Tag: magic

Review: Watch with Glittering Eyes by K.S. Murphy

I feel bad for picking the story apart, but it didn’t work for me at all.

2 out of 5 stars

E-book. 80 pages. Published February 8th 2020 by JMS Books LLC

Blurb:

Travis Grayweaver is a witch with two significant problems.

First, he has a tendency to run toward trouble instead of away from it without the insurance of a Guild to back him. As a freelancing witch taking odd jobs wherever he can, this has landed him in some trouble with the Grand Council of High Magic.

Second, he’s madly in love with his best friend Niko, and is much too afraid to confess his feelings to him.

Niko, born between the corporeal and ethereal worlds, is a familiar — cat one minute, human the next — with a rare, pure source of magick sought after by people all over the world. When contracted, familiars will do whatever they have to in order to protect their human. Although Travis has no contract with Niko, they share an unshakable bond built on friendship, loyalty, and trust.

But their bond is put to the ultimate test when something dark and sinister threatens their community and their lives. If they don’t stop it in time, Travis might lose Niko — and the chance to ever tell him how he really feels — forever. 

Likes:

  • The blurb hooked me.
  • The basic story idea is interesting.
  • That Travis decided not to join a guild.
  • The side characters were all people of color.
  • Short.

Dislikes:

  • The blurb was deceiving.
  • Niko is basically the physical manifestation of a fetish.
  • No character development for either man.
  • Niko and Travis are already lovers.
  • No hook.
  • Slow plot.
  • Heavy exposition.
  • Unnecessary flashback.
  • How they dealt with the threat was cliché.
  • Travis’s excuse for not joining a guild was lame.
  • The lack of magic bond between Travis and Niko was left unresolved.
  • Use of the word ‘magick’
  • Confusion about where the story was taking place.

This book is an excellent example of an idea that failed to live up to its potential. The blurb was exciting and I was looking forward to a good read. I love stories where one friend has fallen in love with the other and is afraid that confessing will change everything between them. I knew that the story was short, only 80 pages, and expected the plot to take off like a rocket in order to fit everything in.

Instead, the story took off like a herd of turtles with bad knees. The beginning was slow, exposition heavy, and lacked a hook. I expected the trouble with the Grand Council of High Magic to be a central plot point, but no. The story starts with Travis bringing groceries home after getting done with the council meeting, since “he really hadn’t been worried” about the outcome.   

I would definitely say the blurb was misleading about the magic council aspect, and only included it to make the story sound more exciting. Thankfully, the other non-romantic aspects mentioned in the blurb were present. Travis is a freelance witch, and spends a good chunk of the story doing or preparing to do odd jobs.

My favorite thing about this book is the fact that Travis declined to join a guild. He mentioned that, since he was freelance, he could charge less for services, which made his magic accessible to an underrepresented population. I love that, and wish it was the main reason he didn’t join a guild. Unfortunately, his real reason was lackluster in the extreme and was literally summed up in a single sentence. It actually made me a little angry, because not being associated with a guild put Travis in a precarious position. Both he and Niko, the man he loves, would be safer in a guild.

Which brings me to the danger Niko is in. As a familiar, Niko’s brand of magic is highly valued. As long as he’s bonded to a witch, who he’d then protect with his life, he’s safe. So of course Travis never bonded with him, because he’s too embarrassed to ask. It’s a plotline I expected to develop during the story, but no. It’s not brought up again and they never magically bond.

But they do make love. That’s right, in a romance where the main problem is that Travis is “much too afraid to confess his feelings” he and Niko are already lovers. Travis simply hasn’t said the words. I almost dropped the story when I got to that point. Like, are you kidding me? Here I was expecting one-sided feelings that finally burst forth and make Travis and Niko go from friends to lovers. Instead, what I got was a confession that didn’t fundamentally change the nature of their relationship.

There are a lot of things I didn’t find satisfying about this book, but Niko is definitely the worst. Not because of his personality or abilities, but for what he represents. I like anime, so I’m familiar with cat girls, or nekomimi. They’re a popular character type, both for their looks – cat ears and tail – and for possessing the hot/cold personality seen in cats. They’re treated as pets, which means they have owners. And that, from what I can tell, is the appeal. They’re not an equal. The romantic/sexual relationship is more like that of a sugar daddy who provides everything in exchange for the cat girl’s eternal love and affection.

