This was an interesting concept, but I don’t think it was executed super well. Being set in Scotland made the concept of a man being revered for being thin feel extra unbelievable. The first 75% of the book didn’t really seem to have much importance in terms of the actual plot, it was a ton of world building more than anything for a very simple world. The love story was sweet, it’s always nice to see someone want the good guy. The eating disorder recovery felt particularly unbelievable as well.

Prince Fierre is screwed six ways till Sunday. 4/6 of them are legit 🍆🍆🍆- but not the sexy kind. It’s the, oh-my-god-this-ish-is-gross kind. 😩

I love when political fantasy x romance… but this reads like an A03 fanfic that probably should have stayed buried. 🫣

In my family, food is a love language, but I know it’s important to see the other side of the food relationship spectrum. That being said, I just couldn’t believe this level of nonsense religion. The reasoning felt flippant and underdeveloped.

HEA, yes- but it was a dialogue-heavy struggle bus (and a lot of 🍆🍆🍆🍆 get in the way) to get there.

I appreciate this ARC via Netgalley, (even though it was not the escapism I was hoping for).

This is an honestly fantastic debut queer romance novel. It's booked as "romantasy" because it's in a fantasy setting and it's a romance, but it's a lot more than that. This focuses on a prince and his aide as the prince gets ready to ascend the throne, and all the fun politics therein, but also focuses on eating disorders (not something you see a lot for queer men) and what happens when those you think have only the best in mind for you maybe don't. This does go in for the happily ever after, and honestly, by the end of the book it's more than earned. Pick this up when it comes out this winter, and you'll have an amazing time.

The Two Hungers of Prince Fierre is Darcy Ash’s debut historical romantasy following a prince in unknowing crisis. Prince Fierre has just stepped into the mantle of the crown prince and must bear the weight of his birthright and all the claims it demands of his body. When he starts suffering from a mysterious illness, can he find a cure while also dealing with his secret attraction to his best friend and right-hand-man Aiven as well as all the noblemen vying for his attention and power?

I felt like this was a very misguided book. I have no idea who this book is for or who the ideal readership audience is who will actually appreciate it. The prose and writing itself is perfectly fine, but the story is what is raising eyebrows for me. There’s barely a plot and just a bunch of events or occurrences that happen to run together enough to make a storyline. Its subjectmatter is too heavy to be cute or cozy, and while queer with a HEA, it doesn’t particularly deliver queer joy.

I had no idea how literal the title actually is. It talks about the two things Fierre hingers for—Aiven and food. Because in his kingdom slenderness is beauty and beauty is divine, he as the prince is expected to be the personification of divinity where he must have the slim and frail figure to embody his nobility. Thus, Fierre suffers from disordered eating (which is largely the focus of the book) where he barely eats anything and purges himself to maintain his figure with the encouragement of his father and physician. While the book does not glorify this, I don’t think it handles it as deftly as it should have given how easy it was to get Fierre to see the error of this way of thinking and change. Yes, there is an in-book logic behind this distorted idea of divinity and the disordered eating, but the quick resolution does not match the gravity of the situation.

So there’s already this heavy focus on disordered eating, but the book also chooses to add on top of that the idea that as prince he must use his body as a reward to be given to noblemen he favors or needs favors from. With this mindset, the powerful lairds demand use of his body which while I don’t this it crosses the line to sexual assualt in the book, it may touch that line for some readers. And of course, Prince Fierre is someone who wants to be dominated in bed so that adds another conflict in himself. Then tacked on is the misogyny and their society’s treatment of women that goes completely unexplored but is also somehow resolved with the quick signing of a document at the end. The book should have stuck to the one issue (disordered eating) and gone without the others it could not take on adequately.

I did actually like the romance between Fierre and Aiven. These are two men pining for each other in silence while in close proximity, separated by station as noble and peasant. Not much development happens though as most of it occurs before the events of the book, and this was just the final culmination. Because this is a historical MM romantasy, it is being compared to Freya Marske’s A Marvellous Light anf Foz Meadow’s A Strange and Stubborn Endurance (both 5-star reads for me), but I don’t really think that’s a fair comparison. This book is only a fantasy romance in the sense that it has a romance set in a historical but fictional (and non-magical) quasi-Scottish island.

Like the titular character, The Two Hungers of Prince Fierre has issues I’m not sure it adequately surmounts. I liked it well enough but can’t really recommend it.

*Thank you to Solaris for the eARC via NetGalley

DNF. I couldn't for the life of me get the motivation to finish this book. It started with high hopes, but the pacing, the dialogue got me off rithm and the characters couldn't bring me back to finish it.

