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The Knights of Caerleon #1
The Fifth Knight
Four cursed knights. One Warrior Princess. A faerie sword that binds their lives together.
Fionna’s only hope to save her family lies across the Irish Sea. As a warrior princess of Ulster, the rival clann holding her father and sister for ransom knows she’ll pay any price to get them back. But even she couldn’t predict the task set before her—to steal a faerie sword from a king.
The Kingdom of Caerleon is dying under Morgan la Fay’s dark magic. Her vengeful curse has locked Excalibur in its scabbard, placing Arthur Pendragon’s kingship in jeopardy. Now Arthur and his sword brothers—Lancelot, Galahad, and Percival—have but one hope. The fifth knight. The one foretold by Merlin who will break the curse and heal the land.
But Arthur and his sword brothers didn’t expect the warrior to be a fierce and captivating woman. Or the legendary White Fay, prophesied by Morgan la Fay to destroy Caerleon by claiming the heart of a king and three sworn knights.
The Fifth Knight is a Reverse Harem tale of betrayal and fated love.
Fionna’s only hope to save her family lies across the Irish Sea. As a warrior princess of Ulster, the rival clann holding her father and sister for ransom knows she’ll pay any price to get them back. But even she couldn’t predict the task set before her—to steal a faerie sword from a king.
The Kingdom of Caerleon is dying under Morgan la Fay’s dark magic. Her vengeful curse has locked Excalibur in its scabbard, placing Arthur Pendragon’s kingship in jeopardy. Now Arthur and his sword brothers—Lancelot, Galahad, and Percival—have but one hope. The fifth knight. The one foretold by Merlin who will break the curse and heal the land.
But Arthur and his sword brothers didn’t expect the warrior to be a fierce and captivating woman. Or the legendary White Fay, prophesied by Morgan la Fay to destroy Caerleon by claiming the heart of a king and three sworn knights.
The Fifth Knight is a Reverse Harem tale of betrayal and fated love.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 3, 2018
313 people are currently reading
867 people want to read
About the author
Claire Luana
33 books636 followersClaire Luana grew up reading everything she could get her hands on and writing every chance she could. Eventually, adulthood won out, and she turned her writing talents to more scholarly pursuits, going to work as a commercial litigation attorney at a mid-sized law firm. While continuing to practice law, Claire decided to return to her roots and try her hand once again at creative writing.
She has written and published five series, the Moonburner Cycle, the Confectioner Chronicles, the Mythical Alliance, the Knights of Caerleon, with Jesikah Sundin, and the Faerie Race, with J.A. Armitage. She lives in Cle Elum, Washington with her husband and two dogs. In her (little) remaining spare time, she loves to hike, travel, binge-watch CW shows, and of course, fall into a good book.
Check her out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/claireluana/
She has written and published five series, the Moonburner Cycle, the Confectioner Chronicles, the Mythical Alliance, the Knights of Caerleon, with Jesikah Sundin, and the Faerie Race, with J.A. Armitage. She lives in Cle Elum, Washington with her husband and two dogs. In her (little) remaining spare time, she loves to hike, travel, binge-watch CW shows, and of course, fall into a good book.
Check her out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/claireluana/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
November 2, 2018
Oh this was such an awesome read!
We have a mix of Arthur and his knights legend with a touch of English and Saxon history/mythology
Fionna is a princess from afar but in order to save her family, she must complete a mission that can go wrong in so many ways, to still the powerful sword from King Arthur.
But when she enters a tournament disguised as a male, she doesn't think she will gain the trust and love of the four knights of Cameleon.
And now she has to decide if it's worth giving her love to these men or having to betray them.
This is definitely a read for over 18 year olds, but it's not over explicit. I reckon you'll love Fionna and her feistiness. Plus the knights she is with, so caring and strong, and everything you want in a man
If this is a read for you, you should definitely give it a try. There is plenty of action and thrills throughout
Received a copy from the authors themselves, for an honest review, thank you!
We have a mix of Arthur and his knights legend with a touch of English and Saxon history/mythology
Fionna is a princess from afar but in order to save her family, she must complete a mission that can go wrong in so many ways, to still the powerful sword from King Arthur.
But when she enters a tournament disguised as a male, she doesn't think she will gain the trust and love of the four knights of Cameleon.
And now she has to decide if it's worth giving her love to these men or having to betray them.
This is definitely a read for over 18 year olds, but it's not over explicit. I reckon you'll love Fionna and her feistiness. Plus the knights she is with, so caring and strong, and everything you want in a man
If this is a read for you, you should definitely give it a try. There is plenty of action and thrills throughout
Received a copy from the authors themselves, for an honest review, thank you!
October 19, 2018
King Arthur's kingdom is at risk. Morgan, in her anger, has cursed King Arthur, Excaliber and the King Arthur's kingdom, Caerleon. Arthur's only hope, find the 5th knight that will find the Grail and save them all. Arthur holds a tournament. He precedes to knight the winner only to realize she is a woman. A woman fated to save them all. 5 knights of King Arthur's court and one of them is a female.
Morgan is still playing her evil games.
Merlin is encourage them to find their salvation by finding the Grail.
And, all the knights want Fiona.
Great premise that got over taken over by the insta-love, reverse harem plot. The storytelling was filled with physical interludes, lots of internal turmoil, which is definitely not for me, and professions of love. If you like steamy interludes with lots of angst about who deserves and will get the girl then The Fifth Knight is for you. In the end, it wasn't a read for me.
I received this copy of The Fifth Knight from Forest Tales Publishing. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Morgan is still playing her evil games.
Merlin is encourage them to find their salvation by finding the Grail.
And, all the knights want Fiona.
Great premise that got over taken over by the insta-love, reverse harem plot. The storytelling was filled with physical interludes, lots of internal turmoil, which is definitely not for me, and professions of love. If you like steamy interludes with lots of angst about who deserves and will get the girl then The Fifth Knight is for you. In the end, it wasn't a read for me.
I received this copy of The Fifth Knight from Forest Tales Publishing. This is my honest and voluntary review.
July 11, 2019
This is an RH twist on the Arthurian tale. Arthur is seeking a fifth knight to help break a bunch of curses that Morgana has placed on his kingdom. Fiona is fated to be that fifth knight, except she needs to steal Excaliber in order to free her father and sister back home in Ireland. Things get messy when she actually starts liking everyone. Oh, and Arthur and his band of knights are in the middle of looking for the grail, also in order to break Morgana's curses.
