If you’ve been searching for a queer fantasy romance, look no further than A Taste of Gold and Iron. Not only is there a great balance between characters and magic, but also perfect for fans of body guard and royalty romance! Keep reading this book review for my full thoughts.
Summary
Kadou, the shy prince of Arasht, finds himself at odds with one of the most powerful ambassadors at court—the body-father of the queen’s new child—in an altercation which results in his humiliation.
To prove his loyalty to the queen, his sister, Kadou takes responsibility for the investigation of a break-in at one of their guilds, with the help of his newly appointed bodyguard, the coldly handsome Evemer, who seems to tolerate him at best. In Arasht, where princes can touch-taste precious metals with their fingers and myth runs side by side with history, counterfeiting is heresy, and the conspiracy they discover could cripple the kingdom’s financial standing and bring about its ruin.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
TW: panic attack
A Taste of Gold and Iron is one of those books that so expertly balances romance and fantasy. This genre mash up has fabulous magic – I love the idea of being able to touch taste metal – with an intriguing political set up. For those who love a good bit of politics and adventure in their fantasy worlds – this is for you! At the same time, A Taste of Gold and Iron is deeply character focused with a strong romance story line. From the beginning, I enjoyed Kadou’s character as he struggles to be more than what people expect of him. Even if he isn’t driven by power – like most around him – he deeply cares for those around him and answers.
At the same time, there’s almost a self-destructive streak within him. Gotta love that. I also adored Evemer and seeing both of their perspectives allows us to fall in love with them. To see the ways in which, as individual characters, they have to find their way to friendship. When they expose their cracks and doubts to each other amidst chases and danger. A Taste of Gold and Iron is a story about conspiracy, loyalty, and betrayal. While the magic is one of my favorite elements, it feels a bit like low fantasy – in that there’s not like always spells and magical bolts flying around.
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The strongest element has to be the characters – I’m a character kind of girl. And so as they have to realize that we have to see ourselves as worthy of love? That was heart wrenching. We love a good denying of feels and there’s a whole host of spoilery tropes that I loved. A Taste of Gold and Iron has action, mystery, and danger, but it’s also swoony entertaining fun. Find A Taste of Gold and Iron on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.