This is a fantasy MM romance told in alternating first person POV. The setting is a secondary world inspired by medieval Scotland. The story is engaging and hums along nicely without getting bogged down in exposition or worldbuilding, which is no mean feat for a fictional world. Fierre is expected to be a physical representation of the divine, and for this culture that means an ethereal waifishness attained through starvation. His body doesn’t truly belong to him, and this manifests not just in the starvation but also the expectation that he be sexually available to the nobles.

There’s a bit to unpack here, and I think I see what the author is aiming for - his father’s criticisms of his appearance and the expectations of his role makes Fierre feel like his body doesn’t really belong to him. It has become something to be wrangled into submission, and these unsafe encounters with the lords connect him with physical sensations he’s otherwise detached from. In all the story was entertaining, with great character growth and an emotionally satisfying ending.

The fantasy realm this story takes place in values waifishness in their royalty, so it's no surprise that Prince Fierre has serious disordered eating. Heed the TWs on this one.

Newly annointed Prince Fierre surprises his lairds by naming his best friend (and farmers' son), Aivan, as his second in command. As Aivan and Fierre uncover plots and work to better the lives of the laborors over the elites, they also admit their love for one another.

I really enjoyed the unwavering trust and commitment they had for each other, right from the start. There was no 3rd act breakup, no misunderstanding due to lack of communication, which I really appreciated. And Aivan's "touch him and die" instincts, while also trusting Fierre completely was endearing, making him by far my favorite character.

I could see this debut novel becoming a series.

I received this ARC from @netgalley and publisher @solarisbooks. The opinions are my own.

The Two Hungers of Prince Fierre will be released on January 30, 2025.

I could not for the life of me get the worldbuilding to make sense. Fierre seems to be a more or less absolute monarch -- okay, but somehow all the "lairds" (we're in a quasi-Scotland? ish? situation?) also have the right to use his body, that is, to rape him. And he has to choose among these lairds for his cabinet, but for some reason he can also choose his one real friend, the son of a farmer, to be his chief advisor. As the ruler, Fierre is for some mystical reason supposed to be perfectly beautiful, which is to say anorexically underweight, and he's either developed an eating disorder as a result, or an eating disorder is an overt part of the job description, but somehow when he faints from hunger at a state occasion everyone is baffled, it is a mystery, who could have predicted such a thing I ask you.

The country Fierre rules is called Eilean-òir. Every time it was mentioned I hung up on how to pronounce it. And please, for the love of all that's holy, a room at court /= "a courtroom."

Gorgeous cover, though.

DNF 30%

I wanted to love this. It's friends to lovers. It's royalty falling for bodyguard/advisor. It's queer. It's got mental health representation. It's got commentary about unrealistic body image.

I think it's mostly writing style. The dialog is clunky so then I'm not connecting with the characters.

I would be interested in future books because I believe this author could get better and better as time goes on.

I loved the premise but the execution was a bit flawed. The pacing is the biggest problem for me. It feels like I'm in a car that breaks and accelerates like crazy, no rhyme or reason. The characters needs a bit more body to them because they feel underdeveloped. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the chance to read this book.

I could see what the author was trying to do with some of the themes, but this book just really fell flat for me. A lot of the side characters felt one dimensional, and the pacing varied between too fast and too slow.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy!

THE TWO HUNGERS OF PRINCE FIERRE was such an unexpected win for me!
I think I mentioned in a review recently that I’ve found romantasy a bit hit-and-miss as a genre, and it’s been a while since I found one to really sink my teeth into. Another thing I was a little wary of was the setting. It’s a Scottish-inspired fantasy world and, as someone born and living in Scotland, 99% of time I’m really disappointed in (or cringe at) books set here. I didn't have that issue with THE TWO HUNGERS OF PRINCE FIERRE. It has a sort of vaguely medieval, Highlands vibe, blended with a queer normative world, that gives a gloss to the story without bogging down the character-focused story with heavy-worldbuilding.

The eating disorder aspect was the most fascinating part of the story for me, which was surprising, as I was almost as wary of that as the setting. The two compliment each other well though, as Fierre’s starving to prove himself godlike/worthy reminds me of some the medieval Scottish monarchs I remember studying, who were sainted after showing similar piety. So, personally, I really liked the way the plot and the world tied together. I can’t speak to the accuracy of the eating disorder representation, but I do recommend being aware of the various warnings going in. To me, the body dysmorphia etc all felt well portrayed and relatable. I would have like Fierre’s journey towards recovery to have been explored more fully/more slowly, but understood the need to match the arch of the main story.

The only real issue I had with THE TWO HUNGERS OF PRINCE FIERRE was the “mystery illness” mentioned in the synopsis. It’s obvious to the reader, if not the characters, pretty quickly, that the dizziness and other symptoms are a result of undereating. I would have really liked if there had been another thread to follow, with a little more intrigue and maybe a red herring or two, so that I could wonder, as the characters did, what was causing Fierre’s weakness.