Something must be wrong with me or my mood the last couple of days. Normally, this would be right up my alley. I like Arthurian tales, and I like RH, but for some reason, this one didn't hook me completely. I think there might be too much going on, everything just got distracting. Arthur has too many problems to solve, and yet from the moment Fiona shows up, everyone just wants to get in her pants. I wasn't sure what to focus on. I think I will give it one more book to see if things improve.
Something must be wrong with me or my mood the last couple of days. Normally, this would be right up my alley. I like Arthurian tales, and I like RH, but for some reason, this one didn't hook me completely. I think there might be too much going on, everything just got distracting. Arthur has too many problems to solve, and yet from the moment Fiona shows up, everyone just wants to get in her pants. I wasn't sure what to focus on. I think I will give it one more book to see if things improve.
October 8, 2018
This was my first reverse harem romance. I loved this story, the mythology, the time period and the characters. I love this cover it is completely engaging. I can't wait for book two within this series. It's a must read!!!
This novel is really captivating, the characters are lovable and really relate able. There is a bunch of action, some steamy romance scenes and some seriously laugh out loud funny moment. I cannot wait for the next novel with this series.
This novel is really captivating, the characters are lovable and really relate able. There is a bunch of action, some steamy romance scenes and some seriously laugh out loud funny moment. I cannot wait for the next novel with this series.
July 13, 2019
Promising start to a RH twist on King Aurthor and his Knights. So far I'll be honest I'm left with a lot of questions in general, and a couple of "Why did you do that?" type feels, but all in all I'm loving the lore, loving the reinvention of beloved characters, the creativity behind the retelling and really just liking the characters so far. I will say..I'm not entirely sure what is happening here. Not everything is adding up yet. I'm hoping as the series progresses 2+2 start equaling 4... maybe all at the same time even? (wink)
FMC, Finn (thats her shortened name, I'm not even going to try to spell the long version because I'll jack it all kinds of up), is on a mission. In order to save her father and sister she must steal a king's sword. Not just any sword though.. she must steal Excalibur. Arthur and his crew are in need. Excalibur and the land has been cursed by his evil stepsister and fae queen Morrigan. Merlin foresees a person coming to help them free Excalibur and lead them to the grail. They must hold a tournament to find this person. Finn arrives in armor waltzes right in and wins said tournament and now she is a knight of the round table. Morrigan is stirring the pot though and has plans for Finn and her newfound comrades. Beware fae with gifts... Arthur and his knights are all falling for Finn, but they have vowed to not let her tear them apart. Lancelot is desperately trying to keep to himself as he has his own curse from Morrigan. Betrayal is coming from every direction but though it looks like Morrigan has the upper hand.. fate may prove to be even more powerful than she..
There was enough here in book one to intrigue me to continue the series. I'm hoping that by the next book we will have more information to better form opinions. I'm also doubting the suddenness of all the feels being thrown around.. everything seems a little suspicious at this point. I guess the faster I jump into book 2 the faster I'll have some answers.
FMC, Finn (thats her shortened name, I'm not even going to try to spell the long version because I'll jack it all kinds of up), is on a mission. In order to save her father and sister she must steal a king's sword. Not just any sword though.. she must steal Excalibur. Arthur and his crew are in need. Excalibur and the land has been cursed by his evil stepsister and fae queen Morrigan. Merlin foresees a person coming to help them free Excalibur and lead them to the grail. They must hold a tournament to find this person. Finn arrives in armor waltzes right in and wins said tournament and now she is a knight of the round table. Morrigan is stirring the pot though and has plans for Finn and her newfound comrades. Beware fae with gifts... Arthur and his knights are all falling for Finn, but they have vowed to not let her tear them apart. Lancelot is desperately trying to keep to himself as he has his own curse from Morrigan. Betrayal is coming from every direction but though it looks like Morrigan has the upper hand.. fate may prove to be even more powerful than she..
There was enough here in book one to intrigue me to continue the series. I'm hoping that by the next book we will have more information to better form opinions. I'm also doubting the suddenness of all the feels being thrown around.. everything seems a little suspicious at this point. I guess the faster I jump into book 2 the faster I'll have some answers.
December 31, 2019
** mild spoilers**
One word.
D I S A P P O I N T M E N T .
I was so very disappointed by this book. I expected great things, was super excited to read it, but I just couldn't connect with the characters or the world! I'll be the first to say that it was a very interesting idea for a book with heaps of potential, but then the writing just fell short. I found the protagonist's character annoying and confusing and her personality often changed, and I also found the men pretty irritating sometimes. Not to mention the ending! After all of her 'who do I save stuff', she forgot her sister (who she was supposedly joined at the hip to) and father pretty damn easily!
So annoyed that my expectations were so high for this book.
One word.
D I S A P P O I N T M E N T .
I was so very disappointed by this book. I expected great things, was super excited to read it, but I just couldn't connect with the characters or the world! I'll be the first to say that it was a very interesting idea for a book with heaps of potential, but then the writing just fell short. I found the protagonist's character annoying and confusing and her personality often changed, and I also found the men pretty irritating sometimes. Not to mention the ending! After all of her 'who do I save stuff', she forgot her sister (who she was supposedly joined at the hip to) and father pretty damn easily!
So annoyed that my expectations were so high for this book.
October 15, 2018
At its core, this is a Mary-Sue self-insert King Arthur fanfic where Arthur, Lancelot, Galahad and Percival all fall for the heroine.
And you know what? I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Yes, Fionna is a bit too perfect to be true. She’s otherworldly beautiful (even though she compares herself unfavourably to her sister), a super-fighter who can go toe to toe with Arthur or any of his knights despite her small size, and apparently is also destined to be a great enchantress, according to Merlyn. Everyone falls in love with her at first sight. She’s pretty much the definition of a Mary-Sue. And yet… I still really liked her. She has relatable motives and is willing to work hard to get what she needs; she’s kind to servants and doesn’t treat other women as rivals, and she regularly questions her attitudes and works on being a better person.
I’ve always been a huge fan of Arthurian fantasy, and this was a nice take on the story, with Morgana a vengeful fae bent on getting her revenge after Lancelot cheated on her. Several curses afflict Arthur’s kingdom, not least Excalibur being stuck in its scabbard, and only Merlyn’s prophecy of a fifth knight to join their company and help them find the Grail gives them faith.
Fionna joins them under false pretences, winning a tourney disguised as a man, and by the time her identity is revealed it’s too late to back out. Besides, her blood released Excalibur, so Arthur has no choice but to believe she’s the right person for the task.
Morgana certainly isn’t about to give up without a fight, though. She’s working contrary to Merlyn’s prophecies the whole time, and as this first book in the trilogy draws to a close, it’s obvious things are about to get a lot trickier for the group, especially since some of them are still concealing important truths from the others.
