Geetha Krishnan's Blog, page 2

Review of Inarora’s Excursion By Seraph Abell (Fate of Enaros)

Blurb

Inarora Beservera, daughter of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of End’oria, never felt concerned by her father’s position. After all, politicians’ families were only targeted in the Corporate States of Naa’ran, right? She’s in for a rude awakening when Naa’ran Supremacists attack her and send her over 50 years into the past!

Inarora finds her great-grandpas, who send a letter to the Council of Sorcerers to ask for help. While they wait for a response, Inarora learns more about herself, including scary powers she never knew she possessed.

Meanwhile, Kaedan’s mounting frustration with the lack of help from the present day Intelligence Ward leads him to take matters into his own hands when another child goes missing—Inarora’s best friend.

Can Kaedan find Inarora and her friend before more children go missing? Or will they remain forever lost due to the Intelligence Ward’s negligence?

My Review

This wasn’t my usual fare since it’s centred around a child protagonist. I have nothing against children’s books and have enjoyed a fair few even after becoming an adult, especially when my children were young. But these days, I can’t even enjoy a YA book, so a children’s book wasn’t something I thought I’d enjoy.

Boy, was I wrong.

This is so much more than a children’s book for one. Though Inorara or Ina, is the protagonist, the story isn’t theirs alone. It’s also their father’s, their grandfather’s, their great grandfathers’, and their friends’.

Ina is the daughter of a minister and belongs to a dragon species with a humanoid appearance. At the start of the book, Ina goes by she, but by the end of the book, they have figured out they like to be they. So, I’ll be referring to Ina by they in this review.

Ina has terrible nightmares that show them hurting their loved ones. The nightmares have given them a lot of anxiety and a fear of falling asleep. They are 12 and live with their father and grandfather. When an attack by some unknowns sends them to the past, Ina winds up with her great grandparents, one of whom had been dead for ages in their own time.

Lysander and Seri are understandably startled by Ina’s arrival and by their assertion that they’re their great granddaughter. Their children are still only children, but all the same, they can’t turn Ina away and are determined to help them get back to their time.

Back in the present, Ina’s father and grandfather are doing everything they can to find them, but when the Intelligence Ward, which is like the police, stonewalls them, and Byron, Ina’s grandfather is cursed when attempting to trace their whereabouts using magic, they realise that they may be up against something they may not be able to handle by themselves.

I loved the characters and the relationships. Found families are my favourite thing to read, and there’s very strong found family vibes between Lysander and Seri and their neighbours, as well as between Ina’s father and the parents of their best friends. Ina and their friends are also a found family that’s heartwarming.

Part of the tale of Ina and their situation, we have mental health, queer, neurodivergent reps, as well as chronic pain and disability reps. Needless to say, I enjoyed it all, and I loved how respectfully everything is treated.

If you love a wholesome tale of family, found family, characters that feel real and relatable, you would love this story.

You can find Inorara’s Excursion here and here

Review of The Grandmaster’s Gamble by Paul G Zereith (The Nightwyrm’s Resurgence 1)

Blurb

An unparalleled academic genius of his generation – Norman has a bright future ahead. While he may be the rising star of the famed Illustrious Academy, in the brutally competitive Irvanian socio-political landscape, opportunist vultures lurk at every corner and no tactic is too low.

The biggest obstacle in the way of his grand ambitions though, is an ancient alien parasite that has made his body its nest. Oh, and there is also the problem of a high profile murder investigation that is likely to destroy his career.

Will Norman be able to reassert control over his life? Or will he succumb in his pursuit of the forgotten arts of soul harvesting and become something else… Find out in this grimdark cyberpunk fantasy.

Sometimes being the best among the best is still not good enough.

My Review

I got an ARC for the second book of this series and decided to read the first one to get the background. Though this was touted as grimdark, I must say that it didn’t seem all that dark to me. There is some scenes of violence and torture, some blood and gore, but overall, nope. Not dark enough.

I’m beginning to think my definition of dark and other people’s definition of dark are completely at odds, lol.

The book starts with a prologue which doesn’t make much sense until much later. The opening chapter depicts a torture scene, and then we have some flashbacks leading to the main story. For a short book, there’s a lot of plot in this one.

Norman is a genius, living in the Irvanian empire, attending the Illustrious Academy, whose gruelling ten year curriculum leaves most students gasping in the dust. But Norman isn’t most students, and he’s determined to make his future in the protectorate. He’s fascinated with the ancient Yskh culture which has now disappeared. They had many technological marvels that he hopes to reverse engineer.

With the help of two of his fellow students, Kiri and Remus, Norman finds his way to an uncharted planet which has remnants of Yskh civilization in the form of a ziggurat. Norman and his friends come across an alien parasitic life form that the Yskh called the Nightwyrm. It injures Kiri and kills Remus but spares Norman on the condition he will help it find a refuge. But to ensure his co-operation, one of the parasites invade Norman’s body.

Remus is the son of an influential senator, however, and no matter how well they cover it up, neither Kiri nor Norman can handle the repercussions from his death. Add to it, the fact that Kiri is part of an underground rebellion and that she has stolen Norman’s proprietary tech to give them, and Norman’s life is completely fucked.

I found this extremely enjoyable and entertaining. It’s a plot driven story, but with the plot being so intricate, it was quite the ride. There were a few issues that a round of editing would have taken care  of, but nothing that took away from my enjoyment. At times, I even forgot I was reading, so immersed was I.

If you love Sci Fi, aliens, first contact and mysteries, you will love this book.

You can find The Grandmaster’s Gamble here and here.

Review of The Isle of Skiy by K.L. Noone

Blurb

The Isle of Skiy, surrounded by ocean, is a beautiful, prosperous land where no one ever arrives and no one ever leaves. According to myth, mysterious ocean-dwellers protect the isle, but no one’s ever seen them, and seeking to disturb the peace is forbidden.

But Kevane, the newest and youngest Lord of Skiy, can’t help asking questions. And he isn’t the only one. His outwardly tidy household minister Rill possesses radical tendencies and a family secret. Kev’s mother refuses to share what she knows. And the sea-folk have their own reasons for guarding this particular island.

Together, Kev and Rill will uncover the truth of a legend, fall in love, and change two sea and Skiy.

My Review

I had read and enjoyed books by this author before, which is why I was excited about this one, and it was just as good as the others. This is told like a fable, of a Lord and his consort, choosing to do something against the traditions of the Isle of Skiy, potentially risking the lives and safety of everyone.

Kev is the Lord of the Island, newly crowned since his father passed away suddenly. Rill is his house minister who takes care of everything in the royal palace.

The people of Skiy have a tradition where they take dead bodies down to the beach and have a ceremony and leave it for the lords of the sea to come and take it. It’s forbidden to question it or to wait or look back once the body is left behind. But since his father’s death, Kev has been wondering what happens to the bodies, and one day, he dares to ask Rill. Though Rill tells him it’s blasphemy, he too admits to wanting to know since his grandfather is on his deathbed.

Kev and Rill enter into a relationship and decide to wait for the sea lords after Rill’s grandfather dies. If they offend the sea lords, they could potentially destroy the peace and prosperity the island has enjoyed till then.

This was a very short book, only 43 pages, and what I love the most is the author’s prose that flows like music or poetry. This one didn’t make me cry, but it did make me smile a lot. And that’s as precious as tears.

If you love queer fantasy and short books, you’ll love this one.

You can find The Isle of Skiy here and here.

Review of The Dragon Class by Melanie Ansley (Riders of Jade and Fire 1)

Blurb

A lowborn thief. A priceless dragon. A bond that could change an empire.

Jin is a hardened pickpocket surviving the underbelly of Tang China, until a single heist changes everything. When her gang’s riskiest gamble goes wrong, Jin finds herself bonded to a dragon, and must make a choice: endure the slave mines, or train to join the Dragon Class, the empire’s mightiest and most revered army.

For her dragon Rayshan is a rare and powerful type: a jade. As Jin’s bond with Rayshan deepens and her desire to rise above her humble station grows, Jin faces a battle not only to pass the trials barring her from becoming the empire’s first female dragon rider, but also against the ruthless aristocracy–particularly Gao, the Minister of War, who will defend the empire’s iron clad traditions by any means necessary. And meanwhile, on the edges of the empire, a buried dark force is gathering, threatening to sweep them all into chaos…

Dragon Class is the first book in the epic Riders of Jade and Fire fantasy adventure. If you love dragon fantasy and vivid ancient worlds, this is one ride you won’t want to miss.

My Review

Okay, I was really really really excited to read this book because ancient China and dragons! I’m a C Drama addict who loves period shows, especially if there are fantasy elements involved, and dragons are like my most favourite mythical creatures ever!

This one didn’t disappoint at all. It centres around three characters. Jin, a street thief who accidentally steals a dragon egg, hatching a dragon who bonds to her, Prince Tai, the crown prince who has to constantly balance his duty to the crown with his own feelings and inclinations, and the exiled prince of Persia, Aadan, who has become a dragon rider, and on whom rests the hope of his people.

The dragon, Rayshan, that bonds to Jin is a jade dragon, which is not only rare, but infamous since the last jade in history belonged to Mengkis Lai who nearly pulled a coup, slaughtering countless innocents. Even worse than the fear of Jin turning dark is the patriarchy which is determined to put her down for being a female. No dragon had ever bonded to a female before since it was believed it was impossible.

Jin is also a thief from the streets, not a noble, which is another blow to the establishment. The Empress Wu seeks to project Jin as a symbol that women can succeed in Dragon Class as they do at the helm of an empire, while Minister Gao does everything in his power to destroy her reputation and credibility before ending her.

While I loved Jin, the character I liked the most was Tai. There was something raw and visceral about his struggles that resonated with me. Aadan was the least interesting of the trio, but it looks like he’s going to be Jin’s love interest while Tai is delegated to being the third wheel at best, and the rejected one in the love triangle at best.

I hate love triangles. Let Jin have them both.

Okay, personal gripes aside, this was an excellent book with classical fantasy tropes, which I loved. If you love fantasy and dragons, don’t miss this one!

You can find Dragon Class here and here

Review of The House of the Red Balconies by A. J. Demas

Blurb

Hylas has come to Tykanos to build an aqueduct. He has not come to enjoy the island’s main attraction: the six houses where the companions of Tykanos, courtesans both female and male, offer tea and elegant conversation. Yet he cannot ignore them as he finds himself renting a room in one of the tea houses and meeting his neighbour, the beautiful, chronically ill companion Zo.

Over breakfasts in Zo’s garden, the two men begin a friendship that transforms the isolation of their lives. But Hylas’s aqueduct project is threatened by bureaucratic delays, and Zo is pressured to secure a rich patron to help support his failing house. When they have begun to hope that they have found a home in each other, the world seems intent on forcing them apart.

My Review

What do I say about this one? I’ll start with the disclaimer that while I love queer books, I’m not the best audience for a pure romance book. By that I mean a book where romance is the central theme.

That said, this was a book that I couldn’t put down. The slow pace didn’t bore me, and the characters’ developing relationship didn’t make me want to skip ahead. It was immersive, evocative, and I adored it from start to finish.

Hylas is an engineer in his fourties who has come to the island of Tykanos to build an aqueduct project. He’s not interested in the tea houses—euphemisms for the houses of pleasure where companions both male and female are there to entertain the guests, and where NO tea is served—but the governor of the island seems to want to take him on a tour of all six.

When it turns out the room Hylas has rented is in the oldest and least popular of the tea houses, The Red Balconies, the man despairs of ever being able to finish his project. More intimidating than anything is his neighbour, the ethereally beautiful Zo, a companion in the house.

But Zo has his own problems to face. Being chronically ill and suffering from pain on most days, he struggles to keep up a smiling face and entertain clients. When he is threatened to find a patron failing which he could jeopardise his safety, Zo has no one to turn to.

I loved how Hylas and Zo are both flawed people who at the same time strive to do good. The growth of their relationship is slow, and while I’m usually not a fan of age gap romance—Zo is in his twenties while Hylas is forty—this one didn’t bug me. In the end, they’re both consenting adults, and their life experiences have created enough impact on both.

This story was like a breath of fresh air to me. If you love queer characters, and romances, you should read this one.

You can find The House of the Red Balconies here and here

Review of Gates of Hope by J.E. Hannaford (Aulirean Gates 1)

Blurb

The Watcher shattered the Gates.

Now, hope must arise from the shards.


Darin and Suriin enter the Black Palace of the So’Dal, at a time when monstrous Edgelands creatures return to the skies over Caldera.
After exhibiting magical traits thought lost, Darin is drawn into a secret society charged with keeping the Watcher’s secrets. Now he must balance learning how to control his magic, caring for Star, his new companion, and finding a way to sustain the Howlers’ power for long enough to protect Caldera from the predatory creatures of the Edgelands.

