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Ballad of the Silver Stag
Ballad of the Silver Stag is the love story of Lady Eileen Hastings and Ser Luka Ossian - a knight known as "the Silver Stag". As children, Eileen and Luka were intensely in love, but Eileen was a highborn lady, and Luka was a lowborn blacksmith's son. After a tragic incident left Luka permanently scarred, the pair parted ways.
Fifteen years later, when Eileen's father hosts a tourney celebrating his fiftieth birthday, Luka attends as a competitor, and discovers that Eileen is now trapped in a dangerous and loveless marriage. With his honour (and his life) on the line, Luka sets out to help his former love - no matter the consequences.
Fifteen years later, when Eileen's father hosts a tourney celebrating his fiftieth birthday, Luka attends as a competitor, and discovers that Eileen is now trapped in a dangerous and loveless marriage. With his honour (and his life) on the line, Luka sets out to help his former love - no matter the consequences.
- GenresFantasy
272 pages, Hardcover
Published November 5, 2021
95 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 28, 2021
Childhood friends to lovers with a dash of forbidden lovers? ✔️
Angst galore with payoff in the end? ✔️
Beautiful imagery and “Arthurian legend” vibes? ✔️
This dual-POV novella has it all! Ballad of the Silver Stag is a short story that sets the stage for a brand new fantasy series that’s bound to be another favorite of mine. Luka’s and Eileen’s journey gutted me and healed me in all the right ways. And at the end establishes the journey for certain side characters as they will take the lead in the books to come. Can’t wait to see where the story goes from here!
Angst galore with payoff in the end? ✔️
Beautiful imagery and “Arthurian legend” vibes? ✔️
This dual-POV novella has it all! Ballad of the Silver Stag is a short story that sets the stage for a brand new fantasy series that’s bound to be another favorite of mine. Luka’s and Eileen’s journey gutted me and healed me in all the right ways. And at the end establishes the journey for certain side characters as they will take the lead in the books to come. Can’t wait to see where the story goes from here!
July 8, 2022
Absolutely show stopping couldn’t believe it took me this long to get it/read it. Well worth the price tag.
July 25, 2022
This book is amazing!! I loved every minute of it. I couldn't put it down - I felt like a little kid again, reading under my blankets, hoping no one would come and tell me to go to sleep and stop reading before I got to the end.
The plot is intriguing and the immersive, and one thing that the author does AMAZINGLY is making the conflict realistic. It never feels contrived, and the dialogue is well written in that characters actually talked to each other about their fears, wishes, worries. Action scenes are easy to follow and all of the world-building is well laid out so information comes naturally throughout the plot, rather than in an info-dump at the beginning of a chapter. Can't stress enough how great that is!!
The characters are each richly diverse and realistic - the devotion that Luka and Eileen show for each other is incredibly sweet, and I am definitely interested in Devin's backstory and reading more about him. I'm also very excited to read any future installments of this series as there are many hints towards higher religion, more races/species, and magic(!!) in this world that I would LOVE to learn more about.
Overall, Ballad of the Silver Stag is a MUST READ!! You will not regret picking this up!!
The plot is intriguing and the immersive, and one thing that the author does AMAZINGLY is making the conflict realistic. It never feels contrived, and the dialogue is well written in that characters actually talked to each other about their fears, wishes, worries. Action scenes are easy to follow and all of the world-building is well laid out so information comes naturally throughout the plot, rather than in an info-dump at the beginning of a chapter. Can't stress enough how great that is!!
The characters are each richly diverse and realistic - the devotion that Luka and Eileen show for each other is incredibly sweet, and I am definitely interested in Devin's backstory and reading more about him. I'm also very excited to read any future installments of this series as there are many hints towards higher religion, more races/species, and magic(!!) in this world that I would LOVE to learn more about.
Overall, Ballad of the Silver Stag is a MUST READ!! You will not regret picking this up!!
February 16, 2022
"I'm not leaving you. I'll never leave you again. As long as I live."
Loved it!!
Ballad of the Silver Stag is a beautifully written story with endearing characters. I was immediately pulled into the richness of the world from the very beginning. This novella depicts a delightful romance, cleaver dialogue, action and suspense. I couldn't wait to find out how Eileen and Luka's story would develop. Despite the paths their lives take them, throughout the hardships and obstacles, their feelings for one another stay true.
I found Luka to be steadfast with a good heart. Eileen was lovely, determined and strong. Devin was caring and particularly intriguing (I'd like to read more about him). Edith was so sweet and thoughtful!
It was an incredibly enjoyable read and I look forward to future works by this author!
"But if I am victorious, it shall be because the Gods have seen the truth in me and found no fault in it. And let that be the end of it!"
Loved it!!
