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Love Has Claws #1
Nine Years of Silver
Briar Augustin, a bounty hunter, returns to his hometown on the trail of a killer. There he becomes once more entangled with his first love, Quinn Lawrence, who is as integral to Briar's hunt as he is to the mythology of Lastings. Can Briar find his bounty and return to the city, resisting the call of the sea? Or will he be drawn back into Lastings' secrets—and the arms of Quinn Lawrence?
Lastings: Where some things can only be mined out.
*
Nine Years of Silver is the first story from Love Has Claws, a speculative romance trilogy linked by the town of Lastings.
Content Warnings: mentions of abusive childhood; bloody violence; off-screen murder; drowning (real/dream); claustrophobic scenes.
Lastings: Where some things can only be mined out.
*
Nine Years of Silver is the first story from Love Has Claws, a speculative romance trilogy linked by the town of Lastings.
Content Warnings: mentions of abusive childhood; bloody violence; off-screen murder; drowning (real/dream); claustrophobic scenes.
77 pages, ebook
First published April 16, 2019
About the author
Parker Foye
19 books27 followersParker Foye writes queer speculative romance and believes in happily ever after, although sometimes their characters make achieving this difficult. An education in Classics nurtured a love of heroes, swords, monsters, and beautiful people doing foolish things while wearing only scraps of leather. You’ll find those things in various guises in Parker’s stories, along with kissing (very important) and explosions (very messy). And more shifters than you can shake a stick at.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 15, 2020
An intriguing story, that had some beautiful passages but was also somewhat confusing in its evolution.
The worldbuilding made me feel like I was plunging into the middle of a story of which I didn't know the beginning. The sense of confusion, however, settled as soon as I delved deeper into the story.
I'll certainly read the other instalments in the series.
The worldbuilding made me feel like I was plunging into the middle of a story of which I didn't know the beginning. The sense of confusion, however, settled as soon as I delved deeper into the story.
I'll certainly read the other instalments in the series.
April 16, 2022
From the first line -
Briar, a bounty hunter, returns after ten years to his childhood seaside village in search of the elusive Dupont. But to find her, he needs to call on the help of the tight-lipped inhabitants, not least his first love, Quinn Lawrence: "the boy with salt in his heart". That could be the plot of a thousand second-chance romances, but there are three in this relationship: Briar, Quinn and the sea. And the sea isn't going anywhere.
I don't know what to praise more: the feeling for words and poetry that underlies every slight detail, or the mythology that only gradually becomes apparent (but which is subtly prefigured from the first page). In only 20k words Parker Foye immersed me in a strange and salty world, with a disturbingly sentient landscape: the path "hugs" the shoreline, the sea "hisses" foam and spray, there's "a ruin without even fishbones to keep it company." Contrarywise, the strange people inhabiting Lastings are described in inhuman ways: "he went grey and rough as the sea in a storm", "she was the tip of a knife buried to the hilt in badness."
If I had to comment on a couple of weaknesses, the Dupont plot line is resolved awkwardly. It's also possible that in a longer piece of work the dense imagery might drag a little. But I was so caught up in the oblique story and terrific story-telling that these points only occurred to me afterwards.
Thoroughly recommended.
Lastings sat in the armpit of the country, burrowed in a crooked inlet more suited to wreckers than honest work.to the last
No one mines for secrets in Lastings no more.this was completely enthralling.
Briar, a bounty hunter, returns after ten years to his childhood seaside village in search of the elusive Dupont. But to find her, he needs to call on the help of the tight-lipped inhabitants, not least his first love, Quinn Lawrence: "the boy with salt in his heart". That could be the plot of a thousand second-chance romances, but there are three in this relationship: Briar, Quinn and the sea. And the sea isn't going anywhere.
I don't know what to praise more: the feeling for words and poetry that underlies every slight detail, or the mythology that only gradually becomes apparent (but which is subtly prefigured from the first page). In only 20k words Parker Foye immersed me in a strange and salty world, with a disturbingly sentient landscape: the path "hugs" the shoreline, the sea "hisses" foam and spray, there's "a ruin without even fishbones to keep it company." Contrarywise, the strange people inhabiting Lastings are described in inhuman ways: "he went grey and rough as the sea in a storm", "she was the tip of a knife buried to the hilt in badness."
If I had to comment on a couple of weaknesses, the Dupont plot line is resolved awkwardly. It's also possible that in a longer piece of work the dense imagery might drag a little. But I was so caught up in the oblique story and terrific story-telling that these points only occurred to me afterwards.
Thoroughly recommended.
April 23, 2019
This was a sweet story with some beautiful writing that I think might have benefited from being longer - I enjoyed spending time with the characters and it was very atmospheric but it didn't ultimately have much of an emotional impact on me. The allusions to Lovecraft in reviews might encourage you to think it's horror-adjacent but I wouldn't describe it like that, really. I'd read more by this author.
June 12, 2020
I liked this, even though the worldbuilding was very much based on atmosphere and not much on clear explanations of what was going on, which got me a little confused at times. I think it might be intentional, and it's not necessarily a bad thing, but not my favourite either.
