#medievalvibes

[avantgardebarbie]

me and the wenches at the bar on saturdays

[natureaestheticdreams]

[saraharden]

A quiet storm wrapped in green Mordred walks the line between destiny and defiance.

[yellowmanula]

Dreams of Baphomet.

[bookvibesandtarotcards]

A Vow Made Twice by Emma Denny

✶ PRE-READING ✶

I've been on a cosy fiction kick recently, and this felt like it was adjacent to that world while being a bit spicier. (It is very spicy, be prepared.) I haven't read the connected works, so some of the backstory was a bit opaque, but I followed well enough.

✶ POST-READING ✶

As I thought… I really liked the characters and the central premise - a marriage of convenience that slowly becomes something more. Unlikely as it is that all three siblings in one medieval family would be gay, I’m choosing not to question my blessings. The dialogue leans more formal than I expected, but that makes sense given that most of the cast are nobles trying very hard to behave properly while absolutely not behaving properly.

It surprised me by... How easily everyone confessed everything to each other. They're all, in varying ways, committing sins that could see them jailed, excommunicated, fined and hanged, probably in that order, but they're all very open with each other, mostly under the guise of 'I can't ask him/her to marry me without understanding this first'. It's so open it's odd, even though one of my most hated tropes is people not just talking to each other!

✦ RECOMMENDATIONS ✦

Book Recommendation: Gwen and Art are not in Love by Lex Croucher is set in a vaguely Arthurian court. The sequel is due out this year!

TV or Movie Recommendation: The Girl King, a movie about the life of Queen Christina of Sweden.

✧ VIBE CHECK ✧

A colour palette: grey stone, bright tapestries

A soundtrack: heavy on the lute, loud panicked drums

A season: spring - bright, green and full of promise

A mood: uncertain, determined to try, anxious

A scent: wet dog, wax candles and dried rushes

★ TAROT CARD PULLED ★

The Lovers. It couldn’t really be anything else. Ash, Olly, and Agnes are all standing at emotional crossroads, each choice affecting the others. This isn’t just romance - it’s about commitment, identity, and deciding what kind of life you’re brave enough to claim.

Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed this! I'll admit that I skimmed some of the spicier bits - phwaor! - but the story itself is great. There's some really effective handling of PTSD from a fourteenth century understanding, and gender issues are treated as well as possible for the time frame. As I said above I genuinely liked the characters, and I thought the idea was great. I'll be looking for the other stories in the sequence now!

A Vow Made Twice publishes on the  12th Feb, 2026. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.

[artisanshub1]

Artisans Hub – Authentic Medieval Vibes 🛡️

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Bring the spirit of the medieval era to life with armor that doesn’t just protect, but inspires. Every curve and detail reflects centuries of craftsmanship, giving you the ultimate heroic aesthetic for your costume or collection.

🔗 Explore more at Artisans Hub and claim your piece of history.

[ramapani-blog]

Grotesques of Selby Abbey

Stone faces mocking time and prayer, their secrets stick to the air.

[edariia]