THE HAND THAT FEEDS by SASS EVERETT: A Review (Spoilers!)

sagetgreene
9 minutes ago
2 min read

There is much to enjoy in The Hand That Feeds. I was drawn to this book because of the succinct and intriguing premise, as well as the beautiful cover (simple and effective!).

First, let me say that there is an immediate reveal within the first few pages, and this review will spoil that. I don't believe your read will be negatively impacted, but the author did leave this twist out of the book description, so read ahead at your own risk! The other reveal I might potentially spoil can be found in the book's tags/metadata, so again, read on with caution.

The premise of The Hand That Feeds is sort of a cross between Indecent Proposal and The Remarried Empress. Our love triangle consists of Corin, Yolantha, and Starling. Corin used to a be royal guard (serving Starling), but he ran away to marry Lady Yolantha. Starling finds them living their new life in the woods. In a fit of anger, he wounds Corin and takes Yolantha away. Corin has spent the last 10 years living in exile, while Starling and Yolantha have married (now King and Queen). This is where the story begins.

Now Corin's life of solitude is upended when he is summoned to the palace. He comes face to face with Starling and Yolantha, and they have a request of him. They have been unable to produce an heir, and they want Corin to impregnate Yolantha.

From here there are a few more twists and turns, which I encourage you to discover for yourself. Here is what I will mention:

Everett does a nice job of placing us in the world. It was easy (and fun) to envision the outfits, the countryside, and the food. These simple moments of exposition were some of my favorites; I want to try the cakes Corin made! Everett also has a way of mentioning the little things—the small niceties between lovers.

Something I wish I'd had more of is a stronger reaction when everyone got together for the first time in a decade. Yolantha presented Corin with the opportunity to come back to the palace and get her pregnant without any "I've missed you" or emotional outburst at seeing him. We come to learn about her shame and guilt over Corin's situation, but she comes on so strong at the beginning that—without being too harsh—I resented her dismissal of Corin's protests and feelings.

Overall, this is a fun and spicy adventure that you can devour quickly. It's a cozy atmosphere, and I'd be interested to see more stories taking place here.

Would I recommend this book? Yes.

I would not recommend The Hand That Feeds to those who: