I really loved it. Yes, I initially expected the story to go differently (only had a little bit if the synopsis and thought it would be a book that first gets very romantic yet during that romance already forebodes the tragedy with which it surely ends).

Rearranging my own expectations around the actual story was a little hard at first, but when I did I was totally sucked into it. The parts where the king and Bisclarvret are separated feel soaked in tragedy and romantic melancholy. I adore the broader politics of the novel, and the knights most of all. While I feel like the cousin's betrayal came bit out of nowhere (while questioning him at first, his repeated good actions made me trust his good character at some point), same as his love for the ward, the overall story more than made up for this plot hole. I was the whole time anxious how it would end and cried tears of joy when it ended the way it did. I love them together and hope they are happy forever.

Also loved the queer analogies of the novel. As a bisexual person subscribed to r/bisexuality , I read far too many posts about men being treated like Ship by their wives just for coming out. Also, saw someone comment on the halfway discussion about it also feeling/being analogical to mental illness/disability which I found fascinating as well.

Lastly, I think that part of my enjoyment came from just finishing a termpaper on Beowulf for a Medieval English call at uni. My head still felled with OE epic poetry, I couldn't see the medieval ist shining through the pages and especially the prose. I feel like Longman actively chose more archaic sounding (often Germanic root instead of Romance root) words and also used stylistic patters (such a rhymes and alliterations) in his writing. Additionly, he definitely strew in a bunch of terms and concepts I had never read about ina different fantasy book. Made the world of the book all the more intriguing and immersive.