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The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps #2
A Taste of Honey
Long after the Towers left the world but before the dragons came to Daluça, the emperor brought his delegation of gods and diplomats to Olorum. As the royalty negotiates over trade routes and public services, the divinity seeks arcane assistance among the local gods.
Aqib bgm Sadiqi, fourth-cousin to the royal family and son of the Master of Beasts, has more mortal and pressing concerns. His heart has been captured for the first time by a handsome Daluçan soldier named Lucrio. In defiance of Saintly Canon, gossiping servants, and the furious disapproval of his father and brother, Aqib finds himself swept up in a whirlwind romance. But neither Aqib nor Lucrio know whether their love can survive all the hardships the world has to throw at them.
Aqib bgm Sadiqi, fourth-cousin to the royal family and son of the Master of Beasts, has more mortal and pressing concerns. His heart has been captured for the first time by a handsome Daluçan soldier named Lucrio. In defiance of Saintly Canon, gossiping servants, and the furious disapproval of his father and brother, Aqib finds himself swept up in a whirlwind romance. But neither Aqib nor Lucrio know whether their love can survive all the hardships the world has to throw at them.
160 pages, Paperback
First published October 25, 2016
185 people are currently reading
6836 people want to read
About the author
Kai Ashante Wilson
27 books395 followersKai Ashante Wilson's stories 'Super Bass' and the Nebula-nominated 'The Devil in America' can be read online gratis at Tor.com.
His story «Légendaire.» can be read in the anthology Stories for Chip, which celebrates the legacy of science fiction grandmaster Samuel Delany.
His debut short novel The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps won the 2016 Crawford Award. Kai Ashante Wilson lives in New York City.
His story «Légendaire.» can be read in the anthology Stories for Chip, which celebrates the legacy of science fiction grandmaster Samuel Delany.
His debut short novel The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps won the 2016 Crawford Award. Kai Ashante Wilson lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 592 reviews
July 4, 2017
Finally! I’ve been reading all Hugo finalist novellas in preparation for my vote, and so far it’s been horror, horror, horror, Lovecraft, some more horror. It’s all been good, but I’ve been craving some nice fantasy, and here it is!
Vivid world-building, intriguing characters, and a compelling m/m romance. This is a story of choices, paths not taken, and unlived lives, that will stay with you long after you reach the last page. Though I did have a couple of issues with the romance itself, in particular with how it started, the book is beautifully written and not easy to predict.
The world-building is excellent. Different societies (one partly modeled after Ancient Rome!), with their own cultures, languages, values, histories, and politics. Magic mingling with science, and god-like creatures interacting with humans. It’s all revealed naturally and bit by bit, by letting characters speak as they normally do. There are no “as you know” type dialogues or info-dumping. I’m quite intrigued how this society developed – they have holograms, but no running water or canalization!
But I have to say it really takes me out of the world when we are in a completely different universe, and names and places from our world creep in, without making any sense there. I’ve been seeing this in many fantasy books, and it can break the suspension of disbelief. I mean, “Cararian marble,” really? Does Daluz import from Italy, now? Or do they, coincidentally, also have a city called Carrara, which, coincidentally, is also close to marble quarries?? Honestly, it’s not that hard to pay attention to these things. What’s the problem with calling it just “marble,” or “quality marble,” or making up a city from the fantasy world that produces famous marble?
Aqib is a realistic character – arrogant, snobbish, and extremely rude to the non-nobles, which is somewhat justified by his upbringing, but he’s ultimately a good man who loves his family. I like his silent comments to himself – he’s always trying to be political and snarking to himself whenever he messes up. Lucrio, on the other hand, is very friendly, open, relaxed, easy-going, and kind to everyone, irrespective of rank.
And now comes the romance, and my serious problems begin. While it does become sweet and caring later on, the beginning is just terrible. It goes way beyond insta-love. It literally stars with Lucrio catcalling Aqib on the street (and the fact that the catcalling is done to a man doesn’t make it better.) Then they start talking, and Aqib is super naive and doesn’t even realize Lucrio is hitting on him. And that’s my main concern – Aqib is extremely clueless, and Lucrio keeps pressuring him and giving him no time to think and adjust. Aqib is not just unaware of his sexuality – he has no idea his sexuality exists. In the same heartbeat, Aqib 1) Learns for the first time that a man can be attracted to another man, 2) Figures out that’s the case for him, and 3) Jumps into bed with Lucrio. Seriously, give the boy some space! Also, it doesn’t help that while their age difference isn’t huge (Aqib is 17, and Lucrio – 22,) Lucrio sounds much older.
And Lucrio trying to convince Aqib to run away with him? They’ve known each other for ten days! And Lucrio expects Aqib to abandon his family and home and run off to an unknown land, with no possibility of return? Even assuming Lucrio has good intentions, what happens to Aqib if they break up? What, after ten days they are sure that will never happen? And, sorry, but Lucrio is a soldier. What happens if he dies? The only thing that somewhat justifies running away are the hints that Aqib’s father might be emotionally abusive, but we don’t see enough to know what’s going on for certain, and, in any case, running away with Lucrio is not the best way to handle things.
I believe it would have worked better if we’ve had the chance to meet Aqib first and get to know him and start caring for him, before the romance even starts. And then, I think it should have developed much more slowly, but maybe that’s just me.
Okay, I know I’m criticizing a lot, but the book is very well written and memorable! I’d definitely be open to checking out the author’s other works.
Vivid world-building, intriguing characters, and a compelling m/m romance. This is a story of choices, paths not taken, and unlived lives, that will stay with you long after you reach the last page. Though I did have a couple of issues with the romance itself, in particular with how it started, the book is beautifully written and not easy to predict.
The world-building is excellent. Different societies (one partly modeled after Ancient Rome!), with their own cultures, languages, values, histories, and politics. Magic mingling with science, and god-like creatures interacting with humans. It’s all revealed naturally and bit by bit, by letting characters speak as they normally do. There are no “as you know” type dialogues or info-dumping. I’m quite intrigued how this society developed – they have holograms, but no running water or canalization!
But I have to say it really takes me out of the world when we are in a completely different universe, and names and places from our world creep in, without making any sense there. I’ve been seeing this in many fantasy books, and it can break the suspension of disbelief. I mean, “Cararian marble,” really? Does Daluz import from Italy, now? Or do they, coincidentally, also have a city called Carrara, which, coincidentally, is also close to marble quarries?? Honestly, it’s not that hard to pay attention to these things. What’s the problem with calling it just “marble,” or “quality marble,” or making up a city from the fantasy world that produces famous marble?
