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As We Fall
Peace is a dangerous business. Domitris has learned that lesson well, and he has a lot to prove as the first Elected Emperor of Marmaras. But even with the power of the throne, brokering a treaty with the enemy nation Dassosda is no easy task.
As his council undermines his efforts at every turn and negotiations are hanging by a thread, his focus is stolen by the captivating but mysterious man, Sinnan. Sinnan is alluring, fun, and easy – everything Domitris’ life isn’t.
After an attempt on his life, Domitris must find the perpetrators to save himself and his country. With only days left before signing the treaty, the fate of the empire and the fragile truce with Dassosda are slowly falling apart. In the midst of political chaos and fighting for his life, Domitris is forced to rely on the help of his new mischievous lover to keep the crown. Dragged into a world of half truths and beautiful lies, Domitris must decide who to trust, as his council, Sinnan, and even his own heart seem to be playing tricks on him.
As his council undermines his efforts at every turn and negotiations are hanging by a thread, his focus is stolen by the captivating but mysterious man, Sinnan. Sinnan is alluring, fun, and easy – everything Domitris’ life isn’t.
After an attempt on his life, Domitris must find the perpetrators to save himself and his country. With only days left before signing the treaty, the fate of the empire and the fragile truce with Dassosda are slowly falling apart. In the midst of political chaos and fighting for his life, Domitris is forced to rely on the help of his new mischievous lover to keep the crown. Dragged into a world of half truths and beautiful lies, Domitris must decide who to trust, as his council, Sinnan, and even his own heart seem to be playing tricks on him.
408 pages, Paperback
Published June 10, 2023
23 people are currently reading
1738 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
April 12, 2023
Carefully crafted and beautifully written, As We Fall takes the reader on a journey, not only through the world in which the story is set, but through the twists and turns of the full range of emotions. Set against the backdrop of a wonderful historical fantasy world, the characters and the trials that they face feel closer than they have any right to, and I fell in love with all of them so very easily. I felt their pains and their fears; I shared in their triumphs and their joys; I laughed at their antics and ached at their more poignant moments. Anya Wildt is an incredibly honest writer, her prose dripping with vitality. Her characters leap off the page and demand your attention and your devotion, both of which you will hand over without a second thought. This is a queer story that does not revolve around the romance – though, by God, there is romance. The story is engaging, exciting, and full of thrills and surprises that will keep you guessing until the very end – but it is also tender and achingly sincere, weaving a tapestry of human connection and solidarity that is so incredibly, viscerally real. It’s clear that the whole novel has been created with the kind of love and dedication that most of us can only dream of. As We Fall is everything I’ve ever wanted in a book, and everything I didn’t know I was missing.
July 10, 2023
Wildt has astonished and amazed me with her debut novel As We Fall, demonstrating immense raw talent for storytelling alongside her studied skill in plot, pacing, character development, relationship development, and world building. In as few words as possible, As We Fall has a gripping plot with spicy and intense character dynamics, yet features some of the sweetest, most tender scenes to grace the page. Especially with the twists and turns in the latter half of the novel, it’s a difficult one to put down.
People who have an issue because the main character "is a bad leader" are missing the point. He IS, during the course of the book, being a bad leader, for a variety of reasons (burn out, lack of political training, fatally-optimistic aspirations and perspective, among many others). You are *supposed* to understand the council and other characters' frustrations with him. If you want a plot where the villain is pure evil and completely unrelatable, you've come to the wrong place.
In many more words:
While the plot is largely focused on political intrigue and Domitris’s struggle to balance growing responsibilities he was never trained for alongside mounting unrest and resistance in his own government, the heart of this novel are the characters and their dynamics. Wildt beautifully weaves the two together, giving the intense drama of political discord to keep you gripped to the plot while allowing the bittersweet, heart-aching relationships (romantic and platonic!) to shine through and tug you helplessly along.
The beautifully modern writing style gives the tale a deceptively simple façade, but the tapestry, if you're willing to look beneath that façade, is layers deep and makes this one of my favorite fantasy novels of the decade. The author is not worried about showing off her hours of research or world building, the story is about the characters. And the lighter writing style allows you to see the characters not as one might view historical figures or the stiff caricatures of "heroes" that fill fantasy novels today, but as real people with the same emotions, hopes, and dreams as you or me.
We must start, of course, with Domitris and the love interest, Sinnan. Their chemistry is delightful and saucy and enthralling. Every moment of them together made me want to smile, laugh, or cry—or sometimes all three at once. I was as intrigued and mesmerized by Sinnan as Domitris was, and I can’t fault him for choosing Sinnan’s spicy-sweet company over dusty old counselors who want to fight his every move and berate him for being too young and inexperienced to do his job.
Domitris and his childhood friend, Ignotus, is another notable and engaging relationship that does not relent its gripping claws from your heart. Their relationship is tangible in their conversations and jests and fights, relaying two people with the familiarity and comfort of a lifelong friendship and years of connected experiences.
The relationships within Sinnan’s traveling troupe are also fun to see. The little hints and treats of their interactions expose a history and love that I imagine will get delved deeper into throughout the series, and I can’t wait.
The plot and pacing are superb—especially, as I mentioned, in the latter half of the novel. The last few chapters especially had me speed-reading out of desperation to know what was going to happen. There were so many delicious twists and turns and unexpected revelations. And that ending!! The ending! It’s somehow both revealing and beautifully wraps up the novel, yet resolves nothing and leaves you frothing at the mouth for more. Honestly, a masterclass of storytelling skill and well-thought-out plot.
In my opinion, As We Fall is one of the best debut novels I’ve ever read, and if you have any interest in spicy m/m fantasy romances, this is a must-read.
People who have an issue because the main character "is a bad leader" are missing the point. He IS, during the course of the book, being a bad leader, for a variety of reasons (burn out, lack of political training, fatally-optimistic aspirations and perspective, among many others). You are *supposed* to understand the council and other characters' frustrations with him. If you want a plot where the villain is pure evil and completely unrelatable, you've come to the wrong place.
In many more words:
While the plot is largely focused on political intrigue and Domitris’s struggle to balance growing responsibilities he was never trained for alongside mounting unrest and resistance in his own government, the heart of this novel are the characters and their dynamics. Wildt beautifully weaves the two together, giving the intense drama of political discord to keep you gripped to the plot while allowing the bittersweet, heart-aching relationships (romantic and platonic!) to shine through and tug you helplessly along.
The beautifully modern writing style gives the tale a deceptively simple façade, but the tapestry, if you're willing to look beneath that façade, is layers deep and makes this one of my favorite fantasy novels of the decade. The author is not worried about showing off her hours of research or world building, the story is about the characters. And the lighter writing style allows you to see the characters not as one might view historical figures or the stiff caricatures of "heroes" that fill fantasy novels today, but as real people with the same emotions, hopes, and dreams as you or me.
We must start, of course, with Domitris and the love interest, Sinnan. Their chemistry is delightful and saucy and enthralling. Every moment of them together made me want to smile, laugh, or cry—or sometimes all three at once. I was as intrigued and mesmerized by Sinnan as Domitris was, and I can’t fault him for choosing Sinnan’s spicy-sweet company over dusty old counselors who want to fight his every move and berate him for being too young and inexperienced to do his job.
Domitris and his childhood friend, Ignotus, is another notable and engaging relationship that does not relent its gripping claws from your heart. Their relationship is tangible in their conversations and jests and fights, relaying two people with the familiarity and comfort of a lifelong friendship and years of connected experiences.
The relationships within Sinnan’s traveling troupe are also fun to see. The little hints and treats of their interactions expose a history and love that I imagine will get delved deeper into throughout the series, and I can’t wait.
The plot and pacing are superb—especially, as I mentioned, in the latter half of the novel. The last few chapters especially had me speed-reading out of desperation to know what was going to happen. There were so many delicious twists and turns and unexpected revelations. And that ending!! The ending! It’s somehow both revealing and beautifully wraps up the novel, yet resolves nothing and leaves you frothing at the mouth for more. Honestly, a masterclass of storytelling skill and well-thought-out plot.
In my opinion, As We Fall is one of the best debut novels I’ve ever read, and if you have any interest in spicy m/m fantasy romances, this is a must-read.
April 18, 2023
I'm gonna be honest, I wasn't entirely sure if this book was up my alley before I first started reading it, because I usually prefer the more "classic" fantasy setting with magic / fairies etc.
But from the first page on I was absolutely hooked and could barely set the book aside.
The writing is absolutely beautiful, you can see, feel, hear and smell every tiny detail that is described. It's so lively that it feels as if you've actually been there. The setting is incredibly detailed but it doesn't distract from, it adds *to* the story.
The story itself unfolds with great pacing. In the beginning, you have enough time to get to know the main character and the world around him - there's this joke in (fantasy) reading circles that when you start a new book set in a new world, you need a few hundred pages to get what's where and how the politics are. This is not at all the case here, you get the main picture pretty fast and it just adds to the joy because you actually understand what's going on all the time.
There are scenes and moments that are so full of action that it had me on the edge of my seat and also slow and soft and romantic moments and a lot in between. Again, the pacing is very good, it never gets boring but at the same time there’s enough time to let the story unfold fully.
I never thought I could get that invested in the politics and future of a made-up country I never heard of before that fast, but here we are. And of course I got invested just as much in the love story that unfolds parallel to the main arc and is beautifully told as well.
It definitely adds to this that all of the characters feel so multidimensional and real. It is as if they’re actual people, with good and bad sides and everything in between.
A really nice and refreshing aspect is that being queer is just normal. To be honest, as a queer person myself I’m usually not too fond of stories centering around drama with coming out or just existing as a queer person, the hate we face etc., because we have enough of this in real life. Therefore I enjoyed it so much that it’s just normal for everyone. Be gay, do crime. Or well, try to rebuild and save your country at the same time as falling in love.
Overall, it was a really delightful read that transported me right into the world of Marmaras and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it. If you’re looking for a well-written, queer book that pulls you right into its world, look no further, just go read it already.
I know the first part just got released, but I can't wait for the next one!
But from the first page on I was absolutely hooked and could barely set the book aside.
The writing is absolutely beautiful, you can see, feel, hear and smell every tiny detail that is described. It's so lively that it feels as if you've actually been there. The setting is incredibly detailed but it doesn't distract from, it adds *to* the story.
The story itself unfolds with great pacing. In the beginning, you have enough time to get to know the main character and the world around him - there's this joke in (fantasy) reading circles that when you start a new book set in a new world, you need a few hundred pages to get what's where and how the politics are. This is not at all the case here, you get the main picture pretty fast and it just adds to the joy because you actually understand what's going on all the time.
There are scenes and moments that are so full of action that it had me on the edge of my seat and also slow and soft and romantic moments and a lot in between. Again, the pacing is very good, it never gets boring but at the same time there’s enough time to let the story unfold fully.
I never thought I could get that invested in the politics and future of a made-up country I never heard of before that fast, but here we are. And of course I got invested just as much in the love story that unfolds parallel to the main arc and is beautifully told as well.
It definitely adds to this that all of the characters feel so multidimensional and real. It is as if they’re actual people, with good and bad sides and everything in between.
A really nice and refreshing aspect is that being queer is just normal. To be honest, as a queer person myself I’m usually not too fond of stories centering around drama with coming out or just existing as a queer person, the hate we face etc., because we have enough of this in real life. Therefore I enjoyed it so much that it’s just normal for everyone. Be gay, do crime. Or well, try to rebuild and save your country at the same time as falling in love.
Overall, it was a really delightful read that transported me right into the world of Marmaras and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it. If you’re looking for a well-written, queer book that pulls you right into its world, look no further, just go read it already.
I know the first part just got released, but I can't wait for the next one!
April 23, 2023
I had the privilege of being an early reader and I'll admit that I was a bit nervous about it all. I really like the author as a person and it's always awkward having to tell someone that you don't like the outcome of their creative labour. At the same time I take it very seriously when someone asks my opinion, as I want to be honest and helpful.
Fortunately, reading the first few pages made it clear that all my worries were for nothing - Anya has managed to write a fantastic novel with an engaging story, multi-faceted characters and a beautiful world.
One of my favorite aspects of the book is how the gender equality in the society of the main character is established. Some authors seem to feel the need to spell out that women and men have the same rights or that same-sex relationships are usual, but Anya just casually weaved it into the story. In the company of similarly historically inspired fantasy novels where gender based discrimination often seems to function as a plot device, this is such a breath of fresh air.
Without spoiling the story, the characters were also very intriguing. They are complex and each have a history, and it was impossible to say “ah, so this is the bad guy”. It was also very interesting to read about some characters that didn't make an appearance in the story, but were just talked about. I hope in the forthcoming novels we'll get to meet them.
Finally, I really liked the world building. To me, good world building is the bread and butter of a fantasy novel, and this is some artisan bread and prime butter. I know I'm up to a great start when a novel starts with a map. Looking at the map and wondering which parts I am going to visit in the course of the story is my favorite way of beginning a book. The map in this book is just lovely and really got my imagination going. The place described in the story did not disappoint either and some grew very dear to my heart in just a couple of pages . I hope that in the future books the story will take us to even more of the places described and I'll get to learn about the particularities of each region and country.
If you're just here for a quick decision on whether to give this book a try and didn't feel like reading that whole review, this is your recommendation: DO IT!
Fortunately, reading the first few pages made it clear that all my worries were for nothing - Anya has managed to write a fantastic novel with an engaging story, multi-faceted characters and a beautiful world.
One of my favorite aspects of the book is how the gender equality in the society of the main character is established. Some authors seem to feel the need to spell out that women and men have the same rights or that same-sex relationships are usual, but Anya just casually weaved it into the story. In the company of similarly historically inspired fantasy novels where gender based discrimination often seems to function as a plot device, this is such a breath of fresh air.
Without spoiling the story, the characters were also very intriguing. They are complex and each have a history, and it was impossible to say “ah, so this is the bad guy”. It was also very interesting to read about some characters that didn't make an appearance in the story, but were just talked about. I hope in the forthcoming novels we'll get to meet them.
Finally, I really liked the world building. To me, good world building is the bread and butter of a fantasy novel, and this is some artisan bread and prime butter. I know I'm up to a great start when a novel starts with a map. Looking at the map and wondering which parts I am going to visit in the course of the story is my favorite way of beginning a book. The map in this book is just lovely and really got my imagination going. The place described in the story did not disappoint either and some grew very dear to my heart in just a couple of pages . I hope that in the future books the story will take us to even more of the places described and I'll get to learn about the particularities of each region and country.
If you're just here for a quick decision on whether to give this book a try and didn't feel like reading that whole review, this is your recommendation: DO IT!
April 24, 2023
I was completely blown away by this book! The story captivated me from the very beginning and kept me on the edge of my seat until the end with the gorgeous setting, intense romance, and intricate politics.
The story features the young emperor Domitris who has struggled for years to bring peace to his country and now the time has come to sign the peace treaty with Dia - the intelligent and beautiful delegate from the enemy nation Dassosda. But nothing goes as planned and soon, Domitris is on the brink of losing everything he has fought so hard to achieve. While scrambling to save the treaty, and his country from war, he finds it hard to concentrate when the beautiful stranger, Sinnan, tempts his body and soul.
I loved the imperfect main character who didn’t always make the right choices but whose heart was in the right place. He was very likable despite his flaws and I rooted for him all the way through the story. All of the characters in the story are charming and engaging and none of them are flawless, which makes them feel like multidimensional, real people.
Wildt’s writing is incredibly visceral and beautiful, and transports you right into the world of Marmaras - a setting so beautiful you can’t help but fall in love with it. The book is so enthralling I couldn’t put it down and when it ended, I wanted to read the next book in the series immediately!
If you love nuanced characters, subtle and elegant humor, political intrigue, and intense love stories with lots of spice, this is a must read! I can’t recommend it highly enough!
The story features the young emperor Domitris who has struggled for years to bring peace to his country and now the time has come to sign the peace treaty with Dia - the intelligent and beautiful delegate from the enemy nation Dassosda. But nothing goes as planned and soon, Domitris is on the brink of losing everything he has fought so hard to achieve. While scrambling to save the treaty, and his country from war, he finds it hard to concentrate when the beautiful stranger, Sinnan, tempts his body and soul.
I loved the imperfect main character who didn’t always make the right choices but whose heart was in the right place. He was very likable despite his flaws and I rooted for him all the way through the story. All of the characters in the story are charming and engaging and none of them are flawless, which makes them feel like multidimensional, real people.
Wildt’s writing is incredibly visceral and beautiful, and transports you right into the world of Marmaras - a setting so beautiful you can’t help but fall in love with it. The book is so enthralling I couldn’t put it down and when it ended, I wanted to read the next book in the series immediately!
If you love nuanced characters, subtle and elegant humor, political intrigue, and intense love stories with lots of spice, this is a must read! I can’t recommend it highly enough!
April 23, 2023
‘As We Fall’ by Anya Wildt is not my typical choice of reading material. However, once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down.
As a reader you are very quickly invested in the life of the main character Domitris who seems to have everything under control. Domitris is a leader, a spokesman for the people - he is the emperor. Being the emperor does not mean Domitris is without faults and he is soon dazzled by the beautiful and mysterious Sinnan. It is impossible not to like Domitris and his naïve approach sometimes.
‘As We Fall’ lulls you into thinking you have it all figured out over and over, only to be proven wrong by the great writing of Anya Wildt. The book keeps you entertained with politics, a beautiful historic setting, drama, fights, and romance. This is a must-read book. There I said it. Enjoy.
As a reader you are very quickly invested in the life of the main character Domitris who seems to have everything under control. Domitris is a leader, a spokesman for the people - he is the emperor. Being the emperor does not mean Domitris is without faults and he is soon dazzled by the beautiful and mysterious Sinnan. It is impossible not to like Domitris and his naïve approach sometimes.
‘As We Fall’ lulls you into thinking you have it all figured out over and over, only to be proven wrong by the great writing of Anya Wildt. The book keeps you entertained with politics, a beautiful historic setting, drama, fights, and romance. This is a must-read book. There I said it. Enjoy.
August 1, 2023
This book is far outside what I usually read, but it was well worth it!
I usually don't go for romance stories if I can help it, and my jam is generally either sci-fi, traditional fantasy or contemporary/urban fantasy, but this? This was gorgeous.
What really distinguished As We Fall from a lot of other books that have scared me away from romance was the pure, unfiltered honesty and rawness of the characters. Nothing was stereotypical, nothing was overly sweet or idealised - of anything, it felt like real people reacting to very real stakes!
And can I just say how refreshing it was to read a queer fantasy where being queer wasn't used as an overarching conflict? That is rare, and rarer still when done as well as it is in Wildt's debut novel.
I usually don't go for romance stories if I can help it, and my jam is generally either sci-fi, traditional fantasy or contemporary/urban fantasy, but this? This was gorgeous.
What really distinguished As We Fall from a lot of other books that have scared me away from romance was the pure, unfiltered honesty and rawness of the characters. Nothing was stereotypical, nothing was overly sweet or idealised - of anything, it felt like real people reacting to very real stakes!
And can I just say how refreshing it was to read a queer fantasy where being queer wasn't used as an overarching conflict? That is rare, and rarer still when done as well as it is in Wildt's debut novel.
January 17, 2025
Not exactly what I was expecting. I was lured by the cover and while this wasn't bad, I didn't love it either. For starters, this is the first in at least a duology, which I didn't know, and this ends in a bit of a cliffhanger... And then, I couldn't made myself care for Domitris or Sinnan... I don't know why but I didn't connect with them, and that and too many plot devices that were a bit too convenient made me not enjoying this as much as I thought I would.
June 27, 2023
Firstly, a few qualifiers. I was lucky enough to receive a copy of As We Fall as an advance reader from the author. It is not a genre that I am at all familiar with, so I obviously cannot speak to the experience one may have, if it is close to their regular fare. Furthermore, it has been a few weeks since I finished the novel as I write this review.
All that being said, As We Fall is an interesting fantasy queer romance with political elements, exactly as Wildt promises. The story follows Domitris, the Emperor of Marmaras, navigating a key juncture in his nation’s history, along with his enigmatic lover Sinnan. What stood out the most to me throughout the novel was the lovely world that Wildt has breathed life into. The people, the buildings, the monuments, and the cultures created demand the reader’s attention and really captured the imagination as Domitris and Sinnan move through them and interact with them. Lyra and Amelia were definitely some of the standout characters in the story to me that were particularly interesting.
I personally found it somewhat hard to connect with Domitris, which is slightly unfortunate as he was the POV character. It felt to me that he is constantly in need of direction from others, which left me with the question, how did he get elected? Between the conspiracy he faces within the nobility and the distance between ruler and ruled, this question was in the back of my mind throughout the story. (It is worth noting that politics are a significant interest of mine and that this is not integral to the story) Nonetheless, the enigma of characters like Sinnan along with the mystery that really accelerates in the second half kept me engaged. I think Wildt handles the twists of the story remarkably well, because they felt neither unfounded nor unsurprising, and notably they are set up by Domitris’ viewpoint in a sense, which I found really interesting. (I cannot stress how much I loved a certain twist)
Ultimately, As We Fall is a good debut novel that delivers exactly what is promised, and I wholly believe it is worth your time to read it.
All that being said, As We Fall is an interesting fantasy queer romance with political elements, exactly as Wildt promises. The story follows Domitris, the Emperor of Marmaras, navigating a key juncture in his nation’s history, along with his enigmatic lover Sinnan. What stood out the most to me throughout the novel was the lovely world that Wildt has breathed life into. The people, the buildings, the monuments, and the cultures created demand the reader’s attention and really captured the imagination as Domitris and Sinnan move through them and interact with them. Lyra and Amelia were definitely some of the standout characters in the story to me that were particularly interesting.
I personally found it somewhat hard to connect with Domitris, which is slightly unfortunate as he was the POV character. It felt to me that he is constantly in need of direction from others, which left me with the question, how did he get elected? Between the conspiracy he faces within the nobility and the distance between ruler and ruled, this question was in the back of my mind throughout the story. (It is worth noting that politics are a significant interest of mine and that this is not integral to the story) Nonetheless, the enigma of characters like Sinnan along with the mystery that really accelerates in the second half kept me engaged. I think Wildt handles the twists of the story remarkably well, because they felt neither unfounded nor unsurprising, and notably they are set up by Domitris’ viewpoint in a sense, which I found really interesting. (I cannot stress how much I loved a certain twist)
Ultimately, As We Fall is a good debut novel that delivers exactly what is promised, and I wholly believe it is worth your time to read it.
May 21, 2023
I recieved an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really, really enjoyed As We Fall. It's an impressive debut novel and I had absolutely no trouble getting emerged or remembering the details of the story (a general weakness of mine), eventhough I read it through multiple sittings.
I think one of the most enjoyable things about this book, apart from the characters and the language, was the pacing. It was, in my opinion, great. The polical details could easily be overwhelming, but it's kept short and to the point. Wildt doesn't use a ton of pages on elaborate world-building, but presents important details along the way in a consice and relevant manner. The same can be said for the general plot; it evovles swiftly, but without feeling rushed. This is great for an often impatient reader as myself.
The main characters, Domitris and Sinnan, were so believably human. They didn't always make the right decision, maybe even more often than not, and in turn those decisions had consequences, which indicates to me that nothing Wildt writes is coincidental. Everything is thought through and it was a joy to read. A well-written book. I am looking forward to the second (and third) installation in the series!
I really, really enjoyed As We Fall. It's an impressive debut novel and I had absolutely no trouble getting emerged or remembering the details of the story (a general weakness of mine), eventhough I read it through multiple sittings.
I think one of the most enjoyable things about this book, apart from the characters and the language, was the pacing. It was, in my opinion, great. The polical details could easily be overwhelming, but it's kept short and to the point. Wildt doesn't use a ton of pages on elaborate world-building, but presents important details along the way in a consice and relevant manner. The same can be said for the general plot; it evovles swiftly, but without feeling rushed. This is great for an often impatient reader as myself.
The main characters, Domitris and Sinnan, were so believably human. They didn't always make the right decision, maybe even more often than not, and in turn those decisions had consequences, which indicates to me that nothing Wildt writes is coincidental. Everything is thought through and it was a joy to read. A well-written book. I am looking forward to the second (and third) installation in the series!
July 24, 2023
I have so many thoughts about this book. I’m' going to try to keep them coherent, but it will probably come out as a random jumble of thoughts. So lets start with the most important thing first. I really really really liked this book. And I'll just be very honest, I wasn't sure I was going to before I started it. There wasn't anything on my "no" list, but a lot of the individual ingredients are on my "take it or leave it" list.
Alternate reality ancient Rome - heck yes to the alternate reality, but take it or leave it on the ancient Rome.
Queer M4M romance - I'll take AAAALLLLL the queer romance please, but within that category M4M is at the bottom of the list.
I will also be completely honest I've been waiting for a while to read this book. Eagerly awaiting. And there was some anxiety too.If after awaiting all this time the book wasn't as good as I was hoping. AND I will be completely honest and say if this book had not turned out as good as I hoped I still would have said some very nice things. But I would not gush. I would not be as excited and thrilled as I hope it's obvious that I am.
Somehow the author wove those elements That I wasn't necessarily so excited about individually together into a story that I absolutely love. This is one of those books that just sort of lingered in my imagination for long after I read the last page. And this series is going on my favorites shelf. Beyond that even the series is going on to my books to re read list.As this series evolves and more books come out I will absolutely be going back to reread this series from the beginning each time.I loved this book that much! Okay here are some specific thoughts still rambling and jumbled but at least by some topics.
This is a first time author!
I love reading first time authors. There's some pros and cons but I just love discovering authors early in their careers. And admittedly a lot of times when I say this is the first time author I'm kind of setting some expectations for myself little bit of forgiveness if there's some roughness around the edges or some craft that needs to be smoothed out. But for me it's always been worth it to get that freshness, new perspectives, and original ideas. But as I was reading this book I think one of the most common things I turned to my partner and said was I can't believe this is their first book! This book feels like the work of a seasoned author. The pacing the character development, the plotting ,the world building, the atmosphere, the voice the tone. Everything. I just can't believe this is a first time author. She handles so many of these things with grace and skill that you would normally only see in well established authors. And it's not just one or two things, it's quite a few things. And that's what really amazes me.
The main character.
Domitrius the main character is flawed, he is a golden boy with feet of clay. and we as the reader get to explore that as he unfolds. He has presented early on as the Golden Boy the leader of the revolution the hero of the people. If he had stayed there, he would have been a boring character. And Wildt doesn't suddenly say look here's a flaw let me tell you about this flaw look at this flaw! Instead we see these little things come through in the story. Where we are like wait I thought he was perfect but why is he doing this or that? And personally I love it when books do that. I want to be told what I should think about a character. As a reader, I want to be wrong in my assumptions. Want to be wrong because I'm showing that I'm wrong, not because I'm told.
The other main character.
Sinaan. I don't even know what to say about Sinaan. If you don't like Sinaan by the end of this book, then I don't think I ever knew you at all.
Their relationship.
Okay this book does a lot of things. keeps them tied together and it doesn't feel like a mess at any point but it does a lot. But at the heart of it is the relationship between those two main characters. So if that doesn't work then the book doesn't work. And before I go off on my little rant here you can read this book just for fun. It's a fun book. You don’t need to over analyze all these little aspects of the book. For me that's just kind of how my brain works for better or worse. I don't think deeper or smarter or better - I just overthink everything. And this relationship is one that I dwelled on quite a bit. Now there is some spice in this book. But it's not smut. I said earlier that I don't really like M4M romances as much as others under the Queer umbrella. Which is a very fancy umbrella by the way. But I am totally invested in this relationship. And I really liked the spicy bits which I think is a first for this particular category. And here's what I think. I recently finished a series of books that I loved. A lot. but when it came to the romance the author very much told the reader what the characters were feeling. You were told that the one character was in love with the other character deeply completely wonderfully. But I'm not sure we ever really saw it or decided for ourselves as the reader. It still worked. I still love that book. But it meant that relationship couldn't evolve. It could be discovered. it could be explored. but it couldn't evolve. Wildt Takes a different approach. We are shown but I don't think we are ever told how they feel about each other. Are you confused by where the relationship stands at the end of the book? good. So am I. and I love it. Does it feel like their relationship changes as the book goes on? Waxes and wanes, shifts, evolves, ebbs and flows like a tide? That's how I felt. and I love it!
There's this one scene I won't give it word for word. This is just a quick summary. The two characters are at a festival like a carnival. Very well described. Wilt captures the carnival atmosphere perfectly. They are walking through the crowd and as they are talking one of the characters turns around and keeps talking as he is walking. It was such a perfect moment and so well done, and probably the most memorable moment for me in this book. I was right there watchin it take place. And the author doesn't tell us what happens with the character's emotions in that moment. But as a reader, it was so clear to me. And that made it so much more powerful for me. I love, love, love that passage.
World Building.
So this is an alternate world in ancient Rome. There Is no magic in this world and political intrigue is the blood that runs through the veins of this world. Those things individually aren't what I would normally look for in a story. But again, the author did something that I felt was unique and fresh and made it work for me. The author built the world with fragments. Instead of building the world from the outside and working down. they built little moments that gathered up into an entire world over the course of the book. That's not the truly unique part, though. The author took a modern casual tone to these moments. Not anachronisms. But the language, the tone, and even the narration fell contemporary, not archaic. And by doing so, they made an alternate reality of ancient Rome feel familiar and comfortable. inhabited by people you might. People you might run into later today or tomorrow. Not individuals forgotten to history. So somehow it felt both ancient and current at the same time.I felt like that was an amazing feat as an author. I don't think I've ever seen a book that does that, especially not a book that does that effectively.
And the map! For me a good world map is essential to loving a book. And the map for this book is beautiful - gorgeous.
Okay, one last thing and then I'm probably going to hit a character limit here at Goodreads as well.
Action Scenes
Seriously. There are very famous well established authors who I absolutely love and will read literally anything they write who cannot do action scenes to save their lives or the lives of their beloved characters. I was not expecting good action scenes in this book. I'm sorry, I just either thought there would be none or that they just cannot be skimmed over and so so. It takes a while into the book before we get our first one. And I was just floored. I had to put the book down. Turn to my partner and say, I can't believe this is a first time author, at which point my partner said, yes, you've mentioned that a few times. Wildt can write a heck of an action scene! They pace it well, they describe it well. They know when to move on and when to zero in. They know when to give us details and when to only give highlights. There are a couple smaller action scenes and a couple much longer ones. And they felt delightful.
Okay… so in summary, I loved this book. At the end of the day it’s a bit of a niche audience. But not as much as you’d think. I would say if you are even slightly intrigued, you should give it a try.
I put shorter versions of book recommendation over at my instagram at
https://www.instagram.com/winteregress/
Alternate reality ancient Rome - heck yes to the alternate reality, but take it or leave it on the ancient Rome.
Queer M4M romance - I'll take AAAALLLLL the queer romance please, but within that category M4M is at the bottom of the list.
I will also be completely honest I've been waiting for a while to read this book. Eagerly awaiting. And there was some anxiety too.If after awaiting all this time the book wasn't as good as I was hoping. AND I will be completely honest and say if this book had not turned out as good as I hoped I still would have said some very nice things. But I would not gush. I would not be as excited and thrilled as I hope it's obvious that I am.
Somehow the author wove those elements That I wasn't necessarily so excited about individually together into a story that I absolutely love. This is one of those books that just sort of lingered in my imagination for long after I read the last page. And this series is going on my favorites shelf. Beyond that even the series is going on to my books to re read list.As this series evolves and more books come out I will absolutely be going back to reread this series from the beginning each time.I loved this book that much! Okay here are some specific thoughts still rambling and jumbled but at least by some topics.
This is a first time author!
I love reading first time authors. There's some pros and cons but I just love discovering authors early in their careers. And admittedly a lot of times when I say this is the first time author I'm kind of setting some expectations for myself little bit of forgiveness if there's some roughness around the edges or some craft that needs to be smoothed out. But for me it's always been worth it to get that freshness, new perspectives, and original ideas. But as I was reading this book I think one of the most common things I turned to my partner and said was I can't believe this is their first book! This book feels like the work of a seasoned author. The pacing the character development, the plotting ,the world building, the atmosphere, the voice the tone. Everything. I just can't believe this is a first time author. She handles so many of these things with grace and skill that you would normally only see in well established authors. And it's not just one or two things, it's quite a few things. And that's what really amazes me.
The main character.
Domitrius the main character is flawed, he is a golden boy with feet of clay. and we as the reader get to explore that as he unfolds. He has presented early on as the Golden Boy the leader of the revolution the hero of the people. If he had stayed there, he would have been a boring character. And Wildt doesn't suddenly say look here's a flaw let me tell you about this flaw look at this flaw! Instead we see these little things come through in the story. Where we are like wait I thought he was perfect but why is he doing this or that? And personally I love it when books do that. I want to be told what I should think about a character. As a reader, I want to be wrong in my assumptions. Want to be wrong because I'm showing that I'm wrong, not because I'm told.
The other main character.
Sinaan. I don't even know what to say about Sinaan. If you don't like Sinaan by the end of this book, then I don't think I ever knew you at all.
Their relationship.
Okay this book does a lot of things. keeps them tied together and it doesn't feel like a mess at any point but it does a lot. But at the heart of it is the relationship between those two main characters. So if that doesn't work then the book doesn't work. And before I go off on my little rant here you can read this book just for fun. It's a fun book. You don’t need to over analyze all these little aspects of the book. For me that's just kind of how my brain works for better or worse. I don't think deeper or smarter or better - I just overthink everything. And this relationship is one that I dwelled on quite a bit. Now there is some spice in this book. But it's not smut. I said earlier that I don't really like M4M romances as much as others under the Queer umbrella. Which is a very fancy umbrella by the way. But I am totally invested in this relationship. And I really liked the spicy bits which I think is a first for this particular category. And here's what I think. I recently finished a series of books that I loved. A lot. but when it came to the romance the author very much told the reader what the characters were feeling. You were told that the one character was in love with the other character deeply completely wonderfully. But I'm not sure we ever really saw it or decided for ourselves as the reader. It still worked. I still love that book. But it meant that relationship couldn't evolve. It could be discovered. it could be explored. but it couldn't evolve. Wildt Takes a different approach. We are shown but I don't think we are ever told how they feel about each other. Are you confused by where the relationship stands at the end of the book? good. So am I. and I love it. Does it feel like their relationship changes as the book goes on? Waxes and wanes, shifts, evolves, ebbs and flows like a tide? That's how I felt. and I love it!
There's this one scene I won't give it word for word. This is just a quick summary. The two characters are at a festival like a carnival. Very well described. Wilt captures the carnival atmosphere perfectly. They are walking through the crowd and as they are talking one of the characters turns around and keeps talking as he is walking. It was such a perfect moment and so well done, and probably the most memorable moment for me in this book. I was right there watchin it take place. And the author doesn't tell us what happens with the character's emotions in that moment. But as a reader, it was so clear to me. And that made it so much more powerful for me. I love, love, love that passage.
World Building.
So this is an alternate world in ancient Rome. There Is no magic in this world and political intrigue is the blood that runs through the veins of this world. Those things individually aren't what I would normally look for in a story. But again, the author did something that I felt was unique and fresh and made it work for me. The author built the world with fragments. Instead of building the world from the outside and working down. they built little moments that gathered up into an entire world over the course of the book. That's not the truly unique part, though. The author took a modern casual tone to these moments. Not anachronisms. But the language, the tone, and even the narration fell contemporary, not archaic. And by doing so, they made an alternate reality of ancient Rome feel familiar and comfortable. inhabited by people you might. People you might run into later today or tomorrow. Not individuals forgotten to history. So somehow it felt both ancient and current at the same time.I felt like that was an amazing feat as an author. I don't think I've ever seen a book that does that, especially not a book that does that effectively.
And the map! For me a good world map is essential to loving a book. And the map for this book is beautiful - gorgeous.
Okay, one last thing and then I'm probably going to hit a character limit here at Goodreads as well.
Action Scenes
Seriously. There are very famous well established authors who I absolutely love and will read literally anything they write who cannot do action scenes to save their lives or the lives of their beloved characters. I was not expecting good action scenes in this book. I'm sorry, I just either thought there would be none or that they just cannot be skimmed over and so so. It takes a while into the book before we get our first one. And I was just floored. I had to put the book down. Turn to my partner and say, I can't believe this is a first time author, at which point my partner said, yes, you've mentioned that a few times. Wildt can write a heck of an action scene! They pace it well, they describe it well. They know when to move on and when to zero in. They know when to give us details and when to only give highlights. There are a couple smaller action scenes and a couple much longer ones. And they felt delightful.
Okay… so in summary, I loved this book. At the end of the day it’s a bit of a niche audience. But not as much as you’d think. I would say if you are even slightly intrigued, you should give it a try.
I put shorter versions of book recommendation over at my instagram at
https://www.instagram.com/winteregress/
June 2, 2023
Thanks to the author for the advanced reader copy!
As We Fall is a beautiful and at times painful story about trust and betrayal that you will not want to put down.
I was thoroughly impressed by the author's competence at weaving such an engaging tale of political machinations especially considering this is her first finished novel.
Everything in this story felt purposeful; no detail was wasted or coincidental. Small comments made by characters would come back with greater importance later on which is infinitely satisfying and rewarding for observant readers!
On a technical level, the novel is very competently written, with beautiful prose that really brings the world to life without getting lost in the cityscapes it aims to paint. The city where the intrigue takes place comes to life on its own, held up by beautiful and vivid descriptions of visuals, scents and soundscapes. The pacing is absolutely perfect and not a single moment is wasted or rushed. The story takes place on a very small timeframe and yet manages to breathe all the same. It gives the reader time to rest, but picks back up soon enough so there is not a single moment where I found myself bored or wishing to be reading about a different scene. The worldbuilding is brought up in such a natural way that it never overwhelms the story or takes over it; it just is. The political backdrop of the story is weaved into it so naturally that you never feel lost and it's easy to understand and get involved in!
The intrigue itself was engaging and exciting. I found myself trying to make my own guesses and when I was right, it felt earned. The characters' motivations were consistent and in line with what we knew about them and none of it was ever sacrificed for cheap twists or surprises. As for the romance, I am not a big fan of "fast-burn" style romance but I know plenty of people who are and I will say this one was very well written regardless of my own preferences! The chemistry between the main character Domitris and Sinnan is very real and felt through the pages. Their romance itself is expertly weaved through the story as our hero tries to navigate his budding feelings and the political unrest that threatens his hard-fought peace.
Domitris and Sinnan feel so human it's impossible to not get attached to them - especially Domitris, being the protagonist and the POV character. His mistakes are believable and ones that most of us could find ourselves making in his place. He stumbles and falls and tries his hardest and sometimes it's not enough. The character voices are consistent which is a joy to read all the way throughout and they always feel true to themselves.
I'm very excited to read the second and third book of this trilogy to see more of Domitris and Sinnan and see the author find her style even more through her beautiful, vivid prose!
As We Fall is a beautiful and at times painful story about trust and betrayal that you will not want to put down.
I was thoroughly impressed by the author's competence at weaving such an engaging tale of political machinations especially considering this is her first finished novel.
Everything in this story felt purposeful; no detail was wasted or coincidental. Small comments made by characters would come back with greater importance later on which is infinitely satisfying and rewarding for observant readers!
On a technical level, the novel is very competently written, with beautiful prose that really brings the world to life without getting lost in the cityscapes it aims to paint. The city where the intrigue takes place comes to life on its own, held up by beautiful and vivid descriptions of visuals, scents and soundscapes. The pacing is absolutely perfect and not a single moment is wasted or rushed. The story takes place on a very small timeframe and yet manages to breathe all the same. It gives the reader time to rest, but picks back up soon enough so there is not a single moment where I found myself bored or wishing to be reading about a different scene. The worldbuilding is brought up in such a natural way that it never overwhelms the story or takes over it; it just is. The political backdrop of the story is weaved into it so naturally that you never feel lost and it's easy to understand and get involved in!
The intrigue itself was engaging and exciting. I found myself trying to make my own guesses and when I was right, it felt earned. The characters' motivations were consistent and in line with what we knew about them and none of it was ever sacrificed for cheap twists or surprises. As for the romance, I am not a big fan of "fast-burn" style romance but I know plenty of people who are and I will say this one was very well written regardless of my own preferences! The chemistry between the main character Domitris and Sinnan is very real and felt through the pages. Their romance itself is expertly weaved through the story as our hero tries to navigate his budding feelings and the political unrest that threatens his hard-fought peace.
Domitris and Sinnan feel so human it's impossible to not get attached to them - especially Domitris, being the protagonist and the POV character. His mistakes are believable and ones that most of us could find ourselves making in his place. He stumbles and falls and tries his hardest and sometimes it's not enough. The character voices are consistent which is a joy to read all the way throughout and they always feel true to themselves.
I'm very excited to read the second and third book of this trilogy to see more of Domitris and Sinnan and see the author find her style even more through her beautiful, vivid prose!
June 9, 2023
Bottom line up front, this book is a pleasure and is a fantastic debut work from what will no doubt be an accomplished and expert writer. If the genres spark your interest at all, please do yourself the favor and pick this up! Especially for Pride month!
I was blessed with receiving an advanced reader's copy after having anticipating the release for years, and was totally immersed reading about the world that Wildt has carefully constructed. Well worth the wait!
The world has a completely normalized view of LGBT culture, and the love story is thought of as just that, a love story. Stories that tell of the perseverance and courage it takes to stand against persecution are important, but I think sometimes having that perspective where people are in a place and time where they are allowed to simply be is also crucial. I do not have the lived experience of someone who has had to defy an oppressive society, but I do have one of love. It was so easy to start feeling for our characters right away and relating to that love because of the universal appeal of the emotions.
The story gives breathing room in the beginning to establish the history, government, views, and the foundations of our POV character before we get to the romance, and the tribulations that seem almost unending. This helps grounds us with him. I could feel as he felt and worried and hoped right along with him. Wildt's talent coupled with their hard work is on full display and you can hardly think of anything but this book when life forces you to put it down.
For a Freshman novel, it's a home run. I can hardy wait for the next book, even though As We Fall hasn't officially come out yet!
Happy reading to those that take the journey soon!
I was blessed with receiving an advanced reader's copy after having anticipating the release for years, and was totally immersed reading about the world that Wildt has carefully constructed. Well worth the wait!
The world has a completely normalized view of LGBT culture, and the love story is thought of as just that, a love story. Stories that tell of the perseverance and courage it takes to stand against persecution are important, but I think sometimes having that perspective where people are in a place and time where they are allowed to simply be is also crucial. I do not have the lived experience of someone who has had to defy an oppressive society, but I do have one of love. It was so easy to start feeling for our characters right away and relating to that love because of the universal appeal of the emotions.
The story gives breathing room in the beginning to establish the history, government, views, and the foundations of our POV character before we get to the romance, and the tribulations that seem almost unending. This helps grounds us with him. I could feel as he felt and worried and hoped right along with him. Wildt's talent coupled with their hard work is on full display and you can hardly think of anything but this book when life forces you to put it down.
For a Freshman novel, it's a home run. I can hardy wait for the next book, even though As We Fall hasn't officially come out yet!
Happy reading to those that take the journey soon!
July 5, 2023
As We Fall was to me a fun and exciting read.
In just under 400 pages it covers a lot of ground: political intrigue, mystery, romance and much more! All of this left me excited to return to the book each time I put it down. Without having read much from the same genre, I espcially liked the world building and how the characters very much felt like they belonged there. The only thing that I wanted to see more of was the other parts of the world but I have a feeling that we'll be seeing that in the sequel (which I am definitely reading!)
In just under 400 pages it covers a lot of ground: political intrigue, mystery, romance and much more! All of this left me excited to return to the book each time I put it down. Without having read much from the same genre, I espcially liked the world building and how the characters very much felt like they belonged there. The only thing that I wanted to see more of was the other parts of the world but I have a feeling that we'll be seeing that in the sequel (which I am definitely reading!)
March 11, 2025
4.5 stars
What an ending! What a cliffhanger! I am still left with so many questions. This was such a fun intricate political story and I really enjoyed how the romance was interplayed with these moments of worldbuilding. My only slight quibble is there were almost too few characters which telegraphed some of the plot points waaaayyy too early, but that didn't prevent my enjoyment and I will definitely be picking up the next book when it comes out.
What an ending! What a cliffhanger! I am still left with so many questions. This was such a fun intricate political story and I really enjoyed how the romance was interplayed with these moments of worldbuilding. My only slight quibble is there were almost too few characters which telegraphed some of the plot points waaaayyy too early, but that didn't prevent my enjoyment and I will definitely be picking up the next book when it comes out.
June 9, 2023
*I was given free access to this book in trade for my honest review.
I already loved this author for who she is, so when I saw she had written a book? I was all in and excited to read it!
I was immediately sucked into the world Anya had created. And although my own life has been hectic I found times to carve out to read more. I am not quite to the end yet but will update this review when I finish.
As We Fall is immersive and beautifully written. Filled with details, imagery, and backstories that make the story come to life in the most brilliant way. So many details that enhance the book without stifling how fluid it is.
The characters are written so well and I was invested in them as people from the very beginning. They are real and complicated and layered and that is so very refreshing. I loved seeing relationships develop despite differences and life circumstances.
Another thing I love about As We Fall is that it is queer fantasy. However, the queerness isn't the center of the plot. It's a book where the characters are queer but that isn't the whole point. There's so much more! It feels amazing to have more queer representation in literature and Anya did a phenomenal job with this book.
I know she poured her heart and soul into this and went above and beyond to make sure everything was as it should be. The effort absolutely paid off because this book is incredible!
I have already ordered a physical copy to support Anya and I am eager to read book 2 when it comes out!
I already loved this author for who she is, so when I saw she had written a book? I was all in and excited to read it!
I was immediately sucked into the world Anya had created. And although my own life has been hectic I found times to carve out to read more. I am not quite to the end yet but will update this review when I finish.
As We Fall is immersive and beautifully written. Filled with details, imagery, and backstories that make the story come to life in the most brilliant way. So many details that enhance the book without stifling how fluid it is.
The characters are written so well and I was invested in them as people from the very beginning. They are real and complicated and layered and that is so very refreshing. I loved seeing relationships develop despite differences and life circumstances.
Another thing I love about As We Fall is that it is queer fantasy. However, the queerness isn't the center of the plot. It's a book where the characters are queer but that isn't the whole point. There's so much more! It feels amazing to have more queer representation in literature and Anya did a phenomenal job with this book.
I know she poured her heart and soul into this and went above and beyond to make sure everything was as it should be. The effort absolutely paid off because this book is incredible!
I have already ordered a physical copy to support Anya and I am eager to read book 2 when it comes out!
May 22, 2023
*Disclosure, I was given a preview copy for the review process.*
-Long form review at the top, a shorter summary of my thoughts will be at the bottom:
Anya Wildts debut novel as we fall is a romantic, fun, and thrilling adventure. With a strong queer (MLM) romance, and excellent political thrills. There are numerous strengths to this book. The scenes are well paced, and the lore of the world is given in a natural, well explained way. To be able to juggle so many important aspects of world, character, and plot building in a debut novel should be applauded.
With romance being front and center, the relationship between Domitris and Sinnan is; tense, fiery, and above all enthralling. Watching the ebb and flow of tension between the two is the crowning jewel of the story. There are some passionate scenes that were scalding hot as well. While also managing to keep the relationship believable and beautiful.
The next piece of the story that shines are the political aspects. While most fantasy political stories lean towards piling on excessive layers of complexity to flex the author's ability to create a government from scratch, this book wisely chooses a straightforward approach. Letting the straightforward threats create tension without obscurity.
The Greco Roman inspired fantasy setting is deftly executed as well, the adjacent history to our own helps the reader jump in and connect with the prose. It is very easy to imagine the sweltering Mediterranean style summer region of Marmaras. The alternate fantasy world also affords the author freedom to create her own history, so the story can take shape in whatever way is needed.
To summarize: the prose, dialogue, and plot(especially the romance) are well written. The action and courtship sequences are expertly described, allowing those scenes to flourish. Especially allowing the lovemaking scenes to be scalding hot. So if you are even remotely interested in the subjects described above, buy this book.
-Long form review at the top, a shorter summary of my thoughts will be at the bottom:
Anya Wildts debut novel as we fall is a romantic, fun, and thrilling adventure. With a strong queer (MLM) romance, and excellent political thrills. There are numerous strengths to this book. The scenes are well paced, and the lore of the world is given in a natural, well explained way. To be able to juggle so many important aspects of world, character, and plot building in a debut novel should be applauded.
With romance being front and center, the relationship between Domitris and Sinnan is; tense, fiery, and above all enthralling. Watching the ebb and flow of tension between the two is the crowning jewel of the story. There are some passionate scenes that were scalding hot as well. While also managing to keep the relationship believable and beautiful.
The next piece of the story that shines are the political aspects. While most fantasy political stories lean towards piling on excessive layers of complexity to flex the author's ability to create a government from scratch, this book wisely chooses a straightforward approach. Letting the straightforward threats create tension without obscurity.
