My favourite part of A Holy Maiden's Guide to Getting Kidnapped is the characters. The main characters aren't your stereotypical romantasy characters. The maiden is the dominatrix and the "dark lord" is a dark lord in title only, and is actually a complete goofball. The FMC, Ysabel, has a neurological condition called prosopagnosia, or face blindness, and it isn't just in there for a plot point, it's just something that effects her. There's great trans representation as well, with trans characters who don't feel like stereotypes.

One thing I need to point out though is that the blurb suggests a book that could be playful and funny but probably has angst, since Ysabel only has months to live. There are no trigger warnings listed in the ARC that I read, and no trigger warnings listed on the blurb or on the NetGalley info page. So I was sort of expecting something light and funny but angsty, and I wasn't expecting the book to mention rape 33 times, pretty much all in the first half. There's also 3 references to pedophilia. There definitely should be trigger warnings listed in the book for release, especially with this many references in it.

So I loved the representation here, but think that the content/triggers need to be signposted more for readers so that they're not negatively affected while reading, particularly if they're not expecting the content.

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from Podium Publishing and NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.

Okay. Let’s start with the good. I couldn’t put the book down, I read it basically non stop. There were so many good features and elements within the story.

The world was complex, filled with political and social intrigue, and the cast of characters was diverse.

All that being said, it kind of felt like the author had so many good ideas and we included all of them in one book. It could have been three separate books, all with depth.

Ysabel and Kaine’s relationship was interesting - although bringing modern BDSM terms was a little immersion breaking, I appreciate the education element of proper practice and consent!

Ysabel fluctuates between being a political genius with a complete understanding of city infrastructure improvements and also complete head empty about whether or not a person from known race of mind readers could potentially be a mind reader when they respond to your thoughts.

I would have read a whole book about the process of Ysabel forming her Dragon Maiden’s or about Kaine and how he formed his faction. Or even the games - we flashed through those in a blink when I thought it was going to be a much larger plot point.

Overall, 100% a book worth reading, with a very sensitive approach to LGBTQIA characters/issues, BUT you have to be prepared to feel like you’re on a top speed roller coaster the whole time.