Aqib is a realistic character – arrogant, snobbish, and extremely rude to the non-nobles, which is somewhat justified by his upbringing, but he’s ultimately a good man who loves his family. I like his silent comments to himself – he’s always trying to be political and snarking to himself whenever he messes up. Lucrio, on the other hand, is very friendly, open, relaxed, easy-going, and kind to everyone, irrespective of rank.
And now comes the romance, and my serious problems begin. While it does become sweet and caring later on, the beginning is just terrible. It goes way beyond insta-love. It literally stars with Lucrio catcalling Aqib on the street (and the fact that the catcalling is done to a man doesn’t make it better.) Then they start talking, and Aqib is super naive and doesn’t even realize Lucrio is hitting on him. And that’s my main concern – Aqib is extremely clueless, and Lucrio keeps pressuring him and giving him no time to think and adjust. Aqib is not just unaware of his sexuality – he has no idea his sexuality exists. In the same heartbeat, Aqib 1) Learns for the first time that a man can be attracted to another man, 2) Figures out that’s the case for him, and 3) Jumps into bed with Lucrio. Seriously, give the boy some space! Also, it doesn’t help that while their age difference isn’t huge (Aqib is 17, and Lucrio – 22,) Lucrio sounds much older.
And Lucrio trying to convince Aqib to run away with him? They’ve known each other for ten days! And Lucrio expects Aqib to abandon his family and home and run off to an unknown land, with no possibility of return? Even assuming Lucrio has good intentions, what happens to Aqib if they break up? What, after ten days they are sure that will never happen? And, sorry, but Lucrio is a soldier. What happens if he dies? The only thing that somewhat justifies running away are the hints that Aqib’s father might be emotionally abusive, but we don’t see enough to know what’s going on for certain, and, in any case, running away with Lucrio is not the best way to handle things.
I believe it would have worked better if we’ve had the chance to meet Aqib first and get to know him and start caring for him, before the romance even starts. And then, I think it should have developed much more slowly, but maybe that’s just me.
Okay, I know I’m criticizing a lot, but the book is very well written and memorable! I’d definitely be open to checking out the author’s other works.
June 13, 2018
i liked this one much more than The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps. which is surprising, since it’s basically a romance with some fantasy overlay, and i’ve never been a big fan of romance tales. the relationship is m/m, so it’s less harlequin, more meaty (heh), but yeah - it’s a fairly traditional story of star-crossed lovers whose passion is beset by social obstacles and familial obligations of the arranged-marriage variety set in the same world as The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps and maybe the free tor short Super Bass.
also, this one has a cheetah, and all books (and lives) are improved by a cat’s presence.
the fantasy parts here are more comprehensible than in wildeeps, for someone like me so easily flummoxed by fantasy. there’s a bit that’s still unclear, but it didn’t hinder my enjoyment at all, and i was impressed by how much actual story there is crammed into these 158 pages.
the only thing i didn’t love was the conflict it bred in me - i loved the reveal, and i loved the character of lucretia, and if you’ve read this, you know what a complicated stew of emotions this two-pronged love provokes in a reader.
speaking of two prongs, the romance is solid. it’s a little too ‘love at first sight,’ but circumstances being what they are, it slots well into the “whirlwind holiday romance” tradition (or “fleet week flirtation,” if you prefer), and the characters are well-matched and likable, making it easy to root for true love to conquer all. and such.
things go off into unexpected directions, both chronologically and dramatically, taking the reader through waves of emotional highs and lows that go very low, indeed, but it wraps up nicely, although something about it feels like the ending to some 80’s cartoon in tone.
which is not a bad thing, it just awoke a strangely specific, long-dormant visceral response in me.
i still love this author’s free tor short(ish) The Devil in America best of all, but that’s probably because it is the least "fantasy" of his works, and by FAR the darkest and cruelest, which is where i like to read best. but his writing is excellent, so i’d pretty much read anything he came out with next, whether it’s another fantasy, a space opera adventure, or a YA novel about mean girl cliques. such is my faith in him.
come to my blog!
also, this one has a cheetah, and all books (and lives) are improved by a cat’s presence.
the fantasy parts here are more comprehensible than in wildeeps, for someone like me so easily flummoxed by fantasy. there’s a bit that’s still unclear, but it didn’t hinder my enjoyment at all, and i was impressed by how much actual story there is crammed into these 158 pages.
the only thing i didn’t love was the conflict it bred in me - i loved the reveal, and i loved the character of lucretia, and if you’ve read this, you know what a complicated stew of emotions this two-pronged love provokes in a reader.
speaking of two prongs, the romance is solid. it’s a little too ‘love at first sight,’ but circumstances being what they are, it slots well into the “whirlwind holiday romance” tradition (or “fleet week flirtation,” if you prefer), and the characters are well-matched and likable, making it easy to root for true love to conquer all. and such.
things go off into unexpected directions, both chronologically and dramatically, taking the reader through waves of emotional highs and lows that go very low, indeed, but it wraps up nicely, although something about it feels like the ending to some 80’s cartoon in tone.
which is not a bad thing, it just awoke a strangely specific, long-dormant visceral response in me.
i still love this author’s free tor short(ish) The Devil in America best of all, but that’s probably because it is the least "fantasy" of his works, and by FAR the darkest and cruelest, which is where i like to read best. but his writing is excellent, so i’d pretty much read anything he came out with next, whether it’s another fantasy, a space opera adventure, or a YA novel about mean girl cliques. such is my faith in him.
come to my blog!
June 17, 2017
There's a lot to love in this novella that has been nominated for this year's Hugo award, not least being the exquisite worldbuilding, the delightful mastery of SF tropes in a firm fantasy (and godly) base, and wonderfully drawn characters over the span of their whole lives.
But what I believe people are going to be most focused on is the fact that this is a male on male romance for the ages as seen through a unique culture that has roots deep and familiar but not so familiar as to be ordinary at all. Star-crossed lovers? You bet.
And gods walk the earth, interbreed, have tech that let them do fantastic science things, but first and foremost, this is a tale of love found, thwarted, and renewed. It's a very pretty tale and it's certainly a crowd-pleaser.
On the style side, I really should note that anyone who loves Jemisin's Thousand Kingdoms is going to love this. It's quite dense with goodies but none of it overwhelms the tale. In fact, the tale is king. It was, indeed, like a Taste of Honey.
There's a lot of great choices this year. If it wasn't for some other very, very strong choices, I'd have picked this one for this year's Hugo Winner just on the strength of its world building and romance, but alas...
But what I believe people are going to be most focused on is the fact that this is a male on male romance for the ages as seen through a unique culture that has roots deep and familiar but not so familiar as to be ordinary at all. Star-crossed lovers? You bet.
And gods walk the earth, interbreed, have tech that let them do fantastic science things, but first and foremost, this is a tale of love found, thwarted, and renewed. It's a very pretty tale and it's certainly a crowd-pleaser.
On the style side, I really should note that anyone who loves Jemisin's Thousand Kingdoms is going to love this. It's quite dense with goodies but none of it overwhelms the tale. In fact, the tale is king. It was, indeed, like a Taste of Honey.
There's a lot of great choices this year. If it wasn't for some other very, very strong choices, I'd have picked this one for this year's Hugo Winner just on the strength of its world building and romance, but alas...
Read
December 12, 2016This was a fascinating read. Extremely bold storytelling with a dizzying ending and astonishing scope for a novella. We're plunged into a new world of huge complexity and detail, the story leapfrogs back and forth, there's a huge amount to infer and a lot of people to get to know very intimately, and the author pulls it off. Masterly. I didn't get into Sorceror of the Wildeeps, it felt a bit epic fantasy for me (personal taste, not a criticism) but this was brilliant. And demonstrates once again that diversity of writers and characters makes for better books than homogeneity and narrowness of outlook does. Which is pretty obvious if you think about it.
December 3, 2016
Essentially, a gay romance in a lush fantasy setting of The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps. Lovely.
July 7, 2019
This is told in three parts. Part one I enjoyed a lot. It's lets the reader see how Aqib and Lucrio first meet and was a great set up for the romance. It was pretty hard not to ship these two right from the start. Part two I struggled with. It's told in alternating timelines that jump all over the place. There's a reason for it, but it doesn't make it any easier to digest. Part three is about the same length as part one and gives us the conclusion.
A lot of the time during part two I was frustrated. I read a quote from another reviewer once (that I can't find now, so this quote isn't exact so I can't credit correctly) that said something along the lines of: "There are two great sins an author can commit when writing a book: failing to meet expectations, or failing to set them. Of those two, failing to set them is far worse." (Seriously, not exact- Google gives me nothing.) I had been struggling with this in some stories for years, and never had words for it until I read that.
I feel like A Taste of Honey very much fails to set any expectations for the reader. Throughout the entirety of part two I was just wondering why I was being told this story. I didn't feel glued to the page or compelled to keep reading. I can't explain why without spoilers- but I will say that the plot of this story is not: Aqib and Lucrio must overcome the prejudices against gay men in their society and amongst Aqib's family in order to be together and get a HEA. Is that a pretty straightforward romance plot? Yeah. It is. But it comes with the suspense built in. And readers would have read this story based on that alone, because these characters were fantastic, the world building was unique, and their relationship was beautiful.
Instead we're given something else entirely that feels more like the saga of a man whose life has big dramatic events, but in which he has no agency to change things. Therefore there is no suspense.
The world building is super unique and I loved the parts with the animals. Although magic isn't really my thing, there does seem to be some vague rules about the system and that too, felt unique. If you're the kind of reader who enjoys piecing together the information about the world for themselves, this may be a great choice for you.
I'm not going to spoil anything, so I'm not going to set any expectations for you either, but if you can slog it through the middle to get to the end it does make up for some of the slow going middle parts. A few of the other buddies that read this enjoyed it much more than I did so if you like, we can all just blame that other book I'm reading for putting me in a bad mood.
A lot of the time during part two I was frustrated. I read a quote from another reviewer once (that I can't find now, so this quote isn't exact so I can't credit correctly) that said something along the lines of: "There are two great sins an author can commit when writing a book: failing to meet expectations, or failing to set them. Of those two, failing to set them is far worse." (Seriously, not exact- Google gives me nothing.) I had been struggling with this in some stories for years, and never had words for it until I read that.
I feel like A Taste of Honey very much fails to set any expectations for the reader. Throughout the entirety of part two I was just wondering why I was being told this story. I didn't feel glued to the page or compelled to keep reading. I can't explain why without spoilers- but I will say that the plot of this story is not: Aqib and Lucrio must overcome the prejudices against gay men in their society and amongst Aqib's family in order to be together and get a HEA. Is that a pretty straightforward romance plot? Yeah. It is. But it comes with the suspense built in. And readers would have read this story based on that alone, because these characters were fantastic, the world building was unique, and their relationship was beautiful.
Instead we're given something else entirely that feels more like the saga of a man whose life has big dramatic events, but in which he has no agency to change things. Therefore there is no suspense.
The world building is super unique and I loved the parts with the animals. Although magic isn't really my thing, there does seem to be some vague rules about the system and that too, felt unique. If you're the kind of reader who enjoys piecing together the information about the world for themselves, this may be a great choice for you.
I'm not going to spoil anything, so I'm not going to set any expectations for you either, but if you can slog it through the middle to get to the end it does make up for some of the slow going middle parts. A few of the other buddies that read this enjoyed it much more than I did so if you like, we can all just blame that other book I'm reading for putting me in a bad mood.
October 20, 2016
This review is really hard to write because it’s very important to not give anything away – which would ultimately ruin the book – yet still explain and show enough, so you can see why I loved this book.
What stands out for me are
★ the language used
★ the non-chronological use of time and narration
★ the setting
I find it actually hard to explain why I like the language so much. Compared to a lot of other books it’s very distinct; both full of imagery and simplicity, yet seeming incredibly smart.
Aqib’s story is told in the way of snapshots highlighting parts of his life’s timeline, which is something that I really enjoyed. It was also kinda painful, though, because my mind had to fill in the blanks and I wondered why and how everything fit together. I have to say that I guessed – or hoped – for the resolution around the 75% mark and absolutely love what the author did here and how. The reading experience was amazing because of it.
The setting is epic. There’s much we are shown and much more that is there to explore. I think I’ll read the author’s other book in this world as well because it has a lot of potential. It’s mainly about the experience, though, as not much is explained, and maybe even not enough and too much left open. There was also a part in the book which was kinda confusing to me, which is the reason why I am deducting half a star.
The romance is especially sweet in the beginning of the book and I liked the insta-connection Aqib and Lucrio shared. Since Aqib’s society is homophobic to the extreme (it’s not in your face in the book most of the time, but homosexuality is completely oppressed), Aqib has a difficult choice to make.
The romance takes a backseat in the book, actually, and I wish there had been a little bit more in the end, but I absolutely recommend the book to fans of science fiction and fantasy who are looking for something unique and very well written.
____________________________________
Genre: SFF, Romance
Tags: M/M, Gay Characters, POC, Choice, Non-chronological
Content Warnings: Homophobic Society/Homophobia
Rating: 4.5 stars
Blog: Review for Just Love Romance
Disclosure: ARC for Review
What stands out for me are
★ the language used
★ the non-chronological use of time and narration
★ the setting
I find it actually hard to explain why I like the language so much. Compared to a lot of other books it’s very distinct; both full of imagery and simplicity, yet seeming incredibly smart.
Aqib’s story is told in the way of snapshots highlighting parts of his life’s timeline, which is something that I really enjoyed. It was also kinda painful, though, because my mind had to fill in the blanks and I wondered why and how everything fit together. I have to say that I guessed – or hoped – for the resolution around the 75% mark and absolutely love what the author did here and how. The reading experience was amazing because of it.
The setting is epic. There’s much we are shown and much more that is there to explore. I think I’ll read the author’s other book in this world as well because it has a lot of potential. It’s mainly about the experience, though, as not much is explained, and maybe even not enough and too much left open. There was also a part in the book which was kinda confusing to me, which is the reason why I am deducting half a star.
The romance is especially sweet in the beginning of the book and I liked the insta-connection Aqib and Lucrio shared. Since Aqib’s society is homophobic to the extreme (it’s not in your face in the book most of the time, but homosexuality is completely oppressed), Aqib has a difficult choice to make.
Most would only ever guess at who and what was most precious to them—up until the day of loss: then they’d know—and most would also have to guess at why and how, or what might have been.
The romance takes a backseat in the book, actually, and I wish there had been a little bit more in the end, but I absolutely recommend the book to fans of science fiction and fantasy who are looking for something unique and very well written.
____________________________________
Genre: SFF, Romance
Tags: M/M, Gay Characters, POC, Choice, Non-chronological
Content Warnings: Homophobic Society/Homophobia
Rating: 4.5 stars
Blog: Review for Just Love Romance
Disclosure: ARC for Review
December 22, 2016
After 'The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps' I had extremely high expectations for this novella. It didn't quite live up to them, but the quality of the writing alone makes the book more than worthwhile.
In the kingdom of Olorum, the young Aqib is proud of his status and position: he is set to follow in his father's footsteps and become the head animal trainer to the royal court. He sees his future ahead of him: a suitable marriage, arranged by his family, a secure position toward the top of his hierarchical society. But then he meets a rough-and-tumble soldier, Lucrio, who's part of a visiting delegation from Daluça (he seems very Roman). Lucrio, like a whirlwind, upends many things that Aqib had taken for granted - and awakens him to the realization of what love could be. But a relationship between men is strictly forbidden by the mores of Olorum, and the two young people are clearly heading for a potential disaster.
The bulk of the story is Aqib and Lucrio's budding romance. It's done really well - the depiction of cultural conflict is wholly believable and the characters are well-rounded; they truly come to life. But it's a bit more pure romance genre than I personally prefer.
The end of the story brings in more of a science fiction/fantasy element, with sudden theories about supernatural possibilities and alternate realities. It was interesting, but, I felt, not wholly successfully meshed with the tone of the earlier part of the piece.
I eagerly await Kai Ashante Wilson's next offering.
Many thanks to Tor and Netgalley for the opportunity to read. As always, my opinions are solely my own.
In the kingdom of Olorum, the young Aqib is proud of his status and position: he is set to follow in his father's footsteps and become the head animal trainer to the royal court. He sees his future ahead of him: a suitable marriage, arranged by his family, a secure position toward the top of his hierarchical society. But then he meets a rough-and-tumble soldier, Lucrio, who's part of a visiting delegation from Daluça (he seems very Roman). Lucrio, like a whirlwind, upends many things that Aqib had taken for granted - and awakens him to the realization of what love could be. But a relationship between men is strictly forbidden by the mores of Olorum, and the two young people are clearly heading for a potential disaster.
The bulk of the story is Aqib and Lucrio's budding romance. It's done really well - the depiction of cultural conflict is wholly believable and the characters are well-rounded; they truly come to life. But it's a bit more pure romance genre than I personally prefer.
The end of the story brings in more of a science fiction/fantasy element, with sudden theories about supernatural possibilities and alternate realities. It was interesting, but, I felt, not wholly successfully meshed with the tone of the earlier part of the piece.
I eagerly await Kai Ashante Wilson's next offering.
Many thanks to Tor and Netgalley for the opportunity to read. As always, my opinions are solely my own.
February 24, 2024
I love Wilson's writing and really hope we get more from him! A Taste of Honey is a queer sci-fantasy novella with a central romance and a richly developed world. It's a bit more straightforward and less experimental than Sorcerer of the Wildeeps, so it might appeal to a wider audience. Though I love both. A royal cousin living in a homophobic society has a sexual and romantic awakening when he falls for a visiting soldier and must decide what to do about it. This was excellent and feels like a full story and world despite the short length.
June 8, 2019
Come with me now, if you’ll come at all.
Futures are built on singular choices, and sometimes choices are taken.
Aqib, son of the Master of Beasts and the Hunt, assists his father with the Royal Menagerie. While walking the prince’s favorite animal, Aqib encounters Lucrio, a Daluçan soldier, who hails Aqib with a compliment. A bond begins to form, but society and politics have other plans.
Kai Ashante Wilson has become one of my favorite writers. He has a flair for post-modernist fantasy and thought-provoking word usage. Wilson’s writing inspires and confounds me, taking me where I never thought I would be. And I am grateful.
Futures are built on singular choices, and sometimes choices are taken.
Aqib, son of the Master of Beasts and the Hunt, assists his father with the Royal Menagerie. While walking the prince’s favorite animal, Aqib encounters Lucrio, a Daluçan soldier, who hails Aqib with a compliment. A bond begins to form, but society and politics have other plans.
Kai Ashante Wilson has become one of my favorite writers. He has a flair for post-modernist fantasy and thought-provoking word usage. Wilson’s writing inspires and confounds me, taking me where I never thought I would be. And I am grateful.
February 7, 2017
I bought this book on the recommendation of several people I know online, whose tastes generally seem to mirror mine. Their reviews were good, so I thought I'd give this unknown-to-me author a chance.
Unfortunately, the truism that "tastes differ" was confirmed once again, as I did not like this.
For one thing, the writing was far too frothy and artsy-fartsy to suit me. I haven't read any of the author's other work, so I don't know if this is his general style or an affliction of this story, but either way it didn't set well. Second, this starts out as a fairly generic fantasy, but about halfway through there is a sudden introduction of "gods," complete with psionics, Discorporate Intelligences (i.e. uploaded minds, it sounds like), holograms, hints of a terraformed planet, and highly technological dialogue. It's a clumsy, jammed-in retrofit, and it doesn't fit with the rest of the story at all.
Next problem: I did not like the main character. Aqib is a vain, arrogant little peacock who grated on me to no end, and frankly, his lover Lucrio could have done a lot better. But Lucrio made no great impression on me either; the best character in the book is Aqib's daughter Lucretia. However, this brings me to the third and biggest problem...
I'll donate this book to the library, or something. Someone is bound to enjoy it. I did not.
Unfortunately, the truism that "tastes differ" was confirmed once again, as I did not like this.
