Sometimes you read a really good book and you’re just left speechless.

I really liked the first two books in this series (and I would recommend reading them in order), but this one I just couldn’t put down.

I really liked the way gender and sexuality were handled in all three books in the series, but especially in this book. The way gender-variant people were presented in the time period was interesting and felt both modern and historical, if that makes sense. Overall, something I really enjoy about this series is how it lets LGBTQ+ people exist in a historical context without homophobia and transphobia being a major plot point.

The way the relationships unfolded in this book was just so tender and compelling.

I would highly recommend this series and this book in particular.

“A Vow Made Twice” is Emma Denny’s latest love story, serving as the third and final book in the Barden trilogy. It follows "One Night in Hartswood" and "All the Painted Stars." It can be enjoyed as a standalone,;however, readers might appreciate the background and characters from earlier books. This novel fits within the Why Choose Romance genre.

The story centers on Ash, brother to Raff and Lilly, who is driven to complete the steps needed to become an Earl and uphold his family's legacy. Despite having lost his brother at arms/lover—in a previous battle, Ash is compelled to marry and produce an heir. Agnes, who is non-binary and identified with she/her pronouns in this book, enters his life as a potential partner. Though Ash and Agnes may seem an unlikely match, their story develops into one of love, spice, murder plots, and more.

This book is ideal for fans of LGBTQIA+ romantic historical fiction. The tone is warm and includes humor, action, and spice. The author offers CWs on their website for readers who want to be informed beforehand. The story is encourages reflection on those historically overlooked—who may have been marginalized due to their nonconformity. I appreciate the space the author creates for these individuals. Thanks to NetGalley and Harper 360 for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An absolute delight from start to finish! The poly dynamics, the medieval genderfuckery, the care taken with every character's emotional core - all top tier. Easily my favorite book of the trilogy and I look forward to whatever Emma Denny writes next!

I absolutely loved this! I adored the two previous books, but this was my favorite in the trilogy. I tore through this in two days because I couldn't put it down.

The handling of mental illness, and gender was really well done, but the highlight is for sure the trio of characters, who all complement each other so well.

I am feral for whatever Emma Denny writes next and eagerly hope there's more to come!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

Each book in this series just gets better and better. I really enjoyed this and the characters complex relationships with themselves and with each other. I was cheering for them at the very beginning. I also liked the little throwbacks to the other books which I thought were funny. The story is well written and well paced and I devoured it. The main characters were so sweet with each other in the end.

All the feels for this one! I loved it.

The last book in the series and we finally get Ash Barden’s HEA. And what a journey it is! Ash has been the mysterious, gruff big brother in previous books. Here we learn about why he is the way he is.

All our main characters are wonderful, fully formed with their own difficulties and insecurities. Their happy ending is hard fought and tender and I enjoyed their high level of communication to get there.

Aside from that, it is really light-hearted and funny at times, with two great canine sidekicks.

I really enjoyed how this book explored gender and sexuality. And it comes with receipts, in the form of a really interesting author’s note.

It has a slow start, but please stick with it. You will not be disappointed.

This can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the series in order to get even more out of it.

This book does deal with some heavy themes. Please check the content warnings.

OK y'all here's the deal: Ash pledged himself to Oliver on the battlefield but then Olly got himself killed so Ash has been really super mega depressed for years. Also has post-war PTSD but since he's a medieval earl he just thinks he has fits. Ash has finally decided he needs to do his duty by the earldom, marry a woman, and have some heirs. (Actually, he'll just ACKNOWLEDGE some heirs, since his wife is the one who is going to have the responsibility of getting herself pregnant by someone else since Ash can never be unfaithful to Olly.)

He meets Agnes (who seems super cool) and they agree that getting married to each other is mutually beneficial. (Ash is 100% better than the guy Agnes's family wants her to marry, which is honestly his best character trait.) Ash doesn't tell her that he used to be in love with a man and Agnes doesn't tell him that sometimes she hates existing in her feminine body so they're both keeping some secrets. And that's all before Olly (who's NOT dead) is hired to kill Ash and disrupt the marital alliance...

So you may know that I absolutely love bonkers historical romance plots, and this fits the bill. But the highlight of this book for me is the super interesting way gender and sexuality were handled both through a medieval and a modern lens. (The references in the author's note are all bookmarked!) The relationship conflict itself isn't super angsty because Ash, Olly, and Agnes are all the nicest people ever to exist and who want to be honest with each other all of the time even when it's hard! I wish the antagonist had truly gotten his comeuppance (it's the middle ages, I'm out for blood!), but I didn't hate how the resolution was handled.

So you know how spices were really expensive in medieval times? Just call Emma Denny Scrooge McDuck because her characters are SWIMMING in spice. There are elements of voyeurism, light D/s, and historically accurate toys. (The author's note is bookmarked for a reason.) I will admit that the specific acts were not always to my taste, but I do realize that this is simply my subjective preference. If you read Denny's previous two books, they were also quite explicit, but the spice started later in the book since the characters were getting to know each other/feeling out their relationships. Olly and Ash know each other and had a previously-established sexual relationship, so the added scenes are in how Agnes will fit into their relationship. Do note that this is definitely MMEnby and not MMF, and the intimate scenes reflect this nuance.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

1364, England.
Ash Barden is now, reluctantly, an earl. Once, he assumed that his brother Raff would handle the business of heirs, but Raff is besotted with their "hostage" Penn, and after years of Raff caring for him after the war in France, Ash cannot ask him to forsake his happiness. Agnes is a Scottish widow, pressured by her family to remarry. While she isn't necessarily interested in a second marriage, she'd rather marry someone of her choice than the family friend whom she hates. When she meets Ash, she's put off by his temper, but drawn to the strangeness of his family and the kinds of promises he makes to her: most importantly that he'll allow her to continue to dress as a man. It seems as though they may have the perfect friendly arrangement, until Oliver, the lover Ash thought long dead, walks unexpectedly back into his life.

This is for the reader who wants every love triangle to resolve in a poly relationship. It's well balanced between the three perspectives of Ash, Agnes, and Olly, and as a reader I felt attuned to each of their internal struggles related to the development of their relationship. There is an overarching plot--Agnes and Ash must get married--and an overarching conflict--someone is trying to prevent that marriage. The focus on the introspective keeps the reader's interest with the quieter plot.

