Review: An Unsuitable Heir

An Unsuitable Heir by K.J. Charles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I haven't stopped thinking about this book for days now.
I'm not sure how I can give it even close to the review it deserves, its filled me with an excess of emotion that I just don't know how to type out.

Unsuitable Heir concludes the mystery started in Unseen Attraction, and I admittedly had my heart in my throat until the last few chapters about how it was going to pan out.

I don't want to goo too much into the plot as I personally really liked not knowing too much about it and enjoyed having it unfold for me.

What I will say is that the relationship between Mark and Pen is one of the most beautifully written things I've ever read recently. The love and romance between two characters that have gone their whole lives without being truly seen for themselves finding someone who not only does, but loves them for themselves and unconditionally. Charles makes you fall for both of the characters as they fall for each other, Pen is just such a wonderful individual that I wish had a whole series just about them.
From a historical view, I can't even begin to imagine how difficult it would be to be gender fluid during this time period. Pen talks about how they don't feel comfortable with either s/he pronoun but goes with 'he' as it's less trouble. Giving 'himself' their own name seems to be one of the only way they can take agency over their identity, the threat of having that taken from them as well as forcing them into one gender identity is terrifying for both Pen and the reader.
I found myself trying to figure out if the twins could make a run for the Continent or something, screw the rest of the characters.
The clueless nature that all the other characters treat the threat of loss of self is painful to witness and the betrayal that happens...its really hard to swallow.

Pen deserves every happiness and its hard that that happiness is limited by the society not just of that time but our current one. The story ends on a hopeful note though.

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