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Pillars of Magic: Dominion Chapter #1
Inheritance
As the only male studying magic in a female-dominant society, Seiran Rou’s life is already on a precarious perch. Then he finds a dead co-worker on his doorstep, and Sei realizes someone is trying to set him up for the fall. It could be anyone—including his own mother, a powerful witch and leader of the Dominion, the ruling body of elemental magic.
Sei’s only saving graces are his on-again, off-again vampire boyfriend, Gabe, and the mysterious Jamie, who wants to help him for reasons Sei doesn’t understand. They may be all that stand between Sei and the Dominion’s demands to control his magic. One man’s devotion could be the key to save Sei’s life and pull him back from the brink of losing his humanity to the magic he possesses.
Sei’s only saving graces are his on-again, off-again vampire boyfriend, Gabe, and the mysterious Jamie, who wants to help him for reasons Sei doesn’t understand. They may be all that stand between Sei and the Dominion’s demands to control his magic. One man’s devotion could be the key to save Sei’s life and pull him back from the brink of losing his humanity to the magic he possesses.
176 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 13, 2011
219 people are currently reading
2188 people want to read
About the author
Lissa Kasey
75 books656 followersLissa Kasey is Ace/Aro and ENBY. Lissa's storytelling specializes in in-depth characters, detailed world building, sweet and spicy romance, and twisting plots to keep you clinging to the page.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 217 reviews
July 10, 2013
Fucking hell!
Way fun, with a really compelling backstory and some terrific AU embroidery.
Sei being busted eavesdropping in the air duct had me cackling like a drunk.
I wish I had a Jamie.
Also, that I could be Sei?
Cuz if it were me going crazytown in the woods, compelling Jamie to endure three hours of agony on my account, I should certainly hope I'd be able to express my gratitude a hair more enthusiastically than with a couple recipes, DNA or no DNA.
...is what I'm saying.
Way fun, with a really compelling backstory and some terrific AU embroidery.
Sei being busted eavesdropping in the air duct had me cackling like a drunk.
I wish I had a Jamie.
Also, that I could be Sei?
Cuz if it were me going crazytown in the woods, compelling Jamie to endure three hours of agony on my account, I should certainly hope I'd be able to express my gratitude a hair more enthusiastically than with a couple recipes, DNA or no DNA.
...is what I'm saying.
March 24, 2015
Peace and quiet is underrated.
Took a minute to get use to the first person point of view, not bad, but unexpected. It worked well at keeping the focus narrow and the action contained to Seiran. The reversed power structure with females dominating in the witch world made for a quick twist. Also allowed for more violence since males are physically hardier than females; the repression could be both psychological and physical.
Gabe is a big, softy vampire, He is also Seiran's boss at the local vamp bar, and his occasional fuck buddy. Seiran doesn't do relationships. Bam! And move on. Which for a student isn't that unreasonable, but it's more than his focus being other places--he has baggage. Oh, mommie dearest.
Jamie is Gabe's trusted employee and friend. He also HOT. A big wall of a guy with a kind heart and oddly invested in Seiran. Seiran seems to attract creepy, stalker-like people, a magnet.
The comet of destruction in Seiran's life is his mother. Mother is a high ranked politician and demanding. When Seiran needs help, she negotiates that he provide an heir for her assistance. Thanks, ma.
The pace is fast moving with bodies, mishaps, and traumas around every corner. I found it entertaining and the hot/cold relationship of Gabe and Seiran amusing. Quick and fun read.
3.5 Stars
Overall, it's underdog to the rescue.
Favorite quote:
Guest Reviewed for:
Took a minute to get use to the first person point of view, not bad, but unexpected. It worked well at keeping the focus narrow and the action contained to Seiran. The reversed power structure with females dominating in the witch world made for a quick twist. Also allowed for more violence since males are physically hardier than females; the repression could be both psychological and physical.
Gabe is a big, softy vampire, He is also Seiran's boss at the local vamp bar, and his occasional fuck buddy. Seiran doesn't do relationships. Bam! And move on. Which for a student isn't that unreasonable, but it's more than his focus being other places--he has baggage. Oh, mommie dearest.
Jamie is Gabe's trusted employee and friend. He also HOT. A big wall of a guy with a kind heart and oddly invested in Seiran. Seiran seems to attract creepy, stalker-like people, a magnet.
The comet of destruction in Seiran's life is his mother. Mother is a high ranked politician and demanding. When Seiran needs help, she negotiates that he provide an heir for her assistance. Thanks, ma.
The pace is fast moving with bodies, mishaps, and traumas around every corner. I found it entertaining and the hot/cold relationship of Gabe and Seiran amusing. Quick and fun read.
3.5 Stars
Overall, it's underdog to the rescue.
Favorite quote:
“You are so beautiful.”
I started to say, “Fucked up,” but he stopped me with a finger to my lips.
Guest Reviewed for:
November 4, 2011
All the elements here should have added up to a really good story, but somehow the spark was missing. Maybe I needed more angst: Gabe was too perfect, too accepting, and although other characters discuss what a slut Seiran is So, absolutely nothing wrong with this book, it just didn't float my boat.
January 11, 2012
This book and this series is definitely a favorite of mine now! It's a fun read that's sexy with just enough suspense to have you hoping for everything to turn out alright.
I fell in love with Seiran from the start. He's such a broken man who's been tortured by just about everyone because of being born a male witch. School is rough for him because he gets teased and picked on and everything is made harder for him because he looks effeminate. He's sexy and knows how to work his charms and has a tendency to attract the worst guys. He's cute in ways and his OCD was very enlightening as well as fascinating. He also panics and freaks when anything related to a relationship is said or brought to his attention; he doesn't do relationship because he's scared he'll get hurt again from being in one. Gabe, Seiran's lover and boss, is a mystery at first. I wasn't sure if I liked him but as the book progressed I started to adore him, too, because it's obvious how much he loves Seiran. He's willing to wait, has been waiting, for Seiran to realize Gabe will never get bored of him and finally allow their relationship to evolve from what it's currently at.
The story revolves around a series of murders that are directly and indirectly related to Seiran and Gabe. It wasn't highly original but very entertaining and I enjoyed watching everything unfold and for things to be brought into the light. Trying to guess whodunnit was a nice treat, IMO. I also enjoyed seeing Seiran grow not only as a person but with his magic as well. I loved the take on magic and the world created by it. It fascinated me and had me craving for more of everything.
I had one or two minor problems with the story as well as a few questions but otherwise I enjoyed this book very much even if the ending was a bit rushed.
In the end, this book and these characters became favorites of mine. Seiran and his oddities made this book a fun, sexy and pleasant read. Definitely looking forward to reading more of Seiran and Gabe in the future! Absolutely recommended.
ETA: I forgot to mention how much I adored Jamie! Oy! He was so cute and protective. Even when he was confused he was cute. I just wanted to give him a hug. Right after giving one to Seiran ;P
I fell in love with Seiran from the start. He's such a broken man who's been tortured by just about everyone because of being born a male witch. School is rough for him because he gets teased and picked on and everything is made harder for him because he looks effeminate. He's sexy and knows how to work his charms and has a tendency to attract the worst guys. He's cute in ways and his OCD was very enlightening as well as fascinating. He also panics and freaks when anything related to a relationship is said or brought to his attention; he doesn't do relationship because he's scared he'll get hurt again from being in one. Gabe, Seiran's lover and boss, is a mystery at first. I wasn't sure if I liked him but as the book progressed I started to adore him, too, because it's obvious how much he loves Seiran. He's willing to wait, has been waiting, for Seiran to realize Gabe will never get bored of him and finally allow their relationship to evolve from what it's currently at.
The story revolves around a series of murders that are directly and indirectly related to Seiran and Gabe. It wasn't highly original but very entertaining and I enjoyed watching everything unfold and for things to be brought into the light. Trying to guess whodunnit was a nice treat, IMO. I also enjoyed seeing Seiran grow not only as a person but with his magic as well. I loved the take on magic and the world created by it. It fascinated me and had me craving for more of everything.
I had one or two minor problems with the story as well as a few questions but otherwise I enjoyed this book very much even if the ending was a bit rushed.
In the end, this book and these characters became favorites of mine. Seiran and his oddities made this book a fun, sexy and pleasant read. Definitely looking forward to reading more of Seiran and Gabe in the future! Absolutely recommended.
ETA: I forgot to mention how much I adored Jamie! Oy! He was so cute and protective. Even when he was confused he was cute. I just wanted to give him a hug. Right after giving one to Seiran ;P
November 7, 2011
I have 2 new loves and their names are Sei and Gabe...oh what the heck, how could you not love Jamie as well. I love imperfect MCs that do not even pretend to try to be perfect. Sei is messed up but man you just gotta love him.
If you love witches, vamps, weres and everything in between, including full on bitch moms, this is a great book for you.
If you love witches, vamps, weres and everything in between, including full on bitch moms, this is a great book for you.
August 23, 2023
3.5 Stars
Review:
First things first, I found Seiran hard to like in this book... but I got there eventually. Well, he still wasn't the most easily likeable character, but I sympathized with him and became more understanding of his behaviors. See, for a while, all he seemed to ever want or think about was sex. Even when one of his coworkers was murdered and he was the one to find the body. Even when he had creepy stalkers to worry about. Even when he knew he was likely next on the hit list of a serial killer. He was also so forward with his flirting that it was borderline harassment sometimes. He also had a lot of attitude and came across as very stubborn and immature. He even made sarcastic remarks to the cops who showed up to investigate the dead body on his doorstep. But I think some of those things may have been because of how the new moon was affecting him (something to do with his magic), and some of his behaviors could also be explained by the problems he's had in life, the bullying he's been through, and his awful mother. He also had OCD and anxiety---something I didn't realize until halfway through the book---and although I don't think that excuses everything, it did make him a little easier to empathize with; we all have our struggles, and I felt for him in regards to his. So ultimately, though I think he could've been a little less of a jerk sometimes, he wasn't a bad person.
Gabe, on the other hand, was very easy to like from the start, even though he was a little too perfect to be realistic. He was so good to Seiran. He accepted everything about him and was always there for him. And I felt bad that he wanted to be with Seiran but all Seiran would give him was sex because of his fear of commitment. I mean, Seiran made that clear from the start, so I'm not saying that Seiran did anything wrong where that was concerned, I'm just saying that I felt bad for Gabe regardless. And that whole scene while Seiran was in lynx form was a little bit heart-breaking because I could feel how much Gabe loved Seiran, how worried he was, and how upset he was about everything Serian was dealing with.
But one of my complaints about the book is that I would've liked to see more of the connection between Gabe and Seiran. Gabe clearly loved him, I could feel that in his actions and his words... but why? I don't mean Seiran was unworthy of his love, just that almost every time they were in a scene together, Seiran was trying to jump Gabe's bones, so that was the only interaction I really saw between them. There was hardly any talking or doing nonsexual things together.
Another issue I had while reading was that a lot of the characters seemed to act in kind of weird, slightly unnatural ways, but then it turned out that there were reasons for all those things, so it didn't end up being an issue in the end.
Overall, even though I wasn't blown away by this book, I was interested in the plot, I liked that it had mental illness rep, and I ended up caring about the characters and their relationships enough by the end that I knew I wanted to continue the series and get to know the characters more.
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes character-focused books, M/M, urban fantasy, witches, and books with mental illness but also lots of positivity and support.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
---------------------
Initial Thoughts:
3.5 Stars. Didn't blow me away, but I liked it enough to continue the series. Full review soon!
Review:
First things first, I found Seiran hard to like in this book... but I got there eventually. Well, he still wasn't the most easily likeable character, but I sympathized with him and became more understanding of his behaviors. See, for a while, all he seemed to ever want or think about was sex. Even when one of his coworkers was murdered and he was the one to find the body. Even when he had creepy stalkers to worry about. Even when he knew he was likely next on the hit list of a serial killer. He was also so forward with his flirting that it was borderline harassment sometimes. He also had a lot of attitude and came across as very stubborn and immature. He even made sarcastic remarks to the cops who showed up to investigate the dead body on his doorstep. But I think some of those things may have been because of how the new moon was affecting him (something to do with his magic), and some of his behaviors could also be explained by the problems he's had in life, the bullying he's been through, and his awful mother. He also had OCD and anxiety---something I didn't realize until halfway through the book---and although I don't think that excuses everything, it did make him a little easier to empathize with; we all have our struggles, and I felt for him in regards to his. So ultimately, though I think he could've been a little less of a jerk sometimes, he wasn't a bad person.
Gabe, on the other hand, was very easy to like from the start, even though he was a little too perfect to be realistic. He was so good to Seiran. He accepted everything about him and was always there for him. And I felt bad that he wanted to be with Seiran but all Seiran would give him was sex because of his fear of commitment. I mean, Seiran made that clear from the start, so I'm not saying that Seiran did anything wrong where that was concerned, I'm just saying that I felt bad for Gabe regardless. And that whole scene while Seiran was in lynx form was a little bit heart-breaking because I could feel how much Gabe loved Seiran, how worried he was, and how upset he was about everything Serian was dealing with.
But one of my complaints about the book is that I would've liked to see more of the connection between Gabe and Seiran. Gabe clearly loved him, I could feel that in his actions and his words... but why? I don't mean Seiran was unworthy of his love, just that almost every time they were in a scene together, Seiran was trying to jump Gabe's bones, so that was the only interaction I really saw between them. There was hardly any talking or doing nonsexual things together.
Another issue I had while reading was that a lot of the characters seemed to act in kind of weird, slightly unnatural ways, but then it turned out that there were reasons for all those things, so it didn't end up being an issue in the end.
Overall, even though I wasn't blown away by this book, I was interested in the plot, I liked that it had mental illness rep, and I ended up caring about the characters and their relationships enough by the end that I knew I wanted to continue the series and get to know the characters more.
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes character-focused books, M/M, urban fantasy, witches, and books with mental illness but also lots of positivity and support.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
---------------------
Initial Thoughts:
3.5 Stars. Didn't blow me away, but I liked it enough to continue the series. Full review soon!
February 11, 2016
WHAT?! Seriously WHAT? This book was just one WTF-moment after the other. I liked the first 3 short stories and thought, okay good start, here we go. But OMG.
Seiran was a DOUCHE! First off, he was not loyal at ALL. I get that he's young (there was something with the timeline, that made me think he was 19, but apparently he is 22). I prefer my heroes to have spunk, to be loyal and to be selfless to some degree. Seiran was none of this, on the contrary he was an IDIOT. First when Gabe doesn't want to sleep with him one night he decides to go out and just sleep with a random guy from the school, and is almost beaten to death/raped (this happens twice according to the author). So there is that.
Next he is a major flirt, but not in the fun/quirky way, it is reading like a porn show when he's working at the bar. It's just... WHAT???
And then there is his mother!!! She has a room in his house where she straps him to a table on the second floor, so he wont be able to draw strength from the earth. (He doesn't live at home anymore, but ends up on the table once again) And then she demands that he gives her an heir, because he's a boy and that's bad. And even though she is one of the worst mothers in the history of mothers, he agrees!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????????????
She had him strapped to that table as a child, she has killed his father (?? Maybe, it wasn't totally clear), she has tortured him during his whole childhood, he expects her to kill him, and then he just agrees to hand over a child to her (though Gabe makes it clear that they can keep him, if it's a boy.) I'm just.... WHAT?????? No seriously: WHAT THE FUDGE??????????????????
At that point I was ready to throw my Kindle, but thought; 'okay he has a plan, he wont do it... He will figure something out... Maybe.'
But no, a solution is presented to him, at the party his MOTHER arranged so he could find a proper girl to impregnate, but they could use a turkey baster, because he's gay you know.... And the reason he shows up at this horrible woman's house, the woman who tortured him, and wants to take his powers, give them to the heir and then kill Seiran, is because Seiran always keeps his promises...
I'm pretty sure, nobody important would bat an eyelash if he decided not to participate.
Seriously this book made me effing angry! Seiran was -IMO- the worst, most self centered hero ever (maybe not, but I just finished the book yesterday, and he really PISSED me off.) I know he had a horrible childhood, and he's been abused in the worst possible ways, he's had nobody in his corner, but THIS was just... WHAT?????
I'm sorry this did not do it for me, and I will not read any more of this series.
Seiran was a DOUCHE! First off, he was not loyal at ALL. I get that he's young (there was something with the timeline, that made me think he was 19, but apparently he is 22). I prefer my heroes to have spunk, to be loyal and to be selfless to some degree. Seiran was none of this, on the contrary he was an IDIOT. First when Gabe doesn't want to sleep with him one night he decides to go out and just sleep with a random guy from the school, and is almost beaten to death/raped (this happens twice according to the author). So there is that.
Next he is a major flirt, but not in the fun/quirky way, it is reading like a porn show when he's working at the bar. It's just... WHAT???
And then there is his mother!!! She has a room in his house where she straps him to a table on the second floor, so he wont be able to draw strength from the earth. (He doesn't live at home anymore, but ends up on the table once again) And then she demands that he gives her an heir, because he's a boy and that's bad. And even though she is one of the worst mothers in the history of mothers, he agrees!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????????????
She had him strapped to that table as a child, she has killed his father (?? Maybe, it wasn't totally clear), she has tortured him during his whole childhood, he expects her to kill him, and then he just agrees to hand over a child to her (though Gabe makes it clear that they can keep him, if it's a boy.) I'm just.... WHAT?????? No seriously: WHAT THE FUDGE??????????????????
At that point I was ready to throw my Kindle, but thought; 'okay he has a plan, he wont do it... He will figure something out... Maybe.'
But no, a solution is presented to him, at the party his MOTHER arranged so he could find a proper girl to impregnate, but they could use a turkey baster, because he's gay you know.... And the reason he shows up at this horrible woman's house, the woman who tortured him, and wants to take his powers, give them to the heir and then kill Seiran, is because Seiran always keeps his promises...
I'm pretty sure, nobody important would bat an eyelash if he decided not to participate.
Seriously this book made me effing angry! Seiran was -IMO- the worst, most self centered hero ever (maybe not, but I just finished the book yesterday, and he really PISSED me off.) I know he had a horrible childhood, and he's been abused in the worst possible ways, he's had nobody in his corner, but THIS was just... WHAT?????
I'm sorry this did not do it for me, and I will not read any more of this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2020
~4.50 Stars~
Seriously intense urban fantasy that doesn't let up until the very end.
Set in a contemporary world where witches, vampires and humans all co-exist.
Seiran and Gabe are sort of an established-couple, in the looses of terms. Seiran is commitment phobic but he's been in a friends-with-benefits relationship with Gabe for nearly seven years(since he was 17yrs old). The only man in his life that get's a repeat-performance. It's a constant push and pull dynamic. Gabe cannot speak of his feelings because words of love and commitment send Seiran running. He shows his true feelings through actions. Always present and supportive despite being constantly pushed away by Seiran.
Seiran
" You're so fucked up, Sei. Beautifully fucked up," -Gabe
“I’m all messed up inside, you know. Bad core, and all that.”- Sei about himself
Sei has been broken, well and truly. He is a complete mess emotionally and physically. The only thing in is life-survival kit is sex and seduction. That's the only thing he can control, the only way he knows how to communicate and the only power he's willing to use despite the powerful magic coursing through his body. He's cynical, pessimistic, self-deprecating, lacks self-worth, fearful and struggles with paranoia and OCD. He's been bullied and abused physically and emotionally for as long as he can remember. It's his oldest memory. He's never had peace. He's always been lonely. He's a pariah amongst his own community. Coveted and hated in equal measure.
Lissa Kasey pummels Sei the entire duration of this book. I stress read this book.
But then there is Gabe. His anchor. The one person he trusts. The light that keeps guiding him, cushioning the blows, aching to love him if only he would allow it.
“You and me are in the same place, kitten. Nowhere to go, lost faith in the world, wanting to escape it all. But I love you, and that’s what keeps me here. That and hope that someday you’ll admit you love me back.”- Gabe
“He thinks I’m beautiful, even when I’m ugly. He kisses me like I matter. Loves me even when I can’t love myself.” -Sei's thoughts
So yes, this is angst central and I hurt for Sei and Gabe. The world Kasey built is compelling and thorough. The antagonists beautifully cruel and complex. The anguish raw and palpable.
If you're looking for an intense, angst filled urban fantasy to sink into, I highly recommend Inheritance . It delivers.
Seriously intense urban fantasy that doesn't let up until the very end.
Set in a contemporary world where witches, vampires and humans all co-exist.
Seiran and Gabe are sort of an established-couple, in the looses of terms. Seiran is commitment phobic but he's been in a friends-with-benefits relationship with Gabe for nearly seven years(since he was 17yrs old). The only man in his life that get's a repeat-performance. It's a constant push and pull dynamic. Gabe cannot speak of his feelings because words of love and commitment send Seiran running. He shows his true feelings through actions. Always present and supportive despite being constantly pushed away by Seiran.
Seiran
" You're so fucked up, Sei. Beautifully fucked up," -Gabe
“I’m all messed up inside, you know. Bad core, and all that.”- Sei about himself
Sei has been broken, well and truly. He is a complete mess emotionally and physically. The only thing in is life-survival kit is sex and seduction. That's the only thing he can control, the only way he knows how to communicate and the only power he's willing to use despite the powerful magic coursing through his body. He's cynical, pessimistic, self-deprecating, lacks self-worth, fearful and struggles with paranoia and OCD. He's been bullied and abused physically and emotionally for as long as he can remember. It's his oldest memory. He's never had peace. He's always been lonely. He's a pariah amongst his own community. Coveted and hated in equal measure.
Lissa Kasey pummels Sei the entire duration of this book. I stress read this book.
But then there is Gabe. His anchor. The one person he trusts. The light that keeps guiding him, cushioning the blows, aching to love him if only he would allow it.
“You and me are in the same place, kitten. Nowhere to go, lost faith in the world, wanting to escape it all. But I love you, and that’s what keeps me here. That and hope that someday you’ll admit you love me back.”- Gabe
“He thinks I’m beautiful, even when I’m ugly. He kisses me like I matter. Loves me even when I can’t love myself.” -Sei's thoughts
So yes, this is angst central and I hurt for Sei and Gabe. The world Kasey built is compelling and thorough. The antagonists beautifully cruel and complex. The anguish raw and palpable.
If you're looking for an intense, angst filled urban fantasy to sink into, I highly recommend Inheritance . It delivers.
November 9, 2011
4.5 stars. Very good m/m paranormal romance in which someone is trying to make it appear that Sei is murdering other witches. Fortunately, his vampire boyfriend, Gabe, and the mysterious Jamie have Sei's back. I'm really enjoying this series - the next book is already queued up on my ereader.
October 4, 2011
Wow! Lissa Kasey has written an excellent M/M romance/urban fantasy novel.
Seiran is the lone male witch at a college of magicals studies. It soon becomes clear that he is damaged, flawed and seemingly incapable of trusting anyone - life has obviously not been easy for him. Gabe, a vampire, is both his boss at the bar where Seiran works part-time, and his sex partner... The latter being dictated by Seiran, his inability to trust means he's unwilling to have a relationship with anyone. As the story progress, the extent of Seiran's 'issues' becomes clearer, while the causes of it are alluded to, yet never fully revealed. Gabe's role in the story slowly evolves too, but again, some things about his life - past and present - are only partially revealed.
I found the characters flawed, mysterious and endearing, with many being slowly revealed to be far different to what is first thought. The plot has multiple threads, some of which were merely hinted at, some of which twisted to go in a surprising direction, while others ran the full length of the novel before their conclusion. It became more obvious as I read, that this novel is to be the base of a series, where the hinted-at threads will be explored in future novels, and I suspect some of the conclusions reached in this novel, may well be overturned or changed. The pacing of action, quiet tender monents, and surprise revelations were evenly spread throughout the story, but in never quite the same order, so the sheer unpredictability of the novel kept me enthralled and always wondering what would happen next. The emotional depth to this story was unexpectedly deeper than I thought it would be, particulary as the novel is on the shorter side. I am sincerely looking forward to more from this author, as I think Ms Kasey is an author to watch for in future.
*Note: Friction is a prequel to this novel, and is offered as a free download at ARe.
Seiran is the lone male witch at a college of magicals studies. It soon becomes clear that he is damaged, flawed and seemingly incapable of trusting anyone - life has obviously not been easy for him. Gabe, a vampire, is both his boss at the bar where Seiran works part-time, and his sex partner... The latter being dictated by Seiran, his inability to trust means he's unwilling to have a relationship with anyone. As the story progress, the extent of Seiran's 'issues' becomes clearer, while the causes of it are alluded to, yet never fully revealed. Gabe's role in the story slowly evolves too, but again, some things about his life - past and present - are only partially revealed.
I found the characters flawed, mysterious and endearing, with many being slowly revealed to be far different to what is first thought. The plot has multiple threads, some of which were merely hinted at, some of which twisted to go in a surprising direction, while others ran the full length of the novel before their conclusion. It became more obvious as I read, that this novel is to be the base of a series, where the hinted-at threads will be explored in future novels, and I suspect some of the conclusions reached in this novel, may well be overturned or changed. The pacing of action, quiet tender monents, and surprise revelations were evenly spread throughout the story, but in never quite the same order, so the sheer unpredictability of the novel kept me enthralled and always wondering what would happen next. The emotional depth to this story was unexpectedly deeper than I thought it would be, particulary as the novel is on the shorter side. I am sincerely looking forward to more from this author, as I think Ms Kasey is an author to watch for in future.
*Note: Friction is a prequel to this novel, and is offered as a free download at ARe.
August 17, 2012
3.85 stars (rounded up to 4 stars)
With an average of 4.1 star rating (at the moment I write this) and so many glowing reviews from my GR friends, I thought it was time to give this a try. Just to see what I might have been missing.
There are already SO MANY reviews on this one; I don't know if I can add anything new. So I try to keep this short (emphasis on the try). At first, I felt like I was jumped into a middle of a story. Who was Gabe again? How did he and Seiran met? And Jamie? Uhm, what was that with Seiran's painful past in high school? I was a bit confused ... I thought to myself, should I read the free prequels first?
I kept on going because the premise was, well, promising. I like story about on-and-off couple. I like the idea of a powerful male earth witch in the society dominated by female witches. And I'm glad that I did.
I enjoy Seiran's character ... his paranoia, his OCDs, and his inability to commit. That makes Gabe's love and devotion to Seiran feels so delicious. I'm a bit creep out with Jamie's obsession to Seiran, especially after I find out his true identity.
The power testing scene is awesome (can totally imagine it in my mind -- it will make a great movie scene). The world building of witches and Seiran's power level is intriguing. I like how Seiran as a human and Seiran as lynx has two very different 'voices'.
I also interested in "Focus" -- the living side of vampire; which means that a focus will share his/her life with a vampire, while the vampire shares his/her power with the focus. I think it will probably play a significant role in the next stories, right? No need to raise that kind of term (and explanation) without it being meaningful somewhat.
I guess I will read the sequel (and prequels) after all.
With an average of 4.1 star rating (at the moment I write this) and so many glowing reviews from my GR friends, I thought it was time to give this a try. Just to see what I might have been missing.
There are already SO MANY reviews on this one; I don't know if I can add anything new. So I try to keep this short (emphasis on the try). At first, I felt like I was jumped into a middle of a story. Who was Gabe again? How did he and Seiran met? And Jamie? Uhm, what was that with Seiran's painful past in high school? I was a bit confused ... I thought to myself, should I read the free prequels first?
I kept on going because the premise was, well, promising. I like story about on-and-off couple. I like the idea of a powerful male earth witch in the society dominated by female witches. And I'm glad that I did.
I enjoy Seiran's character ... his paranoia, his OCDs, and his inability to commit. That makes Gabe's love and devotion to Seiran feels so delicious. I'm a bit creep out with Jamie's obsession to Seiran, especially after I find out his true identity.
The power testing scene is awesome (can totally imagine it in my mind -- it will make a great movie scene). The world building of witches and Seiran's power level is intriguing. I like how Seiran as a human and Seiran as lynx has two very different 'voices'.
I also interested in "Focus" -- the living side of vampire; which means that a focus will share his/her life with a vampire, while the vampire shares his/her power with the focus. I think it will probably play a significant role in the next stories, right? No need to raise that kind of term (and explanation) without it being meaningful somewhat.
I guess I will read the sequel (and prequels) after all.
December 3, 2017
This is a fun urban fantasy-paranormal story, with a twist on magic and vampires and shifters. I almost put it on my "light" shelf when I was done reading, despite some very dramatic and near-death events, and painful pasts. The writing style and MC-voice are sparse and non-angsty to me. Sei is a college-aged witch, the only male witch permitted in his U of M magic class. He has a traumatic childhood (some of which is only hinted at in this book) and a cruel mother who is more interested in his power than him, plus a faithful vampire lover who wants to be more.
This had almost a YA feel, despite the sex on page. Sei comes off as very young, and immature, although his traumas, which have resulted in some real anxiety and OCD, can excuse some of that. Sei uses sex as a tool and weapon, to push people away even more than to be close to them, to connect without actually connecting. He trusts no one, and doesn't look deeply into things, skating over the surface of his life. He's blessed with some protectors he doesn't at first appreciate, and his self-worth is all over the place, mostly low, other than his sex appeal and an awareness of his power.
I appreciated the way the world-building was nicely woven into the story, rather than infodumped. At times that meant things were unclear, and there are still minor questions at the end, but it allowed the narrative to move forward fast, with plenty of action.
This had almost a YA feel, despite the sex on page. Sei comes off as very young, and immature, although his traumas, which have resulted in some real anxiety and OCD, can excuse some of that. Sei uses sex as a tool and weapon, to push people away even more than to be close to them, to connect without actually connecting. He trusts no one, and doesn't look deeply into things, skating over the surface of his life. He's blessed with some protectors he doesn't at first appreciate, and his self-worth is all over the place, mostly low, other than his sex appeal and an awareness of his power.
I appreciated the way the world-building was nicely woven into the story, rather than infodumped. At times that meant things were unclear, and there are still minor questions at the end, but it allowed the narrative to move forward fast, with plenty of action.
September 5, 2022
I immediately fell in love with Seiran and was curious from the beginning about his history with Gabe and how it all fit together. A wonderful start to the series, makes you curious for more. And there is no mega cliffhanger either. A good nice ending that definitely whets your appetite.
The plot only minimally points to Seiran's painful past, which is not yet fully resolved.
As for the paranormal theme, there are vampires, lycanthropes and witches. I find it interesting that the witches are at the same time shifters. Funny and lovely was Seiran's feline persona.
The relationship with Gabe definitely needs more plot, but hopefully that will come in the next part.
I definitely want to read more like this:
“He thinks I’m beautiful, even when I’m ugly. He kisses me like I matter. Loves me even when I can’t love myself.”
The plot only minimally points to Seiran's painful past, which is not yet fully resolved.
As for the paranormal theme, there are vampires, lycanthropes and witches. I find it interesting that the witches are at the same time shifters. Funny and lovely was Seiran's feline persona.
The relationship with Gabe definitely needs more plot, but hopefully that will come in the next part.
I definitely want to read more like this:
“He thinks I’m beautiful, even when I’m ugly. He kisses me like I matter. Loves me even when I can’t love myself.”
January 23, 2012
Sei's got me wrapped around his little finger, too. On to Reclamation NOW!!!
Um, what? Review? Nah, MandyM and Nikyta got it perfectly. :D
Um, what? Review? Nah, MandyM and Nikyta got it perfectly. :D
August 25, 2017
Update 7/14: reread and still loved it though still squicked by age difference
Original review:
I love this series. I know why other people don't--there is an excessive amount of angst and the main character does insane things that would drive any lover crazy, but it's all stuff I love in books.
Pros:
Seiran is adorable and when he's hurting, I want to hold him and make it all better.
Seiran is very tiny but he's strong.
Seiran suffers horrible abuse throughout his life and at college and he's still fighting. He doesn't let his OCD or anxiety disable him. He's very negative and angry but it fits what he's been through and that he's a man not a wimp.
Gabe is wonderful and dotes on Seiran. Again, this is something you learn in the shorts but you don't see here at first but it's obvious later in the book.
Jamie is awesome. He becomes even more awesome as the series progresses.
Seiran's OCD is a nice touch. I love that he cooks when he's anxious even though he barely eats and Gabe can't.
Seiran in lynx form is awesome. He's a real lynx and has trouble comprehending humans. His thoughts and impressions are believable.
The thriller, danger, desperation stuff is perfect for me. I loved it. I particularly loved when
Cons:
Early in the book someone asks Seiran if his lover, Gabe, has an invite into his home and Seiran says no. Since he did in one of the shorts that take place before this book, that annoys me. Consistency is important. My guess is that the short was written after this book and she either didn't remember or just ignored it for sake of the plot of the short.
Seiran has hip-high lace up boots. That sounds like boots with chaps attached. Sounds ridiculous.
Seiran is obnoxious in the beginning. I'm really glad I read the shorts first and saw how likeable he is.
At one point, the moon is referred to as "absent." No, the moon is always there, you just can't see it.
Seiran is extremely OCD about cleanliness (worse in one of the shorts) but he's okay with sleeping with semen on him.
One night Gabe lets him have the night off from work and takes the time, too, when they were already down two employees. That meant they now had four missing. From how they describe the restaurant/bar, that would cripple them.
Gabe and Sei have been lovers since the latter turned 17, the age of consent where they live. Gave is over 2000 years old. Ick.
In the book, ampires are supposed to be practically dead during the day and yet the two manage to have sex.
Something horrible happened to Sei by a guy named Matthew (we don't find out what until the next book). Gabe tells Sei that if it weren't for Matthew, Sei wouldn't have the OCD, anxiety, or trust issues. That's not true--Sei's mom would have caused those as she was horrible to him his whole life
A guy is named Kelly and Sei pities him for having a girl's name. Uh, it was a guy's name before it was ever a girl's name. Currently it's more common for girls but it's still a gender neutral name. I still get male addressed to Mr. Kelly H.
This one doesn't have very many good women. In fact, there's only one until the end. The next book is much better, but it did bother me.
I think it's improbably that every single witch but one would treat Seiran like crap because he's a guy. I think there would be a few more who would be supportive if only behind the scenes. It's probably supposed to be a parallel to homosexuality but even in the bad days, there were always supporters, they just had to be quiet about it. Here every single witch hates him.
Despite all these negatives, I really loved it. It hit all the right buttons for me. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 because of the adorable little lynx.
I'm rereading this review over a year later and I still just adore this series and think about this book fondly. I'm not a rereader but I'm planning to reread this one because it's exactly the type of thing I want to read right now.