Before she arrived at the Black Palace Suriin broke the ancient rules of the So’Dal to save the life of the person she loves the most. As her search for a cure delves deeper under the mountain, is there any price she won’t pay? 

On the outer moon of Tebein, Elissa’s newly awakened magic will endanger her home and family. Now she must race to find help for those she leaves behind as she escapes those who want her, and all those like her, dead.

One wrong decision by any of them could return legends to life and end five hundred cycles of peace. Will they find the solutions they need in time?

My Review

This was the January Book Club Read for the SPFBO Book Club. Since it’s also an SPFBO finalist, and there is a dog on the cover, I was very interested in knowing what it’s about.

The book revolves around three characters. Darin who has come to the Black Palace to make a better future for himself and his parents. He wishes to be a guard, but when he shows magical aptitude and a moonhound, Staramine, bonds itself to him, he’s taken into a world of magical prowess. Moonhounds normally bond only to women, so Darin is something of an anomaly as well.

The So’Dal are guardians of the land, but they have hidden the extent of their abilities so as not to frighten the mundane populace, pretending to be healers. The magic of the So’Dal is expressed through music, but try as he might, Darin can’t sing any of the complex notes required for advanced spells. When he meets an old So’Dal who opens the door to the secret society of Howlers—male So’Dal who were bonded by moonhounds—Darin realises that his magic is different from that of the others. But to be a Howler is also to be responsible for their ancient legacy, one that came from the Watchers themselves.

Suriin is a So’Dal born to So’Dal parents, living in another part of the moon. When her father takes her to the Black Palace for her further education, little does she expect having to face creatures out of nightmares on her journey. With her father injured, and no known cure existing, Suriin researches into the awldryn, creatures whose war with the So’Dal had forced the Watchers to destroy the gates.

Elissa lives in the moon of Tebein, but her lilac hair marks her as Untouched. The Awldryn overlords will kill anyone with lilac hair and destroy their settlement, and hence, she is forced to cover it with dye, to keep herself dirty, to not mingle with others and to not have a family. But when she finds a crystal shard and the Awldryn come looking for her, Elissa has to leave the life she has known to save everyone she loves. Aided by a magic user who has also come searching for her and the crystal shard, Elissa undertakes a dangerous journey to escape the awldryn and to awaken her magic.

I enjoyed this book. The world building was awesome, the characters interesting, and each plotline was full of tension. But in the end, there was no common thread connecting the three plots, and it felt like I was reading three different stories set in the same universe. Darin and Suriin meet each other only at the end of the book, despite both being in the Black Palace for almost half the book. Elissa’s story never touches the other two.

All the same, I want to know what happens next and how everything connects together and resolves.

If you love epic fantasy with younger characters, great worldbuilding and an immersive narrative, you would love this book.

You can find Gates of Hope here

Review of Beautiful Serpent, Restless Embers by Ynes Freeman

Blurb

Sensitive, soft-spoken Laurel Aleandri wakes at age eight to discover the world around her has changed—deepened. The rug under her feet feels softer, her father’s freshly-baked bread steams with joy, and his hymns carry a life of their own. A descendent of the Damica—women both praised and feared for their gifts—Laurel’s power is unlike her mother’s. Instead of reading fortunes, she feels into hearts and minds with a light brush of her fingertips.

As is the tradition of the Damica, she is whisked away to the Accademia Marl, only to be swallowed by a darker side of her gift. Litha, her headmistress calls it—a madness that sweeps through the Damica with her empathic ability. Shuttered away, devoid of warmth and light, Laurel finds herself enraptured by flowers and drawn to the moon. . . gentle, beautiful things that keep the darkness within from stirring.

But thrust into a world of politics and deceit, Laurel’s headmistress warns that deep empathy is more dangerous and valuable than she knows. She is sold to a general as a bride—and a weapon that could reverse the tides of her kingdom’s war, which sits on a knife’s edge of defeat.

Pressed like a flower between the pages of fate and chance, Laurel flees, placing her faith in a shattered swordsman with a quick blade and a biting cynicism, while the general she runs from pursues her relentlessly. Haunted by shadow demons, violent visions, and omens of death, Laurel must chance her dark depths to determine not only her own fate, but that of every person she encounters.

