Author: Tessonja Odette
Narrated by: Rusty Mewha & Dani Cochrane
Rating: 4.25/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was such a fun, spicy read! A Rivalry of Hearts turns the smut genre on its head with its blend of humor, worldbuilding, and the classic academic rivals-to-lovers dynamic.
The story follows Edwina Danforth, a human romance (okay, smut) author on a book tour in the fae lands, where she's thrown into a rivalry with William Haywood, a pretentious fae poet who looks down on her steamy novels. Things get extra interesting when they make a deal: whoever sleeps with the most lovers by the end of the tour wins a publishing contract. And since William is fae, the deal is binding. Cue the witty banter and sizzling tension as they clash, compete, and inevitably, fall for each other.
I loved how this book took on multiple sides of the genre. You’ve got the chaotic fans who adore Edwina’s smut and then William, the snob who dismisses it. The book is written for romance-lovers, and so I think a lot of people will see themselves on this spectrum. Plus, the fae worldbuilding is fantastic, with binding deals, Seelie forms, fae court, Lionid characters, and even explanations on how alcohol affect fae differently, all adding depth to the story.
The character backstories were woven in beautifully. Edwina’s struggle to be taken seriously as an author and her past rejects, and William’s background in acting and relationship with his sister gave the story an extra layer of complexity, making their journey even more compelling. While reading, I couldn’t tell who would win the competition or who truly deserved it, which I think is a good sign that it wasn't completely obvious.
Narration-wise, Dani Cochrane was solid, but Rusty Mewha really stole the show for me as William. His portrayal of the pretentious poet was spot on. He captured the confidence of an actor, and haughtiness with his accent, which added so much personality to the character.
Overall, A Rivalry of Hearts is an enjoyable and engaging read, perfect for fans of the fantasy romances and those who love a good rivals-to-lovers story.