Overall, THE TWO HUNGERS OF PRINCE FIERRE was brilliant read and completely unique. It really hooked and completely held my attention, and never felt 'dark' despite the heavy issues it tackles. The characters are really likable, and I loved seeing some themes around eating disorders and sexuality in men which I don’t think I’ve seen explored in fantasy before.

I really enjoyed this! It's a quiet novel, and I mean that in a good way. It's not really an action packed novel, it's really a book that focuses on the relationship and the characters. I think given the subject matter of ED/diet culture that was the right choice. It really lets you into the head of Fierre. His and Aiven's relationship was just so cute and swoon worthy. Honestly it had the right amount of jealousy and pining in the background, as well as a subplot about Fierre learning about his kingdom and how to improve the conditions of his people. It feels like a warm story. I think people will fall in love with this. I definitely want to read more from this author. I love when you can really tell an author cares deeply about the story they're telling.

3 stars
I enjoyed the romance between the two MC's, it was sweet and the writing was good which helped the story flow. I just wouldn't want to give this more than a 3 at the moment despite the cute moments.

**I received an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.**

Darcy Ash debuts with The Two Hungers of Prince Fierre, a novel marketed as a queer romantasy. Readers follow Fierre as he comes into his role as Prince Regent in a Scottish-inspired land where rulers are expected to be slim and also to bestow their bodies upon the nobility as a sign of favor. The secondary perspective is Aiven, a farmer's son elevated from his station by his friendship with the prince. Aiven recognizes the problems with the demands on Fierre's health and with the demands of the nobility on the working class.

The author includes a content warning at the beginning of the book. It is meant. Please take care of yourself when reading.

The publishers, I think, have done this book a disservice by marketing it as romantasy. Romantasy is the current buzzword, but that's horribly unfair as this is absolutely a dark fantasy romance. The driving factors of this book are a societally driven battle with an eating disorder that threatens the life of our main character. The scenes surrounding this illness are graphic and the little nagging negative thoughts pervade throughout the body of the text. Combined with multiple instances of extreme dubious consent sexual content to include non-negotiated object penetration and societal pressures to use one's body as a bargaining tool to secure alliances... well. This does not a cozy, hopeful romantasy make. I would not even argue that the romance is the core of the story. The story is Fierre learning to value himself.

I was buying into the story for a majority of this time. The content, while difficult, was well written. I was bordering 4 stars. But then the last third to quarter of the book happened. Fierre's transition to believing his eating habits are problematic is nearly instantaneous. His healing is completely tied up in his budding relationship. The depiction of the problems was reasonable. The depiction of the resolution was rushed to end the story and, as a result, did not have the proper care or time given for such a topic.

I would hesitate to recommend this one broadly since I feel pretty negatively about how Fierre's healing was handled combined with the graphic quality of his suffering. If there was someone who was aware of the content going in, I will say that Darcy Ash has great potential as a writer. I hope to tune in for the next one where, I hope, pacing has been a bit more sorted.

This book really bummed me out. Content warnings for disordered eating, sexual assault, and body and sexual history shaming.

I understand the author was trying to make a thematic point about society making your body not your own in controlling your size and sex life, but I don't think the assaults and disordered eating were the way to go about this in a seemingly lighthearted, relatively short book. To be fair, I did go into this book knowing the content warnings, but I don't think sufficient care and gravity were given. For example, I personally believe that there needs to be a compelling reason for a sexual assault to be depicted in a scene in a book or other media rather than being mentioned or referenced retrospectively. I had a hard time seeing why these scenes were necessary, especially with the details provided. I don't think the author intended to do this, but it felt like these scenes were trauma just to elicit an emotional response from the reader to associate as a connection to the character that otherwise would result from deeper characterization and storytelling.

The writing style itself is unobjectionable, especially for a debut, but the world building was weak. I don't typically expect intricate worlds for short fantasy romance books, but I feel it was necessary to justify the really tough scenes the reader was being put through. If you take the assault and ED scenes out of the book, you're not left with much. Moreover, the resolution of the conflicts of the book (the content warning topics) felt really flimsy. Again, if you're going to utilize these heavy topics as conflicts, more time and care are needed for their resolutions, in my opinion. At the end, I didn't feel uplifted or satisfied with the ending; it was just a sad tale with seemingly no point to the suffering of the prince MMC.

The main characters were also not well fleshed out, and the only connection I had with the prince MMC was pity that seemed really obligatory with what the character was being put through. The other MMC was just nice, and that's really all I can say. That's not to say I'm disappointed in the second MMC being nice and kind to the prince MMC, who is being put through so much, but 'nice' is not a distinguishing characterization. Their relationship isn't instalove, but the development of their friendship is off page before the book starts.

