“If you feel the need to atone for what you’ve done, then do something good with your life. Be the person you should have always been.”

Jayce and Alexius have very distinct voices and I liked them both. The novel would have benefitted from a POV from Alexius as we are mostly in the dark about his feelings for Jayce, but I still didn’t feel the tension of the will-they-won’t-they that I love in romance subplots.

This is not a story about overcoming evil. Things develop quite quickly (and conveniently) at the beginning to free Jayce of the Dark Lord’s clutches. Of Knights and Books and Falling In Love is a soothing epilogue of that war.

Jayce’s life and purpose have so far been ruled by the Dark Lord. So much, he doesn’t know who he is besides a weapon. But Alexius, who sees the best in everyone, comes into his life and helps Jayce find himself worthy of love.

After everything Jayce went through while living under the Dark Lord I expected to see his trauma come out in different ways. As soon as he gets rid of the necklace and loses his magic he doesn’t look back but for feeling some guilt after what he was forced to do. There’s some mention of PTSD, but mostly on Alexius’s part.

There are multiple time skips that I would’ve liked to see filled in as it felt more “told” than shown. There’s a diverse and interesting cast that I believe was a little wasted for not giving them enough spotlight. Still, it’s fun and cute and a very quick read.