Marriage of Convenience Novel by Ken (Review)

Diksia.com - If you are looking for a novel that combines romance, drama, and intrigue, you might want to check out “Marriage of Convenience” by Ken. This novel is a historical romance set in the 19th century, where a young widow named Bianca de Blanche is forced to marry a mysterious and powerful man named Lucian de Arno, who is the brother of her late husband. The novel follows their journey as they navigate the challenges of their marriage, the secrets of their pasts, and the dangers of their enemies.

Introduction

“Marriage of Convenience” is a popular historical romance novel by Ken, a Korean author. Originally released online as a web novel with 200 chapters and a side story, it later became a printed book series consisting of five main volumes and one side story volume. Readers and critics have praised the book for its captivating plot, engaging characters, and vivid descriptions.

The story is set in the fictional European country of Arno during the 19th century. The Arno family, known for their political and economic influence, rule the country. They also possess mysterious and powerful abilities inherited from a legendary magician ancestor. The family is divided into two branches: the main branch led by Lucian de Arno, the current head and prime minister, and the side branch led by Lucian’s younger brother, Zakari de Arno, a notorious playboy.

The novel begins with the death of Zakari de Arno, who was married to Bianca de Blanche, a beautiful noblewoman from another country. Their marriage was arranged for political reasons, but it was an unhappy and abusive union. Zakari treated Bianca with contempt and violence, leaving her trapped in a miserable life.

After Zakari’s death, Bianca’s situation worsens. She faces accusations of being a gold-digger and a whore from Zakari’s relatives and friends. The Arno family strips her of her inheritance and status, wanting to be rid of her. With nowhere to go and no one to turn to, Bianca finds herself in a desperate situation.

Enter Lucian de Arno, who offers Bianca a deal. He proposes to marry her and protect her from her enemies, but in return, he expects her cooperation in his political schemes. Lucian makes it clear that he has no intention of loving or treating her as his wife. To Bianca, this seems like her only chance to secure her safety and dignity. She also hopes to uncover the truth behind Zakari’s death and Lucian’s motives.

However, as Bianca becomes entangled in Lucian’s world, she discovers that he is not as simple as he appears. Lucian is not only cold and ruthless but also shrouded in mystery and secrecy. He has numerous enemies and allies within and outside the Arno family. Bianca also unravels the layers of secrets and tragedies that have shaped Lucian into the person he is.

Despite knowing that Lucian doesn’t love or want her, Bianca finds herself developing unexpected feelings for him. She manages to gradually change him, unlocking his vulnerable side and earning his trust like no one else.

But their marriage is far from smooth sailing. They face dangers and threats from their enemies, who aim to destroy them both. Conflicts and misunderstandings arise from their families and friends, who disapprove of their relationship. Moreover, they must confront their own doubts and fears regarding their feelings for each other.

Will Bianca and Lucian overcome these challenges and find happiness together? Or will they be torn apart by their enemies or their own hearts?

Novel Details

Title: Marriage of Convenience
Author: Ken
Genres: Historical Romance, Drama
Chapters: 200 (Main Story) + 1 (Side Story)
Language: Korean
Publisher: Munpia
Publication Date: 2018-2019 (Online), 2019 (Printed)
Rating: 4/5 stars (Goodreads)
Awards: N/A

Recommended Audience

The novel is suitable for readers who enjoy historical romance, drama, and intrigue. The novel contains mature themes and scenes, such as violence, abuse, sex, and death. The novel also contains some fantasy elements, such as magic and supernatural abilities. The novel is recommended for readers who are 18 years old and above.

Overview

The novel is a captivating and engaging story that explores the themes of love, trust, loyalty, betrayal, revenge, and redemption. The novel has a well-developed plot that is full of twists and turns, suspense and surprises. The novel also has a rich and vivid setting that transports the reader to the 19th century Europe, with its historical and cultural details. The novel also has a strong and diverse cast of characters that are complex and realistic, each with their own personalities, backgrounds, motivations, and relationships.

Plot Summary

The novel follows the story of Bianca de Blanche and Lucian de Arno, who enter into a marriage of convenience for their own reasons. Bianca is a young widow who is accused of being a gold-digger and a whore by her late husband’s family and friends. She is also stripped of her inheritance and status by the Arno family, who want to get rid of her as soon as possible. Bianca has nowhere to go and no one to help her.

Lucian is the head of the Arno family and the prime minister of the country. He is also a powerful and mysterious man who has a long history of political and economic influence. He is also known for his cold and ruthless personality, as well as his mysterious and powerful abilities. Lucian has many enemies and allies, both inside and outside the Arno family. He also has many secrets and mysteries, both about himself and his family.