While this is Reverse Harem and marketed as unsuitable for readers under 18, there’s not that much sex in it. Clearly the story is building to Fionna having a relationship with all four men, but in this first part of the trilogy she only gets intimate with Arthur and Galahad, and the heat only probably reaches a 3-4 stage. Considering Lancelot is under a curse and Percival has taken a vow of celibacy, I don’t think you’ll see too much more action until at least Book 3, either.
I liked the way that Lancelot was written as explicitly bisexual, and it was certainly at least hinted that Percival was too, so homophobia isn’t something you have to worry about here, often a problematic element in RH books. I think this is a great example of a fantasy romance with a slow build to a reverse harem which makes logical sense given the circumstances, and I’ll definitely be looking out for parts 2 and 3 of the trilogy. Five stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.
And you know what? I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Yes, Fionna is a bit too perfect to be true. She’s otherworldly beautiful (even though she compares herself unfavourably to her sister), a super-fighter who can go toe to toe with Arthur or any of his knights despite her small size, and apparently is also destined to be a great enchantress, according to Merlyn. Everyone falls in love with her at first sight. She’s pretty much the definition of a Mary-Sue. And yet… I still really liked her. She has relatable motives and is willing to work hard to get what she needs; she’s kind to servants and doesn’t treat other women as rivals, and she regularly questions her attitudes and works on being a better person.
I’ve always been a huge fan of Arthurian fantasy, and this was a nice take on the story, with Morgana a vengeful fae bent on getting her revenge after Lancelot cheated on her. Several curses afflict Arthur’s kingdom, not least Excalibur being stuck in its scabbard, and only Merlyn’s prophecy of a fifth knight to join their company and help them find the Grail gives them faith.
Fionna joins them under false pretences, winning a tourney disguised as a man, and by the time her identity is revealed it’s too late to back out. Besides, her blood released Excalibur, so Arthur has no choice but to believe she’s the right person for the task.
Morgana certainly isn’t about to give up without a fight, though. She’s working contrary to Merlyn’s prophecies the whole time, and as this first book in the trilogy draws to a close, it’s obvious things are about to get a lot trickier for the group, especially since some of them are still concealing important truths from the others.
While this is Reverse Harem and marketed as unsuitable for readers under 18, there’s not that much sex in it. Clearly the story is building to Fionna having a relationship with all four men, but in this first part of the trilogy she only gets intimate with Arthur and Galahad, and the heat only probably reaches a 3-4 stage. Considering Lancelot is under a curse and Percival has taken a vow of celibacy, I don’t think you’ll see too much more action until at least Book 3, either.
I liked the way that Lancelot was written as explicitly bisexual, and it was certainly at least hinted that Percival was too, so homophobia isn’t something you have to worry about here, often a problematic element in RH books. I think this is a great example of a fantasy romance with a slow build to a reverse harem which makes logical sense given the circumstances, and I’ll definitely be looking out for parts 2 and 3 of the trilogy. Five stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.
May 22, 2023
THE FIFTH KNIGHT hooked me from the first chapter and I can't wait to see where this Arthurian retelling goes. Princess Fionnabhair Allán is a warrior and a fighter and she'll do anything to save her father and sister who're being held hostage by a rival clann -- even if it means stealing King Arthur's sword Excalibur. The Kingdom of Caerleon is under Morgan la Fay's curse and Arthur and his knights Lancelot, Galahad, and Percival, must find the Holy Grail in order to break the curse. And with Fionna as their fifth knight they might just succeed.
I love a badass heroine and Fionna did not disappoint; she's tough, compassionate, and great with a sword. She can easily hold her own with the knights and I loved seeing their initial shock turn to respect as Fionna finds her place with them. I also really enjoyed each of the guys: Arthur, a noble but surprisingly humble king; Lancelot, a ladies man afraid to commit; Percival, idealistic and innocent; and my personal favorite Galahad, who's rugged and charming.
The guys fall fast for Fionna but they're only just starting to circle around a possible relationship and this first book is on the slower burn side with some brief heat. With a variety of secrets, obstacles, and barriers getting in their way, these five have their work cut out for them.
I love a badass heroine and Fionna did not disappoint; she's tough, compassionate, and great with a sword. She can easily hold her own with the knights and I loved seeing their initial shock turn to respect as Fionna finds her place with them. I also really enjoyed each of the guys: Arthur, a noble but surprisingly humble king; Lancelot, a ladies man afraid to commit; Percival, idealistic and innocent; and my personal favorite Galahad, who's rugged and charming.
The guys fall fast for Fionna but they're only just starting to circle around a possible relationship and this first book is on the slower burn side with some brief heat. With a variety of secrets, obstacles, and barriers getting in their way, these five have their work cut out for them.
July 8, 2019
I absolutely loved this book. It gave me all the Arthur and his Knights action with a badass female to boot, no sweet and innocent Gwenvere here. AFter Lancelot’s love affair and betrothal to Morgana goes horribly awry and she places curses upon them, the path for Fionna to become a knight is made. On the search for Excalibur, the only item to save and rescue her father and sister, Fionna becomes knighted and unknowingly plays into the hands of fate. Lancelot is a dog, as many stories claim and this time around I wanna say he fears Fionna more than anything even more than his attraction with her. I loved everything about the book an story even the slow-burn of the romance worked well. Fionna is a Irish Warrior Princess and while she is not unknown to the world of carnal pleasures, this book does not contain more than a bit of fooling around between her and her Knights. While Fionna only thought her destiny was to free her family it turns out her becoming the Fifth Knight to Arthur’s crew was necessary and she is in fact the key to stopping Morgana’s curses upon Briton. Basically they have to find the holy grail but there’s so much to be uncovered such as the secret Lancelot is carrying and even the truth behind who and maybe what Fionna is, it’s clear that she’s more than she seems and more than even she knows. Can they find the grail and defeat Morgana and her sisters??? Time will tell. I would highly recommend this book and cannot wait to re@d the next.
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October 14, 2018I really love Jesikah's work, huge fan of her Biodome Chronicles series, awesome writing style. Not a fan of the reverse harem thing. Really not a fan. Even so, I gave this one a try. Sad to say it didn't change my mind. I'm going to leave the rating blank because this is more of a it's not you, it's me thing. If you're into this genre then maybe give it a try, you might like it.
November 1, 2020
review coming soon
November 21, 2019
King Arthur is searching for his Fifth Knight. Fionna's only hope to save her father and sister from a rival clan, lies in stealing Excalibur. When Fionna wins the open duel and becomes knighted, she ushers in a whole new world of trouble for herself and the four other knights.