Original review:
I love this series. I know why other people don't--there is an excessive amount of angst and the main character does insane things that would drive any lover crazy, but it's all stuff I love in books.
Pros:
Seiran is adorable and when he's hurting, I want to hold him and make it all better.
Seiran is very tiny but he's strong.
Seiran suffers horrible abuse throughout his life and at college and he's still fighting. He doesn't let his OCD or anxiety disable him. He's very negative and angry but it fits what he's been through and that he's a man not a wimp.
Gabe is wonderful and dotes on Seiran. Again, this is something you learn in the shorts but you don't see here at first but it's obvious later in the book.
Jamie is awesome. He becomes even more awesome as the series progresses.
Seiran's OCD is a nice touch. I love that he cooks when he's anxious even though he barely eats and Gabe can't.
Seiran in lynx form is awesome. He's a real lynx and has trouble comprehending humans. His thoughts and impressions are believable.
The thriller, danger, desperation stuff is perfect for me. I loved it. I particularly loved when
Cons:
Early in the book someone asks Seiran if his lover, Gabe, has an invite into his home and Seiran says no. Since he did in one of the shorts that take place before this book, that annoys me. Consistency is important. My guess is that the short was written after this book and she either didn't remember or just ignored it for sake of the plot of the short.
Seiran has hip-high lace up boots. That sounds like boots with chaps attached. Sounds ridiculous.
Seiran is obnoxious in the beginning. I'm really glad I read the shorts first and saw how likeable he is.
At one point, the moon is referred to as "absent." No, the moon is always there, you just can't see it.
Seiran is extremely OCD about cleanliness (worse in one of the shorts) but he's okay with sleeping with semen on him.
One night Gabe lets him have the night off from work and takes the time, too, when they were already down two employees. That meant they now had four missing. From how they describe the restaurant/bar, that would cripple them.
Gabe and Sei have been lovers since the latter turned 17, the age of consent where they live. Gave is over 2000 years old. Ick.
In the book, ampires are supposed to be practically dead during the day and yet the two manage to have sex.
Something horrible happened to Sei by a guy named Matthew (we don't find out what until the next book). Gabe tells Sei that if it weren't for Matthew, Sei wouldn't have the OCD, anxiety, or trust issues. That's not true--Sei's mom would have caused those as she was horrible to him his whole life
A guy is named Kelly and Sei pities him for having a girl's name. Uh, it was a guy's name before it was ever a girl's name. Currently it's more common for girls but it's still a gender neutral name. I still get male addressed to Mr. Kelly H.
This one doesn't have very many good women. In fact, there's only one until the end. The next book is much better, but it did bother me.
I think it's improbably that every single witch but one would treat Seiran like crap because he's a guy. I think there would be a few more who would be supportive if only behind the scenes. It's probably supposed to be a parallel to homosexuality but even in the bad days, there were always supporters, they just had to be quiet about it. Here every single witch hates him.
Despite all these negatives, I really loved it. It hit all the right buttons for me. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 because of the adorable little lynx.
I'm rereading this review over a year later and I still just adore this series and think about this book fondly. I'm not a rereader but I'm planning to reread this one because it's exactly the type of thing I want to read right now.
May 26, 2013
I don't know whether it's because I haven't really been in the mood for reading or reviewing (which is why I took 6 days despite it being relatively short) or if it's just because it wasn't really up my alley, but I was pretty disappointed in this.
It had such an interesting premise and solidly consistent ratings from friends and those I follow, yet it fell short for me. The plot line was pretty so and so, with me guessing the perpetrator quite early on. The characters as well were pretty urgh.
The main character, Seiran, is pretty damn flawed, but that's not a problem at all because I love it when they're fucked up all the way to Sunday. But Seiran was just -- ARGH. He had issues and I 100% understood where they came from, yet in context when reading it, they felt so flat and frankly very forced. It was stated very clearly from the beginning (by him) that he had 'commitment issues' (yeah okay, you don't need to repeating it throughout, I got it from the start) and not only that, he acts like/is a slut and a girl (defense mechanism?; mother wanted a daughter and abused him) but the thing is, his slutty behaviour felt so fucking over the top and unrealistic even though it is meant to be over the top. I won't name any more 'urgh' things and go into detail, but there were so many goddamn characterisation flaws (not personality flaws, though he had plenty of those too).
The romance had its moments though, I suppose. And I did like the love interest. The dialogue however, felt stilted at times, and the world was much less complex than I had originally pictured from the blurb. I imagined having a glorious struggle trying to absorb all of the aspects of what I pictured to be a whole new original world. There were some really good ideas (like the ones stated in the blurb) and I would like to know more about vampires, but really, it was all quite straightforward and simple.
Not only that, the 'mystery' (plot) was a bit boring, and things conveniently happened. Though, the resolution to the climax was unexpected! Despite being a huge disgusting turn off... .
Overall, it really just didn't click for me. You probably shouldn't listen to me though, since obviously, my opinion isn't of the norm. Try if it appeals to you.
Rating: A bit less than 3.
It had such an interesting premise and solidly consistent ratings from friends and those I follow, yet it fell short for me. The plot line was pretty so and so, with me guessing the perpetrator quite early on. The characters as well were pretty urgh.
The main character, Seiran, is pretty damn flawed, but that's not a problem at all because I love it when they're fucked up all the way to Sunday. But Seiran was just -- ARGH. He had issues and I 100% understood where they came from, yet in context when reading it, they felt so flat and frankly very forced. It was stated very clearly from the beginning (by him) that he had 'commitment issues' (yeah okay, you don't need to repeating it throughout, I got it from the start) and not only that, he acts like/is a slut and a girl (defense mechanism?; mother wanted a daughter and abused him) but the thing is, his slutty behaviour felt so fucking over the top and unrealistic even though it is meant to be over the top. I won't name any more 'urgh' things and go into detail, but there were so many goddamn characterisation flaws (not personality flaws, though he had plenty of those too).
The romance had its moments though, I suppose. And I did like the love interest. The dialogue however, felt stilted at times, and the world was much less complex than I had originally pictured from the blurb. I imagined having a glorious struggle trying to absorb all of the aspects of what I pictured to be a whole new original world. There were some really good ideas (like the ones stated in the blurb) and I would like to know more about vampires, but really, it was all quite straightforward and simple.
Not only that, the 'mystery' (plot) was a bit boring, and things conveniently happened. Though, the resolution to the climax was unexpected! Despite being a huge disgusting turn off... .
Overall, it really just didn't click for me. You probably shouldn't listen to me though, since obviously, my opinion isn't of the norm. Try if it appeals to you.
Rating: A bit less than 3.
March 3, 2013
This story was really good, I liked it very much and it kept me on the edge of my seat. Usually I don't care much for magic and witches and stuff like that in my paranormal stories (I'm all for shifters and nothing much else *lol*) but here I didn't mind and enjoyed very much the paranormal world the author created. Facts and details of this universe aren't dumped on the reader but given in bits and pieces during a conversation or an inner monologue which I prefer. It can be fun when you're just going with the reading flow and suddenly another piece of information is revealed and makes you all giddy.
Then the characters, they were great and very engaging. Seiran was a very complex character, very messed up, a bit quirky and so vulnerable. Gabe was wonderful, a very powerful vampire but oh so vulnerable himself. Then there's Jamie, who's grown on me during the story. I won't talk about Seiran's mother - she doesn't deserve it.
One thing I especially liked was Seiran's perspective from his shifted self. I loved it and can't remember having read anything similar in other shifter books. It was cute and made sense and had this realistic flair to it.
So why not giving this story 5 stars? Because I had some niggles with the suspense plot. The solution didn't entirely satisfy me and some of the culprit's actions didn't make sense to me in hindsight. Maybe that's just me but it bugged me, and I don't expect these issues to be addressed in the next book.
Altogether, that's a minor issue and didn't lessen my enjoyment of story and characters. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment. (I've stolen a glance already at the beginning of book 2 and the prologue is positively mean.)
Then the characters, they were great and very engaging. Seiran was a very complex character, very messed up, a bit quirky and so vulnerable. Gabe was wonderful, a very powerful vampire but oh so vulnerable himself. Then there's Jamie, who's grown on me during the story. I won't talk about Seiran's mother - she doesn't deserve it.
One thing I especially liked was Seiran's perspective from his shifted self. I loved it and can't remember having read anything similar in other shifter books. It was cute and made sense and had this realistic flair to it.
So why not giving this story 5 stars? Because I had some niggles with the suspense plot. The solution didn't entirely satisfy me and some of the culprit's actions didn't make sense to me in hindsight. Maybe that's just me but it bugged me, and I don't expect these issues to be addressed in the next book.
Altogether, that's a minor issue and didn't lessen my enjoyment of story and characters. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment. (I've stolen a glance already at the beginning of book 2 and the prologue is positively mean.)
September 29, 2011
I had originally put reading this off because the blurb did not catch my attn. Boy was that a mistake. I LOVED this book. The world Lissa built was rich and deep. I fell in love with Gabe and Sei from the start what with Gabe's steadfast loyalty and love and Sei's wonderfully damaged vulnerability. They had great chemistry together and I can't wait to read more from this universe. 5 stars!
January 28, 2012
Yes, I have joined the bandwagon :) Great story!
This is one of those stories that had me emotionally connected and rooting for Sei and Gabe. The strength and vulnerability that they played off each other made them so dynamic and relatable. There were snapshots throughout the story that cemented their feelings for each other without being overt and I appreciated that. Absolutely loved Jamie!
More strength in the world building and politics would have made this a stronger all around read, but I still enjoyed it very much and look forward to the next in the series.
This is one of those stories that had me emotionally connected and rooting for Sei and Gabe. The strength and vulnerability that they played off each other made them so dynamic and relatable. There were snapshots throughout the story that cemented their feelings for each other without being overt and I appreciated that. Absolutely loved Jamie!
More strength in the world building and politics would have made this a stronger all around read, but I still enjoyed it very much and look forward to the next in the series.
September 10, 2012
This series has me hooked. Seiran is such a damaged soul. He has so many issues, and it is sad to see the reasons behind each one. Gabe is wonderful and just perfect for Sei. I love them together, the way thay communicate and dance around each other. I found myself cheering each of them on at different points of this story.
There is mystery, suspense and a bit of action, in addition to some really cute and sweet moments, as well as some really hot sex. I can't wait to see where this series goes, cannot read it fast enough, but am already sad to think of it being over.
There is mystery, suspense and a bit of action, in addition to some really cute and sweet moments, as well as some really hot sex. I can't wait to see where this series goes, cannot read it fast enough, but am already sad to think of it being over.
March 16, 2021
It was... Something. Plot was a little bit everywhere and I still don't understand the ending. And fuck gabe the 2000 yr old vampire. Fucking a 17 yr old already traumatized by a pedo and not trying to save him from being tortured and forced to procreate from his mother. Fuck his mother and all this apologetic bullshit. She tortured her son repeatedly for WEEKS to get her way. Fuck everyone except jamie. I'm not cool with forcing people to procreate and trying to make a incredibly monstrous parent redeemable. That's a big no no to me so I'm not going to continue this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2011
Having read 3 free stories involving these characters, I was really looking forward to this book, and it didn't disappoint. Seiran is a male witch and he is somewhat of a flawed hero. His upbringing and his experiences at college have left him with a lack of self-confidence. Luckily, he has his sexy vampire, Gabe, to love him and to try and protect him against everyone who is out to get him.
October 17, 2011
4.5
Wow, I was totally pulled into the world Ms Kasey created!
I want to know more about Sei, more of why he is the way he is, and of course more about Gabe and Jamie.
But, I do have to say, Sei is far more understanding than I would have been about all the things being kept from him!
I'll be waiting for the sequel coming out in November!
Wow, I was totally pulled into the world Ms Kasey created!
I want to know more about Sei, more of why he is the way he is, and of course more about Gabe and Jamie.
But, I do have to say, Sei is far more understanding than I would have been about all the things being kept from him!
I'll be waiting for the sequel coming out in November!
August 9, 2022
Passable. Nice ideas, not good enough execution. There are some fun moments, but I didn’t quite enjoy the book mostly because I was not into the POV MC. So, it's a question mark whether I'll continue with the series.
August 7, 2020
3.5 stars
October 10, 2020
Fantastic new paranormal/urban fantasy series for me to enjoy! I’m so happy I read this book especially since there are a number of other books out in the series. It was a great fast little read that sucked me in almost immediately.
Seiran Rou is the only acknowledged male witch in the female-dominated Dominion society he’s grown up in. Forced to study magic at the university despite his own preferences for his culinary ambitions Seiran’s insecurities, paranoia, and OCD have only gotten worse. While the Dominion rules over all elemental magic and is headed by none less than his own domineering mother, Seiran struggles to separate himself from them as much as possible. Besides while they may want him to sire an heir, a female for his magic line to continue, he’s gay. Women don’t interest him in the least.
Gabe is a centuries old vampire and is hopelessly in love with Seiran. Yet Seiran can’t face his commitment phobia’s enough to give him more than an on again off again sexual relationship. Yet Gabe is content to wait and be there to help guide Seiran as he struggles to find his way. As a string of murders start occurring that seem to stem back to be friends with vampires start occurring though Gabe wants nothing more than to wrap Seiran up in a safe corner he controls and protect his love. Especially when a mutual acquaintance ends up murdered and left on Seiran’s doorstep throwing heavy suspicion his way.
First of all, I ADORE Seiran! I thought at first I wasn’t going to be able to stand him. The first 5% or so of this book drove me batty with all of Seiran’s sexual innuendos and apparent willingness to fuck anything that moved despite his relationship with Gabe. I expected to love Gabe and pity him for dealing with this little brat. Oh was I sooooooo wrong. Not to say that I didn’t love Gabe, cause I did, but Seiran is just so much more. I admit it I have a soft spot for the bad boy, and the tortured soul. Seiran’s life has been one messed up relationship after another and it’s no wonder he doesn’t know how to handle dealing with people who do truly care for him. As the book developed I loved watching him start to open up more and trust those who put themselves out there for him. The changes within his relationship with Gabe and also with Jaime I thought were so subtly and brilliantly done. The shift happens so gradually and naturally as Seiran allows himself to allow others in.
