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Chronicles of Ylandre #1
Sacred Fate
Most bonds evolve with time. But a precious few begin even before birth.
In the dual-gendered realm of Ylandre, the great divide between the high-born True Bloods and the lower-ranked Half Bloods is deemed impassable by most. Rohyr Essendri dared to cross it when he took young Lassen Idana from his provincial town and made him his paramour.
Lassen perforce learned how to navigate the intricate byways of life at court. What he never expected, however, was to fall in love with Rohyr, a most inadvisable and impractical thing to do when one’s lover is sovereign ruler of the land. But anything worth having is worth fighting for, both figuratively and, as Lassen discovers, literally speaking.
Contains hermaphroditism and explicit homoerotic sexual encounters.
In the dual-gendered realm of Ylandre, the great divide between the high-born True Bloods and the lower-ranked Half Bloods is deemed impassable by most. Rohyr Essendri dared to cross it when he took young Lassen Idana from his provincial town and made him his paramour.
Lassen perforce learned how to navigate the intricate byways of life at court. What he never expected, however, was to fall in love with Rohyr, a most inadvisable and impractical thing to do when one’s lover is sovereign ruler of the land. But anything worth having is worth fighting for, both figuratively and, as Lassen discovers, literally speaking.
Contains hermaphroditism and explicit homoerotic sexual encounters.
323 pages, ebook
First published September 14, 2009
70 people are currently reading
3077 people want to read
About the author
Eressë
10 books363 followersAKA Eressë Belley
Eressë has always enjoyed reading and writing historical fantasy. Indeed, her pen name is taken from the elvish language J.R.R. Tolkien created for his fantasy epic The Lord of the Rings, a favorite of hers since way back when. However, most of her stories turned into M/M romances because the male leads had more chemistry with each other than with the females. Why she wrote them that way she doesn't know. But this penchant for M/M fantasy romance became the wellspring of her series Chronicles of Ylandre.
Eressë lives in Southeast Asia with her husband, three sons and one dog. She also likes to cook and bake and is a professed chocoholic. But her first love is and always will be writing stories.
Blog: Tales by Eressë
Eressë has always enjoyed reading and writing historical fantasy. Indeed, her pen name is taken from the elvish language J.R.R. Tolkien created for his fantasy epic The Lord of the Rings, a favorite of hers since way back when. However, most of her stories turned into M/M romances because the male leads had more chemistry with each other than with the females. Why she wrote them that way she doesn't know. But this penchant for M/M fantasy romance became the wellspring of her series Chronicles of Ylandre.
Eressë lives in Southeast Asia with her husband, three sons and one dog. She also likes to cook and bake and is a professed chocoholic. But her first love is and always will be writing stories.
Blog: Tales by Eressë
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews
July 29, 2016
12/11/15 Series RE-READ in preparation for newest book, woot woot! and JUST as awesome.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
This was me before starting this:
What, what, you say?
1) On the "Best Gay Romance with Characters With Unusual Genitalia" list
2) MPreg - that's male pregnancy - for those like me who were not in the know and did not know about this entire reading sub genre.
3) And "dual-gender" characters?
And this was me after:
Wooooooooooooooooooooooooow....!
That was surprisingly super-y duper-y good!
Not gonna lie though...
At first, I had NO idea what da fuq was going on.
But you know how things go when you start a new fantasy-type series...
Lots of world building...
*
*
*
*
*
...LOTS of names and places you have no idea what/where/when they are...
...or how to even pronounce them...
*
*
*
*
*
LOOOOOOOTS of crazy sexual what the FUCKery.
*
*
*
*
*
...HOWEVER...
If you are like me - and dig all that kind of shit?
Then you too will think this ish was awesomely badass.
Already downloading numero dos...
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
This was me before starting this:
What, what, you say?
1) On the "Best Gay Romance with Characters With Unusual Genitalia" list
2) MPreg - that's male pregnancy - for those like me who were not in the know and did not know about this entire reading sub genre.
3) And "dual-gender" characters?
And this was me after:
Wooooooooooooooooooooooooow....!
That was surprisingly super-y duper-y good!
Not gonna lie though...
At first, I had NO idea what da fuq was going on.
But you know how things go when you start a new fantasy-type series...
Lots of world building...
*
*
*
*
*
...LOTS of names and places you have no idea what/where/when they are...
...or how to even pronounce them...
*
*
*
*
*
LOOOOOOOTS of crazy sexual what the FUCKery.
*
*
*
*
*
...HOWEVER...
If you are like me - and dig all that kind of shit?
Then you too will think this ish was awesomely badass.
Already downloading numero dos...
September 8, 2014
**Fans of M/M fantasy, this is FREE today (9/8/14) at Amazon US! http://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Fate-Chr...**
I'm going to rate this even though I only read up to 50% (still about 175 pages). I think it is safe to say that this book is not for me.
I struggled immensely with the writing. It is a lot of "thou" and "wherefore" kind of talk coupled with names that I think were designed just to confuse readers. Virtually unpronounceable and thoroughly un-rememberable, I could not for the life of me recall the names of either the characters or the places. Also, was I the only one who noticed the POV changes from paragraph to paragraph?
To top it off, I thought that the relationship between Lassen and Rohyr was just fraught with miscommunication and inequality. And the scheming relatives bored me. I also thought the sex was a strange and not particularly erotic, but maybe that was the intersex quality of the MC, which I found to be more interesting than hot.
I don't know, I don't know... I think fantasy doesn't work for me a majority of the time. This was no exception. It wasn't bad, I could have probably finished it, but I felt totally blah towards it the entire time. A miss for me.
I'm going to rate this even though I only read up to 50% (still about 175 pages). I think it is safe to say that this book is not for me.
I struggled immensely with the writing. It is a lot of "thou" and "wherefore" kind of talk coupled with names that I think were designed just to confuse readers. Virtually unpronounceable and thoroughly un-rememberable, I could not for the life of me recall the names of either the characters or the places. Also, was I the only one who noticed the POV changes from paragraph to paragraph?
To top it off, I thought that the relationship between Lassen and Rohyr was just fraught with miscommunication and inequality. And the scheming relatives bored me. I also thought the sex was a strange and not particularly erotic, but maybe that was the intersex quality of the MC, which I found to be more interesting than hot.
I don't know, I don't know... I think fantasy doesn't work for me a majority of the time. This was no exception. It wasn't bad, I could have probably finished it, but I felt totally blah towards it the entire time. A miss for me.
January 25, 2018
2.5 stars rounding up because I loved the MCs.
All I have to say in this review is that the writing ruined what I consider to be an amazing 5-star story.
I’m parting ways with this the rest of this series because this reader does not find the old English writing style reader friendly.
All I have to say in this review is that the writing ruined what I consider to be an amazing 5-star story.
I’m parting ways with this the rest of this series because this reader does not find the old English writing style reader friendly.
October 2, 2016
DNFed at 35%. My rating is for that part only.
Nothing happens in the first third of this "fantasy". The book itself is a huge info dump of useless history, descriptions of unimportant things (ie plumbing) and family liaisons.
The language is pretentious and heavy, trying to camouflage as an "old charm".
The characters.... ohhhh...
Rohyr the King is a push-over and a suck up, bending backwards in order not to upset his evil uncle.
Lassen is a "breeder", someone who can bear children. He is a hermaphrodite, identifies himself as male, but acts like a female. Why not make him a woman from the beginning? Is it just for the sake of mpreg tag?
*
I made a list of important events, that transpired in the first 35%. Don't hold your breath.
1. Young Lassen finds himself given away to the king (Rohyr), in exchange for military protection of the province where he lives. Rohyr makes Lessen hiswhore concubine (never to be a consort), even tho the boy is underage at 28 (breeders don't reach sexual maturity until they are past 30. Long life span and all.).
2. Lassen lives somewhere in Rohyr's castle, but not with him. Every once in a while they run into each other and suck face and other body parts.
3. 10 years later (smack out of nowhere - not a warning, not a hint, nothing, just turn a page to a new chapter and there you are Ten. Years. Later.) Lassen finds out that Rohyr's evil uncle has an evil plan at hand.
This is it.
All around and in between the above mentioned events we have:
- a lot of unnecessary history and geography lessons,
- lectures on Rohyr's extended family relations,
- overload of random alien names that for the life of me I couldn't remember past the sentence they were introduced in,
- lengthy descriptions of things in no way important to anything in the book - see me bitching about whimsical plumbing in the comments.
Once again, that's 35% of the book, and the book is not short.
1.5 stars and rounding down.
PS Looking at the characters' bodies and their heads, I can't stop thinking "Escher"!
Nothing happens in the first third of this "fantasy". The book itself is a huge info dump of useless history, descriptions of unimportant things (ie plumbing) and family liaisons.
The language is pretentious and heavy, trying to camouflage as an "old charm".
The characters.... ohhhh...
Rohyr the King is a push-over and a suck up, bending backwards in order not to upset his evil uncle.
Lassen is a "breeder", someone who can bear children. He is a hermaphrodite, identifies himself as male, but acts like a female. Why not make him a woman from the beginning? Is it just for the sake of mpreg tag?
*
I made a list of important events, that transpired in the first 35%. Don't hold your breath.
1. Young Lassen finds himself given away to the king (Rohyr), in exchange for military protection of the province where he lives. Rohyr makes Lessen his
2. Lassen lives somewhere in Rohyr's castle, but not with him. Every once in a while they run into each other and suck face and other body parts.
3. 10 years later (smack out of nowhere - not a warning, not a hint, nothing, just turn a page to a new chapter and there you are Ten. Years. Later.) Lassen finds out that Rohyr's evil uncle has an evil plan at hand.
This is it.
All around and in between the above mentioned events we have:
- a lot of unnecessary history and geography lessons,
- lectures on Rohyr's extended family relations,
- overload of random alien names that for the life of me I couldn't remember past the sentence they were introduced in,
- lengthy descriptions of things in no way important to anything in the book - see me bitching about whimsical plumbing in the comments.
Once again, that's 35% of the book, and the book is not short.
1.5 stars and rounding down.
PS Looking at the characters' bodies and their heads, I can't stop thinking "Escher"!
January 17, 2011
This book simply captivated me. The world is magnificent, the idea behind the story unique and quite beautiful. The characters are caring and kind, yet intelligent even when a bit naive.
Lassen grew on me, and honestly I can put him at the very top of the list for the best character in m/m. He was so beautifully portrayed in his innocence and simple goodness that it brought me to tears at times and I couldn't read the words fast enough.
Rohyr is a great ruler, fair, strong and very conscious of his desires as much as his obligations. The care he showed for the man he loved was astounding and I couldn't help it but adore him from that first talk with the elders and his overwhelming confidence.
The very bearing of a child was described to the smallest detail, giving the very notion of how much effort was invested in the concept of the story. It gripped me from the beginning to the end and I found myself enjoying their sexual endeavors, smiling at their gentleness and enduring through their pains.
It was truly a wonderful experience to read this book and I hope there will be a worthy sequel in store.
Lassen grew on me, and honestly I can put him at the very top of the list for the best character in m/m. He was so beautifully portrayed in his innocence and simple goodness that it brought me to tears at times and I couldn't read the words fast enough.
Rohyr is a great ruler, fair, strong and very conscious of his desires as much as his obligations. The care he showed for the man he loved was astounding and I couldn't help it but adore him from that first talk with the elders and his overwhelming confidence.
The very bearing of a child was described to the smallest detail, giving the very notion of how much effort was invested in the concept of the story. It gripped me from the beginning to the end and I found myself enjoying their sexual endeavors, smiling at their gentleness and enduring through their pains.
It was truly a wonderful experience to read this book and I hope there will be a worthy sequel in store.
February 5, 2011
I’ve read too many of this type of hypocritical relationships lately to let this one pass me by. Other reviews have pointed out this book’s apparent merits, but I wish I hadn’t read it in the first place.
When Rohyr and Lassen begin their relationship, Rohyr imprints on Lassen which doesn’t allow him to have sex with another. However, it’s ok for Rohyr to marry somebody else, have sex with him and try and get an heir?
Yes, from the beginning we are told that Lassen is nothing more than a paramour, but their seemingly impossible relationship was so easily settled at the end of the novel that it all felt pointless to me. If all of their suffering could have been prevented from the very beginning, why did I have to read through 171 pages when just one word from Rohyr as King could have avoided it all?
Then, to find out that Rohyr and Lassen were actually soul mates and that Rohyr had known from the first time he set eyes on Lassen that he was the man that he had loved in a previous life and had lost. If I am to believe that when he lost Lassen the first time this had destroyed Rohyr, how can I reconcile this with the fact that after lifetimes of waiting and searching for Lassen when he finally finds him he willingly marries another, and tells Lassen he would have loved his new husband if he’d only been nicer?
Summarised into one sentence, what I’m trying to say is: how come love can overcome death as proven by the soul-bound but it can’t overcome duty? Why do I keep reading about the more dominant partner in a relationship being able to have sex with others under some excuse or another while the other has to put up with it?
When Rohyr and Lassen begin their relationship, Rohyr imprints on Lassen which doesn’t allow him to have sex with another. However, it’s ok for Rohyr to marry somebody else, have sex with him and try and get an heir?
Yes, from the beginning we are told that Lassen is nothing more than a paramour, but their seemingly impossible relationship was so easily settled at the end of the novel that it all felt pointless to me. If all of their suffering could have been prevented from the very beginning, why did I have to read through 171 pages when just one word from Rohyr as King could have avoided it all?
Then, to find out that Rohyr and Lassen were actually soul mates and that Rohyr had known from the first time he set eyes on Lassen that he was the man that he had loved in a previous life and had lost. If I am to believe that when he lost Lassen the first time this had destroyed Rohyr, how can I reconcile this with the fact that after lifetimes of waiting and searching for Lassen when he finally finds him he willingly marries another, and tells Lassen he would have loved his new husband if he’d only been nicer?
Summarised into one sentence, what I’m trying to say is: how come love can overcome death as proven by the soul-bound but it can’t overcome duty? Why do I keep reading about the more dominant partner in a relationship being able to have sex with others under some excuse or another while the other has to put up with it?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2011
Once upon a time, far.. far.... away, in a strange land, called Aisen, there is a warrior king. Surrounded by his loyal followers...
... he is the only ruler, with power, adoration and a mental capacity no other in his land have....and despite everything... something is missing
He is a sorrowful knight... because never know true love
Yes, it's a fantasy, with a touch of fairy tale, and a lot of erotic scenes.... how can I say how much I love Lassen Idana of Tal Ereq, the hermaphrodite Deir with a simple live, never searching power of notoriety, but only a trustful partner? How can I show you how amazing is Rohyr Essendri, with all his immense power, never being able to give his soul to another being, and finally know this strange but so much desired sentiment... called love.
Fantastic story, amazing secondary characters, perfect in all aspect!
5 stars and I strongly recommend a glance in the Glossary of Terms (at the end of the book) before you start it. There is a lot of strange words, and the glossary certainly is very useful.
February 1, 2014
Update 02/01/2014
This story mixes historical and fantasy with exquisite world building. As novel as the idea for this story is, it could easily overwhelm the unwary reader. A glossary of terms came be found at the end. I would suggest first time readers to at least take a look before tackling the story. Even I needed a bit of help with the terms used.
This was a reread for me because I wished to finally read the rest of the series, which I already own just haven't gotten around to yet. I'm glad that I did because I needed the refresher on the world and terms. The story was unique enough that I still recalled the plot but the terms tripped me up. I still hold to my stance, there are too many side characters. It is why I cannot give the story five stars. Something of the story was lost when I had trouble following in certain places. The uncommon names and titles weren't familiar enough to help me place certain characters when they entered a scene.
That being said, remembering the core characters wasn't as difficult so I didn't become lost following them through the plot.
This is a story of a King (Ardin) Rohyr Essendri and his leman (concubine) Lassen Idana. There are many elements such as: court intrigue, Full Bloods and Half Bloods class distinction, a Templar secret society, mixed with mental abilities that ranged from reading minds to translocation.
Some years pass since Rohyr took Lassen from his home as a youth and claimed him as leman. He was strong armed blackmailed by his trusted uncle into a marriage to a younger cousin he hardly knew, but Rohyr negotiates that he would keep Lassen. It was difficult to watch Rohyr take and bed his consort, even though he was in love with Lassen. His uncle was always pushing, shoving, and reminding Rohyr of his duty time and again until I wanted to run the man through. The court intrigue and political maneuverings began in earnest. The threat the consort would find a way to part Rohyr from Lassen built until I devised multiple ways for Rohyr's duplicitous cousin to meet his untimely demise.
I think Lassen easily speaks to many readers. He's kind, thoughtful, and humble. He pigeonholed himself into his social class and it was evident that if he had been even slightly ambitious, Rohyr would've eventually caved and made Lassen his official consort. But Lassen would never use his influence for personal gain. His only ambition was on Rohyr's behalf, lifting him up in the eyes of the people.
Lassen didn't push, therefore Rohyr didn't think to solidify their bond more formally. He, too, trapped himself by adhering to the Full Blood's and his family's customs instead of listening to his heart. Much of what transpires was caused by mistakes, small and large, when Rohyr trusted the wrong individuals and did not look beyond his current personal circumstances, leading to culminating events that had devastating results.
Without giving away spoilers, there is a turn in the plot where Rohyr reveals a long held secret which will have some readers up in arms. I felt the reasons given throughout were sufficient to excuse Rohyr from not being perfect. Part of the story is about breaking the conventional bonds that holds each man to his social class, breaking age old practices, and being the first to step over that boundary to face ridicule and censure. Realizing that state of the country did not mean anything if Rohyr lost the one and only person he loved. All of that, plus knowing Rohyr lived his life as the office of Arden to the point, that without Lassen, he would have forgotten how to be simply a man, made him redeemable in my eyes. I do adore flawed characters.
If you find delight in historicals with an alternative twist, court intrigue, ambitious consorts, constricting class distinctions, blackmail, flawed characters, and epic love all wound to together in stunning world, then you may enjoy Sacred Fate.
You can also see the review at http://heartsonfirereviews.com/?p=24890
***********
10/26/2010 Review: I wasn't sure that I was going to like this book. I don't read much historical romance because I cannot stand the smote/smiting - doths - the droving of swords or "shiething" or how the arthor just cannot say Rohyr kissed Lassen but that Rohyr captured Lassen's breath or some such foolishness, even if it is occassionally hot. At least nothing felt like black velvet and there were no verily's to irk me. :-P
This was like reading Robert Jordan for the first time (with better sex). I did not find the index of terms until I finsihed the book because of course it was placed in the back. (Like I would have had the patience to flip back and forth.) There were strange terms and place names and given names which made it a challenging read. I quit trying to remember who was who as long as I got the core characters down which really was what was important.
All that being said, this was a fantastic read. I was caught before the first chapter concluded and I couldn't put it down until I was finished. I didn't even mind some of the smoting that went on, though talk of the "shieth" cracked me up because come on....but I did understand the usage when everything got laid out. I look forward to re-reading because I am sure that I missed things the first time through (just like Robert Jordan).
This story mixes historical and fantasy with exquisite world building. As novel as the idea for this story is, it could easily overwhelm the unwary reader. A glossary of terms came be found at the end. I would suggest first time readers to at least take a look before tackling the story. Even I needed a bit of help with the terms used.
This was a reread for me because I wished to finally read the rest of the series, which I already own just haven't gotten around to yet. I'm glad that I did because I needed the refresher on the world and terms. The story was unique enough that I still recalled the plot but the terms tripped me up. I still hold to my stance, there are too many side characters. It is why I cannot give the story five stars. Something of the story was lost when I had trouble following in certain places. The uncommon names and titles weren't familiar enough to help me place certain characters when they entered a scene.
That being said, remembering the core characters wasn't as difficult so I didn't become lost following them through the plot.
This is a story of a King (Ardin) Rohyr Essendri and his leman (concubine) Lassen Idana. There are many elements such as: court intrigue, Full Bloods and Half Bloods class distinction, a Templar secret society, mixed with mental abilities that ranged from reading minds to translocation.
Some years pass since Rohyr took Lassen from his home as a youth and claimed him as leman. He was strong armed blackmailed by his trusted uncle into a marriage to a younger cousin he hardly knew, but Rohyr negotiates that he would keep Lassen. It was difficult to watch Rohyr take and bed his consort, even though he was in love with Lassen. His uncle was always pushing, shoving, and reminding Rohyr of his duty time and again until I wanted to run the man through. The court intrigue and political maneuverings began in earnest. The threat the consort would find a way to part Rohyr from Lassen built until I devised multiple ways for Rohyr's duplicitous cousin to meet his untimely demise.
I think Lassen easily speaks to many readers. He's kind, thoughtful, and humble. He pigeonholed himself into his social class and it was evident that if he had been even slightly ambitious, Rohyr would've eventually caved and made Lassen his official consort. But Lassen would never use his influence for personal gain. His only ambition was on Rohyr's behalf, lifting him up in the eyes of the people.
Lassen didn't push, therefore Rohyr didn't think to solidify their bond more formally. He, too, trapped himself by adhering to the Full Blood's and his family's customs instead of listening to his heart. Much of what transpires was caused by mistakes, small and large, when Rohyr trusted the wrong individuals and did not look beyond his current personal circumstances, leading to culminating events that had devastating results.
Without giving away spoilers, there is a turn in the plot where Rohyr reveals a long held secret which will have some readers up in arms. I felt the reasons given throughout were sufficient to excuse Rohyr from not being perfect. Part of the story is about breaking the conventional bonds that holds each man to his social class, breaking age old practices, and being the first to step over that boundary to face ridicule and censure. Realizing that state of the country did not mean anything if Rohyr lost the one and only person he loved. All of that, plus knowing Rohyr lived his life as the office of Arden to the point, that without Lassen, he would have forgotten how to be simply a man, made him redeemable in my eyes. I do adore flawed characters.
If you find delight in historicals with an alternative twist, court intrigue, ambitious consorts, constricting class distinctions, blackmail, flawed characters, and epic love all wound to together in stunning world, then you may enjoy Sacred Fate.
You can also see the review at http://heartsonfirereviews.com/?p=24890
***********
10/26/2010 Review: I wasn't sure that I was going to like this book. I don't read much historical romance because I cannot stand the smote/smiting - doths - the droving of swords or "shiething" or how the arthor just cannot say Rohyr kissed Lassen but that Rohyr captured Lassen's breath or some such foolishness, even if it is occassionally hot. At least nothing felt like black velvet and there were no verily's to irk me. :-P
This was like reading Robert Jordan for the first time (with better sex). I did not find the index of terms until I finsihed the book because of course it was placed in the back. (Like I would have had the patience to flip back and forth.) There were strange terms and place names and given names which made it a challenging read. I quit trying to remember who was who as long as I got the core characters down which really was what was important.
All that being said, this was a fantastic read. I was caught before the first chapter concluded and I couldn't put it down until I was finished. I didn't even mind some of the smoting that went on, though talk of the "shieth" cracked me up because come on....but I did understand the usage when everything got laid out. I look forward to re-reading because I am sure that I missed things the first time through (just like Robert Jordan).
August 24, 2013
If I ever wanted to read about two guys so PERFECT that it made me itch all over, but at the same time so STUPID that I wanted to slap them into oblivion, this would just be the book for it. I opt for a moment of ZEN before I start this review.
The book managed to vex me on so many levels, it was simply breathtaking. To name a few: passive, submissive and naïve MC, conflict due to miscommunication, blatantly stupid behavior on all sides (not even the bad guy was allowed to do clever things, let alone hideous ones), chick with dick...
But the ratings are high, so let me give some examples and play a (MILDLY SPOILERISH) game:
Imagine having looked for your lost soul mate in past lives that stretched over a millennium, and when you finally found him, you
a) court your long lost soul mate so that he falls in love with you all over again , reassure him that he won’t be put aside EVER and make him yours in whatever way possible ASAP?
b) force his parents to give said soul mate to you as a concubine on the side because custom and a grumpy uncle forbid marriage?
Another one? How do you like your king best?
a) He is“a battle-honed, warrior king of striking beauty, steely grace and an ENDOWEMENT that leave your mouth dry”
b) He shows “…many kindnesses and compassion. Not to mention EXCEPTIONAL handsomeness and nigh perfection of form…”
c) This one is mandatory: “The people love him.”
…and my favorite:
d) He is one of the very few “… who can recall every life cycle of his existence and withstand the burden of it. ALL OTHERS would go mad from such knowledge.”
2 stars for a m/f romance in a flimsy mpreg disguise
April 8, 2011
CAUTION: Major Spoilers
Stupid Characters
Unlikable and sometime idiotic characters. There is a difference between being innocent and being naive, and unfortunately Lassen fell into the latter. Lassen stupidly fell in love with Rohyr despite knowing Lassen could only ever be the king's concubine and not his consort. No matter, how much they love each other it was unrealistic of Lassen to not consider whether he could have a happy future with Rohyr. Love may be blind, but it sure as heck isn't stupid.
Rohyr was idiotic in the fact that he fell prey to his uncle Imcael's scheme. Just because they share the same blood doesn't mean loyalty was a given, and Rohyr fell for that *hard*. Royal family members who backstab each other for the throne? How UNsuprising. Moreover, you think Rohyr would have taken this history lesson to heart considering he remember his past-life as another king who was dealt the same crap. Past-life! OMG! Not only so, it made no sense that he accepted to marry Tyrde when he knew Lassen was his soulmate, knew the loss of his soulmate in a past-life when both Rohyr and Lassen were different people. How could he repeat this mistake? And then he expected Lassen to stick around? And slapped Lassen when Lassen didn't and thought that Lassen was pregnant with another man's baby? What a SOB!
Tyrde, stupid stupid evil Tyrde. Tyrde, if you wanted the throne, you could at least pretend affection for your king. Did you really expect Rohyr would endear himself to you for an occasional bang in the bed and your strict adherence to royal protocol? Did you really think mind-reading Rohyr would not discover your scheme to eliminate Lassen? It's fine if you make clear of your ambition, but it's NOT fine to alienate the one person your amibition rested upon.
Ending Kinda Suck
The end-fight felt rushed. It would have been better if Lassen learned to make use of his newly-founded psychic skill and to release it in the fight against Tyrde. So when Rohyr had to help out Lassen, it made the victory seem hollow.
Epic World
The world-building was superb, almost as epic as LOTR (the films). I literally felt the history of Ylandre moving across my eyes. I like how the author asserted the extinction of female-kind and the male-pregnancy right from the beginning. It didn't feel sexist to me because she build these people up as hermaphroditic aliens. Technically, this wasn't a mm-romance since the people were not truly male.
The sex scenes were creatively-worded so I wasn't bored by their shagging. Though the sex didn't evoke the oh-la-la hotness, but it was touchingly sweet.
Stupid Characters
Unlikable and sometime idiotic characters. There is a difference between being innocent and being naive, and unfortunately Lassen fell into the latter. Lassen stupidly fell in love with Rohyr despite knowing Lassen could only ever be the king's concubine and not his consort. No matter, how much they love each other it was unrealistic of Lassen to not consider whether he could have a happy future with Rohyr. Love may be blind, but it sure as heck isn't stupid.
Rohyr was idiotic in the fact that he fell prey to his uncle Imcael's scheme. Just because they share the same blood doesn't mean loyalty was a given, and Rohyr fell for that *hard*. Royal family members who backstab each other for the throne? How UNsuprising. Moreover, you think Rohyr would have taken this history lesson to heart considering he remember his past-life as another king who was dealt the same crap. Past-life! OMG! Not only so, it made no sense that he accepted to marry Tyrde when he knew Lassen was his soulmate, knew the loss of his soulmate in a past-life when both Rohyr and Lassen were different people. How could he repeat this mistake? And then he expected Lassen to stick around? And slapped Lassen when Lassen didn't and thought that Lassen was pregnant with another man's baby? What a SOB!
Tyrde, stupid stupid evil Tyrde. Tyrde, if you wanted the throne, you could at least pretend affection for your king. Did you really expect Rohyr would endear himself to you for an occasional bang in the bed and your strict adherence to royal protocol? Did you really think mind-reading Rohyr would not discover your scheme to eliminate Lassen? It's fine if you make clear of your ambition, but it's NOT fine to alienate the one person your amibition rested upon.
Ending Kinda Suck
The end-fight felt rushed. It would have been better if Lassen learned to make use of his newly-founded psychic skill and to release it in the fight against Tyrde. So when Rohyr had to help out Lassen, it made the victory seem hollow.
Epic World
The world-building was superb, almost as epic as LOTR (the films). I literally felt the history of Ylandre moving across my eyes. I like how the author asserted the extinction of female-kind and the male-pregnancy right from the beginning. It didn't feel sexist to me because she build these people up as hermaphroditic aliens. Technically, this wasn't a mm-romance since the people were not truly male.
The sex scenes were creatively-worded so I wasn't bored by their shagging. Though the sex didn't evoke the oh-la-la hotness, but it was touchingly sweet.
October 26, 2019
Abandoned at about 43% with no intention to finish. This book just didn’t work for me. There is nothing interesting about it that would encourage me to finish it. I got stuck about two months ago and not only do I not feel like finishing it but I don't even remember where I ended it up.
Which, after all, is not so strange considering that there is simply not much going on in this book. At least for the first 40%, and let's say it's a lot of the pages. And to be totally honest, at 40% when I abandoned this book, there is finally some plot in the form of a political intrigue with a love misfortunes in the background. Unfortunately, at this point I completely lost any interest in the fate of the character. Also, the emerging intrigue didn't make me want to read any more. I think it is so also because everything indicates that this will be one of those books in which the characters do stupid things and talk to each other too little to avoid problems. And I don't have the slightest desire to find out if it's true.
That said, I fully appreciate the author's work put into creating a new, unique world based on complex political relationships and interesting laws. Always nice to read about something new. Unfortunately, here comes another problem, or basically two. First of all, this book desperately needs a map. Finding out where is the land, who is the enemy and who the ally would be much easier. The lack of a map leads straight to the second problem. Long tiring descriptions of politics and geography, and even the history of particular lands. I have political science education, I usually like these things. But not here. It is so terribly boring that I avoided them. The lack of a map makes it difficult to orientate yourself in all this if you do not focus enough on the descriptions. And it probably killed all the joy of reading this novel for me.
The characters are generally fine. Lassen clearly matures and gets rid of the initial naivety which I definitely appreciate. We know little about Rohyr, at least in the first half of the book. Perhaps in the second part more attention is devoted to his thoughts and feelings. And although I like them as a couple, it is not enough for me to finish reading this book.
I give this book two stars because I could force myself to read this story to the end. I just don't feel like it.
Which, after all, is not so strange considering that there is simply not much going on in this book. At least for the first 40%, and let's say it's a lot of the pages. And to be totally honest, at 40% when I abandoned this book, there is finally some plot in the form of a political intrigue with a love misfortunes in the background. Unfortunately, at this point I completely lost any interest in the fate of the character. Also, the emerging intrigue didn't make me want to read any more. I think it is so also because everything indicates that this will be one of those books in which the characters do stupid things and talk to each other too little to avoid problems. And I don't have the slightest desire to find out if it's true.
That said, I fully appreciate the author's work put into creating a new, unique world based on complex political relationships and interesting laws. Always nice to read about something new. Unfortunately, here comes another problem, or basically two. First of all, this book desperately needs a map. Finding out where is the land, who is the enemy and who the ally would be much easier. The lack of a map leads straight to the second problem. Long tiring descriptions of politics and geography, and even the history of particular lands. I have political science education, I usually like these things. But not here. It is so terribly boring that I avoided them. The lack of a map makes it difficult to orientate yourself in all this if you do not focus enough on the descriptions. And it probably killed all the joy of reading this novel for me.
The characters are generally fine. Lassen clearly matures and gets rid of the initial naivety which I definitely appreciate. We know little about Rohyr, at least in the first half of the book. Perhaps in the second part more attention is devoted to his thoughts and feelings. And although I like them as a couple, it is not enough for me to finish reading this book.
I give this book two stars because I could force myself to read this story to the end. I just don't feel like it.
March 9, 2013
Okay, so.. I enjoyed the love story here and the hot monkey hermaphrodite sex was a bonus. However the unpronounceable names, titles, placenames and complicated politics made me want to scream! So to simplify:
Lassen is the blond willowy beautiful youth (you know the type) who becomes concubine to Rohyr, the tall dark handsome king of Ylandre (I called him Rory)..
Imcael is the wicked uncle and Tyrde (Turd obviously - lol) is his evil son. Plus there are a heap of other characters with weird names who are all basically good guys.
And a quote:
'He opened his arms to Lassen. With a blinding smile that was equal parts disbelief and joy, Lassen went into his embrace and laid his head on Rohyr's shoulder. Rohyr pressed a kiss to Lassen's golden crown and held him fast.'
Lassen is the blond willowy beautiful youth (you know the type) who becomes concubine to Rohyr, the tall dark handsome king of Ylandre (I called him Rory)..
Imcael is the wicked uncle and Tyrde (Turd obviously - lol) is his evil son. Plus there are a heap of other characters with weird names who are all basically good guys.
And a quote:
'He opened his arms to Lassen. With a blinding smile that was equal parts disbelief and joy, Lassen went into his embrace and laid his head on Rohyr's shoulder. Rohyr pressed a kiss to Lassen's golden crown and held him fast.'
May 9, 2017
4.5 Stars
I am really on a roll with these MM-onopoly UTC and GangBang picks lately...so many have been remarkably good and I'm glad to have the push otherwise they might have stayed on the TBR shelf for who knows how long.
So, wonderful world-building with a distinct society reminiscent enough of a few throughout Earth history without completely borrowing the structure. The lack of women threw me for a bit...but it was explained decently enough and if there aren't any females then they can't be treated like crap so I call that a win.
Anyway, the story still reminded me a bit of the old bodice-rippers I used to devour as a teen, with a unique twist...and if there are more to this series I'm definitely going to read the sequels.
I am really on a roll with these MM-onopoly UTC and GangBang picks lately...so many have been remarkably good and I'm glad to have the push otherwise they might have stayed on the TBR shelf for who knows how long.
So, wonderful world-building with a distinct society reminiscent enough of a few throughout Earth history without completely borrowing the structure. The lack of women threw me for a bit...but it was explained decently enough and if there aren't any females then they can't be treated like crap so I call that a win.
Anyway, the story still reminded me a bit of the old bodice-rippers I used to devour as a teen, with a unique twist...and if there are more to this series I'm definitely going to read the sequels.
August 23, 2023
Just read this one again for the fourth time. I love this book!
September 16, 2013
I am immediately reminded of all the things I love about this genre. Sci-fi/Fantasy was the first genre I read outside of children’s books. I started reading Anne McCaffery in 4th grade. “Sacred Fate” has all the beauty of a true fantasy and all the heart one would wish in a romance. Lassen and Rohyr are absolutely beautiful together.
Lassen was raised by a loving family in the rural provinces of Ylandre. The son of one of the minor gentry Lassen is expected to be present when the delegation from the capital arrives. Royal aid to the Autonomous Province of Velarus is rare and everyone is waiting on baited breath to see what the king might request of them in exchange for his aid with the bandits threatening the countryside. Yet, none expected to Rohyr himself to arrive with the delegation.
Rohyr Essendri ascended the throne at a very early age due to the unexpected demise of his father. Raised to be Arden to his people, and blessed with more than a small amount of his families mental arts Rohry has ruled fairly and wisely. He knows what stipulations he wants from the people of Tal Ereq in order for his cooperation. But in the courtyard outside Lassen’s family home, when their eyes lock, all that changes. While marriage is not even a question with a half blood like Lassen, there is nothing against him taking the boy as his leman. Having seen the youth, nothing short of having Lassen as his own will suffice for his aid.
I generally dislike stories where the main character is taken as a mistress or leman, as the term is here, to the other main character. Not so here! I was nervous as first especially as Lassen is described as too young by their standards to consummate the arrangement. (This was a little strange at well since by real world standards he would be considered an adult as he is in his twenties. But, this is a longer-lived race and they don’t reach their sexual maturity until much later). Still, the care and patience Rohry showed the naive and shy Lassen soon had me throwing that all out the window. He took such care with introducing Lassen to the sexual duties he would now be expected to attend to. There was a sweetness to his treatment of the younger man from the beginning. Never once did he rush Lassen, nor did he take him before he reached his sexual maturity. Ok Rohry, you’ve got my vote for most restraint and caring of any king yet!
***What’s revealed later, and so perfectly captured in the separate prelude, makes all of Rohry’s care so much more understandable and his restraint that much harder.***
The fact that this story doesn’t focus on just one part of their lives together either was a wonderful surprise. I really enjoyed the fact that we get to see their introduction to each other, the start of their falling in love, and then are taken ten years further into their relationship to a point where both are completely comfortable in themselves and with each other. It created a much stronger backdrop for the controversy that was about to be dropped on them. Rohry being forced to marry is of course the perfect foil to bring about the growth in Rohry and Lassen’s romance.
I have to say the world building here was fantastic! I could clearly see the way this country functioned and the bonds that bound it together. The social structure and magical abilities were understandable from the first. For someone not used to reading a lot of fantasy or sci fi some of the fictional terminology and names might be hard to follow, as they are never outright defined, but they are very smoothly incorporated into the text. It wasn’t hard to follow at all. Having read a lot of this genre in the past I found it even easier to submerse myself in this new world.
A note for those unused to the m/m genre…this is an mpreg book. In fact this race has adapted themselves to be completely hermaphroditic. While I found this take on the idea of male pregnancy to be interesting, it may bother some readers. The Deir have developed the body parts needed to carry children and can still function as men as well. It certainly makes for some interesting love scenes.
The characters here were all well developed and I loved seeing Rohyr’s bond with his inner council. I can’t wait to read more about each of them in further books. Their support for his plans and the ultimate solutions to this story were lovely to behold. Rohyr is a wonderful king and all around good man. His reaction to Lassen’s decision and subsequent information that’s revealed was heart wrenching. LOVED that sequence!
Lassen is just such a sweetheart too. Even though I knew his decision was coming I still kept hoping he’d find some other way to handle things. Of course the HEA must win out, but I still hoped Lassen wouldn’t have to go through all the pain and angst first. But then it wouldn’t be as good of a book if he didn’t.
And well Tyrde….grrrrrrrrr, stupid, stupid, evil little man. I disliked him from the first. While well deserved, I hated seeing Rohyr’s bond with his uncle dissolve throughout the book as well. I never liked Imcael, but you could see how much Rohyr truly loved him.
If I had one complaint about this book it’s only that there is no great threat out there. Most fantasy novels have wider implications than what is going on in the lives of the main characters. While there’s a little of that here it doesn’t truly inform the story. This is much more about person drama than epic world ending drama. All of that though isn’t needed here. This is still a wonderfully beautiful story and that’s only my fantasy geek talking.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves reading the fantasy genre, or even if you want something to dip your toes in the water. This has more the feel of a feudal land than any true high fantasy world. It’s impressively crafted and I will continue to immerse myself in its majesty with the next couple of books in the series. I can’t wait!
Lassen was raised by a loving family in the rural provinces of Ylandre. The son of one of the minor gentry Lassen is expected to be present when the delegation from the capital arrives. Royal aid to the Autonomous Province of Velarus is rare and everyone is waiting on baited breath to see what the king might request of them in exchange for his aid with the bandits threatening the countryside. Yet, none expected to Rohyr himself to arrive with the delegation.
Rohyr Essendri ascended the throne at a very early age due to the unexpected demise of his father. Raised to be Arden to his people, and blessed with more than a small amount of his families mental arts Rohry has ruled fairly and wisely. He knows what stipulations he wants from the people of Tal Ereq in order for his cooperation. But in the courtyard outside Lassen’s family home, when their eyes lock, all that changes. While marriage is not even a question with a half blood like Lassen, there is nothing against him taking the boy as his leman. Having seen the youth, nothing short of having Lassen as his own will suffice for his aid.
I generally dislike stories where the main character is taken as a mistress or leman, as the term is here, to the other main character. Not so here! I was nervous as first especially as Lassen is described as too young by their standards to consummate the arrangement. (This was a little strange at well since by real world standards he would be considered an adult as he is in his twenties. But, this is a longer-lived race and they don’t reach their sexual maturity until much later). Still, the care and patience Rohry showed the naive and shy Lassen soon had me throwing that all out the window. He took such care with introducing Lassen to the sexual duties he would now be expected to attend to. There was a sweetness to his treatment of the younger man from the beginning. Never once did he rush Lassen, nor did he take him before he reached his sexual maturity. Ok Rohry, you’ve got my vote for most restraint and caring of any king yet!
***What’s revealed later, and so perfectly captured in the separate prelude, makes all of Rohry’s care so much more understandable and his restraint that much harder.***
The fact that this story doesn’t focus on just one part of their lives together either was a wonderful surprise. I really enjoyed the fact that we get to see their introduction to each other, the start of their falling in love, and then are taken ten years further into their relationship to a point where both are completely comfortable in themselves and with each other. It created a much stronger backdrop for the controversy that was about to be dropped on them. Rohry being forced to marry is of course the perfect foil to bring about the growth in Rohry and Lassen’s romance.
I have to say the world building here was fantastic! I could clearly see the way this country functioned and the bonds that bound it together. The social structure and magical abilities were understandable from the first. For someone not used to reading a lot of fantasy or sci fi some of the fictional terminology and names might be hard to follow, as they are never outright defined, but they are very smoothly incorporated into the text. It wasn’t hard to follow at all. Having read a lot of this genre in the past I found it even easier to submerse myself in this new world.
A note for those unused to the m/m genre…this is an mpreg book. In fact this race has adapted themselves to be completely hermaphroditic. While I found this take on the idea of male pregnancy to be interesting, it may bother some readers. The Deir have developed the body parts needed to carry children and can still function as men as well. It certainly makes for some interesting love scenes.
The characters here were all well developed and I loved seeing Rohyr’s bond with his inner council. I can’t wait to read more about each of them in further books. Their support for his plans and the ultimate solutions to this story were lovely to behold. Rohyr is a wonderful king and all around good man. His reaction to Lassen’s decision and subsequent information that’s revealed was heart wrenching. LOVED that sequence!
Lassen is just such a sweetheart too. Even though I knew his decision was coming I still kept hoping he’d find some other way to handle things. Of course the HEA must win out, but I still hoped Lassen wouldn’t have to go through all the pain and angst first. But then it wouldn’t be as good of a book if he didn’t.
And well Tyrde….grrrrrrrrr, stupid, stupid, evil little man. I disliked him from the first. While well deserved, I hated seeing Rohyr’s bond with his uncle dissolve throughout the book as well. I never liked Imcael, but you could see how much Rohyr truly loved him.
If I had one complaint about this book it’s only that there is no great threat out there. Most fantasy novels have wider implications than what is going on in the lives of the main characters. While there’s a little of that here it doesn’t truly inform the story. This is much more about person drama than epic world ending drama. All of that though isn’t needed here. This is still a wonderfully beautiful story and that’s only my fantasy geek talking.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves reading the fantasy genre, or even if you want something to dip your toes in the water. This has more the feel of a feudal land than any true high fantasy world. It’s impressively crafted and I will continue to immerse myself in its majesty with the next couple of books in the series. I can’t wait!
August 9, 2013
Main Characters: Rohyr Essendri & Lassen Idana
Key Themes: MPreg, Soulmates, Social Differences & Racial Intolerance
Location: Planet Ylandre
Incredibly romantic paranormal MM romance between an aristrocat and a commoner.
This story is set in a mystical realm - where indoor plumbing is a luxury, but teleportation is a capability. This is also a world where evolution has replaced women with men who are able to breed. I couldn't helping wondering if such a world could ever really exist. A world devoid of the balancing qualities of female energy, and totally reliant on the male ego, would surely rapidly descend into chaos, but that's a discussion for another day!
Rohyr is a True Blood, a direct descendant of the alien colonizers of Ylandre. He is a progressive and fair-minded monarch, evidenced by the respect and love shown to him by most of those around him. On a visit to one of his provinces, Rohyr sees, and is immediately attracted to the beautiful but very young Lassen. Lassen is Half Blood (a mix of alien colonizer and the indigenous race of the planet). Rohyr bargains for Lassen and takes him back to his palace to be his concubine.
True Bloods are not only the ruling class, they also have special abilities. So the Half Bloods are at a double disadvantage. With such social imbalances, it is not surprising that racial intolerance is a major issue on the planet. Fortunately, all of these inequalities also served to heightened the special nature of Rohyr's love for Lassen. Although a significant revelation at the end of the story took away a bit of that shine.
I am a big fan of supernatural abilities in a character, and it's a shame we don't see Rohyr use his special capabilities more often or earlier in the story. I was also really hoping Lassen had some hidden special ability, and although that was hinted at, it was not convincingly developed, much to my disappointment.
All that aside, this was an endearing and sweet romance. It is definitely worth reading. I will be reading the rest of the series....
Key Themes: MPreg, Soulmates, Social Differences & Racial Intolerance
Location: Planet Ylandre
Incredibly romantic paranormal MM romance between an aristrocat and a commoner.
This story is set in a mystical realm - where indoor plumbing is a luxury, but teleportation is a capability. This is also a world where evolution has replaced women with men who are able to breed. I couldn't helping wondering if such a world could ever really exist. A world devoid of the balancing qualities of female energy, and totally reliant on the male ego, would surely rapidly descend into chaos, but that's a discussion for another day!
Rohyr is a True Blood, a direct descendant of the alien colonizers of Ylandre. He is a progressive and fair-minded monarch, evidenced by the respect and love shown to him by most of those around him. On a visit to one of his provinces, Rohyr sees, and is immediately attracted to the beautiful but very young Lassen. Lassen is Half Blood (a mix of alien colonizer and the indigenous race of the planet). Rohyr bargains for Lassen and takes him back to his palace to be his concubine.
True Bloods are not only the ruling class, they also have special abilities. So the Half Bloods are at a double disadvantage. With such social imbalances, it is not surprising that racial intolerance is a major issue on the planet. Fortunately, all of these inequalities also served to heightened the special nature of Rohyr's love for Lassen. Although a significant revelation at the end of the story took away a bit of that shine.
I am a big fan of supernatural abilities in a character, and it's a shame we don't see Rohyr use his special capabilities more often or earlier in the story. I was also really hoping Lassen had some hidden special ability, and although that was hinted at, it was not convincingly developed, much to my disappointment.
All that aside, this was an endearing and sweet romance. It is definitely worth reading. I will be reading the rest of the series....
May 4, 2015
3.5
Первые глав 8 мне было скучновато. Трепетный Лассен и добродушный и бесконечно терпимый (по отношению к многочисленной родне) Рогир меня раздражали, потом добавились ножны-древко-естесство-и т.п., и я думала "Ну как я могла это читать в женских романчиках???" Осознав, что продолжение серии меня не привлечет, я даже не старалась запоминать бесчисленных персонажей. Прочитав, тут же забывала.
Но вдруг пролетели 10 лет, и наконец началось движение. Ох и выбесил меня Рогир со своим решением жениться. Посторонний в сложившейся паре - для меня причина не читать книгу. Я воспринимаю это как измену, если только герои по каким-то причинам не разошлись. Читать стало тяжелее. Было бы еще сносно, если бы Рогир с трудом исполнял супружеский долг. Но нет. Автор не единожды подчеркнула, что король посещал супруга часто, что физически между ними все было прекрасно. Фу!
А потом все завертелось и стало стремительно развиваться. Я начала переживать за Лассена с Рогиром. До слез переживать! Когда Лассен сбежал, а Рогир искал его, я поняла, что не отложу роман, пока не закончу.
В оставшейся части романа мне понравилось все, кроме дурацкого закона о поединках. Предмет спора должен остаться с победителем? А если это тот, которого он намеревался оставить? Какая радость им обоим - один остался насильно, другого терпят по закону. Глупо. Но Лассен-Рогир победил, злодей повержен, Ура!
Я рада, что прочитала этот роман. Без особого чувства неприятия, я осознала что гермафродитизм и мужская беременность - не мои темы. При этом я получила удовольствие от полученных эмоций, полное удовлетворение концовкой и приятнейшее послевкусие.
Первые глав 8 мне было скучновато. Трепетный Лассен и добродушный и бесконечно терпимый (по отношению к многочисленной родне) Рогир меня раздражали, потом добавились ножны-древко-естесство-и т.п., и я думала "Ну как я могла это читать в женских романчиках???" Осознав, что продолжение серии меня не привлечет, я даже не старалась запоминать бесчисленных персонажей. Прочитав, тут же забывала.
Но вдруг пролетели 10 лет, и наконец началось движение. Ох и выбесил меня Рогир со своим решением жениться. Посторонний в сложившейся паре - для меня причина не читать книгу. Я воспринимаю это как измену, если только герои по каким-то причинам не разошлись. Читать стало тяжелее. Было бы еще сносно, если бы Рогир с трудом исполнял супружеский долг. Но нет. Автор не единожды подчеркнула, что король посещал супруга часто, что физически между ними все было прекрасно. Фу!
А потом все завертелось и стало стремительно развиваться. Я начала переживать за Лассена с Рогиром. До слез переживать! Когда Лассен сбежал, а Рогир искал его, я поняла, что не отложу роман, пока не закончу.
В оставшейся части романа мне понравилось все, кроме дурацкого закона о поединках. Предмет спора должен остаться с победителем? А если это тот, которого он намеревался оставить? Какая радость им обоим - один остался насильно, другого терпят по закону. Глупо. Но Лассен-Рогир победил, злодей повержен, Ура!
Я рада, что прочитала этот роман. Без особого чувства неприятия, я осознала что гермафродитизм и мужская беременность - не мои темы. При этом я получила удовольствие от полученных эмоций, полное удовлетворение концовкой и приятнейшее послевкусие.
July 29, 2013
3.5 Stars
Rohyr Essendri is the ruler of Ylandre. A high-born True Blood, Rohyr breaks tradition when he takes Lassen Idana (a Half Blood) as his lover. Lassen falls for the noble and honorable Rohyr and vice versa but true love may not be enough to overcome the prejudices and traditions they face.
This was my first foray into MPreg and my first book by this author. I enjoyed the writing and the world building. Beware: this is a complex story. There are a lot of characters and places. I found myself having to use my Kindle's search function more than once. In addition, you must learn the terminology (Eressë kindly provides a glossary).
To be honest, I'm not sure that I'm sold on this series. The hermaphrodites take some getting used to. MPreg as a sub-genre just may not be to my liking. In a way, this felt like re-purposed m/f, which is not my bag. And, honestly, it kinda squicked me out. From the sheath-to-his-sword (eye-roll) to the birthing seam (yucks!), I couldn't say for certain that I was into this stuff. On the other hand, I devoured this book ... so there's that.
Bottom-line: Undecided; moving on to book 2 before drawing any conclusions.
Rohyr Essendri is the ruler of Ylandre. A high-born True Blood, Rohyr breaks tradition when he takes Lassen Idana (a Half Blood) as his lover. Lassen falls for the noble and honorable Rohyr and vice versa but true love may not be enough to overcome the prejudices and traditions they face.
This was my first foray into MPreg and my first book by this author. I enjoyed the writing and the world building. Beware: this is a complex story. There are a lot of characters and places. I found myself having to use my Kindle's search function more than once. In addition, you must learn the terminology (Eressë kindly provides a glossary).
To be honest, I'm not sure that I'm sold on this series. The hermaphrodites take some getting used to. MPreg as a sub-genre just may not be to my liking. In a way, this felt like re-purposed m/f, which is not my bag. And, honestly, it kinda squicked me out. From the sheath-to-his-sword (eye-roll) to the birthing seam (yucks!), I couldn't say for certain that I was into this stuff. On the other hand, I devoured this book ... so there's that.
