Under the Oak Tree: Volume 1 (The Novel) (Under the Oak Tree - Novel)

As a hardcore fan of this story, and of the romance genre itself, I can say with absolute certainty that Under The Oak Tree is one of the best epic fantasy romances I've EVER read in my life. It is a slow-burn story that focuses on Maximillian; a young woman suffering from the extreme symptoms of life-long abuse and neglect. It centers around her psychological and emotional growth: from cowering in fear to fighting for strength and independence, and her complex relationship with her husband, Riftan. Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ ***************************************************** Read this book if: - You love well-written and thought-out literature - You love slow-burn romance that provide long-term satisfaction over short-term gratification - You love historical/fantasy settings with realistic social constructs - Realistic pacing when it comes to overcoming lifelong trauma - Realistic characters that have ACTUAL strengths and flaws - Realistic relationships when it comes to arranged marriage between two misinformed individuals - Spicy scenes galore ***************************************************** Do NOT read this book if: - You are impatient and expect results NOW - If you expect fluffy light-hearted romance - If you cannot understand or have a child-like understanding of: the concept of character flaws, cliffhangers, the cause and long-term effects of trauma, drama and conflict within literature, and that not all romances are golden from the start and that MOST people have to work hard to understand one another. - You are expecting a God's POV. You are NOT meant to be God, you are meant to be MAXI. Just because you don't see another characters POV, doesn't mean its non-existent. POVs outside of Maxi's are revealed through their interactions with HER because SHE is the protagonist. ***************************************************** NOW ONTO THE RANT: (Safe Spoilers) I've read the poor reviews and am honestly sick to death of the irresponsible readers cropping up with every romance that comes out, so here is my take on it. [The Cliff-Hanger] Did you miss that it says Volume 1 in the title? Please slow down and pay attention, or maybe get glasses. This is a SLOW-BURN romance, so we have a LONG way to go before this story is over, and let me tell you it is ABSOLUTELY worth every penny you spend on it. [Riftan's POV] Old fans of this story already know that Riftan's POV comes later (at the end of Season 1) and that he has an ENTIRE BOOK strictly dedicated to his side of the story; his backstory, why he is obsessed with Maxi, why he agreed to marry her, his journey to fight the dragon Sektor, etc. In my opinion, keeping the mystery of Riftan in tact and the focus on Maxi up until this point was key in maintaining the reader's experience because of how Season 1 ends. [Irresponsible Reading] This is a story built off the blood, sweat, and tears of the protagonist, so if you can't respect or even TRY to understand Maxi's level of flaws, struggles, and growth: WALK AWAY. If you can't understand why this story is so well-praised and amassed such a large fanbase, I can only assume that it is because you have never suffered from any of the dilapidating issues Maxi has and have been living in a rose-tinted world were NOTHING bad happens to anyone, that EVERYTHING is 'just so', and that everyone is perfectly perfect. In that case, I suggest you grow up before weighing in on this story. [The Wedding Scene] If you dropped this book because of the Wedding Scene: Educate Yourself. This story is set in a world with similar social constructs to the medieval era but with magic added to it. If you cannot handle the existence of different or historical societies, and their expectations, then maybe you should stay away from fantasy and historical fiction altogether. Stop acting a like a child that's incapable to making their own decisions when it comes to choosing which books to read.

Under the Oak Tree: Volume 1 is a slow, emotionally immersive introduction to a romance that prioritizes vulnerability over spectacle. At its core, this story is about Maxi—a heroine shaped by neglect and fear, yet quietly yearning for connection and self-worth. Her inner world is portrayed with heartbreaking honesty, making her struggles feel deeply personal and achingly real. Riftan enters the story as a larger-than-life figure—powerful, intimidating, and seemingly unreachable—but it quickly becomes clear that his stoic exterior hides an intense, unwavering devotion. Their marriage begins not with grand romance, but with discomfort, misunderstanding, and unspoken desire, which makes their dynamic feel refreshingly raw and human. The tension isn’t driven by external drama alone, but by emotional distance and the inability to communicate what they truly need. The pacing is deliberate, allowing the relationship to develop naturally while weaving in subtle world-building that never detracts from the emotional core. Volume 1 doesn’t rush to resolve its conflicts—instead, it lays a strong, emotionally complex foundation for the story to come. It’s intimate, imperfect, and deeply compelling. If you’re drawn to slow-burn fantasy romance that explores trauma, healing, and the fragile beginnings of love, Under the Oak Tree: Volume 1 is a powerful place to start.

Appearance: 5 stars Book rating: 4.5/5 stars Spiciness: 4/5 stars Overall I thought this book was immersive. I liked the author's writing style- descriptive and paints a good picture of the setting. There wasn't too much world building which I liked! Just enough story building to create a good visual. The story starts off quickly and you follow the protagonist through her journey of finding love for the first time. The spice level was definitely there in my opinion! It's a good read and there's a nice sample on amazon to read before deciding. I read the sample first as I was skeptical to purchase but found myself wanting to read more. This book touches base with romance, character development, action, magic, monsters, handsome knights. I personally can't wait for second volume coming in May 2025!

Under the Oak Tree surprised me more than any other book this year, and I am so glad I read it. Random House sent me a copy, but I bought a hard copy for my shelf. I LOVED IT! The premise of knights, epic fantasy realms, love, and discovery of oneself are some of my favorite themes. I didn't know that this was an adaptation of a webnovel on MANTA, so I basically walked in blind. My summary: A high society woman struggles to overcome her abusive background while her new life rewires her brain to accept happiness in life as an option, in an X-rated folktale setting. Maxi (short for Maximilian), suffers from a chronic stutter and is abused by her father because of it. Deemed unworthy to be a duke's daughter, she endures a neglected, sheltered, and unloving upbringing. Reading through Maxi's journey of healing through her trauma, in turn, healed some parts of myself. Maxi and I share a similar background, so watching her heal brought both joy and sorrow. While the intricacies of Maxi's characterization are somewhat subtle in the writing, she is anything but a flat character. The depths of her unraveling her trauma and healing from it are heartwarming to experience, especially through her relationship to the esteemed knight, Riftan Calypse. While their banter and love is adorable and just enchanting, the spicy scenes in this book are extremely tasteful. Overall, the writing is incredible. This adaptation brought me to tears, and I was enraptured with the writing style. There are so many different hidden threads to this novel that I can't wait to discover. I am MAD that I can't read the second one right away. (Yes, I could read ahead on MANTRA, but I would like to wait and hopefully receive the next ARC/order the next copy.) Thank you so much to Random House! All opinions are my own.

Great book definitely a new favorite! Lovely pacing and story, the FMC was so cute and I never understood book boyfriends until I read about Riftan. I had to order volume 2! Also, gorgeous cover and edges!!

Overall, it was okay. It was very frustrating to realize it ends with a cliffhanger. I enjoy a good book series, but I definitely prefer it when there’s some resolution at the end of each book, I.e.the book stands alone as a complete story. And I think how the main characters are written is annoying. We get almost zero insight into Riftan. It’s really difficult to know what kind of person he is or why he treats Maxi the way he does. But Maxi is the most frustrating to me. I hate that the entire story requires so much lying - about her background, her feelings, etc. She so rarely tells the truth about herself that I have trouble empathizing with her. But the story itself is interesting enough that I will get the next volume, hoping for more progress from the characters.

Excellent book. I love the story were 2 broken people grow together, the detail to the fighting scenes are wonderful. Riftan is my favorite character.

Great read keeps my attention for me it's really good normally I'll read a chapter put it down and forget about it

Ich habe lange gewartet dieses Buch zu lesen, da sich der 2. Band immer mehr verschoben hat und ich nicht allzu viel Zeit dazwischen haben wollte. Nun habe ich ihn endlich gelesen und schon von der ersten Seite an, war ich verzaubert, denn es ist einfach ein Meisterwerk. Dieses Buch hatte einfach alles, was ich mir wünsche und noch mehr, denn das Fantasy Setting mit der Magie (die zwar nicht die Hauptrolle spielt) lädt zu mehr ein, aber auch die Charaktere. Das Buch ist ganz anders, als ich es mir vorgestellt habe und das meine ich im positiven. Denn niemals habe ich von Riftan diesen lieben und so fürsorglichen Mann erwartet. Erst dachte ich, das er toxisch, oder sonst wie arrogant und negativ sein wird (und er sich im laufe der Bücher ändert), aber das war er nicht. Er ist das genaue Gegenteil und das mit seinem großartigen Aussehen, macht ihn zu einem so tollen Mann. Dann haben wir da Maxi, die ich sofort ins Herz geschlossen habe. Ihr altes Leben bei ihrem Vater war die Hölle und sie tut mir so leid. So hat Angst ihr Ansehen bei Riftan zu verlieren, Angst allein gelassen zu werden. Sie denkt, sie ist nichts wert und ist seiner unwürdig, wobei er das gleiche denkt. Ich bewundere ihre Stärke und liebe ihren Charakter. Beide haben zusammen eine großartige Chemie. Schon von Anfang an, hat das Buch spicy Szenen und diese sind so gut. Ich dachte erst, das Maxi gezwungen wird, dem ist aber nicht so (Riftan ist der beste!) Die spicy Szenen sind recht zahlreich und sehr gut beschrieben. Romantisch, intim und so gut. Ich konnte das Buch einfach nicht aus meinen Händen legen, denn mit einem sehr schönen Schreibstil hat es mich in den Bann gezogen. Ich möchte mehr von den beiden lesen und hoffe, das Maxi es sich selbst und ihrem Mann nicht so schwer machen wird. Die Aufmachung des Buches ist ebenfalls sehr hochwertig. Das hardcover fühlt sich recht "maßiv"an (also nicht das 0815, was man von manch anderen Verlagen bekommt), dazu kommt das Traum gleiche Cover mit Silberfolie. Die einzige, winzige Anmerkung wäre vielleicht die Landkarte mit Namen am Anfang, die teils wirklich sehr klein und damit schwer zu lesen ist. Das ist aber wirklich das Einzige.

Ho già letto la novel completa in versione digitale; non ho resistito a preordinare questa stupenda edizione 😍♥️

Such a pretty edition, and having Maxi in the cover in such delicate artwork is wonderful. I have loved this story since it was first introduced to me through the manga in Manwha. The story of Riftan and Maxi is such a wonder, to see them go from strangers to lovers even after so many difficulties is something really special and having the opportunity to experience it all over again in the novella is wonderful, I can’t wait to get the next one.

Everything from the story to the cover was absolutely amazing

I bought it as a gift for my mother and she told me she really liked it! It was however one day late but since i ordered it in a well-before time it arrived in time for her birthday.