Morgan La Fay is tired of being underestimated. She curses Caerleon and Excalibur to never leave it's scabbard. The land is dying and Morgan is close to getting what she wants. Will Fionna help her realize her dark goals or stand in the way.
This was quite an interesting take on the legends of Sir Arthur. I loved seeing Fionna fight to become a knight. This girl is so damn fierce, it's breathtaking. ALSO LOOK AT THAT COVER! From the beginning, I was ready for Fionna to kick ass and take names. Which she did, while also becoming the woman each of the Four Knights dreams of.
Lancelot was the most interesting because of the vision/curse he had. Seeing him desperately fight his attraction to Fionna was something else and I loved the lovers/enemies vibe it gave his and Fionna's relationship.
There were legends of Fae and Gweneveres woven into this tale, along with some Celtic/Gaelic legends. I really loved this tale and I can't wait to see where the five knights will go next.
Morgan La Fay is tired of being underestimated. She curses Caerleon and Excalibur to never leave it's scabbard. The land is dying and Morgan is close to getting what she wants. Will Fionna help her realize her dark goals or stand in the way.
This was quite an interesting take on the legends of Sir Arthur. I loved seeing Fionna fight to become a knight. This girl is so damn fierce, it's breathtaking. ALSO LOOK AT THAT COVER! From the beginning, I was ready for Fionna to kick ass and take names. Which she did, while also becoming the woman each of the Four Knights dreams of.
Lancelot was the most interesting because of the vision/curse he had. Seeing him desperately fight his attraction to Fionna was something else and I loved the lovers/enemies vibe it gave his and Fionna's relationship.
There were legends of Fae and Gweneveres woven into this tale, along with some Celtic/Gaelic legends. I really loved this tale and I can't wait to see where the five knights will go next.
December 15, 2018
3.5 stars. Interesting. I love King Arthur and Camelot. Have read better though. This was a bit stilted and felt a bit too "ooh! ahh!" and not enough actual plot and believability, especially with the romance. World building needs improvement.
October 14, 2018
**I received an ARC of The Fifth Knight in exchange for an honest review**
So I think it's important to preface this by saying I went into The Fifth Knight with some pretty strong bias—I've never read harlem or reverse harlem, and I think a large part of my hesitation lays in the reason I hate love triangles: I can't stop screaming "pick one" and it's frustrating! xD
That said, I'm already a fan of Jesikah's work so I knew I had to give it a shot and am absolutely stoked at the beautiful book she and Claire created!
Romances aside, since that's an inevitable and important part of reverse harem, the underlying story is brilliant. Not only did these two take great steps toward historical accuracy, I never felt like I was reading the same old Arthur legend rehashed again. Jesikah and Claire brought these characters vividly to life, with beautifully contrasting personalities that kept me flipping pages. The world they built around them was familiar but new, and their writing styles fit together so well that the words flowed smoothly, with none of the disjointing you'll occasionally find in co-written work.
As to the romance side of things, in this book there were only two mature scenes and both were well written—they weren't crude, and the second stood out to me as kind of particularly beautiful. Despite that instinctual misgiving, I kind of can't stop rooting them all on for different reasons! xD
If you're not a fan of harem or reverse harem, or you've never tried the genre before, this is totally worth the read. The story and characters are just too rich to be ignored!
tl;dr—The Fifth Knight is a fresh take on the Arthurian legend. Claire and Jesikah brought the familiar characters vividly to life in a beautiful, romantic re-imagining that had me sucked in from the very first word.
So I think it's important to preface this by saying I went into The Fifth Knight with some pretty strong bias—I've never read harlem or reverse harlem, and I think a large part of my hesitation lays in the reason I hate love triangles: I can't stop screaming "pick one" and it's frustrating! xD
That said, I'm already a fan of Jesikah's work so I knew I had to give it a shot and am absolutely stoked at the beautiful book she and Claire created!
Romances aside, since that's an inevitable and important part of reverse harem, the underlying story is brilliant. Not only did these two take great steps toward historical accuracy, I never felt like I was reading the same old Arthur legend rehashed again. Jesikah and Claire brought these characters vividly to life, with beautifully contrasting personalities that kept me flipping pages. The world they built around them was familiar but new, and their writing styles fit together so well that the words flowed smoothly, with none of the disjointing you'll occasionally find in co-written work.
As to the romance side of things, in this book there were only two mature scenes and both were well written—they weren't crude, and the second stood out to me as kind of particularly beautiful. Despite that instinctual misgiving, I kind of can't stop rooting them all on for different reasons! xD
If you're not a fan of harem or reverse harem, or you've never tried the genre before, this is totally worth the read. The story and characters are just too rich to be ignored!
tl;dr—The Fifth Knight is a fresh take on the Arthurian legend. Claire and Jesikah brought the familiar characters vividly to life in a beautiful, romantic re-imagining that had me sucked in from the very first word.
February 26, 2019
4.25.
This was a pleasant surprise! There's an awful lot of mediocre RH out there and it can be tricky sometimes to wade through it, but I'm really glad I picked this book up.
I've always liked the mythology surrounding King Arthur and this does a good job of giving a different twist on the legend with added Fae elements. The whole world just has an authenticity surrounding it, which just added to the quality of the storytelling.
Fionna was a great character. Yes, on one level she was a little too perfect - a fierce warrior who can hold her own with men twice her size, and incredibly beautiful as well - but she doesn't come across as arrogant and is actually pretty straight forward in her wants and world view. She has a clear sense of honour and is torn between saving her family and betraying the men she has ocme to care about and zooming their kingdom. At times the looming betrayal got a bit much, but the way it resolved made up for it.
The men, Arthur, Lancelot, Percival and Galahad are well characterised (often a rarity in RH) and their alternate point of views in different chapter helped this. They are all different and equally likeable, but Galahad is my personal favourite, but them I have a soft spot for Norsemen!
If, like me, you read a lot of RH and are looking for the next series to burn through, then I recommend this one!
This was a pleasant surprise! There's an awful lot of mediocre RH out there and it can be tricky sometimes to wade through it, but I'm really glad I picked this book up.
I've always liked the mythology surrounding King Arthur and this does a good job of giving a different twist on the legend with added Fae elements. The whole world just has an authenticity surrounding it, which just added to the quality of the storytelling.
Fionna was a great character. Yes, on one level she was a little too perfect - a fierce warrior who can hold her own with men twice her size, and incredibly beautiful as well - but she doesn't come across as arrogant and is actually pretty straight forward in her wants and world view. She has a clear sense of honour and is torn between saving her family and betraying the men she has ocme to care about and zooming their kingdom. At times the looming betrayal got a bit much, but the way it resolved made up for it.