Niko felt exactly like a nekomimi. Physically, he was one, complete with ears, tail, and whiskers, but with a human-enough body to have sex. At first, Travis’s relationship with Niko was giving me bestiality vibes, but then I realized that nekomimi was the more apt comparison. And it’s not like it was possible to forget that Niko was part cat. Niko’s actions and behaviors were always cat like, from the way he slept to his dislike of water. Travis constantly called Niko ‘kitten’, especially during sex.

            “Want me to make you feel good again, Niko? Like my good little kitty?”

            Niko meowed and nodded. “Please. Say it. Tell me I’m your good kitty.”

I try not to kink shame, and nekomimi are a popular fantasy. That’s fine. If this was an erotica story, Niko wouldn’t have bothered me. But this novella was presented as a romance. And Niko was nothing more than the physical embodiment of a fetish. His personality was ‘cat’ and he had no character development.

Honestly, there are a lot of other little things that bothered me about this story. I was confused about whether the story was taking place in a fantasy world or the real one. The flashback to how Niko and Travis met was unnecessary and slowed the story down. All the named side characters were people of color but the two main characters were white. The way they dealt with the threat at the end was cliché.

I do feel bad for picking this story apart, especially since it’s been published by a small queer press. But sometimes a book just doesn’t work for me and I have to give a bad review. I would be willing to give the author another shot in the future. The potential is there. It just didn’t come together well.

Review: The Alpha’s Warlock (Mismatched Mates #1) by Eliot Grayson

A fast paced read with a snarky as hell main character.

4.5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 172 pages. Published March 20th 2020 by Smoking Teacup Books

Blurb:

Cursed, mated, and in for the fight of their lives…

Warlock Nate Hawthorne just wants a cup of coffee. Is that too much to ask? Apparently. Because instead of precious caffeine, all he gets is cursed by a pack of werewolves who want to use him for his magic. Now the only way to fix the damage is a mate bond to a grumpy and oh-so-sexy alpha in the rival pack, who happens to hate him. This is so not how he wanted to start his day.

Ian Armitage never intended to take Nate as his mate. The Hawthorne family can’t be trusted. Ian knows that better than anyone. The fact that he’s lusted after the way-too-gorgeous man for years? Totally irrelevant. Ian’s just doing what is necessary to protect his pack. This whole mating arrangement has nothing to do with love and never will. That’s his story and he’s sticking to it.

Nate and Ian will have to work together if they have any hope of staving off the pack’s enemies and averting disaster. That’s assuming they can stop arguing (and keep their hands off each other) long enough to save the day…

The Alpha’s Warlock is an explicit M/M paranormal romance featuring a snarky warlock, a brooding alpha werewolf, knotting, enchanted socks (long story), and a guaranteed happily ever after.

Likes:

  • Snark and sarcasm in spades.
  • Nate and Ian.
  • Charlie and Doran.
  • Quick, easy read.
  • Just the right amount of angst.
  • Hooked me and kept me interested.
  • The plot.
  • Hot smut.
  • The action and fight scenes.

Dislikes:

  • Not much about the Armitage pack.
  • Not much world building.
  • Nate and Ian’s relationship changed in a heartbeat.
  • Ending was abrupt and left me with a lot of questions.
  • The blurb for the next book has me uncertain.

Nate is the type of guy I love to read about – sarcastic, sassy, and lacking a brain/mouth filter. His first person point of view made the story come alive.

I put this book on my e-reader about a week before I got around to it, and didn’t bother rereading the blurb before diving in. That changed my reading experience a bit, because I was surprised when Nate and Ian ended up mated. They didn’t get along at all at the beginning. Or at least that’s what Nate thought. It caused more than a little angst on Nate’s part, because he genuinely thought Ian hated him.

But that’s one of the great things about romances – they always have a happy ending. There’s safety in the knowledge that, no matter how rocky a relationship starts off, it’ll always end well. Nate didn’t believe he’d get a happy ending, but there were enough hints about Ian’s true feelings that the reader was able to see what Nate couldn’t.

The interactions between Nate and Ian were a big part of why I enjoyed this book so much. It took them a long time to get to a place where they could be open and honest with each other, and once they did their relationship turned a corner. It was a fast turnaround, but it worked. Not to mention, the smut was hot.

This book was a fun, fast read that hooked me right from the start. The pace never slowed down – there was always something going on, always something pushing the story forward, and I stayed up much later than I should have to finish reading. The action and fight scenes were well written, and Charlie and Doran were so much fun. I hope they get a book of their own.

There weren’t many side characters, which was strange for a book mostly set on wolf pack territory. Especially since Ian was the pack second. The Armitage pack was basically nonexistent except for the leader, Matthew. There wasn’t much world building in general, and while I didn’t have too many questions while reading the book – a product of the fast paced plot – I’m aware of it looking back.

I was a little surprised at the abrupt ending, because a lot of things weren’t resolved, but I guess that’s what the next book is for. Unfortunately, the sneak peek for the next book made me a little hesitant. I thought Nate had a bad life, but Arik definitely had it worse. I’m okay with angst and traumatic pasts, but expecting to be raped because it had happened before is a little too intense for me. I’ll give the next book a shot when it comes out, and hope that Arik gets to spend most of it healing.

Review: Seeker’s Portrait (Elements of Dragonis #2) by Hannah Walker

DNF 63%.I lost confidence that the author had thought through the story. It’s a shame because the base idea was good.

2 out of 5 stars

DNF 63%

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 481 pages. Published December 15th 2016

Blurb:

Prince Elijan has spent his life protected by castle walls, prevented from fully experiencing the world outside. He longs to see the empire he will one day rule, but his only view is from the safety of the windows in his suite. He yearns to find out what life has to offer. When he’s given the chance to work with the dragons, and a desire to learn their language flares to life, he is finally granted some freedom.

Aldren’s life has always been about the dragons. As a Rider, he is dedicated to the protection of the kingdom. He’s always been willing to step up when he is called upon, but his latest orders come directly from the king, and for once, Aldren isn’t sure he the right man for the job.

Protecting the king’s only son is not something to be taken lightly, and when Aldren meets Elijan, the instant attraction he has for the man complicates matters even more. Still, he’s never refused a job before and he isn’t about to start now.

Working and living side by side brings Elijan and Aldren together, forcing them both to admit to the emotions stirring inside them. It only takes one kiss and no matter the risk, the two of them refuse to ignore the chemistry between them.

When danger comes calling, and Elijan experiences strange visions that manifest in his drawings, Aldren worries. How does he protect the prince from an enemy he can’t see?

With friends, both man and dragon, by their side, the two must learn who seeks them out and what the information they’ve gained from Elijan’s drawings might mean, but at the same time, they must protect the dragons. Evil lurks around them, but so does salvation. Drawn into a dangerous destiny, Aldren and Elijan find that love and friendship really can conquer all.

Likes:

  • The relationship between Andren and Elijan.
  • The dragons.
  • The seeker plot.

Dislikes:

  • Insta-love.
  • Both Aldren and Elijan feel two dimensional.
  • Didn’t hook me.
  • No forward momentum.
  • Aldren’s resolve only lasted two days.
  • Too many pronouns.
  • Elijan doesn’t act like a prince.
  • Huge chunks of dialogue.
  • No drama, tension, or suspense with the romance.
  • Both Elijan and Aldren are *perfect*
  • The ‘seeker’ part of the plot started way too late.
  • Scenes with Frode came to feel like filler.
  • Elijan’s romance issues became just as annoying as Con’s in the previous book.
  • So many open, honest emotions in every conversation.
  • The alternating POV isn’t always followed.
  • All romantic tension wrapped up early.
  • Guards don’t have magic.

DNF 63%

This book didn’t hook me. I would read half a chapter, then put it down. If I’m invested in a book, I don’t want to stop reading. But I thought that, since the characters, plot, and romance were all fine, I’d be able to finish the book eventually.

And I tried. Even as I came across more things that turned me off, I kept going. Because I wanted to know how things turned out, not just with the romance but with questions left over from the previous book, like ‘Who sent Rillian the spell book and why?’