Fate and chance. Balance and adjustment. Empathy and madness. Is it better to live in chains—or to embrace the shadows?

My Review

This book had an entirely different feel to it. It’s darker but also feels light, very like Laurel’s gift with its light and dark sides to it.

Laurel is a Damica, a woman with the gift of magic. Her gift is the ability to see into people’s minds and hearts, but it has a darker side to it, which manifests at night, when madness takes over.

Sent to the Academy Marl for training, Laurel is forced to drink a tea to suppress the madness which makes her docile and unable to properly use her other gifts. She is helped by her best friend, Suzette, who hides agendas of her own.

When she is chosen to be sent to court with some of the other Damica, for making a match with someone prominent, Laurel just wants to escape without catching anyone’s eyes. But as fate would have it, she has an encounter with General Grimstaad who nearly assaults her and maims Suzette.

But when she is betrothed/sold to the general by the headmistress of Academy Marl without her knowledge and her father’s consent, Laurel escapes with Suzette’s help. Her only chance of salvation lies with the mysterious Order Umbilicus to which her father belongs.

General Grimstaad belongs to the Deos Tactigit, an arm of the military that’s known for their cruelty as well as ruthless efficiency, and Grimstaad is not in the habit of letting go of things—or people—that he considers his possessions.

But Laurel has never set foot outside the world of the academy, and the order is halfway across the country. Alone, with no one and nothing to depend on, can she make it before the general finds her?

Let me be honest, I didn’t go into this book expecting to enjoy it and yet I found I couldn’t put it down. Laurel is nicknamed the viper for her ability to see into people’s hearts without their consent or knowledge, but in the end, she is just a woman trying to survive in a world that treats them as dirt. Even the gifted Damica are persecuted and killed without reason, and for someone like Laurel to remain unwed is impossible since her gift is also a weapon against enemies.

I liked Corcoran and the development of his relationship with Laurel. Grimstaad and the Deos Tactigit are both quite hateful. The world is very realistic and dark, and in these times, the plight of Laurel hits especially hard.

Highly recommended to everyone who loves fantasy.

Find Beautiful Serpent, Restless Embers here

Review of The Rosewood Penny by J.S. Fields

Blurb

The dragons of Yuro have been hunted to extinction.

On a small, isolated island, in a reclusive forest, lives bandit leader Marani and her brother Jacks. With their outlaw band they rob from the rich to feed themselves, raiding carriages and dodging the occasional vindictive pegasus. Thanks to Marani’s mysterious invulnerability, this mostly works out well…until Marani and her quirky band of outlaws plunder the carriage of the very bossy princess Nuria.

The princess’s carriage contains not just gold, but a dragonscale comb that belonged to Marani’s murdered mother. Worse yet, Princess Nuria seems to know exactly who Marani is, maybe more than Marani herself.

Marani hatches a plan to retrieve her mother’s comb, seduce the princess, and make her entire bandit crew rich in the process. But island politics and the island of Yuro itself have other things in mind. Marani and Jacks quickly find themselves caught between warring monarchies, trade disputes, feral pegasi, and a very old, very concerning family lineage—all bound within an old penny, a mouthy princess, and a stolen comb.

My Review

This is yet another book I got as reward for backing the Space Wizard Fantasy’s campaign, and one of the books I was looking forward to reading.

The main character is Marani, who is a thief with mysterious abilities that make her invulnerable. She’s a highwayman who has organised others like her into a guild. An orphan, she only has her brother, Jacks who suffers from mysterious allergic reactions that need a kind of nettle to treat. It’s for Jacks’ treatment that Marani turns to highway robbery.

Things start to go awry when Marani attempts to rob a princess’ carriage. The princess seems to know her, but Marani has never seen her before. The princess gives her all the money in the carriage, but she’s also very bossy. More than that, the princess has a comb that used to belong to Marani’s dead mother, a comb she refuses to give Marani.

To retrieve the comb, Marani plans a heist, but the Princess Nuria again intervenes by hiring them and agreeing to give Marani the comb if she would go to a neighbouring kingdom with her.

From the start, this was such a rollercoaster. I loved the banter between Marani and Nuria and between Marani and her outlaws. The secret behind Marani’s invulnerability had me literally gasping. I did not see that coming. Add in the mix of island politics, ambitious royals, pegasi, strange plants, and romance, and you have a complex plot that’s enjoyable and gripping.