Agnes's internal struggle is the most complex. She would identify as nonbinary in contemporary times, but lacking the vocabulary and framework for discussing nonbinary gender in 14th century English, considers herself "she" some of the time, and simply more comfortable in men's attire and behavior other of the time. She experiences body dysmorphia over the course of the book, and we know Ash and Olly are good for her because they respond to her in different and equally comforting ways.

Ash is the classic romance hero who has pledged his heart to a long lost love and cannot possibly love again. His internal struggle ponders the nature of broken vows, or whether the vows he made with Olly "count" or not. He's loyal and thoughtful and kind to those who deserve it, despite the PTSD he experiences from the war in France.

Olly is the charmer (fitting as the minstrel) of the group. His internal struggle is over abandonment when being held for ransom, but this resolves fairly quickly when he and Ash talk. He also worries about being left out, as the one who hasn't said vows recognized by the Church and in front of more than one witness. He's the first to recognize that Ash and Agnes catch feelings, and the last to realize that he has, too.

I enjoyed the exploration of queer identity and poly relationships in the medieval era. The way Emma Denny sets up the story and engages with social standing and marriage is interesting, and my brain immediately started approaching the story from an academic perspective (gender in medieval Christianity was part of my grad school days), and I found it a little more complicated for me personally to engage with the swoon of the romance. This book heats up significantly in the last third, with plenty of intimate scenes -- explicit and not -- between all parties.

I very much enjoyed this one as a standalone,but I went back to read the others and I highly suggest reading them in order, there are things that just elevate your reading!

*Received as a free ARC*
Genuinely, I think this is the best of this series yet. Ash, Agnes, and Olly were excellent. There wasn't too much relationship drama, but there was enough external plot that there were stakes. Everything about it was delightful. Yes, Ash is very deeply traumatized. Which is not exactly delightful. But it works so very well. I assume this is the last book in the series since there are only three Barden siblings, but what fun it's been!

This was cute, the best in the series by far, with the most interesting romantic dynamic of the three books and conflict that felt small but important enough to the characters that it was compelling. I wish we’d gotten more time with Olly and Agnes, and was sad that Lily and Jo didn’t make an appearance, but the central trio (with Penn and Raf in the background) held my attention just fine. I would like a spot in the Barden household.

4.5 Stars

Thank you to Harper360 and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! This is out January 27th.

After inheriting his father’s title, Earl Ash Barden has no choice but to find a wife to ensure the family line. But Ash pledged himself to his lover Olly before his death, and making new vows feels like the ultimate betrayal to his memory.

Agnes Forrett wants two things: to be true to herself, and to avoid marrying the childhood friend her family is determined will take her hand. When she meets Ash, she realises he’s the perfect choice to grant her the freedom she needs to be the person she is – be that lady, lord, or something else entirely.

Agreeing to enter a marriage of convenience, their plan is set … until a roadside attack thrusts Olly back into Ash’s life, and with it a choice about his future. Now Ash must ask himself: can one heart truly be pledged to two people?

I loved this book so much. While I thought the first two books in this trilogy were enjoyable, this is definitely my favorite. Denny says in the author’s note that their favorite of the siblings is Ash and that’s clear in the way they wrote his story with so much heart and care.

Ash, Olly, and Agnes are all such wonderful, multilayered characters. I loved them and was rooting for their happiness both individually and together. They all have their difficulties - Ash has PTSD from the battle he lost Olly in and deals with suicidal ideation, Agnes experiences dysphoria, and Olly had to fight to survive after he thought Ash abandoned him.

I thought Agnes’s experience with her body and gender was such an excellent depiction of being nonbinary in the medieval era. I also loved how much we got to see Penn and Raff. I wish there had been more of Lily and Jo too!

There were times where I felt the story was a bit melodramatic which keeps it from being a full five stars from me but I still really loved this book. Denny’s growth as a writer from One Night in Hartswood to this book is amazing and I can’t wait to see what they write next.

So I really loved All the Painted Stars, which was Book 2 in this series. I still need to read the first book! A Vow Made Twice is about Raff and Lily's older brother Ashwy, the new Earl of Dunlyn, who is stuck between two vows.

Ash swore a battlefield trothplight to his true love Olly... and then Olly died in battle. Ash is now Earl and must carry on the family line (since neither of his younger siblings will be doing it), so he must somehow find a bride that can be a companion, since he made a lover's vow once and can never break it. He chooses Agnes, a non-binary widow who is mainly just hoping for a husband that's better than the spiteful guy her family keeps trying to force at her, but she dreams of finding one who would give her the space to be herself. As Ash and Agnes prepare for companionship, a face from the past pops up, and the new family discovers a true love where you're safe to be your full self.

So if book 1 was M/M and book 2 was F/F, book 3 is an M/M/nonbinary poly romance.

As mentioned in the author's note, Agnes is genderqueer but uses she/her pronouns because the 1300s didn't have the language we do now. In addition to a nonbinary lead character, we also have a trans man side character.

I haven't read a lot of polyamorous romances, this might be my first? I expected this to be two couples with a hinge, but this ended up being a trouple? While yes, I enjoyed the way that love grew between our characters, I especially loved the moments of friendship and love that Agnes found with [redacted]. Those quiet scenes were my favorite. I think the dynamic of a Second Chance for one couple and the introduction of a new, budding love with a third person was an interesting contrast with some true anxiety for the characters that I assume mirrors some realistic fears.

Trauma and depression are big themes in this book. Ash has PTSD from losing the man he loved in battle, and he talks to his brother about suicidal ideation. Agnes has anxiety attacks that are triggered by gender dysphoria. A character has an anxiety attack when it's suggested that someone might be pregnant. This could even be a Hurt/Comfort novel because of how our three lovers help each other through the pain and anxiety.

This was a lovely romance with some very big personal growth for our main characters (especially Agnes who had to stand up to their family), and I wish we could get another book specifically about Pepper.

CW: Sex, homophobia, transphobia, abusive family members, death of a parent, portrayal of PTSD and anxiety attacks, and suicidal depression.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper360 for the ARC!

BOOK REVIEW — A Vow Made Twice by Emma Denny
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)

This book is aching, atmospheric, and beautifully queer — a story about love, grief, identity, and the terrifying courage it takes to choose yourself.