Ballad of the Silver Stag is a beautifully written story with endearing characters. I was immediately pulled into the richness of the world from the very beginning. This novella depicts a delightful romance, cleaver dialogue, action and suspense. I couldn't wait to find out how Eileen and Luka's story would develop. Despite the paths their lives take them, throughout the hardships and obstacles, their feelings for one another stay true.
I found Luka to be steadfast with a good heart. Eileen was lovely, determined and strong. Devin was caring and particularly intriguing (I'd like to read more about him). Edith was so sweet and thoughtful!
It was an incredibly enjoyable read and I look forward to future works by this author!
"But if I am victorious, it shall be because the Gods have seen the truth in me and found no fault in it. And let that be the end of it!"
November 28, 2021
4 1/2 Stars
I'm not always the biggest fan of friends to lovers but childhood friends to lovers is trope that is fast becoming one of my favourites.
I was intrigued by this story from the beginning. It reads like a fairytale and I found myself wanting to keep turning the pages. It was quite a quick read but it still felt like a full story with good pacing and had great world building with well developed characters. I felt my heart break a few times but the end made me feel whole again. I wanted to read more about Luka and Eileen's story and I look forward to continuing on with future books.
I'm not always the biggest fan of friends to lovers but childhood friends to lovers is trope that is fast becoming one of my favourites.
I was intrigued by this story from the beginning. It reads like a fairytale and I found myself wanting to keep turning the pages. It was quite a quick read but it still felt like a full story with good pacing and had great world building with well developed characters. I felt my heart break a few times but the end made me feel whole again. I wanted to read more about Luka and Eileen's story and I look forward to continuing on with future books.
February 14, 2022
OH…MY…GOD…I LOVED THIS BOOK!!
All the characters in this book were amazing! Especially the kids. I’ve read some books when the kids were a bit annoying. But i absolutely fell in love with them. Will protect Edith at all cost!
Fav character is of course Luka 💙
Couldn’t put the book down and finished it in a day. You know it’s a good book when you finish it really fast lol
All the characters in this book were amazing! Especially the kids. I’ve read some books when the kids were a bit annoying. But i absolutely fell in love with them. Will protect Edith at all cost!
Fav character is of course Luka 💙
Couldn’t put the book down and finished it in a day. You know it’s a good book when you finish it really fast lol
June 8, 2022
“Until every last star burns itself from the heavens, until the Gods themselves are naught but dust and memory; until then, and beyond, I will love you.”
It has been a hot minute since I’ve read an Arthurian fantasy book and not been bored by the experience. Not my usual area I tend to enjoy, but oh my goodness this was just the sweetest love story.
Luka and Eileen deserve the most safe, happy and comfortable future together after the events of Ballad of the Silver Stag! I cannot wait to see what D.F. Retha continues to do with this world and any others she creates as she stakes her claim in the fantasy genre.
Enjoyable and emotion-filled page turner, with a myriad of characters to fall for (I myself am obsessed with both Geoffrey and Devin. I want to read so much more about both of them and see what they each get up to following this novellas events)
It has been a hot minute since I’ve read an Arthurian fantasy book and not been bored by the experience. Not my usual area I tend to enjoy, but oh my goodness this was just the sweetest love story.
Luka and Eileen deserve the most safe, happy and comfortable future together after the events of Ballad of the Silver Stag! I cannot wait to see what D.F. Retha continues to do with this world and any others she creates as she stakes her claim in the fantasy genre.
Enjoyable and emotion-filled page turner, with a myriad of characters to fall for (I myself am obsessed with both Geoffrey and Devin. I want to read so much more about both of them and see what they each get up to following this novellas events)
November 27, 2021
Childhood friends to lovers with a dash of forbidden lovers? ✔️
Angst galore with payoff in the end? ✔️
Beautiful imagery and “Arthurian legend” vibes? ✔️
This dual-POV novella has it all! Ballad of the Silver Stag is a short story that sets the stage for a brand new fantasy series that’s bound to be another favorite of mine. Luka’s and Eileen’s journey gutted me and healed me in all the right ways. And at the end establishes the journey for certain side characters as they will take the lead in the books to come. Can’t wait to see where the story goes from here!
Angst galore with payoff in the end? ✔️
Beautiful imagery and “Arthurian legend” vibes? ✔️
This dual-POV novella has it all! Ballad of the Silver Stag is a short story that sets the stage for a brand new fantasy series that’s bound to be another favorite of mine. Luka’s and Eileen’s journey gutted me and healed me in all the right ways. And at the end establishes the journey for certain side characters as they will take the lead in the books to come. Can’t wait to see where the story goes from here!
November 5, 2021
A new series for lovers of courtly intrigue, politics, and romance, Ballad of the Silver Stag blends the extensive fantasy world-building of A Song of Ice and Fire with the kind of chivalric heroes, evil villains, and fair maidens found in traditional Arthurian legend . . .
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews