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Pilgrimage
Fiscal analyst Mike Carlson is good with spreadsheets and baseball stats. He doesn’t believe in fate, true love, or fantasy. But then a fertility goddess whisks him away to another world. A promise has been broken, and if Mike is ever to return to California—and his comfortable if lonely life—he must complete a pilgrimage to the shrines of a death goddess.
A humiliating event convinces Mike to hire a guard to accompany him, and hunky Goran is handy enough with a sword, if a little too liberal with his ale. A man with no home and no family, Goran is deeper than he first appears. As Mike learns more about Goran, his disbelief wavers and his goals become less clear. Contending with feuding gods, the challenges of the journey, and his growing attraction to Goran, Mike faces a puzzle far harder to solve than simple rows of numbers.
A humiliating event convinces Mike to hire a guard to accompany him, and hunky Goran is handy enough with a sword, if a little too liberal with his ale. A man with no home and no family, Goran is deeper than he first appears. As Mike learns more about Goran, his disbelief wavers and his goals become less clear. Contending with feuding gods, the challenges of the journey, and his growing attraction to Goran, Mike faces a puzzle far harder to solve than simple rows of numbers.
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 2, 2014
7 people are currently reading
426 people want to read
About the author
Kim Fielding
175 books1,302 followersKim Fielding lives in Oregon and travels as often as she can manage. A professor by day, at night she rushes into a phone booth to change into her author costume (which involves comfy clothes instead of Spandex and is, sadly, lacking a cape). Her superpowers include the ability to write nearly anywhere, often while simultaneously doling out assistance to her family. Her favorite word to describe herself is "eclectic" and she finally got that seventh tattoo.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
July 20, 2019
What an amazing fantasy story.
A plot that satisfied me and a MC that was literally to die for. What more could I ask for?
Mike Carlson is a fiscal analyst in California. His life is boring and lonely as his love life isn't exactly thrilling, mostly because he keeps himself at a distance.
Suddenly a lady appears out of nowhere and whisks him away to another world where he is sent on a quest to redeem another man's sin.
Aided by hot and hunky hunter Goran, the journey becomes more demanding than Mike expected and when it's time to make sacrifices, he realizes that he found love that he is not willing to give up.
Mike was a bit of a difficult character, but he had to be, otherwise the plot wouldn't have worked.
Goran, however, is the most amazing character ever. He's troubled, gorgeous, protective, loving and he does have a dark side too that makes him all the more attractive as a romance hero.
And he looks like the cover model of a Highlander romance, which is never a bad thing.
I've rarely been happier seeing a story wrap up this nicely despite the fantasy theme.
So, this is actually one of my favorite reads this year!
5 stars for hunky Goran. The best romance lead in ANY world :-)
A plot that satisfied me and a MC that was literally to die for. What more could I ask for?
Mike Carlson is a fiscal analyst in California. His life is boring and lonely as his love life isn't exactly thrilling, mostly because he keeps himself at a distance.
Suddenly a lady appears out of nowhere and whisks him away to another world where he is sent on a quest to redeem another man's sin.
Aided by hot and hunky hunter Goran, the journey becomes more demanding than Mike expected and when it's time to make sacrifices, he realizes that he found love that he is not willing to give up.
Mike was a bit of a difficult character, but he had to be, otherwise the plot wouldn't have worked.
Goran, however, is the most amazing character ever. He's troubled, gorgeous, protective, loving and he does have a dark side too that makes him all the more attractive as a romance hero.
And he looks like the cover model of a Highlander romance, which is never a bad thing.
I've rarely been happier seeing a story wrap up this nicely despite the fantasy theme.
So, this is actually one of my favorite reads this year!
5 stars for hunky Goran. The best romance lead in ANY world :-)
August 23, 2014
4.25 True Love Stars
I made it through the pilgrimage with Mike and fell in love with Goran.
This is a beautiful story, and if you pay attention you'll learn about your world too. We all love. And die. And weave our fates with the threads we're given. Our gods are petty, and we kill and maim in their name.
Kim Fielding knows how to spin a yarn and write a HEA. Surely, happy endings don't get better than this.
(Thanks to Mish for nudging me to read this book, which has been lingering on my TBR forever, and to Mish and Jen for the buddy read.)
I made it through the pilgrimage with Mike and fell in love with Goran.
This is a beautiful story, and if you pay attention you'll learn about your world too. We all love. And die. And weave our fates with the threads we're given. Our gods are petty, and we kill and maim in their name.
Kim Fielding knows how to spin a yarn and write a HEA. Surely, happy endings don't get better than this.
(Thanks to Mish for nudging me to read this book, which has been lingering on my TBR forever, and to Mish and Jen for the buddy read.)
dnf
July 24, 2022dnf @ 61%
Yes, I'm really dnf-ing a Kim Fielding book at 61%. It’s never too late to dnf, remember that, especially if you catch yourself thinking ‘let this END already!’ every few minutes! 🙈
I think this story had potential, but it fizzled out somewhere along the way after pages and pages and pages where pretty much nothing happened. The endless descriptions of unimportant things such as food and clothing made me nod off several times — and this is coming from a reader who loves descriptive writing! Overall, this book was very poorly balanced when it came to telling vs showing.
I wasn’t vibing with either of the MCs, and couldn’t see any real connection between them, so the (pretty insta) romance was a let-down, too. And after that dramatic ‘it’s for your own good, even though it hurts me’ scene, I really don’t give a single fuck about these two anymore. 🤷♀️
Yes, I'm really dnf-ing a Kim Fielding book at 61%. It’s never too late to dnf, remember that, especially if you catch yourself thinking ‘let this END already!’ every few minutes! 🙈
I think this story had potential, but it fizzled out somewhere along the way after pages and pages and pages where pretty much nothing happened. The endless descriptions of unimportant things such as food and clothing made me nod off several times — and this is coming from a reader who loves descriptive writing! Overall, this book was very poorly balanced when it came to telling vs showing.
I wasn’t vibing with either of the MCs, and couldn’t see any real connection between them, so the (pretty insta) romance was a let-down, too. And after that dramatic ‘it’s for your own good, even though it hurts me’ scene, I really don’t give a single fuck about these two anymore. 🤷♀️
February 5, 2014
I've decided I must be a snuggler at heart, because I find myself talking about "cozy" reads quite a lot these days. And it doesn't surprise me in the least that Kim Fielding's words are my cozy, fuzzy blanket of choice. If I pick up one of her books, I can bet money I'm probably in for:
1.) an expertly woven tale with fascinating other-worldly details, a lovable, self-deprecating lead and a gentle giant hero;
2.) smokin' hot sexy time;
3.) and (yay!) a HEA.