Vibes:
• Marriage of convenience
• Historical queer romance
• Grief, ghosts of first love, and second chances
• Gender-fluid heroine, emotionally torn hero
• Longing × duty × desire

What It’s About (no spoilers):
Ash Barden has just inherited a title and with it the crushing expectation to marry. The problem? His heart is still tied to the lover he lost, and the idea of new vows feels like betraying a ghost.

Agnes Forrett is a skilled archer and a widow who refuses to be forced back into a box. She wants the freedom to exist as herself — lady, lord, or something beautifully in between — and marriage is her best escape route. Ash and Agnes strike a practical deal: a marriage of convenience that gives them both breathing room.

But then the past walks back into Ash’s life, and everything explodes — loyalty, grief, new desire, and the question of whether one heart can belong to two people at once.

What I Loved:
• Agnes — bold, fluid, and determined to live authentically
• Ash’s grief is tender and real, not melodramatic
• Queer identity and gender exploration handled with care
• Romance that grows slowly and emotionally, not just physically
• The “ghost of first love vs. new love” conflict hits HARD

Final Vibe:
Soft, aching, and deeply human. This isn’t just about romance — it’s about identity, mourning who you were, and choosing who you get to be next. If you love historical queer stories, yearning, and complicated hearts, A Vow Made Twice is absolutely worth reading.

This book pulled at the heartstrings a little bit for me and I loved it, I didn't know that it was book 3 from a series, but i felt like I did just fine without reading the first 2 books. BUT knowing there are 2 other books for me to read makes me feel much better, because now I can read them. The polyamory, the gender fluidity and the mental health awareness all set in a medieval timeline, literally chefs kiss.

Ever since One Night in Hartswood, I've loved every installment in this series, and this is a perfect close. Mixing a historical setting not often seen in romance novels with genuinely engaging plots and characters is a hard thing to do over three books, but Denny pulls it off with aplomb, and I loved reading Ash's story.

This one is definitely more "romance" than the other two, possibly necessarily because we have three people's worth of situations to be figured out. But it's nice to have that slower pace so that we have the time to really get a sense for who Ash, Agnes, and Olly are as people and what they want and how that shifts with knowing each other. Bringing acceptance and recognition in such a way that fits in wonderfully with the historical setting was such a joy to read, and the spice levels are off the chart, as usual. I loved the treatment of Agnes' non-binarity, of Ash's PTSD, of Olly's need to have a place to belong and how they all fit together in the end.

My one qualm is that I don't really understand why Muriel was so, so set against Agnes marrying Ash - even going back to read the misunderstanding was such a non-event that it felt like an outsized reaction to have resulted in such arguments. I also would have loved to have seen more of the trio settled in a little, but let's be honest, I would've been happy with a novella-length epilogue and getting to see everyone again.

Review of arc copy received from Netgalley

This was cute! Gender identity problems, fake relationships, voyeuristic-ness? prejudice, trauma, and karma that gets its mark in the end.

I was pleasantly surprised with the spicy spice, but it also had some wonderfully written emotionally charged scenes that were great too.

Medieval era problems about marriage, queerness, and poly love exploration was a surprisingly easy and enjoyable read for me. Absolutely loved it.

The character's are loveable. Charming and witty with just the perfect amount of ✨️trauma & drama✨️ that it'll keep you reading.

I will be reading the authors other works because this one was so fun.

producing an heir This was a bit of romance turned on its head, at least compared to others that I have read!
Our story focuses on Ash, who becomes an earl after the death of his father. He suffers from the trauma of fighting in battle and losing the love of his life. Part of his responsibility as the earl includes producing an heir and so begins the search for a wife.
There are so many interesting characters in this book. Their gender and sexuality are explored. Some of the characters are accepting and some are not. The main characters are very likable and I really empathized what they were experiencing.
I really enjoyed the book, reading it in one day! I was excited to discover there are two more books set in this world! They will definitely be added to my TBR list.

5 ⭐️ Now this is the kind of historical romance I need in my life!
Thank you so much Emma Denny and Net Galley for the eARC!

I cannot begin to describe how unexpected this book was. I thought it'd be up my alley, hence my request to review it, but holyyyyy did I not expect to love this so much. I cried SO MUCH. Like, so much! Agnes and her gender pains, Ash's mental health and his PTSD and Olly's struggle to settle in a life he wants to badly after so many years of struggle and resentment... It broke my heart everytime. And with every scene where there was nothing but understanding and open communication, it put it back together.

This book is unique, in the sense that I have personally never read a story where one of the protagonist describes the experience of gender queerness in a historical setting like this, without trully being able to describe any of it. I have read stories where the protagonists in those historical romaces would have been transgender. But the non-binary or gender queer experience is different, and set in a time where there's hardly talk of anything to do with gender, where it is the absolute for your sex to determine who you are... The wholehearted understanding from Olly and Ash, and the respect they still held for Agnes was one of the most beautiful, healthy and eye-opening things I have felt in a while. I am aware that this is a fiction book, but omg it really is that simple, isn't it? When someone tells you who they are, you believe them and respect them. You may like it or share it more or less, but there is no need for outrage, or hate, or the stupid need to invisibilise them! You just... listen. And you love them because of everything they are, and not spite them.

I love romance books. I could cry. They are the only thing that can truly reinstate my faith in humanity. Emma Denny seems like the kind of author we need everywhere. Unafraid to tell stories that make queer characters happy. Where things may not be easy, but they are simple. At least simple enough when you focus on what's important.

I dont' know how to say more without big spoilers, but I cannot recommend this book enough. It is my first 5 star read of 2026 and I am so, so glad I pick it up!

🌶🌶.5 / 5 - There are a good handful of open door scenes in this book, nothing out of this world but very important for the plot and the way the relationships are built.

This is absolutely my favorite of the series! I loved Ash and felt so much him. Olly and Agnes were also great. I loved the gender nonconformity of Agnes/Angus and how she was portrayed. The love story was so well done, the developing feelings were peak! They did give me anxiety about it all, but I was expecting that. The murder plot was interesting, I liked the twists and turns that gave. Overall a wonderful end to the series!

I requested this arc not realizing it was part of a series of standalone. I definitely wished I’d read the other books first because there were alot of side characters I could tell I was supposed to have a connection with and I just didn’t.


That being said, I did enjoy this overall it was a bit slow for me but still was a good read. I got a little worried that it was turning into a love triangle and not a Polly relationship but that didn’t last long 😅

Ash and Ollie‘s relationship is what hooked me first. They just were so in love with each other already, and then watching them reunite later made me think of other historical romances that I really stick with you. I found myself a little unsure of Agnes at first simply because this book is set in like 1300 England and so the vocabulary and all of that for the experiences that Agnes was going through weren’t available. But once these three found their groove, I was able to really get into this book.

I wasn’t sure how I felt going into this third book of the Heartwood Trilogy. I loved the first book. It was a beautiful story. I liked the second book, a little slow but still a beautiful story (I loved Lily). Now we come to the third book. And……. it’s my favorite! This was a true why choose. Their love story unfolded in a such a natural way, letting all three characters be themselves and not only be accepted for it but to be loved because of it. I’m not usually a historical romance girlie so I wouldn’t know if anything was accurate or not but I also don’t care. The story, the telling of it was sweet and beautiful. It had more spice than the previous two books but that also made more sense with their storyline. Overall I would definitely recommend this story as well as the whole series.


4.25 stars

Thank you Harper 360 for the advanced copy of A Vow Made Twice. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

ARC Review: A Vow Made Twice by Emma Denny
Pub Date: January 27th, 2026

Ash is an earl and needs to marry. His first love, Olly, died in battle so he agrees to marry a widow (Agnes) in what is essentially a marriage of convenience. But low and behold, Olly gets hired to (unknowingly) kill Ash. They are reunited but Ash still needs to go through with the marriage of various reasons. As the three spend more time together, all of their relationships develop and Ash figures out that what he once thought was his one great love might extend to his new wife as well.

I think one of the things I love about books that explore poly relationships is that I really love seeing relationships develop and change over time (yes, this is also why i hate insta love/lust). I especially love seeing that when it isn't easy - when there are factors, internal or external, that characters have to overcome or contend with to be together successfully. And with there being more than just one relationship in a poly situation you just naturally get more of that relationship negotiation. We can see this in both the conversations about the relationships but also in the intimate scenes. I thought this was done particularly well in this book and the evolution of all of the relationships made a lot of sense and really was a true evolution.` I also loved how the characters truly cared for each other.

This book just really worked for me on a number of levels - I love that it's a historical set in a relatively unique time (medieval) and that it explores relationships that are not explored as much. It really captured my interest and I didn't want to put it down!

I have not read the first two books of this series, but this book worked perfectly fine as a standalone as well. A Vow Made Twice is a lovely exploration of gender and sexuality. I loved that the characters are so supportive and loving, and there were no shenanigans (no third act breakup or unnecessary relationship crisis!). Agnes would likely identify as nonbinary in modern terms, and seeing her explore that while being unwaveringly supported by her partners was very heartwarming.

The last half of this book is quite spicy - a bit to its detriment, honestly. The sex scenes were well done, but sooo much of the end of the book was taken up by them, and it felt like the major conflict and the ending didn’t have as much attention given to them as they deserved. Basically it was repeatedly like. Ooo something bad is/has happened? Let’s all run off together and forget our problems and somehow no one will notice!

A Vow Made Twice was a great way to wrap up the Barden series. Ash is now an earl, and is seeking a wife. He is still haunted from losing his last partner, but recognizes the duties required of him. Agnes is a widow looking for more freedom, and a familiar face is brought back into their lives. The three must work with each other to figure out how they will live their lives with the least conflict. We see them slowly grow closer to each other as their individual connections skyrocket. This was my first poly romance, and I was not disappointed. I would happily read another book with these characters. I was sad Lily was only briefly mentioned, and the last ten percent wrapped up rather too quickly for me. The epilogue felt like a big jump when we didn't see the characters work through all of their concerns together on page, but I loved it nonetheless.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper 360 for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have loved this series but this book? Y’all I am OBSESSED!

It was sweet and funny and hot and the perfect way to end our time with the Bardens (even though I don’t want to!!!). Literally though, I absolutely devoured this. Took me less than 24 hours.

I read the first two books of this series about a year ago, so I can't say that I remembered a whole lot about Ash Barden going into this book. Oh man, though! Ash emotionally wrecked me. Here's the summary of his background: he went to war in France when he was a young man, saw his lover Olly die, was seriously injured, and became very mentally unwell due to his grief. At the start of this book, his father has just died, making him the Earl, and he is struggling with suicidal ideation. Because he knows if he doesn't produce an heir, his brother Raff will feel pressured to do so (ruining his relationship with his own lover, Penn), so Ash resigns himself to finding a wife. In this search, he finds Agnes, a young widow. Agnes struggles with gender dysphoria and her family keeps trying to pressure her to marry a family friend who she hates. Ash and Agnes agree to be married for practical reasons. Except, as it turns out, Olly isn't dead, and his return upheaves everything.

I got really emotional several times during this book, mostly when Ash was emotional (which kinda happens a lot). He's been through a lot of trauma and is struggling so much with anxiety and depression. Agnes is more steady, but really hates the gendered expectations placed on her and is frustrated by her family. Olly, while uncertain in his place in Ash's home, is a delight and very charming. And the three of them together? Wellllll!!! I guess 50% more people = 50% more sex, and it is hot! Altogether a moving but sexy story.

gorgeously lyrical LGBTQI+ romance with some fantastic main characters and a nice why-choose romance. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Imagine me screaming at the top of my lungs. I was waiting for Ash's book since book one and Denny didn't disappoint me in the least. They created a wonderful story for him and I fell in love with it.

This was so much fun! It's 1634 in England and we are exploring gender and polyamory and recovering from trauma. The dynamic between the three central characters was delightful, and I greatly appreciated the research and care that went into depicting gender non-conformity before society had the language to describe it.

My only quibble was that it felt like Olly's trauma and anger at Ash were very quickly and easily resolved. And I would have loved more pages showing the development of their relationship over time. But it's hard to argue with how sweet and fun this was to read!

I absolutely adored this one!! It's tricky to balance a poly romance but the author crushed it. I fell for all three of these characters. They had strong motivations and I was rooting for them to find a dynamic that worked for them. It was incredibly satisfying to watch these characters carve out a nontraditional happy ending in the face of societal pressures that didn't make it easy. I really appreciated the perspective on sex that made room for characters of all gender orientations to explore wherever their desires led them. I highly recommend for queer romance lovers.

