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Blessed Epoch #4
Cairn and Covenant
Book Four of the Blessed Epoch
An assassin’s unexpected mercy granted Octavian Rose his life and freed him from his father’s control, but it left him with little more than the clothes on his back and the determination not to waste his chance at a life of his choosing.
As Octavian sets out to make a name for himself, he refuses to compromise his ideals for money or status—a decision tested as he works his way up the ranks as a mercenary fighter and novice mage. Along the way he forges friendships, takes lovers, and makes bitter enemies, all while striving for the power he feels he deserves and can wield fairly.
With the advent of the Blessed Epoch and the discovery of new cultures, the world is changing. Octavian’s decisions will affect not only those closest to him but will have profound worldwide consequences that he cannot begin to imagine. For twenty years, Octavian does what he must, and his choices bring him brilliant victories alongside crushing losses. Time and again, he must choose between what is right for all and what is beneficial to him, while hoping for the wisdom to tell the difference.
450 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 22, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 1, 2017
** This review is word-for-word as that contained within the Blessed Epoch, Vol. 1 review **
Book 4: Cairn and Covenant
Length: 72-99%
POV: Octavian, Myrddin, Karl
Star rating: ★★★☆☆
So, apparently, this is a prequel to the entire series and I'm really not sure why it's included in the bundle, when it is so out of place within the timeline. I get that it's exploring events after the Johmatra war, within the timeline of the ten years of Octavian's life it travels through, but I really don't see why it couldn't have been a companion novel, while the parts with Yarrow were shown in Sasha's POV, since he's the most capable and likely to be able to spy on people enough to overhear whatever Octavian and his new lover spoke about.
It's an ambitious story, that's for sure, but it tries to fit far too much – ten years of a man's life and achievements, as well as linking to Yarrow's story – within 445 pages. And it feels even longer.
I also feel a little frustrated by the “non-labelled” beginning, which I presume is the original 0.5 story “A Lesson and a Favor”. The short blurb in this volume describes Cairn and Covenant as “Octavian Rose was given a second chance thanks to an assassin’s unexpected mercy.” except that it's not true. Sasha wasn't sent to kill Octavian, but the people holding him captive, so there was no need for mercy. I was expecting Octavian to be some target or part of a group target, to fulfil the 'mercy' part, but it never happened, which is annoying because it completely set me up for the wrong thing. It's also kind of weird to read about Sasha having sex with Octavian, eight years ago, when you know how deeply in love he is with Yarrow. That's part of the reason it really doesn't belong where it's been placed; it's disorientating to try to forget what's happened until now to move into a past timeline that means nothing in the grand scheme of things.
The story is told in Octavian's POV primarily, while adding in Myrddin's POV (though, for me, he's too like Duncan as an expendable, not necessary character for me to care much). There's even a point where Karl, a random minor character, gets his POV just so that we can see one singular event that we're already set up to know happens. A simple addition of dialogue or explanation somewhere else would have made his POV obsolete. However, it gets confusing when we switch from 3rd person to 1st, during Octavian's journal entries. It takes some getting used to, as I'm not a fan of shifting tenses within a story.
There's something very familiar about all of this → it's a carbon copy of book 1! The characters are the same – Duncan/Myrddin, Yarrow/Octavian, Sasha/Sylvain – and the dangerous beginning with the plot arc of a character needing to prove themselves is so reminiscent of Yarrow that it's hard to tell the two apart. They even have the whole “sometimes illusions have their place”, “stronger than he thinks” and “people want to be led” conversations repeated throughout dialogue and the main text, exactly as Sasha and Duncan have repeatedly gone on and on about both, during the previous three books.
Octavian is an interesting character, but it's hard to tell if that's because of who he is or because he's so like Yarrow, who I already love. His brief and fortuitous meeting with Sasha was intriguing, but there really was just too much story. It all linked together, as the entire book was about following Octavian from boyhood to warrior, but once again there was a lack of consistency when it came to detail. It could have easily been a hundred pages shorter if you removed the copious sex (which I, again, skimmed) as well as the scenes we really didn't need to see directly. That would have made way for some of the more interesting scenes to get more attention than they were given.
