Review: A Deal with the Elf King by Elise Kova

Synopsis:
The elves come for two things: war and wives. In both cases, they come for death.

Three-thousand years ago, humans were hunted by powerful races with wild magic until the treaty was formed. Now, for centuries, the elves have taken a young woman from Luella’s village to be their Human Queen.

To be chosen is seen as a mark of death by the townsfolk. A mark nineteen-year-old Luella is grateful to have escaped as a girl. Instead, she’s dedicated her life to studying herbology and becoming the town’s only healer.

That is, until the Elf King unexpectedly arrives… for her.

Everything Luella had thought she’d known about her life, and herself, was a lie. Taken to a land filled with wild magic, Luella is forced to be the new queen to a cold yet blisteringly handsome Elf King. Once there, she learns about a dying world that only she can save.

The magical land of Midscape pulls on one corner of her heart, her home and people tug on another… but what will truly break her is a passion she never wanted.

My thoughts:

I don’t even know how to put into words how much I enjoyed this book.

This is the first book in a while that has really gripped me, like seriously gripped me. If I hadn’t had started this at 10pm and needed sleep, I would’ve devoured this in one sitting. I literally stayed up, despite being sleep deprived, until almost 2 am reading this. The first thing I did when I woke up was make a cup of tea and went straight back to reading.

I was ADDICTED.

I loved the world, the characters, the plot & THE ROMANCE>
*SWOON*

This is very much a romance heavy novel, it was also my favourite kind of romance story: Slow Burn.
It was one of those books where I was just desperate for the romance to happen, there was so much build up and hints, I was d y i n g.
Another trope it features: Forced marriage – I live for this, especially when it has a happy ending!
Finally, it’s inspired by Beauty and the Beast & Hades and Persephone – I mean?? What more can I ask for?! This is literally a dream combination.

I haven’t really read anything with Elves before (apart from LOTR) but it was very much like Fae, which I absolutely love. Fae also feature in the novel, as so many other fantasy species. I really look forward to reading more books set in this world, I cannot wait to know more and explore other parts of this world!

This year I’ve read some good books. I haven’t read many new favourites. I also haven’t been given out 5-star ratings much, I haven’t rated a book 5 stars (not counting rereads) since I read Beach Read back in May.

However, I rate this book 5 Stars.

Not only will this be making it on my best books of 2020, it is a new favourite. I can see me rereading this time and time again. I already kind of want to dive back in. This is my first book by Elise Kova, and it is certainly not my last.

If you’re looking for a feel-good, pick-me -up read seriously considered this!