Review: The Elf Tangent by Lindsay Buroker

The Elf Tangent
by Lindsay Buroker
narrated by Vivienne Leheny

My Rating: 4 stars

Genre: Fantasy Romance
Age Category: Adult
Type of romance: MF

Blurb:
As a princess in the impoverished kingdom of Delantria, it’s Aldari’s job to look pretty, speak little, and marry a prince.

Studying mathematics and writing papers on economic theory in an effort to fix her people’s financial woes? Her father has forbidden it. With war on the horizon, they must focus on the immediate threat.

Reluctantly, Aldari agrees to marry a prince in a neighboring kingdom to secure an alliance her people desperately need. All is going to plan until the handsome elven mercenary captain hired to guard her marriage caravan turns into her kidnapper. His people are in trouble, and he believes she has the knowledge to help.

But with an invasion force approaching Delantria, Aldari’s own people need her. She must do everything in her power to escape the elves and make it to her wedding in time.

Never mind that her kidnapper is witty, clever, and offers her a challenge that intrigues her mind even as his easy smile intrigues her heart…

Aldari can’t let herself develop feelings for him. To fall in love and walk away from her wedding would mean the end of her kingdom and everyone she cares about.

My Review

I enjoy Lindsay Buroker’s books and got this one in audio as well. The narrator Vivienne Leheny is awesome and fits Lindsay Buroker’s books so well. The Elf Tangent is a standalone fantasy romance book with a human princess who is interested in economics and an elf warrior. They meet when he kidnaps he on her way to her political arranged marriage as his people need her help. Slowly they develop feelings along the way as he becomes a protector and friend instead of her captor.

I enjoyed this book. It was fun to read about this fantasy world and see how the characters handled the problems. I did have some issues with some parts of the plot and at times decisions the characters made and acted just felt a bit off. I also wasn’t a fan of the kidnap plot set up, even though it sort of made sense. And didn’t really care for the zombie-like twist to the story. I also felt the book was a bit on the long side and could be a bit slow in parts.

There was a reveal I had predicted pretty early on in the story, although at least it made sense why Aldari didn’t figure it out sooner and I appreciated the lack of drama when it came to light and how Aldari was understanding. While the world building is pretty limited, just enough to set the stage for the story, I did enjoy learning more about the elves and their society as the book progresses. Despite these issues I mostly still enjoyed the book. I liked seeing things progress and how things play out.

My favorite part of this book is probably the romance and the banter between the two of them. The ending wraps up the plot neatly and one thing felt a bit easy, but I still thought it was a good ending. Although I would’ve loved an epilogue of some sort to clarify what is next for the couple.

I liked how while Aldari was a princess she’s interested in books and especially economics, puzzles and mathematics. She’s also very dutiful and determined to marry a prince she had never met to help her people get an alliance they need to hold the empire at bay. While I admired her dedication to her country, people and duty, I had wished at times she was a bit more conflicted about this all. Not only because she develops feelings for Hawk, but also because it just sounded a bit off how this country would only help them if they got their virgin bride. I would’ve liked a few more of her inner thoughts about it all, but she mostly just focused on how it was her duty and didn’t think of it further.

Hawk is a bit mysterious at first, he’s a great fighter and leads the mercenaries who kidnap Aldari. I appreciated how he seemed conflicted about kidnapping her and only did it because he felt he had no other choice. Although it did bother me a bit why they didn’t just ask first, there’s a reason for it, but it felt a tad weak. I liked how there’s more to him than it seems at first and as he and Aldari grow closer he tells her more about himself. he’s very dedicated to his duty and want to help his people and is willing to do almost anything for that goal. I liked seeing him soften up and open up to Aldari.

I really liked the romance between these two. It’s a very slow burn romance that progresses throughout the book and very sweet in tone with just a few kisses toward the end. I liked how they banter from the start and I find Lindsay Buroker always writes banter very well. I liked seeing them grow closer and share more about themselves. I was rooting for them even though there didn’t seem to be a way for them to be together. I liked how things got resolved, although I wished there was a glimpse of their future.

To summarize: This was a solid standalone fantasy romance book. I liked the narrator who fits Lindsay Buroker’s books really well in my opinion. The story was interesting, but the romance was my favorite part. I had some small issues with a few parts of the story, there were some character actions I didn’t like and didn’t really care for the kidnapping theme as well as the zombie-like theme. I also thought the book felt a bit long and the pacing a bit slow in some parts. Despite that I still enjoyed this book. I liked both Aldari and Hawk, they are both interesting characters who care a lot about their duty and people. They have some great banter and I liked seeing them grow closer. It’s a slow burn sweet romance. I also liked learning more about the elves throughout the book. I liked the ending and how things wrapped up, but would’ve loved to see an epilogue with a glimpse of the couple’s future.

Links:
– Goodreads
– Bookbub
– Amazon
– Audible
– B&N
– Kobo

You can also read my review on Goodreads and Bookbub.