Reviews

The Ruler by Elin Peer

lifeinthebooklane's review

5.0

This was one of those reads you just don't want to put down and having met Pearl and Khan in The Protector I couldn't wait to read their story. They turned out to be much deeper characters than I had expected, but were just as wonderful, believable and likeable as I had hoped.



Whilst this didn't have the same sexual chemistry/heat as The Protector, it focused a lot more on building relationships and compromising over differences. I loved that most of the angst in this story was not as a result of conflict between the hero and heroine but was caused by external factors. Seeing Pearl and Khan working together to overcome these barriers made one exciting, steamy and enjoyable read.

I loved that Elin Peer didn't just have 'love conquering all' but actually had Khan and Pearl both learning about the other's cultures, realising their prejudices were unfounded and working together on a better future for all. Given Khan's position in the Nmen's society anything less would have been too glib and easy, ignoring the issues that their relationship would cause.

The story flowed smoothly, was extremely well written and was really easy to read. Both the pace and the action kept my attention and really drew me into the story. Whilst I know the next book will focus on other characters, I'm really hoping Magni gets his HEA at some point too.

krystlethegreat's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

kimah74's review against another edition

5.0

I absolutely loved this book! Khan is the ultimate, the king, the alpha. He has always had to be smarter or tougher. When Pearl comes into his life she turns his world upside down. It is such a pleasure to see characters grow so much throughout a book. The author pulls you in the story that you feel you are there when Pearl talks down an angry mob, or when she convinces a stingy old man to part with some of his money to adopt a struggling town, or when she stands up to the council and her mother so she may return to Khan. Great book, characters, story development, and overall story. Would highly recommend!

romanceandraindrops's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

africreole's review

5.0

A very imaginative story

I just loved how the crude Nmen and the Momsies are learning about the real people of their two very different cultures. Some many lies and myths they are uncovering bout each other.

Now that Pearl and Khan are setting the way that an Nmen/Motlander union should look like, things should get interesting from here on out. Some of the things the Nmen would say just had me cracking up. They may be crude but they are funny as all get out. I couldn't stop laughing when Pearl and Christina found out what "jacking the beanstalk" meant.

NOTE: This story was read in conjunction with listening to it by using Audible.com. Both of the narrators did an excellent job. John Masterson's narration of the female parts was just right without over-trying to sound feminine

seagirl8907's review

4.0

Well I did enjoyed that one. But not as much as the first one. It was nice to see the change they wanted to make with this school and I loved Pearl she was a kind of woman that I like. I definitely recommend it. It was a good nice shot read.

isitcake's review

fast-paced

3.5

Really enjoyed seeing these 2 logical people together - Khan and Pearl. The first ~30% is a repeat of book 1 events but then it diverges. We see Khan and Pearl increasingly respect each other while handling the conflicts that pop up. We see a lot of Khan's troubled past relationship with his father and later Pearl's relationship with her mother Isobel, an important council chairwoman. 

I really liked some of the quotes in here about loving relationships.

Feel within your heart and ask yourself what we have. ... Connection, trust, love, attraction, respect, desire...

After Magni kidnaps Athena, Pearl offers herself in exchange. Initially she's terrified of Magni and Khan but for the most part keeps calm. Pearl is a great character in how logical and calm she is. We learn she was selected as a councilwoman as a child due to her traits, empathy being a big one. Khan wants to brainwash her but ends up falling for her instead. He nonstop pressures her to have sex and she eventually gives in but they have a slight falling out afterwards.

Khan struggles a lot with his internal demons. He wasn't as good of a fighter as his brother Magni, and his father constantly belittled him. He has tons of bad memories of their interactions.

There's a few encounters where Khan brings Pearl along as he puts down a possible uprising against him. Everyone is impressed with how Pearl talks to the room and stops a huge fight from happening. Later Khan takes her to see the poorest town in the Northlands and a rich man nearby, Zobel, who rather than leaving his wealth upon his death to either of his 2 daughters (daughters don't inherit of course /eyeroll) he's leaving it to Khan and Magni. Pearl convinces him that he could use his wealth now to help rebuild the poor town and in return he would leave behind a legacy.

Pearl eventually returns to the Motherlands but she loves Khan and wants to go back. Her mother Isobel has her committed to a peaceful rehabilitation center. After a week Pearl is pulled out because of a video Boulder, Christina and others filmed of their success implementing the mixed school (see my book 3 review). Pearl gets the council to agree to send her back because of the positive influence she's having on Khan.

She goes back but Khan has become very depressed while she was away and he doesn't think he deserves her. Pearl keeps a level head and loves him anyway. Khan remembers a time where his dad came to him for strategy advice and respected him for mind. This unlocks other positive memories and he realizes he's not a fraud, he's fit to be the ruler. He and Pearl get married.

claudiatralenuvole's review against another edition

2.0

Continuo a provare fascinazione per il mondo futuristico descritto, ma questo secondo volume è sicuramente meno interessante del primo. Troppe scene superflue, si prova a dare spessore ai personaggi con lunghi flashback riusciti male e che allungano il brodo inutilmente. Ero più interessata ai personaggi secondari che ai protagonisti, il progetto di inclusione delle due civiltà mi ha interessato di più della storia d'amore piena di cliché messa in piedi in questo volume.
Voglio comunque proseguire la saga per sapere come procederà la storia dal punto di vista politico, ma tutto il resto è un grosso no.

mepayne15's review against another edition

5.0

Sweet

I really loved Pearl and Khan's story. It was so sweet but also really funny. I loved how both Pearl and Khan tried to out maneuver each other to try and achieve the agenda of their own nations, only to fall in love along the way.

ciaramcd's review

adventurous funny lighthearted reflective tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25