Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Bed of Rose and Thorns offers intrigue, sabotage, assassination, and all the usual trappings of the fantasy setting. But what keeps the plot truly engaging is the complex emotional throughline. The character-driven narrative truly acts as the heart and mind of the whole work, which marks it as a noteworthy effort in the genre.
Prose: Hunt's oft-engaging prose goes far in bringing to life the tortured state of the main character, and in discussing more nuanced topics with a measure of grace and poise that are sometimes lacking within the genre.
Originality: Super-powered fantasy knights aren't a new flavor, but emotional and psychological richness distinguishes Bed of Rose and Thorns from some of its contemporaries—even if it still hangs on to some aging tropes.
Character Development/Execution: Hunt's main character presents an evocative, oftentimes challenging presentation of a hero, which offers a rare treat for a genre usually content with rather "clean" heroes and heroines. The supporting cast is brought together with a fairly solid amount of panache, though they sometimes struggle to define themselves as vibrantly, and sometimes resonantly, as the leads.
Date Submitted: April 07, 2022
This spectacular standalone fantasy from the prolific Hunt (author of the Dynamacist Trilogy among others) bursts with epic battles and avid romance. Sir Ezra’s life has come to be defined by a single moment from eleven years in the past. After defending his Queen and murdering her would-be assassins, including her powerful husband, he is banished in a ploy to assuage the Queen’s enemies who would otherwise seek retribution. The sacrifice costs him dearly. He must leave behind the Queen, whom he secretly, desperately loves. But that’s not his only secret: He’s an Elysian Bell, which means he possesses a special ability that causes him to vibrate and ring when he experiences profound love or raging anger. Now, to his shock, Ezra’s banishment has been overturned, and he returns to the capital where he must fight to protect his Queen from those who seek her death. Ezra is an honorable and courageous hero who leads the charge as the plot unravels thrilling twists and dynamic action sequences, but many supporting characters also shine in the spotlight. Hunt proves adept at developing character through symbols, as Ezra’s physical and emotional armor protect the fallen knight against his feelings. His passion for the Queen shines not only in his heroic zeal to keep her safe, but through his emotions as an Elysium Bell. The Queen, who harbors her own secret, also proves to be engagingly complex, as is Sir Marigold, a valiant female knight and friend of Ezra.
Hunt weaves in bloody battles alongside the lyrical declarations of love in order to create a balanced, appealing adventure. As Ezra struggles to unravel the inner mysteries of his beloved Queen, he also must come to understand his own desires. Fantasy fans looking for epic battles and a dose of romance will enjoy meeting Ezra and his Queen.
Takeaway: Lovers of fantasy and romance will enjoy this adventure led by dynamic characters and thrilling battle scenes.
Great for fans of: N. K. Jemisin, Shane Silvers.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Lee Hunt wrote Bed of Rose and Thorns. Ezra couldn't bear seeing the Queen in pain. He had murdered the prince of Erle, which caused the Queen to banish him eleven years ago. He resided where Lady Kristen offered him a place to stay. Ezra was an Elysian Bell. Rachel, Lady Kristen's daughter, fell in love with Ezra. Her long blonde hair kept on reminding Ezra of every moment he spent with the Queen as this was seductively luring him to want Rachel. This made Ezra always wear his armor to contain his feelings. Whenever Ezra chimed, his chiming lured the women around him—causing them to lust after him. He tried to control himself, but these women only made things worse. When Lady Kristen asked Ezra to be her "Senechal," she informed him that his banishment had been rescinded. Now, Ezra would take a journey to the Queendom with Pontes. His love for the Queen seemed to permeate his heart. He is the only one who could protect the Queen from her enemies.
From the onset, I could tell that this book was going to take me to a world of ecstasy and fantasy. This science fiction has a mix of romance, revealing how much a man can go for love. The book is made up of different themes. There is a lot to learn about love, kindness, and war. The intense romance in the novel kept the story going. The poems also added more rhyme to the book.
It appears that Ezra was a man of great principles. He talked about speaking the truth when necessary. Ezra tells what prevented him from the pain of his banishment by the Queen, which I think it's one principle to guide the heart.
I admire how Ezra portrayed the Queen and stated why he loves her. There is a lot of reality to Ezra's words about a leader. All scrutinize a leader, and no one understands the pain and restless nights a leader undergoes. The sacrifices you made seem not appreciated and recognized. But daily, a leader is being scorned by the people she leads.
I love the high suspense in the book. Each time Ezra takes a step to see the Queen, he is stopped by an incident. Sometimes, he doesn't get to see her in time. As I read, this lures me to find out if Ezra will eventually be able to see the Queen or not.
I think Ezra's reply to the Queen when she asked him why he loved her was all it takes to appreciate a relationship. He confessed his last secret, which was about understanding. This his last secret, I assume, is the bedrock of friendship also. I also love the author's style of writing. The book centers on Queendom. The "Knights" were women. This makes this book worth my time. There was absolutely nothing I disliked in this book.
I found a few errors while reading. The book seems professionally edited. I would gladly rate Bed of Rose and Thorns by Lee Hunt 4 out of 4 stars. I would love to recommend this book to lovers of romance novels with a mix of science fiction. Since adult content was strong, I would request younger readers to walk away from this book.
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Bed of Rose and Thorns
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