This was a quick romance - I ended up not finishing it, at about 60% I was no longer interested in the story.

This book has insta-love between the two main characters, which was bit disappointing since it is described as slow burn. There is definitely no slow burn. While the story ended up being cute I think there could have been something magical if there was the expected tension and yearning between the main couple that typically comes with slow burn romance.

I found myself unable to become emotionally attached to any of these characters which ultimately made the story somewhat forgettable.

As far as the audiobook version goes, I think the narrator did a great job, the audio was easy to follow and the narrators voice was pleasant to listen to.

The description compares this to Throne of Glass, but to me that is not accurate. I would say this is closer to a bridgerton-esque book. There is not really a “fantasy” aspect aside from it being in a kingdom that is not real.

While this wasn’t necessarily for me, it is definitely not a “bad” read - I just think the target audience is more YA and less romantasy.

Thank you NetGalley and Rising Action Publishing for the ARC.

"The Prince's Heart" by Ben Chalfin offers an interesting dive into a world where royal expectations meet personal desires. The premise caught my attention with Prince Darien grappling with his duty versus his own yearnings for genuine connection, especially as he encounters Tag Leara. However, the story unfolded with less complexity than I'd hoped. The relationship between Darien and Tag springs up a bit too quickly for my taste, leaning heavily into the 'insta-love' trope that doesn't leave much room for believable development.

The novel does well to establish a Queernorm setting, which I appreciated for its progressive stance, but the plot struggles with depth, particularly with the antagonist who comes off as one-dimensional and overly eager to reveal his schemes. The ease with which Darien overcomes challenges made the storyline somewhat predictable and less engaging.

Not the heart-stopping romance or the tightly spun tale of political intrigue I might have wished for. I hope the author keeps writing and tries for more complex storylines in the future.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.