Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  The Ivory King

SERIES:  Crowns of Melowynn

AUTHOR:  V.L. Locey

PUBLISHER:  self-published

LENGTH:  290 pages

RELEASE DATE:  February 6, 2025

BLURB:

The kingdom’s future rests on their shoulders.

Aelir, a noble elf, has been trained since infancy to step into the role of Ruler of the Vills of Renedith, a position held by his autocratic grandfather. With a heart filled with dreams of change and improving the lives of all elves in his province, he heads to the capitol to attend a gala event for the king’s coronation anniversary with the hopes of gaining a moment of the king’s time. What should be a ten day party filled with wine, archery tournaments, and fine horses turns into a nightmare when the king is poisoned and dies without an heir. The death throws the three elven noble houses into chaos. As the kingdom mourns the elites are sequestered in the capital bickering over which house is the most suitable to sit the throne.

Thrown into a world rife with intrigue, assassins, and courtly machinations, Aelir has only his most trusted guard, V’alor, to watch his back. Something that V’alor has been doing for a dozen seasons now for none love Aelir as V’alor does. While the young noble struggles to understand the vitriol aimed at him from those he considered friends, Aelir turns to the one man he knows will always protect and love him. V’alor. Their romance burns bright and true until his grandfather sends him off to bring back the one thing that will sway the votes in Aelir’s favor and secure the throne for the Stillcloud’s. Aelir must bring home a suitable wife.

And it must be done immediately.

The Ivory King is an M/M age gap romantasy starring a novice monarch who falls for an older guardian set in a land filled with assassins behind every tree, delicate damsels who aren’t as finespun as assumed, Elven courts, passionate embraces, and a fairy tale happy ending.

REVIEW:

Ten years have elapsed since the events of the fist book in this duology.  Aelir is now an adult and has been steadily taking on more duties in preparing himself to take over as Ruler of the Vills someday.  That timeline is sped up when his grandfather, the rules is assassinated and chaos ensues.  There is a big problem though for Aelir assuming the role that he’s been groomed for.  Marriage.  And not just any marriage.  A marriage that meets all of the requirements.  Unfortunately he loves his guardian V’alor.

V’alor has been guiding Aelir for years now and he loves Aelir as well.  But he knows that they can never be a true couple.  Aelir has his duty to fulfill and V’alor is determined to help him and keep him safe.  The political intrigue and machinations are in full force.  Aelir is surprised by the response of some he had considered friends.

As Aelir and V’alor set of on the quest that they are tasked with, danger abounds!  Together they have to contend with a lot of obstacles.  The journey to Raewyn with whom Aelir has corresponded is definitely a roller coaster.  Raewyn has her own ideas about things

This was another delightful read!  I was not a D&D player, nor would I consider myself a big fantasy fan, but truly this duology has been a treat!  I have really enjoyed this rich fantasy world that V.L. Locey has created here.  I enjoyed the subtle plot points around the changes that are needed in the lands for equality while also respecting tradition and the past.  The characters were fabulous once again.  I don’t want to be spoilery but I really adored the solution to Aelir’s problem and Raewyn is a fantastic character   The solution is a lovely surprise in fact.  The quest was action-packed and worthy of this romantasy story.  I would love to read more books in this world, so if this turns into a series rather than a duology, I would not complain   I’m thrilled that this author has decided to write in this genre.  It’s been a fantastic and engaging ride!

RATING: 

BUY LINKS:

Amazon