Bottom-line: Undecided; moving on to book 2 before drawing any conclusions.
Read
February 28, 2010I don’t exactly know why but male pregnancy seems to be the bane of Gay Romance. I have even found a place where an editor pleaded her authors to not send submission of stories with male pregnancy since she was really tired of them… and I thought, how strange, in my experience I have not found so much of them. Well, this is probably due to the fact that I’m not a big fan of fantasy or sci-fiction, and so, obviously, I skim from the beginning the possibility to find them. But when it happened, actually they didn’t bothered me, on the contrary, there are some series (like Space Opera by Stephanie Burke, when will she write the third book?) that I really like a lot. True, it’s not easy to write them without falling in the mistake of having one of the male involved being merely a girl with male attributes, but well, that is the only way for a man to get pregnant!
So, from the beginning Eresse, in Sacred Fate, is quite upfront with the issue, and she fully and willingly commits the mistake: Lassen, the man who will get pregnant, it’s not a man with female attributes or viceversa, he is simple both, probably the most common way to define him is “hermaphrodite”. In the fantasy world of Ylandre women are extinct more than 1000 years ago, and the males changed to be able to naturally bear a child; all man have both male than female genitalia, and when they give birth, they are also able to breastfeed the child. Only that, most of them, preserve the manly characteristic of being stronger and bigger than a woman, and so it’s quite strange to read of warrior that can be also “mothers”.
Lassen is an Half Blood, meaning that he is of a lower class than Rohyr, who not only his True Blood, but he is even King of his territory. When Rohyr sees for the first time Lassen, he decides to claim the “boy”; boy is a strange word to define Lassen, since he is 26 years old, but in this fantasy world, the coming of age is at 30 years old, and the acceptable age for breed even higher. So for that standard, Lassen is very young, but for the modern reader he is an adult. In this way the author cleverly avoids any claim of Rohyr being forceful on Lassen, but really, all the story has the feeling of those old savage romances where the innocent and very young heroine falls in the clutches of the wicked hero. And then don’t forget that in medieval time, an acceptable age to marry among the nobility was, for women, 12 or 13 years old; I seem to remember that John Sans Terre’s wife was 12 years old, and when they married, to John was asked to wait to bed his wife, but the “wicked” king didn’t wait so much in the end.
Anyway, Lassen’s opposition to his fate is practically non-existent: when he is asked to become the concubine of the king, he quietly accepts his fate. For a good part of the book, like a perfect wicked savage romance hero, Rohyr masterly seduces Lassen to have him happy in his bed and not a sacrificial lamb. Maybe since Rohyr is a master of seduction, or maybe since Lassen for starter was not so against the idea (after all Rohyr is young and handsome and a king), Lassen is more than happy of his role, and he would be even willing to accept Rohyr official “husband” when the time comes. Lassen is in all for all the classic “damsel in distress”, who gains strength from his knight in shining armour, Rohyr; if the reader wants him stronger, if he wants for him to be independent and all, well, maybe he is reading the wrong novel! Lassen here is the submissive lover, the bottom, and even if he can enjoy a variation in the bed role, in life he will never consider to be the leader, that role is of Rohyr, and to Lassen that is how things should be.
Sacred Fate is a “modern” romance (man on man pair, male pregnancy…) with an old fashioned development (the damsel in distress, the knight in shining armour, even a bit of cinderfella…); for this reason I think can appeal to a lot of readers, but obviously not if you have something against you men having a bit of female inside.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002WB0YC4/?...
So, from the beginning Eresse, in Sacred Fate, is quite upfront with the issue, and she fully and willingly commits the mistake: Lassen, the man who will get pregnant, it’s not a man with female attributes or viceversa, he is simple both, probably the most common way to define him is “hermaphrodite”. In the fantasy world of Ylandre women are extinct more than 1000 years ago, and the males changed to be able to naturally bear a child; all man have both male than female genitalia, and when they give birth, they are also able to breastfeed the child. Only that, most of them, preserve the manly characteristic of being stronger and bigger than a woman, and so it’s quite strange to read of warrior that can be also “mothers”.
Lassen is an Half Blood, meaning that he is of a lower class than Rohyr, who not only his True Blood, but he is even King of his territory. When Rohyr sees for the first time Lassen, he decides to claim the “boy”; boy is a strange word to define Lassen, since he is 26 years old, but in this fantasy world, the coming of age is at 30 years old, and the acceptable age for breed even higher. So for that standard, Lassen is very young, but for the modern reader he is an adult. In this way the author cleverly avoids any claim of Rohyr being forceful on Lassen, but really, all the story has the feeling of those old savage romances where the innocent and very young heroine falls in the clutches of the wicked hero. And then don’t forget that in medieval time, an acceptable age to marry among the nobility was, for women, 12 or 13 years old; I seem to remember that John Sans Terre’s wife was 12 years old, and when they married, to John was asked to wait to bed his wife, but the “wicked” king didn’t wait so much in the end.
Anyway, Lassen’s opposition to his fate is practically non-existent: when he is asked to become the concubine of the king, he quietly accepts his fate. For a good part of the book, like a perfect wicked savage romance hero, Rohyr masterly seduces Lassen to have him happy in his bed and not a sacrificial lamb. Maybe since Rohyr is a master of seduction, or maybe since Lassen for starter was not so against the idea (after all Rohyr is young and handsome and a king), Lassen is more than happy of his role, and he would be even willing to accept Rohyr official “husband” when the time comes. Lassen is in all for all the classic “damsel in distress”, who gains strength from his knight in shining armour, Rohyr; if the reader wants him stronger, if he wants for him to be independent and all, well, maybe he is reading the wrong novel! Lassen here is the submissive lover, the bottom, and even if he can enjoy a variation in the bed role, in life he will never consider to be the leader, that role is of Rohyr, and to Lassen that is how things should be.
Sacred Fate is a “modern” romance (man on man pair, male pregnancy…) with an old fashioned development (the damsel in distress, the knight in shining armour, even a bit of cinderfella…); for this reason I think can appeal to a lot of readers, but obviously not if you have something against you men having a bit of female inside.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002WB0YC4/?...
January 24, 2014
UPDATE: Increased 1 star since my original review, to 4 stars. On second read, the dub-con elements are have made the beginning half of this book one of my go-to comfort reads (yes, that kinda freaks me out a little too!). So obviously, it's better than my first impression.
I must have read the first half about 4 times by now, and completely finished the book once.
Original review:
This book appears at the top of most "Mpreg" lists, so it's what I started with when exploring the genre.
Years ago, I read Storm Constantine's Wraeththu saga (as Sci-Fi), and that series should probably be considered Mpreg too. I do realise it's not fair to compare post-apocalyptic, speculative evolution, science fantasy to what is basically a romance novel - so we won't go there...
Sacred Fate is a romance novel. Reasonably well written, and the background history and biology are interesting enough. I quite liked the somewhat dub-con elements, in the sense that Lassen is very young at the beginning of the relationship(around 14-15yrs human equivalent, if you take 35 years as the safe childbearing age), and is not given much choice in becoming the lord's concubine.
However, the plot from then on was extremely predictable. Nothing that hasn't been done often in the paranormal-romance genre, and unfortunately, not well told enough to hold this readers interest.
Good for a light read. Don't expect much more.
I must have read the first half about 4 times by now, and completely finished the book once.
Original review:
This book appears at the top of most "Mpreg" lists, so it's what I started with when exploring the genre.
Years ago, I read Storm Constantine's Wraeththu saga (as Sci-Fi), and that series should probably be considered Mpreg too. I do realise it's not fair to compare post-apocalyptic, speculative evolution, science fantasy to what is basically a romance novel - so we won't go there...
Sacred Fate is a romance novel. Reasonably well written, and the background history and biology are interesting enough. I quite liked the somewhat dub-con elements, in the sense that Lassen is very young at the beginning of the relationship(around 14-15yrs human equivalent, if you take 35 years as the safe childbearing age), and is not given much choice in becoming the lord's concubine.
However, the plot from then on was extremely predictable. Nothing that hasn't been done often in the paranormal-romance genre, and unfortunately, not well told enough to hold this readers interest.
Good for a light read. Don't expect much more.
November 16, 2013
I'm torn between giving this story 3 or 4 stars. I enjoyed the storyline immensely but the story itself lagged in the middle and was bogged down but redeemed itself toward the end. I suggest to anyone that is going to read this story that they read the glossary at the end of the book. The world building was very well done and even went to a bit of an extreme with unnecessary cultural info dumps and extraneous characters that really played no part in the story other than to confuse the hell out of me. I enjoyed both Rohry and Lasssen and their struggle to over come the prejudices of the true blood and half blood. The subplots were interesting until I hit the middle of the story where there was too much information and too many characters that I feel were not necessary to the story. The author got back on track and finished up the story with style and a few plot twists. I recommend this first book in a series of five in hopes that the much of the introductory information is out of the way.
January 2, 2010
I was a little bit nervous when I bought this book. Mpreg has to be handled just right or it's some scary stuff. I'm sucker for fantasy though, so I said, "What the heck?" I ended up reading the whole thing in one sitting (stared at my screen so long I got a crick in my neck). I've reread it twice since then, and loved it just as much each time. This author knows her world, knows her characters, and knows how to write. I can't wait for the sequel.
May 21, 2018
Review for Rarely Dusty Books
This review is one I requested of Janna. She received an e-mail full of squee about this book (and the sequel) and I all but begged her to let me write a review, because I think more people should read and enjoy this book. I wonder if your reaction to the blurb would be much the same as mine, because books with male pregnancies in it (or m-preg as it is called in the world of fanfiction) are the bane of my existence. There are a lot of things I don't mind, but m-preg has me shuddering every time. So therefore when I read the blurb and came across the word 'duel-gendered' my reaction was “owh hell no.” However, the blurb got stuck in my head and when I heard several others so enthusiastic about this book, I got curious. I wanted to hate it from the start, but found I couldn't (dammit). Let me share with you why this book is so good.
The story is about Lassen en Rohyr who live in the fantasy world of Ylandre where there are no more females left and the men became duel-gendered. Lassen lives in the quiet fiefdom of Tal-Ereq where one day he becomes the lynchpin on negotiations between the crown (represented by its king, Rohyr) and the council (represented by his father or aba or adda). Lassen is to become the concubine of Rohyr, something he objects to at first but agrees to when he sees how concerned his adda is about this. This is but the start of a long complicated, intriguing, romantic, funny, hot and fantastic story that spans over a decade.
What I liked about this story is that this is not just a savage claim and conquer romance. Rohyr seduces Lassen and doesn't just claim him. While Lassen is not exactly given a choice in the matter, he comes to love Rohyr deeply and doesn't suffer from Stockholm-syndrome as I feared in the beginning. Over the course of this story both the characters of Lassen and Rohyr grow and they make their mistakes and overcome them, though not without difficulty and all the while going at it like bunnies or the equivalent of bunnies in Ylandre. There are several (political)conflicts throughout the story that need to be overcome, but are handled with grace.
Lassen is a gentle but strong and smart character. He may not be as physically strong as Rohyr, but he has his qualities. He adapts very well to his new situation, he quite sees through people and their plans and gossips, but he hates to upset others and only does so if it's for a just cause. That mildly irritated me sometimes, because throughout the story there are instances in which he just agrees or walks away when I would have thrown a bitch-fight just for the heck of it. Rohyr on the other hand, has a temper and Lassen knows very well how to handle it and he has Rohyr ear, though he doesn't influence Rohyr for his own gain.
Rohyr is also very stubborn. Damn, they don't often make them as stubborn as Rohyr. Well maybe his half bother Dylen. He put the kingdom before all, even his own happiness at times. Lassen is the first thing or someone he chooses for himself and even then there are issues. Did I mention stubborn? Though it is nice to see that he grows and learns throughout the story.
In the beginning of this review I talked about m-preg and yes, that is included in the story. What I liked about how this author handled this issue is that she shapes the world around the 'issue.' It's not just men that get pregnant (that would just be iel!) but duel-gendered or hermaphroditic people. From the start it is made clear that there are no women in this world, they have been extinct for about a 1000 years, and they have to procreate somehow. I'm just so glad it's not egg. That would just be... *shudders*
If I have to look objectively at this story, something that is very hard to do because I like it so much, there are some issues. While this story has a good length, it is full of names and (political)history and it is hard to keep track of everything. At some points I compared this to Tolkien's Silmarillion with all the name throwing and historic recounts. Though it is also important to know and what makes it harder is that there are no characters with easy names like Michael or John to remember them by.
While I like the characters (haven't you guessed that yet) they can be classified as stereotypes. There, I said it. Not in a bad way, because as seen with many stories, it fits the tale to be told. In that regard I didn't mind the stereotypes of the good “guys” or the bad “guys.”
Eresse spins a detailed detailed and engrossing story that will keep you on the edge of your seat or reading well past bedtime with lotsa hot hot hot man (hermaphroditic) sex that has you melting in a puddle of goo.
If you you haven't guessed it yet, I really recommend this story. If I could order you to read it, I would *grin* Now go and get it and read! Run!
This review is one I requested of Janna. She received an e-mail full of squee about this book (and the sequel) and I all but begged her to let me write a review, because I think more people should read and enjoy this book. I wonder if your reaction to the blurb would be much the same as mine, because books with male pregnancies in it (or m-preg as it is called in the world of fanfiction) are the bane of my existence. There are a lot of things I don't mind, but m-preg has me shuddering every time. So therefore when I read the blurb and came across the word 'duel-gendered' my reaction was “owh hell no.” However, the blurb got stuck in my head and when I heard several others so enthusiastic about this book, I got curious. I wanted to hate it from the start, but found I couldn't (dammit). Let me share with you why this book is so good.
The story is about Lassen en Rohyr who live in the fantasy world of Ylandre where there are no more females left and the men became duel-gendered. Lassen lives in the quiet fiefdom of Tal-Ereq where one day he becomes the lynchpin on negotiations between the crown (represented by its king, Rohyr) and the council (represented by his father or aba or adda). Lassen is to become the concubine of Rohyr, something he objects to at first but agrees to when he sees how concerned his adda is about this. This is but the start of a long complicated, intriguing, romantic, funny, hot and fantastic story that spans over a decade.
What I liked about this story is that this is not just a savage claim and conquer romance. Rohyr seduces Lassen and doesn't just claim him. While Lassen is not exactly given a choice in the matter, he comes to love Rohyr deeply and doesn't suffer from Stockholm-syndrome as I feared in the beginning. Over the course of this story both the characters of Lassen and Rohyr grow and they make their mistakes and overcome them, though not without difficulty and all the while going at it like bunnies or the equivalent of bunnies in Ylandre. There are several (political)conflicts throughout the story that need to be overcome, but are handled with grace.
Lassen is a gentle but strong and smart character. He may not be as physically strong as Rohyr, but he has his qualities. He adapts very well to his new situation, he quite sees through people and their plans and gossips, but he hates to upset others and only does so if it's for a just cause. That mildly irritated me sometimes, because throughout the story there are instances in which he just agrees or walks away when I would have thrown a bitch-fight just for the heck of it. Rohyr on the other hand, has a temper and Lassen knows very well how to handle it and he has Rohyr ear, though he doesn't influence Rohyr for his own gain.
Rohyr is also very stubborn. Damn, they don't often make them as stubborn as Rohyr. Well maybe his half bother Dylen. He put the kingdom before all, even his own happiness at times. Lassen is the first thing or someone he chooses for himself and even then there are issues. Did I mention stubborn? Though it is nice to see that he grows and learns throughout the story.
In the beginning of this review I talked about m-preg and yes, that is included in the story. What I liked about how this author handled this issue is that she shapes the world around the 'issue.' It's not just men that get pregnant (that would just be iel!) but duel-gendered or hermaphroditic people. From the start it is made clear that there are no women in this world, they have been extinct for about a 1000 years, and they have to procreate somehow. I'm just so glad it's not egg. That would just be... *shudders*
If I have to look objectively at this story, something that is very hard to do because I like it so much, there are some issues. While this story has a good length, it is full of names and (political)history and it is hard to keep track of everything. At some points I compared this to Tolkien's Silmarillion with all the name throwing and historic recounts. Though it is also important to know and what makes it harder is that there are no characters with easy names like Michael or John to remember them by.
While I like the characters (haven't you guessed that yet) they can be classified as stereotypes. There, I said it. Not in a bad way, because as seen with many stories, it fits the tale to be told. In that regard I didn't mind the stereotypes of the good “guys” or the bad “guys.”
Eresse spins a detailed detailed and engrossing story that will keep you on the edge of your seat or reading well past bedtime with lotsa hot hot hot man (hermaphroditic) sex that has you melting in a puddle of goo.
If you you haven't guessed it yet, I really recommend this story. If I could order you to read it, I would *grin* Now go and get it and read! Run!
January 8, 2010
This is an interesting and somewhat unwieldy science fiction/fantasy novel that incorporates a lot of world building and romance. The main characters are classic stereotypes with a strong romantic element while the plot is heavy with political maneuvering and intrigue. There are elements that may not fit with all readers such a male pregnancy, hermaphroditic culture, and some severe male stupidity. However there is a strong happy ending and the fantasy world is rich with detail and possibility. There is so much detail offered that this story undoubtedly would enrich on subsequent reads.
The plot and world building are closely related as the world is complex, very involved, and the various details are essential to the political elements of the plot. The fantasy setting is introduced and built upon throughout the entire novel so much that new aspects are being introduced up until the very end of the book. This keeps the reader on edge with new elements and possibilities continually opened up but also create a sense of a world only barely described. The fantasy world is so complicated that the story often has awkward information dumps with massive amounts of information, using terminology and names the reader is unfamiliar with. At these points, I found myself frequently wanting to skim but realized quickly that the story buries important gems of information in the massive quantities of extraneous fact. Due to the complexity of this world, the story would have benefited from a longer length in which the details could be kept to the important facts instead of every possible detail ever created about this world or such information could be more spread out and incorporated to the plot. However, the overabundance of detail is preferable to a less descriptive setting so I don’t want to harp on that too much.
The plot revolves around political machinations of the Royal House and intimately involves the King, Rohyr, and his chosen love, Lassen. The characters and plot at their very basic level are classic elements of politics and royal behavior with an innocent hearted concubine at the center. Both Rohyr and Lassen are well developed off these familiar premises and easy to predict their reactions and choices. The men enjoy a sizzling chemistry while they rarely move out of their assigned roles. Lassen is the innocent, good hearted leman who falls in love with Rohyr and only wants the best for his King and Country. Lassen is willing to sacrifice himself often and frequently for everything from the most minor point to the very well being of the entire Kingdom. Of course this leads to some massive stupidity on his part but thankfully this is short lived and easily remedied.
The plot is action packed and moves very quickly. The timeline is very fluid and often skips months and years ahead with a summary to keep the story interesting and fast. The evil culprit isn’t a mystery and there is only one person who clearly doesn’t fit with the tight knit royal governing body so the interest is not in who or how the problems are created and carried out so much as the reactions and choices of those involved. Rohyr doesn’t deviate very much from a concerned ruler that evokes little formality but still willing to bend the rules if needed. The wide range of supporting characters is almost forgettable as they blend together and each should have their own book.
The wealth of possibility created in the world perhaps is meant to be the start of a series. If so, I wish the world building had been spread out instead of crammed into a shorter novel and thus with slow periods of information dumping which almost caused my eyes to glaze over. However the intricacies of the world are fascinating and kept my interest when blended with the history of the planet and the people. The hermaphroditic elements and male pregnancy didn’t bother me and mostly were handled very well. I doubt this will be a problem for most science fiction/fantasy fans and the richness of the story definitely makes up for any potential qualms.
Overall I’d recommend this book to fantasy fans who enjoy a complex world with classic themes. The political aspects to the plot as well as the romance are very familiar for readers, just set in a new and interesting world. This helps blend something completely foreign with something recognizable and thus a mostly well written story. There are a few problems with switching point of view, but this is very minor and not a problem. As I mentioned before there are numerous information dumps, which slow the pace and may not keep the interest of all readers, but there is so much unnecessary detail that these can be skimmed entirely without loss to the story. If you’re looking for a decent blend of new and old concepts, this should fit the bill.
The plot and world building are closely related as the world is complex, very involved, and the various details are essential to the political elements of the plot. The fantasy setting is introduced and built upon throughout the entire novel so much that new aspects are being introduced up until the very end of the book. This keeps the reader on edge with new elements and possibilities continually opened up but also create a sense of a world only barely described. The fantasy world is so complicated that the story often has awkward information dumps with massive amounts of information, using terminology and names the reader is unfamiliar with. At these points, I found myself frequently wanting to skim but realized quickly that the story buries important gems of information in the massive quantities of extraneous fact. Due to the complexity of this world, the story would have benefited from a longer length in which the details could be kept to the important facts instead of every possible detail ever created about this world or such information could be more spread out and incorporated to the plot. However, the overabundance of detail is preferable to a less descriptive setting so I don’t want to harp on that too much.