Fielding's captured my heart with all of the above in Pilgrimage, an angst-free fantasy-with-a-lesson about a funny, lonely guy named Mike, and a Fabio look-a-like named Goran. Fielding spins the tale brilliantly and without the need for an evil nemesis, even!
Mike, who lives in world like our own, has been teleported (or something) to Goran's world, which looks and feels like something from medieval times. Mike needs to complete a series of tasks in order to appease an angry god and return home, and he does it his way, but always with the help of sweet, caring, fearless Goran.
Along the way, Mike sometimes improvises to complete his tasks, and that's what I loved about him. Mike is Every Guy™, and it was fun to watch him come out of his shell as the story progressed. The fantasy-with-a-lesson idea worked so well here; both MCs had the opportunity to learn about themselves and let go of some sad and heavy baggage from their respective pasts.
One of the more entertaining parts of Pilgrimage involved Mike’s "field guide" for navigating his tasks. Mike is a little confused about some of the language and sidetracks in the guide. Says Mike: "This book is not as helpful as it should be. I'd give it, like, two stars at best." And later: "I don't even read fantasy!" Ah, Mike, we relate!
Really, though, it's a nod to the fun and whimsy of the writing. I think it's pretty awesome when we can poke fun at ourselves and not take this life to seriously, and that's just what this read did for me. It was a lighthearted, welcome break from life and some of the tougher books I've challenged myself with lately, and I so enjoyed the journey.
1.) an expertly woven tale with fascinating other-worldly details, a lovable, self-deprecating lead and a gentle giant hero;
2.) smokin' hot sexy time;
3.) and (yay!) a HEA.
Fielding's captured my heart with all of the above in Pilgrimage, an angst-free fantasy-with-a-lesson about a funny, lonely guy named Mike, and a Fabio look-a-like named Goran. Fielding spins the tale brilliantly and without the need for an evil nemesis, even!
Mike, who lives in world like our own, has been teleported (or something) to Goran's world, which looks and feels like something from medieval times. Mike needs to complete a series of tasks in order to appease an angry god and return home, and he does it his way, but always with the help of sweet, caring, fearless Goran.
Along the way, Mike sometimes improvises to complete his tasks, and that's what I loved about him. Mike is Every Guy™, and it was fun to watch him come out of his shell as the story progressed. The fantasy-with-a-lesson idea worked so well here; both MCs had the opportunity to learn about themselves and let go of some sad and heavy baggage from their respective pasts.
One of the more entertaining parts of Pilgrimage involved Mike’s "field guide" for navigating his tasks. Mike is a little confused about some of the language and sidetracks in the guide. Says Mike: "This book is not as helpful as it should be. I'd give it, like, two stars at best." And later: "I don't even read fantasy!" Ah, Mike, we relate!
Really, though, it's a nod to the fun and whimsy of the writing. I think it's pretty awesome when we can poke fun at ourselves and not take this life to seriously, and that's just what this read did for me. It was a lighthearted, welcome break from life and some of the tougher books I've challenged myself with lately, and I so enjoyed the journey.
May 4, 2016
Mike is a spoon. Ok, he’s not a spoon–but he’s like a spoon. A spoon that has an identical mate. An identical mate, in an alternate universe, that has really pissed off a god. So now Mike—the not-quite the spoon you’re looking for—must undertake a pilgrimage to unbend a goddess and save a bunch of people from never dying. And he must do it all…in his pants! (that’s underwear for all ye heathens out there).
Got that? Err…let’s try it again…
Mike is a fiscal analyst (don’t ask me what that is, I have a feeling it has to do with numbers and maths and just thinking about it makes my head hurt), and while it is not exactly the most exciting job in the universe, he is damn good at it. He’s a good man, with a good family, and he’s got his head screwed on tight. So tight, in fact, that it nearly pops off when Agata, goddess of fertility, pops in, tells him he’s just what she’s looking for in a hero/savior/last-ditch effort at a loophole, and then pops them both over to home sweet Dalibor. She explains that Lord Maliach has pissed off her sister god, Alina, and now refuses to apologize–-even after the goddess of death cursed Maliach and his lands with immortality (in a total, sure your leg just fell off and you’re in excruciating pain, but look on the bright side, you’ll never die!, kind of way). Agata, not exactly cool with the whole punish the herd for one jackass’s stupidity thing (and more than a little pleased to trick her sister) tells Mike that because he is Maliach, in an alternate universe, he can make the apologies for the ass of a lord. He is like one spoon, in a set of cast spoons–-alike enough in shape and form to fool/loophole his way through the rules governing the gods.
So with a set of stolen clothes, a bag of a very few coins, and the least helpful guide-book ever, Mike sets off (is forced) to undertake a pilgrimage in a strange land, with strange gods and even stranger people. Like it or not (not!), Mike is now a hero. A very reluctant spoon-hero.
You know that type of story you love, the one that you go out of your way to read, but it almost always disappoints you? That is this story–-minus the disappointment. I love the whole ‘average-joe falls into another universe’ trope. But rarely is it ever good. At best, they tend to be mediocre clichés wrapped around highly improbable characters. And yet I keep reading them, in the vain hope that one day someone will actually write something that I’ll love. Well, it has taken 27 years, and who-knows how many bottle of wine, but ladies and gentlemen, I give you the winner: Pilgrimage!
I loved this book. Mike is just average. He’s an accountant that is a good man, if a little lonely in the romance department, but he is not a superhero in disguise. Mike does not moonlight as a sword-wielding ninja, he’s not a fantasy junkie that’s fully equipped to take on any adventure, and he’s not spent the last ten years studying hunting and gathering, so that he’s so at home in the wild he’d give Bear Grylls a run for his money. He’s an average guy, thrown out of everything he knows, and forced to make the best of it.
So it is probably good that he runs into Goran…because let’s face it, you can’t really fiscaly analyze your way out of a sword fight. Goran is a good man, who has had a pretty messed up childhood/adulthood, and now basically only wants to have enough money to drink himself into a hazy stupor for as long as humanly possible. He is also rather impressive with his blade. ;P He is both gregarious and quiet, at turns, and is probably not the smartest man alive, but he is sweet and he cares for Mike–-even when Mike does a stupid thing. I really loved him. And I loved how Fielding made him feel alive and real. How his past made him into something more than just a blade for higher.
Mike and Goran could have come out sounding like every bad cliché, but they didn’t. They were all the good things that made clichés clichéd–that made them so damn popular. Man trapped in foreign land, falls for romance-cover-worthy hunk of a man….it should feel flat, but it is not. It is romantic, and cute, and just a little sad. Because Mike’s not staying, and Goran-–who lost everything but is now finally starting to find some peace–-is going to once again have his heart ripped out of his chest, by something he cannot stop. The story doesn’t exactly flounder around in angst, but you never quite know how it will end, giving it enough tension that you are eagerly awaiting each new page.