There is no explanation in timeline or dialogue given for how or when Octavian learned to read sign language, sign it and understand it so well as to have a rant with Dirk. At one point on the page, he says he's barely able to follow, that he knows some words etc, then at a later point, he's ranting away with a long flowery speech that would be impossible for a novice. Sure, he's been around Dirk for a few weeks/months, as far as we know, but there's no explanation for how quickly it happens.
Fabrezio – Breeze – is in this story quite a bit, beginning at around late teenage years and progressing over the next ten years. However, the side story “Wine and Roses” of the new Other Paths series, is meant to be about him. But, we know all we need to know about him and his journey in this book. It tells us everything we need to know about where he went, why, what happened and whether or not he goes back or not, and what reception he's likely to receive, so I really don't understand why he needs his own novel when we see everything we need to know about him here. It confuses me, because I feel a little duped. I went and bought Wine and Roses only to feel like I know everything I need to know about that book from this story. Fabrezio is such a minor character, though interesting, that it really doesn't feel necessary for him to have an entire 224 page book about him.
What I did want to see, read about or explore, was Sylvain returning to his lost love from Elvara. Instead, he enjoyed a lot of sleeping around, including being part of Octavian and Myrddin's open relationship, while never exposing more than a glimmer of what lay underneath.
The way Octavian grieved, forgetting during his drunken nights and then having to remember his loss again, was heartbreaking to read. It was one of the few moments where I was really able to connect with him, as a character. I especially liked the way that he and Yarrow got along so well, when they met at the end of the novel. It's no wonder that they got along, being so similar, but it was nice to see that both Octavian and D'Aurelian feared Yarrow so much as to consider him a threat worth keeping an eye on. They seem to be the only two, bar Sasha, who really understand how devastatingly dangerous Yarrow might be. However, I find it really weird and a little disturbing, that Octavian keeps calling himself old, that he's grey haired and wrinkled, at just age 38. It makes him read like he's eighty, when he's in the prime of his life. It's very off putting.
I'm also, honestly, a little disappointed that Sylvain never returned to offer his condolences to Octavian over his loss or even helped fight at his side. He was so close to Octavian, more than any other person in the Roses, that it felt wrong for him not to even acknowledge it. Either he never heard about it (which seems impossible, since the entire world is shook up over the Johmatra incident and word has spread all throughout Garith's kingdom about Octavian's rule) or he selfishly didn't care, once his life was back on track. Either way, I wanted an explanation. Even a sentence. And I hope I get it in future stories, somewhere.
Overall, I took a star off for the massive similarities to Yarrow's story – characterisation, dialogue, copious sex and a plot that flags frequently – while I took another star off for the fact that it's unnecessarily placed and far too long. It's a good story, but putting it between books 3 and 5 just breaks up the flow of Yarrow's journey, for no reason. It tells us nothing vital to our understanding of what Yarrow is going through, unless we also get Octavian's POV in book 5, which I'm yet to discover.
I don't see why this couldn't have been a nice little story within the Other Paths companion series, just like Breeze's story is, or a 4.5 novella of Yarrow encountering Octavian and learning about him organically, through his reputation, instead of leading us through ten years of history that is only important to Octavian and is likely to have no bearing on what comes next except that those ten years led him to Yarrow. Unless his debt to Julien comes back into play, it really makes no sense. It doesn't feel necessary to rehash the entire Battle of Starlight Bridge when we saw it all already. Sure, a whole two seconds worth of what happened there relates to Breeze ending up with his own story but, again, it's already told directly to Octavian, so it doesn't need to be shown in the battle or in its own novel.
It makes no sense to take us eight years into the past, before any of the events of Yarrow's journey, putting more distance between the reader and the events of book 4 which, at this point, I feel like I have to go back to re-read just to remember what has happened, which is something I'm not willing to do at this juncture.
~
Favourite Quote
“Yarrow was dangerous, like a storm, as likely to decimate his allies as his enemies.”
~
Short: Archer's Regret
Length: 99-100%
POV: Sylvain
Star rating: ★★★☆☆
So, this is the story I wanted of Sylvain going to Elvara to search for his lost love. Except, it's 1% long, which is probably all that was needed to tell Breeze's story as well. I'd rather have enjoyed a nice long 200+ page novel about Sylvain, who was left a complete mystery in Cairn and Covenant, than read about a story where I already know the ending.
However, that's a problem for another day.
I liked this story, but it felt rushed and I'd have liked it to be at least double the length, if not longer, just to properly explore all the nuances of Sylvain and Aeris' problems. I would have liked to have seen a flashback or recollection of their first meeting, or something that shows me they really know each other, something to show us who Sylvain and Aeris are as people on their own, before throwing them together. I felt very little chemistry between them, because everything they have with each other is in the path, so we don't get to see anything bar them having sex and arguing.
This story, however, is simply about Sylvain taking a risk and trying to get Aeris back. Nothing more, nothing less, and with very little detail about the who, how, what or why. I was, in a word, disappointed.
~
Book 4: Cairn and Covenant
Length: 72-99%
POV: Octavian, Myrddin, Karl
Star rating: ★★★☆☆
So, apparently, this is a prequel to the entire series and I'm really not sure why it's included in the bundle, when it is so out of place within the timeline. I get that it's exploring events after the Johmatra war, within the timeline of the ten years of Octavian's life it travels through, but I really don't see why it couldn't have been a companion novel, while the parts with Yarrow were shown in Sasha's POV, since he's the most capable and likely to be able to spy on people enough to overhear whatever Octavian and his new lover spoke about.
It's an ambitious story, that's for sure, but it tries to fit far too much – ten years of a man's life and achievements, as well as linking to Yarrow's story – within 445 pages. And it feels even longer.
I also feel a little frustrated by the “non-labelled” beginning, which I presume is the original 0.5 story “A Lesson and a Favor”. The short blurb in this volume describes Cairn and Covenant as “Octavian Rose was given a second chance thanks to an assassin’s unexpected mercy.” except that it's not true. Sasha wasn't sent to kill Octavian, but the people holding him captive, so there was no need for mercy. I was expecting Octavian to be some target or part of a group target, to fulfil the 'mercy' part, but it never happened, which is annoying because it completely set me up for the wrong thing. It's also kind of weird to read about Sasha having sex with Octavian, eight years ago, when you know how deeply in love he is with Yarrow. That's part of the reason it really doesn't belong where it's been placed; it's disorientating to try to forget what's happened until now to move into a past timeline that means nothing in the grand scheme of things.
The story is told in Octavian's POV primarily, while adding in Myrddin's POV (though, for me, he's too like Duncan as an expendable, not necessary character for me to care much). There's even a point where Karl, a random minor character, gets his POV just so that we can see one singular event that we're already set up to know happens. A simple addition of dialogue or explanation somewhere else would have made his POV obsolete. However, it gets confusing when we switch from 3rd person to 1st, during Octavian's journal entries. It takes some getting used to, as I'm not a fan of shifting tenses within a story.
There's something very familiar about all of this → it's a carbon copy of book 1! The characters are the same – Duncan/Myrddin, Yarrow/Octavian, Sasha/Sylvain – and the dangerous beginning with the plot arc of a character needing to prove themselves is so reminiscent of Yarrow that it's hard to tell the two apart. They even have the whole “sometimes illusions have their place”, “stronger than he thinks” and “people want to be led” conversations repeated throughout dialogue and the main text, exactly as Sasha and Duncan have repeatedly gone on and on about both, during the previous three books.
