I don't think rapists should ever be the love interest, nor do I think that this book handled the topic with any sort of care.

This was a very interesting sounding novel and I had high hopes for it but I couldn't fully get into it due to the unexpected toxicity of the romance and some more triggering scenes in it. I'm aware that some people enjoy novels like that, so in that case I would recommend but if you are someone who does not enjoy that then keep it in mind.

This book made me a little uncomfortable at times and it was a little difficult to read in the way things were communicated across the page. I would definitely look into other reviews before deciding on picking this up.

I love love love the web comic of this and was so excited when they announced a light novel of it. This lived up to everything I wanted from it.

I anticipated liking this, as it has a huge fanbase. I liked the description and thought surely this would be at least a 3-star read, but it was not for me. The world-building was great, and I appreciated the stutter rep, After some browsing, I do think this works better as a webtoon/comic than a novel. I read the trigger warnings, but I do not like the way SA was depicted. The scenes were graphic, which is fine, but felt kind disturbing in this story in particular. The MC is very alpha-male abusive and the FMC acts helpless like a fragil. baby bird. I'm just not into that.

Well that was disappointing.
First off, thank you NetGalley for the eARC and I'm so sorry it't taken me this long to realize that this book is absolutely not for me.
At the very start of this book is a grape scene and I just can't. Yes I read the trigger warnings, but I wasn't prepared for what the book had in store. Sorry but I couldn't get through that scene and have zero interest in reading farther into this book.

Under the Oak Tree is an engaging romance set against a backdrop of medieval fantasy, featuring a compelling blend of slow-burn longing, political intrigue, and personal growth.

The world-building shines with its detailed settings and court dynamics, and the chemistry between the leads is both sweet and mature. At times, the pacing can feel a bit stretched, especially in scenes focused on daily life or Maxi’s inner struggles, but these moments also add depth to her character. The novel explores themes of trust, healing, and empowerment in a way that feels genuine and satisfying.

Under the Oak Tree is a satisfying start to the series; romantic, emotional, and immersive. It’s a great pick for fans of character-driven fantasy and slow-burn romances who enjoy seeing a heroine grow into her own.

I've read the webtoon and loved the storyline. But to be able to read the light novel felt pretty special. The novel felt like a new experience because I felt like I heard more of what Maxi was thinking and feeling. It was so sad to hear what she went through with her father. Things that are frustrating to me about this book would be the communication part.

Gorgeous book. The writing is sublime - I didn’t realize that this was based on a webnovel on MANTA. But I’m glad that I went in blind because the story and intrigue consumed me. I would compare our 2 leads to the Poppy/Cas relationship in FBAA. The banter is fire! Loved this book!

I could not stand the main characters thoughts in the book .. making it unbearable to read for me unfortunately .. I think a lot of people will enjoy this read but it is definitely not for me

This story is based on chapters 1-76 of the original webnovel by Suji Kim.

Trigger warning for on page physical and verbal abuse by a parent, the FMC father. With on page PTSD. Dubious consent, sex on wedding night.

Their was 11 chapters in total which meant at 496 pages, the chapters were long which I don't personally like. It felt slow sometimes but again I think that was due to the long chapters. But the story kept me reading and in the end I really liked the story, the characters and the direction it was going. Not alot really happened thinking back now but I am hoping that was due to needing to built up the world and the characters so that in Volume 2 the story can progress more.

Due to the abuse that Maxi suffered growing up it frustrated me that she would gain some confidence only to shrink back again and again. While it may be an accurate representation on what happens to someone that has been abused, I would of preferred to have seen more healing by the end of the book.

I have the graphic novel, which I will read at some point and I can't wait for the next volume

Cute story. I liked the animations better though. The plot was too slow. If someone wasnt familiar then they might also dislike it.

Thank you NetGalley and Inklore for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I admit I’ve never read the manhwa for this series, so I went into this completely unfamiliar with the material. The story is easy enough to follow and though I had no prior experience with the series I didn’t think there’d be any reinvention of the wheel here, so I wasn’t really looking for something totally unique. Romantasy—and romance more broadly—has always been a tricky genre for me to read, and I often prefer my romance to either be in the B or C plot or just implied. What can I say, I prefer crumbs! So I’m not too surprised that I spent a lot of time confused as to why I should care about Maxi and Riftan getting together, or why I should even bother to like Riftan. I’m all for unhealthy romances and relationships, I just found him to be dreadfully uninteresting and Maxi’s tendencies to be a doormat were hard for me to read, mostly because I found it annoying. I’m sure throughout the course of the series she grows as a character, but her constant stuttering mostly just managed to piss me off.