The men, Arthur, Lancelot, Percival and Galahad are well characterised (often a rarity in RH) and their alternate point of views in different chapter helped this. They are all different and equally likeable, but Galahad is my personal favourite, but them I have a soft spot for Norsemen!
If, like me, you read a lot of RH and are looking for the next series to burn through, then I recommend this one!
December 5, 2021
This was an Arthurian tale told in a historical fiction style. MC Fionna is a badass, the knights are all distinctive and had a great friendship that translated well onto the page, and the story was given its own twists and tweaks to make it stand out from the original tale.
October 16, 2018
Why choose one when you can have them all? Although I don't condone such behavior in real life, I quite enjoy reading it in fiction... if done right. Well, this one was done right, yay!
As a fan of the TV show Merlin, I loved this fresh take on the Arthurian tale. The characters weren't canned but each had unique, distinct personalities you wouldn't expect of the legends. Well, except for Morgana, maybe. Haha.
Fionna was a fabulous new addition, and quite lucky I must say. I wouldn't mind being in her boots. She's a relatable mix of fierce yet soft, hard yet vulnerable, proving that a woman can be strong and capable without losing her femininity.
I finished this book in a day as it was a super fun and easy read, and I only wished it was longer! Thankfully the next book is coming out in a month. I can be patient. I think.
Fierce and brutal, a heady mix of playful and beautiful, this story reminds us of what it means to love and be loved.
As a fan of the TV show Merlin, I loved this fresh take on the Arthurian tale. The characters weren't canned but each had unique, distinct personalities you wouldn't expect of the legends. Well, except for Morgana, maybe. Haha.
Fionna was a fabulous new addition, and quite lucky I must say. I wouldn't mind being in her boots. She's a relatable mix of fierce yet soft, hard yet vulnerable, proving that a woman can be strong and capable without losing her femininity.
I finished this book in a day as it was a super fun and easy read, and I only wished it was longer! Thankfully the next book is coming out in a month. I can be patient. I think.
Fierce and brutal, a heady mix of playful and beautiful, this story reminds us of what it means to love and be loved.
November 18, 2022
Spoilery review:
Started of great - woman goes to battle with Arthur's knights (in a helmet so they don't know she's female) and does really well and refuses to take off the helmet. They think she's so awesome they knight her - then find out she's a woman and it's all ok - yay a new awesome knight! I'm all with this! Girl power etc etc......
Then it turns into a boring semi-erotic romance reverse harem where they are all in love with her, and she seems to be in love with all of them and they all need to talk about the feelings in the loins and stuff - ugh gack. To top it all off it was not even "oh wow i got to know her and she's awesome" - it was instant lust.
I mean there was some magic and stuff in there - Merlin. Morgana - the usual - but totally ruined by stupid! No I won't read the rest of the series lol
Started of great - woman goes to battle with Arthur's knights (in a helmet so they don't know she's female) and does really well and refuses to take off the helmet. They think she's so awesome they knight her - then find out she's a woman and it's all ok - yay a new awesome knight! I'm all with this! Girl power etc etc......
Then it turns into a boring semi-erotic romance reverse harem where they are all in love with her, and she seems to be in love with all of them and they all need to talk about the feelings in the loins and stuff - ugh gack. To top it all off it was not even "oh wow i got to know her and she's awesome" - it was instant lust.
I mean there was some magic and stuff in there - Merlin. Morgana - the usual - but totally ruined by stupid! No I won't read the rest of the series lol
October 31, 2018
This is the first book I've read by Jesikah Sundin, I enjoy reading Claire Luana so I was excited to read this story.
It's an interesting take on The Knights of the Round Table. Honestly, I don't know much about the legend so it was all pretty new to me. I found the reverse harem an interesting twist. RH is new to me and it feels like it's the latest "popular genre". I have read a lot of it and this seemed tamer than what I have read.
The story features a kick a** strong female lead whose destiny is written and it is not the usual direction you would think she would be going. The characters are well developed and the story is layered with a few different threads. It held my interest and I only found myself skimming a few times.
I will re-read this story when the future installments are published.
It's an interesting take on The Knights of the Round Table. Honestly, I don't know much about the legend so it was all pretty new to me. I found the reverse harem an interesting twist. RH is new to me and it feels like it's the latest "popular genre". I have read a lot of it and this seemed tamer than what I have read.
The story features a kick a** strong female lead whose destiny is written and it is not the usual direction you would think she would be going. The characters are well developed and the story is layered with a few different threads. It held my interest and I only found myself skimming a few times.
I will re-read this story when the future installments are published.
December 30, 2020
Claire Luana and J. Sundin are both new authors to me but, as anyone who knows me or has read my previous reviews, I'm an old-world mythic, magic, fairytale geek and I couldn't resist reading this one just to see what they offered. I'm blown away. It's the retelling of the King Arthur story and yet isn't. The world-building is brilliantly described so I felt like I was in the original setting with everything vivid as if it's brand new. The characters are so perfectly flawed they were relatable as their tale unfolded and yet there's a twist to this one. Everything flowed smoothly and kept me so intrigued I continued to turn the page to find out what would happen next. I'm impressed with these two authors and will keep my eyes open for the next installment to this slow-burn, reverse harem series because I want to see how this plays out.
June 1, 2023
Started an RH trilogy after so long. But this time I had the paperbacks not the ebooks. Absolutely unique twist on the Arthurian legends and I loved the world building and plot lines. Even though some of the stuff and terminology was confusing, the glossary at the start was a godsend. Fiona is such a strong FMC and Arthur and his Knights are perfect for her. I loved the slow build of their relationships and the plot while anxiously awaiting the fallout of Fiona's secret which thankfully was not as bad as I had expected. I can't wait to read the next book and am hoping Morgana and her sisters get what they deserve.
March 27, 2019
My first “reverse harem” book - and I liked it. It was an interesting spin on the story of King Arthur and his knights, and the characters were interesting. It was a little odd to see 4 guys (and best friends no less) competing for the same girl, but each of the guys had their own personality, even if they broke the bro code.
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
December 27, 2018
Will Fionna the heroine betray the four cursed knights to save sister from a brutal fate by stealing Excalibur from King Arthur?With Morgana the dark enchantress pulling the strings anything is possible in this retelling of the Arthurian legends.
November 21, 2018
Ummm...It was okay? Dwelled too much on the insta-lust though which I found very annoying. Might read the next one if it’s released soon.