The plot revolves around political machinations of the Royal House and intimately involves the King, Rohyr, and his chosen love, Lassen. The characters and plot at their very basic level are classic elements of politics and royal behavior with an innocent hearted concubine at the center. Both Rohyr and Lassen are well developed off these familiar premises and easy to predict their reactions and choices. The men enjoy a sizzling chemistry while they rarely move out of their assigned roles. Lassen is the innocent, good hearted leman who falls in love with Rohyr and only wants the best for his King and Country. Lassen is willing to sacrifice himself often and frequently for everything from the most minor point to the very well being of the entire Kingdom. Of course this leads to some massive stupidity on his part but thankfully this is short lived and easily remedied.
The plot is action packed and moves very quickly. The timeline is very fluid and often skips months and years ahead with a summary to keep the story interesting and fast. The evil culprit isn’t a mystery and there is only one person who clearly doesn’t fit with the tight knit royal governing body so the interest is not in who or how the problems are created and carried out so much as the reactions and choices of those involved. Rohyr doesn’t deviate very much from a concerned ruler that evokes little formality but still willing to bend the rules if needed. The wide range of supporting characters is almost forgettable as they blend together and each should have their own book.
The wealth of possibility created in the world perhaps is meant to be the start of a series. If so, I wish the world building had been spread out instead of crammed into a shorter novel and thus with slow periods of information dumping which almost caused my eyes to glaze over. However the intricacies of the world are fascinating and kept my interest when blended with the history of the planet and the people. The hermaphroditic elements and male pregnancy didn’t bother me and mostly were handled very well. I doubt this will be a problem for most science fiction/fantasy fans and the richness of the story definitely makes up for any potential qualms.
Overall I’d recommend this book to fantasy fans who enjoy a complex world with classic themes. The political aspects to the plot as well as the romance are very familiar for readers, just set in a new and interesting world. This helps blend something completely foreign with something recognizable and thus a mostly well written story. There are a few problems with switching point of view, but this is very minor and not a problem. As I mentioned before there are numerous information dumps, which slow the pace and may not keep the interest of all readers, but there is so much unnecessary detail that these can be skimmed entirely without loss to the story. If you’re looking for a decent blend of new and old concepts, this should fit the bill.
January 21, 2015
3 stars
Originally read on March 14, 2014.
Re-read on January 19, 2015.
Quite a unique read. The whole male pregnancy stuff was a bit much to take in, especially particular details...
He traced the faint horizontal line that ran under his navel, almost a shade darker
than his skin. The birthing seam began to show a fortnight ago. It would continue to
darken in color, its thickness gradually diminishing as the time of birthing drew near
before finally and naturally splitting open to permit the babe to emerge.
FREAKY!!!!
The story was enjoyable, but I didn't like some moments..
1. I was totally loving the beginning of the book and then the author suddenly makes the time-jump..a whole decade. The growing to love each other - just skipped! and next time I see the heroes, they are an established couple.
2. No growth for Lassen..he basically was and remained a chick with a dick. Seriously, I've read about tons of women characters who were less effeminate than Las.
3. The ease with which Rohyr just went with the court's and his uncle's pressure...it can be explained by his concern for his kingdom, sure, but some political cunning and intrigue - and he could get whatever he wanted! Ugh.
4. The writing was wayy too heavy...and I didn't appreciate that the author constantly kept thrusting new side characters into the story, without providing any background on them.. Just a bunch of undeveloped characters, with nothing distinguishing one from another, apart from names and looks. After the nth cousin I just gave up trying to remember their names. No biggie, not one of them was important for the storyline.
5. The world-building is complex, sure. But it's also a huge info-dump, with no back-story to make places/people memorable.
Originally read on March 14, 2014.
Re-read on January 19, 2015.
Quite a unique read. The whole male pregnancy stuff was a bit much to take in, especially particular details...
He traced the faint horizontal line that ran under his navel, almost a shade darker
than his skin. The birthing seam began to show a fortnight ago. It would continue to
darken in color, its thickness gradually diminishing as the time of birthing drew near
before finally and naturally splitting open to permit the babe to emerge.
FREAKY!!!!
The story was enjoyable, but I didn't like some moments..
1. I was totally loving the beginning of the book and then the author suddenly makes the time-jump..a whole decade. The growing to love each other - just skipped! and next time I see the heroes, they are an established couple.
2. No growth for Lassen..he basically was and remained a chick with a dick. Seriously, I've read about tons of women characters who were less effeminate than Las.
3. The ease with which Rohyr just went with the court's and his uncle's pressure...it can be explained by his concern for his kingdom, sure, but some political cunning and intrigue - and he could get whatever he wanted! Ugh.
4. The writing was wayy too heavy...and I didn't appreciate that the author constantly kept thrusting new side characters into the story, without providing any background on them.. Just a bunch of undeveloped characters, with nothing distinguishing one from another, apart from names and looks. After the nth cousin I just gave up trying to remember their names. No biggie, not one of them was important for the storyline.
5. The world-building is complex, sure. But it's also a huge info-dump, with no back-story to make places/people memorable.
May 20, 2012
3.5 stars.
I only read a couple of m-preg romance, and one I didn't like at all, the other had other themes which were more important and I liked it better. I was reluctant about this particular book. It was good, though. The process through which males can get pregnant and then give birth is explained in a way I found more believable and almost logical in the evolutive history of that world.
I must confess that I thought the story would be more violent and angsty, but even if there was a lot of drama, it never really reached unbearable peaks. It was a bit difficult to get into the story at the beginning, because the odd names worked against my reading, then the story became more interesting, with political intrigue and heartache.
The main couple was sweet, but unfortunately I wasn't really impressed. Lassen was too good, too passive. I think it was because he was conscious of his role as a concubine and didn't want to play outside his role at court. I didn't really like Rohyr, the King. At the end of the story, when many details were revealed, I couldn't help wondering why he did what he did.
The world building was very interesting and rich. The author thought the hystory, politcs, biology, of these people in a very creative way. I would recommend it if you want to read about m-preg and you like fantasy. If you want your characters strong, it could be a bit disappointing.
I only read a couple of m-preg romance, and one I didn't like at all, the other had other themes which were more important and I liked it better. I was reluctant about this particular book. It was good, though. The process through which males can get pregnant and then give birth is explained in a way I found more believable and almost logical in the evolutive history of that world.
I must confess that I thought the story would be more violent and angsty, but even if there was a lot of drama, it never really reached unbearable peaks. It was a bit difficult to get into the story at the beginning, because the odd names worked against my reading, then the story became more interesting, with political intrigue and heartache.
The main couple was sweet, but unfortunately I wasn't really impressed. Lassen was too good, too passive. I think it was because he was conscious of his role as a concubine and didn't want to play outside his role at court. I didn't really like Rohyr, the King. At the end of the story, when many details were revealed, I couldn't help wondering why he did what he did.
The world building was very interesting and rich. The author thought the hystory, politcs, biology, of these people in a very creative way. I would recommend it if you want to read about m-preg and you like fantasy. If you want your characters strong, it could be a bit disappointing.
May 30, 2012
Alien intersex wizards. Riiight. This book was an uncomfortable read for me. It's my first male-pregnancy story and I feel a bit weirded out by it. I guess that's because even in women, pregnancy makes me uncomfortable, and it's somehow 100 times worse in men. Obstetrics is my least favourite medical speciality, let me tell you. Also, the hermaphrodite anatomy was... unlikely, to say the least. Not that it was badly written, but there was too much drama and random eleventh hour discoveries for it to be properly good. I read it, I guess, because I was curious, I imagined that male-pregnancy might subvert heteronormative gender roles. But no. The guy who had the child was treated like and behaved exactly like some hapless female lead out of a Harlequin romance. It's a shame, really, since the chance to blow gender dynamics right out of the water was there for the taking, but remained unrealized. I'm actually interested in the rest of the books in this series, just to see if the ideas mature. Anyway, this book left me with food for thought, at a least.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2020
August 2020
reading this book is always such a great adventure. Love how the romance develops and the world-building is great.
Love it
August 2017
I have read this book now a few times and I love it every time a bit more.
first review
Wow, this book took me by surprise. normaly I am not a fan of mpreg, but here in this world it just fits! this book was exceptionally good and I loved it!
although there is such a difference in station between Rohyr and Lassen, there are not many situations where you can actually feel it in their relationship!
I would have loved to see more of Rohyrs POV but at the end, I understood, why this is not really possible.
all in all, this is a great story and I can't wait to read all the books in this series
reading this book is always such a great adventure. Love how the romance develops and the world-building is great.
Love it
August 2017
I have read this book now a few times and I love it every time a bit more.
first review
Wow, this book took me by surprise. normaly I am not a fan of mpreg, but here in this world it just fits! this book was exceptionally good and I loved it!
although there is such a difference in station between Rohyr and Lassen, there are not many situations where you can actually feel it in their relationship!
I would have loved to see more of Rohyrs POV but at the end, I understood, why this is not really possible.
all in all, this is a great story and I can't wait to read all the books in this series
April 15, 2011
I had been hesitant to read this book because I have never read an mpreg book. Should not have feared the unknown! The book is filled with court politics and posturing that usually lose me quickly, but the stength of Rohyr's character made this so much easier to delve through.
I loved the relationship between Rohyr and Lassen, seeing the love develop and reflected in their actions toward each other and their love making. Each sex scene was filled with emotion rather than just a sex scene. Both Rohyr and Lassen were such well developed characters that I easily had a vested interest in their well being. Look forward to the next book!
I loved the relationship between Rohyr and Lassen, seeing the love develop and reflected in their actions toward each other and their love making. Each sex scene was filled with emotion rather than just a sex scene. Both Rohyr and Lassen were such well developed characters that I easily had a vested interest in their well being. Look forward to the next book!
August 4, 2011
There were things that I loved about this book. The world building was wonderful, the writing, while flowery, was good. There were things about this book that made me crazy. Most importantly, if Rohyr knew that Lassen was his soul mate from first sight then why did he get married and have sex with his prick of a consort repeatedly to try to get an heir? Even after he has decided to soul bond with Lassen and claim the child that Lassen is carrying as his heir the stupid prick still goes back and fucks his consort repeatedly so that he doesn't suspect that anything is wrong. WTF?!
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