cheerful
historcl_romnce), and I really enjoyed it! I was surprised at how honestly flawed the characters were. Most importantly, I was was impressed that it didn't fall in to the usual trap of monogomitus [the unfortunate romance-novel afflictions which strikes down apparently healthy Eastern shahs and sultans with Western ideology.] ^_^I think another reason that I was so surprised by this book is my (limited) background in Bertrice's novels. The only other one of her books that I have read is The Innocent, which is on a whole different playing field, in terms of intimacy and romance. That book is a guilty pleasure of mine, and I rather expected that The Kadin would be just as raunchy, if not more so.
