The Curse of Chalion

Parent context: It was good, but it was a lot more of a low-stake, comfy, unambitious read than I was expecting. Which is exactly what a lot of people want, but left me a bit in my hunger. The world-building was ultimately not that developed, and I'll admit that 35 yo Cazaril lusting about his teenage pupil made me a bit uncomfortable. Reply: I loved it but from the way it was talked about, I was expecting something very different. I was pleasantly surprised when I read it. That said, I agree with you about the romance. But the book was strong enough to look past that, for me.

It’s a sequel to The Curse of Chalion, which focuses on a different character and is also awesome.

I did not like the background romance at first, but it didn’t play a huge role in the story and I honestly didn’t mind it as much by the end. ... That was literally my only complaint about the book, and I adored absolutely everything else. I could barely put the book down once I started

The Curse of Chalion, Caz has a lot of old injuries.

I suggest The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold - It has politics and court intrigue, a succession crisis and a generational curse on the royal family. Also it is Bujold, who is nearly always excellent.

I'd be more likely to recommend Bujold's Five Gods series, starting with The Curse of Chalion. I think you might like it, if you haven't read it already, given how tightly it adheres to the characters' inner lives.

I read this for the first time a year or two ago and I adored it. Cazaril is a far more interesting and well-developed character in this one book than many other prominent fantasy protaganists ever get, even after entire series.