Octavian is an interesting character, but it's hard to tell if that's because of who he is or because he's so like Yarrow, who I already love. His brief and fortuitous meeting with Sasha was intriguing, but there really was just too much story. It all linked together, as the entire book was about following Octavian from boyhood to warrior, but once again there was a lack of consistency when it came to detail. It could have easily been a hundred pages shorter if you removed the copious sex (which I, again, skimmed) as well as the scenes we really didn't need to see directly. That would have made way for some of the more interesting scenes to get more attention than they were given.
There is no explanation in timeline or dialogue given for how or when Octavian learned to read sign language, sign it and understand it so well as to have a rant with Dirk. At one point on the page, he says he's barely able to follow, that he knows some words etc, then at a later point, he's ranting away with a long flowery speech that would be impossible for a novice. Sure, he's been around Dirk for a few weeks/months, as far as we know, but there's no explanation for how quickly it happens.
Fabrezio – Breeze – is in this story quite a bit, beginning at around late teenage years and progressing over the next ten years. However, the side story “Wine and Roses” of the new Other Paths series, is meant to be about him. But, we know all we need to know about him and his journey in this book. It tells us everything we need to know about where he went, why, what happened and whether or not he goes back or not, and what reception he's likely to receive, so I really don't understand why he needs his own novel when we see everything we need to know about him here. It confuses me, because I feel a little duped. I went and bought Wine and Roses only to feel like I know everything I need to know about that book from this story. Fabrezio is such a minor character, though interesting, that it really doesn't feel necessary for him to have an entire 224 page book about him.
What I did want to see, read about or explore, was Sylvain returning to his lost love from Elvara. Instead, he enjoyed a lot of sleeping around, including being part of Octavian and Myrddin's open relationship, while never exposing more than a glimmer of what lay underneath.
The way Octavian grieved, forgetting during his drunken nights and then having to remember his loss again, was heartbreaking to read. It was one of the few moments where I was really able to connect with him, as a character. I especially liked the way that he and Yarrow got along so well, when they met at the end of the novel. It's no wonder that they got along, being so similar, but it was nice to see that both Octavian and D'Aurelian feared Yarrow so much as to consider him a threat worth keeping an eye on. They seem to be the only two, bar Sasha, who really understand how devastatingly dangerous Yarrow might be. However, I find it really weird and a little disturbing, that Octavian keeps calling himself old, that he's grey haired and wrinkled, at just age 38. It makes him read like he's eighty, when he's in the prime of his life. It's very off putting.
I'm also, honestly, a little disappointed that Sylvain never returned to offer his condolences to Octavian over his loss or even helped fight at his side. He was so close to Octavian, more than any other person in the Roses, that it felt wrong for him not to even acknowledge it. Either he never heard about it (which seems impossible, since the entire world is shook up over the Johmatra incident and word has spread all throughout Garith's kingdom about Octavian's rule) or he selfishly didn't care, once his life was back on track. Either way, I wanted an explanation. Even a sentence. And I hope I get it in future stories, somewhere.
Overall, I took a star off for the massive similarities to Yarrow's story – characterisation, dialogue, copious sex and a plot that flags frequently – while I took another star off for the fact that it's unnecessarily placed and far too long. It's a good story, but putting it between books 3 and 5 just breaks up the flow of Yarrow's journey, for no reason. It tells us nothing vital to our understanding of what Yarrow is going through, unless we also get Octavian's POV in book 5, which I'm yet to discover.
I don't see why this couldn't have been a nice little story within the Other Paths companion series, just like Breeze's story is, or a 4.5 novella of Yarrow encountering Octavian and learning about him organically, through his reputation, instead of leading us through ten years of history that is only important to Octavian and is likely to have no bearing on what comes next except that those ten years led him to Yarrow. Unless his debt to Julien comes back into play, it really makes no sense. It doesn't feel necessary to rehash the entire Battle of Starlight Bridge when we saw it all already. Sure, a whole two seconds worth of what happened there relates to Breeze ending up with his own story but, again, it's already told directly to Octavian, so it doesn't need to be shown in the battle or in its own novel.
It makes no sense to take us eight years into the past, before any of the events of Yarrow's journey, putting more distance between the reader and the events of book 4 which, at this point, I feel like I have to go back to re-read just to remember what has happened, which is something I'm not willing to do at this juncture.
~
Favourite Quote
“Yarrow was dangerous, like a storm, as likely to decimate his allies as his enemies.”
~
Short: Archer's Regret
Length: 99-100%
POV: Sylvain
Star rating: ★★★☆☆
So, this is the story I wanted of Sylvain going to Elvara to search for his lost love. Except, it's 1% long, which is probably all that was needed to tell Breeze's story as well. I'd rather have enjoyed a nice long 200+ page novel about Sylvain, who was left a complete mystery in Cairn and Covenant, than read about a story where I already know the ending.
However, that's a problem for another day.
I liked this story, but it felt rushed and I'd have liked it to be at least double the length, if not longer, just to properly explore all the nuances of Sylvain and Aeris' problems. I would have liked to have seen a flashback or recollection of their first meeting, or something that shows me they really know each other, something to show us who Sylvain and Aeris are as people on their own, before throwing them together. I felt very little chemistry between them, because everything they have with each other is in the path, so we don't get to see anything bar them having sex and arguing.
This story, however, is simply about Sylvain taking a risk and trying to get Aeris back. Nothing more, nothing less, and with very little detail about the who, how, what or why. I was, in a word, disappointed.
~
October 6, 2015
"Life is a series of experiences, each one of which makes us bigger, even though sometimes it is hard to realize this. For the world was built to develop character, and we must learn that the setbacks and griefs which we endure help us in our marching onward." ~ Henry Ford
Octavian, of 'Cairn and Covenant' by August Li, gives up his privileged life to seek personal glory. Young Octavian is idealistic enough to think he can accomplish great things without sacrificing his honor. Although it's what sets him apart from other men of his time; Octavian soon finds always taking the 'high road' is not as clear-cut as it may seem.
Octavian is brave, determined, fearless, and absolutely sure he's right; he is also very young and small of stature. Octavian knows he has to prove his worth and earn the respect of the men around him; he does so by demonstrating his genius at strategic planning and solid understanding of men and their motives. Octavian shows everyone that his theories can and do work. His lofty ideals of fairness and honesty shed new light on mercenary behavior and result in choosing their assignments not simply for the money and glory. With his innovative philosophy of gaining respect through respecting others, Octavian's empire grows stronger each year, gaining the respect of allies and enemies alike. Even with all he has achieved and should have no doubts about his abilities, with each new venture, Octavian's mind never stops until he has calculated, measured, and weighed every probability.
One thing Octavian is constantly aware of is his need to be in control, not letting others see him as anything other than the strong capable warrior he is. It's difficult to maintain this attitude all the time. Octavian yearns for someone with whom he can be himself, someone with whom he can show his doubts and fears without being thought of as less than positive. Octavian finds this in Myrddin, his confidant, friend, and lover, who has great faith in Octavian's abilities and judgement. Octavian has others he counts as good friends and lovers whom he confides in as well, but no one has the special place in his heart that Myrddin does. During his leadership, Octavian has his ups and downs but, as much as possible, has to stay out of political conflicts. So far, he's been able to remain neutral; but when he's summoned to King Garith's court, Octavian knows the time has come when remaining impartial has come to an end.
Epic is a perfect description for this magical fantasy because that's precisely what it is - epic. Gus's style of writing fits the fantasy format like a glove. His characters are wonderfully flawed, yet they still invoke sympathy and a yearning to understand and support them. Since I know the characters and their personalities so well, I can almost predict what they will do or say. I've even become accustomed to Gus's penchant for realistic battle scenes, with all the horror and gore expected therein. The ongoing connections being made between characters fascinate me, as they provide an even clearer insight into the characters and their actions. It was especially good to see Yarrow, Sasha, and Duncan again and to see that some things never change; tying Octavian's story to the rest of the series. I often say that I felt like I was not just reading about but felt like I was actually 'in' the story. In this case, I was.
Gus surprised me by including a character named Lena in this book. The similarities between Gus's Lena and myself are undeniable, although I don't feel I'm nearly as brave as the character is. I am more grateful and honored by this gesture than I can say.
Fans of this story will adore this addition which, even with all the darkness, is incredibly uplifting. For those who aren't familiar with the series, you are missing an amazing literary adventure and I advise you to start with the first book in the series 'Ash and Echoes’ and read the series sequentially. Thanks, Gus, for another awesome book. I am honored beyond words at being “included”.
Free Short - A Lesson and A Favor
The assassin in ' A Lesson Learned' by August Li is never named, but anyone familiar with the story will immediately recognize him as Sasha. He's been in training for a while and has just been given his first assignment. The assassin goes to the designated location and begins to systematically eliminate the ten men there, but, since he wasn't part of the contract, lets the youth they are holding live. The young man introduces himself as Octavian Rose and, instead of being terrified of the assassin, especially after the slaughter he's just witnessed, Octavian is impressed and thankful. Octavian asks the assassin to help him fake his death so he can be free of his father which he does. Octavian is also aroused, giving the assassin an opportunity to share another facet of his training. In parting, the assassin leaves one of his daggers with Octavian for protection, all the while acting like none of their interactions affect him in any way.
This short tale is a wonderful introduction for Sasha and Octavian True to his Black Scythe training, Sasha performs with deadly proficiency. It highlights Octavian's bravery and determination as well as defining his sexuality. It also provides both young men with a life lesson which serves them well in the future. Thanks, Gus, for this short, but sensual story about how Octavian and Sasha got their start.
Free Short - Archer's Regret
Sylvain, of Archer's Regret by August Li, has been looking for love in all the wrong places, trying everything possible to help him forget the “one who got away”. Determined to forget him, he has tried to run from himself, but Sylvain keeps being drawn back to the one he still loves. Sylvain is no longer the impulsive young man he was ten years ago. He would be willing to beg, if necessary, for another chance if he can find the courage. Sylvain finds himself in Selindria and seeks out his former lover Aeris. He is away so Sylvain is allowed to wait for him in his bedroom. After a time, Aeris, comes back. He is absolutely furious to find Sylvain there. No matter what Sylvain tries to say, Aeris doesn't believe him, telling Sylvain he is the one who left saying he would never return. Aeris had taken Sylvain at his word and had moved on.
In this short story, I saw a completely different side of Sylvain, the confident, thrill-seeking man who helped Octavian build his empire. As much of a rogue as he was, I still hoped his ex-lover would forgive him and take Sylvain back. Since Sylvain is introduced in 'Cairn and Covenant', I recommend reading that story before this one. Thanks, Gus, for letting me know what happened to Sylvain after Rosecairn.
NOTE: This book was provided by DSP Publications for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Octavian, of 'Cairn and Covenant' by August Li, gives up his privileged life to seek personal glory. Young Octavian is idealistic enough to think he can accomplish great things without sacrificing his honor. Although it's what sets him apart from other men of his time; Octavian soon finds always taking the 'high road' is not as clear-cut as it may seem.
Octavian is brave, determined, fearless, and absolutely sure he's right; he is also very young and small of stature. Octavian knows he has to prove his worth and earn the respect of the men around him; he does so by demonstrating his genius at strategic planning and solid understanding of men and their motives. Octavian shows everyone that his theories can and do work. His lofty ideals of fairness and honesty shed new light on mercenary behavior and result in choosing their assignments not simply for the money and glory. With his innovative philosophy of gaining respect through respecting others, Octavian's empire grows stronger each year, gaining the respect of allies and enemies alike. Even with all he has achieved and should have no doubts about his abilities, with each new venture, Octavian's mind never stops until he has calculated, measured, and weighed every probability.
