Living Words

by Sasha L. Miller

Macati swore off apprentices after his less than pleasant experiences with the first three. He's still feeling the sting of Tlory, his last apprentice gone awry, but then an old friend shows up on his doorstep with a shy, brilliant, and horribly awkward student in tow, and he can't say no.

Guylian seems to fit nowhere. The life he loved is forever gone, he is desperate to avoid a life he hated, and now his teacher in magic is turning him over to someone else, completely out of patience with him. He doubts his plans to become a proper mage, as magic seems to come with more trouble than he can manage. Still, he cannot bear to give up his last ties to the past, even if that means dealing with a teacher who is kind, patient, and too attractive for Guylian's peace of mind and the trouble stirred up by a certain former apprentice...



~Word count: 80,000
~Pairing: M/M/M
~Content: Contains no explicit content.

Genres: Fantasy, M M Romance, Romance, Magic, Menage, M M M, M M Fantasy

254 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Sasha L. Miller spends most of her time writing, reading, or playing with all things website design. She loves telling stories, especially romance, because there’s nothing better than giving people their happily ever afters. When not writing, she spends time cooking, harassing her roommates, and playing with her cats.

Reviews

[blub · Rating 1 out of 5]

From the blurb there is no warning at all that there would be 3 people in one relationship. Had I known I wouldn't have bought this story and right now I feel quite cheated. I enjoyed the story about halfway through before it just went downhill for me. Although there's no descriptive sex scene, there is kissing and it is implied that Micati, Guylian, and Tlory enter into a relationship together. There was a lack of romance but the subtle hints being dropped between Guylian and Micati kept me interested. Also after a while Guylian's innocent/shy behavior became grating. Tlory wasn't likable at all even at the end when reader's finally found out why he was really creating counterfeit bills. This book just wasn't for me.

[trice (semi ia) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Generally pretty well-done. Cute romance, lovable main characters(and pixies!), cheekily supportive side characters. The romance happens quite slowly, and the bad guys appear pretty far along the book as well. The fantasy aspect is interesting with the living languages - would love to learn more honestly :D The book had a fairytale-like vibe reminiscent of Megan Derr's romances.

I don't think Tlory and Macati's romance was developed enough(they barely acted amiably toward each other until the end), and neither was the storyline with the Sullivans wrapped up properly(Guylian goes away for a week and the persistent Sullivans are mysteriously gone).

Overall a sweet charming, (small town?)romance though.

[Nix Buttons · Rating 4 out of 5]

The start is a bit slow, but that wasn't a problem for me. It is funny and sweet and all three characters experience character growth. All in all not excellent but still very entertaining!

[Ashokanspring · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book could use another round of editing. Descriptions of magic were fun but other parts of writing leave something to be desired. Also spoiler warning, if three way relationships aren’t your thing would not go with this story.

[Vivi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was lovely!

[KV Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really, really lucked out when I won lovely book during the Hop against Homophobia this year. After the first two chapters I was already sure Sasha Miller was going on the insta-buy list.

The characters are utterly charming right from the beginning with their extreme dorkiness--even Macati, who's meant to be the more at-ease one, is so nerd-mage cute I just wanted to squish him. Super-awkward Guylian and his Kysera were one of my favorite things ever--the pixies in general are a magical highlight here, which is saying a lot. And Tlory is, unsurprisingly to anyone who's ever met me, my favorite. But I'll leave that to one side to avoid spoilers. I'll just say that I'm a sucker for a brat.

While the relationships are extremely cute in their awkwardness, what really makes this book special is the self-contained world in which the characters live and work and pretend they're not falling in love. The best fantasy is always personal, and Miller delivers that in spades here. The magic is enchanting (haha, punny! ... sorry), the town has great character, and I can't think of a side character I wouldn't be interested to know more about. As in, a whole book. Yes, even the nasty ones.

There are some editorial things that threw me off now and then while reading: extra words, repeated sentiments, little things like that. But honestly the book was so sweet that it really charmed me into ignoring them by the end. Didn't affect my rating in the least.

[Elisa Rolle]

A sweet fantasy romance, to a level that it could have been a young adult story, it tells the adventures of Guylian, a boy who is apprenticing with Macati, a young mage. Guylian is already 20 years old, but he looks and behaves like a younger man, whereelse Macati has still the joyfulness of being young, even if he is an experienced mage.

This is a full 100% fantasy tale, set in a like-medieval setting, but all in all, it’s a simple environment, so simple that let the reader concentrate on the characters. It’s also very sweet, and even if there is a romance in it, with quite a kinky development, all the sexual interactions between the main characters are limited to some kisses and love words.

Macati is living at the border of a small village, and even if there is magic in this fantasy world, the life is pretty ordinary, a baker, a tavern, a blacksmith, a vinery, all the possible medieval trades you can imagine, only that their business is assisted by Macati’s magic, a magic that is not dangerous, but useful. This magic is not used for evil purposes, but to make life simplier; it’s a magic which takes inspiration by natural processes, and as such, it creates but doesn’t destroy.

I’m really enjoying the production of Less Than Three Press, I’m surprise this small press doesn’t have a bigger following, since from what I can see, their novels are really high in quality, and very, very romantic.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1936202042/?...

[Julesmarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute story. It would have been even better if it were maybe 1/3 as long, and left out some of the day-to-day duties of being a mage. I got so bored in the middle bits that if it weren't a lazy Saturday with nothing better to do, I might very well have given up.

