Review: The High Mountain Court by A.K. Mulford
“Never let anyone else tell you who you are, Remy, not even me. No one decides how bright you shine but you.”
The Basics
Title: The High Mountain Court (The Five Crowns of Okrith #1)
Author: A.K. Mulford
Published: 2021
Publisher: A.K. Mulford
Pages: 341
Format: Paperback
Genres: Fiction — Fantasy, High fantasy, Romance, Fantasy romance, New adult
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Book Synopsis
Remy is a witch in hiding. As a red witch, she lives with a bounty on her head, fleeing from one village to the next at the faintest inkling of detection. When four fae show up at the tavern in which she is working, she has every intention of following her playbook and leaving town, but her escape attempt is thwarted by the fae, who had anticipated that she would try to flee. The leader of the group of fae reveals himself to be Prince Hale of the Eastern Court, and he claims to seek not the bounty on her head but rather her help. He wants to restore power to Prince Raffiel of the Mountain Court, Remy’s homeland now under Northern Court rule, but to do so, he must first find two magical relics that were crafted by red witches centuries ago. He believes that Remy’s red magic will enable her to locate the objects, but after a lifetime of viewing everyone with suspicion, Remy is unsure if she can trust him. Then again, he has promised to reunite her with other surviving red witches, which after years of isolation, is an all-too-tempting prospect…and there is also the inexplicable pull that she feels toward him, begging her to say yes and remain by his side.
My Review & Overall Thoughts
TLDR: An entrancing, escapist fantasy that is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas.
The High Mountain Court has become one of my favorite reads of the year. Actually, scratch that, it has become one of my favorite fantasy books of all time. Magic, faeries, witches, adventure, mystery, and romance – this book has all the trappings of a captivating story. Not to mention, it has a wonderful, diverse cast of characters and an ending that will leave you eager for more.
Before we delve into the ending though, let’s back up and talk about the plot. From the opening paragraph, the story reels you in, ensnaring your attention. The book takes you on an adventure, whisking you away from the monotony of daily life to a fantastical realm in which faeries and witches are real. You follow the characters as they traverse this magical land, seeking out enchanted relics. Along the way, they enact daring plans, narrowly escape disaster, and uncover some shocking truths. The pacing is ideal, which combined with the compelling plot, makes this one hard-to-put-down book.
Further contributing to this unputdownable quality is the romance between Remy and Hale. Their enemies (or perhaps more accurately, reluctant allies)-to-lovers romance is *chef’s kiss*. There is banter and sexual tension aplenty, and one of my all-time favorite tropes, the oh-no-there’s-only-one-bed conundrum, even makes an appearance. Moreover, their romance is well paced, with just the right amount of buildup to when they get together, and once they do, steamy scenes ensue.
Swoon-worthy romance aside, Hale and Remy are also just interesting characters in their own rights. Remy is a strong, courageous woman, who demonstrates tremendous personal growth over the course of the book. She is also intriguing in that there is a sense of mystery enshrouding her. Through her conversations with other characters, you get the sense that there is a part of her history that we, the readers, are not yet privy to, which of course, just compels you to keep reading. Hale might not be as mysterious, but his good looks, compassionate side, and slightly dangerous streak make him the perfect love interest.
In general, the characters in this book are fantastic. They are diverse, comprising different races, sexual orientations, and gender identities. The characters, both primary and secondary, are also well fleshed out and lifelike.
Lastly, I just have to take a minute to express how much I enjoyed the ending. The final chapter had me smiling, and it left me with just the right amount of anticipation for the sequel. I am eager to continue the series, but the lack of a cliffhanger ending means that I am not impatiently counting down the days until I can do so.
The not so good
The world building is decent, but it could have been better. For example, it would have been nice to have learned more about the history of each of the courts. It also would have been nice to have explored more of Okrith. We only saw a tiny fraction of each of the courts, but perhaps the sequel will remedy that.
The magic system could have also been more fleshed out. The source of witches’ power is never discussed, and I, for one, would have enjoyed learning how witches are able to harness and wield magic.
Overall
The High Mountain Court is a brilliant debut. If you enjoy fantasies, particularly those that relate to fae or witches, make your way to the nearest library or bookstore and get yourself a copy of this book.
Have you read The High Mountain Court? If so, share your thoughts with me in the comments section below!
