Sandy Kay’s Reviews > The Courtship of Julian St. Albans > Status Update

What the actual hell. It's an entire scene of a doctor TREATING MC Alex, flirting, Alex flirting back, them basically saying they'll have sex together after this pesky Courtship (with MC2, mind you) is over and show each other how debauched they can be, then they're naked TOGETHER to get redressed, checking each other out--during a TREATMENT. A medical TREATMENT. I'm... WHAT?! Do I DNF? Zero respect for either here.

And I'm back to ew blech. Why the F would a doctor <spoiler>need to put a liquid medicine in his mouth, kiss the patient and felch it to him to have the MC patient drink it--this reads as gross.</spoiler> And what the doctor says afterward seems unprofessional and slimy. To me anyway. Alex finding it charming is...ewwwwwwwwwwwww. Plus the spell breaks and Alex is still EW.

Still 24% oh GOOD phew thank you. The magic in this world is riveting!

What is happening. I was totally enjoying this read, and now MC1 is going gaga with attraction over a (an intriguing, but...!) non-MC who's examining him, imagining them getting intimate. This is not building a romance. Blech. I hope it's a spell at work?

Narrator Alex agreeing to take part in the Courtship just so he can solve the murder, only to take great care to plan the BEST FREAKIN' COURTSHIP GIFTS ever...! Alex, do you even see yourself?! Ha ha ha this is awesome. And he doesn't even know Julian yet, not really.

I'm already immersed and mesmerized. I have to read this one more carefully than usual, and the magic in this world is rich and complex and enthralling, as is the crime situation. The lead character is fascinating, and so far the love interest is an intriguing mystery who's possibly being manipulated without knowing it. What a find!

Not me deciding to try another author I've never heard of completely at random... 😇 This sounds fun! And intense!