I LOVED this twist on classic fantasy tropes! I thought I was burned out on eye-roll inducing "self-saving princess" inversions, but Holly Rose proved that there is still life in this genre of storytelling, and she delivered in excess! Loved this one.

Forget morally grey men, forget brooding shadow daddies, and forget the billionaire Mafia bosses... I want a pacifist, cinnamon roll, bookish monk/prince!

Oh my gosh, you guys!!! This book!!!! THE KNIGHT OF THE TROVE by Holly Rose is sooooo good! I was in love from the get-go!

Far off places ✅️
Daring sword fights ✅️
Magic spells ✅️
A Prince in Disguise ✅️
Dragon battles ✅️
Friends to Lovers ✅️
Grumpy x Sunshine ✅️
Pining ✅️
Bed Chem ✅️

This book has it all! I adored everything about it. I loved the reverse damsel theme, placing Princess Nesrin not as a damsel guarded by a bloodthirsty dragon awaiting a dashing Prince to rescue her but as the fierce and fiery warrior guarding the trove and her own freedom. I loved how relatably grumpy and irritable and antisocial Nesrin was throughout the entire book; just absolutely done with men and their shit! I laughed out loud from the beginning when she was beating up the boys, taking their toys, and sending them on their way to lick their wounds!

And then enters The Bookish Prince of Veytia, a monk of Hivathe, Kasper Oh!

*swoons dramatically* 🤤😍🥰

I mean it when I say forget the morally grey morons; what you really need in your heart is a pacifist, bookish, cinnamon roll determined to achieve his quest to find a sacred artifact to protect the world from devastation. This is a man who won't even ride a mule when he's got a limb-threatening injury for fear of needlessly harming the tough old beast! A man who tries so valiantly to maintain his vows in the face of temptation even though they were vows he never wanted to take.

I'm in love with Kas, is what I'm saying.

And the quest! The world-building! The characters, creatures, magic, and the plot!!! You guys, I don't know what witchcraft Holly Rose was working when she wrote this book, but it needs to be studied. The Knight of The Trove is addictive, fast-paced, and full of conflict, battles, and realism!!! Oh! The realism! I loved that when our daring duo ran into trouble on their quest, they actually struggled to survive. There were touch-and-go moments! They weren't just BAMF fighters able to overcome every obstacle.

Honestly, when this book drops on 8th October 2024, it's going to be big! You NEED to read it! I immediately messaged my friend to get her signed up to read the ARC, too, because I needed someone to gush to about it!

The pining! The tension! The magic! The Grumpy x Sunshine vibes of our leading romantic pairing! So, so, so, so, good!!

It's absolutely a 5-star read! No, it's a 7/5. That's how good it is! All the stars! Infinite stars!

I am in awe of what Holly has created with this masterpiece, and I can't wait to watch it blow up on Booktok.

Thank you to NetGalley, Holly Rose, Victory Editing and Star Siren Press for allowing me the honor to read this book as an eARC. I enjoyed this book right away and I would give it a solid 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars, although if we changed book rating systems to a 10 star system, I would be giving a cool 7.5!

This read like an Elder Scrolls adventure. You had a main story quest that is related to the big conflict and as you set out to go about completing this quest, you have side quests that unravel more story lines. This gives you a very well-rounded protagonist and you feel like you know and understand her and all the onion layers she possesses.

As it is a Romantasy, we get the added bonus of a lush love story that unfolds incredibly well. Not just because they have a nice spicy scene that culminated by the very slow burn, romantic tension, but because the characters of Nesrin (FMC) and Kas (MMC) were very well and easily laid out. Their individual quests were straightforward but their characters unfolded beautifully with each page. This gave you every indication that their temperaments would mix very well and you wouldn’t ever doubt that they would make a Jane and Bingley-type of relationship.

As with any dragon, I fell in love with Ady. She had a distinct voice and gave me Saphira vibes but instead of Rachel Weisz I heard Viola Davis’s voice in my head, right away. She is regal and has the depth of wisdom that highlights her centuries of existence yet she had levity in the appropriate moments, at least the ones where I wanted them.

The actions were easy to follow and the story itself is very nicely packaged. No plot holes to speak of. I would say that it reads more like YA. Some dialogue and language usage were very modernized so it did take me out of the fantasy, knight-and-sword vibe that I was creating in my head.

I really appreciated the diversity and feeling the influence of a variety of cultures that we experienced in this book.

