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atlastheninth's review
adventurous
emotional
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Thanks so much to Taylor for the eARC.
For me a good romance is when I giggle and giggle I did. Silvyr is a bratty prince and Brokil a gruff chief but really they are both so adorable and just trying to do their best. And being able to see their attraction grow into more through the dual POV? *chefs kiss*
What I loved most is that there were no major setbacks in their relationship during the story, it only moves forward. This is the part that always makes me a bit anxious in other romances but A Flowered Blade just felt like a warm hug. You always know that Silvyr and Brokil will be fine.
I also enjoyed the side characters who did all feel rounded out but I wouldn't have minded to get to know at least some of them a bit better. But in case you don't know: there is a lil short story about Ascal and Salthu in A Chronicle of Monsters.
mawcehanlin's review
5.0
**THIS BOOK WAS PROVIDED AS AN ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW**
The Flowered Blade has easily shot up to one of my favorite comfort reads of all time, and I’m already looking forward to reading it again and again and again! Hubbard truly has crafted an adorable and beautiful story that expertly weaves together a cast of well-rounded characters and a world full of unique cultures and exciting tension. Hubbard did a wonderful job taking some of my favorite tropes and making them something unique and new, and while the overall plot of the book was fairly predictable just by nature of being a romance novel, Hubbard constantly had me on the edge of my seat to see what would happen next. There were plenty of times I thought I knew where something was going only to find myself pleasantly surprised when we ran in a completely different, and better, direction.
While this book has a wonderful plot that had me itching to keep reading, the characters are really where Hubbard shines in this book. This story is centered around two main POV characters: Silvyr, the elven heir to the kingdom of Athowen, and Brokil, the orc chief of Ghizol who kidnaps him to force the king’s hand to allow Ghizol its freedom. Though it’s incredibly hard to pick a favorite, if I had to, it would be Silvyr. He’s an adorable little brat who is as stubborn as he is anxious, and is in desperate need of being shown what love truly feels/looks like. Brokil is no less rounded and interesting, and I am obsessed with him. He has a deep connection with his people, the desperate hope to be as good of a chief as his father, and the perfect mix of “gentle giant” and “daddy” that had me absolutely weak for him.
Aside from the two main characters, we have a wonderful cast of secondary characters that truly shine on their own in a way a lot of books fall short. While they often act as support for the main characters, helping them through difficult revelations or acting as a segway of information for us the reader, each side character still feels fully rounded and real in a way that shows they can stand on their own as well.
Something very important to me as well, Hubbard does an amazing job representing Silvyr’s trans identity in a queer-normative world, we even get to learn about how this world deals with top-surgery and get to see Silvyr learn to make a tea that helps with “feeling like his true self” (basically the fantasy version of t-shots!) Hubbard also broaches difficult topics extremely well and respectfully, like Silvyr’s devastating self-worth, his autism and anxiety, and his trauma from a lifetime of abuse.
Overall, The Flowered Blade is a fun romance with plenty of deeper emotions to have me truly invested in the characters, their well-being, and their relationship. (And that’s not even starting on the toe-curling smut scenes. Hello, Daddy Brokil.) I absolutely cannot wait to read more about them, and I’m already looking forward to my next re-read of this book!
The Flowered Blade has easily shot up to one of my favorite comfort reads of all time, and I’m already looking forward to reading it again and again and again! Hubbard truly has crafted an adorable and beautiful story that expertly weaves together a cast of well-rounded characters and a world full of unique cultures and exciting tension. Hubbard did a wonderful job taking some of my favorite tropes and making them something unique and new, and while the overall plot of the book was fairly predictable just by nature of being a romance novel, Hubbard constantly had me on the edge of my seat to see what would happen next. There were plenty of times I thought I knew where something was going only to find myself pleasantly surprised when we ran in a completely different, and better, direction.
