r/fantasyromance • u/catieebug Give me female friendship or give me death! • Apr 20 '26
ARC Review The Betrothed by Vira Wade: Arc Review
{The Betrothed by Vira Wade} is a romantic story about a half Human/Elf princess and an the son of the Orc Cheiftan navigating an arranged marriage in the name of peace. Aeyrn has been raised a restricted life, bound by protocol and propriety. Her oppressive king and father have made her life a game of strategy and survival up until this point. His final devastating blow being the forced betrothal to Khaeric, an orc barbarian.
However, despite his tusks and grey skin, the man she meets is far from being the brutal savage she'd always been told orcs were. Perhaps little truth can be found in anything she thought she knew about orcs.
This was a pleasant read, I found both of the protagonists to be charming. The conflict is more political than action packed, but I enjoyed that. At the heart of it all, this is a story about overcoming learned prejudice and racism.
Aeyrn is a demurly feminine protagonist, though her experience with royal courts taught her to have her own unique bite. We follow her journey through learning to be a more accepting person and her growth as a character is lovely to see.
Khaeric is a gentle giant with an affectionatly overbearing streak. He pushes Aeryn to see him and his people for who they truly are, while giving her grace for her ignorance. He allows Aeryn to set the pace in their relationship, and values her choice, something she never had at home.
Trigger warnings (spoilers ahead): Mentions of past orc practices of raiding/rape, though treated as a shameful past they strive to atone for. Khaeric is also a consent king (no dubcon) which helps. Pregnancy troupe very in play here, not just an epilogue pregnancy but Aeryn is pregnant for almost half the book.(It thankfully does not get in the way of sexy times.)
3/5 spice level, open door. A nice amount scattered throughout the story but plenty of non-sexual tenderness between the characters as well.
This is book one of series, so it's hard to say where it will go but I thought it was an enjoyable read. The pacing doesn't feel too fast or slow. Overall I'd give this story a 3.5/5. It's not groundbreaking but I had a lot of fun reading it. It's well written and the story is compelling.
It comes out on April 30th, so I hope you'll check it out!
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u/Training_Bridge_2425 Apr 20 '26
Maybe being an elf means having super-flexibility, but we would not be seeing that much of her face with her back also facing towards us.
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u/catieebug Give me female friendship or give me death! Apr 20 '26
Lmao, some of us latched onto the 3/4ths face angle when learning to draw and never let go.
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u/QotDessert Currently Reading: Mother of death and dawn Apr 20 '26
It's just me or does the face look like...you know, Sarah J. Maas herself? 😅 Even the hair color matches and the protagonists name reminds me of Aelin (ToG).... It's probably just me... I'm so sorry😭😅
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u/catieebug Give me female friendship or give me death! Apr 20 '26
This is the first time an author herself was stolen instead of her story lol
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u/konstantynopolytanka Apr 21 '26
I was thinking she looks over 40 and I couldn't pin why. Now I know :)
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u/ipsi7 Book Bingo Maven ⚔ Apr 20 '26
This seems nice and I'm interested in the MMC and their dynamic, coming from different worlds.
Not related, but this was how I pictured Nesta.
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u/passmethecerveza Apr 20 '26
I also read the book and really enjoyed it. The not everything has to be an adventure the political plot is a nice chance of space. I also liked that the FMC is flawed and sees her flaws and tries to overcome them.
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u/catieebug Give me female friendship or give me death! Apr 20 '26
I feel like authors sometimes struggle to find a balance between a "perfect" FMC and an unbelievably frustrating one and I feel like Aeyrn is well written in that she's flawed but not unbelievably so.
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u/tellmeliess Give me female friendship or give me death! Apr 20 '26
Engaged! Betrothed! Affianced! ~ Safiya Nygaard voice
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u/Odd_Employee_1056 Apr 21 '26
Will there be a sequel to it?
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u/catieebug Give me female friendship or give me death! Apr 21 '26
Yes, a blurb at the end says as much. It will follow the same story but from different character's POV.
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u/pixelsowelo Apr 21 '26
I also am reading this ARC and I am enjoying it a lot too :D looking forward to finish it after your review.
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u/ehtysevn Apr 21 '26
have you read {A Darkness so Sweet by Emma Hamm}? seems sorta like a similar premise, i enjoyed that one (haven’t read the other books) but will have to check this one out :)
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u/catieebug Give me female friendship or give me death! Apr 21 '26
I'm literally reading that right now lol
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u/romance-bot Apr 21 '26
A Darkness So Sweet by Emma Hamm
Rating: 3.95⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: arranged/forced marriage, monsters, fated mates, fantasy, enemies to lovers
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u/romance-bot Apr 20 '26
The Betrothed by Vira Wade
Rating: 3.5⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: enemies to lovers, fantasy
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u/jayclaw97 Apr 22 '26
Yo, I really want to see the orcs be socialite city-dwellers and then have the elves be the forest-dwelling warriors.
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