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Brute by Kim Fielding
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I loved this book so much! I think I have read most of Kim Fielding's back list now. but this one and Speechless are my faves.
Mod
Did you also read her free short The Gig ? Apparently it's a link between Speechless and the Good Bones series. I downloaded it, but figured there'd be no point in reading it until after I've read Speechless .
Yes, you have to read Speechless before reading the Gig. I wish I had Speechless as a lendable but I borrowed it myself. This week I also read Night Shift by her and that one was good too. I guess I am a K. Fielding fan now, haha!With Speechless though it was funny I was a third of the way in and I already knew it would be one of my favorites. Since it's a short its easy t re-read, which I have often ;-P
I read this after seeing it recommended on the old AE thread, and was so glad I did. The characters were quite appealing, and just as in her Stasis series, Fielding did a masterful job of world building. I really liked the fact that Brute was a physically flawed character, and thought the way Fielding explored that was intriguing. The way she painted his life, the motivations of the townspeople in his little village, and the change in circumstances at the palace, were all so solid. This was a really satisfying read.
I haven't read Speechless yet, but seeing it mentioned here, I'm adding it to my list.
Just bought this - sounds very good. And outside the usual tropes...
Mod
I thoroughly enjoyed "Brute" ... I'll read any Kim Fielding book for now as she hasn't disappointed me yet.
Kim Fielding's "Brute" surely evokes any number of great romantic stories of the past - "Count of Monte Christo" and "Beauty and the Beast" both came to mind. It is firmly set in the world of "long ago and far away," and as such might seem to be time-worn in its familiar avatars. But how many such stories can you recall with a gay giant and a world where same-sex romance is accepted as a matter of course?"Brute" is not about being gay; it is a tale of cruelty and kindness; of brutal neglect and merciful generosity; of unforgiving sorrow and unthinking bravery. Brute is the main character, and we don't learn his real name until well into the story - so I won't tell you now. He is a sad character, and somehow feels he deserves the misery of his lot in life, because it is all he knows. But he is a far more complex man than even he understands, and as the story unfolds, we see Brute, acting only on the instincts of his great heart, become heroic beyond his own comprehension.
He saves a prince; befriends a prisoner; seeks justice for the forgotten. This is no indictment of aristocracy, for the kingdom in which Brute lives is a benevolent one. This is a moral tale of inequality and human kindness.
It moves at a pastoral, lyrical pace - not too slow, but not really fast. The world that Fielding creates is vivid and fully fleshed-out. We get a sense of its history, its politics, its religion, its culture. I found it endlessly interesting, and constantly touching on my emotions in little ways.
Fielding is a good writer. Her mastery of English makes the reading a pleasure; she doesn't strive for some "ye olde" model of language, yet avoids anachronisms that would disturb the sense of place she so carefully creates. I thoroughly enjoyed this, and recommend it highly.
If you guys liked this story, don't forget to read the story she submitted for the Love Has No Boundaries event. The story is called Treasure and it's a fantasy story as well.
Mod
Yes, I enjoyed Treasure as well; nice little bit of world-building there (got a kick out of the idea of dragons being used as cart horses!). It's one of my favourites so far, from the "Love Has No Boundaries" set of stories that's being released this year. If anyone's interested in this freebie, this link should work:
http://www.mmromancegroup.com/?p=3531
Here's the picture that inspired Treasure :
Got "Treasure" on my Kindle. Can't wait to try it. Ha...the romance group's tag line is "don't read in the closet." A little irony there...
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Treasure (other topics)Brute (other topics)
Brute leads a lonely life in a world where magic is commonplace. He is seven and a half feet of ugly, and of disreputable descent. No one, including Brute, expects him to be more than a laborer. But heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and when he is maimed while rescuing a prince, Brute’s life changes abruptly. He is summoned to serve at the palace in Tellomer as a guard for a single prisoner. It sounds easy but turns out to be the challenge of his life.
Rumors say the prisoner, Gray Leynham, is a witch and a traitor. What is certain is that he has spent years in misery: blind, chained, and rendered nearly mute by an extreme stutter. And he dreams of people’s deaths—dreams that come true.
As Brute becomes accustomed to palace life and gets to know Gray, he discovers his own worth, first as a friend and a man and then as a lover. But Brute also learns heroes sometimes face difficult choices and that doing what is right can bring danger of its own.
I had previously enjoyed a fantasy trilogy by Fielding (Stasis/Flux/ Equipoise, which I mentioned on the previous book thread), so I was quite happy when I came across this new novel. And wow---I certainly wasn’t disappointed.
The story drew me in instantly, and I challenge any reader not to fall in love with gentle giant Brute. What a marvelous character! And the supporting cast is well-drawn also. The relationship that eventually develops between Brute and the prisoner he watches over was incredibly touching.
The story is well-written and convincing in every way, and the conclusion most satisfactory. I’ll give this my highest recommendation for lovers of fantasy; seriously, if you like the genre, read this book. Kim Fielding has at least one other novel currently on offer (Good Bones), as well as some short stories, and her new book Venetian Masks releases next month, I believe. I think this author is someone I’ll add to my auto-buy list.