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Glorious Day
(Iospary Stories)
by
The bodyguard is a traitor. The princess is her one true love. And the revolution is almost here.
Elsenna Hazen left spaceport security and ended up a royal bodyguard. She should have known better than to fall in love with a princess.
It’s been two years since one ill-advised kiss in the garden pulled them apart. With uprisings in the streets, the nervous princess transfers ...more
Elsenna Hazen left spaceport security and ended up a royal bodyguard. She should have known better than to fall in love with a princess.
It’s been two years since one ill-advised kiss in the garden pulled them apart. With uprisings in the streets, the nervous princess transfers ...more
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Kindle Edition, 87 pages
Published
August 3rd 2020
by NineStar Press
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4.25 Stars. This was great! First I do want to say that while I do not “know” Skye, she is a Goodreads friend of mine. Skye has been a reader/reviewer on Goodreads for years so most of us, especially if you are a part of the LGBTQ+ book reader’s corner of Goodreads, will probably know of Skye too. While I love seeing “one of us” actually get published, and I was totally rooting for her, I don’t believe I’m being biased here. I was prepared to write a critical review if warranted. Luckily, this s
...more

UPDATE 7/12: My forthcoming novella, Glorious Day, now has a cover! See it even bigger on the NineStar Press website, now linked in the book info here. (More retail options coming soon, but if you pre-order from NSP it's on sale *and* you get it early. How cool is that?)
More in-depth content warnings can be found on my website, in case you need them: https://www.skyewritesromance.com/boo...
Original Post:
A bodyguard-princess f/f romance with a sci-fi setting... that I wrote. :) After 9 years and ...more
More in-depth content warnings can be found on my website, in case you need them: https://www.skyewritesromance.com/boo...
Original Post:
A bodyguard-princess f/f romance with a sci-fi setting... that I wrote. :) After 9 years and ...more

Aug 04, 2020
Silvia
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
novella,
arc,
ff-romance,
sci-fi,
rep-bi,
wlw,
sent-for-review,
rep-lesbian,
rep-disability
I was sent this book as an advance copy by author for reviewing purposes, but all opinions are my own.
Let's not beat around the bush, I simply loved this! From the first line (very first line worthy) to the very end I loved the writing, and the main character's voice was quick to pull me into her head and into the story.
The story itself worked incredibly well as a novella, especially if you're someone who in any given moment cares more about the character and relationships than about heavy a ...more
Let's not beat around the bush, I simply loved this! From the first line (very first line worthy) to the very end I loved the writing, and the main character's voice was quick to pull me into her head and into the story.
The story itself worked incredibly well as a novella, especially if you're someone who in any given moment cares more about the character and relationships than about heavy a ...more

Glorious Day is a smooth read that is completely comfortable using some of the best tropes out there, beautiful princesses, heroic bodyguards, rebels and tyrants and then turning it all on its storytelling head by giving us a tale that feels fresh and new. I’m sure it was the strong voice and the tight writing that made me settle in so quickly.
I appreciate books that drop you right into the crux of a story and with GD being a novella, it was especially important to hit the ground running which ...more
I appreciate books that drop you right into the crux of a story and with GD being a novella, it was especially important to hit the ground running which ...more

Oh I really enjoyed this!
A short yet exciting story with political intrigue, and two brave women at it's core.
I'd love to read more from the author, and would look forward to seeing further stories for Enna and Day if at all possible! ...more
A short yet exciting story with political intrigue, and two brave women at it's core.
I'd love to read more from the author, and would look forward to seeing further stories for Enna and Day if at all possible! ...more

This is such a lovely space opera romance, with two adorable heroines and tons of fun political twistiness/maneuvering in the first half (as the bodyguard of the princess is also working as a traitor, for excellent reasons, even though she's in love with the princess) but also a real look at the longterm impacts of PTSD that meant I really believed in them as a couple by the end (and loved them both so much). Really sweet!
...more

Aug 01, 2020
Hsinju Chen
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
4-star,
reviewed,
romance,
arc,
novella,
specfic-scifi,
lgbtq-sapphic,
disability,
2020-read
See Kilaen's website for content warnings.
A lot happened in this novella. I experienced a range of emotions such as concern, sadness, and joy throughout the read.
Vice-Captain Elsenna Hazen of the castle's security force is helping to overthrow the current king of Iospary. When she gets reassigned as the princess's bodyguard, the same job she had two years ago, she has no choice but to face her feelings for the crown princess. Again. She is also sure that the princess has many bedmates and does n ...more
A lot happened in this novella. I experienced a range of emotions such as concern, sadness, and joy throughout the read.
Vice-Captain Elsenna Hazen of the castle's security force is helping to overthrow the current king of Iospary. When she gets reassigned as the princess's bodyguard, the same job she had two years ago, she has no choice but to face her feelings for the crown princess. Again. She is also sure that the princess has many bedmates and does n ...more

Nov 18, 2020
Tara
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
ff,
reviewed-at-tlr,
sci-fi,
bisexual,
politicians-royalty,
opposites-attract,
read-in-2020
The princess is probably my favourite character, even though we don’t get insight into her thoughts in the same way we do for Elsenna. She’s blind, has strong friendships with artists, and is wildly underestimated. I loved seeing her go toe-to-toe with Elsenna and I would have happily read another several hundred pages about her.
Full review: https://www.thelesbianreview.com/glor... ...more
Full review: https://www.thelesbianreview.com/glor... ...more

Wow, this was a tightly paced, engaging novella. It feels like a snapshot of a time of upheaval and country on the brink, without needing to get into the full history of the country in question. It's quite a feat to do a huge amount of world building in just 80 or so pages (that's the page count on my e-ARC )but Kilaen pulls it off with ease. I loved how its just integrated into the plot, as we learn the important parts of what caused the unrest and the immediate effects of it. Even though Capta
...more

What a great read. There is so much going on in this book that it is hard to believe it’s only so short (my e-reader indicated 75 pages but this may vary a bit). Also, I would have never guessed this was a debut book, it’s written very well.
Elsenna Hazen, a high-level security guard for the king, is requested by the princess to become her bodyguard once again. After sharing a kiss with the princess two years previous, Elsenna transferred from bodyguard to another security position to protect her ...more
Elsenna Hazen, a high-level security guard for the king, is requested by the princess to become her bodyguard once again. After sharing a kiss with the princess two years previous, Elsenna transferred from bodyguard to another security position to protect her ...more

This short book was well thought out. I felt Enna’s pain at her situation and Day’s as well. We knew what Enna was up to because we’re in her head, but although there are clues to Day’s motives and actions, we don’t really know her plans until she executes them. The secondary characters and situations are also well done and complex. I could feel Enna’s concerns about the people she works with and her actions. She walked a tightrope in an uncertain world. I also appreciated so much time in the no
...more

Aug 06, 2020
Morgan
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
lesbian-interest,
fantasy
This was a tease of what could have been. I wish it had instead been a proper length novel—or a prequel to a novel. There is a lot packed into these pages and the story zips along far too quickly in the places I wish it would have languished a bit more in. As a novella, I felt like I did not have enough time to truly grasp the emotions of these characters. That said though, this author definitely has a talent for world-building and story. I just wish there was much much more of it.

Glorious Day starts with a captain getting a call from her gay Princess she once kissed in a garden. Did I mention this happens while she’s plotting against her tyrannical father, the king? So that happens.
Set in space, Glorious Day reads like a fantasy with a taste of Star Trek. The princess, Banyelle, calls Captain Elsenna Hazen to ask of the threats towards the kingdom. Hazen keeps her moonlighting a secret, as she is unsure of Banyelle’s stance towards her father. These two, despite having ...more
Set in space, Glorious Day reads like a fantasy with a taste of Star Trek. The princess, Banyelle, calls Captain Elsenna Hazen to ask of the threats towards the kingdom. Hazen keeps her moonlighting a secret, as she is unsure of Banyelle’s stance towards her father. These two, despite having ...more

Romance? Intrigue? Space castle? YES.
The relationship at the center of the novel is between Elsenna, vice-captain of security, and Her Highness, the Most Glorious Born on the 13th Day of Spring, Crown Princess Banyelle Geren. There is political intrigue, a romantic past between the MCs, and some security situations. Her Highness is blind, and it is used by her opponents to oppress her and keep her guarded, when in fact she manages her life quite well on her own -- she appreciates art, fine clot ...more
The relationship at the center of the novel is between Elsenna, vice-captain of security, and Her Highness, the Most Glorious Born on the 13th Day of Spring, Crown Princess Banyelle Geren. There is political intrigue, a romantic past between the MCs, and some security situations. Her Highness is blind, and it is used by her opponents to oppress her and keep her guarded, when in fact she manages her life quite well on her own -- she appreciates art, fine clot ...more

