I’m a big fan of Rebecca F. Kenney’s books. While this particular series isn’t my absolute favorite of hers, The The Warlord’s Treasure is still a great escapist read.
Ixiana, the heroine, is kidnapped by her father’s rival, an intimidating warlord named Cronan. She suffers from chronic health conditions like asthma and what seems to be IBS, and at first, Cronan treats her with harsh disdain, mocking her perceived weaknesses and making it clear he wants nothing to do with her. Of course, fate has other plans as they’re fated mates, and his attitude shifts pretty quickly.
Cronan definitely leans into the alpha-hole archetype, especially in the previous book (Prize of the Warlord). That story is told entirely from Ixiana’s POV, which means Cronan remains somewhat of an enigma. However, The Warlord’s Treasure retells this same story through Cronan’s eyes. It offers more depth to his character and expands the overall narrative, making both books together a more complete and satisfying experience.
I highly recommend reading (or listening to) both books to get the full, well-rounded tale. The narration was fantastic and really brought the story to life.