4 & 1/2 stars. 
 I've been in a reading slump for about 6 weeks and as predicted, Kristen Ashley was able to not only lift me out of it, but kicked ass doing it. 
 I really loved this story and the characters and the world. I loved it even more than I like the inspirational/source material - which is most definitely Game of Thrones. The fiction world of the Korwahk is without a doubt based on the Dothraki, and this story of Circe & Dax Lahn is most definitely an AU story of Daenerys Targaryen and Khal Drogo. Just like the world of Motorcycle Man which mirrored Sons of Anarchy, this mirrors that. In a story such as this, I am grateful for it - because without that visual and history of GoT going into reading this book I am not sure I would have been as patient with Korwahk life and customs and definitely the language issue had I not had that foundation. 
 So yes, it is fanfiction. But it is AMAZING fanfiction. And I like fanfiction. I don't read fanfiction for everything I like, but some fandoms, I'm more into the fanfiction than even the source because it gives me what the show or movie didn't. And what I wouldn't give to have KA weave her magic around those universes you just have no idea. 
 The language as a plot device thing bugged me as did having to flip back and translate so much in the first half of the book. ((And I did a clever thing, took pictures of the glossery pages in the back w/my phone - so I didn't have to back & forth on my kindle, but still, annoying.)) I get that it was authentic and hats off to KA for the linquistic talents, but it takes you out of the story and the moment when you have to stutter threw translating an invented language. 
 But I enjoyed the story and the characters are very much what I've come to love in KA's books. I don't feel I can give her complete credit for creating the world, but she sure as hell the source material a 100% better. I barely tolerate much of GoT's ((The books, the show is good about weeding out GRRM's shitting dreary writing. And yes, I've read all 5. And yes, I think GRRM is a life ruiner and he'll die before he finishes the 7th book leaving us all hanging in misery.)) Dothraki shenanigans and don't love Dany like much of that fandom. Circe is Dany times 1000. Circe is not a 14 yr old sheltered child who it is very hard to believe could become this great queen almost overnight. No, Circe is a modern WOMAN who it took no stretch of the imagination believing could inhabit this role as golden queen to perfection and full prophecy. And where Khal Drogo is never more than a caricature for not even a whole book, Lahn is a FANTASTIC and fully formed character. So yeah, much much better than GoT. But like I said having that cultural and visual base helped. 
 I really enjoyed this book and found myself not wanting to leave it. I think if you can navigate the language barriers and culture shock you will too. Because no matter the inspiration, this is great storytelling.