In the end, the number of things I disliked about the book were too many. It ended up feeling like each chapter had something new that didn’t make sense. I don’t know anything about what the author was thinking when she wrote this book, but it felt like she didn’t stop to ask herself, ‘Does this make sense in a larger context?’

Despite that, there were some things I liked about this book. First, Elijan is a virgin who’s never been kissed, and Aldren takes things slow. Everything they did together was designed to make it good for Elijan.  Second, the dragons. Grith was my favorite this time around, but Frode was super cute too. Third, the non-romantic plot about who sent the spell book and the whole ‘seeker’ thing was interesting.

As for my dislikes, it started with the way the book is structured. The first 34% is all about two things – Elijan and Aldren’s romance and Elijan hanging out with the dragons. Compared to the previous book that had action and mystery right from the start, the beginning of this book had no hook.

The reason why it took so long for the seeker part of the book to begin was because Rill and Con were away on their honeymoon. Nothing with the nonromantic plot advanced until they returned. Looking back on the first third of the book, a lot of it felt like filler. Especially the stuff with Frode. It was like ‘Look! A baby dragon! Focus on how cute he is and ignore the immobile plot.’

Then there was the insta-love. It wasn’t as bad as it could have been, but Aldren’s resolve not to get romantically involved with Elijan only lasted two days. Which meant that there was almost no tension, drama, or suspense. Once the romance began, it developed incredibly quickly, so that by the 48% mark, the only thing they had left to do was tell the king and queen.

The fact that Elijan and Aldren felt two dimensional didn’t help me get invested in their romance. Aldren is a strong, brave, loyal, dedicated dragon Rider. If he has family, hobbies, or plans for the future, we don’t get to see that. Though to be fair, we didn’t see that for Rill and Con in the previous book, which just goes to show that it’s easier to ignore some things when you’re hooked on the story.

But it’s Elijan’s character that really bothered me. Elijan is sweet, innocent, good natured, friendly, open, and wears his heart on his sleeve. Oh, and he’s also the crown prince. And if it seems weird for a crown prince to be completely guileless, you’re right. It is weird. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that Elijan never once acted like a prince. Hell, his every emotion was visible on his face. It felt as though the author didn’t stop to wonder if this was the way a prince would act.

That aside, my biggest problem with Elijan was how *perfect* he was. Everyone loved him. He fit in with the stable lads without even trying. Aldren fell for him right away. The dragons loved him.

He’s Frode’s Eithreadal. The dragons claimed him. He’s Aldren’s bond mate. He’s the seeker. He’s a mage with great powers. He’s the crown prince.

Elijan literally has no flaws. And you can’t root for someone who has no flaws, because they don’t struggle with anything. The only things Elijan struggles with are A.) getting people to treat him like an adult and B.) believing Aldren’s heartfelt confessions of love.

Which brings me to the dialogue, which can accurately be summed up as the ‘Why use one sentence when you could use five’ approach. The book could use some serious editing, both for length and content. Because it wasn’t just the long chunks of dialogue, it’s what was said. Everyone spoke openly and from the heart all the time. Not only was it unnatural, it significantly lowered the impact of what was being said. Add in the overuse of pronouns – “The fact he gave up all control to him, allowed him to do what he wanted, was an exquisite form of trust and one he received reverently.” – and the writing could be a little hard to read sometimes.   

The final straw that made me lose all confidence in the author was the whole ‘guards can’t protect Elijan from magic’ argument. Which is crazy. You’re trying to tell me that in a world with magic and mages, that not a single palace guard is capable of doing magic? This smacks of not thinking thing through. Of not asking ‘Does this make sense in a larger context?’

I have to admit, I’m incredibly disappointed with this book. It has all the ingredients of a great story, it just didn’t come out well. But if there’s one thing I’m grateful for, it’s that now I don’t have to read the next book in the series, which is a whopping 676 pages long.

You can find the review for the first book in the series, Booker’s Song, which I enjoyed, here.

Review: Booker’s Song (Elements of Dragonis #1) by Hannah Walker

A good introduction to the series.

4 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 248 pages. Published July 29th 2016 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Blurb:

Rillian Mascini is one of the most knowledgeable mages in the world. Spending his days and sometimes nights with his nose in a book has taught him magic and histories that few care to remember. He has a passion for dragons that pulls him to learn all he can about them, including their language. He is one of the last people left alive who can speak to the magnificent beasts.

Conwyn D’Aver is squad leader of the Dragon Riders. He will do whatever it takes to protect the dragons and people he has given his oath to serve. Nothing is more important, and when Neela, his personal dragon, is attacked, Conwyn is out for blood. He vows to find the threat and defeat it.

When an old spell book is found that gives a person the power to control all dragons, Conwyn will do anything he can to keep it from getting into the wrong hands, even if that means teaming up with the bookish Rillian to find a way to overcome the evil enemies who seek to gain the power.

Together with the dragons, the two men must find a way to protect everything they both love, but while doing so, they risk losing their own hearts to each other. As their enemies seek to destroy them, they learn that sometimes it takes love and trust to defeat the things we fear the most. 

Likes:

  • Dragons, magic, and the high fantasy setting.
  • Plot hooked me and kept me interested.
  • The smut.
  • Rill.
  • A quick, easy read.
  • Good introduction to the series.

Dislikes:

  • There was no world building outside of the dragons.
  • The way Rill and Con were written was a little too similar.
  • Con’s lack of personal insight was ridiculous.
  • The nicknames.

This book is a good introduction to a series. The way Rill comes into the dragon’s lives and needs to learn more about them also lets the reader discover how cool the dragons are. Rill is also in a perfect position to show off the dragon’s personalities, and I think the dragons are some of the best characters.

The story hooked me right from the start and kept my attention the whole way through. New things were constantly happening, adding dashes of drama, political intrigue, battles, and mystery to the story. Overall, the book was a fun, quick read.

While I do think that the plot had a good mix of high fantasy and magic, and that all the pertinent information about the dragons was present, I wish there was more world building. I feel like the dragons were in a bubble of their own, without much outside context. I’m the kind of reader who likes to be immersed in a world, and I know almost nothing about the Calias Empire.

Rill was definitely my favorite character. With his love of books, it was easy to relate to him. Con wasn’t a bad character, but his denseness when it came to his feelings made me incredibly frustrated by the end. Especially because it was a little unbelievable. He’s not stupid, but his lack of personal insight was beyond belief.

That being said, the romance progressed nicely. The smut was good and the ending was sweet. It did feel like the way Rill and Con’s inner thoughts were written was a little too similar. Because neither of them talked to anyone else about the relationship, they had to have literal mental conversations with themselves about why getting together was a bad idea. It’s the only dull spot in what was otherwise a good romance.

My final nitpick is with the nicknames of Rill and Con. Both men have slightly longer names, and I wish they’d used them. It would have given the book an added high fantasy feel. After all, unusual names are part of the experience.

I’m excited to get to the next book in the series and hope it’s as good as this one.

You can find the second book in the series, Seeker’s Portrait, here.

Review: Dead of Knight (Guardians of Camelot #2) by Victoria Sue

A good book, but I’m still not fully hooked by the series.

3.5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 248 pages. Published January 21st 2020.

Blurb:

A battle is coming…

…and the immortal knights aren’t ready.

Will an orphan be the key?

For fifteen hundred years Lucan has waged war with the greatest enemy the world has ever known

…and fought the ancient curse that means loving someone with all his heart and soul might be the reason they die.

Tom wasn’t supposed to be born… twice.

How, as a young child, had he even heard the monsters at all?

How, as an adult, is he caught up in a deadly battle to fight evil, but cannot get one stubborn man to even acknowledge he exists?

Time is running out, not just to unravel the secrets of Tom’s destiny, but for Tom to show Lucan that loving someone with all that they have doesn’t mean breaking their heart.

Or does it? 

Likes:

  • Lucan got over his stubbornness quickly.
  • The series plot moved forward.
  • The book was fast paced and interesting.
  • I liked the hints at what’s going to come next.

Dislikes:

  • The plot is a little too convoluted.
  • Tom and Lucan didn’t spent much time together.
  • Lucan’s past, and thus the reason he acts the way he does, was hinted at for too long before it was finally revealed.
  • I’m still not really invested in the series.
  • The characters get interesting and then the book ends.

I’ll be honest, I’m still not totally invested in this series. I like it fine, but it hasn’t captivated me, and I’m not really sure why. The characters are good, the plot is interesting, and I’m curious about what’s going to happen in the next book. But at the same time, I could walk away from the series without looking back.

I think part of it is because of the world building. Which is crazy, because I love world building. At least, I normally do. Most of the world building in this book/series deals with things that happened in the past. As they are now, the knights are men with swords who fight the same monsters night after night and keep one eye out for their tressors. The knights aren’t very interesting in modern day. It’s their tressors – Mel and Tom – who are unique, special, and learning about their hereto unknown abilities.

On that point, Tom is an interesting guy. Not just his past, but his present and future. Watching him discover who and what he is was as interesting as watching Mel do the same in the last book.

I was happy that Lucan got over his stubbornness about the age gap relatively quickly. I was worried that things between them would drag on and on. I do wish that Lucan’s past had been shown earlier. I hate when minor things are deliberately hinted at but held back to create tension. It didn’t work well in this case because the explanation for Lucan’s behavior towards Tom rested in his past. Without that knowledge, it was hard to connect with Lucan.

I was disappointed that Tom and Lucan didn’t spend much time together as lovers. There was so much else going on in the book that the actual romantic buildup was cut super short. I know they’ve known each other for two years, but they didn’t do anything romantic outside of the bedroom.

I blame some of that on how convoluted the series plot is. There are so many moving pieces, and every character played a different role, that there’s a lot going on. It’s getting a little hard to keep things straight. There were a few times when I wondered if I was misremembering things or the author had forgotten a key detail. It makes me worried about future books.

Despite this, the plot moved along at a good pace. It kept my attention the whole way through. I was confused during chapter 7, but that was the point. I liked the hints at what’s to come in the next book. I wish there were short stories set between the books that fill out the romance and show the tressors using or exploring their newfound powers. It feels like the tressors become interesting, then the book ends.

I will definitely read the next books whenever it comes out. I want to see Kay and Gawain find their tressors as well.

Be sure to check out the review for the first book in the series, The Twelfth Knight.

Review: The Twelfth Knight (Guardians of Camelot #1) by Victoria Sue

A solidly by the numbers urban fantasy with interesting monsters and lots of world building.

3.5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 1st edition. 232 pages. Published October 1st 2019

Blurb:

To battle an ancient evil, the greatest weapon each hero will have is each other.

Hundreds of years ago, facing defeat, the witch Morgana sent monsters into the future to vanquish a humanity King Arthur wouldn’t be able to save. The King might have won the battle, but now, centuries later, a few chosen men will have to fight the war.

Merlin always hated being named after some mythological wizard. His dad had been obsessed with the magic man of King Arthur’s Court before his untimely death – a loss that had sent Mel reeling in a downward spiral. He is ill-prepared, to say the least, for the outrageous claims of a proper English knight bent on overcoming evil.

Born a commoner, Lancelot was never supposed to be a knight in his own time, never mind now in a modern world he is so woefully untrained to protect. Thrown into a battle centuries in the making, this flawed hero, and a young man too-used to battling monsters of the present day, will have to come together in a last desperate fight to save humanity.

Can Mel and Lance defeat the greatest enemy the world has ever known? Or in the midst of fighting evil, will they discover the real threat has always been a shattered heart?

And what if the one fight they cannot ever hope to win is with themselves?

Likes:

  • Interesting premise.
  • Sets up nicely for more books.
  • Lots of world building.
  • Likeable characters.
  • Cool monsters.

Dislikes:

  • Writing can be clunky.
  • Soggy middle.
  • Too much talking and backstory, not enough action.
  • Wish the fight scenes were more detailed.
  • No big hook.
  • Most of the plot was by the numbers.

This book feels very self-published. I don’t mean that in a bad way, although it does have some of the negative hallmarks self-published books are known for – like clunky writing and fight scenes that could use more description. This book is just fine, a solid 3 ½ stars, but it doesn’t shine.

Overall, this book has a ‘by the numbers’ feel to it. Which is both good and bad.

It’s good because it hits all the correct notes. The romance unfolded predictably, with a gradual buildup tension between Lance and Mel. There’s enough time for the men to get together without it feeling rushed, and their sexual compatibility is obvious. Sure, Lance needed a big push to accept Mel as his Tresor, but that fits the pattern.

By the numbers is bad because it doesn’t offer anything new and exciting. Don’t get me wrong, the plot was interesting and unique. But I felt like I always knew what was coming next. So much so that I got a little bored. It wasn’t until 78% that something happened which I didn’t expect.

The reason I got a little bored could have been because of the soggy middle. The immediate threats were dealt with and the characters were waiting around for the next big thing to happen. This allowed for some world building, which I normally love. But this time, there was too much talking and backstory. I get that this book has a heavy burden to carry since it’s setting up the series. That’s still not enough reason to have long passages about each of the knights. Especially since I won’t remember those little details by the time the rest of the books come out. Put that kind of thing in a short story collection.

That being said, this book set up future books well. I’m looking forward to Lucan and Tom’s story, which is already out. All the knights are interesting characters, so I expect this to be a fun series. Especially if more cool monsters and magic appear. I loved the description of the monsters, they were so unique.

I’m hoping that the next book will hook me more than this one did. A lot of the world building is already out of the way and the main characters have been introduced. Fingers crossed.

Be sure to check out the review for the second book in the series, Dead of Knight.

Series Review: The Knight and the Necromancer by A.H. Lee

A fantastic series that made me remember why I love high fantasy so much.

5 out of 5 stars

Books include:

Plus two short stories:

  • Putting the Romance in Necromancy
  • Spring in the Haunted Forest

Likes:

  • Everything about the story and characters.
  • That all three parts were published at the same time.

Dislikes:

  • That the second epilogue was not included in the book.

I loved this series. Hands down the best thing I’ve read recently.

I am so glad that all three parts were published at the same time, because I binged them. I literally read the first two parts in one day, and got started reading the third as soon as I could the next day. The story flows so well from one book to the other, while also having a very reasonable ending points. I didn’t mind the cliffhangers at all because I was able to get the next book right away.

This was my first introduction to A.H. Lee. I’ve never read anything by her in any of her pen names, and I will definitely be going back for more. High fantasy books that balance plot, world building, and romance are like catnip for me. Reading this book made me realize once again why I love high fantasy.

High fantasy allows an author to build whatever kind of world they want. I’m used to books about magic, but not about necromancy. And A.H. Lee managed to make Sairis not only an interesting character but a genuinely good guy. The same with Roland. Knights are usually presented as metaphorically clean and shiny, but she showed the rougher side as well.

I am a fan of ‘opposites attract’ themed stories, and this series pulled it off beautifully. Sairis and Roland’s relationship wasn’t easy, but they ended up with something really great. I am glad that the series allowed them the time and space for their feelings to develop naturally.

One of the biggest compliments I can give to any book is wanting more, even when everything was wrapped up well. I definitely wanted more of Sairis and Roland. I want more of the entire kingdom. I love the world that the story is set in and want to read many more books set in it. Which is why I signed up for A.H. Lee’s email list and got access to the two extra short stories.

Putting the Romance in Necromancy is a prequel story about Sairis leaving for the capital. I never even considered how he found his way to the Tipsy Knave, but it’s a nice story. I don’t think it adds a lot to the overall plot, unlike the second epilogue story, Spring in the Haunted Forest. This story was important. Not for big plot things, but for rounding out the story’s ending. You don’t have to read it, but it filled in some of my lingering questions, as well as showing how things had changed after a year had passed.

I am looking forward to more MM books from A.H. Lee in the future. Hopefully she will keep writing for a long time!

Review: The Sea (The Knight and the Necromancer #3) by A.H. Lee

A truly fantastic ending to the series! I couldn’t have asked for more.

5 out of 5 stars

Ebook. Kindle Unlimited. 180 pages. Published March 23rd 2020 by Pavonine Books

Blurb:

Knights and necromancers are never on the same side… are they?

Sairis has known all his life that knights are not his friends…until the last few weeks, when he somehow forgot, and tumbled into bed with one. He told Roland to leave, hurt him badly, used as many cruel words as possible. And yet Roland stubbornly refuses to leave Sairis alone, half-naked and friendless in the wilderness.

