A Taste of Gold and Iron

A Breathtaking Enemies-to-Lovers Romantic Fantasy

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A Taste of Gold and Iron

By: Alexandra Rowland

Narrated by: Casey Jones

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About this listen

A sweeping fantasy romance set against the backdrop of an Ottoman Empire-inspired world, A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland is perfect for fans of A Marvellous Light and The Goblin Emperor.

‘A delicious tangle of romance, fealty and dangerous politics’ – Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne

One false coin could topple an empire.

Kadou, the shy prince of Arasht, has no intention of wrestling for imperial control with his sister, the queen. Yet he remains at odds with one of the most powerful ambassadors at court – the father of the queen’s new child. Then a hunting party goes terribly awry, and Kadou finds himself under suspicion of attempted murder.

To prove his loyalty to his sister and salvage his reputation, Kadou takes responsibility for the investigation of a break-in at one of their guilds. He enlists the help of his newly appointed bodyguard, the coldly handsome Evemer, who seems to tolerate him at best. But what appears to be a straightforward crime spirals into a complex counterfeiting operation, with a powerful enemy at its heart.

In Arasht, where princes can touch-taste precious metals with their fingers and myth runs side by side with history, counterfeiting is heresy. The conspiracy they discover could cripple the kingdom’s financial standing – and bring about its ruin.

‘As indulgent and satisfying as your favourite fanfiction’ – Tessa Gratton, author of The Queens of Innis Lear

Fantasy

Historical

Romance

Fiction

Royalty

Crime

Heartfelt

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Critic reviews

A delicious tangle of romance, fealty and dangerous politics (Tasha Suri)

A Taste of Gold and Iron is a slow-burn romance flush with sexy, complicated relationships, founded on the ethics of duty and love. As indulgent and satisfying as your favourite fan fiction (Tessa Gratton)

Witty, clever, and often extremely funny, Rowland's tale of a prince who doesn't want power but has it anyway – and must survive all the risks that brings with it – somehow manages to be both soft and hard-edged, clever and kind. And sexy! Very much that too (Jenn Lyons)

This book gleams and sparkles with emotion and sensory detail, showcasing the richness of Rowland's created world. It's a hugely satisfying blend of economic intrigue, vivid characters, and slow-burn romance – and it's also, frequently, funny as hell (Freya Marske)

Alexandra Rowland delivers again – an engaging story in a complex, intricately rendered world full of deeply human, sensitively drawn characters (Rowenna Miller)

In exploring what monarchs owe their people, and what individuals owe each other, this achingly tender fantasy wows (Publishers Weekly starred review)

Rowland's latest continues to showcase their captivating prose, immersive details, and complicated characters (Library Journal starred review)

An engaging fantasy/romance set in a large, lush, and inclusive world (Kirkus starred review)

The slow-burn romance between them is beautifully done and adds a thrilling element to the story that readers will savor (Booklist)

[F]or readers who enjoy forced proximity and bodyguard romances, A Taste of Gold and Iron offers both, wrapped in a delightful package of espionage and royal duty . . . Rowland also impresses in their nuanced depiction of anxiety (Bookpage)

This slow-burn romantic fantasy with a heavy dose of political intrigue is rich in world-building and emotional angst . . . A queernormative fantasy world (Buzzfeed)

Most relevant

The production was technically good, the architecture of the narrative, the world created for the characters to inhabit, was imaginative, detailed and interesting, the choice of the Ottoman Empire, as the base for the substrate in which the narrative is set, works well and the necessary alterations are accommodated easily enough.

The characterisation, of the protagonists, is initially good with some complexity; alas the characters fail to mature in both depth and breadth as the story progressed and doesn't resolve certain key issue(s) in the characters' personalities.

However, the real failure, of the work, is the indecision of the author as to the type of publication; ultimately, the book wasn't adventure, or romance, or both and therefore couldn't be fulfilling in either category.

The performer was, overall, excellent and add significantly to the experience; and probably resulted in a higher rating than was strictly justified by the narrative solely.