Yeah, Neve is nowhere near Oliver's level in terms of swordsmanship (yet). And to answer your question, yes! But on those scales...it won't be until further in the novel. There's a lot more for Neve to unveil before then.

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. Neve has a long road ahead of her...I hope you stick around for the ride :)

Neve lived primarily in the Capital for the last few years! In a sense, this is her "first" training session in a very long time. In her childhood, she mostly trained with the squires, not the knights. (And don't worry, she won't be going alone...)

While this is not the type of novel I would usually read, I can appreciate the intrigue of the plot and the author's writing skill. From the first chapter, the author handles a lot of serious topics, but embeds lighthearted humour that makes the novel more enjoyable to read. Great characterization, nice pace. Overall, great work!

LOL I wasn't expecting all that dry humour! There were more than a few lines that made me laugh. The humorous narration was a nice juxtaposition against the darker elements of the plot. The story is moving a little quickly, but it's not too confusing. Overall, a very interesting start to a novel. Keep it up!

Wow, thank you so much! While I was drafting this story, it started to lean more political than romantic. Glad you enjoy the slow burn!

Me, a Liberal Arts major, trying to understand science...RIP. But seriously, this is a very creative premise! The writing is good, the characters are interesting, and the story world is clearly meticulously imagined. The only advice I can offer the author is to be mindful of long paragraphs, especially ones with fragmented dialogue. Appropriate paragraph breaks make for a more fluid reading experience. Looking forward to seeing where the story goes!

Definitely a gripping beginning! There was a lot of information and many characters being introduced at once, but the writing itself was descriptive and well-paced. The author paints a very clear picture with their writing. This seems like it will be a very interesting story!

This novel has a very captivating hook. Both of the leads are dynamic and their banter is enjoyable to read. The premise of the arena battle reminds me a little of the book, Red Queen. Though this novel has a fun (and less graphic) twist! However, I did find that the beginning was a little fast paced. The progression of events didn't seem realistic, and I wish I could've gotten to know more about Hope and her motivations before she was thrust into a new life with Drake.