that either of them has to change, they build on one another to make for a really strong and beautiful growing relationship.

I'm recommending this one strongly because I love tropes like this. The actual conflict is kind of weak here, it's mostly just great for the strength of the characters and their relationship together. There aren't any graphic scenes, the most the character's do is kiss and that's seen as a great concession in elf propriety which is kind of funny. I'd still label it as New Adult though because the character's are both early twenties? Difficult to pinpoint though with elf age. Endearing romance, quick read, and fantastic universe.