Strong Wine

Sword Dance #3

by A.J. Demas

Retired soldier Damiskos and his lover Varazda have been living together in Boukos for a month, and their future is beginning to look bright. Then Damiskos receives a letter summoning him home to Pheme—where his parents are deeply in debt, his brother is being hunted by loan sharks, and an unwanted arranged marriage looms.

And that’s before Damiskos is charged with murder.

Fortunately, he’s not alone. Old friends are back in Pheme. And Varazda—eunuch, sword-dancer, and spy—has solved mysteries before. But saving his lover from execution and from marriage will take time, and with only days until Dami’s trial, time is running out.

Strong Wine is the third book in the Sword Dance trilogy, the conclusion of Dami and Varazda’s story from Sword Dance and Saffron Alley. This time with fake fortunetellers, real courtroom drama, and … fertilizer?

Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Historical, Mystery, Queer, M M Romance, LGBT

274 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 14, 2021

About the author

A.J. Demas writes about love and imaginary politics in a fictional ancient world. She lives in Toronto, Canada, with her husband and cute daughter.

A.J. also publishes fantasy and historical fiction with a metaphysical twist as Alice Degan.

Reviews

[K.J. Charles]

The finale to AJ Demas' marvellous Sword Dance trilogy set in a brilliantly depicted alt-Mediterranean world. Damiskos is moving in with Varazda after the events of Saffron Alley, but first he needs to go home to sort out his affairs, where he not only has to handle his awful family, but gets arrested for murder.

As 'getting arrested for murder' books go, this is surprisingly low stress. We're more focused on the personal relationships, on how the lovers negotiate their ongoing cultural divide and the family issues and the next step in their relationship (which is lovely). As ever, the lovingly detailed world is as much a character as any person, and a huge part of the pleasure is sinking into it--such that the reader's just as happy with the characters strolling round buying snacks and chatting with friends as with murder investigations or big emotions. This is people in a wider world building a life.

There's a through-plot from book 1 which, delightfully, involves the return of the hilariously awful philosophers. I'm going to take a punt that an ancient Greek philosopher once kicked the author's dog because there's some glorious literary revenge going on here, ahaha. I imagine this *could* work as a standalone but you'd be a fool not to start at book 1 and glom the whole lot.

Loving, warm, engrossing and funny. A delightful conclusion to an outstanding trilogy.

I had an ARC from the author

[Preeti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a lazy person with a very strong commitment phobia, I like to read standalones more than series. Mostly the series with the same couples. But, lately, I have seen that a bit of patience🤭🤭🤭 could be so rewarding when you see the same couple's journey throughout the series. 

Now, why the hell am I having this moment of truth?? Sure, because I loved the 2nd and 3rd books of the trilogy more than the first one. And, I realise that the 1st book was an average 3 🌟  and not 3.5 🌟 when you compare them with the awesomeness of the 2nd and 3rd book. But, the last two books of the trilogy are worth the effort.

In this book, I simply adored Dami and Varazda and their equation with their found family. Actually, It was Varazda's found family...Yaz and Ari, two of his former slave friends, a beautiful daughter Remi, and an ever so angry goose.😂😂 Later, Damaskos became part of it.

But, most of this book took place in Dami's country, Pheme and we get to meet his terrible father and some other awful characters from book 1. However, the mystery plot of whodunit was intriguing with an added court drama element. And, I also enjoyed the FF romance between Nikon and Aradne.

Sword Dance-3.5 🌟 
Saffron Alley-4 🌟 
Strong wine- 4 🌟

[Elena · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is going to be a lukewarm review because I have little time and the book didn’t make that much of an impression.
I’ve enjoyed this series, although I’ve never fallen in love with the characters and/or the romance, and this last book was no exception. There were things I found deeply annoying, like Damiskos’s resigned acceptance to the idea that he’d have to sacrifice himself and his relationship and marry somebody he didn’t love just to get his selfish parents out of their financial troubles, but my lack of emotional investment might’ve actually worked in the book’s favor. While I found it annoying—and a little weird and out of character in the way it was executed, with Damiskos suddenly thinking as if he had never really believed his plans with Varadza were realistic when he had been actually working and making good progress toward those plans only a few hours before—the writing and my laidback attitude toward this couple prevented me from getting frustrated and I was able to enjoy the rest of the plot, which was pretty much in line with the previous two books.
Not my favorite work by this author, but the writing made the story flew easily and it was enjoyable nonetheless.

[ancientreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an ARC of “Strong Wine” on the understanding that I’d give it an honest review. Here's my honest review: *flings roses* *pops cork on champagne*

I’ve been following the adventures of Varazda and Damiskos since they met, in “Sword Dance," and I am here to tell you that you could not find two more appealing characters to read (and re-read) about. So many romance novelists rely on the authorial “Because I said so!” to account for the attraction & love between their protagonists; something I appreciate the heck out of about A. J. Demas is that I can one hundred percent believe that Varazda and Dami like each other, desire each other, and love each other. Their dialogue is full of affection and humor. It’s great.

Semi-random list of stuff I loved:

1 – Varazda practicing his Zashian by studying “The Three Gardens,” which apparently is more or less the Kama Sutra of Boukos.

2 – Dami’s gentleness. Also, his fabulous swordsmanship. My man can fight ruthlessly when necessary.

3 – Varazka’s grace and refinement. Also, his fabulous swordsmanship. My man can fight ruthlessly when necessary.

Repetition absolutely intended.

4 – The way each of them deals with his physical and emotional wounds. I was very happy to see Damiskos’ knee improving, and Varazda becoming more comfortable with sexual expression. The progress is all so low-key, too. Bless A. J. Demas for understanding that readers can be moved without being bludgeoned, and for not blathering on about chiseled jaws and six-pack abs.

5 – “Terza’s [body part that Amazon won’t let me mention in a review *rolls eyes*]” and other colloquialisms. Oh! I almost forgot to mention the worldbuilding, something else Demas is really good at. There’s a tabletop game called “robbers,” playable by two people, and that’s all we know about it. A tiny detail, mentioned in passing. Not everything needs to be explained. (But I will bet you anything that Demas knows all about the game.)

6 – Dami’s parents. Blessed Orante, DAMI’S PARENTS. You thought *you* had problems. Mom is hilarious, though. 10/10 barbed tongue, would duck and run again.

7 – The mystery. Yeah, I more or less worked it out about ¾ of the way through, but who cares, it’s still a fun story, and aren’t you here for the lovers, anyway?

8 – Ino! If she existed in our world, we’d probably be inclined to say she’s on the spectrum. Or she’s just a very shy person who’s got strong interests and isn’t wild about being touched. Anyway, (a) she’s terrific, and (b) a lesser writer would have done something tiresome and predictable about the role she plays in the plot. As you read, thank Demas for not being that tiresome author.

9 – The descriptions! “The city sprawled over a series of hills ringing the harbour, a huge jumble of rooflines and walls chequered with windows, streets winding up hillsides like dark fissures.” Isn’t that nice? Can’t you just see the city?

I have been a professional copy editor for well over three decades and I would give A LOT to have books this good to work on instead of all the lifeless “literary fiction” that crosses my hard drive. If there’s anything I can do to persuade A. J. Demas to continue this series, I’m in.

P.S. It’s probably not essential to have read the other two books first, but, for heaven’s sake, why would you deprive yourself?

[Darka]

це моя перша дочитана книжка з часів війни. вона була хороша і цікава, але я нічого не відчула.

[Ay · Rating 5 out of 5]

As you can tell from the blurb, all this stuff is going on! And they have to sort it out! And it's quite full on!

You can start with this book, understand what is going on, and enjoy it. But why would you, when you have the first two to immerse yourself in? Each book is marvellous on its' own, but there are a couple of arcs, plot and character, that are resolved in this one.

This book is categorised as an historical romance on Amazon, so it's okay to say that it plays out in a way consistent with the genre. I say this because I was quite anxious starting it, (because I love the characters and emphasise with them so much), and I had to remind myself to trust the author; and rightly so, as it turned out.

This was a five star read. I know that when I reread it with the first two, the series will be a seven star read.

I do hope these people are in subsequent books she writes.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Fortunately, the book's great.

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong Wine, the third instalment of A.J. Demas’ wonderful alt-ancient-world-set  Sword Dance  trilogy, begins around a month after the end of Saffron Alley. At the end of that book, former soldier Damiskos Temnon decided he wasn’t going to return to Pheme at the end of his week in Boukos; instead, he’s officially resigned his post with the Quartermaster’s office and has moved in with his lover, Varazda, and his rag-taggle found family. When Strong Wine opens, Damiskos is feeling a Iittle rudderless; he’s been officially unemployed for two weeks now, and the ease with which his military career has come to an end kind of bothers him. It’s as if he’s lost an important part of his identity and isn’t sure how he feels about it.

Also bothering him is the fact that, while he and Varazda are now a committed couple and declarations have been made, Dami still doesn’t quite know where he stands. Is it appropriate for him to ask Varazda if he can stay a while longer? Or forever? Which is what he really wants. He knows he’ll have to go back to Pheme at some point, to tie up some loose ends – sort out his pension, his apartment and work out what to do with his faithful horse – and visit his parents; perhaps he’ll ask when he’s ready to do that.

As it turns out, Varazda is pondering the same question – should he ask Damiskos to stay forever, or is it too soon for that? His friends Yazata and Ariston are very much in favour – they don’t want Damiskos to leave – but the decision is pre-empted when Dami receives a letter from his parents – who are selfish, profligate and forever borrowing money from him that they never, ever repay – asking him to come to Pheme to see them. Reluctantly, Dami makes arrangements to leave.

Things just keep going downhill from there. Arrived in Pheme, Dami’s first stop is at the stable where he keeps his horse, Xanthe – where he discovers that the money he has sent for her upkeep has never been paid, and that she has been sold. On his way home, he’s accosted by Helenos Kontiades, former student of the philosopher Eurydemos and agitator for a war between Zash and Pheme ( Sword Dance ). He clearly holds Damiskos responsible for the fact that he’s fallen on hard times; Dami tries to ignore him, but when Helenos insults Varazda, Dami loses his temper and lashes out. Then, realising just how drunk the other man is, Dami helps him to his lodging and suggests he sleep it off.

The next day, Dami makes for his parents’ home in a rather run-down part of the city. He’s surprised to find their small accommodations also housing some old friends and their widowed daughter – who happens to be the woman – Ino – to whom Dami was once engaged to be married. The engagement was broken by her parents, who decided they wanted more than a mere solider for her, but now she’s a widow, they want her to marry Dami so she can inherit her late husband’s business and fortune. Dami tells them he’s not in a position to marry, but his protests fall on deal ears. As if that weren’t bad enough, when Dami is out with his younger brother later that night, the watch arrives with news that Helenos Kontiades is dead and that Dami is suspected of his murder.

Back on Boukos, Varazda is… not worried exactly, but a bit hurt that Damiskos hasn’t responded to any of his letters. He tries not to let it show, but doesn’t take much persuading when his friends suggest that maybe he should follow his lover to Pheme. Needless to say, arriving to find that Dami has been arrested on suspicion of murder does not precipitate the joyful reunion Varazda had hoped for.

