Under the Oak Tree Volume 1 by Suji Kim

 

Volume 1

Most fairytales end with a wedding and a happily-ever-after—but this is no fairytale. The updated and official translation of Under the Oak Tree, the #1 webnovel on MANTA. 

Lady Maximilian is the daughter of the powerful Duke Croyso, but she is rarely allowed outside her family’s sprawling castle for fear that her stutter will tarnish their noble name. When she is forced to marry Sir Riftan, a lowborn knight caught in one of her father’s schemes, Maxi doesn’t dare hope for happiness, let alone love. Her stumbling communication and his gruff manner sour their relationship before it can begin, and Riftan leaves without a word the morning after their vows are exchanged.

Now, three years after their disastrous wedding night, Riftan has returned as a war hero. To Maxi’s surprise, despite rumors that he was offered marriage to Princess Agnes, a beautiful and renowned sorceress, Riftan still wants Maxi for his wife. And when he comes to claim her, his longing becomes a desire that bewilders Maxi, even as she is overcome by the scorching heat that Riftan’s presence ignites within her. As she learns to navigate the intricacies of her new life, Maxi will find herself and her courage, and discover that she is anything but powerless.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199346768-under-the-oak-tree

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

I’ve bee waiting a long time to get a physical copy of Under the Oak Tree. And even better, we are getting a novel and the graphic novel printed! I’ve kept up with the graphic novel through the webcomic. So I was definitely interested in seeing it written out in a novel form. This is just the beginning of Maxi and Riftan’s story. Three years ago, Maxi was married to Sir Riftan. A lowborn knight who has come a long way and is one of the most powerful knights and war hero. But the same night he married her, the next morning he was gone. Sent on his next conquest by the king. Maxi has stayed in her abusive father’s home. But Riftan has returned and is taking Maxi to his home of Anatol. While Riftan thinks she ignored her duties to have already gone to his home, the truth of the matter is Maxi had no idea. Maxi has been viewed as nothing because of her stuttering speech. She has been beaten among many tactics to “fix” her but to no avail. Her father has kept her in his home to avoid anyone seeing her. In doing so, Maxi has no clue how to be the wife of a war hero. But she will do her best. She will travel with Riftan and fulfill her duties in her new home with the hopes that Riftan will not toss her aside. But the more time she spends with him the more realizes that he has genuine affections for her. And that perhaps she can make a home here. It was really neat seeing the story so far in this form. I’m enjoying the story all over again and getting even more details than my first time read of the still ongoing comic. I can’t wait to get the next volume and seeing the story continue! 

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.