Most of what sets this little paranormal romance novella is the work on atmosphere and setting, and I really appreicated it, but felt like it was a little detrimental to the characters and the relationship's development at times. I did like Quinn's character, but I also wish we'd just gotten more. I feel like maybe this book would've gained from being a little bit longer.
It was an enjoyable read for sure, and I'm interested in reading more of the books in that series, since I feel like it has something really different from most queer paranormal romances I've read so far. I'd just like things/plot to be a little clearer and relationships a little more fleshed out, but I had a good time reading this anyway.
Most of what sets this little paranormal romance novella is the work on atmosphere and setting, and I really appreicated it, but felt like it was a little detrimental to the characters and the relationship's development at times. I did like Quinn's character, but I also wish we'd just gotten more. I feel like maybe this book would've gained from being a little bit longer.
It was an enjoyable read for sure, and I'm interested in reading more of the books in that series, since I feel like it has something really different from most queer paranormal romances I've read so far. I'd just like things/plot to be a little clearer and relationships a little more fleshed out, but I had a good time reading this anyway.
January 5, 2020
3,5 stars rounded up. this story wouldve been perfect if it was just a bit longer and fleshed out/explained some plot points a bit more. the writing is BEAUTIFUL, i know this is tagged as paranormal but it felt more like a gothic version of magical realism to me, which I loved. the characters are charming, quinn specially. i just wanted some more information, especially about the last 20%.
October 20, 2020
Atmospheric + haunting, per usual with their books. Love how we get to figure things out or are just left holding questions until we learn more (re. worldbuilding). Dark, quiet, grim until suddenly there is light and love realized.
May 20, 2019
This novella was a quick, enjoyable read! Read the full review on my blog.
April 25, 2019
This beautiful novella is without question going onto both my favourites and best-of-2019 shelves - and Parker Foye has won a permanent place on my list of auto-buy authors. I cannot wait for the rest of the Love Has Claws stories!
Nine Years of Silver ought to be too short to fit all the eerie, lyrical wonder in it - and yet it is exactly right, the pacing flawless and every word carefully and perfectly placed, not a single one wasted in an act of economic poetry that makes for an incredibly potent whole. Nine is a joy to read, Foye's turns of phrase and poignant description marrying beauty to bluntness in a way that flawlessly evokes the little town - village? - of Lastings, a place of rock and salt and sand whose magic is just waiting for you to stop looking like a tourist and really see it.
Superficially, Nine is a story about a lawman on the trail of a criminal and closing in; there's a very slight Wild West flavour to it, especially as the Rangers seem quite reminiscent of the Pinkertons. It's a trope we've seen before - Ranger Briar is back in his hometown looking for a killer and ends up reconnecting with a past love - and yet nothing about it feels stale; Briar's first act upon reaching Lastings is to politely seek conference with the local genderqueer witch, and the story never lets up on its sense of wild, elemental magic from there on out - something only strengthened by Foye's repeated use of oceanic imagery, to great effect. Tiny details imply a much larger world with skilful worldbuilding; there's no need for infodumps when all is woven into the narrative so smoothly, and I dare you not to fall in love with these characters, because they are wonderful.
I picked this up on a spur-of-the-moment whim, and I'm so glad I did. I cannot recommend it strongly enough; it's interesting, beautiful, and deceptively simple enough to draw you in and hold you even when you feel too frazzled to concentrate on reading anything at all. I have no doubt at all that I'll be rereading it often.
Bring on the next in the series!
Nine Years of Silver ought to be too short to fit all the eerie, lyrical wonder in it - and yet it is exactly right, the pacing flawless and every word carefully and perfectly placed, not a single one wasted in an act of economic poetry that makes for an incredibly potent whole. Nine is a joy to read, Foye's turns of phrase and poignant description marrying beauty to bluntness in a way that flawlessly evokes the little town - village? - of Lastings, a place of rock and salt and sand whose magic is just waiting for you to stop looking like a tourist and really see it.
Superficially, Nine is a story about a lawman on the trail of a criminal and closing in; there's a very slight Wild West flavour to it, especially as the Rangers seem quite reminiscent of the Pinkertons. It's a trope we've seen before - Ranger Briar is back in his hometown looking for a killer and ends up reconnecting with a past love - and yet nothing about it feels stale; Briar's first act upon reaching Lastings is to politely seek conference with the local genderqueer witch, and the story never lets up on its sense of wild, elemental magic from there on out - something only strengthened by Foye's repeated use of oceanic imagery, to great effect. Tiny details imply a much larger world with skilful worldbuilding; there's no need for infodumps when all is woven into the narrative so smoothly, and I dare you not to fall in love with these characters, because they are wonderful.
I picked this up on a spur-of-the-moment whim, and I'm so glad I did. I cannot recommend it strongly enough; it's interesting, beautiful, and deceptively simple enough to draw you in and hold you even when you feel too frazzled to concentrate on reading anything at all. I have no doubt at all that I'll be rereading it often.
Bring on the next in the series!
