Counterpoint (Song of the Fallen, #1) in Riptide Publishing

Nov 26, 2010 Darien rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: three-dollar-bill-reviews, favorites, 2011-reads, fave-m-m-characters, fave-books-of-2011, my-m-m-lovin, historical-m-m

^^A POINT WELL EFFIN MADE!^^

Counterpoint is one of those epic love stories, that completely engages the reader and makes you fall in love. I was completely caught up in the characters, and the world created. I will say honestly that I wanted to read this book, because the cover is just so impressive. It drew my eye, and it turned out that this book is more than just a pretty cover (pffft, pretty cover, more like a sexy cover).

This book as I said before is epic, epic fantasy that is. Its pure fi ^^A POINT WELL EFFIN MADE!^^

Counterpoint is one of those epic love stories, that completely engages the reader and makes you fall in love. I was completely caught up in the characters, and the world created. I will say honestly that I wanted to read this book, because the cover is just so impressive. It drew my eye, and it turned out that this book is more than just a pretty cover (pffft, pretty cover, more like a sexy cover).

This book as I said before is epic, epic fantasy that is. Its pure fiction, from the war with the ferals; to its hatred between men and elves. It can also be described as historical, without actually being historic. From the horses, lands armour and fighting soldiers. It offers up all the things I like in my historical romance, but with a great twist, and an elf that just makes me happy. It is a book for all my fantasy lovers, and those looking for a book with romance, that was a progression and did not happen in like 20 pages into the book.

Ayden is an eight-hundred year old elf. Watching a war play out between humans, and feral beasts. Feral beasts are animals that have been taken over by some form of darkness, and changed them into beasts. Their intent is to destroy, and their targets are humans. Ayden feels no love for the humans, he thinks them beasts also, arrogant, and stupid, and they share the land has enemies. The elves on their side, and the humans in their own little world. Until his sister enters human territory, and he has no choice but to go in and save her, when humans soldier are hot on her trail. He fights to protect his sister, but loses the battle and is captured, him and his sister both.

Acting King, Freyric is up to his ears in politics and war, he is prince but his brother crowned king is away due to the war with the ferals. That leaves Freyric to the responsibilities of life at court. When word gets to him about the capture of elves, one of the elves slaying sixteen of his men, his job is to lay out punishment. That becomes hard when his eyes land on the beautiful and battered Ayden. The stirrings of lust rushes forth, but Freyric is feeling something else, and makes Ayden his personal slave. This leads to a passionate story about a man fighting to save his people, and an elf warrior fighting to save his sister and leave the human world. What they never expected was to fall in love.

I thought this book was gonna be one of those stories, where the captured falls in love with his evil and domineering master. Forced to succumb to his lust, but eventually starting to care for the man. I was in for a treat, Miss Haimowitz manages the progression of feelings so beautifully. Here is a Freyric a man of power, who can take what he wants from Ayden, yet he was always such a gentleman. Never perfect, not always gentle but his attitude and apparent feelings for the elf was one of the reasons why this book was so enjoyable.

A friendship is formed wrapped in powerful emotions, and it’s through this, man and elf found a bond. Freyric must convince Ayden to help with the war, but Ayden cares nothing for humans and they care nothing for him. The people of Farr would love to see Ayden suffer, but their prince protects him and this very reason is causing suspicion of Freyric. Therefore, it becomes a story of sacrifice, what man/elf is willing to give up in the name of love. Will Freyric risk the love and respect from his people, and will Ayden throw out pride and sacrifice himself all in the name of love.

This book is for fans of true romance, who enjoy a good plot, and smart and witty characters. I am a fan, because I fell in love with Ayden’s humour and his strong spirit. I love Freyric’s loyalty and his compassion; he is just a “wow” of a character. I loved that sex played a secondary role to the story, and its characters. I loved the sexual tension. I loved the world building. I freaking loved it all. I recommend this read in a big way (BIG WAY).

I look forward to the second, because this book ended with my heart in my throat.

Reviewed for TDB Reviews

...more

18 likes · Like · see review

Jun 03, 2011 Heather C rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-romance, series, fantasy, psychic-abilities, ebook, m-m, faves, elves, lots-of-tension

OH.MY.GODS!!! I loved this book!!!

This book was picked for me to read as a challenge and I dove in without reading the blurb or any reviews. I really didn't know what to expect other than that this was m/m fantasy and it had a cliffhanger. It also has one of the most beautiful covers I have ever seen.

I found the World very interesting with the song and abilities of the elven people, the barbarism and prejudices of the humans, and the madness of the Ferals/Darkers. There was a bit of world buildi ...more

17 likes · Like · see review

Feb 24, 2011 BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m, no-longer-loanable-kindle, bdsm, challenge-mm-gang-bang, zz-bookie-lended

I didn't like this book too much. I enjoyed another book of Ms. Haimowitz, but this one didn't do it for me. The 300+ pages filled with hatred, biogry and ignorance only caused me to be pissed, not engaged. As much as I would like to know what happens in the second book, I'm going to have to ask someone else to tell me what happens.

I liked the Prince and the elf here. I really do. I didn't like Kona the cunt nor did I like Ella the imbecile. I'm not sure why Ms. Haimowitz wrote in such despicabl ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Nov 20, 2010 Jerry rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, violence, fantasy, true-love, military

Wow, what a ride with two strong men (oops, I mean 1 man and 1 elf. An emotional roller coaster with heights so beautiful and lows so draining. I don't know how I can wait till the fall when the sequel comes out. But I bet it will be a series and the ending of the next book will be equally mad making. The setting reminded me a little of Lord of the Rings without it being the same at all. A great fantasy, the romance is tied up in there but there is so much more as well. Recommended for those who ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Dec 25, 2010 Amara rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: mm

I.Loved.This.Book. What an incredibly awesome read this one was. The world building, the characters, the plot… all of it.

The author did an amazing job with this book. Incredibly well written, it had me all over the emotional scale. Vivid descriptions that had me pulled into the story, seeing and feeling what the characters were experiencing as they related to the world around them as well as interacting with each other.

The world the she created was amazing. Not at all your typical elfin fantasy I.Loved.This.Book. What an incredibly awesome read this one was. The world building, the characters, the plot… all of it.

The author did an amazing job with this book. Incredibly well written, it had me all over the emotional scale. Vivid descriptions that had me pulled into the story, seeing and feeling what the characters were experiencing as they related to the world around them as well as interacting with each other.

The world the she created was amazing. Not at all your typical elfin fantasy type world, which sadly I admit, I was expecting. This was a fantasy world with elves and humans that had a strong historical feel to it. Back to the days of old with castles and kings, yet entwined with magic, elfin music and song. It has love, passion, violence, bloodshed… it has it all. I found it an amazing combination that had me completely fascinated and totally enthralled.

The characters were extraordinary. The two main characters Freyrik and Ayden, I just fell in love with. Prince Freyrik, strong, noble, patient, compassionate. Ayden, prideful, loyal, strong, stubborn, snarky, absolutely filled with attitude. He had me laughing with his stubbornness and his snarky attitude on many occasions. I loved them both, but it’s Ayden I absolutely fell in love with. I completely adore him.

This book is not your average hot, steamy romance novel. It’s not a book of page after page of quick, meaningless sex; it’s a slow build in this one as the main characters banter back and forth, learn to trust to each other, and form their relationship. I don’t always like having to wait for the hot and heavy, with this book however it was fine with me, I found the book is fast paced enough and interesting enough to be able to pull it off. Once they get there… beautifully amazing.

I have to say, the end of the book is a cliffhanger and I was a bit hesitant to read it for that reason. But this is done in such a way that I didn’t feel left completely dangling in mid air, which just drives me crazy.

I would highly recommend this one to any lover of the M/M genre. You won’t be disappointed. And yes, I will definitely be first in line for the sequel. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Oct 16, 2010 Kari Gregg rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: glbt, fantasy, capture

Captured by his human enemies, Ayden is presented and enslaved to Freyrik. Freyrick, however, has a soft heart toward his elf captive and rejects the blind hatred that rules Ayden's every thought and emotion. He seeks to win Ayden over with compassion -- as much as this story world's culture allows, at any rate. While Freyrik's sexual attraction to Ayden is immediate and urgent, he chooses to court Ayden to him, but that doesn't stop Rik from using Ayden's skills as a warrior to defend the very Captured by his human enemies, Ayden is presented and enslaved to Freyrik. Freyrick, however, has a soft heart toward his elf captive and rejects the blind hatred that rules Ayden's every thought and emotion. He seeks to win Ayden over with compassion -- as much as this story world's culture allows, at any rate. While Freyrik's sexual attraction to Ayden is immediate and urgent, he chooses to court Ayden to him, but that doesn't stop Rik from using Ayden's skills as a warrior to defend the very humans who robbed him of his dignity and his freedom.

Counterpoint is, by no means, a light read. If you're looking for shallow characterization and frivolous plot, keep looking because this ain't it. The story world the author paints for us lives and breathes. Rik and Ayden are fully realized heroes -- they sweat and make mistakes and sacrifice for the ones they love. The scope of the book (and the one to follow, no doubt) is truly epic.

The only quibble I had with this book was the style. I prefer a much more sparse -- even terse -- text and as a result, I occasionally skimmed paragraphs to go forward to the next bit of dialogue, the next action, the next step ahead in the plot. That is not to say that the author overly belabored descriptions or anything of the sort. That was not the case. I simply have the attention span of a gnat on crack and love to see white space on the page. Give me a word, maybe three, pointed words, deliberate word choices that have been carefully honed to paint my mental picture of the scene, the characters' emotions and the actions taking place and I am one happy woman. Rachel Haimowitz doesn't write like that. Which is fine. Just a matter of personal taste. It didn't distract or pull me from the story.

Overall, I can say that although I'm widely read in GBLT, I've never seen a story world and characters as richly drawn and layered as Counterpoint's. It stands as genuinely unique, a rare treasure the reader would be a fool to pass up. Highly recommend.

http://www.guiltless-pleasure.com/nov.... ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Sep 02, 2010 Kei rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m-romance

Rachel Haimowitz’s Counterpoint: Song of the Fallen is a well thought out piece of fantasy. The cultures are diverse and not simply superficially Tolkienesque. The author uses some turns of phrase that imply a different era without making the language unwieldy. In her world, mankind and the elves are caught in a struggle that both sides blame the other for sparking with an act of betrayal. Prince Freyrik is given an elven prisoner and seeing an unparalleled opportunity, he tries to bridge the ga ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Aug 05, 2011 Fangtasia rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Absolutely stunning! An alternate universe so real, it feels like history, rather than fiction. The clever use of music as a way to describe the feelings, not only of the characters but of the world itself, was incredibly fulfilling.

The author allowed the main characters the time necessary for their love to develop and be believable, even expected, after how they met. I am so grateful for that! All the characters evoke strong emotions throughout the story. My hands are still itching to strangle ...more

1 like · Like · see review