As far as what ought to be done to better this book before publication, I suppose choosing one of the content warning topics and removing the others to give more time and attention to that singular heavy topic. Or, if all of these pieces are needed to tell this story, a longer book with more development to suitably address these issues.

Thank you, Solaris, for the arc!

Darcy Ash’s “The Two Hungers of Prince Fierre” is an enthralling and emotionally charged fantasy novel that takes you on a thrilling adventure through the political and personal struggles of its protagonist, Prince Fierre. Set in a vividly imagined world, Ash masterfully weaves intricate world-building with deep character exploration, creating a story that feels both intimate and epic.

The title itself hints at the central conflict: Prince Fierre is torn between two opposing desires, or “hungers.” One is the hunger for power and control in a world filled with political intrigue, and the other is a deeper, more primal hunger for personal connection and meaning, especially in his relationships with those closest to him. Ash skillfully navigates these dual conflicts, making Prince Fierre a complex and relatable character.

What I loved most about this book was its depth. Prince Fierre is no typical brooding prince figure—he’s layered, human, and struggles with both external expectations and internal desires. The relationships in the novel, particularly with Fierre’s family and his love interests, add an emotional richness that makes the stakes feel very real. You’re not just reading about kingdoms at war; you’re reading about people torn between duty and their own inner needs.

The world-building is another standout feature. Ash doesn’t just present a fantastical setting for the sake of it; the politics, cultures, and social structures are all intricately connected to the characters’ personal journeys. The pacing is steady, with enough twists and turns to keep you engaged, but it never rushes through the emotional beats that give the story its heart.

That said, there are a few moments where the plot slows down a bit, particularly in the middle of the book. Some of the political machinations feel a bit repetitive, and the story does lean into some familiar fantasy tropes. But these are minor flaws in what is otherwise a well-crafted and immersive read.

Overall, “The Two Hungers of Prince Fierre” is an impressive debut that will appeal to fans of character-driven fantasy with plenty of emotional depth. If you’re a fan of novels where the stakes are high, but the emotional stakes are even higher, this one’s definitely worth checking out.

I really wanted to like this and at first I did find it compulsively readable, but I DNF’d at 55% because I just grew tired of the relentless angst.

This book felt like fanfiction to me. The writing was great but the characters lacked any sort of depth or backstory for me. It felt like the king of whumpy angst story I’d seek out for established characters, and I think if it WAS fanfiction for characters I loved, I would have enjoyed it a lot more. But as it was, the characters and plot lacked enough substance to keep me engaged even if the writing quality on a word basis was good.

Well, I'm a bit disappointed.
I requested this from Netgalley because it sounded very, very unusual and the premise sounded pretty cool; but yeah, maybe I underestimated how much disordered eating on page could have an effect on me (yep, that's one of my only triggers; I usually DON'T mind it, especially if the ED rep is well-done, but sometimes it makes me feel rubbish about myself and I have to give into the urge to skim). Also, I'm pretty sure I wasn't precisely in the mood for fantasy, especially of the complex variety, and I should have listened to myself. Oh well.

There were a couple of very positive things: I loved the dynamic between the two MCs, and I really liked both Fierre and Aiven as MCs. Their slow-burn relationship was my favourite thing of the novel: I decided to read through to the end (okay, yes; I also skimmed a lot) just because I needed to see them reach their HEA.
On the other hand, the world-building and the whole complex, political landscape left me VERY very confused. Again, maybe it was my brain's fault; maybe it was just a smidge too messy for my liking.

And yeah. Like I said; I enjoyed bits of this novel, and I'd definitely recommend it if you're looking for a queer high fantasy romance (and unlike me, if you have the bandwidth for a complicated, and quite fascinating in some ways, world-building); especially considering it's a debut.

All in all, definitely not for me, but who knows, I'm sure there are readers out there that will love it more than me.

TWs/CWs: eating disorder (starvation, induced vomiting), body shaming (internalized and by others), abusive parent, sexual assault and aggressive language, sex used as a means of self-harm, violence, slut-shaming.

Many thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

Prince Fierre has to look like a delicate, other-worldly creature to be good enough to be this books version of effectively a king. This sums up 90% of this book.

I don’t think this book was for me. I didn’t particularly enjoy the portrayal of an eating disorder, and I don’t think it approached it with enough nuance to be meaningful.

Other people tell Fierre to starve himself and he believes them blindly. He’s mysteriously ill and only seems to be getting worse. And when someone tells him to stop starving himself, he’s magically mostly fine. This drove me up a wall and I couldn’t get past it.