Today’s review is about THIS WILL BE FUN by E.B. Asher. Three of the realm’s heroes reunite after a decade apart. Forced together, the trio and a former assassin for hire bicker and banter their way into a group therapy session and another quest.

Author: E.B. Asher
Series: None
Age Category: Adult
Publisher: Avon Books
Publish Date: October 29, 2024
Print Length: 416

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Official Synopsis

Former friends and former flames reunite on a mayhem-spike quest in this cozy romantasy perfect for readers of Legends & Lattes and lovers of Shrek.

TEN YEARS AGO, THEY SAVED THE REALM. IT RUINED THEIR LIVES.

Everyone in Mythria knows the story of how best friends Beatrice and Elowen, handsome ex-bandit Clare, and valiant leader Galwell the Great defended the realm from darkness. It’s a tale beloved by all–except the heroes. They haven’t spoken in a decade, devastated by what their quest cost them.

But when they all receive an invitation to the queen of Mythria’s wedding, it’s a summons they can’t refuse . . . and a reunion for the ages–with Clare secretly not over his long-ago fling with Beatrice, Beatrice fighting the guilt she feels over how everything ended, Elowen unprepared for the return of her ex-love (the cunning Vandra), and all of them lost without Galwell. And if reuniting with former friends and lovers wasn’t perilous enough, dark forces from their past have also returned.

Dusting off old weapons and old instincts, Beatrice, Clare, and Elowen will face undead nemeses, crystal caves, enchanted swords, coffee shops, games of magical Truth or Dare, and, hardest of all, their past–rife with wounds never healed and romances never forgotten.

This time around, will their story end in happily ever after?

My Review

I received a free, digital, advanced reading copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is my own and reflects my honest opinion about this book.

THIS WILL BE FUN is a quasi-medieval romantic comedy in which the lauded heroes of Mythria forcefully reunite after a decade apart. Trauma and miscommunication separated the original four–now the remaining three–after the end of their quest. Elowen lives alone and faraway in the trees. Beatrice married and recently divorced an average Lord. And rogueish Clare roams the realm reveling in and profitting from his fame. To each their own method to forget the past. When they receive an invitation to the Queen’s wedding, some require more persuading than others. But they all go on their way and eventually wind up on a quest to face the past…and of course to save the realm once again!

My favorite aspect of THIS WILL BE FUN was the translation of modern comforts into a medieval-ish setting. Some might find the anachronisms jarring, but it adds to the overall air of whimsy this tale exudes. Mythria has its own version of Starbucks, video calling, texting, and even ride sharing (carriage for hire, if you will). I also appreciated that the dialogue format pokes fun at the formal way medieval characters speak in romanticized, theatrical productions. It’s an entertaining juxtaposition of the new and the old.

Unfortunately, though, that’s where my entertainment stopped. The beginning grabbed my attention, which starts ten years in the past and then fast forwards to the present. Each character is pretty miserable and, of course, I wondered why. However, by the 50% mark I found I completely lost interest. Most of the book bounces between the three characters’ points of view. And each one is more of the same pining over the past or pining over each other. They stay in their heads and feelings so much that, frankly, I got annoyed. There’s this thing called talking to each other and it takes them forever to get to that point.

The overall point of the story is that they each need to face the past, live in the present, communicate, and forgive each other. But to have to read about it for 75% of the book gets repetitive. By the time the new quest came into play, I had a difficult time staying invested. The new quest itself is rather ridiculous, but given the lighthearted premise, I can’t fault it too much.

In the end, perhaps I just am not cut out for a story that spends a lot of time in characters’ head spaces. THIS WILL BE FUN is a character-driven story that’s light on plot and heavy on internal monologues. While not my preferred cup of tea, some may appreciate these elements coupled with a generally light-hearted, whimsical setting.

Rating: 3
Content warnings: sexual content, blood, violence
Reading format: Kindle e-book

If you liked this book, you may also enjoy GWEN AND ART ARE NOT IN LOVE by Lex Croucher.