But no matter how unsure you are about some things, others are quite certain. Like the fact that his book was a pleasure to read. It was funny. It was fun. The jokes found that perfect spot where you never quite knew what to expect to come out of Mike’s mouth, but it never felt like he was saying it just to get a laugh. The pop-culture references could have fallen flat, very easily, but they were well chosen and perfectly timed. Never too much, and just enough to get the meaning without confusing us, or beating us over the head with it. It was both unexpected and highly believable.
I do have some issues with how the book ended–-mostly that I wanted to see more about how everyone was coping-–but it was a really good book, nonetheless. I think Mike let go a little too easily, even if I understand the choice he made, but I think I would have liked for him to fight a bit harder for Goran. But I got my HEA, and really enjoyed reading this. I’ve no doubt it is going to pop up on my re-read list, either. If you are looking for a low-angst book, full of fun and romance, this is the book for you.
4.5 stars
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
Got that? Err…let’s try it again…
Mike is a fiscal analyst (don’t ask me what that is, I have a feeling it has to do with numbers and maths and just thinking about it makes my head hurt), and while it is not exactly the most exciting job in the universe, he is damn good at it. He’s a good man, with a good family, and he’s got his head screwed on tight. So tight, in fact, that it nearly pops off when Agata, goddess of fertility, pops in, tells him he’s just what she’s looking for in a hero/savior/last-ditch effort at a loophole, and then pops them both over to home sweet Dalibor. She explains that Lord Maliach has pissed off her sister god, Alina, and now refuses to apologize–-even after the goddess of death cursed Maliach and his lands with immortality (in a total, sure your leg just fell off and you’re in excruciating pain, but look on the bright side, you’ll never die!, kind of way). Agata, not exactly cool with the whole punish the herd for one jackass’s stupidity thing (and more than a little pleased to trick her sister) tells Mike that because he is Maliach, in an alternate universe, he can make the apologies for the ass of a lord. He is like one spoon, in a set of cast spoons–-alike enough in shape and form to fool/loophole his way through the rules governing the gods.
So with a set of stolen clothes, a bag of a very few coins, and the least helpful guide-book ever, Mike sets off (is forced) to undertake a pilgrimage in a strange land, with strange gods and even stranger people. Like it or not (not!), Mike is now a hero. A very reluctant spoon-hero.
You know that type of story you love, the one that you go out of your way to read, but it almost always disappoints you? That is this story–-minus the disappointment. I love the whole ‘average-joe falls into another universe’ trope. But rarely is it ever good. At best, they tend to be mediocre clichés wrapped around highly improbable characters. And yet I keep reading them, in the vain hope that one day someone will actually write something that I’ll love. Well, it has taken 27 years, and who-knows how many bottle of wine, but ladies and gentlemen, I give you the winner: Pilgrimage!
I loved this book. Mike is just average. He’s an accountant that is a good man, if a little lonely in the romance department, but he is not a superhero in disguise. Mike does not moonlight as a sword-wielding ninja, he’s not a fantasy junkie that’s fully equipped to take on any adventure, and he’s not spent the last ten years studying hunting and gathering, so that he’s so at home in the wild he’d give Bear Grylls a run for his money. He’s an average guy, thrown out of everything he knows, and forced to make the best of it.
So it is probably good that he runs into Goran…because let’s face it, you can’t really fiscaly analyze your way out of a sword fight. Goran is a good man, who has had a pretty messed up childhood/adulthood, and now basically only wants to have enough money to drink himself into a hazy stupor for as long as humanly possible. He is also rather impressive with his blade. ;P He is both gregarious and quiet, at turns, and is probably not the smartest man alive, but he is sweet and he cares for Mike–-even when Mike does a stupid thing. I really loved him. And I loved how Fielding made him feel alive and real. How his past made him into something more than just a blade for higher.
Mike and Goran could have come out sounding like every bad cliché, but they didn’t. They were all the good things that made clichés clichéd–that made them so damn popular. Man trapped in foreign land, falls for romance-cover-worthy hunk of a man….it should feel flat, but it is not. It is romantic, and cute, and just a little sad. Because Mike’s not staying, and Goran-–who lost everything but is now finally starting to find some peace–-is going to once again have his heart ripped out of his chest, by something he cannot stop. The story doesn’t exactly flounder around in angst, but you never quite know how it will end, giving it enough tension that you are eagerly awaiting each new page.
But no matter how unsure you are about some things, others are quite certain. Like the fact that his book was a pleasure to read. It was funny. It was fun. The jokes found that perfect spot where you never quite knew what to expect to come out of Mike’s mouth, but it never felt like he was saying it just to get a laugh. The pop-culture references could have fallen flat, very easily, but they were well chosen and perfectly timed. Never too much, and just enough to get the meaning without confusing us, or beating us over the head with it. It was both unexpected and highly believable.
I do have some issues with how the book ended–-mostly that I wanted to see more about how everyone was coping-–but it was a really good book, nonetheless. I think Mike let go a little too easily, even if I understand the choice he made, but I think I would have liked for him to fight a bit harder for Goran. But I got my HEA, and really enjoyed reading this. I’ve no doubt it is going to pop up on my re-read list, either. If you are looking for a low-angst book, full of fun and romance, this is the book for you.
4.5 stars
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
February 4, 2014
3.5
I'm... not really sure how to rate this.
There were great ideas in this story, really lovely moments, and some conversations that made me want to cry. In a good way. I loved the different sacrifices Mike has to make druing his pilgrimage and how they changed him, how he developed as a character because of them. The physical description of the world was detailed and well done, it made the different settings easy to picture, and I always love that in a book. And Goran - Goran was such a great character! He was amazing, fierce, loyal, strong, vulnerable, genuine and so so sincere in everything he said and did. I loved him!
But now come the parts that I didn't like all that much: as a fantasy story, it often felt a bit childish and... immature, to be honest. The general world building, the setting beyond the physical appearance fell flat for me. The Gods are one example of that, they... didn't seem like Gods at all to me. More like pubescent children. And there are some things left unexplained that I just didn't understand - for example, if the Gods have the power to remove people from different worlds (and to send them back there later), are they Gods in those worlds too? Obviously they have some sort of power, but what is their role exactly? (There are quite a few other examples as well, but I'm not going to bore you with them.)
Mike's whole task seemed like a quest in a roleplaying game with a not so proficient game master. The kind where you get dropped somewhere, get handed your big assignment and find yourself already at the beginning of the road that you then just have to follow in between solving riddles or completing specific tasks at several pre-determined stations. Completely straight-forward, no intricacies, nothing really surprising, and in all this rather unimaginative. As I said, there are awesome ideas in this story (the sacrifices, the pilgrimage per se), but I just think the execution fell short of the potential, because the plot and whole world building were too restricted to the basic story concept.