The Greco Roman inspired fantasy setting is deftly executed as well, the adjacent history to our own helps the reader jump in and connect with the prose. It is very easy to imagine the sweltering Mediterranean style summer region of Marmaras. The alternate fantasy world also affords the author freedom to create her own history, so the story can take shape in whatever way is needed.
To summarize: the prose, dialogue, and plot(especially the romance) are well written. The action and courtship sequences are expertly described, allowing those scenes to flourish. Especially allowing the lovemaking scenes to be scalding hot. So if you are even remotely interested in the subjects described above, buy this book.
May 1, 2025
This book is just absolutely charming. Easy to read and packed with countless little details that makes the world come alive. It’s extremely authentic - the names, the food, the clothes, the customs, the city itself…it just works. I found myself wanting to visit the marked, taste the food and discuss fashion from different provinces with the local snotty youths.
The drama hits at just the right moment and you’re given just enough breadcrumbs about certain mysteries to keep guessing and wondering.
I found the main characters rather irresponsible most of the time, but since the rest of the characters seemed to think the same, it mainly contributed to an impending sense of hubris…(and me realising I’m getting old and stiff lol)
If you like the ancient world in any way you will enjoy this book. It draws beautifully on Greek/Roman culture, but at the same time it’s completely its own.
The drama hits at just the right moment and you’re given just enough breadcrumbs about certain mysteries to keep guessing and wondering.
I found the main characters rather irresponsible most of the time, but since the rest of the characters seemed to think the same, it mainly contributed to an impending sense of hubris…(and me realising I’m getting old and stiff lol)
If you like the ancient world in any way you will enjoy this book. It draws beautifully on Greek/Roman culture, but at the same time it’s completely its own.
August 6, 2023
I’m not usually a big reader of romance, fantasy, or historical fiction, so this was a bit of a strange pick for me. But it was incredible. The plot was fantastic, filled with intrigue and perfectly paced. The descriptions were beautiful and I really felt immersed in the city and the world. I’m already looking forward to book two - and I hope we get a bit more character driven writing because i really want to see more of these characters and deeper insight into their flaws and motivations.
December 16, 2023
So sad to say that this book dissapointed me immensely. The concept is solid, the writing is promising, but it also feels a little too much like a debut novel. And there's definitely a feeling of the author being more in love with her worldbuilding than her characters which is why the world comes across so much more likable than the main character.
Domitris comes across as incompetent, which makes his rise to power seem unprobable which calls the whole premise of the book into question.
I'm 100% convinced that it would have served this plot and this world better to have Sinnan as the main character.
Domitris comes across as incompetent, which makes his rise to power seem unprobable which calls the whole premise of the book into question.
I'm 100% convinced that it would have served this plot and this world better to have Sinnan as the main character.
July 3, 2024
im sorry but no medieval court full of intrigues and schemes mlm fantasy book will ever come close to captive prince. almost didnt finish this one
July 21, 2023
Well, first off I’m not usually drawn to romances, but this book was so well written that I swallowed it in less than 72hrs. I look forward to seeing where the story takes us - and with Anya’s first published book being this good, I’m really excited to read their future works to come!
Read
January 6, 2025waited the whole book for the betrayal and it was delicious :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2024
I thought I was going to love this book, the premise was so promising. The plot was exactly up my alley.
The writing was okay, some of the visuals was beautifully described. The drive was there but the execution was poorly done. I could see where the author was going but it did not land.
The emperor came across as incompetent, there was no mystery to him. He was quick to anger and immature. He could not handle a council. He was too relaxed or lax. He just said ‘deal with it’ instead of trying to solve the issue. He held no control. There was no mystery about him, he had no air with him that suggested he had the maturity, majesty or control to handle his tasks.
When he became emperor and we learnt how he was as a person, it did not feel reasonable that he was selected. Like his drive melted away through the book. Every time he had a meeting, he would shout, bang his fist on the table and say ‘Do it’ and that was it. Quick to anger and not trying to fix issues himself. He did not have a technical mind to solve things or take the initiative to change things.
He says he cares but his actions says otherwise. He would sneak off, neglect his duties, not visit those he is meant to care for and they always went to him. He did nothing but loose himself and not have a good perspective on situations to perhaps view things in a light that would make it less infuriating and more positive.
There was no weight to the characters, their personalities were lacking. The writing and feeling of the book felt too twenty first century and not medieval Roman.
I’m disappointed, I really had high hopes for this. The plot as I said, had so much promise.
The writing was okay, some of the visuals was beautifully described. The drive was there but the execution was poorly done. I could see where the author was going but it did not land.
The emperor came across as incompetent, there was no mystery to him. He was quick to anger and immature. He could not handle a council. He was too relaxed or lax. He just said ‘deal with it’ instead of trying to solve the issue. He held no control. There was no mystery about him, he had no air with him that suggested he had the maturity, majesty or control to handle his tasks.
When he became emperor and we learnt how he was as a person, it did not feel reasonable that he was selected. Like his drive melted away through the book. Every time he had a meeting, he would shout, bang his fist on the table and say ‘Do it’ and that was it. Quick to anger and not trying to fix issues himself. He did not have a technical mind to solve things or take the initiative to change things.
He says he cares but his actions says otherwise. He would sneak off, neglect his duties, not visit those he is meant to care for and they always went to him. He did nothing but loose himself and not have a good perspective on situations to perhaps view things in a light that would make it less infuriating and more positive.
There was no weight to the characters, their personalities were lacking. The writing and feeling of the book felt too twenty first century and not medieval Roman.
I’m disappointed, I really had high hopes for this. The plot as I said, had so much promise.
January 20, 2025
The perfect book, at the perfect time
(spoiler-y; don't read past paragraph 2 if you're completely allergic to any kind of spoiler)
I do not know Anya personally, but I have followed her on Tumblr for a while. I suppose it shows how oblivious I am to social media that I had no idea this book was happening until it was released last year, and then I mistook it for a completely different author. My fiancé ordered me the paperback, which arrived in our distant corner of the world sooner than what I expected, all with clean, spacious typesetting that made it an easy, attractive read.
I knew going in that this would probably be my jam, but I wasn't prepared for just how incredibly important and compelling this book was for me. As a writer myself, I have never read anything quite like this before. It satisfied a yearning in myself that I want to fill by writing my own stories, and it inspired me more strongly than any book I've read in a long time. It gave me the longing, again, to write my own stuff and put it out there. I don't think there can be any higher praise than that.
I want to drink the essence of the love scenes, they are so beautifully written. I want to devour this story and make it a part of me. By the middle of the book I burned as much as Domitris did in wanting to know everything about Sinnan, and no-one is rooting harder for them to find happiness than me. Anya has gained a devoted fan here, and I am on tenterhooks waiting for the sequel to appear. "Thought what? That I would stay here forever? Live in your palace suite? Marry you?" Ow, Sinnan. Ow. That's what you're actually wishing for, isn't it?
I also loved the overarching plot and intrigue. The moment a certain character appeared on page, I said to myself: "This person looks exactly like they're going to be the traitor." And I was RIGHT. I called it in chapter one, but I was still very very satisfied with how it played out.
This book touches so many things that I personally find compelling, I don't think I will be able to list them all, but let's try.
The way Sinnan himself is basically Art personified. Impossibly beautiful and charming on the surface, but an ocean of pain and experience underneath. The thing you want to grasp tightly, to devour, but when you try, it slips through your fingers like smoke. The first time we meet Sinnan, he's literally playing the muse. Delicious. I myself once wrote the line: "Sometimes, it feels as if I'm cheating on real life with poetry." Domitris does just that, tries to escape with Sinnan.
Having been an immigrant in Europe once myself, I really appreciated the ways in which Anya makes Sinnan feel like a real immigrant in Marmaras: not so much because of his appearance, but in behaviour and culture, his accent, the way he doesn't blend in. And how that is exactly what first captivates Domitris' attention.
Sinnan's backstory and background ideas of sexual purity, and showing how this hurt him deeply and affected his own view of himself. YES. Anya has obviously given a lot of thought as to how these things will work in a society where gender inequality doesn't exist. The way Sinnan lowkey wanted (wants?) to be a scholar. That hurt my heart in all the best ways.
The real contrast between our lovers: Domitris had a family who loved him, who wanted the best for him, still has these people who care for him so deeply. Speaking from my own experience, that makes such a huge difference. That the fundamental difference in their backgrounds is not of birth or ability, but in the ways they were treated by their family.