4.5 stars rounded up

What a meet cute between Agnes and Ash! Plus they both have dogs.

All three main characters had their own struggles with gender norms and duties of the times and I loved how each gave space for those thoughts and feelings. There are some steamy scenes and it was clear that research went into this medieval romance. This felt a bit heavier than in the interconnected Oxfordshire books due to some of the topics it covers, so check the content warnings. It can be read as a standalone but some of the side characters are better understood by reading One Night in Hartswood at least. I think this one is my favorite of the series.

I received an advanced copy for free, and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Pretty good queer romance! I don't often see well done poly romances, especially queer ones, and I can't honestly think of any queer poly romances that were also historical! I think this was a funny and sweet book, and generally just a treat to read.

When I saw the third book to this wonderful series, I knew I needed to request it and let me tell you it does NOT disappoint!

Ash really intrigued me in book one, so I was thrilled to hear his story.

The chemistry between Agnes, Ash, and Olly was fireeeeeee. I adored all of them so very much.

Seeing gender non conformity represented in the Middle Ages was sooooo cool. The queer poly rep was awesome too.

What an ending for the Barden siblings. I'm so glad they all got their happy endings, it's what they deserve 🥹

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was an absolutely charming, absolutely wonderful book! and boy was it spicy peppers! a tale woven between three people learning to overcome grief, learning to overcome their pasts, and learning to overcome societal expectations. the characters where charming, human, and easy to fall in love with. i felt seen in ways i didn't expect. watching them together game me all kinds of butterflies in my stomach as i swooned over how much they loved each other. it was much to my surprise that this is actually a third book in a series. this was so well written, i didn't even notice! i can't wait to read the first two books. the whole book is gay in the best way possible, and stunningly gender inclusive even if they don't have the words for it all. they comfort each others, learn from and about each other, and are so blissfully happily together at the end of the book that you feel all ooey gooey inside. also, they do a lot of getting to know each other. physically, if you catch my drift. ;D. all in all a fantastic book, with a fantastic plot, and even better characters. a definite must read!

Thank you to Harper 360 | HQ and Netgalley for this ARC

THIS WAS SO GOOD.
I was so exited to read this and it did not disappoint in any way. It made me kick my feet and giggle more times than I can count, I will absolutely be buying the entire trilogy now that it’s finished. 🫶🏻

What a fun romp! A Vow Made Twice is a polyamorous historical romance between an earl haunted by memories of the war in France, a genderqueer widow determined to be more than a chess piece for her family, and a puckish mistrel turned man-for-hire who's fallen on hard times. It's not often I see this kind of dynamic in historical fiction, so I was stoked to receive an ARC.

I'll preface my review by saying that I didn't realize this was the final book in a trilogy until I had almost finished the book. Thankfully, it does function perfectly fine as a standalone - and now I can go back to read the rest of the series!

What I absolutely love about this novel is the research and thoughtfulness that went into depicting nonconventional relationship dynamics in a way that felt historically accurate. While I'm certaintly not a historian, it's easy enough for an educated reader to recognize that anachronisms and inconsistencies tend to plague the historical fiction genre, especially in dialogue and in the way characters discuss LGBTQ+ subjects. I was so pleased to find that wasn't an issue here: the characters and their motivations felt true to the medieval setting. I was particularly impressed with the depiction of Agnes's gender identity and how her gender dysphoria was portrayed. While the language employed is very different from how we would understand being nonbinary/genderqueer today, her experiences felt incredibly honest and recognizable. Equally enjoyable were the explorations of achillean and polyamorous romance: we get to see the characters navigating what all of this means, both personally and given the societal expectations for their stations, and I loved that we get to go on that journey with them instead of it being swept aside. Each character feels equally significant in the relationship and is given plenty of time to develop chemistry with each other, and by the end, I genuinely thought the three of them made a lovely triad.

Ironically, if there is a weakness here I think it is that the romance is so much more developed than the rest of the plot. There are a few different narrative threads that weave throughout the story - an attempted murder, a duplicitous relative vying for power, an overbearing family drama - but all of it takes a backseat to the more introspective exploration of the trio's budding romance. While this is not uncommon for a romance, I did find that some plots were sidelined at times when urgency would have made more sense, and some were tied up too quickly and neatly for my liking. This led to some minor pacing issues, where some chapters felt too long and veered on the edge of tedious, and others went so quickly that I was left wanting more. To the novel's credit, however, even when the specifics of a storyline are resolved quickly, the emotional impact to each character is given ample room to develop.

Despite romance now comprising a significant portion of my reading, I still typically tend to prefer closed-door romances, which this is very much not - there's a lot of on-page spice here - but for once, it actually worked pretty well for me. The spice was spicing, and I was very okay with it lol.

Overall, I really enjoyed my time with A Vow Made Twice. I love that it introduces such a heartfelt queer storyline to the historical fiction genre and challenges the misconception that queer relationships are new. I'm looking forward to checking out the rest of the trilogy, too!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was so good. There was enough high-stakes conflict (even involving murder attempts) while still keeping the story a lighthearted romance. The characters worked so well together.

Representation: poly, non-binary

Summary:

Following his father's death, Ash is thrust into a new role of responsibility due to his inheritance of the family's title. Unwilling to risk his siblings' happiness with their partners, Ash is in desperate need of his own heir - which means finding a wife. The only problem is that following the death of his lover, Ollie, Ash has been bereft. He and a widow, Agnes, agree to marry, each for their own romantic reasons: Agnes because she struggles with feeling at home in her own body and Ash has no interest in trying to force her into a shape dictated by society, and Ash because it feels like less of a betrayal of Ollie's memory. However, on the way back to Ash's estate to marry, the party is ambushed by none other than Ollie, who is actually alive and has no idea he has been paid to kill Ash. Once the dust settles, can the three of them - Ash, Ollie, and Agnes - navigate complicated feelings of gender, old scars, mental health, Agnes' family, and above all - their growing feelings for one another?

Review:

I requested this book b/c I really enjoyed the 2 books ahead of this one in the series, and to my delight, I think this one might be my favorite of the three. I loved Agnes and Ollie specifically - I found Agnes' struggles with her body to be very authentic and I thought it was handled masterfully between the historical time period and what was safely possible for her. The best poly books for me work best when I can clearly see how each of them has a relationship with BOTH of the others, and it's clear to me how their lives are better with three instead of two, and while I've found some books to fall short of those measures, this one exceeded them greatly. I preordered this and cannot wait to have it on my shelf!

A Vow Made Twice is a thoughtful medieval romance that centers marriage, duty, and queer identity in a way that feels intentional and emotionally grounded. The story follows Ash, Agnes, and Olly as their lives intertwine through obligation, past promises, and unexpected connection, with a strong focus on internal conflict rather than fast-paced plot.

I especially appreciated Agnes’s journey and the way the book explores gender expression and selfhood within the limits of its historical setting. The relationships are handled with care, and the polyamorous dynamic is given space to develop from multiple perspectives. That said, the story often leans heavily into introspection, which made it harder for me to fully sink into the romance, and some moments felt more heavy than swoony.

Overall, this is a solid, meaningful read with rich themes and well-developed characters, even if the pacing and tone kept it from being a standout for me. A good choice for readers who enjoy quieter historical romances with queer representation and emotional depth.

This was such a fun and refreshing read! It's not common to see traditionally published poly romances or medieval romances these days, let alone both, but I submit this as evidence that there should be more.

A Vow Made Twice is the last in a series focused on three queer siblings in 14th-century England. In this book, Ash has just become an earl after the death of his father and he needs to get married. The problem is that he's still very much in love with Olly, whom he believes to have died in battle. So when he starts to court Agnes, he's honest with her that it won't be a love match. She's a widow with some secrets of her own, including that she sometimes dresses as a man and is what we would now call nonbinary or gender fluid. But the two end up surprising each other, especially when Olly (who is, of course, not dead - I refuse to call this a spoiler to anyone who's read more than two romance novels) comes into their lives and they discover that sometimes three is not, in fact, a crowd.

The romances between Ash and Agnes and between Olly and Agnes are a bit of a slow burn, but I think that made a lot of sense under the circumstances, and trust me the book is still plenty steamy. I love the title of the book - it refers to an oath of brotherhood that Ash and Olly took (and for which there is real historical evidence!) as well as Ash and Agnes' marriage vows. There were also a lot of tidbits of real queer history from the Middle Ages woven in throughout, which made me happy. And I appreciated how much different disability rep there is in this book for multiple characters. Just so lovely.

A Vow Made Twice is the final book in The Barden Series and follows the third Barden sibling, Ash. As the earl, Ash needs to find a wife, even though his heart still belongs to another. That is why widow Anges Forrett is perfect for the role. That is, until a mishap in the woods forces Ash to confront his past and his lost love returns. Ash is still duty bound to marry Agnes, but can the three of them find a way to live together and create something new?

Something I love about this series as a whole is how Denny tackles issues of gender and sexuality as well as mental health. A Vow Made Twice in particular has Ash confronting his grief over losing Ollie and his father, Agnes struggling with their gender and how to express that at a time where they are expected to act and dress like a lady, and Ollie needing to challenge long-held beliefs about Ash abandoning him. This is definitely not a lighthearted read but all of the conflicts in their story brings them to a place where they can all be happy together. If you are looking for a historical romance that challenges various norms of the time, I would highly recommend the entire Barden sibling series.

Emma Denny‘s Barden Series has been a delight from the beginning, and the trilogy now ends with A Vow Made Twice. The eldest Barden sibling, Ash, has spent years haunted by the death of the love of his life, Oliver. But now Ash’s father is gone, leaving him the earl and in need of a wife, heirs, and the continuation of the family name. Ash comes to an arrangement with Agnes, a young widow, and the two agree to wed. But then Olly comes back into Ash’s life, alive and mostly well. What will Ash choose to do now that there are two people in his life? And what if there’s a third option that all three can be happy with?

What I Liked:
- Examining PTSD and suicidal ideation. A Vow Made Twice doesn’t shy away from heavier themes, starting with Ash’s mental state following the battle in France. It left him physically scarred, yes, but the (apparent) death of Olly was the far deeper wound. It’s 1346, so the term PTSD didn’t exist, but Ash is certainly suffering the effects regardless. He’s also actively plotting his suicide, once an heir has been born, at least. It’s hard to read about, but with time, Ash does begin to heal and see a happy future for himself.
- Gender dysphoria and nonbinary gender expression. Another beautifully explored theme is Agnes’s experience with gender. Ever since she was young, being a “girl” or “woman” has never felt exactly right, and she secretly dresses in men’s clothing when she can. I enjoyed seeing her navigate gender identity, how Ash and Olly help out and support Agnes, and how another character who is trans (plus stories about transgender people in history) offer new ideas on authentic gender expression.
- Throuple! Ash and Agnes are getting married… but Ash’s lover, Olly, is back in his life. Agnes is okay with her husband having a lover, but how long until new romantic feelings begin to arise? I loved seeing how all three characters navigate their rapidly changing relationships. Bit by bit, Agnes feels less like a third wheel and more like a part of this partnership. I haven’t read many books with polyamory or specifically a throuple, but I loved seeing how the relationship unfolded here.

Final Thoughts
I’ve loved all three books, but A Vow Made Twice is my favorite of the Barden trilogy! This is a perfect blend of deeper emotions, evolving relationships, and a new concept of what love and family can look like, all within a medieval setting. I’m so excited to read whatever is next for Emma Denny.

“All of them were blurring the rules of sex – changing between man and woman.”

I received an eARC of A Vow Made Twice by Emma Denny from Harper 360 in exchange for an honest review. Here are my thoughts!

💗 Ash Barden gave away his heart to another years ago, but when he inherits the title of Earl he’ll have to put his long-dead love aside and find a wife to ensure the family line. Agnes Forrett has found that her widowhood suits her and doesn’t want to remarry. But when her family pressures her to accept a proposal from the childhood friend who wronged her, Agnes decides to take matters into her own hands.

Ash and Agnes understand that theirs will be a marriage of convenience, but when a figure from Ash’s past attacks the couple while they journey to their new home everything gets complicated. As the growing attraction between Ash and Agnes becomes evident, they must decide…can your heart belong to two people instead of one? 💗

I had never read anything by Emma Denny before and I only skimmed the description, so I really had no clue what was in store for me when I picked up A Vow Made Twice. Y’all, I absolutely LOVED this book.

The stress and angst of the beginning of the story is paired so well with the softness and spice in the rest of the book. Ash, Agnes, and Olly are all such brilliant characters dealing with so much and the way they support each one another was just perfection.