Just as Saffron Alley had a very different feel and themes from Sword Dance, so does Strong Wine differ from its predecessor. Sword Dance – told from Damiskos’ PoV – introduced the characters and set up their relationship through a plotline of intrigue and mystery; Saffron Alley – told from Varazda’s perspective – was very much a ‘getting to know you better’ story that focused on Varazda’s home life and allowed him and Dami to start to build their relationship, and although there is a mystery element to the story, it’s fairly low-key. Strong Wine is dual PoV, and the main focus is the whodunit and preventing Dami’s being exexuted for murder, so the stakes are high – and Varazda gets to be a badass while he also gets to see and understand Dami’s dysfunctional family life. Dami spends probably over half the book locked up with and being driven nuts by his parents, but Varazda isn’t giving up anything without a fight and I loved how he’s so completely and unapologetically himself when he faces down Dami’s family. Well, to be fair, Dami’s mother doesn’t bat an eyelid, but his father and Ino’s parents are outright rude, as much because Varazda is a man as as because he’s Zashian – and the lawyer they’ve hired for Dami is as bigoted as they come, insisting that Dami’s foreign, strangely dressed “bizarre girlfriend” is a liability and will damage his chances of winning the case.

So Strong Wine is mostly about the external obstacles faced by the couple – the murder charge, the awful parents and the pressure being exerted on Dami to marry Ino (who, incidentally, is a great character – so often in m/m romances, female characters are demonised or underdeveloped so it’s refreshing when they’re neither) – so the romance is perhaps less prominent, but what we do get is Dami and Varazda working out what they want from each other and how to make a future together. Theirs is a wonderfully healthy and supportive relationship; they have their misunderstandings and moments of miscommunication, but they care enough about each other to be able to address them and come out stronger on the other side.

There is, however, one thing that really didn’t work for me and for which I’ve had to lower my overall grade a bit. When Dami is told by his parents that they want him to marry Ino, his first thought isn’t ‘hell, no!’ – it’s ‘oh, well, I suppose a life with Varazda was just a dream and it was never going to last anyway’. Er – what? He resigned his post and has given up the lease on his rented apartment, just so he can move to Boukos to live with Varazda, and just before he left to come to Pheme, was thinking about how to ask Varazda if he could stay forever. I couldn’t believe he would so casually throw away all his plans, and it felt completely out of character. Maybe the author was trying to show how bad the influence of his parents could be – they’ve been a drag on his finances and his mental state for years – and I can understand how a certain degree of falling-back-into-old-patterns might have been at play here. But it’s hard to swallow, given Dami is a highly respected and decorated (former) soldier of thirty-three with a life of his own, not an inexperienced kid. Once Varazda has arrived, Dami starts to show some backbone, but even then, I’m not completely sure he’d have been as prepared to assert himself if Varazda had stayed in Boukos. It’s really odd and I honestly don’t know what the author was trying to do there.

That’s my only real reservation, however. I know it’s a fairly big one, but it doesn’t go on for long and once Varazda is back on the scene, Dami snaps himself out of whatever funk he was in and their relationship is back on course and stronger than ever.

Funny, poignant, warm and tender, with wonderfully detailed world-building and superbly drawn characters, Strong Wine brings the  Sword Dance  trilogy to a triumphant close as Varazda and Damiskos get their hard won HEA and head off into their new life together. The whole trilogy is strongly recommended and definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for an historical romance with a difference.

This review originally appeared at All About Romance .

[Kit (Metaphors and Moonlight) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful series!

I love Varazda so much! I want to be like Varazda. He’s my new idol. I know he has insecurities, but he also has so much confidence and is so unapologetically himself. And he really knows how to make a dramatic entrance at just the right moment for maximum badassery. And he’s a caring, compassionate person.

I love Dami so much too! He’s such a kind, goodhearted, understanding person. Able to talk to and be friendly with seemingly anyone (at least, anyone decent). But also willing to speak up and be very unfriendly if someone is harming others. Confident and self-assured in different ways.

I also really loved the nonbinary rep throughout the story. It felt really nicely nuanced. I could even relate to some of Varazda’s feelings. Actually, all the rep seemed nuanced and handled with care (physical disability, PTSD, past sexual assault).

This was the last book, and it had its own story, but it also made sure to wrap everything up nicely.

To be honest, the cuteness was not quite at the same level as the previous books, the story was more focused on solving a murder, with the relationship somewhat relegated to the background in terms of story focus, and it seemed like they didn’t spend as much time together. But…

Overall, this series was such a sweet and beautiful romance. It’s such a gentle and healthy relationship. These two are so lovely together. I keep using all the same words to describe this story and these characters and their relationship, but lovely, wonderful, and beautiful really are the perfect words to describe this series. I’m so glad I read it!

*Rating: 4 Stars // Read Date: 2023 // Format: Ebook via TTS*

Recommended For:
Fans of Books 1 and 2 in A.J. Demas's Sword Dance series. Anyone who likes fantasy worlds without magic, beautiful and gentle romance, a bit of action and intrigue, characters trying to heal from physical and emotional scars, and nonbinary characters.

Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight

[Iryna K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Напишу тут одразу про всю трилогію, бо вона прочитуалася за один підхід, як ціла книжка.
Почну з того, що вирізняє її з досі прочитаного - це сеттінг. Події відбуваються у вигаданій античній цивілізації, за враженнями десь у відповіднику нашого 3-4 ст. Це така собі мішанка Греції і Риму - острівні поліси, дуже велике місто (на семи пагорбах))), торгова і військова взаємодія з навколишніми "варварами" - царствами та племенами, синкретична регілія, запозичені культи. Я абсолютно не фахівчина з історії та культури античності, але мої скромні вимоги достовірності авторка цілком задовольнила - сеттінг виглядає реалістично, відвертих анахронізмів я не помітила, і у книгах багато побутових деталей на кшталт опису їжі, побуту та одягу, які дуже додають реалізму і майстерно занурюють у світ.
Тепер про героїв і сюжет. Дія розгортається навколо знайомства і стосунків колишнього очільника одного з легіонів Феми (цього найбільшого міста світу) Даміскоса, який після тортур і травми покинув активну службу, і Варазди - звільненого раба, професійного танцюриста-євнуха і (як виявляється) шпигуна.
Герої - люди сложної судьби, фізично і психологічно травмовані по самі вуха, тож їм знадобиться три томи, аби розплутати це все у "жили довго і щасливо". Попри травмованість, вони обидва неймовірно милі і хороші, особливо Даміскос, якого хочеться обнять і поставить йому пам'ятник - такий він уважний, дбайливий і самовідданий. Для ілюстрації - на якийсь момент він починає переживати, чи його закоханість у Варазду - це не об'єктивація, бо той такий красивий і екзотичний, адже це було б дуже недостойно.
Роменс розгортається на тлі політичного детективу з абсолютно розкішними злодіями - гуртком ксенофобних філософів - заколотників (реально, ця книга заслуговує на всі золоті зірочки просто за ідею злочинних філософів!!!). У першій частині все крутиться навколо house party, яка пішла взагалі не за планом, пошуку викрадених секретних документів і хитровимучених стратегій із захоплення вілли. У другій Дамі знайомиться з родиною Варазди (чи Варажди?), бореться з недоброчесними купцями, надто гелікоптерін родичами та злобною гускою (і ця книжка мені найбільше сподобалася, вона страшенно затишна, але водночас з дуже справжньою напругою початку стосунків, коли всі переживають, бо непонятно, чого хоче партнер, чого потребує, чи може взагалі краще звалить по-тихому). У третій повертаються злобні філософи, до них приєднуються всраті родичі, а Даміскоса звинувачють у вбивстві.
Стиль у книжок досить скупий, без складних слів, метафор і описів , і інколи цього аж трохи бракує. Але герої все ж страшно милі, тож це не заважає насолоджувати)

[Hart_D (ajibooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this series, and this book was even better than the first two, somehow. There are several different plot threads: Damiskos and Varazda figuring out their future together, a mystery, and Damiskos's family troubles. The author wove them all together really well, with good pacing throughout, and the happy ending is very solid.

I'm so excited to find out what AJ Demas does next.

[Cait · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm an evangelist here to spread the good news about aj demas—have u heard it?

really, though, pick these up, they're grand

loved the autistic ex-fiancée and the shitty family who don't have to get dealt with in black-and-white all-or-nothing fashion (VARASTA!)

[Linda ~ they got the mustard out! ~ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This was, as all of Demas's stories are, very nice. It was a pleasant read, even while being the weakest of this trilogy. Varazda and Damiskos are back, and Varazda is as spunky and tenacious as always. Damiskos felt a little withdrawn from the action, though there's reason for that, but even though this was his story since we're in his hometown and visiting his family and the plot hinges around his trial, he felt almost incidental to the story.

I was also bemused by the romance in this one. The first book was the strongest by far on that account, since they were just getting to know each other and there was a lot to unpack. The second book got us even more entrenched in their love story as we got to see more layers to these characters and how they could work together as a couple. And this book...didn't really do anything with it. With all the family drama and court drama getting in the way, there wasn't a whole lot of focus on these two as a couple, even after they were finally reunited. And it wasn't helped at all that early in the book, Dami is told by his parents that he's expected to marry Ino, the daughter of their friends, and he thinks, seemingly casually, that he knew his life with Varazda was just a dream anyway and oh well, it was fun while it lasted. I just never really recovered from that casual tossing away of his plans - and this was just after he gave up his home he was renting because he was going to move back to Boukos and live with Varazda. I expected more initial quailing, more protest, more anything than what we got. It was ridiculous and I have no idea what the author was thinking when she wrote that. These were his internal thoughts. He could surely fall apart internally even while keeping up appearances externally.

Obviously, he felt more strongly about it than that, and we saw that as the book went on and as he eventually started to assert himself with his family about what he wants from his own life, but that was only after Varazda showed up. I have a feeling Dami never would've done that if Varazda had remained in Boukos. You have to be able to fight for your relationship even when the other half of it isn't around, and I'm not convinced that he can. He also makes a vow to himself to never let anyone bad mouth Varazda in his presence, but then later on his father does just that and he barely makes a comment on it beyond a stern "sir." No sitting his dad down or backing him into a corner or anything. Anyway, it all turned out all right in the end but I never really got back the magic for the relationship I felt while reading the first two books. Other readers might feel differently, and do if you look at the ratings, so don't let me dissuade you from reading this.

[Rosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got an ARC for this through the author's newsletter and I was so happy when it reached my email. I didn't think I was going to be selected but well, I didn't had anything to loose by filling the form, so, here we are. I got the book (I want to give my thanks to the author for her generosity), and I've enjoyed it very much.
We found Dami and Varazda again more or less in the same point we left them in Saffron Alley and while I've enjoyed the conclusion to their story, the first book keeps being my favourite of the three.
In this one I've missed my fellow BReaders fiercely. I've needed some hand holding in some parts of the book, but I made it to the end alone and it was worth it. I hate Dami's family, his parents are hideous, I hate to read about people like that, and I'm not too fond of Timiskos, to be honest. His parents are so horrible that they made Tsukshi Makino's parents look like saints. And I was sooooo mad at Dami when he thought his duty was marrying that poor woman, Ino, to inhereit just like both their parents wanted and that his time with Varazda couldn't last. Really, Dami, really? I was glad when the matter was set straight soon, and when Varazda told Dami he wouldn't have put up with that nonsense, that he would have fight for him. And about the plot, I liked it but at times it was difficult to keep my attention. Not that the plot was bad, but I found it a bit repetitive and I'm not too fond of this kind of plot were the characters go a bit in circles because they're always behind. Also I think some of the situations were a bit ridiculous, like the one with family lawyer when he goes on an on about his former cases and insults Varazda; or that other situation with the philosopher and his lover... or that nonsense about he fake/not so fake kidnapping towards the end. But overall, I liked it. I suspected who the murderer was once that character was mentioned but I would have liked more the author would have left behind clues to support some theories because that's what I love most in this kind of book.

[PaperMoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has always been such a pleasure diving back into this author's fictional worlds (based on our ancient Mediterranean cultures and city states) ... the story telling is deft, the plots intricate but not overwrought, the characters truly delightful and engaging, the pacing steady and purposeful, topped off with some witty and often humorous dialogue. This final volume of Dami and Varasda's story takes us back to the former's hometown of Pheme (shades of the Athenian Republic) whereby our soldier-hero gets embroiled in yet another murder-mystery. This is of course a great excuse for Varazda to see his lover in his environment, meet his (awful) parents. As one character in the book wryly summaries:

“He was breaking into his lover’s family home to learn the details of a false murder charge against him—it’s the stuff of romantic fiction, Dria. It’s as good as Alkaios and Eudoxia.” “Well, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, after what happened last summer,” said the cook.

I love how Ms Demas manages to weave the outworking/solving of murders/deaths amidst the daily life and interactions of our MCs and their loved ones ... there's usually a seamless transition from fisticuffs and swordplay and the untangling of family dramas. And because the plot centers around events in Pheme, I did find myself missing the slight mad-cap brouhaha surrounding Varazda's Boukossian household/neighbors.

The dance of attraction between our MCs continues to mature throughout and thankfully, we get a HEA ending! However, the romance takes a slightly back-seat to the investigative side of things so this may disappoint some readers. Unlike previous books, whereby there's some major festival or cultural festivity being feted, this book is relatively 'light' with the socio-cultural-religious aspects; not that this diminished my enjoyment in any degree.

Although this concludes the trilogy - I can only hope the author will continue to take us back to this world with new characters and stories (and maybe, just maybe we can get a glimpse of how life continues to treat Damiskos, Varazda and crew from cameo appearances/roles etc). 4 stars.

[Door Person · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first read Sword Dance, I knew I’d found something really special. I love country house mysteries as a genre, and here it was so masterfully twisted into a new and interesting shape, and with a queer romance folded in. I was excited to read Saffron Alley, but doubted it could deliver exactly the delight of its predecessor, which had hinged so much on my love of the premise. It DID, though, it delivered in spades. And now so has Strong Wine.

The beauty of these books is watching two damaged people who want so badly to love one another figure out how precisely to do it. There are things working against them—internally and externally—and Demas has taken them one by one. Saffron Alley was mainly about internal obstacles. Strong Wine is about external. It takes us back to Damiskos’ home in Pheme, where we are introduced to his immediate family and reunited with familiar faces from Sword Dance. There’s a murder mystery (of course!), over the course of which Dami and Varazda decide how to move into the future together.

I’ve been reading a lot about queer spaces, the ways in which queer people have—and do still—adjust heteronormative spaces to suit us. Varazda does that somewhat literally, knocking down walls, but space isn’t always architectural. My favourite thing about this book were the ways in which people created queer space in their lives. For Dami and Varazda, and others. I’m so pleased that these two fictional people found one another, and that I found them.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.5 stars

Strong Wine is the third in the Sword Dance series and these books must be read in order to fully appreciate the developing relationship between Dami and Varazda. They remain one of my favorite fictional couples because of the honest acceptance of love and the level of communication that exists between them. They aren’t perfect, of course, but they are the reason this series works as well as it does.

As with the other two books in the series, the actual mystery/plot line is perfectly average, but doesn’t wow me. We revisit a few characters from the first book, Sword Dance, and I felt the like the overall resolution was fine, though not exactly compelling. There was a fair amount of family drama in Strong Wine and there were times it felt a bit more like a soap opera than a mystery. I found that a bit frustrating, but this series has never been about the plot, but rather the characters.

Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.

[Hirondelle (not getting notifications) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The final volume in a trilogy, the couple introduced in the fantastic Sword Dance gets their HEA. I had some really good timing in that I, unwarily, started the trilogy a few days before this final book was due to come out, so I managed to read it almost all in a row. Sadly I think each book gets progressively weaker, emptier. Still charming, but emptier of plot and action.

While the second book, Saffron Alley, was a cozy "what happens next" book, filled with friends and family and the city of Boukos almost another friend, in this book, Damiskos returns to Pheme and is framed for a murder. The circumstances of why he is framed depend on a big big coincidence, so there is that already. Otherwise, slight murder mystery, friends and family being loyal or obnoxious according to who is what, and the HEA is more strongly established. That is it.

One of the problems of starting a glom on a great, personal best, book, everything next falls short.

As always, great dialogue and great women characters.

[Bizzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was probably the weakest book in the trilogy for me. The mystery plot takes up too much space and isn’t really interesting enough to justify it, although it’s not terrible by any means. But after spending so much time learning about Damiskos and Varazda in books 1 and 2, respectively, it was disappointing that the third book put them and their relationship on the back burner. They spend a lot of the book apart, and the dual POV means we spend relatively little time with either character separately, either, because most of the narrative is focused on the investigation and the side characters.

I still had fun reading this, but wish it had been a stronger ending for the series.

[beautiful journey｡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe it's over. I refuse to believe it...
Honestly, I could read hundred books more about Varazda and Damiskos. They are so precious and unique. Love, love the world that A.J Demas has created. Definitely will stay with me for a long time.

[Bluebelle-the-Inquisitive (Catherine) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Divine Terza. Yes, of course. And I’m supposed to be the tactician.”
“Yes, dear,” said Varazda, patting his shoulder, “but I’m the spy.” — Varazda

Strong Wine is such a perfect ending to the Sword Dance trilogy. Works on the idea of connection. Though there is a persistent storyline between Sword Dance, Saffaron Alley and Strong Wine, I think they could theoretically be read independently. There is so much more to be enjoyed from reading all of them in sequence. It is worth that knowing, epilogue excluded the Sword Dance series takes place over about six months. It's quite a short time frame. I do really recommend it for a series that plays with gender, sexuality and presentation. 💖 Varazda and Damiskos have this wonderful and endearing relationship with boundaries and limits that are respected and diverse family dynamics. I do think it is the only series I have ever read that treats eunuchs with such respect. Respecting humanity, identity and potential for sexual nature.