The first sentence of Skye Kilean’s Glorious Day sold me. The fact that it was a fast moving, thoughtful, quick read kept me.
Elsenna Hazen is providing information to a rebel faction and hoping an end to the current king’s rule comes swiftly. She does not expect to survive the coming coup, in whatever form it takes. The Princess throws a wrench into Vice-Captain Hazen’s p ...more
It had been difficult that morning to fit treason in around my duties as vice-captain of the castle complex’s security forces.
Elsenna Hazen is providing information to a rebel faction and hoping an end to the current king’s rule comes swiftly. She does not expect to survive the coming coup, in whatever form it takes. The Princess throws a wrench into Vice-Captain Hazen’s p ...more

Exciting!
Elsenna, a bodyguard to a princess who she has fallen in love with, finds herself back in the princess’ service and finds herself working with revolutionaries that want to overthrow the princess’ father. Elsenna spends her time wondering what is going to happen to her and the princess, but then attacks happen and things get a bit more serious, Elsenna starts to realise she isn’t just fighting for her life.
As a novella, this packed in a lot of adventure, which all happened at a fast pa ...more
Elsenna, a bodyguard to a princess who she has fallen in love with, finds herself back in the princess’ service and finds herself working with revolutionaries that want to overthrow the princess’ father. Elsenna spends her time wondering what is going to happen to her and the princess, but then attacks happen and things get a bit more serious, Elsenna starts to realise she isn’t just fighting for her life.
As a novella, this packed in a lot of adventure, which all happened at a fast pa ...more

Full review to come. Glorious little novella. I’m not usually a SFF reader, but I love F/F novellas. I so appreciated how the author handled disability, performance, image, and gender. Very deftly done. I especially liked how guilt, atonement, and complicity were handled. It felt very timely. I was surprised this was single POV, but given how much action was packed in, I thought it was cleaner that way. I would gladly read a dozen adventures with Enna & Day. There was a big cast of characters, b
...more

Engaging characters (excellent use of single POV, and I enjoyed the wry narrator SO MUCH), engaging plot (that involves brisk but deep consideration of political revolution, accountability, and reformation on both the small- and large-scale), and a lovely, second-chance-ish f/f romance. There were so many little details that made the narration, the romance, the story, and the world all feel so expansive.
(Disclosure: I'm Goodreads friends with the author.) ...more
(Disclosure: I'm Goodreads friends with the author.) ...more

Beautifully written, I was hooked from inception and couldn't stop reading until the end, hoping for a HEA. Elsenna, stoic royal bodyguard and blind Crown Princess Banyelle feature in this compelling romance with a corrupt king, rebellion, intrigue and torture. Kudos Ms. Kilaen for serving up a plot that had emotion and drama intertwined with plot and counter plot with possible redemption and the hope for a better tomorrow. If only the book was a longer read!
Sci fi is hit or miss for me but enco ...more
Sci fi is hit or miss for me but enco ...more

I was given an ARC of this ...novella? and this is my honest review.
What a great story. The setting is a kingdom with a spaceport. Yisss. :D
It took me some patience to get into (not the story's fault), but once in, I read it in a few well-spend hours. Great disability rep, great characters, great ending. Don't miss this one! ...more
What a great story. The setting is a kingdom with a spaceport. Yisss. :D
It took me some patience to get into (not the story's fault), but once in, I read it in a few well-spend hours. Great disability rep, great characters, great ending. Don't miss this one! ...more

3.5
This was a good solid read, but for some reason I didn't really connect with the two main characters or feel much chemistry between them until near the end.
...more
This was a good solid read, but for some reason I didn't really connect with the two main characters or feel much chemistry between them until near the end.
...more

Quick exciting action read. Bodyguard, princess romance. Treason, a coup and dangerous regime change.
Definitely had a GREAT surprise moment half way through. Totally unexpected and very entertaining.
Elsenna is the disenchanted vice-head of security for an awful dictator. She is also feeding intelligence to various rebel groups seeking to overthrown the regime. She has no illusions that this course of action will lead to her death, but she can no longer stand passively by while the king kills, ...more
Definitely had a GREAT surprise moment half way through. Totally unexpected and very entertaining.
Elsenna is the disenchanted vice-head of security for an awful dictator. She is also feeding intelligence to various rebel groups seeking to overthrown the regime. She has no illusions that this course of action will lead to her death, but she can no longer stand passively by while the king kills, ...more