For one thing, the writing was far too frothy and artsy-fartsy to suit me. I haven't read any of the author's other work, so I don't know if this is his general style or an affliction of this story, but either way it didn't set well. Second, this starts out as a fairly generic fantasy, but about halfway through there is a sudden introduction of "gods," complete with psionics, Discorporate Intelligences (i.e. uploaded minds, it sounds like), holograms, hints of a terraformed planet, and highly technological dialogue. It's a clumsy, jammed-in retrofit, and it doesn't fit with the rest of the story at all.
Next problem: I did not like the main character. Aqib is a vain, arrogant little peacock who grated on me to no end, and frankly, his lover Lucrio could have done a lot better. But Lucrio made no great impression on me either; the best character in the book is Aqib's daughter Lucretia. However, this brings me to the third and biggest problem...
I'll donate this book to the library, or something. Someone is bound to enjoy it. I did not.
February 28, 2017
For most of the book my rating was close to 2 stars, and only the last 25 pages or so raised it to three, because that was simply beautiful.
The rest, though, depends heavily on whether or not you like author's language. Oh, there are other things too. Like the world is interesting in itself, and then there are human relationships. Aqib and his daughter was particularly touching, him and his brother - quite painful.
Though if you want to read this because of the romantic storyline - don't hold your breath. I mean, yeah - it's the driving force of this book, and what we do get to see happening between the two men is mostly not bad at all. But at the same time, author didn't spend enough time on developing an emotional connection between them, and as a result, the supposed greatness of their love will probably leave you a bit bewildered.
The thing is, as with the rest of it, I felt that romance, too, was kinda sacrificed for the beauty of author's language, so it all comes down to your enjoyment of his writing. For me, while beautiful and eloquent, sometimes it was awkward or fell on the wrong side of poetic. and most of all - it was too distracting from all other things about the book.
The most annoying thing for me, though, was what seemed like author's personal vendetta against 'enter' key. I mean, a text is divided into paragraphs for a reason, and this book should have at least three times as many of them as it does. I see no point in it, unless it was meant to frustrate the reader. Well, you can maybe say that it's intentional, because of that reveal in the last 25 pages, but then it turns the book into merely a writing excercise.
Anyways, I had no problem following the disjointed timeline, but this... this hobbling stream-of-consciousness look-alike, instead of a proper narrative, made me grind my teeth throughout the whole book.
Don't get discouraged, though. My issues with writing might only be my issues. As you can see, most people rated this short novel 4 or 5 stars.
The rest, though, depends heavily on whether or not you like author's language. Oh, there are other things too. Like the world is interesting in itself, and then there are human relationships. Aqib and his daughter was particularly touching, him and his brother - quite painful.
Though if you want to read this because of the romantic storyline - don't hold your breath. I mean, yeah - it's the driving force of this book, and what we do get to see happening between the two men is mostly not bad at all. But at the same time, author didn't spend enough time on developing an emotional connection between them, and as a result, the supposed greatness of their love will probably leave you a bit bewildered.
The thing is, as with the rest of it, I felt that romance, too, was kinda sacrificed for the beauty of author's language, so it all comes down to your enjoyment of his writing. For me, while beautiful and eloquent, sometimes it was awkward or fell on the wrong side of poetic. and most of all - it was too distracting from all other things about the book.
The most annoying thing for me, though, was what seemed like author's personal vendetta against 'enter' key. I mean, a text is divided into paragraphs for a reason, and this book should have at least three times as many of them as it does. I see no point in it, unless it was meant to frustrate the reader. Well, you can maybe say that it's intentional, because of that reveal in the last 25 pages, but then it turns the book into merely a writing excercise.
Anyways, I had no problem following the disjointed timeline, but this... this hobbling stream-of-consciousness look-alike, instead of a proper narrative, made me grind my teeth throughout the whole book.
Don't get discouraged, though. My issues with writing might only be my issues. As you can see, most people rated this short novel 4 or 5 stars.
February 16, 2017
All I can say is wow! This pushed every fantasy geek button I have. All I know is I haven't been thunderstruck by a novel since in forever. Beautiful, complex, lyrical, the kind of immersive fantasy that I love. Characters who are multifaceted, real. A world of humans and gods and powers. There is love and loss, humor and sorrow. This little book packs a punch and says more in its few pages than some books do in entire trilogies.
September 23, 2017
Rating: 5* of five
I'm pissed at a review of mine having a pull-quote used without my knowledge. So I'm back to posting links to my blog.
My warble of joy after reading this beautiful and deeply sad and absolutely true story can be read at Expendable Mudge Muses Aloud.
I'm pissed at a review of mine having a pull-quote used without my knowledge. So I'm back to posting links to my blog.
My warble of joy after reading this beautiful and deeply sad and absolutely true story can be read at Expendable Mudge Muses Aloud.
December 16, 2016
This is another book set in the technology-lost world of "The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps". It also explores the taboos around gay relationships and the consequences of those taboos.
It's really a romance. Aqib, a young man who is training to be Master of Beasts, comes across a foreign soldier named Lucrio as he walks home one evening from the park after exercising one of the royal cheetahs. From Lucrio's perspective, I can see how it would be just about impossible not to go after a gorgeous young man who can command fierce beasts, yet is delicate and sophisticated. In Lucrio's country(somewhat modeled after imperial Rome, I think), same-sex relationships are seen as entirely normal, but in Aqib's culture they are so taboo that Aqib himself had never allowed himself to realize that he was attracted to men. The two begin a clandestine relationship, one that is bounded by time since Lucrio is due to ship back home very soon.
Aqib is an entirely different character from Demane, the Sorcerer of the Wildeeps. Aqib has inherited some powers from his bio-manipulating ancestors that allow him to have a deep affinity for and some control of animals. Aqib, however, thinks of this as magic, not technology. In his culture, women are the mathematicians and scientists and men are left to do other tasks, cherished and somewhat condescended to because of their lack of education.
I really can't say too much about the book because of its flashback-oriented structure. I'll just say that once again the author manages to make complex characters that I cared about very much. And the clue to the whole story is in the title, but you won't see why until the end. Which I wasn't entirely sure was the end?
It's really a romance. Aqib, a young man who is training to be Master of Beasts, comes across a foreign soldier named Lucrio as he walks home one evening from the park after exercising one of the royal cheetahs. From Lucrio's perspective, I can see how it would be just about impossible not to go after a gorgeous young man who can command fierce beasts, yet is delicate and sophisticated. In Lucrio's country(somewhat modeled after imperial Rome, I think), same-sex relationships are seen as entirely normal, but in Aqib's culture they are so taboo that Aqib himself had never allowed himself to realize that he was attracted to men. The two begin a clandestine relationship, one that is bounded by time since Lucrio is due to ship back home very soon.
Aqib is an entirely different character from Demane, the Sorcerer of the Wildeeps. Aqib has inherited some powers from his bio-manipulating ancestors that allow him to have a deep affinity for and some control of animals. Aqib, however, thinks of this as magic, not technology. In his culture, women are the mathematicians and scientists and men are left to do other tasks, cherished and somewhat condescended to because of their lack of education.
I really can't say too much about the book because of its flashback-oriented structure. I'll just say that once again the author manages to make complex characters that I cared about very much. And the clue to the whole story is in the title, but you won't see why until the end. Which I wasn't entirely sure was the end?
June 20, 2019
This was one beautiful read!
Wilson's language is masterfully, I felt like I was diving into a novella length poem. The characters have their distinguished voices as well as actions. The romance is thankfully fluff-free, yet still cute, although only shown in glimpses. The worldbuilding feels special and authentic. Especially the inability of the MC to grasp the "women" domains of mathematics and physics was shown rather adorably ("holo grammy").
What I dig most is the chronological structure of the novella. We witness several stations of the life of the MC over 60 years set against 10 days of his young self where the path of his life is set. I live for these kind of constructions! It made me hoping and melancholly and tearful.
This novella is an all around piece of art. And so much down my alley that I have to give it 5 stars unconditionally.
Wilson's language is masterfully, I felt like I was diving into a novella length poem. The characters have their distinguished voices as well as actions. The romance is thankfully fluff-free, yet still cute, although only shown in glimpses. The worldbuilding feels special and authentic. Especially the inability of the MC to grasp the "women" domains of mathematics and physics was shown rather adorably ("holo grammy").
What I dig most is the chronological structure of the novella. We witness several stations of the life of the MC over 60 years set against 10 days of his young self where the path of his life is set. I live for these kind of constructions! It made me hoping and melancholly and tearful.
This novella is an all around piece of art. And so much down my alley that I have to give it 5 stars unconditionally.
July 17, 2020
This was a short and fascinating read! At first, I didn't feel like the book was working for me - at parts it feels a little tedious and I struggled to grasp the crux of the story - but as you read more, it really grows on you.
The yearning in this book was so subtle, the worldbuilding pretty complex given the story's short length, and the relationships in this book really interesting.
The best part though? The ending -- woah. What an incredibly clever and brilliant way to subvert a trope. I was in awe by the end.
The yearning in this book was so subtle, the worldbuilding pretty complex given the story's short length, and the relationships in this book really interesting.
The best part though? The ending -- woah. What an incredibly clever and brilliant way to subvert a trope. I was in awe by the end.
October 25, 2016
I received a copy of A Taste of Honey from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
There were a lot of reasons I was really excited to read A Taste of Honey: the premise sounded awesome, POC and LGBTQ+ characters, and there's a freaking cheetah on the front cover. With all that, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to my excitement.
A Taste of Honey centers around Aqib bgm Sadiqi, who falls in love with a soldier from a visiting nation, Lucrio. Now, I should say right off the bat, I'm not a fan of insta love. There are very few cases where that doesn't make me immediately cringe. So the fact that within the first two or three pages, Aquib and Lucrio are already pretty much in love with each other after having just met didn't sit well with me. Of course, it might have helped if I actually liked Aquib or Lucrio. But they both annoyed me so much it was hard to feel any sort of investment in their lives.
Another issue I had was how disjointed the entire story felt. First off, there was very little world building. The synopsis of A Taste of Honey introduces this potentially amazing, rich world. But I hardly got the chance to see any of that world. Then there was the constant shift in time. The story jumped between when Aquib was a young man to when he's older and settled down in life. There was so much back and forward that I ended up feeling so mixed up about what was actually happening.
This story had the potential to be so much more than it turned out to be. In fact, the only reason I didn't stop reading halfway through was that I kept holding out for things to start getting better. But they just never did. I wanted to like this book so much-I tried so hard to like it. But ultimately, I just couldn't get into the story no matter how much I tried.
There were a lot of reasons I was really excited to read A Taste of Honey: the premise sounded awesome, POC and LGBTQ+ characters, and there's a freaking cheetah on the front cover. With all that, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to my excitement.
A Taste of Honey centers around Aqib bgm Sadiqi, who falls in love with a soldier from a visiting nation, Lucrio. Now, I should say right off the bat, I'm not a fan of insta love. There are very few cases where that doesn't make me immediately cringe. So the fact that within the first two or three pages, Aquib and Lucrio are already pretty much in love with each other after having just met didn't sit well with me. Of course, it might have helped if I actually liked Aquib or Lucrio. But they both annoyed me so much it was hard to feel any sort of investment in their lives.
Another issue I had was how disjointed the entire story felt. First off, there was very little world building. The synopsis of A Taste of Honey introduces this potentially amazing, rich world. But I hardly got the chance to see any of that world. Then there was the constant shift in time. The story jumped between when Aquib was a young man to when he's older and settled down in life. There was so much back and forward that I ended up feeling so mixed up about what was actually happening.
This story had the potential to be so much more than it turned out to be. In fact, the only reason I didn't stop reading halfway through was that I kept holding out for things to start getting better. But they just never did. I wanted to like this book so much-I tried so hard to like it. But ultimately, I just couldn't get into the story no matter how much I tried.
February 27, 2020
I’ve been in the mood only for novellas for quite a while now, somehow just not finding enough patience to read longer books. So when I mentioned the same to my dear friend Nandini, she recommended me this Hugo nominated novella which I had never heard of before. And because I trust her recs a lot, I decided to give it a try.
This is definitely one of those books which I would never read of my own volition. The writing wasn’t always easy for me to follow or understand, with the prose and the metaphors going above my head but I felt the emotion behind the story a lot - and that’s the beauty here. In a story of just about 160 pages, the author took me on a journey of beautiful love, the heartbreak of separation and paths not taken, the devastation of not knowing what could have happened (or even knowing it) - I felt joy and I also wept and I just about felt all kinds of emotions while reading. The world is also very fascinating with its gods, the magic being mixed with advanced science, affinities for animals etc and though it was kept mostly vague, it was enough to grasp the crux of the story. The story is also told in multiple timelines, so when the twist is revealed towards the end, I was just completely in shock. That’s some amazing twisty writing.
I think I didn’t really read the blurb before I started reading because I didn’t realize it was going to be such a poignant romantic tale of two star-crossed lovers. Aqib and Lucrio’s tryst starts off as instalove on steroids but I didn’t mind that even a bit here - there’s just so much honesty in their love that I was mesmerized and then was distraught when I realized they wouldn’t get to be together. I don’t want to say anything else because I’m scared I’ll give away too much of the story and it really needs to be experienced. There are also a host of other characters whom I had all kinds of feelings for, and it’s really the author’s talent that he makes us feel invested in every single character’s arc in such short time.
