Princess Cordelia is a pawn of royal parents, obliged to agree to the marriage whether she wants it or not. She knows where her duty lies, unlike Arend. Ten years later, with one heir provided, Arend asks the temple to send him a male concubine on the understanding that there will be no emotional attachment, and with the arrival of Jules, that's when life really gets complicated.

With discussions as to what manly qualities are desirable by the objective temple guardians, and the surprise of the prince to find an immediate preference when he has not been looking for men, the tale does objectify men who are to be regarded as servants. Some of these men have even been sold into slavery by family members. As this is a fantasy tale, we have the luxury of exploring the situation and seeing how the men relate to one another in unequal relationships. The other castle servants are understandably put out by the changed status and make snide remarks about Jules, sending him to the meanest quarters. I thought this must be due to a loyalty to the Queen, but we're told the Queen is tidily dead.

Readers may also be surprised by the wordy nature of this romance, as repeatedly we see two men kiss and discuss the matter for several pages before anything else at all happens. Jules is a singer, and there are scenes of bureaucracy or castle dining. Those readers who enjoy a lengthy tale about awakening emotions and shaking off societal restraints will appreciate the prose of Cooper Davis. For those looking for an exciting fantasy romance, however, this lacks drama, myth or magic. Somehow it also lacks any women characters, even castle cooks. A KING UNDONE is a male romance in a medieval setting and will suit those who don't want adventures to get in the way of the emotional relationship.

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