Continuing my re-read of The Embraced series since the fourth one has finally come out. Luckily my library has these in ebook format with no holds, and they’re fairly quick to go through. I still take issue with their titles, though.
So I Married a Sorcerer (2017)
Written by: Kerrelyn Sparks
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Pages: 496 pages (Mass Market Paperback)
Series: The Embraced #2
Publisher: St. Martin’s
The Premise:
Growing up on the Isle of Moon, Brigitta knows nothing of her past, except that she is Embraced: born with powers that forced her into hiding. Everything changes when she learns she’s a princess, hidden away from her villainous half-brother who now rules the kingdom. But he knows about Brigitta, and he’ll do anything to get her back. Unless a certain roguish pirate has anything to say about it…
Rupert is both an infamous pirate and a sorcerer with the power to harness the wind. He’s been waiting nineteen years for revenge — and he needs Brigitta to get it. What begins as a kidnapping of the fiery beauty turns into a fierce attraction. But can he win the captive princess’s heart?
No spoilers
Discussion: I’m a sucker for a good pirate hero, and I recalled enjoying So I Married an Axe Murderer — er, I mean, So I Married a Sorcerer. Look, I can’t get over these titles, okay? I’m not into them and I never will be. I also still think they do a great disservice to fantasy romance by slapping the label of “corny” on them. Also, once again, our hero on the cover looks nothing like the hero in the book. Yes, I know that’s a thing that happens more often than not, but it doesn’t make it any less annoying.
I’m not sure why Rupert is labeled a sorcerer. He’s Embraced just like all five women these stories center around, as well as Leo from the first book. Nowhere else is there any mention of people being sorcerers. Leo isn’t. None of the Embraced ever are. While being Embraced is explained to readers as someone who is gifted with magical powers, they’re still not labeled as a sorcerer(ess). At one point in the last book it was mentioned Luciana’s mother might have been a witch, but that does not equal Embraced. So I don’t know where the distinction lies. Especially if being Embraced is tantamount to death on the mainland simply because Embraced have kickass mutant powers like the X-Men (well, almost — Brigitta’s are a little lackluster). Why a witch wouldn’t get the same flak is beyond me.
Brigitta gets bonus points for being brave doing everything from giving herself up to a pirate in order to save everyone else on her ship from flaming arrows to trying to escape said pirate ship on her own. After living comfortably and happily on an island convent and knowing nothing about the real world, that takes a lot of guts. Especially the escaping part. I’d forgotten that she actually tried steal a boat and get away and was proud of her for taking the reins into her own hands, as risky and potentially deadly as that might be. The reveal of her parentage is also a nice little twist and makes for an interesting conundrum when Rupert’s own past is revealed.
Rupert is the classic “I’m a pirate but I don’t kill anyone because I’m a good pirate.” Okay, sometimes people die, but he and his men aren’t actively setting out to murder people. Rupert has a specific target in mind, but he tends to get lumped in with the rest of the actual pirates that pillage and murder. His past and his goals are excellent motivators, and his struggle with his attraction to Brigitta is a legitimate one. And when Brigitta realizes their connection, she completely understands why he would have issues. He’s rather sassy and throws plenty of innuendos Brigitta’s way, which of course scandalizes her. But he’s got his sweet side that manages to come out when he’s not being crass. And to be fair, his crassness isn’t even all that bad.
What annoyed me most, however, was Sister Fallyn. For some reason it’s decided that she should go with Brigitta on Rupert’s ship despite the fact that she is absolutely terrified. This woman is on the verge of hyperventilating on just about every page. To make things worse, she will not shut up about being ravished. The first chapter it comes up, she mentions it four times. More in the next few chapters, and then it keeps popping up throughout the rest of the book. Look, ravish can be a fun word in the right context, but in the way she speaks it she means rape because yes, that’s what pirates do. But after the tenth time I was done. Yes. WE GET IT. SHUT UP. It got worse after it was made abundantly clear that it wasn’t going to happen, and then later proven Rupert is a good guy. Even then while both Brigitta and Sister Fallyn are working to help him, for whatever reason Fallyn turns into a human chastity belt. I wanted to push this woman off the ship, tell her to swim back to the island, and take the word “ravished” with her.
Despite Fallyn being a humongous pain the ass, it’s a good story. The amount of sexytime on the pages is a little lackluster, but Brigitta and Rupert didn’t exactly have much time given their circumstances. Actually, no, that’s not true. If useless Sister Fallyn hadn’t been on the boat for the latter half of the book, they could have hooked up at least once, and then again later. Honestly, I do not know what Rupert’s captain saw in that woman and I did not believe their little side romance one bit. There is a nice, tender moment between Brigitta and Rupert, but it gets ruined by her ignorance of men, which wouldn’t have been so awkward if Rupert had just explained a few things to her. I’m sensing a pattern of women who are “innocently” ignorant, and men who are just frustrated and don’t know how to ease a woman into things which isn’t really any fun. Unfortunately there isn’t anything I can do about that.
In Conclusion: If you’re looking for a fantasy romance, this series has been good so far. I’m coming to the conclusion that I think I would enjoy things more if the books were a little more in-depth and maybe with an extra sex scene thrown in for good measure. I’m not talking Game of Thrones level of detail, just a bit more immersion and a touch less silliness. Still, if you’re in the market for quick reads, heroic pirates, and the occasional princess being rescued; go for it.
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