Rating: 4.5/5

Imagine a world where the princess doesn't need rescuing... Instead, she's the one wielding the sword! I dove into this epic fantasy romance curious: Can Nesrin, a fierce knight, outwit her enemies and claim her rightful place?

Initial Thoughts:
I've always been drawn to strong female protagonists, and Nesrin's story promised just that. A princess-turned-knight, battling against oppression? Count me in! My expectations were high, and I'm thrilled to say this book delivered.
Get ready for a tale of magic, mayhem, and forbidden love! I devoured this fantasy romance, mesmerized by Nesrin's transformation from vulnerable princess to fearless warrior. Trust me, You'll love this adventure.

Storyline:
In this captivating high fantasy romance, Nesrin, a former princess turned skilled knight, shatters traditional molds. Rescued by a benevolent dragon, Nesrin has spent years honing her skills to protect herself and her new home.
When Kas, a handsome and troubled monk, arrives with a quest to find the magical golden casket, Nesrin is drawn into a perilous adventure. As they navigate treacherous landscapes, ancient libraries, and hidden temples, their forbidden feelings blossom.
This novel masterfully explores themes of feminism, self-empowerment, and loyalty. Nesrin's transformation from vulnerable princess to fearless warrior is inspiring, while Kas's inner conflict adds depth to the narrative.
The world-building is rich and immersive, with a vividly detailed realm of Mellora, complete with dragons, magical artifacts, and mythical creatures. The author's witty dialogue and clever plot twists keep you guessing until the very end.

Characters:
Nesrin's transformation is inspiring, showcasing her growth into a strong, independent warrior. Kas's troubled past and inner conflict add depth, making their slow-burn romance swoon-worthy. Supporting characters, like the benevolent dragon, enrich the narrative.

Writing Style:
The author's masterful storytelling weaves vivid descriptions, witty dialogue, and clever plot twists into a rich tapestry. With a perfect balance of humor, action, and emotional depth, this novel is a true page-turner.

Themes:
Feminism & Empowerment
Loyalty & Duty
Self-Discovery
Good vs. Evil
Love & Sacrifice
Identity & Belonging
Morality & Gray Areas
Personal Growth

Recommendation:
Fans of fantasy romance, particularly those who enjoy Sarah J. Maas and Leigh Bardugo, will devour this captivating tale. Anyone looking for strong female protagonists, slow-burn romance, and action-packed adventures will find this unforgettable.

Final Verdict:
This high fantasy romance is unputdownable! With its breakneck pace, heart-pumping action, and captivating romance, you'll be hooked. The richly detailed world of Mellora and memorable characters make this a must-read.

Rating Breakdown:
Storyline: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Writing Style: 4.5/5
Overall: 4.5/5

Will I Recommend?: Absolutely!

Thank you for accept my arc request.

This book gave me Camelot meets Laura Croft vibes and I loved it! Knights, dragons, a cop battle at the end, what’s not to love?
This book was on the shorter end which I loved for my “let’s read” days where I just read as many books as I can as I was able to easily breeze through this one.

I never knew I needed a sassy, magic and gold loving of a mother figure that happens to also be a feared dragon by the name of Ady. She was one of my favourite characters.

I loved how the story started and ended in one book, nothing felt too rushed and I love a good quest/adventure to save the world from a tyrant and this did it perfectly! The worldbuilding was simple but it was done so well, I just want to stay in the trove that felt like a magical castle from a fairytale.

There were times when I felt like it was telling us more than showing us what the characters felt and the writing style felt very ya at some points.

I loved both Nesrin and Kas, they were different in their own ways, but went so well with each other and I was smiling at some of the things they said and did together. I love how she's the warrior and he's the cinnamon roll(who can and will kill if they hurt her).

The knight of the trove
Genre- Romantasy
Rating- 4 Stars
Release Date- 8th October

This Romantasy book was actually sooo good. I was a bit sceptical because it's more of a cute Romantasy book if that makes sense, the romance side of it anyway. I normally read dark Romantasy with morally grey mmc but decided to switch it up a little and I'm glad I did!

The mmc is a monk and a walking green flag, the fmc is a badass princess that doesn't want to be rescued from the dragon and is also a knight to the trove.

It definitely had me gripped from the very beginning, that first line!?
' I was sacrificed in the usual way: bound to a pole and left for a dragon I was told would eat me alive'

This had me giggling so bad, there is banter with the dragons and between the main characters.
I loved the dragon(ady) so much. I was mind blown towards the end! Amazing plot twist, had me gasping. Was such an incredible story.