3 Stars.
3 Stars.
October 17, 2018
The Fifth Knight (The Knights of Caerleon #1) by Claire Luana & Jesikah Sundin was a fast pace, entertaining read that had me hooked from start to finish.
What a start to a new series, and being that this is the first book I have read from this author, I have to say I will be checking out other books Jesikah Sundin has written. I'm no stranger to RH, though I don't read it as much as I use to, but it's still a genre I like. In saying that, there ways to do it wrong and there are ways to do it right, and this my friends, is an exemplary example of a RH done, all kinds of right.
I'm going to be real with you, it wasn't the RH that caught my eye, no it was the fact that this is a King Arthur tale, and I love anything that has Arthurian elements. This is more a retelling with our MC tossed into the mix. Now I will say that our MC Fionna is for the lack of a better word, a Mary-sue.. yes, yes, I know, I have dissed on that before, how I don't like, it.. But.. I have also said there are ways to do it right.
To be even more honest, Fionna, though has all the markings of a Mary-Sue, also has many elements of a OP(Overpowered) character as well. Normally that mix, isn't a good one, but, and there is a but. The writing, the character development, and the complex multi layers of Fionna, offset those two, normally, annoying traits. Jesikah Sundin managed to humanize Fionna, causing the reading(me) to connect. Fionna was nice, she wasn't a, -I'll do it myself, then have to get rescued- type. She wasn't mean or mlishious to other female character (Which is the most annoying of the mary-sue tropes). She was witty but, was also flawed. I loved her as a lead characters and despite having everyone she met fall in love with her, she was probably one of the best female MC's I've read about this year.
This just goes to show you, that you don't need to following the normal "outline" of a character, to have something amazing.
Overall this book is worth your time, energy and brain power. I know I was gushing about Fionna, but I just feel like she carried the story and truly outshone the others. Yes King Arthur and his knights were well developed and great to read about, but I was drawn to Fionna. This was all due to knowing how to write a OP character and not make it cringe otherly. And for me, really showcased the authors magical writing talent.
On that note I will leave you with my super high recommendation and, my stamp of approval.
Happy Reading
-E.A. Walsh
What a start to a new series, and being that this is the first book I have read from this author, I have to say I will be checking out other books Jesikah Sundin has written. I'm no stranger to RH, though I don't read it as much as I use to, but it's still a genre I like. In saying that, there ways to do it wrong and there are ways to do it right, and this my friends, is an exemplary example of a RH done, all kinds of right.
I'm going to be real with you, it wasn't the RH that caught my eye, no it was the fact that this is a King Arthur tale, and I love anything that has Arthurian elements. This is more a retelling with our MC tossed into the mix. Now I will say that our MC Fionna is for the lack of a better word, a Mary-sue.. yes, yes, I know, I have dissed on that before, how I don't like, it.. But.. I have also said there are ways to do it right.
To be even more honest, Fionna, though has all the markings of a Mary-Sue, also has many elements of a OP(Overpowered) character as well. Normally that mix, isn't a good one, but, and there is a but. The writing, the character development, and the complex multi layers of Fionna, offset those two, normally, annoying traits. Jesikah Sundin managed to humanize Fionna, causing the reading(me) to connect. Fionna was nice, she wasn't a, -I'll do it myself, then have to get rescued- type. She wasn't mean or mlishious to other female character (Which is the most annoying of the mary-sue tropes). She was witty but, was also flawed. I loved her as a lead characters and despite having everyone she met fall in love with her, she was probably one of the best female MC's I've read about this year.
This just goes to show you, that you don't need to following the normal "outline" of a character, to have something amazing.
Overall this book is worth your time, energy and brain power. I know I was gushing about Fionna, but I just feel like she carried the story and truly outshone the others. Yes King Arthur and his knights were well developed and great to read about, but I was drawn to Fionna. This was all due to knowing how to write a OP character and not make it cringe otherly. And for me, really showcased the authors magical writing talent.
On that note I will leave you with my super high recommendation and, my stamp of approval.
Happy Reading
-E.A. Walsh
December 28, 2018
Honestly, I never thought I'd find an Arthurian RH adventure. Not sure why this was so surprising, but it just didn't cross my mind as something most people would write.
Regardless of my expectations, Sundin and Luana do a good job of creating a unique tale that's perfect for fans of the medieval and those who like some Celtic magic in their stories.
Fionna is a female warrior, a fierce Irishwoman who finds herself at the mercy of an enemy chieftan. When her efforts to save her father and sister find her joining King Arthur's squadron of knights, she's quickly thrust into more than she ever expected.
We've got some magic, some mythology, and a search for the Blessed Grail. There's multiple story arcs going on here, all swirling around a few key relationships: Fionna and the men's, Arthur and his wicked half-sisters, and Lancelot and his most violently spurned lover. There's plenty of relationship drama to go around for everyone!
Fionna is a likable character; I thought Sundin and Luana had a nice balance of showing us some of her softness through her chapters in her thoughts while letting her be this fierce, bad*ss woman on the outside. She shows kindness to the other knights and her new king, and the remorse she feels about her impending betrayal makes her a well-rounded character that has a lot of heart.
The men have some potential, but they're not quite as fleshed out yet. We do get chapters where different men take the spotlight, but Fionna's are the only ones told in first person, so we really do get the most in depth look at her thoughts and feelings. I appreciate the opportunity to focus on each of the men, but I do wish their chapters were also told in first person. It feels like I'm a little cheated because I'm getting the chance to look closely at them, yet there's still so much that we can't access.
Overall, the pacing of the story was good albeit feeling like it went a little quickly. There's a little bit of action, but nothing too explicit. I'd definitely categorize this as a slow burn because we have something to "wet your appetite" but no full actual for those who crave some full-on s*x. I'm definitely checking out the next book, which is currently out on KU, because I find the concept to be a bit of fresh air, and I want to learn more about these knightly men.
Regardless of my expectations, Sundin and Luana do a good job of creating a unique tale that's perfect for fans of the medieval and those who like some Celtic magic in their stories.
Fionna is a female warrior, a fierce Irishwoman who finds herself at the mercy of an enemy chieftan. When her efforts to save her father and sister find her joining King Arthur's squadron of knights, she's quickly thrust into more than she ever expected.
We've got some magic, some mythology, and a search for the Blessed Grail. There's multiple story arcs going on here, all swirling around a few key relationships: Fionna and the men's, Arthur and his wicked half-sisters, and Lancelot and his most violently spurned lover. There's plenty of relationship drama to go around for everyone!
Fionna is a likable character; I thought Sundin and Luana had a nice balance of showing us some of her softness through her chapters in her thoughts while letting her be this fierce, bad*ss woman on the outside. She shows kindness to the other knights and her new king, and the remorse she feels about her impending betrayal makes her a well-rounded character that has a lot of heart.
The men have some potential, but they're not quite as fleshed out yet. We do get chapters where different men take the spotlight, but Fionna's are the only ones told in first person, so we really do get the most in depth look at her thoughts and feelings. I appreciate the opportunity to focus on each of the men, but I do wish their chapters were also told in first person. It feels like I'm a little cheated because I'm getting the chance to look closely at them, yet there's still so much that we can't access.
Overall, the pacing of the story was good albeit feeling like it went a little quickly. There's a little bit of action, but nothing too explicit. I'd definitely categorize this as a slow burn because we have something to "wet your appetite" but no full actual for those who crave some full-on s*x. I'm definitely checking out the next book, which is currently out on KU, because I find the concept to be a bit of fresh air, and I want to learn more about these knightly men.
October 12, 2018
Quests, Love, betrayal, and curses; this book has it all.
The firth knight is an Arthurian reverse harem story about Arthur and his 3 trusted knights, Lancelot, Galahad, and Percival. They soon meet who they assume will be just a "fifth knight", but Fionna is so much more.
This is the first book in the series and it delivers. The friendships between the knights and their individual personalities are compelling and intriguing. To see how they struggle with all wanting Fionna makes you want to see more from them and see how they develop as they become more entwined with her.
Fionna herself is facing a struggle between loyalty to her family and loyalty to the men who are captivating her heart as well as her body. Will she have to choose between all that she loves, in more ways than one?
Meanwhile as true to Arthurian legend, Morgana and her sisters all fae born are making trouble for the males and for Fionna. Who will win in the long run, for tangling with a fae is never advised.
The firth knight is an Arthurian reverse harem story about Arthur and his 3 trusted knights, Lancelot, Galahad, and Percival. They soon meet who they assume will be just a "fifth knight", but Fionna is so much more.
This is the first book in the series and it delivers. The friendships between the knights and their individual personalities are compelling and intriguing. To see how they struggle with all wanting Fionna makes you want to see more from them and see how they develop as they become more entwined with her.
Fionna herself is facing a struggle between loyalty to her family and loyalty to the men who are captivating her heart as well as her body. Will she have to choose between all that she loves, in more ways than one?
Meanwhile as true to Arthurian legend, Morgana and her sisters all fae born are making trouble for the males and for Fionna. Who will win in the long run, for tangling with a fae is never advised.
October 28, 2018
4 Stars
The Fifth Knight is the first book in The Knights of Caerleon Series by Claire Luana and Jesikah Sundin. Wow! What a fantastic collaboration this book has turned out to be. I am a big fan of Ms. Luana’s, but Ms. Sundin is a new-to-me author- but after reading this book, that’s something I plan on rectifying as soon as possible. These two authors really compliment each other’s style and this book reflects that in so many ways. From the fascinating and original storyline, to the polished writing, the brilliant world building, and wonderful characters- everything was really well thought out and developed, which made it all seem quite realistic and believable. It meshed so well, I certainly couldn’t tell which parts were written by whom. It all seemed to flow beautifully, a real credit to both their talents.
This is a brilliant Arthurian fantasy- a reverse harem with plenty of swords and sorcery, magic, action, adventure, drama, revenge, plots, curses, the hand of fate, knights, Merlin, battles, suspense, spice, betrayal, hope, and surprises.
King Arthur’s kingdom has been cursed, the fate of his realm looks dark. With Lancelot, Percival and Galahad by his side, their only hope is to find the fifth knight, foretold in prophecy to hold the power to break the curse. The very last thing they expected was to find the fifth knight, and find out that she is a woman…
Fionna is a skilled warrior who is on a mission to save her family. She has her sights set on a magic sword, which leads her to Caerleon, Arthur and the knights. What ensues when she gets there and earns her place as a knight makes for an incredibly captivating story that I would definitely recommend to all fantasy, reverse harem, and Arthurian fans.
I must admit when I first saw this book that I as a little worried that the whole reverse harem aspect of the story would overwhelm the fantasy/Arthurian side of the tale. But I needn’t have worried as Ms. Luana and Ms. Sundin wove a wonderful tapestry, where the reverse harem was just one element in an incredible, multi-layered story. I was pulled into the story and followed along cheering them on the whole way. There were times where things got quite complicated and difficult, which had me a little anxious to see how everything would work out. I read this book in an evening, just so I wouldn’t have to put it down.
I love what these two wonderful authors have accomplished together, and I can not wait to read the rest of the series.
Well done!
Thank you, Ms. Luana & Ms. Sundin!
The Fifth Knight is the first book in The Knights of Caerleon Series by Claire Luana and Jesikah Sundin. Wow! What a fantastic collaboration this book has turned out to be. I am a big fan of Ms. Luana’s, but Ms. Sundin is a new-to-me author- but after reading this book, that’s something I plan on rectifying as soon as possible. These two authors really compliment each other’s style and this book reflects that in so many ways. From the fascinating and original storyline, to the polished writing, the brilliant world building, and wonderful characters- everything was really well thought out and developed, which made it all seem quite realistic and believable. It meshed so well, I certainly couldn’t tell which parts were written by whom. It all seemed to flow beautifully, a real credit to both their talents.
This is a brilliant Arthurian fantasy- a reverse harem with plenty of swords and sorcery, magic, action, adventure, drama, revenge, plots, curses, the hand of fate, knights, Merlin, battles, suspense, spice, betrayal, hope, and surprises.
King Arthur’s kingdom has been cursed, the fate of his realm looks dark. With Lancelot, Percival and Galahad by his side, their only hope is to find the fifth knight, foretold in prophecy to hold the power to break the curse. The very last thing they expected was to find the fifth knight, and find out that she is a woman…
Fionna is a skilled warrior who is on a mission to save her family. She has her sights set on a magic sword, which leads her to Caerleon, Arthur and the knights. What ensues when she gets there and earns her place as a knight makes for an incredibly captivating story that I would definitely recommend to all fantasy, reverse harem, and Arthurian fans.
I must admit when I first saw this book that I as a little worried that the whole reverse harem aspect of the story would overwhelm the fantasy/Arthurian side of the tale. But I needn’t have worried as Ms. Luana and Ms. Sundin wove a wonderful tapestry, where the reverse harem was just one element in an incredible, multi-layered story. I was pulled into the story and followed along cheering them on the whole way. There were times where things got quite complicated and difficult, which had me a little anxious to see how everything would work out. I read this book in an evening, just so I wouldn’t have to put it down.