One thing Octavian is constantly aware of is his need to be in control, not letting others see him as anything other than the strong capable warrior he is. It's difficult to maintain this attitude all the time. Octavian yearns for someone with whom he can be himself, someone with whom he can show his doubts and fears without being thought of as less than positive. Octavian finds this in Myrddin, his confidant, friend, and lover, who has great faith in Octavian's abilities and judgement. Octavian has others he counts as good friends and lovers whom he confides in as well, but no one has the special place in his heart that Myrddin does. During his leadership, Octavian has his ups and downs but, as much as possible, has to stay out of political conflicts. So far, he's been able to remain neutral; but when he's summoned to King Garith's court, Octavian knows the time has come when remaining impartial has come to an end.
Epic is a perfect description for this magical fantasy because that's precisely what it is - epic. Gus's style of writing fits the fantasy format like a glove. His characters are wonderfully flawed, yet they still invoke sympathy and a yearning to understand and support them. Since I know the characters and their personalities so well, I can almost predict what they will do or say. I've even become accustomed to Gus's penchant for realistic battle scenes, with all the horror and gore expected therein. The ongoing connections being made between characters fascinate me, as they provide an even clearer insight into the characters and their actions. It was especially good to see Yarrow, Sasha, and Duncan again and to see that some things never change; tying Octavian's story to the rest of the series. I often say that I felt like I was not just reading about but felt like I was actually 'in' the story. In this case, I was.
Gus surprised me by including a character named Lena in this book. The similarities between Gus's Lena and myself are undeniable, although I don't feel I'm nearly as brave as the character is. I am more grateful and honored by this gesture than I can say.
Fans of this story will adore this addition which, even with all the darkness, is incredibly uplifting. For those who aren't familiar with the series, you are missing an amazing literary adventure and I advise you to start with the first book in the series 'Ash and Echoes’ and read the series sequentially. Thanks, Gus, for another awesome book. I am honored beyond words at being “included”.
Free Short - A Lesson and A Favor
The assassin in ' A Lesson Learned' by August Li is never named, but anyone familiar with the story will immediately recognize him as Sasha. He's been in training for a while and has just been given his first assignment. The assassin goes to the designated location and begins to systematically eliminate the ten men there, but, since he wasn't part of the contract, lets the youth they are holding live. The young man introduces himself as Octavian Rose and, instead of being terrified of the assassin, especially after the slaughter he's just witnessed, Octavian is impressed and thankful. Octavian asks the assassin to help him fake his death so he can be free of his father which he does. Octavian is also aroused, giving the assassin an opportunity to share another facet of his training. In parting, the assassin leaves one of his daggers with Octavian for protection, all the while acting like none of their interactions affect him in any way.
This short tale is a wonderful introduction for Sasha and Octavian True to his Black Scythe training, Sasha performs with deadly proficiency. It highlights Octavian's bravery and determination as well as defining his sexuality. It also provides both young men with a life lesson which serves them well in the future. Thanks, Gus, for this short, but sensual story about how Octavian and Sasha got their start.
Free Short - Archer's Regret
Sylvain, of Archer's Regret by August Li, has been looking for love in all the wrong places, trying everything possible to help him forget the “one who got away”. Determined to forget him, he has tried to run from himself, but Sylvain keeps being drawn back to the one he still loves. Sylvain is no longer the impulsive young man he was ten years ago. He would be willing to beg, if necessary, for another chance if he can find the courage. Sylvain finds himself in Selindria and seeks out his former lover Aeris. He is away so Sylvain is allowed to wait for him in his bedroom. After a time, Aeris, comes back. He is absolutely furious to find Sylvain there. No matter what Sylvain tries to say, Aeris doesn't believe him, telling Sylvain he is the one who left saying he would never return. Aeris had taken Sylvain at his word and had moved on.
In this short story, I saw a completely different side of Sylvain, the confident, thrill-seeking man who helped Octavian build his empire. As much of a rogue as he was, I still hoped his ex-lover would forgive him and take Sylvain back. Since Sylvain is introduced in 'Cairn and Covenant', I recommend reading that story before this one. Thanks, Gus, for letting me know what happened to Sylvain after Rosecairn.
NOTE: This book was provided by DSP Publications for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
October 10, 2015
Oh how I ummed and errred about when writing this review. This book is really not bad. I like it. I don't even mind that .
I found the meetup with the protagonists of the previous three books nice, particularily Yarrow's depiction is convincing. To someone faithful and ambitious his demeanour must seem threatening and a little deranged.
The writing flows smoothly and naturally. The author actually improved since the last books. The depiction of places and characters is wonderful without threading into either purple prose or "dry as a month old biscuit" territory.
Why does this book get less stars than the previous books then? Well, the time skips brought me out of it every time. I understand that the author wants us to experience a large chunck of the protagonists life, which can't be done otherwise. Still, this prevented me from becoming as invested in the characters as I would've liked. This got worse towards the end where a lot of the starting characters were either .
The book does have a geat general athmosphere, however. The central protagonist is very human and behaves as you and I would in some of the challenges and tragedies that met him through his life.
Before I wrote this review, I had to decide whether to give this 3 or 4 stars, since it was sitting pretty much at 3.5 stars. My decision rests on . This is a predictable plot twist I saw coming a mile away and it was rather badly implemented. It would not have hurt to either . I was also slightly disappointed that did not play any role in the book. Back when the protagonist was unknown, sure, but certainly after the company grew to such size there could have been a chance for a bit of drama? This feels like a missed opportunity.
So after consideration, I gave three stars. Three stars on a high note though, since I still liked this book quite a bit and recommend purchasing it. I anticipate the next book and I'm already wondering whether we remain with this protagonist or return to the old ones.
I found the meetup with the protagonists of the previous three books nice, particularily Yarrow's depiction is convincing. To someone faithful and ambitious his demeanour must seem threatening and a little deranged.
The writing flows smoothly and naturally. The author actually improved since the last books. The depiction of places and characters is wonderful without threading into either purple prose or "dry as a month old biscuit" territory.
Why does this book get less stars than the previous books then? Well, the time skips brought me out of it every time. I understand that the author wants us to experience a large chunck of the protagonists life, which can't be done otherwise. Still, this prevented me from becoming as invested in the characters as I would've liked. This got worse towards the end where a lot of the starting characters were either .
The book does have a geat general athmosphere, however. The central protagonist is very human and behaves as you and I would in some of the challenges and tragedies that met him through his life.
Before I wrote this review, I had to decide whether to give this 3 or 4 stars, since it was sitting pretty much at 3.5 stars. My decision rests on . This is a predictable plot twist I saw coming a mile away and it was rather badly implemented. It would not have hurt to either . I was also slightly disappointed that did not play any role in the book. Back when the protagonist was unknown, sure, but certainly after the company grew to such size there could have been a chance for a bit of drama? This feels like a missed opportunity.
So after consideration, I gave three stars. Three stars on a high note though, since I still liked this book quite a bit and recommend purchasing it. I anticipate the next book and I'm already wondering whether we remain with this protagonist or return to the old ones.
January 8, 2017
3.5 STARS
So this, book 4 of 5 in this high fantasy series was ALMOST a stand alone until the very end. I'm interested to see why such a huge book within this epic series was centred around one man whom had nothing to do with the entire storyline until the very end. I'm sure it will all come out in the final book 5, if that's the last book. Confused? It was still a good story though
So this, book 4 of 5 in this high fantasy series was ALMOST a stand alone until the very end. I'm interested to see why such a huge book within this epic series was centred around one man whom had nothing to do with the entire storyline until the very end. I'm sure it will all come out in the final book 5, if that's the last book. Confused? It was still a good story though
March 5, 2016
I liked this book overall, the introduction of the new characters and the plot was very good. I expected the book to not have this much about the past and what happened before the pervious book. However I was overall pleased with the book. Hoping that the fifth one comes out pretty soon.
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