This book was so, so queer and it was really interesting to see the characters explore their gender and sexuality without the modern words we have to do so.

If you can’t tell already, I definitely recommend picking up A Vow Made Twice when it’s released on February 17th. Now I gotta go pick up the first two books in the series - whoops 😅

Ash Barden was a young man in love, willing to pledge himself to Oliver Coppard with a sworn oath of brotherhood no less binding than a marriage vow. He and Olly planned to spend their lives together until Olly was killed in front of Ash during a battle with the French. Ash was severely injured, unable to even retrieve Olly’s body to bring him home. Instead, he was sent home damaged in more ways than one. His spirit was broken, his body was scarred, and there were times he courted death in hopes of joining the man he loved.

And then his father died, and Ash is now an Earl, with duties and responsibilities that weigh on him. Not just the caring for the land and people, but trade and taxation, border disputes and politics. And, the need to find a wife. Rather than someone young looking for love, Ash turns his attention to a widow in the hopes of finding someone willing to take him as he is and enter into a loveless marriage. Someone who will be a good wife, a mistress of his earldom, and a partner.

Agnes Forrett sees no reason to say no to Ash. Not only is he charming and friendly, rich and titled, he also accepts her as she is — secrets and all. Because Agnes has quite the secret; she doesn’t always behave as she ought. There are times she dresses like a man, tying down her breasts and striding out into the woods and town in breeches. It’s how she met Ash, in fact, when he mistook her for a hunter.

The two of them find a fast growing friendship and an understanding. Ash is still in love with someone else, someone he will never not mourn, and Agnes is getting power and a life away from her family. And the friendship is growing, slowly, and Agnes thinks she might be feeling more than just … convenient emotions towards her husband to be when suddenly they are are attacked by a bandit. Suddenly, Ash is faced with his past, while realizing he has feelings for someone in his present as well. Now, Ash has to figure out if there is room in his heart for two.

This story continues the Barden series and follows the third of the siblings — Raff fell in love in One Night in Hartswood, and Lily went forth to rescue her best friend Johanna in All the Painted Stars (which I reviewed and loved) — with the oldest sibling now getting his chance at romance. Ash, when he returned home, had moments where he very much wanted to die — to join Olly in the afterlife. Even now, he still struggles with the pain, the guilt, the loss of his beloved. In times of emotional stress, Ash sees Olly, his bloody face, his broken body; hears Olly calling for him; finds himself back on a battlefield with men and horses screaming and dying, weapons clashing, and himself in combat. Because of this, Ash has forsaken many of his social obligations, leaving them to his younger brother and hiding away, earning him quite the reputation of a madman and brute.

Agnes, though, accepts Ash for who he is. Someone injured and hurt, but someone who is still trying despite that, still hanging on. Someone with good days and bad. She makes Ash laugh, she clears his mind, and he relaxes around her in a way he hasn’t with anyone but his family. So much so that Ash confesses to Agnes about his first love, that he can’t love her as a husband ought, but still wishes to marry her as a friend.

Agnes doesn’t always feel like her body matches who she is. There are times she’s fine with breasts and gowns and being called “my lady,” and times when the sensation of being female has her frozen and deeply uncomfortable. (Because Agnes still thinks of herself as “she,” because she becomes Ash’s wife and mistress of his keep, I will use female pronouns for her.) Ash has no issues with Agnes wearing pants as they walk, and no issue with her wearing her binder. He’s the one person other than her maid who Agnes feels like she can be herself around. With her family pushing her to marry someone she loathes, and Ash offering her freedom as well as respect, of course Agnes accepts. And then Olly comes into their lives.

Olly is not as well developed as the other two characters. Left for dead in a French prison, he lost sight in one of his eyes and hearing in one of his ears. One arm is weakened due to an infected cut when he was a bandit trying to steal food. When no one came to save Olly, when no one paid his ransom, he could not help but view that as a betrayal. However, Olly doesn’t seem bothered by any of this for more than a moment before he’s happy to be back in Ash’s life.

In a way, Olly is a symbol of the book’s great weakness: it doesn’t want to dwell on the dark parts. The book doesn’t want the angst and pain, the suffering and sadness. It’s a love story and wants to focus on the love. The love between Ash and Agnes, between Olly and Ash, and between the three of them together. But with that focus, so much is overlooked, and Olly’s personality doesn’t take his past into consideration. He’s just the sunshine and cleverness that turns them from three people into a polyamorous thruple.

That said, I still enjoyed this book. The author made the world come alive, from the keep to the kennels, the way the staff interacted with Ash, the way he dealt with other lords, the weapons used, and the politics discussed. This is very much a historical romance that takes place in a real, living, breathing world with characters who exist in it, and are a part of it. The way they talk, the way they treat one another in public, it all lends weight and reality to the book that just works for me.

If you liked the other two books in the series, or just want a historical with a great deal of spice with two handsome men and one strong woman, pick this book up! It’s a book with very little angst, lots of love, acceptance and fun, and I hope you enjoy it.

Note: This book contains trigger warnings for body dysphoria, suicidal ideation, mentions of attempted rape.

A Vow Made Twice
by Emma Denny
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)

I enjoyed this book more than I expected. Going in, I didn’t realize this was the third book in a series, and at times it felt like certain elements were glossed over. While the story can be read as a standalone, I occasionally felt as though I had arrived late to a conversation and was catching only a partial recap. It took me longer than I would have liked to fully settle into the world and understand what was happening.

That said, once I did, I found the story itself to be beautiful, intriguing, and spicy. There is an honesty and vulnerability to the writing that surprised me. The characters’ self-judgments felt deeply personal and self-deprecating, while their understanding and openness toward others felt sincere and thoughtful.

Olly stood out to me as a character. He is a driving force within the story — questioning, challenging, listening, learning, and consistently leading with his heart. His bawdy humor added moments of levity that genuinely made me laugh and helped balance the emotional weight of the narrative.

At its core, this book carries an important message about learning to simply be. Acceptance matters. Love matters — in whatever form it takes. Overall, this was a rewarding read, and I’m glad I spent time with these characters.

emma denny does not miss in the barden series 😭

i had the joy of reading an arc of all the painted stars and was very excited when i got approved to read an arc of the next installment.

ash has intrigued me since meeting him in one night in hartswood. he has had a rough go of it, having gone to war and lost his soulmate and love of his life. watching him juggle the balance of his arranged marriage <spoiler>and his soulmate returning from the dead</spoiler> was both a pleasure and, at times, deeply frustrating with the clear chemistry between them.

i wasn’t sure how the story would proceed at first, but it became clear that there was a unique and special love between the characters. i especially loved the gender component of the story, and thought it added depth and complexity to the characters.

i would happily read 80 more books in this series, thank you emma ❤️

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I really loved how this book explored gender and sexuality in a medieval setting! The book definitely started off a bit slower, I did have a harder time following with the dialogue (I didn’t realize it was the UK version) and it did have me struggling with the story at times. I may go back and reread this on audio for a better experience! The writing itself was very beautiful and I adored all the characters so I will definitely be going back to read the other two in the series!

I went into this mostly excited about the poly medieval chaos, but what stayed with me was how sincere it felt.. Agnes’s journey especially hit me in a way I wasn’t fully prepared for.
What really stood out for me was how thoughtfully gender and sexuality were handled within the historical setting, it felt grounded and emotionally honest. The triad dynamic is balanced and genuinely compelling. The political drama occasionally takes a backseat to the romance, but emotionally, it always lands.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

4.5 rounded up

I would regret the finale of this beloved trilogy, if it hadn't been so amazing!

The tenderness of Denny's characters always draws me in so quickly. We usually don't meet them at their best moments, but the way they are written makes you warm up to them all the same. 

I loved all the MCs in this polyamorous Bi4Bi4Bi romance. I'm normally not a fan of second chance (especially if it's going to take my marriage of convenience off the tracks), but I grew to enjoythe way Olly and Ash loved each other and the way they brought Agnes into their love. It was special to see the love that grew between each pairing.

Denny also writes some excellent gender norm bending in this book, one of my favorite parts of All The Painted Stars. The characters are all so queer not just because of who they love or how their gender feels to them but also because of the room they give each other to exist and to play and to be. 

This is the hottest of the series with a little bit of everything in terms of s3x on the page.

I'm not ready to say goodbye so I might need another read! 

"There was an ache in his chest, a tightness, as if their souls had somehow mingled into a new, brighter whole."

4.25 ⭐️

This took me a little while to get through but I really enjoyed it. I loved the character development all around and how much the relationship between Agnes and Ash changed over time. Olly was such an important influence in their relationship and completed it in a lot of ways.

I didn’t go into this book realizing it was a why choose but it added such a pleasant surprise. I always appreciate when there is a deep understanding between characters in the relationship and there isn’t jealousy involved but an overwhelming amount of trust.

There were some parts that felt a little too much in terms of filler but they also added a lot to the story and the readers understanding of things.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. A Vow Made Twice was such a fun, heartfelt historical romance. I loved the m/m/enby poly dynamic between Ash, Olly, and Agnes (who reads as nonbinary even though that language isn’t used in the historical setting). The marriage-of-convenience setup turns into something surprisingly tender and emotionally thoughtful, especially as Ash navigates grief, loyalty, and new love. The chemistry is great, the spicy scenes absolutely deliver (yes… that pegging scene), and the relationships felt genuine and affirming. A sexy, emotionally layered read that made me really root for all three of them.

After starting to read this book I realized I missed the second book in the series. I quickly read that, which helped with context, but wasn't absolutely needed. So, anyway, after my little accident, I devoured this book. It was sweet, spicy, and left me oh-so full of feelings great and small.

I always love reading queer books and this one took it in a different direction than most. Polyamorous relationships, I feel, are not well represented in most media, but this made it work. Also excellent representation of a genderqueer character and the struggles they go through. It made it work and it made me care. Agnes, Ash, and Oliver coming together, with bumps along the way, left realistic and not forced. They compliment each other and the love they showed for each other in small ways made it all the better. (And boy did I love Agnes kicking her supposed childhood best friend the boot!) From reading into when one of them wants a hug, to giving thoughtful (and spicy) gifts, it all coalesced into a beautiful story of pain, but finding acceptance and love.

I loved this book and these characters, the way Denny took the concept of being trans and translated it into old English made it so lyrical and the way each character acted when faced with thier own internal struggles was executed so wonderfully. Emma Denny has definitely become one of my auto read authors!

Thank you to the author and the publisher for the chance to get this as an arc

Third book in a series that explores queer relationships and love in medieval times. This one focuses on the eldest Barden sibling, Ash, who needs to marry a woman soon to shore up his reputation from his uncle. He decides to woo Agnes, a widow who needs to marry quickly to avoid returning to her family. They both want a marriage of convenience. Of course, feelings get involved, as does Ash's dead lover, Oliver.

Thoughtful, funny, and compelling story with an OT3, one of whom is non-binary.

I picked this up because I'd really liked the author's previous entry in the series, and I wanted to see how Denny would treat what looks like a poly triad from the cover, but also turns out to be a nuanced portrayal of a nonbinary widower while she's at it. You also get to have the widower standing up to a shitty family who always finds them wanting and some behind the scenes plotting while we're at it. One of the series I'm really coming to enjoy, and would love to see more from Denny in the future.

Okay, my first why choose and… yeah. I get it now. You’re telling me there are triple the firsts, okay okay i’m in.

I was at first confused with the heterosexual looking cover situation, but trust me this book is very gay. And honestly, cinematic. The prose is incredibly visual and immersive. The whole thing reads like it’s begging to be a TV series, a drama, but also funny at times! The characters feel vivid and real, and the world is rich enough that I easily would’ve read multiple books just about this storyline alone. I was suprised at how present and how much I enjoyed the murder mystery thread kept the momentum going outside of the romance.

That said, there are a few missed opportunities where I wish the books was longer! I spotted multiple emotional storylines the book just leaves on the table without the expected exploration (more of sara and agnes, pepper and agnes need to talk omg!)


I’ve lightly criticized earlier books in this series for feeling a little YA-coded despite the characters being adults and the content being more explicit. This one finally sticks the landing. The characters can still feel a bit young sometimes, but nowhere near as distractingly as before.

Overall rich, dramatic, very gay, and way more compelling than I expected going in. I’d absolutely read more in this world.

This was a thoughtful historical romance with strong characters and a lot of emotional depth. The relationship developed in a way that felt believable and engaging. Overall it was a very satisfying read.