It's hard to describe what exactly is missing, except maybe that I love my fantasy stories to be embedded into some sort of bigger picture - and there's simply no bigger picture here. Any attempts at creating it (the Gods, the explanation for choosing Mike to begin with, Lord Meliach himself and his deeds) are without question the weakest part of the story to me, because they were not convincing at all.
The best part of this story on the other hand is clearly the romance component (even though I didn't like Mike all that much sometimes). Kim Fielding is obviously an experienced, talented writer and you notice that throughout the book. She knows how to write relationship and character development in a way that makes sense and is in tune with the characters' experiences. That is a great thing! But it isn't enough for a great fantasy story which lives much more through world building and general setting than most contemporary stories do - simply because in contemporary stories (even with fantastical elements) the reader already knows the world and the basic concepts it's built on, whereas in fantasy stories the reader has no idea whatsoever.
So, I'm a bit torn in how to rate this book. Parts of it deserve clear four stars, other parts maybe two. I settle at 3.5 because I really loved some of the scenes in this book, but I'll round it down, because
Recommended? Yes... and no. Yes if you're looking for a nice romance that happens to be in a fantasy setting with weird things happening all around. No, if you're looking for a genuine, fleshed-out, richly developed fantasy story.
I'm... not really sure how to rate this.
There were great ideas in this story, really lovely moments, and some conversations that made me want to cry. In a good way. I loved the different sacrifices Mike has to make druing his pilgrimage and how they changed him, how he developed as a character because of them. The physical description of the world was detailed and well done, it made the different settings easy to picture, and I always love that in a book. And Goran - Goran was such a great character! He was amazing, fierce, loyal, strong, vulnerable, genuine and so so sincere in everything he said and did. I loved him!
But now come the parts that I didn't like all that much: as a fantasy story, it often felt a bit childish and... immature, to be honest. The general world building, the setting beyond the physical appearance fell flat for me. The Gods are one example of that, they... didn't seem like Gods at all to me. More like pubescent children. And there are some things left unexplained that I just didn't understand - for example, if the Gods have the power to remove people from different worlds (and to send them back there later), are they Gods in those worlds too? Obviously they have some sort of power, but what is their role exactly? (There are quite a few other examples as well, but I'm not going to bore you with them.)
Mike's whole task seemed like a quest in a roleplaying game with a not so proficient game master. The kind where you get dropped somewhere, get handed your big assignment and find yourself already at the beginning of the road that you then just have to follow in between solving riddles or completing specific tasks at several pre-determined stations. Completely straight-forward, no intricacies, nothing really surprising, and in all this rather unimaginative. As I said, there are awesome ideas in this story (the sacrifices, the pilgrimage per se), but I just think the execution fell short of the potential, because the plot and whole world building were too restricted to the basic story concept.
It's hard to describe what exactly is missing, except maybe that I love my fantasy stories to be embedded into some sort of bigger picture - and there's simply no bigger picture here. Any attempts at creating it (the Gods, the explanation for choosing Mike to begin with, Lord Meliach himself and his deeds) are without question the weakest part of the story to me, because they were not convincing at all.
The best part of this story on the other hand is clearly the romance component (even though I didn't like Mike all that much sometimes). Kim Fielding is obviously an experienced, talented writer and you notice that throughout the book. She knows how to write relationship and character development in a way that makes sense and is in tune with the characters' experiences. That is a great thing! But it isn't enough for a great fantasy story which lives much more through world building and general setting than most contemporary stories do - simply because in contemporary stories (even with fantastical elements) the reader already knows the world and the basic concepts it's built on, whereas in fantasy stories the reader has no idea whatsoever.
So, I'm a bit torn in how to rate this book. Parts of it deserve clear four stars, other parts maybe two. I settle at 3.5 because I really loved some of the scenes in this book, but I'll round it down, because
Recommended? Yes... and no. Yes if you're looking for a nice romance that happens to be in a fantasy setting with weird things happening all around. No, if you're looking for a genuine, fleshed-out, richly developed fantasy story.
January 3, 2016
I enjoyed this, but I wanted it to be better. I also recommend have tissues at hand, evil book made me cry.
March 8, 2014
Is someone ask me the reason I keep reading Kim Fielding books I will answer: because it hurts... each time, I smile so much reading the end and my face hurts... that's why.
The plot
Michael Carlson is an ordinary man. With a ordinary job in California. With an ordinary plan... work, pay his bills, and.. that's it. Nothing more. He may not believe in destiny, but destiny believe in him. And his destiny is to live an remarkable adventure
In a parallel Earth like place, another man, offend a Goddess.
And in a second, the ordinary life of Michael Carlson will be anything but ordinary. Catapult in a medieval-like place, Michael must do a pilgrimage, and save a village from a terrible curse. Meliach is the exactly copy of Michael. So if Michael do the pilgrimage in his place a village can be normal again... and Michael can go back to California and forget all about swords and a world without indoor plumbing.
Nothing is easy... why in a parallel world it should be?
In a luck moment Michael will find the perfect guide in that confusing world... Goran.
Goran is big, loyal, and decide to help Michael in the pilgrimage. He just ask for the book Michael has as his payment.
Michael will have a guide... and much more... he will have the reason to ask himself how much he want to go back to his world, and how much he will suffer leaving Goran alone. Because Goran is alone... and it's clear the man have a tragic past... and deserve a better live... and deserve to be loved.
This is one of the most romantic fantasy book I ever read
I loved all the pilgrimage and knowing the cities and their weird habitants.
I loved all the mystery, of what would be each sacrifice Michael would have to do (because each temple he visit he must honor the Goddess with something, and you as a reader and from Michael POV is lost as he is).
I loved how slow but constant is the learning, about the fantastic world Michael is, and about the mysterious guide he has, Goran.
And most of all, I loved how a fantasy book was so romantic I felt my heart breaking... because we know that each step Michael do, each time he reach one temple and do an offer he is close to go home, go away from that world, go away leaving his beloved Goran.
This is a romantic story, and so, I highly recommend it to readers searching a fantasy but also a romantic book
I will not spoil but all the Goddess are watching closely Michael... may they be merciful? May they give a change to Michael and Goran? You must read to know... because I will not tell it :D
5 stars
The plot
Michael Carlson is an ordinary man. With a ordinary job in California. With an ordinary plan... work, pay his bills, and.. that's it. Nothing more. He may not believe in destiny, but destiny believe in him. And his destiny is to live an remarkable adventure
In a parallel Earth like place, another man, offend a Goddess.
And in a second, the ordinary life of Michael Carlson will be anything but ordinary. Catapult in a medieval-like place, Michael must do a pilgrimage, and save a village from a terrible curse. Meliach is the exactly copy of Michael. So if Michael do the pilgrimage in his place a village can be normal again... and Michael can go back to California and forget all about swords and a world without indoor plumbing.
Nothing is easy... why in a parallel world it should be?
In a luck moment Michael will find the perfect guide in that confusing world... Goran.
Goran is big, loyal, and decide to help Michael in the pilgrimage. He just ask for the book Michael has as his payment.
Michael will have a guide... and much more... he will have the reason to ask himself how much he want to go back to his world, and how much he will suffer leaving Goran alone. Because Goran is alone... and it's clear the man have a tragic past... and deserve a better live... and deserve to be loved.
This is one of the most romantic fantasy book I ever read
I loved all the pilgrimage and knowing the cities and their weird habitants.
I loved all the mystery, of what would be each sacrifice Michael would have to do (because each temple he visit he must honor the Goddess with something, and you as a reader and from Michael POV is lost as he is).
I loved how slow but constant is the learning, about the fantastic world Michael is, and about the mysterious guide he has, Goran.
And most of all, I loved how a fantasy book was so romantic I felt my heart breaking... because we know that each step Michael do, each time he reach one temple and do an offer he is close to go home, go away from that world, go away leaving his beloved Goran.
This is a romantic story, and so, I highly recommend it to readers searching a fantasy but also a romantic book
I will not spoil but all the Goddess are watching closely Michael... may they be merciful? May they give a change to Michael and Goran? You must read to know... because I will not tell it :D
5 stars
August 20, 2014
After finishing The Pillar, which made me all emotional, I must say that "Pilgrimage" was not as exciting -- and not exactly favorite of mine.
I agreed with my friend, Katharina, who said that the fantasy part was a bit immature. The whole "a man being plucked from his home to this alternative world to save the day" was a good idea -- but I thought Mike's journey being just a pilgrimage felt mundane.
Oh, I enjoyed his conversation with Goran -- the fierce and loyal Goran -- it was good, but the whole journey part dragged this story down for me. This was the case where I wanted more sword-fightings or some sort of huge task to complete. Something more action-based. It felt rather lackluster for a quest-type of story -- a case why I thought Alice in Wonderland was just nice but not heart-pumping exciting.
The romance was quite lovely though -- and my sappy heart smiled widely for the ending.
I agreed with my friend, Katharina, who said that the fantasy part was a bit immature. The whole "a man being plucked from his home to this alternative world to save the day" was a good idea -- but I thought Mike's journey being just a pilgrimage felt mundane.
Oh, I enjoyed his conversation with Goran -- the fierce and loyal Goran -- it was good, but the whole journey part dragged this story down for me. This was the case where I wanted more sword-fightings or some sort of huge task to complete. Something more action-based. It felt rather lackluster for a quest-type of story -- a case why I thought Alice in Wonderland was just nice but not heart-pumping exciting.
The romance was quite lovely though -- and my sappy heart smiled widely for the ending.
July 24, 2019
I am a big fan of Kim Fielding, so when Martin recommended one of her books, it was no hardship to dive into this fantasy story. And as usual with Mrs Fielding, the book did not disappoint.
Michael is an accountant with a typical desk job, plain and simple and boring. But then he is transferred to an alternative university, where he needs to go on a pilgrimage to lift the curse of a godess. Goran is a fighter, good looking, strong and muscular and when he offers protection in exchange for a book, Michael got for his pilgrimage, those two go on a journey through a medieval like country, getting to know each other and falling in love.
I really liked the way, the story evolved, both main characters are adorable, I especially loved Goran and would have married him myself (well apart from the fact that he chose Michael and I am already married....).
Their first wedding and the sacrifice that was made afterwards had me sobbing, it was so beautiful and romantic and the HEA beautiful.
Definitely recommended and strong 4 stars for me!
My only complaint is that Goran was unfortunately not on the cover - too bad!
I mean that guy had the hair and the sword, but this definitely isn't our hero, first I even thought it was the godess Agatha, so that was disappointing... ;-)
Michael is an accountant with a typical desk job, plain and simple and boring. But then he is transferred to an alternative university, where he needs to go on a pilgrimage to lift the curse of a godess. Goran is a fighter, good looking, strong and muscular and when he offers protection in exchange for a book, Michael got for his pilgrimage, those two go on a journey through a medieval like country, getting to know each other and falling in love.
I really liked the way, the story evolved, both main characters are adorable, I especially loved Goran and would have married him myself (well apart from the fact that he chose Michael and I am already married....).
Their first wedding and the sacrifice that was made afterwards had me sobbing, it was so beautiful and romantic and the HEA beautiful.
Definitely recommended and strong 4 stars for me!
My only complaint is that Goran was unfortunately not on the cover - too bad!
I mean that guy had the hair and the sword, but this definitely isn't our hero, first I even thought it was the godess Agatha, so that was disappointing... ;-)
February 23, 2014
3.5
It took me a while to get into this read. Mike is magically transported to an alternate world by a god and forced to impersonate his doppleganger in a cross country pilgrimage.
He meets Goran, a barbarian swordsman, who offers to be his bodyguard for the journey. Mike tries to complete his quest without revealing his true origins to the man who is coming to mean more to him than just protection in the odd world he finds himself lost in.
Once I got into this story I fell in love with the characters, especially Goran who has a heartbreaking history. I loved how things worked out at the end of the pilgrimage and the ending rocked. Great read.
It took me a while to get into this read. Mike is magically transported to an alternate world by a god and forced to impersonate his doppleganger in a cross country pilgrimage.
He meets Goran, a barbarian swordsman, who offers to be his bodyguard for the journey. Mike tries to complete his quest without revealing his true origins to the man who is coming to mean more to him than just protection in the odd world he finds himself lost in.
Once I got into this story I fell in love with the characters, especially Goran who has a heartbreaking history. I loved how things worked out at the end of the pilgrimage and the ending rocked. Great read.
March 12, 2014
5 Magical Stars!
Kim Fielding never fails! The best!
Kim Fielding never fails! The best!
February 4, 2014
Kim Fielding is an auto-buy for me, and this was a cute story. I'm not much of a fantasy reader, but I loved her Brute and Treasure. This story is a bit more whimsical than those two. Since Mike is from the present there are a lot of sort of irreverent one-liners as he reacts to the alternate world he finds himself in, which is vaguely medieval. I really liked the ending.
Want to read
August 3, 2016
February 4, 2014
K Fielding can do no wrong by me.
