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My Review:Title: Hajar's Hidden Legacy
Author: Maisey Yates
Series: Beasts of the Desert #1
Published by: Harlequin Presents EXTRA
Release Date: August 7, 2012
Format: Paperback
Pages: 192
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2022 Backlist Reader Challenge, Lenoreo's 2022 Bookish Resolutions Presents, Lenoreo's 2022 Diversity Reading Challenge
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ B&N ✩ Google ✩ Kobo ✩ iBooks
My rating:
Blurb:Princess Katharine has always been destined for a political marriage. Her heart heavy, she prepares to meet her future husband—the man whisperers in his royal kingdom call the Beast of Hajar.…Concealing his disfigurement from public scrutiny, Sheikh Zahir rules his country from within the castle walls, allowing no one in. Until duty demands he carry on the Hajar family dynasty, and allow his new bride to cross the threshold.
Zahir expects Katharine to flee at first sight. Yet her unflinching gaze fires Zahir's blood, their attraction burning hotter than the scorching desert sands.…
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
4 stars — I don’t know why (though I’m sure if I really thought about it I could figure it out), but I truly LOVE books where one of the characters feels they have some physical flaw that makes them not fit for society or something…that’s not exactly what I mean, but you know. I love seeing them LOVED as they are, not in spite of what they think makes them unloveable. So this was a hit for me. I really appreciated Katharine too — so many times I would have sat down and started crying and given up, but she picks herself up, dusts herself off and refuses to let go without a fight. I’m used to the weaker heroines, but every once in a while it’s really awesome to be surprised….
ON REREAD:
3.5 stars — Huh, I didn’t remember reading this one at all. I will admit, this one gets bonus points for being a Sheikh book that bucked the ugly trend of stereotypes that these usually are saturated with. The fact he was a beast had to do with his physical and emotional scars, not his nationality. I fully expected to DNF the book, it was part of the reason I picked it up. So imagine my surprise when it wasn’t infuriating and insulting. Triple bonus score for this one, and a trend I hope continues.
In the end, I was actually pretty impressed with both of our MCs, though Katharine in particular. As I mentioned in my original review, that girl had so much strength. She definitely had her flaws, and areas to grow, but she did!! And it was so satisfying. She gets this book the round up instead of down.
Zahir actually had a lot to work through, and while I got frustrated with him for taking so long, it wasn’t without precedence given he was working through PTSD. He would have gotten bonus points if he’d actually gotten professional help, but honestly the book was already so much better than I was expecting, I’ll give it this flaw.
It’s funny, I can see in my review I was attracted to the qualities of Zahir the first time through, whereas this time it was all Katharine. I find I have less tolerance for the “no one can love me because I have scars” thing than I used to. Especially if it drags through most of the book…I get it initially, but I think I would have liked Zahir to show growth a bit earlier. He did get there though.
So yeah. To say this was a surprise is kind of an understatement. Part of me still wants to round down because these books just aren’t as me anymore, but I’m mostly rating in comparison to other Presents at this point if that makes sense.
That’s so interesting to see a change in yourself as a reader, by accident. Thanks for sharing the journey with us.