Two kingdoms, Dinasdale and Daleraia, that have been at war for decades agree to join with a third kingdom to form the Kingdom of Alamere and keep peace. Twenty years later, Lady Gwendolyn of Dinasdale finds evidence that Daleraians have broken the peace. Sir Caden of Daleraia travels to Dinasdale unaware of the broken peace. His brother is killed and he is taken prisoner by Lady Gwen. In order to restore peace, both must learn to trust their sworn enemy.
Set in a fantasy medieval world, Chained is about people of color, in other words, folks who do not often have leading roles in historical romances such as this. Lady Gwen is dark-skinned, while Caden is lighter-skinned. This is a classic enemies to lovers story, with a bit of a twist at the ending. I loved the political intrigue of the book, and that the romance never overshadowed that aspect of the story. Both parts work together seamlessly to create a story that keeps the reader rapt and eager for more. Thankfully, there is more: The second book in the trilogy is Bound. Though book three has not yet been published, there are supplemental stories to fill in some backstory about a few characters. If you enjoy historical romance, or are looking for a romance featuring people of color, then you should definitely check out Chained.
Review by Jessica A.