The magic and worldbuilding was interesting, but so much of this was just sex. Which is fine, there’s nothing wrong with a story with a lot of smut in it, especially if the smut doubles as character work, but I kind of felt like an unwilling bystander to rather uninteresting sex (I am personally not super into alpha dom man/blushing virgin woman, so that’s a matter of taste than any critique about the content itself). For whatever it’s worth, if rape between the main character in the love interest is a deal breaker for you, then there’s probably little this novel can do for you in terms of convincing you to give it a try otherwise. Since it’s fiction I am always interested in seeing how the author works past that, but honestly I just found this to be bland and annoying and I didn’t think anything interesting was happening. The vibes of the world were great and I quite liked Ruth, but ultimately the tropes being utilized here aren’t ones I typically enjoy. It didn’t help that I thought the first half of the novel felt much rougher than the second half, but who knows. Maybe I’ll try the manhwa.

Ultimately: I’m absolutely positive there’s an audience for this book. I am absolutely not that audience.

I was hoping that this book would fall more into modern fantasy tropes, but felt kind of disappointed by this story. Maxi was flat, and the romance felt very formulaic. I thought that the world building is what really stood out, which kept me reading until the end, and has me interested to read more as more volumes are published.

wow. I loved this! I don't think I would have bought this without a rec from a coworker. I cannot wait for the next volume to come out soon! I'm invested. <3
Loved the characters. This one just read like butter. I need the second one right now!

While the story is good, I was frequently annoyed with Maxi's inability to just say what she was thinking. While her background and life experience give some context for this, it often felt as if she was willing to speak up for herself with everyone except for Riftan. The story itself has enough intriguing aspects to make me read the next volume even though I'm hoping for more character growth and development.

I love this story so much. The relationship is so beautifully crafted and the story is well written and plays like a movie in my head. I adore it

OH MY HEART. Under the Oak Tree completely shattered me and healed me all at once!!!

This isn’t just a romantasy — it’s an emotional masterpiece wrapped in medieval magic, political tension, and a deeply personal journey of healing. I did not expect to be hit so hard emotionally, but WOW. Maxi’s story?? It wrecked me in the most beautiful way.

She’s such a soft, anxious soul who’s been silenced and controlled her whole life, and watching her start to reclaim her voice (literally and figuratively) had me sobbing. Her growth, her pain, her courage… it all felt so real. I just wanted to wrap her in a blanket and tell her she’s enough a thousand times.

The writing is so immersive and tender — it doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff. It honors Maxi’s trauma while also giving her the space to grow and find her strength. And the world?? The setting?? Gorgeous. It felt like reading a dark, emotional fairytale — only this time, the princess saves herself.

And YES, the romance is spicy and swoony, but what really got me was the emotional intimacy — the quiet moments, the longing, the healing through love and self-discovery. It’s beautiful and raw and deeply empowering.

I genuinely felt seen while reading this. Maxi’s journey made me cry more than once, and I’ll be thinking about her for a long time.

5/5 stars. 100/10 recommend.
This book is a warm hug and a good cry all rolled into one.

PS: Maxi is everything. Protect her at all costs.
PPS: Volume 2 can’t come fast enough.
PPPS: I’m emotionally unwell and loving it.

Go read it and prepare to FEEL.
Under the Oak Tree = pure magic, pure heart.

I want to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book! This book to me was just okay. I feel like the plot was a bit lacking, however I am so happy Maxi got away from her terrible father. I loved the representation of her stuttering disability. Starting out with the SA scene was a lot but there were warnings for it so I felt prepared. I definitely think Rifton was a good match for her after getting to know him more. At the beginning I was really nervous with the SA and how short his temper was, but I am glad he turned it around. I am not sure if I will be reading the second one just because I didn't feel a connection to any of the characters.

This is a must-read book I don't want to give any spoilers, but you won't regret getting this book, you won't put it down till you're done reading the whole this.