Inexplicable (The Inexplicable Duology #1) By Katie Estcourt | Moody, Political And Full Of Dangerous Secrets…
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Please note this title was provided to me ahead of release by NetGalley
Synopsis
Inexplicable follows Princess Briar, whose kingdom is crumbling under fading power, political pressure and the expectation that she should marry for duty rather than happiness. Trapped between what her family needs and what she wants for herself, Briar is pulled towards the mysterious Lord Thornwood, a man who is clearly carrying enough secrets to fill several locked rooms and probably a cursed cupboard.
As betrayal, blood magic and dangerous alliances begin to close in around her, Briar has to face the truth about her kingdom, her father’s rule, and the man she is becoming increasingly tangled with.
Main Character Name & Info Summary
Princess Briar: A royal caught between duty, family pressure and her own need for freedom, with her story tied closely to power, bloodlines and a magical awakening.
Lord Thornwood: The mysterious rebel bringing danger, secrets and lots of tension.
Axel: A softer presence in the story who helps balance some of the darker political and romantic tension.
Tremane: A more antagonistic character who you don’t want to be around for too long.
Review
The story follows Princess Briar, who is under pressure to marry for the sake of her kingdom. Her family’s power is fading, her freedom is limited and her future is already set out for her where she doesn’t get much of a say.
Then Lord Thornwood arrives. And does he bring peace, stability and sensible life choices? No, of course he doesn’t. That would be too easy! He brings secrets, danger and gives you a sense from the get go that he cannot be trusted. Naturally, everything gets worse. Which, for me as the reader, was great. For Briar? Less great. But that’s her problem, not mine!
Briar’s struggle between duty and independence gave the story a really strong emotional element. I liked watching her start to question the world she’s been raised in, especially when that world keeps trying to shove her into a future she didn’t exactly choose.
The romance also had a really feel to it. It didn’t completely takeover the plot which I was happy about. I love romance in my romantasy, obviously, but I do still want the politics, the magic, the betrayals...basically a good story away from the lust. Otherwise for me, it can get a little too much and boring! Thankfully, this had all of that going on alongside the romantic tension, so I was happy.
I also really liked the darker magical elements. Blood magic and uneasy alliances are always going to get my attention a they usually come with a lot of drama. Which lets face it, is what many of us are here for!
The pacing kept things easy to read and there was enough happening to make it feel addictive without becoming too heavy. That said, I did want a little more depth in places. The worldbuilding had some really interesting ideas, especially around bloodlines, power and political history, but I did find myself wanting more detail and clarity. There were moments where I could see the potential sitting there, waving at me from across the room, but I just wanted a bit more time with it.
Some of the side characters could also have used more room to breathe. Again, the potential was there, but I didn’t always feel like I had enough time with them to get properly attached or suspicious or emotionally prepared for whatever they might do next.
Overall though, Inexplicable is a good debut and a very readable romantasy. It has the romance, the stakes, the magic, the messy royal drama and the “something much bigger is coming” feeling that’ll keep you intrigue peaked enough for the sequel.
Who I’d Recommend This Book To
I’d recommend Inexplicable to readers who enjoy:
Romantasy with royalty, rebellion and political tension
Enemies-to-lovers with secrets and suspicion
Blood magic, magical bargains and darker fantasy elements
Princesses trying to choose themselves in worlds that keep choosing for them
Verdict
A dark, addictive romantasy debut full of royal duty, blood magic, political secrets and enemies-to-lovers style tension. I wanted a little more depth from the worldbuilding and side characters, but I had a really good time with this and would absolutely read the sequel.
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ✨ (3.5)
You can buy this book at Amazon (Affiliate Links):
Paperback: https://amzn.to/4tDAIcL
Kindle: https://amzn.to/4mVvJl2