After a surreal week of shared secrets beneath the stars, they’re about to rejoin Mistala’s army as it prepares for a desperate battle with a deadly sorcerer. Sairis’s help might make the difference, but he is deeply conflicted, afraid of being trapped and stripped of his magic by Mistala’s unfriendly magicians. He’s not sure whether he’s the prince’s lover or his prize. He feels like an outlaw, trussed up across Roland’s saddle. If he could just leave them all their deaths, things would be so much easier. 

Likes:

  • Fantastic conclusion.
  • Kept me on the edge of my seat.
  • Lord of the Rings vibe.
  • Hope for the future.

Dislikes:

  • I want more.
  • The tangential series is set hundreds of years in the future.
  • You have to sign up for the author’s newsletter to get the second epilogue.

You know a series is good when you don’t want it to end.

This book wrapped up the series in the best possible way. I have no complaints about the story, characters, or outcome.

I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. Even though I knew everything was going to be okay because this is a romance, I was still worried about Roland and Saris. Both had their own trials and tribulations to overcome. The way Saris used his necromancy at the end was amazing. It gave me strong Lord of the Rings vibes, which was great.

I always love fantasy books that have a generally hopeful feel about the future in the end. While the main aspects of the book were settled, there were still things that happened that prove that the world will keep on turning. Stories yet to be told. I would happily read much more about Saris and Roland or about people tangential to them. And while Mal apparently has his own series, it’s set hundreds of years in the future, which means no glimpses of Saris and Roland. Boo.

There is a “exclusive second epilogue” you can get by signing up for the author’s newsletter, which I forgot about almost immediately. I don’t tend to go for those kinds of things, but I might this time. Unless I forget again, which is completely possible.

Review: The Border (The Knight and the Necromancer #2) by A.H. Lee

Story picked up right where the first book ended and took off like a rocket. Loved it!

5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 167 pages. Published March 23rd 2020

Blurb:                                     

Roland thought necromancers were inhuman monsters. Until he met Sairis.

Roland and Sairis have escaped from a traumatic assassination attempt, solved the mystery of their attacker, and enjoyed plenty of heavy petting along the way. Roland knows that it’s too soon for love, but he feels like he’s falling head over heels.

However, in the final moments when their attacker is revealed, Sairis does something unthinkable. He transfers a brutal spell to Roland, nearly killing him, and disappears.

Roland is left reeling, struggling to cope with his injuries, and wondering whether everything Sairis said and did was a lie. Did Sairis seduce Roland only to use him as a hostage? And if not, what has happened to Sairis? 

Likes:

  • Story picked up right after where the first book left off.
  • Political intrigue.
  • Change of location.
  • Mystery.
  • The characters.
  • The romance.
  • New allies.
  • Backstory that filled in some of the pieces.
  • Inclusion of other LGBTQ+ characters.

Dislikes:

  • I was genuinely worried about Sairis’s wellbeing at one point.
  • The plot slows down in a few places.

This book flows directly from the first book with no time lapse or need for repetition. That was great, especially since all three books were published at the same time. The plot sped along right from the start, introducing new political machinations and new characters.

I was genuinely worried whether Sairis would be physically harmed at one point. The story could have gone very dark. Luckily, it didn’t. I’m not used to being worried about the health and safety of main characters in a romance, so it threw me for a loop, but it fit with the story.

New characters and allies are introduces, and other characters move to the forefront. I enjoyed that there were other nonconforming and LGBTQ+ characters. I also enjoyed how well everyone was interconnected.

We got backstory that filled in a lot of pieces. It slowed the pace a little, but I do think the information was necessary. And the pace picked up again soon enough.

The main characters were still great. They have a lot more push and pull in this book. Their attraction is stronger but so are the forces that are trying to pull them apart. I appreciated that their relationship is still very much in flux.

The way the characters are travelling in this story is nice. The plot is literally moving along as they head towards the final battlefield. There’s still a lot of mystery surrounding who is trying to pull what strings. It adds tension and drama.

Overall, I am very happy with this book. Everything about it makes me want to keep reading. I am looking forward to the ending with high hopes and anticipation.