"No relationship can exist solely with strength and strategy or force and cunning--there has to be love and peace and hope to bind those things" Thanks to @avonbooks and @goodreads for the gifted copy. 👑👑 BOOK REVIEW👑👑 This was my first romance read this year and in many, many years actually. This isn't my go to genre at all but after reading this How to Catch a Queen, I think I have to add some more romances to my regular TBR. I already have some on my shelf calling my name. I loved that this was a modern story and addressed contemporary issues. Sanyu and Shanti were great main characters. Shanti was ambitious, intelligent, assertive and would not settle for anything that did not value her. Sanyu at the core had a good heart and wanted to make change, but due his sheltered royal life he was battling crippling anxiety on a daily basis. I love that the characters balanced each other out and fell in love in an unconventional fashion. It wasn't fluffy unicorns and rainbows. They were able to build a relationship and build mutual goals through exploration of their feelings and prioritizing communication. It took a long time in the book to get there but the slow burn and pay off was worth it. It had just the right amount of steam without overboard by my own standards. What also struck me were the overarching themes about some societies that were woven into the love story. The ones that resonated the most were that: * Women are seen as problematic if they express ambitions and goals outright. * Women often have to make themselves smaller because of men's egos. * Marginalized groups are the backbone of society but are the most silenced. For a society to succeed, it must be inclusive. * Good governments emerge when citizens are empowered to voice their concerns. * Tradition can co-exist with modernity. *Marriages are more successful when there is mutual respect and partnership. *The only way to make change sometimes is to speak truth to power. *Social status does not exempt you from mental health issues. This bookdragon rates this 🔥🔥🔥🔥 #Blackromance #bookstagram #bookdragon #books #booksoutside #bookreviews #bookphotos #bibliophile #Ilovebooks #read (at Flatiron District) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJE-9DiAVLR/?igshid=1kzx5exbaaez2