May 27, 2014
3.5 Stars
Nerdy Mike Carlson is transported to an alternate world because he is a doppelganger for some punk-ass lord who has pissed off a god. Got it? Okay, moving on ... Mike must complete a pilgrimage to the shrines of a death goddess to save the people in punk-ass lord's village. Along the way he befriends and eventually be-loves Goran, his hired body guard. Phew! That's it.
As you might guess, this was one helluva ride. I absolutely adored Goran. He was so sweet, loyal, and loveable. I <3'ed him from the start. Mike was another story. He was ... well, an ass. At first. He eventually grew on me but, honestly, he was too much of a cold fish for my liking. Granted, he redeemed himself (sorta) in the end but he still left me feeling ... chilly.
Bottom line: Pretty good.
Nerdy Mike Carlson is transported to an alternate world because he is a doppelganger for some punk-ass lord who has pissed off a god. Got it? Okay, moving on ... Mike must complete a pilgrimage to the shrines of a death goddess to save the people in punk-ass lord's village. Along the way he befriends and eventually be-loves Goran, his hired body guard. Phew! That's it.
As you might guess, this was one helluva ride. I absolutely adored Goran. He was so sweet, loyal, and loveable. I <3'ed him from the start. Mike was another story. He was ... well, an ass. At first. He eventually grew on me but, honestly, he was too much of a cold fish for my liking. Granted, he redeemed himself (sorta) in the end but he still left me feeling ... chilly.
Bottom line: Pretty good.
July 31, 2019
Overall book rating: 4.5
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 2 (Cause that is NOT Goran)
THANK YOU MARTIN!!!! It was amazing
Do you want to know why this took me so long to finish?
Because my nerves were shot! That’s why!
From this exact moment...
Goran paused again, and Mike hoped he’d fallen asleep. No such luck. “Mike? When you go back to California… maybe I could come with?”
I was pretty much a goner. For some reason Goran broke my heart into a million tiny pieces and I couldn’t stomach the thought of him being left alone and wondering again.
He is a hunter. A big strong guy with a bruised heart. He just needs someone to love him! He needs to be a part of a family again, and it killed me that that might not happen here.
Okay I’m putting a stop to my ranting here. Trust me it’s for your own good.
I LOVED this story. I loved Goran! I love him so hard!
Being who I am, I wouldn’t be hones if I said that I would have loved a little more at a certain part of the story. I’m not telling where, if you read it you will know. But, it still was an amazing journey. I would have loved it just for Goran.
Ps. That cover is so not how any sane person can picture Goran. I still maintain my feeling that Martin’s review depicts him best.
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 2 (Cause that is NOT Goran)
THANK YOU MARTIN!!!! It was amazing
Do you want to know why this took me so long to finish?
Because my nerves were shot! That’s why!
From this exact moment...
Goran paused again, and Mike hoped he’d fallen asleep. No such luck. “Mike? When you go back to California… maybe I could come with?”
I was pretty much a goner. For some reason Goran broke my heart into a million tiny pieces and I couldn’t stomach the thought of him being left alone and wondering again.
He is a hunter. A big strong guy with a bruised heart. He just needs someone to love him! He needs to be a part of a family again, and it killed me that that might not happen here.
Okay I’m putting a stop to my ranting here. Trust me it’s for your own good.
I LOVED this story. I loved Goran! I love him so hard!
Being who I am, I wouldn’t be hones if I said that I would have loved a little more at a certain part of the story. I’m not telling where, if you read it you will know. But, it still was an amazing journey. I would have loved it just for Goran.
Ps. That cover is so not how any sane person can picture Goran. I still maintain my feeling that Martin’s review depicts him best.
January 22, 2016
I loved Mike but... Gor I adored. He simply broke my heart. Their story totally captivated me. Kim, I didn't get my beauty sleep last night. Again...
April 20, 2018
Lovely and emotional. Lots of sniffles from me at the end!
June 27, 2014
This review can be found at The Blogger Girls review site.
Mike gets the shock of his life when he’s approached by the goddess Agata, taken to another world and forced to atone the sins of his doppelganger. To do that, he has to go on a pilgrimage through a world that he has no idea how to navigate, let alone live in. Hiring Goran as his guide, he doesn’t expect to start developing feelings for his exuberant companion. After all, at the end of journey, he’s going back to California, another world away, and he’ll never see Goran again… right?
Awww, man. Goran just about killed me! At first, I didn’t like that he was such a drinker. Personally, alcoholics are hard for me to handle in stories but once I discovered why he drank so much, I couldn’t help but feel for him. Goran’s had to handle so much death in his life that he’s barely holding on. Behind his cheerful demeanor, he’s really just a scared and scarred man :( Mike is very similar to Goran in that he has a lot of pain inside himself. While he may not know it, he holds it in to the point that he could be considered ‘cold’ and ‘unemotional’. Thankfully, we see who these two really are and how well they fit one another. It still broke my heart over how many sacrifices they had to make. I swear, the last 10% I had non-stop tears!
My biggest issue with this novel was that it took so long for me to get into it. It wasn’t until about 55% when I REALLY became invested. The first half, though, just didn’t grab my attention for some reason, so I kept putting the book down and doing other things. The second half was when it really became interesting to the point that I was so engrossed with the story, I didn’t want to put it down! Although, I really wished we had gotten to experience Goran’s POV. I think it would have been interesting to see how different his internal voice was.
Overall, I really liked the book. Once I finally got invested in the story, I adored the characters, their journey and the sacrifices they had to make. I even teared up MULTIPLE times! I just wanted to give both characters a hug because they each had their own issues they needed to work through and when they did, it really choked me up. If you’ve enjoyed Kim’s other stories and you enjoy fantasies, gives this one a try because it was definitely worth the read by the end!
Mike gets the shock of his life when he’s approached by the goddess Agata, taken to another world and forced to atone the sins of his doppelganger. To do that, he has to go on a pilgrimage through a world that he has no idea how to navigate, let alone live in. Hiring Goran as his guide, he doesn’t expect to start developing feelings for his exuberant companion. After all, at the end of journey, he’s going back to California, another world away, and he’ll never see Goran again… right?
Awww, man. Goran just about killed me! At first, I didn’t like that he was such a drinker. Personally, alcoholics are hard for me to handle in stories but once I discovered why he drank so much, I couldn’t help but feel for him. Goran’s had to handle so much death in his life that he’s barely holding on. Behind his cheerful demeanor, he’s really just a scared and scarred man :( Mike is very similar to Goran in that he has a lot of pain inside himself. While he may not know it, he holds it in to the point that he could be considered ‘cold’ and ‘unemotional’. Thankfully, we see who these two really are and how well they fit one another. It still broke my heart over how many sacrifices they had to make. I swear, the last 10% I had non-stop tears!
My biggest issue with this novel was that it took so long for me to get into it. It wasn’t until about 55% when I REALLY became invested. The first half, though, just didn’t grab my attention for some reason, so I kept putting the book down and doing other things. The second half was when it really became interesting to the point that I was so engrossed with the story, I didn’t want to put it down! Although, I really wished we had gotten to experience Goran’s POV. I think it would have been interesting to see how different his internal voice was.
Overall, I really liked the book. Once I finally got invested in the story, I adored the characters, their journey and the sacrifices they had to make. I even teared up MULTIPLE times! I just wanted to give both characters a hug because they each had their own issues they needed to work through and when they did, it really choked me up. If you’ve enjoyed Kim’s other stories and you enjoy fantasies, gives this one a try because it was definitely worth the read by the end!
February 28, 2014
4.5 Stars ~ "What do you want?" he asked, knowing he sounded pitiful.
She turned away from the laptop to face him fully. She was smiling. "I want you to be a hero. A savior."
Wow. Talk about pressure.
Mike is having the weirdest experience of his entire life and it's no wonder he initially believes someone slipped hallucinogens into his fast food. A goddess, Agata, appeared in his apartment, transported him to another world, and now he has to complete a pilgrimage to appease her sister goddess, Alina, and lift a curse. Whoa. This alternate world appears to be stuck in the Middle Ages and Mike is forced to make his journey with stolen, handmade clothes, no shoes, no money, and not a technological gadget in sight. Crap. Then he meets Goran and Goran offers to be Mike's guide and protect him if, in exchange at the end of the pilgrimage, Mike gives Goran the journal Agata gave to him at the beginning of his journey. Sounds easy enough.
Their journey is hard, most definitely for Mike, as this is all new to him and being without his creature comforts and basic necessities he's always taken for granted is difficult. Mike and Goran begin to get to know one another and Mike wonders at what has happened in Goran's life to make him want to stay drunk as much as possible. They travel all day, every day, stopping at Alina's shrines where Mike has to make sacrifices and apologies to the goddess. Along the way, Mike learns more about Goran, and the more he learns, the more he grows to care about him. But Mike knows it can't last, for when his pilgrimage is complete he must return home.
This was the most fascinating premise for a book and Kim Fielding definitely did it justice. I loved it. I laughed and I cried, ugly snot and all. I can't tell the ending because it would ruin it, but I can say that these characters were real, in a way that hit me right in the gut and this is a story I won't soon forget. The love Mike and Goran shared was so pure and blindingly brilliant that it made my heart ache. Thank you, Kim, for a wonderful book.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
She turned away from the laptop to face him fully. She was smiling. "I want you to be a hero. A savior."
Wow. Talk about pressure.
Mike is having the weirdest experience of his entire life and it's no wonder he initially believes someone slipped hallucinogens into his fast food. A goddess, Agata, appeared in his apartment, transported him to another world, and now he has to complete a pilgrimage to appease her sister goddess, Alina, and lift a curse. Whoa. This alternate world appears to be stuck in the Middle Ages and Mike is forced to make his journey with stolen, handmade clothes, no shoes, no money, and not a technological gadget in sight. Crap. Then he meets Goran and Goran offers to be Mike's guide and protect him if, in exchange at the end of the pilgrimage, Mike gives Goran the journal Agata gave to him at the beginning of his journey. Sounds easy enough.
Their journey is hard, most definitely for Mike, as this is all new to him and being without his creature comforts and basic necessities he's always taken for granted is difficult. Mike and Goran begin to get to know one another and Mike wonders at what has happened in Goran's life to make him want to stay drunk as much as possible. They travel all day, every day, stopping at Alina's shrines where Mike has to make sacrifices and apologies to the goddess. Along the way, Mike learns more about Goran, and the more he learns, the more he grows to care about him. But Mike knows it can't last, for when his pilgrimage is complete he must return home.
This was the most fascinating premise for a book and Kim Fielding definitely did it justice. I loved it. I laughed and I cried, ugly snot and all. I can't tell the ending because it would ruin it, but I can say that these characters were real, in a way that hit me right in the gut and this is a story I won't soon forget. The love Mike and Goran shared was so pure and blindingly brilliant that it made my heart ache. Thank you, Kim, for a wonderful book.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
February 23, 2014
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
Pilgrimage is a delightful fantasy story with a clever premise and a romantic, heartwarming feeling. I loved the setup for this one. To some degree we have seen this before: modern man gets whisked away to another world where he is out of place and must find a way return home. But Fielding gives us some clever touches here that make the story stand out. I particularly liked the idea of Mike having a double. As Agata describes it, they are like two spoons made from the same mold, originally identical but changed and shaped by life. It is a clever idea, that out there we have others just like us, people who started out the same but have grown and changed throughout their lives.
Read Jay's review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
Pilgrimage is a delightful fantasy story with a clever premise and a romantic, heartwarming feeling. I loved the setup for this one. To some degree we have seen this before: modern man gets whisked away to another world where he is out of place and must find a way return home. But Fielding gives us some clever touches here that make the story stand out. I particularly liked the idea of Mike having a double. As Agata describes it, they are like two spoons made from the same mold, originally identical but changed and shaped by life. It is a clever idea, that out there we have others just like us, people who started out the same but have grown and changed throughout their lives.
Read Jay's review in its entirety here.
April 10, 2014
First off - this cover nearly kept me from reading the book. I passed it by more than once before finally returning to it because of my love of other books by the author. Having read the book, I still don't like the cover. I think there are so many other images from the story that could have better caught the prospective reader and projected the story's heart.
With that being said, I loved the story and the way it's written. It reminds me so much of Madeleine L'Engle novels I read as a teenager. The protagonist is pulled into this alternate world, where he is out of his element and forced to grow up and mature. It feels like he lives an entire life in this new place, only to be plopped back into a world that never missed him. Amazing and wonderful.
To be clear, it's not a book for kids. It'll burn the cheeks of a church-lady with the erotic scenes. They're appropriate for the story, but not something you want on the shelf next to those Madeleine L'Engle novels...
With that being said, I loved the story and the way it's written. It reminds me so much of Madeleine L'Engle novels I read as a teenager. The protagonist is pulled into this alternate world, where he is out of his element and forced to grow up and mature. It feels like he lives an entire life in this new place, only to be plopped back into a world that never missed him. Amazing and wonderful.
To be clear, it's not a book for kids. It'll burn the cheeks of a church-lady with the erotic scenes. They're appropriate for the story, but not something you want on the shelf next to those Madeleine L'Engle novels...
