Reign & Ruin by J. D. Evans

This is probably one of the best romance fantasy books I have ever read. I do not understand the criticism about it being slow to start; this is a very thorough, detailed, methodical, plot and character driven fantasy that has put just as much energy into the political intrigue and the rise to power of its heroine as it has into its romance scenes. The time and energy building this plot and this world and these characters is what made the romance so full and rich and rewarding. Like excuse me, but plenty of female authors know how to write a sex scene that serves women, but to do it and preserve the key aspects of these characters, to have their personalities not only shine through but be revealed in these scenes is something else; it’s happening on a higher level. Her writing is happening on a higher level. There are huge fantasy fic authors currently published by major houses that could never.