Name: Sharanya Sharma's review of A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland
Item: A Taste of Gold and Iron
Rating: 4.5
Author: Sharanya Sharma

Alexandra Rowland

“A delicious tangle of romance, fealty, and dangerous politics.”—Tasha Suri The Goblin Emperor meets "Magnificent Century" in Alexandra Rowland's A Taste of Gold and Iron, where a queer central romance unfolds in a fantasy world reminiscent of the Ottoman Empire. Kadou, the shy prince of Arasht, finds himself at odds with one of the most powerful ambassadors at court—the body-father of the queen's new child—in an altercation which results in his humiliation. To prove his loyalty to the queen, his sister, Kadou takes responsibility for the investigation of a break-in at one of their guilds, with the help of his newly appointed bodyguard, the coldly handsome Evemer, who seems to tolerate him at best. In Arasht, where princes can touch-taste precious metals with their fingers and myth runs side by side with history, counterfeiting is heresy, and the conspiracy they discover could cripple the kingdom’s financial standing and bring about its ruin.

A Taste of Gold and Iron

Francesca 

, unforgettable slow-burn romance 😍😍. Yes, there were imperfections — the world building for one, bc I’m sorry but “Kadou-as-in-cadeau” is a RIDICULOUS name, and I’m not 

 sure how comfy I am with West Asian history being kind of bastardized for a story written by someone not of that identity — but oh, OH, this gorgeous characterization rendered through stunning, STUNNING prose kept me in spite of my misgivings. Evemer in particular has my whole gd heart, okay?!?! In conclusion: 100000% A KEEPER. 

Sharanya Sharma

That. Was. AMAZING!!! What an utterly heart-wrenching, unforgettable slow-burn romance 😍😍. Yes, there were imperfections — the world building for one, bc I’m sorry but “Kadou-as-in-cadeau” is a RIDICULOUS name, and I’m not entirely sure how comfy I am with West Asian history being kind of bastardized for a story written by someone not of that identity — but oh, OH, this gorgeous characterization rendered through stunning, STUNNING prose kept me in spite of my misgivings. Evemer in particular has my whole gd heart, okay?!?! In conclusion: 100000% A KEEPER. 

This is probably more of a 3.75⭐️ read for me. I loved the romance - it felt like a true enemies to lovers slow burn which are two of my fav tropes, and I think the author did both of these well. Also the treatment of mental health was interesting and a big section of the book. I liked it because so rarely do you see a main character struggle in the way and I think there are a lot of people who will feel seen by that. The world also felt well-built and established with an interesting culture that I honestly would mind diving further into. I do wish there was more of a point for touch-tasting, it seems like it was just the only way she could think to start the counterfeit plot but I think there was more she could do there. What frustrated me the most though was how blatantly fucking obvious it was that Siranos and Oissios were behind the whole thing from like page 5 and the characters just stumbled around in ignorance for 400 pages. Also I think more of the romance could have been added - a few of their romantic scenes felt one-note after awhile since they were only doing the same thing over and over. I would have liked an epilogue a few years into the future to flesh out their love story a bit more. 

Katie Allard

Alice Hyman

This book is so much more than a magic system, it’s so much more than a royal romance. This book is about hurting and wanting, about anxiety and faith, about love, hope, hurt and hate. The running of a kingdom, with all the economics and politics that goes along with it. Discussions of trade, currency, and diplomatic rights. This world is so real it bleeds. It bleeds the aching tiredness that comes from anxiety. The aching fear that is constantly present. It bleeds love, it bleeds and care hope.

Kadou is second born, his sister - Zehila - is Sultan, and her daughter Eyne is quite possibly the cutest thing he’s ever seen. Kadou is back up, never meant to sit the throne, and he is so so so so godly grateful for that. He plays the part he was born for. He loves his people fiercely and fears his power even more, and he tries, he tries so goddam hard. But he fumbles his politics and his words, he is so afraid. His mistakes, his fears can cost lives.

Newly assigned to the core guards Evemer has no illusions about his prince, he watches this fidgety ball of fear. He wants to shake him, to make him do his duty. To comb his hair and tell him its okay. He wants to help, but the problem with help is that it has to be both offered and asked for.

This book has the most realistic representation of living with anxiety that I have ever read or watched. It shows the helplessness, the hatred, the weakness, and also the strength. The frustration of so much fear, how you need to be wanted, needed - but the thought of disappointing makes everything even worse. This book is absolutely soul destroying and affirming, adorable enemies to lovers, a fantasy world so real you forget its fantasy, a magic system so well integrated that you forget its there. Politics, intrigue, love, loss, assassins and espionage.

aaanddd we have reached the point of my review where I just start incoherently rambling about how you really just have to read it and door hinge pins and stuff

“A delicious tangle of romance, fealty, and dangerous politics.”—Tasha Suri The Goblin Emperor meets "Magnificent Century" in Alexandra Rowland's A Taste of Gold and Iron, where a queer central romance unfolds in a fantasy world reminiscent of the Ottoman Empire. Kadou, the shy prince of Arasht, finds himself at odds with one of the most powerful ambassadors at court—the body-father of the queen's new child—in an altercation which results in his humiliation. To prove his loyalty to the queen, his sister, Kadou takes responsibility for the investigation of a break-in at one of their guilds, with the help of his newly appointed bodyguard, the coldly handsome Evemer, who seems to tolerate him at best. In Arasht, where princes can touch-taste precious metals with their fingers and myth runs side by side with history, counterfeiting is heresy, and the conspiracy they discover could cripple the kingdom’s financial standing and bring about its ruin. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

This book is so much more than a magic system, it’s so much more than a royal romance. This book is about hurting and wanting, about anxiety and faith, about love, hope, hurt and hate. The running of a kingdom, with all the economics and politics that goes along with it. Discussions of trade, currency, and diplomatic rights. This world is so real it bleeds. It bleeds the aching tiredness that comes from anxiety. The aching fear that is constantly present. It bleeds love, it bleeds and care hope.

Kadou is second born, his sister - Zehila - is Sultan, and her daughter Eyne is quite possibly the cutest thing he’s ever seen. Kadou is back up, never meant to sit the throne, and he is so so so so godly grateful for that. He plays the part he was born for. He loves his people fiercely and fears his power even more, and he tries, he tries so goddam hard. But he fumbles his politics and his words, he is so afraid. His mistakes, his fears can cost lives.

Newly assigned to the core guards Evemer has no illusions about his prince, he watches this fidgety ball of fear. He wants to shake him, to make him do his duty. To comb his hair and tell him its okay. He wants to help, but the problem with help is that it has to be both offered and asked for.

This book has the most realistic representation of living with anxiety that I have ever read or watched. It shows the helplessness, the hatred, the weakness, and also the strength. The frustration of so much fear, how you need to be wanted, needed - but the thought of disappointing makes everything even worse. This book is absolutely soul destroying and affirming, adorable enemies to lovers, a fantasy world so real you forget its fantasy, a magic system so well integrated that you forget its there. Politics, intrigue, love, loss, assassins and espionage.

aaanddd we have reached the point of my review where I just start incoherantly rambling about how you really just have to read it and door hinge pins and stuff

This book is so much more than a magic system, it’s so much more than a royal romance. This book is about hurting and wanting, about anxiety and faith, about love, hope, hurt and hate. The running of a kingdom, with all the economics and politics that goes along with it. Discussions of trade, currency, and diplomatic rights. This world is so real it bleeds. It bleeds the aching tiredness that comes from anxiety. The aching fear that is constantly present. It bleeds love, it bleeds and care hope.

Kadou is second born, his sister - Zehila - is Sultan, and her daughter Eyne is quite possibly the cutest thing he’s ever seen. Kadou is back up, never meant to sit the throne, and he is so so so so godly grateful for that. He plays the part he was born for. He loves his people fiercely and fears his power even more, and he tries, he tries so goddam hard. But he fumbles his politics and his words, he is so afraid. His mistakes, his fears can cost lives.

Newly assigned to the core guards Evemer has no illusions about his prince, he watches this fidgety ball of fear. He wants to shake him, to make him do his duty. To comb his hair and tell him its okay. He wants to help, but the problem with help is that it has to be both offered and asked for.

This book has the most realistic representation of living with anxiety that I have ever read or watched. It shows the helplessness, the hatred, the weakness, and also the strength. The frustration of so much fear, how you need to be wanted, needed - but the thought of disappointing makes everything even worse. This book is absolutely soul destroying and affirming, adorable enemies to lovers, a fantasy world so real you forget its fantasy, a magic system so well integrated that you forget its there. Politics, intrigue, love, loss, assassins and espionage.

aaanddd we have reached the point of my review where I just start incoherantly rambling about how you really just have to read it and door hinge pins and stuff

Kevin Domingo

Michaella 

Cindy

judie g

Valeria Rodriguez

Deborah Kerr

A sweeping fantasy romance set against the backdrop of an Ottoman Empire-inspired world, A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland is perfect for fans of A Marvellous Light and The Goblin Emperor. ‘A delicious tangle of romance, fealty and dangerous politics’ – Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne One false coin could topple an empire. Kadou, the shy prince of Arasht, has no intention of wrestling for imperial control with his sister, the queen. Yet he remains at odds with one of the most powerful ambassadors at court – the father of the queen’s new child. Then a hunting party goes terribly awry, and Kadou finds himself under suspicion of attempted murder. To prove his loyalty to his sister and salvage his reputation, Kadou takes responsibility for the investigation of a break-in at one of their guilds. He enlists the help of his newly appointed bodyguard, the coldly handsome Evemer, who seems to tolerate him at best. But what appears to be a straightforward crime spirals into a complex counterfeiting operation, with a powerful enemy at its heart. In Arasht, where princes can touch-taste precious metals with their fingers and myth runs side by side with history, counterfeiting is heresy. The conspiracy they discover could cripple the kingdom’s financial standing – and bring about its ruin. ‘As indulgent and satisfying as your favourite fanfiction’ – Tessa Gratton, author of The Queens of Innis Lear

Francesca &
A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland

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