While this book has a wonderful plot that had me itching to keep reading, the characters are really where Hubbard shines in this book. This story is centered around two main POV characters: Silvyr, the elven heir to the kingdom of Athowen, and Brokil, the orc chief of Ghizol who kidnaps him to force the king’s hand to allow Ghizol its freedom. Though it’s incredibly hard to pick a favorite, if I had to, it would be Silvyr. He’s an adorable little brat who is as stubborn as he is anxious, and is in desperate need of being shown what love truly feels/looks like. Brokil is no less rounded and interesting, and I am obsessed with him. He has a deep connection with his people, the desperate hope to be as good of a chief as his father, and the perfect mix of “gentle giant” and “daddy” that had me absolutely weak for him.
Aside from the two main characters, we have a wonderful cast of secondary characters that truly shine on their own in a way a lot of books fall short. While they often act as support for the main characters, helping them through difficult revelations or acting as a segway of information for us the reader, each side character still feels fully rounded and real in a way that shows they can stand on their own as well.
Something very important to me as well, Hubbard does an amazing job representing Silvyr’s trans identity in a queer-normative world, we even get to learn about how this world deals with top-surgery and get to see Silvyr learn to make a tea that helps with “feeling like his true self” (basically the fantasy version of t-shots!) Hubbard also broaches difficult topics extremely well and respectfully, like Silvyr’s devastating self-worth, his autism and anxiety, and his trauma from a lifetime of abuse.
Overall, The Flowered Blade is a fun romance with plenty of deeper emotions to have me truly invested in the characters, their well-being, and their relationship. (And that’s not even starting on the toe-curling smut scenes. Hello, Daddy Brokil.) I absolutely cannot wait to read more about them, and I’m already looking forward to my next re-read of this book!
morganlawson's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
marshwood's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I was provided with an ARC of The Flowered Blade by the author in exchange for an honest review. The book will be released in June 2024.
The Flowered Blade is an achingly tender story. I was immediately invested in the protagonists - especially Silvyr, who I really related to around the themes of family expectations, searching for belonging, staying soft in the face of cruelty and adversity, and carving out a place for yourself in the world.
As the title suggests, the characters bloom and heal together, finding ways to grow that balance fighting for what you believe in while remaining gentle and guided by love.
Hubbard's prose is beautiful. The imagery of wildflower fields and sunshiney countryside, juxtaposed against starry nights and cozy fires was really atmospheric and perfectly emphasized the feelings of safety, peace, and growth that are woven throughout the novel.
So many of my favourite elements and tropes were included! Plenty of spice, hurt/comfort/healing, captor x captive, queer/trans rep, orcs, elves, nature, and herbal medicine to name a few.
A couple things I could have used more of was a little more detail in world building - I wanted to know more about the history/relationship between the orcs and elves. I am so curious about how their cultures got to be how they are. I was also intrigued by the side characters and would've liked to see and understand more of their motivations and development, too.
All that said, I am definitely going to reread this once it is officially released! Planning to check out other works by this author, too. I highly recommend this book if anything said above resonates with you!
The Flowered Blade is an achingly tender story. I was immediately invested in the protagonists - especially Silvyr, who I really related to around the themes of family expectations, searching for belonging, staying soft in the face of cruelty and adversity, and carving out a place for yourself in the world.
As the title suggests, the characters bloom and heal together, finding ways to grow that balance fighting for what you believe in while remaining gentle and guided by love.
Hubbard's prose is beautiful. The imagery of wildflower fields and sunshiney countryside, juxtaposed against starry nights and cozy fires was really atmospheric and perfectly emphasized the feelings of safety, peace, and growth that are woven throughout the novel.
So many of my favourite elements and tropes were included! Plenty of spice, hurt/comfort/healing, captor x captive, queer/trans rep, orcs, elves, nature, and herbal medicine to name a few.
A couple things I could have used more of was a little more detail in world building - I wanted to know more about the history/relationship between the orcs and elves. I am so curious about how their cultures got to be how they are. I was also intrigued by the side characters and would've liked to see and understand more of their motivations and development, too.
All that said, I am definitely going to reread this once it is officially released! Planning to check out other works by this author, too. I highly recommend this book if anything said above resonates with you!
andromedaexists's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
oh god now i have to figure out how to blurb this.... it's so good how to i sum this up neatly?
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