Lucian offers to marry Bianca and protect her from her enemies, in exchange for her cooperation in his political schemes. He also warns her that he has no intention of loving her or treating her as his wife. He only wants her as his pawn and his tool.

Bianca accepts Lucian’s proposal, hoping to secure her safety and dignity. She also hopes to find out the truth behind her late husband’s death and Lucian’s motives.

However, she soon realizes that marrying Lucian is not as simple as she thought. She gets involved in Lucian’s world, which is full of dangers and threats from their enemies, who want to destroy them both.

She also gets involved in Lucian’s life, which is full of conflicts and misunderstandings from their families and friends, who do not approve of their relationship. She also gets involved in Lucian’s heart, which is full of doubts and fears about his feelings for her.

As Bianca and Lucian get closer to each other, they begin to develop feelings for each other, despite knowing that they are not supposed to. They begin to trust each other more than anyone else, despite knowing that they are not supposed to. They begin to change each other in subtle ways, despite knowing that they are not supposed to.

However, their marriage is not without challenges and obstacles. They have to face many difficulties and hardships along the way. They have to deal with their enemies’ schemes and attacks, which put their lives in danger.

They have to deal with their families’ oppositions and interventions, which put their relationship in jeopardy. They have to deal with their own secrets and pasts, which put their trust in question.

Will Bianca and Lucian be able to overcome all the difficulties and find happiness together? Or will they be torn apart by their enemies or their own hearts?

Characters and Character Development

The novel has a strong and diverse cast of characters that are complex and realistic, each with their own personalities, backgrounds, motivations, and relationships. The main characters are Bianca de Blanche and Lucian de Arno.

Bianca de Blanche is the female protagonist of the novel. She is a beautiful and noble lady from another country who married Zakari de Arno for political reasons. However, her marriage was unhappy and abusive, as Zakari treated her with contempt and violence. After Zakari’s death, she was accused of being a gold-digger and a whore by his relatives and friends. She was also stripped of her inheritance and status by the Arno family who wanted to get rid of her as soon as possible.

Bianca is a kind-hearted and gentle person who values honesty and loyalty above all else. She is also a brave and resilient person who does not give up easily and fights for what she believes in. She is also a smart and curious person who likes to learn new things and explore new places. She is also a loyal and devoted person who cares deeply for those she loves and protects them with all her might.

Bianca’s character development throughout the novel is remarkable. She starts off as a timid and helpless person who suffers in silence and depends on others for her survival. She gradually becomes a confident and independent person who stands up for herself and makes her own decisions. She also becomes a courageous and adventurous person who faces her fears and challenges herself to try new things. She also becomes a loving and trusting person who opens her heart to Lucian and accepts him for who he is.

Lucian de Arno is the male protagonist of the novel. He is the head of the Arno family and the prime minister of the country. He is also a powerful and mysterious man who has a long history of political and economic influence. He is also known for his cold and ruthless personality, as well as his mysterious and powerful abilities. He has many enemies and allies, both inside and outside the Arno family. He also has many secrets and mysteries, both about himself and his family.

Lucian is a cunning and ambitious person who values power and control above all else. He is also a cold and ruthless person who does not hesitate to use any means necessary to achieve his goals.

He is also a secretive and mysterious person who does not reveal his true self to anyone. He is also a lonely and tormented person who suffers from his tragic and painful past that haunts him every day.

Lucian’s character development throughout the novel is remarkable. He starts off as a distant and emotionless person who does not care about anyone or anything but himself. He gradually becomes a warm and caring person who shows his softer side to Bianca and others he trusts.

He also becomes a passionate and romantic person who expresses his feelings to Bianca and makes her happy. He also becomes a forgiving and healing person who confronts his past and moves on with his life.

The secondary characters are also important and interesting, as they contribute to the plot and the main characters’ development. Some of the secondary characters are:

Zakari de Arno: Lucian’s younger brother and Bianca’s late husband. He was a notorious playboy who married Bianca for political reasons. He treated her with contempt and violence, and cheated on her with many women. He died under mysterious circumstances, leaving behind many secrets and enemies.
Lila de Arno: Lucian’s younger sister and Zakari’s twin sister. She is a beautiful and spoiled lady who hates Bianca and blames her for Zakari’s death. She is also in love with Lucian, and tries to sabotage his relationship with Bianca.
Leo de Arno: Lucian’s cousin and close friend. He is a handsome and charming man who supports Lucian in his political schemes. He is also fond of Bianca, and acts as her friend and protector.
Elise de Blanche: Bianca’s younger sister and best friend. She is a sweet and innocent girl who loves Bianca dearly. She is also engaged to Leo, whom she adores.
Claude de Blanche: Bianca’s father and the duke of Blanche. He is a noble and respected man who loves his daughters very much. He is also loyal to Lucian, whom he considers as his son-in-law.
Victoria de Blanche: Bianca’s stepmother and the duchess of Blanche. She is a cruel and greedy woman who hates Bianca and Elise, whom she considers as threats to her own children. She is also involved in some shady dealings with Lucian’s enemies.
Arthur de Blanche: Bianca’s half-brother and Victoria’s son. He is a arrogant and selfish man who envies Bianca and Elise, whom he considers as rivals to his inheritance. He is also in league with Victoria’s schemes against them.
Sophia de Blanche: Bianca’s half-sister and Victoria’s daughter. She is a vain and jealous woman who despises Bianca and Elise, whom she considers as obstacles to her marriage prospects. She is also in cahoots with Victoria’s plots against them.
Edward de Arno: Lucian’s uncle and the former head of the Arno family. He is a greedy and corrupt man who resents Lucian for taking over his position and power. He is also the mastermind behind many of the attacks against Lucian and Bianca.
Alice de Arno: Edward’s wife and Lucian’s aunt. She is a bitter and spiteful woman who supports Edward in his schemes against Lucian and Bianca. She is also Lila’s mother, whom she spoils rotten.
Julian de Arno: Edward’s son and Lucian’s cousin. He is a cowardly and treacherous man who follows Edward in his plans against Lucian and Bianca. He is also Lila’s brother, whom he ignores most of the time.
Evelyn de Arno: Julian’s wife and Lucian’s cousin-in-law. She is a timid and submissive woman who obeys Julian in everything he says and does. She is also Lila’s sister-in-law, whom she fears and respects.
Nicholas de Arno: Lucian’s grandfather and the former head of the Arno family. He is a wise and benevolent man who loves Lucian and supports him in his endeavors. He is also the keeper of the Arno family’s secrets and mysteries, which he reveals to Lucian and Bianca gradually.
Rose de Arno: Nicholas’ wife and Lucian’s grandmother. She is a kind and gentle woman who loves Lucian and cares for him deeply. She is also the source of the Arno family’s abilities, which she inherited from her ancestor, who was a legendary magician.
Daniel de Arno: Lucian’s father and Nicholas’ son. He was a brave and noble man who died in a war when Lucian was young. He was also the former prime minister of the country, who was respected and admired by many people.
Catherine de Arno: Lucian’s mother and Daniel’s wife. She was a beautiful and loving woman who died in a fire when Lucian was young. She was also the former head of the Arno family, who was loved and cherished by many people.
Adrian de Arno: Lucian’s older brother and Daniel’s son. He was a talented and charismatic man who died in an accident when Lucian was young. He was also the former heir of the Arno family, who was expected to succeed his father as the prime minister of the country.
Emma de Arno: Adrian’s wife and Lucian’s sister-in-law. She was a sweet and loyal woman who died in an accident when Lucian was young. She was also Adrian’s childhood friend and lover, who married him out of love.
Alexander de Arno: Adrian’s son and Lucian’s nephew. He is a cute and cheerful boy who survived the accident that killed his parents. He is also Lucian’s only living relative from his main branch, whom he loves and protects as his own son.
Henry de Arno: Alexander’s tutor and Lucian’s friend. He is a smart and reliable man who teaches Alexander various subjects and skills. He is also loyal to Lucian, whom he respects and admires as his leader.
Anna de Arno: Alexander’s nanny and Lucian’s friend. She is a warm and caring woman who takes care of Alexander’s daily needs and well-being. She is also fond of Lucian, whom she treats as her younger brother.
Eric de Arno: Lucian’s bodyguard and friend. He is a strong and brave man who protects Lucian from any harm or danger. He is also devoted to Lucian, whom he follows without question or hesitation.
Claire de Arno: Eric’s wife and Lucian’s friend. She is a beautiful and graceful woman who works as Lucian’s secretary and assistant. She is also loyal to Lucian, whom she supports and helps in his work and life.
Ryan de Arno: Lucian’s spy and friend. He is a clever and cunning man who gathers information and intelligence for Lucian. He is also faithful to Lucian, whom he trusts and serves with his life.
Lily de Arno: Ryan’s wife and Lucian’s friend. She is a charming and witty woman who works as Lucian’s maid and confidante. She is also friendly to Lucian, whom she teases and jokes with often.

Theme and Message

The novel explores themes such as love, trust, loyalty, betrayal, revenge, and redemption. It shows how love can change a person for better or worse depending on how it is expressed and received. Trust can strengthen or weaken relationships based on how it is built and maintained.

Loyalty can inspire or discourage depending on how it is rewarded or betrayed. Betrayal can hurt or heal depending on forgiveness or revenge. Revenge can satisfy or destroy depending on its pursuit or abandonment. Lastly, redemption can save or doom a person depending on whether it is sought or rejected.

The novel’s message is that love is complex and challenging, requiring patience, understanding, compromise, and sacrifice. Trust is earned and can fluctuate, needing honesty, communication, respect, and support. Loyalty is conscious and adaptable, needing devotion, dedication, gratitude, and protection.

Betrayal is serious and calls for remorse, apology, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Revenge is bitter and destructive, fueled by anger, hatred, violence, and destruction. Redemption is possible and hopeful, achieved through repentance, acceptance, change, and growth.

Writing Style

The novel has a captivating and engaging writing style that keeps the reader hooked and interested throughout the story. The novel has a well-developed plot that is full of twists and turns, suspense and surprises. The novel has a rich and vivid setting that transports the reader to the 19th century Europe, with its historical and cultural details. The novel has a strong and diverse cast of characters that are complex and realistic, each with their own personalities, backgrounds, motivations, and relationships.

The novel uses third-person omniscient point of view, which allows the reader to see the thoughts and feelings of all the characters, as well as the events and situations from different perspectives. The novel uses simple and clear language, which makes the story easy and enjoyable to read. The novel uses descriptive and expressive words, which makes the story vivid and immersive to experience. The novel uses dialogue and narration, which makes the story lively and dynamic to follow.

Pros and Cons

The novel has many pros and cons, which may appeal or deter different readers.

Some of the pros are:

The novel has an interesting and original premise, which sets it apart from other historical romance novels.
The novel has an exciting and thrilling plot, which keeps the reader entertained and intrigued throughout the story.
The novel has an authentic and detailed setting, which adds to the realism and atmosphere of the story.
The novel has an appealing and attractive main couple, who have great chemistry and development together.
The novel has an supportive and humorous secondary characters, who add to the fun and charm of the story.

Some of the cons are:

The novel has some cliché and predictable elements, which may make the story seem familiar or boring to some readers.
The novel has some violent and graphic scenes, which may make the story seem disturbing or uncomfortable to some readers.
The novel has some unrealistic and exaggerated aspects, which may make the story seem implausible or ridiculous to some readers.
The novel has some slow and dragging parts, which may make the story seem boring or tedious to some readers.
The novel has some loose ends and unanswered questions, which may make the story seem incomplete or unsatisfying to some readers.

Comparison to Other Works

The novel can be compared to other works in the same genre or category,

such as:

“The Duke and I” by Julia Quinn: This is another historical romance novel that features a marriage of convenience between a duke and a lady, who pretend to be in love to avoid unwanted suitors and scandals. However, they soon develop real feelings for each other, despite their differences and difficulties.
“The Bride” by Julie Garwood: This is another historical romance novel that features a marriage of convenience between a Scottish laird and an English lady, who are forced to wed by the king to maintain peace. However, they soon fall in love with each other, despite their enemies and obstacles.
“The Marriage Bargain” by Jennifer Probst: This is another romance novel that features a marriage of convenience between a billionaire and a bookstore owner, who agree to marry for money and business reasons. However, they soon discover that they have more in common than they thought, despite their conflicts and misunderstandings.

Where To Read Novel

The novel can be read online or offline, depending on the reader’s preference and availability.

The novel can be read online on the following websites:

Munpia: This is the original website where the novel was published as a web novel. The website requires registration and payment to access the chapters. The website is in Korean language.
Novel Updates: This is a website that provides information and links to various web novels and translations. The website does not host the chapters, but redirects the reader to other websites that do. The website is in English language.

The novel can be read offline on the following formats:

Printed Book: This is the format where the novel was adapted into a printed book series, with five main volumes and one side story volume. The book can be purchased online or offline from various bookstores or retailers. The book is in Korean language.
E-book: This is the format where the novel was converted into an electronic book, which can be downloaded and read on various devices, such as computers, tablets, or smartphones. The e-book can be purchased online from various platforms or websites. The e-book is in Korean language.

Conclusion

“Marriage of Convenience” by Ken is a captivating and engaging historical romance novel that follows the story of Bianca de Blanche and Lucian de Arno, who enter into a marriage of convenience for their own reasons. The novel explores the themes of love, trust, loyalty, betrayal, revenge, and redemption. The novel has a well-developed plot, a rich and vivid setting, and a strong and diverse cast of characters.

The novel has a captivating and engaging writing style that keeps the reader hooked and interested throughout the story. The novel has many pros and cons, which may appeal or deter different readers. The novel can be compared to other works in the same genre or category. The novel can be read online or offline, depending on the reader’s preference and availability.

If you are interested in reading “Marriage of Convenience” by Ken, you can find it on the websites or formats mentioned above. If you have already read it, you can share your thoughts and opinions about it in the comments section below. If you liked this article, you can also check out our other articles on novel reviews, data sources, seo tips, and more.