Title: A Dance of Water and Air
Series: Elemental Magicae 01
Author: Antonia Aquilante
Genre: Fantasy, Trans
Length: Novel (318pgs)
Publisher: Nine Star Press (October 1, 2018)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 3.75 Hearts
Blurb: Edmund is heir to the throne of Thalassa and a wielder of Water magic. Devoted to his kingdom and his duty to it, Edmund can do nothing but acquiesce to an arranged marriage with the queen of a neighboring kingdom. The marriage and the child it is required to produce will seal an alliance between Thalassa and Aither that is vital to Thalassa’s safety, and far more important than Edmund’s personal misgivings.
Arden is the younger brother of Aither’s queen and a wielder of Air magic. Raised in the politics of the court to support his sister’s rule, he understands the alliance is important to Aither, even as he worries about his sister marrying someone she’s never met. When Edmund arrives in Aither to prepare for the wedding, Arden is tasked with helping him settle in at court. As they spend more time together, Edmund and Arden develop a close friendship, then stronger feelings, but with Edmund’s wedding approaching, they must hide their feelings, even from themselves.
When someone tries to assassinate the queen, Edmund is blamed, and Arden rescues him before he can be executed for a crime he didn’t commit. To prevent a war between their kingdoms and protect them from a dangerous enemy, Edmund and Arden will have to discover who wants to pit Aither and Thalassa against each other and mend relations between the two kingdoms as they evade those searching for them—all while finding a way to be together.
ISBN: 978-1-949340-85-3
Product Link: NineStar Press | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Smashwords | B&N | Kobo
Reviewer: Shorty
Review: I was honestly on the fence about the overall feel of this story after I read it. Prince Edward, a water magic wielder, is arranged to marry the Queen of Aither, an air magic wielder, in the hopes of strengthening the treaty between the two. Once there Edward meets the queen’s brother, Arden, and slowly spends more time with the man. Eventually the two grow much closer and a hidden relationship begins.
Amid all this is the fact someone is trying to kill the queen and sets up Edward to take the fall. Now while all this sounds really good the delivery of the story did not quite match up to the pace of the blurb. It was slow at times and too rushed in other places. Some details that were needed were missing.
Overall the story could have been better, but that’s my opinion.
Good read.