Also, unlike some reviewers, I did see the 3-way ending coming, but only from the one time that Macati caught himself looking at Tlory and thinking he was pretty. That was pretty much it as far as the development of that relationship went. Which made me sad.

It was also very curious to have a book about a M/M/M relationship in which we only get to be in the heads of two of the men. I got to feel Guylian's confusion as he found himself attracted to two men, and I got to understand Macati's reluctance to begin a relationship with his apprentice, but Tlory was a mystery. And with as slow as the middle was, the end really was sudden. And even with the epilogue, I find myself very unconvinced that even the HFN that these men have arranged will last very long.

[Eli · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a fair bit to like about this book. The linguistics geek in me thrilled to the way the magic seemed to hinge so much on the very structure of the Civomic language. There were tantalizing glimpses of how magic works in this world, enough to be interesting without ever feeling like I was being subjected to boring info dumps. The pixies are pretty adorable, and the bit where Guylian basically invents a refrigerator on the spot had me chuckling for several minutes. And I'm always happy to see a strong three-person relationship forming.

My problem? In a word, Tlory. Tlory, one party in the romance, and one of the most annoying characters I've ever encountered. He whines, sulks, bullies, blackmails, and manipulates both Guylian and Macati, two men he's supposedly into. His only facial expressions are "pout" and "smirk" (I did a search. Tlory smirks 35 times over the course of the book). I saw no reason why either of them should give him the time of day, let alone get into a relationship with them.

[H.V. Corbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The emotional-drives of everyone felt tangible and compelling throughout the entire novel. Guylain is heart-achingly sweet, Tlory is a bad-boy with a heart of gold, and Macati is the firm but fun teacher. All of their attitudes and outlooks clash at first, but wind up complimenting each other by the end of the novel. The book is sweet and light, similar to many classic romance novels - I love it to pieces.

As a side note, I'd like to say that although tags may suggest that this book is an erotica, it is not - the characters never have sex 'on-screen', and only 'off-screen' once, at the end of the epilogue. So, if erotica's what you're looking for, you'll have to look somewhere else. However, if you want to read a good book about a slow-burn romance turning into a functioning triad, boy is this the book for you!

[Pépin Pomme · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot was good, the universe was great, and I loved the characters, even the side characters were really interesting
My only critic is about the relationship, I didn't feel like the teacher was really in love with either of the two other characters. I am always happy finding poly books, that's why I choose this one, but I didn't feel it was geniune? Maybe it was because he was older, but for me, it didn't do it.
But the universe, gods, I really loved it. The constructs were adorable

[Emmie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed by this book.
The main character didn't show any growth through out the story. I kept waiting for the arc of action to occur, but his fiance shows up and he runs away. There's no big stand, no self empowerment. I kept expecting the "showdown" and it never came. He just slunk out, snuck back, seemed fairly unable to take care of himself, and then got rewarded w/ 2 boyfriends. Boyfriends? Of convenience? There wasn't any big connection. I like how subtle this author can be, and I did think it was well written; I just did not connect with the characters. I thought then ending was kind of a bummer for Macati personally.

meh.

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was wonderful world building and I got drawn in really easily by the descriptions of Macati taking his new apprentice round the little village, introducing him to people and wondering how a young man such as Guylain had ended up with his friend Justain as an apprentice. The plot and backstory for the MCs was well done and fitted with what we learnt about each and the descriptions of the various facial expressions. A really enjoyable book and well worth the 5 stars

[Tenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just the sweetest story ever. I wanted to hug all the characters and the magic described in the story was so lovely and interesting, especially the pixies.
I was happy to read a polyamory story which wasn't a sex fest- the romance is sweet and there are only kisses, no sex scenes. This book is like a balm to the heart and I thouroghly enjoyed reading it.

[Gyvareva · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
The general story, worldbuilding and magic were nice, but I found the relationship development to be lacking something ; in the end, I actually didn't care if the characters ended up together (thankfully there was a subplot).
Otherwise well written and a nice read to pass time.

[Saskie- · Rating 3 out of 5]

First half of the book was just awesome. The magic and living language was awesome. Then it got really boring.
Also romance was, in my eyes, non-existing. I never felt any spark from any character. Yes, Macatti was cute and the two guys are not blind, but imho Macatti just went with the flow.

[Blackrei · Rating 1 out of 5]

Guilian was too meak, too weak and never stand up for himself even once
The “ménage à trois” was just another way for him not to make a decision. It was unbelievable between Macaty and Tlory
Tlory’s attitude never changes

[Enny · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolutely charming book! I love paranormal books that are funny and sweet with non-stereotypical characters. And besides that, it was so refreshing to read a menage book without any sex.

[Fehu · Rating 4 out of 5]

That one was a fun read. I loved the pixies, truly you have to like a creature who constantly steals Guy's hairbands and use them as clothes.

[Katey Hawthorne]

Original review here <3

[Antonella · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

The situation at the end is not prepared in the precedent pages and gets there readers out of the blue IMO.

[Ayanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

O_o Miller really likes her menages...


Eh. I guess it wasn't bad. It was really idealized, though, and that's what bothers me the most about Miller's works.

[Nin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The constructs were the best part.

[Whitney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started out well but the ending was meh. The threesome came out of nowhere. Tlory remained a brat and was annoying. Guy's shyness became grating about half way through.

[Shanelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5