Rating: 2.25š
I really like this authorās other stories but this is a real miss on so many levels. Frankly Iām astonished.
This was a almost DNF for me. Only the fact that I always hope for a turn for the better keeps me from stopping at my real āIām done ā point in each book this happens at.
Here it was at about 62% when the Goddess Aphrodite appeared, smug , and making all sorts of declarations about the situation the incompetent summoner has entwined the poor Princely Elf and himself in.
It came at a poor place in the narrative. After a series of tasks the idiot Summoner has forced the elf to accomplish, getting him hurt in the process.
It starts with student Lochlann Wilde, someone whoās less than studious nature has caused him to be one the the collegeās oldest students and one whoās so far behind in his levels that he hasnāt earned his Crest.
The story goes on about how fabulous a summoner his father is and what enormous stress it is to live up to that. But you know what? Loch hasnāt memorized his spells, hasnāt put in the work.
So nope. No connection here. And Noor is going with the golden, gorgeous, lazy boy main character first person point of view. So you automatically must forgive his faults and sloppy behavior, because golden boy. This smacks regrettably close to a Gary Stu.
Itās a little bit much.
He decides to summon a eidolon without knowing what heās summoning. Instead of a animal to be his familiar he summons a actual person, a being. A elf.
Which then becomes his basic captive/slave. Unable to fight back or return home due to the summoning. Instead of breaking the spell like a reasonable, rational human would when confronted with having a living sentient being accidentally enslaved, Loch takes advantage and decides heās going to get his Crest and extra credits at College by treating the Elf like a specimen/slave/forced eidolon. As well as telling the College itās their chance to see what a elf is all about.
Right.
So. This whole storyline has a definite bad taste to it.
If you flip the characters. Say have the Fae be the one to enslave the summoner/student by accident, then immediately, the Elf is always dark or evil because they have taken away consent. Itās entrapment. All sorts of flags.
But here, itās supposed to be ok, because itās a human. He has needs.
And donāt get me started on the sexual aspect that starts on Lochās part almost immediately. That on top of the non consensual aspect of this story that gets overlooked is mind boggling.
So no. The Fae isnāt some cute pet to be treated as something to be ātamedā. Another narrative theme that is tired and is sorely overdue to be retired.
Along with the entire story.
So done.
Iām extremely disappointed with so many old, distasteful, or poorly executed elements and characters here.
ā¦ Main Character thatās selfish, lazy, and vain.
ā¦ That another race needs to be ātamedā
ā¦ That another sentient being can be enslaved and thatās fine by both a MC, a college, and apparently a Goddess.
ā¦ Old themes and thoughts on racism and sex. Especially when one has the power over another.
Iām definitely not continuing further. Itās doesnāt matter how itās resolved because excuses are made for all of the above.
For me, those are things that shouldnāt be excused.
Any of these things sound appealing, maybe none of this will bother you, then investigate the story for yourself.
He captured a fae prince. But can he capture his heart?
Lochlann Wilde walks in the shadow of his father, a legendary summoner who commanded mythical beasts in battle. But Locke isn’t legendary. Heās barely a summoner, never passing his academyās trial of the elements.
And then he accidentally summons a fae prince with a beautiful body and a bad attitude.
Sylvain is fiery and ferocious, stronger than anything Locke has ever encountered. And hotter, too. But time is running out. Locke must tame the princeās wild heart. If he fails his trial, heāll lose his inheritance and ruin his family’s name.
Without Sylvain, Locke could lose his chance to become a true summonerā¦ along with his shot at true love.
Prince of Flowers is a contemporary fantasy romance with an HFN ending. Can a snarky summoner and a fickle fae prince endure mythical creatures, meddling goddesses, the fury of the elements, and each other? Only one way to find out. If you like sorcery, spice, and everything nice, youāve come to the right place. Start the Wild Hearts series today.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 