If you love queer characters, mythical creatures, and subtle but well realised world building, you will love this book.

You can find The Rosewood Penny here and here

Review of Truth in Cinders by Denise B Tanaka

Blurb

Condrie the tavern maid befriends a man on the run only to discover he is a firebird disguised in human form. Together they must elude the tyrant king’s relentless forces while seeking the truth of who massacred other firebirds enslaved to the king.

My Review

This book gripped me from the start and didn’t let go till the end. 

It revolves around Condrie, who is a tavern maid, who happens to save a stranger named Wegdell on the run from the king’s guards. He’s a firebird in disguise, and she helps him leave the city, but the tavern is burned by the soldiers in retaliation. Condrie is forced to seek work in a farm, with foreigners who are kind and accept her for who she is.

The soldiers come to the farm with another firebird whose magic forces Condrie to reveal Wegdell’s whereabouts. But he’s one step ahead and has left by the time the soldiers reach the place. He comes to the farm, disguises himself among the foreign workers, who actually hate firebirds, and sets about solving the mystery behind the deaths of the other firebirds, and Condrie’s own heritage.

Though the book does slow down in parts, it was overall quite an enjoyable read for me. Condrie is a relatable character with her flaws, insecurities, fears, and hopes. She tries to do what is right and to help others, but it’s not often possible.

This book gave me Russian folktale vibes with the firebirds, the mysterious Athel refugees, and the overall countryside descriptions. Idk if that was intentional or not.

In any case, if you love fantasy with mythical creatures, relatable characters, and a deepening mystery, you will love this book.

Find Truth in Cinders here and here

Review of Rowan and Aldred by Lucie Fleury (Ambrosia 2)

Blurb

Rowan is a bully. Always has been, always will be. After all, what better way to prevent people from hurting you, than hurting them first? But this time, he’s gone too far. The God of Justice has heard about his crimes, and now he must suffer the consequences…

Aldred, God of Justice and Retribution, is all too willing to take Rowan into his dungeon to deliver the sentence he rightly deserves. After all, punishing humans is his favorite pastime—he’ll take great pleasure in the careless, sadistic fun that Rowan’s incarceration offers him.

What he doesn’t expect is finding more. Because there’s something underneath Rowan’s spitefulness. Something he wants to find, care for and protect. However, if he acts on his urges, his ward will become permanently addicted to the ambrosia his body produces, altering Rowan’s life forever.

Set in a medieval fantasy world full of magic, conniving divinities and a newborn god gone rogue, follow the redemption story of one broken boy who gets his second chance at life, and a god who discovers his softer side.

My Review

This was my first book from this author and I found it entertaining. Since this is a second book, there were aspects to the world which was slightly confusing at first, but it didn’t deter me from enjoying the book.

Rowan is a bully and he and his cronies have been captured by the gods for the crime of forcing ambrosia on another human. Ambrosia is something godly and any human that gets a taste becomes hopelessly addicted. Hence the gods will severely punish anyone who distributes ambrosia. Except it shouldn’t have been possible for any human to get their hands on it, so they’re interested in knowing how Rowan and his friends got it.

Aldred is the god of justice and retribution and is in charge of Rowan’s punishment. He has sent Rowan’s friends elsewhere but Rowan being the leader is singled out for more punishment. Aldred also realises that Rowan feels an enormous amount of guilt for his actions which gives hope that he may yet be redeemed.

But even in the midst of that, Aldred and the other gods have to find the mysterious stranger who provided Rowan and his cronies with ambrosia. Aldred also has to fight the completely inappropriate feelings that he’s developing for Rowan.

This is a really slow paced book, which focusses on characters more than plot. Usually, I don’t like books where bullies are redeemed, but Rowan’s redemption arc is very believeable. He was punished very severely by Aldred, but there’s nothing sexual about any of the punishments, so if you’re looking for something like that, you may be disappointed. It does get pretty steamy once they get into a relationship, though.

The mystery of the person who is distributing ambrosia is a side plot, but adds a layer of intrigue to the whole. But despite it, this is about Rowan and Aldred and their relationship and focus is never shifted away from them.

If you like slow paced, character centric, m/m romances, you may enjoy this one.

You can find the book here.