Temple Boy

Etsey Novels #2

by Heidi Cullinan

Fantasy
The Etsey Series; Previous The Seventh Veil

Though he’s lived his whole life in a monastery, temple boy Aurel doesn’t believe in God -- not until he wakes up knowing with stone-cold certainty God is dead. Then yet another god appears and he tells Aurel he’s a god too, and that it’s up to him to save the world.

Now giant stone beasts are running him down at mass, witches are dropping out of the sky, and a sad, headless man named Charles whispers to Aurel in his dreams. It isn't until a band of vengeful women warriors drag him into the desert and introduce Aurel to a lover of his own that he realizes how much not just his life but the lives of others are at stake. Whatever he does with his newfound power, be it taking Charles's place or finding a way to restore him to Timothy's side, he'll have to do it soon, because the man who had Charles killed is looking for Aurel too. But while Aurel has always taken refuge in being a simple temple boy, he quickly learns all the power in the universe isn't worth anything unless he also believes in himself and his lover.

Publisher's This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find anal play/intercourse, dubious consent, menage (m/f/m with m/m content), rape, same sex practices (m/m, f/f), strong violence. Readers with a history of rape or sexual abuse may find elements of this story disturbing.

Genres: M M Romance, Fantasy, Romance, Erotica, M M Fantasy, LGBT, High Fantasy

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 20, 2011

About the author

Author of over thirty novels, Midwest-native Heidi Cullinan writes positive-outcome romances for LGBT characters struggling against insurmountable odds because they believe there’s no such thing as too much happy ever after. Heidi’s books have been recommended by Library Journal, USA Today, RT Magazine, and Publishers Weekly. When Heidi isn’t writing, they enjoy gaming, reading manga, manhua, and danmei, playing with cats, and watching too much anime.

Heidi goes by Jun when being spoken to in person or online, and Jun’s pronouns are they/them.

Reviews

[Barb ~rede-2-read~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, as I said in my review of the first book The Seventh Veil, the world the author created in this fantasy series is huge and complex, multi-layered and multi-dimensional. I totally admire her imagination!

I thought this one wasn't as difficult to follow as the first one, especially after we were shown how Aurel, the temple boy, was intertwined with Charles. However, I can't say it was easy either. The story was complex, yet as the second half of the story evolved it all started to make much more sense. And I loved the fact that the ending wasn't as tragic as the first one. HFN is fine for me with this since we know it will be an ongoing series.

If you enjoy fantasy, world-building, adventure, mythical legends and romance you should enjoy this story.

[Mountie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I come to M/M with a history and love affair with fantasy novels. The worlds created by fantasy authors are often complex, full of magics and laws that allow me to totally immerse myself. Heidi did not disappoint with the Temple Boy. A reader needs to come at this series in order, reading The Seventh Veil first is a must. The story gripped me completely from beginning to end and I couldn't put it down. Sure their is violence and m/f, m/m/f & f/f encounters but while you knew it was happening, I found it wasn't "in my face" when these things happened. The focus is on the story, the plot and why these events took place, how they moved the story forward. I can't wait for the next in this series.

[Enny · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought the book because I like the author and didn't read the warnings about m/f/m and f/f sex scenes which both aren't my cup of tea. But since I had already spent the money, I decided to give it a try. Unfortunately it's not just those scenes that ruined the book for me, the ending is decidedly weird too and I didn't care for the writing style either.

[Julesmarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heidi Cullinan is a straight-up genius. There is just so much to these books--so many characters, and different aspects of characters, and even different fragments of the different aspects. And the settings are intricate and fantastically-well described. And the story is fast-paced and action-packed and there's that delicious feeling of danger and even apocalypse always being right around the corner.

But just at the exact moment I start to feel like maybe it's TOO fragmented, or the danger has gotten close enough I can't imagine it being averted, a character like Aurel (or Timothy in the first one) happens. And he is filled with enough love and hope and light that he's able to reassure everyone (me included) that happy endings are still possible.

I adored Aurel. I thought Timothy would have a fight on his hands for being my favorite character in the series so far, but there wasn't really a contest. Aurel was never difficult for me to understand the way Timothy has been. As soon as Aurel realized what he was and how he and Chakide fit into everything, he knew what he needed to do and he did it. There wasn't any of the hesitation or hand-wringing or mind-changing or self doubt that we've seen from both Charles and Timothy so far.

The character that surprised and delighted me the most in this one was Madeline. I loved all of the lessons she was able to learn and how much more confident and comfortable with herself she was by the end.

I also loved that we got that scene with Charles and Timothy on the bridge ALMOST able to touch. It was good to be reminded of why they're going through everything they are to get Timothy restored.



The more I'm shown of this world, the more I love it. It is detailed and beautiful and filled with fascinating people. I can't wait to read more about the delicious Captain Gibbs!

[Barb Manning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Temple Boy by Heidi Cullinan takes up the tale of Timothy and Charles, lovers and gods in the world of Etsey. This chapter of the story is equally as complex as the opening salvo. Cullinan is a gifted storyteller. To fully enjoy Temple Boy you must leave behind ideas regarding the flow of time and the uniqueness of person, or even sex.

Charles and Timothy fragment themselves to such an extent that new characters step onto the stage to help reunite them. Male and female characters who contain shards of the Charles and Timothy move through the story weaving a great spell. Jonathon and Madeline are again key figures, as are some new villains and heroes.

Aurel, a young temple boy of Mantua takes center stage in this episode. He has a great task, saving the world. How and if he achieves this lofty goal is the focus of Temple Boy. In Aurel, Cullinan creates a sympathetic figure that evokes empathy as he confronts situations dealing with the existence of God and the Goddess. His bewilderment is real; his pain and confusion are real.

Temple Boy is fast-paced covering vast areas of land and sea, space and time. Cullinan takes the reader from warm temples in Manua, to the vast deserts of Peshani, to the desolated lands of Catal, the childhood home of Timothy. While the scenes change with dramatic effect, the central focus of the story is never lost.

Temple Boy is a successful addition to the Etsey series, full of passion, love and pain. It is as thought-provoking as Seventh Veil and as entertaining.

Reviewed originally for Blackraven's Reviews

[Lanegyro Audra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second part of Etsey series did not disappoint me. The plot was just as original and engaging as that of Seventh Veil's and I was very happy that this book ended in happier note than the first.
Since it was original plot and vivid descriptive writing that made me like the story, I will focus on the things that kept me from loving it. First, my advice to other readers is to heed the warnings. Personally, I didn't mind violence or gore, but I can see how talking severed heads can be not everyone's cup of tea. Rape, threats of rape and very casual sexual encounters between males and females were all in the book too. I would have preferred there to be much less of sex out of necessity, persuaded sex and rape in the book. Another think that I didn't like was jumping back and forth between POVs. Because of this I could not get emotionally attached to the characters or force myself to care for their woes. Third minus in my list is weak and undeveloped villain. The villain was much worse than alchemist in the first part of Etsey series and that says a lot! While I was not surprised that it is was crazed Androghenie who went after Charles, his goals and power show offs were way too cliché to be entertaining. Finally, I really missed quotations at the beginnings of each new chapter. I really liked them in the first book and felt cheated when I couldn't find any in 'Temple Boy'.
In all the other aspects I found 'Temple boy' to be a good read and cannot wait to find out what other adventures await Charles and Co on his quest.

[Adara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank goodness this one wasn't as heart-breaking as the first story. (And thank goodness the pattern has changed, or it could have been moreso.) There were awful things to occur, but they were tempered with hope that things can end well. I enjoyed the humor, the thought-provoking social commentary, the twists of the plot, and the character interactions. I could see the growth of the characters (poor Madeline indeed, Heidi!), and cannot wait to see where further they will go. (Kicked Timothy out, HA!) I agree with Charles's assessment that this will be "a very, very interesting adventure." Can't wait for the next Etsey book!

[Aggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great follow up to The Seventh Veil. I didn't think I would like this series as much as I do, but it looks like the other books are going to have to be must reads for me. Charles And Timothy will always be my favorites. Jonathan and Madeleine are rather annoying, especially Madeleine who I cannot help but feel is a bit prudish. James Gibbs was a hoot and I cannot wait to see him and Charles play. Ooooooo la la. I also kept picturing Johnny Depp in my mind whenever Gibbs was on the page. A very good read. Loved all the sex scenes but the author should have been explicit with Timothy-Madeleine-Jonathan. That was rather disappointing. Especially, with supposedly straight Jonathan.

[Ayanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

If this were distilled down so it were only about Charles, it would have been better. But then, it couldn't have been because this Aurel person and that Chakide person and all those other people got involved.

I tried to read it. Really did. But then there was Madelaine, and then there was Jonathan, and then there was other stuff, and then I found myself skipping for Charles.

It might be this book's fault. Maybe one day I'll be able to read through it without skimming through anything that Charles didn't feature in.

I admit the tease for bk 3 at the end was intriguing, but it sounds like great angst-fodder.

[Suze · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a story. Definitely a series for really keen alt world, fantasy readers. I did find this more tricky to read than the Seven Veils (book1) and i wouldn't suggest reading it stand alone. I'm not a big reader of fantasy fiction so it was a struggle for me, keeping up with whose spirit was in who, who was dead or alive. It did continue the story of Timothy and Charles and they are 'reinvented' in a great circle but i did need to revert to the website, etseynovels.com a few times.
How Heidi Cullinan keeps up with who is who, devises the plots - well, kudos to her.

[Yblees · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sequel to "The Seventh Veil". If you've read the first book, this one will be much less confusing.
The Etsey series is basically about what it means to be the Creator of Worlds, and yet not an omnipotent god.
What happens if you have a God that can create anything, but is a little naive, even scatterbrained about the actions and consequences of some of his creations? This is that God's POV! And by the way, Aurel is a darling!

Would love to get a copy of the third book in the series. Hope it's re-released soon.

[Tj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story. The continuation of the series is just as good but still just as intense. I admit to having trouble keeping up with this one.

[Shadow Jubilee · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 - 3 stars

[Mariana · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book in the series. Definitely not a light read. Has M/F and F/F but nothing too extensive.