Onto Strong Wine itself. It could be argued that Sword Dance is Damiskos's story, Saffaron Alley Varazda's, following this line of thought Strong Wine is their story. Unlike the previous two which are single perspectives, this is alternating. As you would expect is a book that starts with a happy and fairly stable couple shenanigans ensue to disrupt them. Some of this is partly their fault. But there is a sweetness to the lack of communication while we are in both Varazda and Damiskos's heads we know they want the same things a life. They both want to live together with Yazata, Ariston, Remi (and maybe Kallisto) in Boukos and both mention a child. But these two are not good with the words. What they are clear on is that family is important. We do get to see growth in the relationship some reflection on where they started. I kinda want to go back and reread Sword Dance just so I can relive their relationship.

On the story. It does well to tie up the plot lines from the previous books and leave readers happy. There is racism in play as the story moves from the more progressive Boukos to the less tolerant Pheme. This racism is of course directed at Varazda and it is handled well, both by him and the author. The racism fits contextually and isn't extreme. It also lets us see a reminder of exactly how ballsy Varazda can be, like confronting Dami's family in full Zash attire. The plot is paced just right and uses the characters to their best advantage. There is very black and white though some people are definitely leaning more one way than the other. Ino is a gem. I liked her instantly as is intended. The lovely lady is a pawn in a game she has no control over, as I'm guessing most women would be in this fictional world. She is written in such a way that it is clear to the reader that there is no threat there and you want her happiness. You want her to have what is hers and to chase her dreams. Better Varazda likes her too. The other great character is Timiskos, Dami's younger half-brother. I just adore him. He's trying and he's sweet and he's been through a bit for his family. I kinda hope that A.J. writes a spin-off with Timiskos as a protagonist.

Have a comment dump.
• “You see how happy he is now? You see how the strain is gone from his eyes, how much more easily and genuinely he smiles? I did that.” — (Varazda) There is so much love and pride at this moment and it's beautiful.
• Kallisto and her cameo made me smile. She is strong but there are some times when she is shy. And I'm happy about that.
• There is something that both Varazda and Dami consider a hamfisted declaration of love or a statement of intention but I really think it's romantic especially for them. Where cohabitation is not done easily.
• “I’m not engaged,” he said, because he wasn’t about to begin spinning a web of lies. “But I am not free to marry.” — (Damiskos) This is a polite way to hide the relationship while saying no. But it's still effective.
• He snickered at the idea of a dream messenger from Dami. It would have been kitted out in a crisp uniform, and would probably have marched. — (Varazda) And at this moment I was laughing because I could see it.
• “No! Five days. And yes.”
“What?” Kallisto pushed him toward a seat at the table. “No, he hasn’t had a letter from Damiskos. It’s been five days since Damiskos left. And yes, Varazda has written him. You and Yazata really need to stop pestering him. Damiskos is his lover.” — (Varazda and Kallisto) I appreciate the love that Asterion and Yatza have for Dami. The ability to acknowledge how happy he makes Varazda.
• Varazda’s second letter was short and written in Zashian. It was a passage from the Tales of Suna, carefully copied out: the song of the moon fairy pining for her absent lover. — (Damiskos) This is so romantic. Varazda is a romantic.
• Varazda didn’t even glare, in any way worthy of the name—not like Damiskos knew he was capable of glaring—but his look was enough to make Korinna shrink back in her chair. It was deeply satisfying. — (Damiskos) This is such a gift to give a character.
• “You’ve taught me so much about love. I don’t think I would have understood, before you, that saying ‘yes’ to my parents over this—sacrificing my happiness for something that wouldn’t really be good for any of us—might be dutiful, but it wouldn’t be loving. You taught me about happiness, too. You make me actually believe in it.” — (Damiskos) Okay so Dami is also a romantic. Just in a different way to his lover.
• And Zashians never really understood about suicide, that for Pseuchaians it wasn’t always a choice of sordid desperation, but could be a dignified exit, the last way to do the honourable thing. — (Damiskos) Oh I love this cultural difference. This is quite a common thing, suicide as an honourable act but it can be hard to understand if you aren't raised in that kind of culture.
• The only thing I'm kinda sad about in Strong Wine is we don't see anything of Varazda and Damiskos performing, especially Varazda. The series is named for his skill with a blade and ability to dance. But it really is a bit nitpicky.

“They want me to marry Ino because she’s inherited some shit business in Kargania.”
Timiskos blinked at him. “What is it? The business.”
“Shit. It’s shit. It’s literally shit, selling shit. In Kargania.” — Damiskos

A representative gif:

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a lovely end to a series I have enjoyed immensely.
This installment read more like cozy mystery to me than a romance. I didn't mind it but wanted more of the romance.

[Luke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Currently recovering from the kind of surgery where they give you narcotics that you hope that you don't have to use, so if I seem even more removed than usual, that's why. In any case, here's a comfort read turned comfort trilogy that certainly kept me occupied, but not engaged to the point that I didn't need the looming due date to hasten me on my way. Like its predecessors, it certainly clicked the right buttons, but it's also a tepid mix of pathos that's heartwarming when it's good and saccharine otherwise, and even bringing back the effective narrative of the first and strongest entry through various characters and plot closures wasn't quite enough to balance the undifferentiated splodge of goody two shoes and a handful of clownish (and strangely disconnected from social infrastructures) bigots. Still, much as I vastly prefer some good old fashioned grey heroes and complicated villains, this read did me some good during the past weeks of ever increasing depression and dissociation, and the trilogy as a whole did some much needed breaking down of my snootiness regarding eBook reading that has proved a veritable boon whilst laid up due to one severe medical matter or another. As such, if you like your queer of the Ancient Greek variety and Mary Renault is proving far too coyly equivocating, Demas may be just your gal. The work didn't sweep me away, but it did remind me that there's some good that looks like me in this world, and that's always appreciated.

[juli✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

… But Dami didn’t belong to him, wasn’t his responsibility. Yet Varazda found himself sometimes wanting to nudge their friends and acquaintances, point, and say, “You see how happy he is now? You see how the strain is gone from his eyes, how much more easily and genuinely he smiles? I did that.”

If Sword Dance and Saffron Alley took me a whole ass minute to read, then Strong Wine took me an eon to finish (four - yikes - years to be exact). To be honest, I really need to stop hoarding books on my kindle, le sigh… Someday!!

The story this time around was… a little disappointing? The murder-mystery didn't really keep me engaged, Dami's parents/family annoyed me, and the romance pretty much stayed the same. Varazda is still a joy to read about but idk… his mans Damiskos really took a backseat this time around.

Despite Strong Wine being a somewhat disappointing conclusion I enjoyed, and recommend, the Sword Dance series as a whole.

[Maja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strong Wine concludes Demas' Sword Dance trilogy of queer historical romance novels, and it's hard to express just how much delight and joy these three books have brought me. The first book was just a great queer romance using conventional tropes, but what really elevates the series for me beyond a lot of other romance stories I've read is that there these two sequels that actually work onwards from the point after these two people have fallen in love, and deal with themes of figuring out how an actual relationship would work, how their friends and families will react, and how two very different lives can fit together into a whole. I feel like many authors just focus on the thrill of falling in love and then end their story before it gets down to those details. The last book, Saffron Alley, focused on Varazda's family, a very queer space, and how to fit Damiskos into that. It's only fitting then that this last book looks at Damiskos' family and background, and all the problems that come with that. The last book was a lot about the anxiety of wanting your queer family to approve of your relationship - this book is very much about the anxiety of knowing that your conservative family will not approve of your relationship, and how to shield yourself and your partner from the hurt that this can cause. It's a difficult topic, and the book contains quite a lot of drama, but for me it's still a wholesome read because of how satisfying and strong the relationship of the two main characters continues to be in spite of all the obstacles thrown in their way. This book also introduces Ino, an autistic-coded character who was delightful and a great addition to the world.
I cannot recommend the whole trilogy enough to everyone who just wants to read a great queer romance with strong plots and a fun cast of characters!


Note: I received an eARC by the author. This has not influenced my review and I've already pre-ordered the book as well.

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

The final entry in the story of Damiskos and Varazda, and the solidification of their ongoing relationship.


Really enjoyed both of these characters - Damiskos is such an all around admirable person, and Varazda getting to show off his spy skills again was also welcome. The actual mystery was the issue here for me - there was a pretty obvious lead that wasn't followed from near the start, and I guessed the culprit early on as a result. Still, a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy, although book 1 remains the peak for me.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here we get thrust into Damiskos's complicated family life, meet some new and terrible characters, as well as old favourites, and have another compelling mystery to solve. I wasn't completely blown away by this book, but I did enjoy it quite a bit. Both MCs are really great characters and the world-building is seamless and believable. It was a sweet ending to a great series.

[Georgie-who-is-Sarah-Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of trilogy here.

tl;dr = Superb.

[Elaine White · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed for Divine Magazine

~

Strong Wine (Sword Dance, 02) by A.J. Demas
★★★☆☆
274 Pages
POV: 3rd person, dual character POV
Content Warning: murder, non-binary slurs, disabled slurs, mild violence and murder


As Book 3 – the final book – in the Sword Dance series, Strong Wine picks up a month after the previous story with a new dilemma, and a new murder, to work through. While I really enjoyed the journey Damiskos and Varazda took together, in their relationship, the other aspects of the book left me feeling a little let down. It wasn't the grand finale I'd been hoping for.

This is the first book in the series which is a dual POV. I can't say it's because of the plot, as I could have seen a few opportunities for dual POV in the previous books, but it definitely served its purpose here. Damiskos and Varazda spend almost an entire week apart, within the first few chapters, and then must work separately throughout the rest of the novel, to resolve the problem. Having a dual POV definitely worked well here, giving us insight into both their lives without having one character recap it in the other's POV.

I deeply love the relationship between Damiskos and Varazda, and the way they rotate around each other, coming together but appreciating and accepting each other's space. They've only known each other for a few months, by this point, and there are still things they need to learn about each other, history they don't know, and old relationships to be revealed.
I really love the way that these little insights are given significance to the characters, but woven seamlessly into the story. It doesn't always feel like something is a big deal, or that it's a huge problem, until you see the POV thought processes and how it personally affects either Damiskos or Varazda.
While I loved their relationship, and how it progresses through each book, I found it was actually the best part of the book, this time around. While I'd enjoyed the mystery and cloak-and-dagger of Varazda's work in previous books, I feel the crime was much weaker than the relationship, in this book, and it left me feeling a bit flatter than usual.

There were definite issues, for me. Such as, inconsistencies of Varazda's tolerance of sexual situations. In one aspect, we're being told he tried something but didn't want it and they fought. It's mentioned in passing, unimportant, but both characters think it a problem they have to mention multiple times. Then there's Varazda giving Damiskos head without hesitation, with no mention that this was a serious issue for him, and a firm No, in Book 2. There's no mention of them having tried, of Varazda working through the issues he had with it, or even acknowledging his previous problems.

I didn't like Damiskos' family. In fact, I pretty much disliked every single member, including Timiskos, who I wasn't supposed to dislike (I think?) In the same way Book 2 explored Varazda's family, this book does the same for Damiskos' family. Only, while Varazda's were against Damiskos for valid reasons, Damiskos' family simple came across as generally horrible people. I couldn't understand, even to the end, why he would feel a duty or responsibility to help them. Or why he would even consider giving up Varazda, and everything they had, just to please them. It made no sense, and didn't feel true to Damiskos' character.

In a similar way, I felt the criminal aspect of this story was as off-hand secondary as it had been in Book 2. It wasn't the main plot, for sure. It never felt like the main plot, either. For me, in every book, the main plot has always been the relationship between Damiskos and Varazda. And that's one of the reasons I enjoy the series, so much.
However, I feel here, in particular, that the crime wasn't as well explored as I'd been hoping. There were no clues a general reader, like me, could have pointed to, to be able to solve the crime. Only at the very end, a last minute piece of evidence that was never mentioned, even in passing, in this book or even in Book 1, came to light to blow the case wide open. For me, as a real crime buff, I find that almost unforgiveable. If the reader can't help solve the crime, with the same clues available, or with ANY clues available, then it just doesn't feel complete or well thought out.

This book has little relation to Book 2 – other than timeline, obviously – but refers heavily to the events of Book 1. There's a neat little ribbon tied around the ending of everyone from Book 1's story, and a neat ribbon on the end of this one, too, which I wasn't expecting. Multiple characters from Book 1 reappear here, and it felt like it relied too heavily on that book and their characters, when I would have really liked maybe a casual, coincidental meeting – as would be natural, in the world written – but the crime to have focused elsewhere. It felt too much like the story was trying to neatly wrap-up the events of Book 1, which had previously been left wide open. However, not all crimes are tidily resolved, and not all bad guys are caught or face punishment, and I believed that ending more than the one presented here.

Unlike the previous books in the series, I didn't really see the importance of the title. I know what it refers to, and it's oddly a little spoiler-y, but it also doesn't have such a solid hold on the story or characters as the previous titles. I don't see the title and remember some pivotal moment, or scene, or character trait, like I do with the others.

OVERALL
I came straight into Strong Wine after a re-read of Books 1 and 2. In fact, it was my second time reading both books, and I thoroughly enjoyed them for their slice-of-life romance and strangers-to-lovers storyline. Both books lagged at little, at the beginning, as did Book 3, but I fell hard for the main characters and their lives, and I didn't mind so much.
Maybe it's because I have such fond memories of both, and re-read them both before starting, that Strong Wine didn't hold up to the standard I was anticipating. Again, I enjoyed the relationship plotline and Varazda's skill as a spy, but Damiskos felt untethered and unnatural, compared to the strong, military man I've become used to. With the addition of my dislike of his family, who took up far too many pages in the book for my liking, and the almost farcical humorous moments that weren't my cup of tea, and I ended the series feeling that Book 3 was, perhaps, the weakest of the trilogy.

Will I re-read the series again? Undoubtedly. Will I re-read Book 3? Probably not. While I like a happy ending, and HEA's are always my favourite, the heat bow this one was wrapped up in felt a bit too contrived and sudden for my liking. I think, for these characters, the more open-ended final pages of the previous two books would have suited them, and me, better.

~

Favourite Quotes

“Damiskos felt as if a fog had lifted from his mind. It was like the clarity of the battlefield in the still moments before the troops clashed. His mission was to protect Varazda from his parents and from Korinna and Simonides; nothing mattered more than that.”

[Nina ( picturetalk321 ) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful ending to a beautiful trilogy (plus One Night in Boukos, set in the same world with some recurring characters]. The end is corny, normative and had me in tears of delight, nevertheless. I love, love the way the relationship here is handled. There are moments which in other authors' hands might have been blown out of proportion and into plot-fuelling misunderstandings. But these two have faith in each other, trust each other, are mature about each other, tell each other the truth. I also love Damiskos' relationship to his family: they are totally flawed (and at the start, frankly awful) but he loves them, and Varazda loves him for loving them. This rings so much more true than all the perfectly amazing families that sometimes frolic their supportive way through romance novels.

And both Varazda and Damiskos are such badasses, each in their own way, and so cool and handsome, also each in their own way, while holding love, respect and ethical responsibility in their hearts.

This novel combines m/m romance with (imagined) historical settings and a gripping crime-detection-trial plot. I just finished a novel where a corpse is a McGuffin to furnish laughs. This novel treats death, corpses, murder and suicide with utter respect for human life and dignity, and reserves judgement even on apparently vile characters. There are beautiful found families and dreams come true for a handful of secondary characters as well.

This is a world that includes slavery and features a number of former enslaved people. The subject is handled with extraordinary delicacy. There are some abolitionists. But I found most moving that moment when Varazda, formerly enslaved, discovers how strange to him is the concept of anti-slavery. This is truly anthropological in its sensitivity to what it is like to live in a certain world, at a certain time, with a certain horizon of cultural and emotional expectations that at once bind you but also open out fissures for alternative lives.

And I delight in the textures and material details of this world.

The cover is gorgeous, by Vic Grey. The formatting is impeccable, with lovely leaf designs at the head of every chapter.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

"If it would help," said Varazda, deadpan, "I'd be happy to pose as a bizarre girlfriend. I didn't bring any of my gowns with me, but I can always get something ready-made in the market." [loc. 1453]

Third in the series that started with Sword Dance and continued with Saffron Alley: the setting is reminiscent of the classical Mediterranean, though with the names changed, and the protagonists are Damiskos (military veteran) and Varazda (eunuch dancer and spy).

I think I enjoyed Strong Wine even more than the previous two instalments. Damiskos, who has been living with Varazda for a month and rather hoping that he can stay forever (but is it too early to ask?) is summoned 'home' to Pheme to encounter old enemies, his ex-fiancee, and -- worst of all -- his feckless parents. He despairs: but he should have more faith in Varazda, who is not prepared to simply let his beloved be drawn back into a life he no longer wants.

Hilarious, poignant, and triumphant, Strong Wine features a murder mystery, some splendid women (including Aradne and Nione, first encountered in Sword Dance, as well as Ino the silversmith and Dami's mother Myrto, who refuses to misgender Varazda), just deserts for the malfeasant and happy endings for the (mostly) deserving, including Dami's horse Xanthe. I was especially cheered by the ways in which the characters look after one another, and by Varazda's sheer competence: he's not just a pretty face. (I was also, perversely, cheered that neither Varazda nor Dami were prepared to tolerate misgendering, homophobia or generic insults. It's one thing to know that they originate from prejudice and ignorance, quite another to endure the constant grind.)

I received a review copy from the lovely author, in exchange for this honest review, which I'm publishing out of sequence in honour of Publication Day!