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for my e-ARC.
This novella made my day. I’ve literally read it in one sitting.
Skye Kilaen’s ‘Glorious Day’ follows Elsenna as she navigates her job as a Vice-Captain Hazen, helping the rebels planning to overthrow the current King and her feelings for a princess who she hasn’t spoken to in a long time. Her regret for things she had to do as a guard and strong feelings for a person she doesn’t think she deserves are driving her actions throughout ‘Glorious D ...more
This novella made my day. I’ve literally read it in one sitting.
Skye Kilaen’s ‘Glorious Day’ follows Elsenna as she navigates her job as a Vice-Captain Hazen, helping the rebels planning to overthrow the current King and her feelings for a princess who she hasn’t spoken to in a long time. Her regret for things she had to do as a guard and strong feelings for a person she doesn’t think she deserves are driving her actions throughout ‘Glorious D ...more

"Glorious Day" takes some fairy-tale-ish elements – a wicked king and a scheming courtier, an innocent (at least in some ways) princess, a noble-hearted guard – adds a lot of realistic emotional complexity, gives it a futuristic veneer, queers it, and remixes it all into an unusual, slow burn FF romance (with just a dash of second-chance trope).
What I liked best about was the subtly shifting balance of what characters are capable of and what other characters assume they're capable of (physically ...more
What I liked best about was the subtly shifting balance of what characters are capable of and what other characters assume they're capable of (physically ...more

My only problem with this novella is that I desperately wanted it to last longer.
Glorious Day is, well, glorious. Skye Kilaen manages to weave a story that contains soft sci-fi elements, court intrigue, action, some very important conversations about ableism and people with special abilities... and one of the softest F/F romances I've ever read. One of the MCs is blind and the other is forced to deal with life-altering trauma later on (no spoilers) and they're both such strong, captivating perso ...more
Glorious Day is, well, glorious. Skye Kilaen manages to weave a story that contains soft sci-fi elements, court intrigue, action, some very important conversations about ableism and people with special abilities... and one of the softest F/F romances I've ever read. One of the MCs is blind and the other is forced to deal with life-altering trauma later on (no spoilers) and they're both such strong, captivating perso ...more

Elsenna is second in command of the king's security forces. She's also a traitor to the brutal, horrible dictator, secretly working with insurrectionists to overthrow the oppressive regime. Oh, and she's also in love with the king's only daughter. What could possibly go wrong.
I make no secret of the fact – in books or in life – I have no use for romance. Too often I find it distracts from a story and/or attempts to stand in for genuine character development. Not so here. The characters are flawe ...more
I make no secret of the fact – in books or in life – I have no use for romance. Too often I find it distracts from a story and/or attempts to stand in for genuine character development. Not so here. The characters are flawe ...more

I picked this up on pre-order and read it as soon as it downloaded. This was an engaging read from the first sentence, very fast paced but with enough world building packed into it to not lose clarity. In fact, I am impressed so much was fitted in to a novella without confusing the reader. In a very short space of time I cared about the POV character and their struggles. I actually think it was the first sentence that summed up how I was to feel about them. It is an excellent first sentence and
...more

This is a good option if you’re looking for a quick sapphic sci-fi read. It’s pretty light on the sci fi - there are mentions of spaceports and other planets, but the setting of this mostly feels like if the modern US was a kingdom.
I do wish this book had stronger worldbuilding. This might just be a problem with novellas in general, but I wanted the world this takes place in and the characters to be more fleshed out. I needed a better sense of the stakes of the political upheaval at the core of ...more
I do wish this book had stronger worldbuilding. This might just be a problem with novellas in general, but I wanted the world this takes place in and the characters to be more fleshed out. I needed a better sense of the stakes of the political upheaval at the core of ...more

I received an early copy from the author; this in no way influences my thoughts, opinions.
This is a sweet f/f romance set against a coup and political machinations. Be on the lookout for it in August!!
This is a sweet f/f romance set against a coup and political machinations. Be on the lookout for it in August!!
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Skye Kilaen writes queer romance, both contemporary and science fiction, that is sometimes about polyamorous relationships.
She is bi/pan, and she currently lives in Austin, Texas because of all the libraries and breakfast tacos.
Here on Goodreads, she recommends romance (mostly queer), graphic novels (mostly diverse), and occasionally YA, fantasy, & science fiction books.
She is bi/pan, and she currently lives in Austin, Texas because of all the libraries and breakfast tacos.
Here on Goodreads, she recommends romance (mostly queer), graphic novels (mostly diverse), and occasionally YA, fantasy, & science fiction books.
Other books in the series
Iospary Stories
(2 books)
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