In the end, I can just say that despite being slightly out of my comfort zone, this novella enchanted me with its most memorable love story and I’m so glad I gave it a chance. We all have those moments of “what-ifs” in our life, when we ponder about missed chances and connections and wonder what other life we could have lived - this story brought all such thoughts vividly back to my mind and that’s why I know I’ll remember this for a long time to come.
This is definitely one of those books which I would never read of my own volition. The writing wasn’t always easy for me to follow or understand, with the prose and the metaphors going above my head but I felt the emotion behind the story a lot - and that’s the beauty here. In a story of just about 160 pages, the author took me on a journey of beautiful love, the heartbreak of separation and paths not taken, the devastation of not knowing what could have happened (or even knowing it) - I felt joy and I also wept and I just about felt all kinds of emotions while reading. The world is also very fascinating with its gods, the magic being mixed with advanced science, affinities for animals etc and though it was kept mostly vague, it was enough to grasp the crux of the story. The story is also told in multiple timelines, so when the twist is revealed towards the end, I was just completely in shock. That’s some amazing twisty writing.
I think I didn’t really read the blurb before I started reading because I didn’t realize it was going to be such a poignant romantic tale of two star-crossed lovers. Aqib and Lucrio’s tryst starts off as instalove on steroids but I didn’t mind that even a bit here - there’s just so much honesty in their love that I was mesmerized and then was distraught when I realized they wouldn’t get to be together. I don’t want to say anything else because I’m scared I’ll give away too much of the story and it really needs to be experienced. There are also a host of other characters whom I had all kinds of feelings for, and it’s really the author’s talent that he makes us feel invested in every single character’s arc in such short time.
In the end, I can just say that despite being slightly out of my comfort zone, this novella enchanted me with its most memorable love story and I’m so glad I gave it a chance. We all have those moments of “what-ifs” in our life, when we ponder about missed chances and connections and wonder what other life we could have lived - this story brought all such thoughts vividly back to my mind and that’s why I know I’ll remember this for a long time to come.
July 10, 2019
I...am at a loss for words.
I'm not sure how to approach reviewing it. Mentioning the plot in any way at all would have been spoilers, and the less you know the better, so I will say this: I wasn't quite sure of it until the ending, but then all the pieces fell into place and I was blown away. Stylistically it's interesting, told in a very non-linear way and the soldier's dialogue can be startlingly modern (which I thought was a nice effect). Worldbuilding is a massive plus, with a Roman-like culture (Daluça) meeting an Africa-inspired one (Olorum) and some fun twists regarding gender roles.
It's beautiful, it's heart-wrenching and really, just read it. It's...something else.
Enjoyment: 4/5, in the end 5/5
Execution: 5/5
Recommended to: fans of literary fantasy, those looking for a shorter read, those looking for ownvoices books and LGBTQ+ representation
Not recommended to: those who don't like twisty non-linear stories
More reviews on my blog, To Other Worlds.
I'm not sure how to approach reviewing it. Mentioning the plot in any way at all would have been spoilers, and the less you know the better, so I will say this: I wasn't quite sure of it until the ending, but then all the pieces fell into place and I was blown away. Stylistically it's interesting, told in a very non-linear way and the soldier's dialogue can be startlingly modern (which I thought was a nice effect). Worldbuilding is a massive plus, with a Roman-like culture (Daluça) meeting an Africa-inspired one (Olorum) and some fun twists regarding gender roles.
It's beautiful, it's heart-wrenching and really, just read it. It's...something else.
Enjoyment: 4/5, in the end 5/5
Execution: 5/5
Recommended to: fans of literary fantasy, those looking for a shorter read, those looking for ownvoices books and LGBTQ+ representation
Not recommended to: those who don't like twisty non-linear stories
More reviews on my blog, To Other Worlds.
September 8, 2017
You'd think that with how short this book is, it would leave you wanting just a bit more.
Kai Ashante Wilson has the amazing talent of creating a world so rich and so beautiful with little words and pages. From the start, I was hooked. It's not everyday you read about an all black cast in high fantasy. Even rarer are the queer characters but A Taste of Honey has it all.
It's a beautiful, heart-wrenching story about love, sacrifices and identity. I hope everyone has the chance to pick it up because it changed my expectations for Adult Fantasy forever.
Kai Ashante Wilson has the amazing talent of creating a world so rich and so beautiful with little words and pages. From the start, I was hooked. It's not everyday you read about an all black cast in high fantasy. Even rarer are the queer characters but A Taste of Honey has it all.
It's a beautiful, heart-wrenching story about love, sacrifices and identity. I hope everyone has the chance to pick it up because it changed my expectations for Adult Fantasy forever.
January 6, 2017
I enjoyed this one more than The Sorcerer of Wildeeps, but I think that Wilson's writing style may just not be one that I enjoy. Full review to come.
January 1, 2020
As for my first read of the author, The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps, I was charmed by Kai Ashante Wilson's very personal writing; I love when good authors (and they must be good or the result would be catastrophic) let their readers guess the world, all along the story. A story without any info-dump at all. His style is very lively, and direct, with, sometimes, some sentences of his own musings.
Of course this kind of writing can be frustrating, and I wouldn't recommend it to a large public. But if you don't mind be pushed in a world without any warning, and enjoy authenticity above all things, you may love it.
In fact, Kai Ashante Wilson was twice audacious with 'A taste of honey', mixing past and future of Aqib's story - and even more.
Curiously it wasn't confusing at all: firstly each part was very clearly labelled; also this manner of giving facts, feelings and points of views was much more illuminating then it'd had been with a traditional narration. This writing choice wouldn't have favoured a novel, but for a novella it was quite brilliant.
In a way, this narrative was daring but also coherent: choosing a beginning and an end to a story is necessarily arbitrary. This read, which seems to go round and round, with a rather surprising ending, had a very realistic feel...
I didn't chose to give 5 * because I wasn't impressed by the love story, which begins with physical attraction and slips into love without other apparent reasons than sexual compatibility. It isn't unlikely at all, just never developed. We are witnesses of their romance and fondness, but never of any serious conversations. There must have been some, but out of our eyes, and it's quite a flaw for the reader I am.
Of course this kind of writing can be frustrating, and I wouldn't recommend it to a large public. But if you don't mind be pushed in a world without any warning, and enjoy authenticity above all things, you may love it.
In fact, Kai Ashante Wilson was twice audacious with 'A taste of honey', mixing past and future of Aqib's story - and even more.
Curiously it wasn't confusing at all: firstly each part was very clearly labelled; also this manner of giving facts, feelings and points of views was much more illuminating then it'd had been with a traditional narration. This writing choice wouldn't have favoured a novel, but for a novella it was quite brilliant.
In a way, this narrative was daring but also coherent: choosing a beginning and an end to a story is necessarily arbitrary. This read, which seems to go round and round, with a rather surprising ending, had a very realistic feel...
I didn't chose to give 5 * because I wasn't impressed by the love story, which begins with physical attraction and slips into love without other apparent reasons than sexual compatibility. It isn't unlikely at all, just never developed. We are witnesses of their romance and fondness, but never of any serious conversations. There must have been some, but out of our eyes, and it's quite a flaw for the reader I am.
July 2, 2017
2017 Hugos nominee for Best Novella. It was far more readable than This Census-Taker (because goddamn), and a+ for diversity and some fairly interesting fantasy details (I loved Aqib's daughter Lucretia, and her son), and there's a bit of a twist in the ending... but that last page was underwhelming, and for all that time spent with these characters, I'm not left with so much of an impact? It's doing something wrt roads-not-taken, second-guessing yourself, found family, and abusive childhoods, but I didn't really care, which is a problem. Things I liked: the format -- non-chronological vignettes are my jam! The details of this world, e.g. there being a still-sexist fantasy society, even while the "womanly arts" are science/physics/mathematics. The melding of fantasy & sci-fi. But I wasn't really invested. I might give Sorcerer of the Wildeeps a try, though, since I'm intrigued enough about this world.
July 5, 2017
This was beautiful. I completely adored the writing and I found this so engaging. It's the story of two star-crossed lovers in a fantasy desert kingdom (where there are tame cheetahs!). The ending is marvellous. The worldbuilding is gorgeous and fascinating and just really cool. This is a lovely novella with a beautiful cover (and one of my favourite authors, Ginn Hale, praised it on the back cover!). This novella is nominated for a 2017 Hugo Award and it's very good. I look forward to reading more by this author.
November 14, 2016
What a wonderful story of love and life and making decisions.
After having read The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps I found my way much faster into the writing and the story. And I think is it fascinating to see how much of a character and a world the author can bring to life in such a short text. You don't miss anything and nothing is dragged on too long.
After having read The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps I found my way much faster into the writing and the story. And I think is it fascinating to see how much of a character and a world the author can bring to life in such a short text. You don't miss anything and nothing is dragged on too long.
November 6, 2016
I honestly honestly loved this. Wilson definitely cementing his place as one of my favourite new fantasy authors.
PROS:
- The world-building! This is definitely where Wilson shines. It was a joy to watch the world and its customs and norms unfold around me as I read further and further into the story. Gods as real beings who sometimes deign to visit humanity, the intricacies of the Cousinry, all the societal norms and mores... I loved it all.
- The prose! I love Kai Ashante Wilson's prose so much, it's often so pretty that I want to reread passages as soon as I'm done with them. Same for his dialogue. I've spoken elsewhere about how much it means to see dialect and AAVE used in fantasy/romance as something beautiful and noteworthy. I won't get into it here, but god. I love that so much. (Sidebar, go read Wilson's essay on writing dialect in fiction. It's excellent.)
- The romance! I don't know what else to say; I'm a damn sucker for first love and finding yourself and questions of orientation/sexuality. The fact that it was queer and black was just icing on an already wonderful cake.
CONS
- I wanted more! Haha, which is possibly unfair of me; this is a novella. But I fell in love with the world and the characters and I would have eaten up anything else I could read about them. Especially Lucretia and Aqib. They were the strongest characters imo; and I just really wanted to know how about them. And the Olorumi gods! So much fascinating potential. I am comforted, however, by the fact that Wilson's works take place in the same world, and there might be more written about them in the future.
What more is there to say? If you like diverse worlds and characters and romance, and you like interesting non-linear story-telling, and you like beautiful prose, I could not recommend this more.
4.5 stars.
PROS:
- The world-building! This is definitely where Wilson shines. It was a joy to watch the world and its customs and norms unfold around me as I read further and further into the story. Gods as real beings who sometimes deign to visit humanity, the intricacies of the Cousinry, all the societal norms and mores... I loved it all.
- The prose! I love Kai Ashante Wilson's prose so much, it's often so pretty that I want to reread passages as soon as I'm done with them. Same for his dialogue. I've spoken elsewhere about how much it means to see dialect and AAVE used in fantasy/romance as something beautiful and noteworthy. I won't get into it here, but god. I love that so much. (Sidebar, go read Wilson's essay on writing dialect in fiction. It's excellent.)
- The romance! I don't know what else to say; I'm a damn sucker for first love and finding yourself and questions of orientation/sexuality. The fact that it was queer and black was just icing on an already wonderful cake.
CONS
- I wanted more! Haha, which is possibly unfair of me; this is a novella. But I fell in love with the world and the characters and I would have eaten up anything else I could read about them. Especially Lucretia and Aqib. They were the strongest characters imo; and I just really wanted to know how about them. And the Olorumi gods! So much fascinating potential. I am comforted, however, by the fact that Wilson's works take place in the same world, and there might be more written about them in the future.
What more is there to say? If you like diverse worlds and characters and romance, and you like interesting non-linear story-telling, and you like beautiful prose, I could not recommend this more.
4.5 stars.
January 2, 2017
I'll rarely turn away Fantasy novel or novella with m/m romance! I really enjoyed this one. It starts with the meeting of Aqib and Lucrio, the smell of forbidden love is strong in the air. They quickly fall for each other, but Lucrio is only visiting for a short while before he returns to his faraway home country. Will they remain together or will familial obligations and duty to his country prevent Aqib from being with Lucrio? The answer to this question is up in the air for most of the novel and the uncertainty of their future will keep the reader turning the page!
Will review in detail on my blog in the future.
Will review in detail on my blog in the future.
February 6, 2020
So, yeah. Basically perfect. Set in the same world as Sorcerer of the Wildeeps, and it's beautiful and heart-wrenching all the way through. Just be sure to set aside until you can read it all in one go, because I couldn't put it down, and that's how my family ended up with no dinner tonight.
2020 reread: Still one of the most moving and gorgeous books I have ever read. I wish there were novels upon novels about Aqib and Lucrio!
2020 reread: Still one of the most moving and gorgeous books I have ever read. I wish there were novels upon novels about Aqib and Lucrio!
May 29, 2023
Interesting! This was not what I was expecting, and it's a book that hinges on pulling off the ending, but I ended up really impressed with it. I enjoyed the unique take on gender dynamics and the author got me to buy into both loves of Aqib's life -- one romantic, one parental -- which is key to the success of the story and handled really well. I was getting really nervous toward the end, but wow. Amazing world-building for a novella. I look forward to reading more from this world and more from this author.
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