I love what these two wonderful authors have accomplished together, and I can not wait to read the rest of the series.
Well done!
Thank you, Ms. Luana & Ms. Sundin!
October 16, 2018
The Fifth Knight: An Arthurian Legend Reverse Harem Romance (The Knights of Caerleon series Book 1)
By: Jesikah Sundin and Claire Luana
5 out of 5 stars
The story The Fifth Knight: An Arthurian Legend Reverse Harem Romance (The Knights of Caerleon series Book 1) by Jesikah Sundin and Claire Luana is a medieval/fantasy book. It is a story that hooks you in from the very beginning and I didn’t want to put it down until I had read the final page. I love fantasy books as they spark my imagination and I find myself lost in the pages of the story. I loved reading about the character of Fionna. She is a fierce and talented warrior. She is also independent and stubborn. She is forced into a course of action to save her father and sister. That action will have her stealing a faerie sword from a king. She is unprepared for what happens next. I also enjoyed reading about Arthur Pendragon and his sword brothers Lancelot, Galahad, and Percival. These four have a strong bond between them and I loved hearing them playfully banter back and forth with each other. Lancelot is one that has feelings for guilt and also a secret that he keeps. Arthur is a man of honor and believes that all that is happening in the Kingdom of Caerleon is his burden to bear. These brothers are all shocked and surprised when the fifth knight that Merlin has spoken of turns out to be Fionna. That the brothers and she are attracted to each other is undeniable. Their thoughts frequently turn toward each other. Is Fionna as the fifth knight the key to breaking the curse on the Kingdom of Caerleon? Fionna feels conflicted as she has to choose between betraying the king and knights that she has feelings for and saving her family. What will she do? Read this book to find out. This is a story that does have passion and romance included. There is also magic, enchantments, and danger. There is one that has their own selfish plans and will do anything to achieve them. The story is told from the POV of several of the characters. This is a wonderfully written story that had me turning pages to find out what happens next as well as rooting for the success of Fionna, Arthur, and the knights. This is the first book in a series and I look forward to reading further stories.
By: Jesikah Sundin and Claire Luana
5 out of 5 stars
The story The Fifth Knight: An Arthurian Legend Reverse Harem Romance (The Knights of Caerleon series Book 1) by Jesikah Sundin and Claire Luana is a medieval/fantasy book. It is a story that hooks you in from the very beginning and I didn’t want to put it down until I had read the final page. I love fantasy books as they spark my imagination and I find myself lost in the pages of the story. I loved reading about the character of Fionna. She is a fierce and talented warrior. She is also independent and stubborn. She is forced into a course of action to save her father and sister. That action will have her stealing a faerie sword from a king. She is unprepared for what happens next. I also enjoyed reading about Arthur Pendragon and his sword brothers Lancelot, Galahad, and Percival. These four have a strong bond between them and I loved hearing them playfully banter back and forth with each other. Lancelot is one that has feelings for guilt and also a secret that he keeps. Arthur is a man of honor and believes that all that is happening in the Kingdom of Caerleon is his burden to bear. These brothers are all shocked and surprised when the fifth knight that Merlin has spoken of turns out to be Fionna. That the brothers and she are attracted to each other is undeniable. Their thoughts frequently turn toward each other. Is Fionna as the fifth knight the key to breaking the curse on the Kingdom of Caerleon? Fionna feels conflicted as she has to choose between betraying the king and knights that she has feelings for and saving her family. What will she do? Read this book to find out. This is a story that does have passion and romance included. There is also magic, enchantments, and danger. There is one that has their own selfish plans and will do anything to achieve them. The story is told from the POV of several of the characters. This is a wonderfully written story that had me turning pages to find out what happens next as well as rooting for the success of Fionna, Arthur, and the knights. This is the first book in a series and I look forward to reading further stories.
October 31, 2018
Incredible. Fans of the Legend of King Arthur will surely appreciate this novel and the complexities of it. What’s also great about this novel is the characterization. Fionna is unstoppable and incredible, and such a strong female character, very different from the usual damsels in distress that are common in Arthurian retellings. However, her story goes beyond just representing a strong female character; it also goes to the twist in the narrative surrounding Gwenevere. It’s an interesting set-up and plot twist for the story and sets up great tension in the story as it unfolds. Readers know the eventual outcome, anyone who knows about Arthur, Lancelot and Gwenevere see the result, but the journey there, the twist to that ending makes it captivating because there are so many avenues this story and plot twist could take, making it unpredictable.
Nevertheless, the story is about more than Fionna; it’s about the Arthurian legend and how it comes to life.
Sundin and Luana knew what they were doing when they decided to make this story a reverse harem. It’s a new genre that is gaining more and more traction as of late because its concept is to have one female character and have multiple men fall in love with her. Now, there are many ways this genre can be taken, in some ways, depending on the writer, it’s clear that the goal is to create something more erotic, lacking focus on storytelling. But then you have some incredible works that develop the genre and ground it, focusing on the story and character building. This is one of those novels. The romance doesn’t overwhelm the novel; it works to create tension and build the foundation of the story. The emotion in the story, the overwhelming sense of desire and love, the different analogies like “someone smelling like home,” they all work in tandem with one another to make sure the depth keeps the romance from falling into something cheesy or dated.
I’ll say this, I’ve never read a reverse harem novel, to be honest, didn’t think it would be my cup of tea, but like with any story, as long as it has powerful writing behind it and grounded storytelling, any genre can be anyone’s cup of tea. This novel is proof of that.
Nevertheless, the story is about more than Fionna; it’s about the Arthurian legend and how it comes to life.
Sundin and Luana knew what they were doing when they decided to make this story a reverse harem. It’s a new genre that is gaining more and more traction as of late because its concept is to have one female character and have multiple men fall in love with her. Now, there are many ways this genre can be taken, in some ways, depending on the writer, it’s clear that the goal is to create something more erotic, lacking focus on storytelling. But then you have some incredible works that develop the genre and ground it, focusing on the story and character building. This is one of those novels. The romance doesn’t overwhelm the novel; it works to create tension and build the foundation of the story. The emotion in the story, the overwhelming sense of desire and love, the different analogies like “someone smelling like home,” they all work in tandem with one another to make sure the depth keeps the romance from falling into something cheesy or dated.
I’ll say this, I’ve never read a reverse harem novel, to be honest, didn’t think it would be my cup of tea, but like with any story, as long as it has powerful writing behind it and grounded storytelling, any genre can be anyone’s cup of tea. This novel is proof of that.
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