June 29, 2014
Fielding has a distinct style that makes her writing instantly recognizable to me. This book follows that pattern, with the same sort of mood and flow I loved in Brute and Stasis. Mike is a fiscal analyst who is whisked to an alternate universe by a goddess, and coerced into undertaking a pilgimage. He quickly meets Goran, a good and simple man who offers to be his guard. Their adventures and growing relationship make up the rest of the story. The world building was great, and the interaction of a modern man in this fantasy setting made for an interesting twist. The way the story was resolved was satisfying, even more because for a while it didn't seem to have the possibility of being resolved.
March 7, 2014
So much sobbing!
October 20, 2018
3.5 Stars
This wasn’t my favorite Fielding book but it was still good, and still made me cry...
He left the building and stepped out into the warm evening. The rosemary shrubs that landscaped the islands in the parking lot made the air smell like an Italian restaurant. Mike was allergic to rosemary; he sneezed.
He felt a lot like Alice after she’d fallen down the rabbit hole. He hoped he didn’t end up shrinking or growing, and he was most certainly going to avoid hookah-smoking caterpillars.
He was a color-inside-the-lines kind of guy.
“We should talk,” Goran said. Those were possibly the three most toxic words in the world—in any world. His father had said them when he’d called to tell Mike of his diagnosis. Benny had said them right before admitting he’d been fucking someone else for weeks and didn’t want to see Mike anymore. Agata had said them before dragging Mike into a crappy alternate dimension where he wouldn’t have any shoes. He didn’t want to hear whatever this Goran guy had to say.
“Fine. But no more lies, okay?”
“Not even polite ones, like, Yes, Mike, you are very agreeable first thing in the morning?”
“Sure. But I just… I deal. I’m not emotional. Never have been.” Coldhearted.
“Because… I don’t know. So you know that I’m really serious about you. So that later I can think to myself, somewhere I have a husband I love. It’s stupid. I’m sorry. It’s not fair to you and—”
“Marry me!” Goran grabbed Mike’s shoulders almost hard enough to hurt.
“Why?”
“Because then I’ll know I have family, even if we’re apart.”
Fuck. Mike was crying again.
I’m not crying again.... your crying...
“My Lady Agata. You brought me here unwillingly. But now I’d like to thank you, because without you, I’d never have known this man. He’s such a good man, Agata. Far more than I deserve. I promise to tell Mom and Marie about him so he can truly be a member of our family. I pledge him my heart, my loyalty, my protection, my soul. If there is a heaven in my world or his, I hope we can be together there.”
This wasn’t my favorite Fielding book but it was still good, and still made me cry...
He left the building and stepped out into the warm evening. The rosemary shrubs that landscaped the islands in the parking lot made the air smell like an Italian restaurant. Mike was allergic to rosemary; he sneezed.
He felt a lot like Alice after she’d fallen down the rabbit hole. He hoped he didn’t end up shrinking or growing, and he was most certainly going to avoid hookah-smoking caterpillars.
He was a color-inside-the-lines kind of guy.
“We should talk,” Goran said. Those were possibly the three most toxic words in the world—in any world. His father had said them when he’d called to tell Mike of his diagnosis. Benny had said them right before admitting he’d been fucking someone else for weeks and didn’t want to see Mike anymore. Agata had said them before dragging Mike into a crappy alternate dimension where he wouldn’t have any shoes. He didn’t want to hear whatever this Goran guy had to say.
“Fine. But no more lies, okay?”
“Not even polite ones, like, Yes, Mike, you are very agreeable first thing in the morning?”
“Sure. But I just… I deal. I’m not emotional. Never have been.” Coldhearted.
“Because… I don’t know. So you know that I’m really serious about you. So that later I can think to myself, somewhere I have a husband I love. It’s stupid. I’m sorry. It’s not fair to you and—”
“Marry me!” Goran grabbed Mike’s shoulders almost hard enough to hurt.
“Why?”
“Because then I’ll know I have family, even if we’re apart.”
Fuck. Mike was crying again.
I’m not crying again.... your crying...
“My Lady Agata. You brought me here unwillingly. But now I’d like to thank you, because without you, I’d never have known this man. He’s such a good man, Agata. Far more than I deserve. I promise to tell Mom and Marie about him so he can truly be a member of our family. I pledge him my heart, my loyalty, my protection, my soul. If there is a heaven in my world or his, I hope we can be together there.”
June 4, 2018
Damn, I loved this story.
Mike was a guy, working at a financial job, thinking that he was a cold-hearted bastard. His life abruptly changes when Agata, a god of lust from another world, needs Mike to lift a curse on a group of people, put there by her sister, Alina, the god of death. Agata whips Mike off and plops him down in another medieval world to make a pilgrimage to various shrines to her sister, all in attempt to fool said sister into breaking the curse. Oh, did I mention that he was brought to the world only in his underwear?
After an embarrassing encounter at a walled city, Goran approaches him, offering his service of guard and guide. Goran is a huge and gorgeous guy, but Mike is wary, not knowing who to trust. After agreeing to a trial situation, the two of them are off, traipsing around the countryside.
I loved Goran. He had a big heart along with that gorgeous body, and he took his role seriously, getting Mike to where he needed, helping to procure food, clothing, and lodging for them on their quest. There was definitely heartbreak in Goran's past, and I don't think he believed that he was going to be happy again.
Mike had his own heartbreak, too, and that is why it was wonderful, seeing these two turn to each other and realize their feelings for the other one. But I have to say, that I worried for most of the last half of the book, wondering how the two could ever be together, happily ever after. That was resolved and was cleverly done, in my opinion.
Mike was a guy, working at a financial job, thinking that he was a cold-hearted bastard. His life abruptly changes when Agata, a god of lust from another world, needs Mike to lift a curse on a group of people, put there by her sister, Alina, the god of death. Agata whips Mike off and plops him down in another medieval world to make a pilgrimage to various shrines to her sister, all in attempt to fool said sister into breaking the curse. Oh, did I mention that he was brought to the world only in his underwear?
After an embarrassing encounter at a walled city, Goran approaches him, offering his service of guard and guide. Goran is a huge and gorgeous guy, but Mike is wary, not knowing who to trust. After agreeing to a trial situation, the two of them are off, traipsing around the countryside.
I loved Goran. He had a big heart along with that gorgeous body, and he took his role seriously, getting Mike to where he needed, helping to procure food, clothing, and lodging for them on their quest. There was definitely heartbreak in Goran's past, and I don't think he believed that he was going to be happy again.
Mike had his own heartbreak, too, and that is why it was wonderful, seeing these two turn to each other and realize their feelings for the other one. But I have to say, that I worried for most of the last half of the book, wondering how the two could ever be together, happily ever after. That was resolved and was cleverly done, in my opinion.
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