This is a slow burn BUT it was so worth it. This has spice BTW (Only one scene but it was chef's kiss, loved it) So don't go into this thinking you are going to get a lot of spice.

"The sight of blood doesn't bother me. The sight of your blood spilled by that monster bothers me"

Tropes-
Banter
Dragons
Slow burn
Forbidden romance
Strong FMC
One bed
She Teaches him

I received an arc copy of this book and it has to be my favourite arc read so far. I wish Goodreads allowed half stars because I would have rated this 4.5 stars. I almost rated it 5 stars but knocked off half a point because I wanted more, I could have easily read another 50-100 pages of the lead up to the battle. Ok now that I have the one critique out of the way I'm going to talk about what I love. Holly Rose writes very beautifully, the words flow which makes the story flow. For a fantasy book it's very fast paced. The world building is not too heavy, I would even recommend this book to someone who doesn't usually read fantasy because I feel like it's a great book to introduce you into that world. The slow burn romance was perfectly executed and the FMC and MMC were perfectly suited. I enjoyed this book so much, I don't really like to give spoilers in my reviews but the sassy dragon gave this book something extra. The book was nicely wrapped up, only one little cliffhanger but that is the lead into the second book in the series. I cannot wait for book two.

Thank you Netgalley and Victory editing for the Arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun romantasy book! It gave me Camelot meets Laura Croft or Indiana Jones vibes. There was knights and dragons and a quest that felt very Holy Grail and the FMC being a badass mystery solver and fighter.

The MMC really was a hot cinnamon roll but it was cute dynamics as him being a non violent Monk and her being a Knight of the Dragons Trove. I will say I was suprised at how often she got hurt for someone who spent their life fighting and besting Princes and Lords who came to try and take her from the Trove. I wanted her to beat Lord Asher more than anything and was suprised she failed twice against him with all her experience.

There was some crazy cool battling in some caves the end battle at the end as well. I love me some good old fashioned murdering of fhe bad guys.

This is a solid 4.5 for me only because some more editing could have been done near the end. Example: One line said "Galter turned to quietly confer quietly." More little rushed mis wording at the end could be looked at but other than that it's a solidly written novel! I also appreciated it was shorter than those oversaturated 500 page High Fantasy filled with too much exposition. This was the perfect length executed with a great mix of plot, character growth, romance and a little spice.

Thanks again Netgalley and to Holly Rose for a great book.

I loved this book! The chemistry between the FMC and the MMC was electric, the action was incredible, the world-building was the perfect amount without being info-dumpy, and the pacing of the book mad me read this in one sitting! Highly recommend and I can't wait for more from Holly Rose!

Thank you netgalley for the arc.
I suggest this book to ones who loves a good romance either the right chemistry, battle and dragonssss!

A very good star for Holly Rose, I’ll read the others books of the series for sure

Thank you to NetGalley, Holly Rose, and the publisher for allowing me access to the e-Arc.

4.25 stars

I had a lot of fun with this book. If you love a journey story with some romance and dragons then you might just love this story. I would have given it a higher rating but the writing felt at times like it was written for a slightly younger audience. This story is definitely an adult story with mature themes. I would still likely recommend it!

I received this book as an ARC.

I enjoyed this story and the unique take on a dragon “rescue.”
I found the characters interesting and the lengths they would go to help each other heartwarming. I feel like the FMC and MMC were well-matched and I liked that they both saved each other at various times through the book.

While I enjoy multi-book stories, I love that this was able to be covered in one book so that it wasn’t overly drawn out.

I know there will be a second book being released in 2025 that focuses on another character and I will definitely be giving it a read!

I was engaged with what was going on in this world and thought it worked overall as a way to introduce us to the world and characters. It was a strong start to the Knights of Mellora series and was enjoying that the princess didn’t want to be rescued. I thought everything worked well overall in the fantasy genre and as a romance novel. It worked well overall as a slow burn and it was a great forbidden love that was realistic in the world. I enjoyed how well Holly Rose wrote this and left me wanting to read more in this series.

Holly Rose has created the perfect blend of intriguing world-building, nail-biting action, and smoldering forbidden romance in this adult romantasy set in the kingdom of Mellora! Cutthroat, ferocious, and snarky, Nesrin is the perfect equal to Kas, her humble cinnamon roll love interest who can be best described as a “green flag”. As a high fantasy, readers will be transported to a lush world filled with dragons, manticores, and magical artifacts, and thrown into realm-altering wars where the stakes are more than just life and death.

THE KNIGHT OF THE TROVE is the perfect opening to the series! I can’t wait to read more!