April 27, 2020
Deeply weird, kind of sweet, highly disturbing and ultimately romantic, this novella's mysteries kept me guessing and rooting for not just the characters but also the decaying seaside community in which it's set.
Parker Foye sifts through the tropes of paranormal romance, selecting the odd and unsettling, disregarding the comfortable, and then smooshes all the creepy bits together with murder and kissing. All the characters are irretrievably twisted and need hugs and a ton of therapy but would deny it forever - unless you were talking to them about the OTHER characters. Watching them each attempt to deliver those hugs while navigating peril, conflicting duties and their own trauma is All The Fun.
This story feels like an ectopic horror-romance clinging on to a broader fantasy world that has its own agenda entirely and is completely indifferent to the concerns of the protagonists. Like all Parker's work, it's not afraid to leave unanswered questions regarding the rules of its universe; it's clear there's Much More Going On Somewhere Else. You may get answers. You may not. But you'll WANT them. I hope there's more coming from the seaside town of Lastings and its creepy, adorable inhabitants.
Parker Foye sifts through the tropes of paranormal romance, selecting the odd and unsettling, disregarding the comfortable, and then smooshes all the creepy bits together with murder and kissing. All the characters are irretrievably twisted and need hugs and a ton of therapy but would deny it forever - unless you were talking to them about the OTHER characters. Watching them each attempt to deliver those hugs while navigating peril, conflicting duties and their own trauma is All The Fun.
This story feels like an ectopic horror-romance clinging on to a broader fantasy world that has its own agenda entirely and is completely indifferent to the concerns of the protagonists. Like all Parker's work, it's not afraid to leave unanswered questions regarding the rules of its universe; it's clear there's Much More Going On Somewhere Else. You may get answers. You may not. But you'll WANT them. I hope there's more coming from the seaside town of Lastings and its creepy, adorable inhabitants.
April 16, 2019
This is perhaps my favorite book of the year.
It had a Lovecraftian vibe without all the problematic elements of actual Lovecraft stories. It's sweet and creepy, lovely and sad, but with a happy ending. I had all the feels while reading this, and only wanted more when the story was over.
It's very different, in a refreshing and glorious way, from a lot of the other paranormal romances out there, and I highly rec this one.
It had a Lovecraftian vibe without all the problematic elements of actual Lovecraft stories. It's sweet and creepy, lovely and sad, but with a happy ending. I had all the feels while reading this, and only wanted more when the story was over.
It's very different, in a refreshing and glorious way, from a lot of the other paranormal romances out there, and I highly rec this one.
May 12, 2020
A book I enjoyed but had a few "problems" to get into. Some things stay in the dark or aren't that properly explained - it gives lots of room for speculation.
I really enjoyed the overall atmosphere, and although parts confused me - and I had to be alert while reading to not miss anything - it has a very calming conclusion and it feels like a solid HEA.
I'm very intrigued to start the 2nd book in the series which can be read as stand-alones and only share the same town.
I really enjoyed the overall atmosphere, and although parts confused me - and I had to be alert while reading to not miss anything - it has a very calming conclusion and it feels like a solid HEA.
I'm very intrigued to start the 2nd book in the series which can be read as stand-alones and only share the same town.
December 13, 2022
Foye's writing style just isn't for me. This is the second of their books I've tried and while all the elements are very relevant to my interests, the whimsical or dream-like narrative is confusing to me and is a style of writing I've never enjoyed. It's hard for me to envision what Foye is trying to portray while reading and therefore I don't connect with any of the characters or the setting, which is important for a story to really have resonance. If you enjoy more "flowery" writing found in a lot of fantasy, then you'll probably enjoy this.
January 14, 2021
This novella caught me from the first line, and kept me captivated until the end. I loved the writing, how the beautiful the descriptions were and how it twisted between timelines, dreams, and reality. I also was intrigued by what we discover and is explained, and what is left for us to ponder on and accept.
The ending left me smiling broadly and full of happiness.
The ending left me smiling broadly and full of happiness.
April 22, 2019
Content Warnings: Mentions of abusive childhood, bloody violence, off-screen murder, drowning (real/dream), and claustrophobic scenes.
I really liked this story! It has murder, magic, and mysterious seaside towns. It was creepy, but definitely in a good way that really caught my attention. I liked the way the story was set up and the way the flashbacks helped the reader understand more of the story and the main characters’ pasts.
Briar is a bounty hunter that previously lived in Lastings and is returning to hunt down one of his targets. He is reunited with his ex, Quinn, who had been born with salt in his heart, and meets a witch and their cat familiar.
I can’t wait to read more by this author!
I was given an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this story! It has murder, magic, and mysterious seaside towns. It was creepy, but definitely in a good way that really caught my attention. I liked the way the story was set up and the way the flashbacks helped the reader understand more of the story and the main characters’ pasts.
Briar is a bounty hunter that previously lived in Lastings and is returning to hunt down one of his targets. He is reunited with his ex, Quinn, who had been born with salt in his heart, and meets a witch and their cat familiar.
I can’t wait to read more by this author!
I was given an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2019
Very atmospheric and interesting.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews