Review of The Bachelor’s Valet (Flos Magicae 2) by Arden Powell
BlurbAlphonse Hollyhock is blessed with wealth, class, and more beauty than brains. Though he hasn’t got a lick of wit or magic to his name, he’s perfectly content living life as an airheaded bachelor with his valet—the clever, unflappable Jacobi—by his side to ensure everything runs smoothly. All he lacks, according to his mother, is a wife.
Despite Alphonse’s protests, he’s to marry Aaliyah Kaddour: a bright, headstrong young woman who would probably be charming company if she didn’t threaten everything about Alphonse’s way of life. Marrying means giving up his fashionable flat, his fast car, and, worst of all, it means losing Jacobi.
Perhaps most distressingly, this talk of marriage is bringing all sorts of confusing feelings to the forefront. Because rather than falling for the beautiful girl being pushed into his arms, Alphonse seems to be falling for his valet. Except a man can’t fall in love with another man. Can he?
Meanwhile, Aaliyah has plans of her own. She’s as devious as she is pretty, but if Alphonse wants to get through this marriage business in one piece, he’ll have to trust her. Her and Jacobi, and, most dangerously, his own feelings.
This is the first novel of the Flos Magicae series which I had been planning to read for a while. I’ve already read two books in the series which I enjoyed immensely, and this was no different.
Alphonse Hollyhock is a rich and handsome airhead. He knows he’s dumb and has no fashion sense, so he’s perfectly happy to let Jacobi, his valet take all decisions regarding his wardrobe and life in general. Jacobi is good looking, smart and efficient.
When his mother decrees that Alphonse should propose to and marry Aaliyah Kaddour, a woman who’s helping her father run his business enterprise, Alphonse comes to the realisation that he has no attraction to the fairer sex. His mother has threatened to cut him off without a penny if he bungles this arrangement, however. In desperation, Alphonse can only turn to Jacobi to find a way out. When Jacobi advises him to go ahead with it, Alphonse has no other options.
Till a conversation with Aaliyah makes him realise that she’s in the same boat regarding attraction to the opposite sex. However, talking with her has also made him realise his feelings for Jacobi and now Alphonse has to do everything in his power to pretend he isn’t love with Jacobi because he doesn’t want Jacobi to leave.
This was as funny as the others, and Alphonse is an endearing character, despite being so stupid that Aaliyah has to all but spell out his own feelings for him. For all that, he has a good understanding and can make connections when needed. The unflappable Jacobi with his dry wit, the domineering mother, the scheming Aaliyah and her paramour, Jasmine complete the cast of this very engaging book.
If you love romantic fantasy, queer characters, humour and lots of magic, this is the perfect book for you.
