Review: Oak King Holly King by Sebastian Nothwell
SYNOPSIS:
Shrike, the Butcher of Blackthorn, is a legendary warrior of the fae realms. When he wins a tournament in the Court of the Silver Wheel, its queen names him her Oak King – a figurehead destined to die in a ritual duel to invoke the change of seasons. Shrike is determined to survive. Even if it means he must put his heart as well as his life into a mere mortal’s hands.
Wren Lofthouse, a London clerk, has long ago resigned himself to a life of tedium and given up his fanciful dreams. When a medieval-looking brute arrives at his office to murmur of destiny, he’s inclined to think his old enemies are playing an elaborate prank. Still, he can’t help feeling intrigued by the bizarre-yet-handsome stranger and his fantastical ramblings, whose presence stirs up emotions Wren has tried to lock away in the withered husk of his heart.
As Shrike whisks Wren away to a world of Wild Hunts and arcane rites, Wren is freed from the repression of Victorian society. But both the fae and mortal realms prove treacherous to their growing bond. Wren and Shrike must fight side-by-side to see who will claim victory – Oak King or Holly King.
REVIEW
*Book Received in Exchange for Honest Opinion/Review*
A whimsical, unique, and intriguing story with a historical twist. While Oak King Holly King took me a minute to immerse myself in, once I got used to the writing style and storytelling, I found myself quickly sucked into the adventures of Shrike and Wren.
The tone of the story is unlike anything I have previously read, which isn’t a bad thing but it has an old school style that did take me a while to warm up to. But once Shrike ‘hunts down’ Wren and Wren agrees to help, the true adventure begins. I couldn’t get enough of either of these characters. Shrike was an enigma, hard yet soft, difficult yet easy. I loved watching him open up to Wren and learning all of his vulnerabilities. His story tugged at my heart and I couldn’t help but fall in love with him. Then there is Wren, who wants so much more than society can ever offer him. I would say his journey throughout this book was one of self-acceptance and of finding his place in the world. It was just as endearing as Shrike’s narrative.
Outside of the character growth and budding romance, the plot is split between two storylines, there is Shrike trying to survive being named the Oak King and then there is drama in Wren’s mortal realm. I think the drama in the human realm really took away from the storyline and I could have done without the whole narrative. It constantly seemed that progress between Wren and Shrike was interrupted by this competing side plot with pointless drama that honestly didn’t contribute anything to Wren or Shrike progressing as characters.
I would have much rather seen a more in depth look into Wren and Shrike’s relationship as well as learn more about the fae world. I think that portion of the story could have used some more details and I would have also really enjoyed watch Shrike and Wren form a more steadfast bond instead of the constant back and forth between realms. Everything eventually plays out and the characters get a happily ever after but the story ends abruptly and I would have liked to see at least a few pages of Wren and Shrike enjoying their hard-earned peace.
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