Rowena's Key- AJ Nuest

Author AJ Nuest

I'm not going to lie, I really wasn't sure what to expect when I was approached to review Rowena's Key by AJ Nuest.  Described as fantasy romance, a genre I'd never considered reading before, I didn't think it would be my cup of tea (which is Earl Grey as it comes, incase you're wondering).  AJ Nuest is a passionate advocate of the genre (read the guest post she wrote for me here where she compares never experiencing romantic fantasy to never experiencing chocolate!)

The first book in the Golden Key Chronicles introduces us to Rowena, a restorer of antiques who discovers a hidden key and a magic mirror which draws her to another time and place. Handsome prince Caedmon is waiting to capture her heart, a vision in tight pants wielding swords and spears.  What's not to love?

I was completely out of my comfort zone reading Rowena's Key.  I love a good romance, but this was total escapism, completely other-worldly and different to anything else I have read.  I've read some mild fantasy before (think along the lines of Narnia and Harry Potter), but this was different- passion and longing wrapped up in the surprise combination of a bygone era and the cynical modern-day.  I loved being able to immerse myself in something entirely fictional, with no echoes of news stories or other books I have read.  I suppose this is one of the real strengths of the fantasy genre!

The characters were amusing (particularly Rowena's marvellous friend Ollie) and reeled me in from the start, and I would love to find out more about Ollie and his theatrical lifestyle.  I found myself chuckling at the language Caedmon used throughout and Rowena's responses to it, and the book has a lot of dry humour which kept me entertained. 

It did take me a while to adapt to reading a book so different to my usual reading material, but I found myself swept away by Rowena's Key.  If you haven't read fantasy romance before, give it a whirl-you might be surprised.

Rowena's Key is out now, published by Harper Impulse.  You can find out more by clicking on the link below.



8/10

With thanks to Harper Impulse and AJ Nuest for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.