Gabe is so hopelessly in love! Ever the stalwart soul I enjoyed his underhanded attempts to move Seiran further into his life. The underground bunker he essentially built for the love of his life is absolutely the sweetest thing ever, even if it takes Seiran a bit to get over the “stalker-ish” idea. His patience is the stuff of legends. To be rebuffed as many times as Seiran has rebuffed him…wow commendable sufferance there. Especially with as many confusing signals as Seiran sends out.
Which leads me to Jaime…everyone deserves a Jaime! It took me a little while to figure out what his real relationship to Seiran was since it was in no way obvious from the start. Still I had it figured out before the reveal. I loved Seiran’s initial reaction to Jaime’s actions! From an outside perspective, oh yeah, creepy much! Once he lets him in though, I melted watching Jaime try to adapt to Seiran’s needs. His willingness to follow Seiran’s cooking guidelines was just so thoughtful.
My only slight complaint comes in the fact that the outset of this book makes it sound like male witches were an extreme rarity, never in fact seen before. Seiran, I thought, was the only one there ever was thus why he was so ostracized. Yet eventually it’s revealed there are a fair number of male witches out there. They’ve just had to hide their powers forever. I like it better that he’s not the only one, but I don��t really know why the inference was there in the beginning in the first place.
This society is extremely interesting being so female dominated. It’s an interesting twist to see a man trying to establish himself instead of it always being the female who is rocking the boat of the norm. Seiran has such a good heart and his actions are always what one would hope for from someone with as much power as he has. When he runs away and slips into his animal form I ached watching Gabe and Jaime try to get him back. Nifty tricks there boys. ;)
All I can say is this book is Amazeballs! Read it, love it, and join me in diving into the other books in the series. I can’t wait to see the changes this society is going to be rocked by now that Seiran has truly come into his powers. And well watching Gabe and Seiran fall even deeper for each other is going to be just plain lovely!
Seiran Rou is the only acknowledged male witch in the female-dominated Dominion society he’s grown up in. Forced to study magic at the university despite his own preferences for his culinary ambitions Seiran’s insecurities, paranoia, and OCD have only gotten worse. While the Dominion rules over all elemental magic and is headed by none less than his own domineering mother, Seiran struggles to separate himself from them as much as possible. Besides while they may want him to sire an heir, a female for his magic line to continue, he’s gay. Women don’t interest him in the least.
Gabe is a centuries old vampire and is hopelessly in love with Seiran. Yet Seiran can’t face his commitment phobia’s enough to give him more than an on again off again sexual relationship. Yet Gabe is content to wait and be there to help guide Seiran as he struggles to find his way. As a string of murders start occurring that seem to stem back to be friends with vampires start occurring though Gabe wants nothing more than to wrap Seiran up in a safe corner he controls and protect his love. Especially when a mutual acquaintance ends up murdered and left on Seiran’s doorstep throwing heavy suspicion his way.
First of all, I ADORE Seiran! I thought at first I wasn’t going to be able to stand him. The first 5% or so of this book drove me batty with all of Seiran’s sexual innuendos and apparent willingness to fuck anything that moved despite his relationship with Gabe. I expected to love Gabe and pity him for dealing with this little brat. Oh was I sooooooo wrong. Not to say that I didn’t love Gabe, cause I did, but Seiran is just so much more. I admit it I have a soft spot for the bad boy, and the tortured soul. Seiran’s life has been one messed up relationship after another and it’s no wonder he doesn’t know how to handle dealing with people who do truly care for him. As the book developed I loved watching him start to open up more and trust those who put themselves out there for him. The changes within his relationship with Gabe and also with Jaime I thought were so subtly and brilliantly done. The shift happens so gradually and naturally as Seiran allows himself to allow others in.
Gabe is so hopelessly in love! Ever the stalwart soul I enjoyed his underhanded attempts to move Seiran further into his life. The underground bunker he essentially built for the love of his life is absolutely the sweetest thing ever, even if it takes Seiran a bit to get over the “stalker-ish” idea. His patience is the stuff of legends. To be rebuffed as many times as Seiran has rebuffed him…wow commendable sufferance there. Especially with as many confusing signals as Seiran sends out.
Which leads me to Jaime…everyone deserves a Jaime! It took me a little while to figure out what his real relationship to Seiran was since it was in no way obvious from the start. Still I had it figured out before the reveal. I loved Seiran’s initial reaction to Jaime’s actions! From an outside perspective, oh yeah, creepy much! Once he lets him in though, I melted watching Jaime try to adapt to Seiran’s needs. His willingness to follow Seiran’s cooking guidelines was just so thoughtful.
My only slight complaint comes in the fact that the outset of this book makes it sound like male witches were an extreme rarity, never in fact seen before. Seiran, I thought, was the only one there ever was thus why he was so ostracized. Yet eventually it’s revealed there are a fair number of male witches out there. They’ve just had to hide their powers forever. I like it better that he’s not the only one, but I don��t really know why the inference was there in the beginning in the first place.
This society is extremely interesting being so female dominated. It’s an interesting twist to see a man trying to establish himself instead of it always being the female who is rocking the boat of the norm. Seiran has such a good heart and his actions are always what one would hope for from someone with as much power as he has. When he runs away and slips into his animal form I ached watching Gabe and Jaime try to get him back. Nifty tricks there boys. ;)
All I can say is this book is Amazeballs! Read it, love it, and join me in diving into the other books in the series. I can’t wait to see the changes this society is going to be rocked by now that Seiran has truly come into his powers. And well watching Gabe and Seiran fall even deeper for each other is going to be just plain lovely!
February 4, 2012
4.5 stars rounded to 5.
I feel like I've just met a new favorite paranormal family headed by Sei, a Lynx shifter and male witch and Gabe a Vampire. I loved the whole cast of characters, especially Sei who seems to draw trouble to him wherever he goes. Sei and Gabe are great together and I look forward to more of their adventures.
I feel like I've just met a new favorite paranormal family headed by Sei, a Lynx shifter and male witch and Gabe a Vampire. I loved the whole cast of characters, especially Sei who seems to draw trouble to him wherever he goes. Sei and Gabe are great together and I look forward to more of their adventures.
February 24, 2012
I liked the concept of this but the execution was lacking. I think my main problem was that I just didn't like the main character, Seiran. He was arrogant and annoying, and I never like it when everyone is fawning all over a character for no apparent reason. I also felt like the "villains" of this story (particularly Seiran's mother) were very one dimensional, which is always boring.
August 1, 2014
This is one of those books where I feel like I should have lots of issues with it, but I actually really enjoyed it. I don't really understand why everyone loves main character, Seiran, so much though. He reads a bit like a magical, slutty Jory in that respect. But otherwise, it was fast-paced and compelling. Looking forward to the rest of the series. Maybe Seijory will grow on me.
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