The imperialist attitude of the Marmarasi. Reflects on the real world. There are plenty of people who are fine with the girls and the gays having equal rights, but are still absolutely attached to their country being the centre of things, having all of this power over others.
Sinnan speaking of his depression, of the feeling that no-one would miss him if he vanished. Ow. Anyone who has been there will recognize the feeling. The scars.
Maybe I'm just picking up the wrong books at the store these days, but this book felt incredibly different in how it starts off quite slow and gains momentum. I've seen a LOT of books that have promising beginnings and then just fall off a cliff or peter out into confusion. This book is the opposite, and it's so much more satisfying. No, it wasn't a pulse-pounding adventure. It was so much more than that. Like a healthy and delicious meal when you're used to takeaway food.
This book made me laugh, made me cry, made me want to write just so that maybe someone, somewhere, will be inspired by my writing in the same way. Kudos, Anya. Please finish the sequel soon.
(spoiler-y; don't read past paragraph 2 if you're completely allergic to any kind of spoiler)
I do not know Anya personally, but I have followed her on Tumblr for a while. I suppose it shows how oblivious I am to social media that I had no idea this book was happening until it was released last year, and then I mistook it for a completely different author. My fiancé ordered me the paperback, which arrived in our distant corner of the world sooner than what I expected, all with clean, spacious typesetting that made it an easy, attractive read.
I knew going in that this would probably be my jam, but I wasn't prepared for just how incredibly important and compelling this book was for me. As a writer myself, I have never read anything quite like this before. It satisfied a yearning in myself that I want to fill by writing my own stories, and it inspired me more strongly than any book I've read in a long time. It gave me the longing, again, to write my own stuff and put it out there. I don't think there can be any higher praise than that.
I want to drink the essence of the love scenes, they are so beautifully written. I want to devour this story and make it a part of me. By the middle of the book I burned as much as Domitris did in wanting to know everything about Sinnan, and no-one is rooting harder for them to find happiness than me. Anya has gained a devoted fan here, and I am on tenterhooks waiting for the sequel to appear. "Thought what? That I would stay here forever? Live in your palace suite? Marry you?" Ow, Sinnan. Ow. That's what you're actually wishing for, isn't it?
I also loved the overarching plot and intrigue. The moment a certain character appeared on page, I said to myself: "This person looks exactly like they're going to be the traitor." And I was RIGHT. I called it in chapter one, but I was still very very satisfied with how it played out.
This book touches so many things that I personally find compelling, I don't think I will be able to list them all, but let's try.
The way Sinnan himself is basically Art personified. Impossibly beautiful and charming on the surface, but an ocean of pain and experience underneath. The thing you want to grasp tightly, to devour, but when you try, it slips through your fingers like smoke. The first time we meet Sinnan, he's literally playing the muse. Delicious. I myself once wrote the line: "Sometimes, it feels as if I'm cheating on real life with poetry." Domitris does just that, tries to escape with Sinnan.
Having been an immigrant in Europe once myself, I really appreciated the ways in which Anya makes Sinnan feel like a real immigrant in Marmaras: not so much because of his appearance, but in behaviour and culture, his accent, the way he doesn't blend in. And how that is exactly what first captivates Domitris' attention.
Sinnan's backstory and background ideas of sexual purity, and showing how this hurt him deeply and affected his own view of himself. YES. Anya has obviously given a lot of thought as to how these things will work in a society where gender inequality doesn't exist. The way Sinnan lowkey wanted (wants?) to be a scholar. That hurt my heart in all the best ways.
The real contrast between our lovers: Domitris had a family who loved him, who wanted the best for him, still has these people who care for him so deeply. Speaking from my own experience, that makes such a huge difference. That the fundamental difference in their backgrounds is not of birth or ability, but in the ways they were treated by their family.
The imperialist attitude of the Marmarasi. Reflects on the real world. There are plenty of people who are fine with the girls and the gays having equal rights, but are still absolutely attached to their country being the centre of things, having all of this power over others.
Sinnan speaking of his depression, of the feeling that no-one would miss him if he vanished. Ow. Anyone who has been there will recognize the feeling. The scars.
Maybe I'm just picking up the wrong books at the store these days, but this book felt incredibly different in how it starts off quite slow and gains momentum. I've seen a LOT of books that have promising beginnings and then just fall off a cliff or peter out into confusion. This book is the opposite, and it's so much more satisfying. No, it wasn't a pulse-pounding adventure. It was so much more than that. Like a healthy and delicious meal when you're used to takeaway food.
This book made me laugh, made me cry, made me want to write just so that maybe someone, somewhere, will be inspired by my writing in the same way. Kudos, Anya. Please finish the sequel soon.
May 28, 2023
4.5 stars!
Thank you to the author, Anya Wildt, for giving me an advanced readers' copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I am not a fast reader by any means, but I finished this novel in less than a week. Not only was its pacing very very good, the writing style was clear and polished. On top of that, it had the kind of compelling characters and plotline that kept me coming back to the book eagerly at every opportunity. I'm sure that if I'd had a full weekend alone with this book, it would have been done in a day or two. Particularly in the second half of the book, everything was established and the plot just kept intensifying. Each chapter was an excellent length, and it helped keep me hooked.
The two main characters were very interesting from the start, even before we found out the majority of their backstory. It's not common, in my experience, to see rules of fantasy worlds who are actually striving for a treaty to secure peace between countries. Generally, it's war - or political shenanigans. I found it very refreshing that the Emperor, Domitris, was elected - but he nonetheless has to deal with the complexities of continuing to rule a society with broader class distinctions, and reconcile his ongoing leadership of Marmaras with the demands of the significantly more modern and democratic Dassosda (with whom he is trying to navigate a treaty).
Sinnan is an interesting character on his own, and only adds to the complexities of Domitris's story - what starts as a simple encounter between noble and courtesan becomes a lot more, through a combination of Sinnan's charm and mystery. I loved that the romance wasn't just a side plot - it was intricately woven into Domitris's other plans, and had an ongoing impact on how the main plotline developed. This added an ongoing tension about Sinnan's identity and his motives that played very well with the light-hearted way these characters generally interacted.
Wildt does very well to maximise the simple joys of living alongside Domitris and Sinnan, while also keeping one eye on the plot at all times. It meant that this book didn't have the grittiness of a lot of fantasy books, but it also didn't linger on too much fluffy content - it knew when to move on, and when to escalate things. I found myself astonished at its pace, but didn't have any issue keeping up with the turns of events.
I also loved the way the romance developed - firstly, that it normalised queer relationships, and the other characters' issue seemed to be more about the fact that the Emperor had a courtesan than about the fact that he was male; and secondly, that sex was never the goal of the relationship, as it so often is in fantasy romance books. The characters learn to love each other through what is effectively ongoing friendship alongside their attraction, but in Domitris's point of view, the reader is torn between loving this character completely and wondering whether to trust him in the first place.
The ending was also very well pulled off - and even though I've read many books like this and written some of my own, my heart still skipped a beat at the major plot twists. Although the book was very subtle about its worldbuilding, it's clear the universe is quite expansive, and there's a lot more to discover (not to mention a lot more to learn about these characters!).
As We Fall was a very compelling, well-written debut novel with a great cast of characters, who I can't wait to read more about. This gem of a book comes out on June 10, - I can't wait for more people to read it, and for you all to love these characters as much as I do.
Thank you to the author, Anya Wildt, for giving me an advanced readers' copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I am not a fast reader by any means, but I finished this novel in less than a week. Not only was its pacing very very good, the writing style was clear and polished. On top of that, it had the kind of compelling characters and plotline that kept me coming back to the book eagerly at every opportunity. I'm sure that if I'd had a full weekend alone with this book, it would have been done in a day or two. Particularly in the second half of the book, everything was established and the plot just kept intensifying. Each chapter was an excellent length, and it helped keep me hooked.
The two main characters were very interesting from the start, even before we found out the majority of their backstory. It's not common, in my experience, to see rules of fantasy worlds who are actually striving for a treaty to secure peace between countries. Generally, it's war - or political shenanigans. I found it very refreshing that the Emperor, Domitris, was elected - but he nonetheless has to deal with the complexities of continuing to rule a society with broader class distinctions, and reconcile his ongoing leadership of Marmaras with the demands of the significantly more modern and democratic Dassosda (with whom he is trying to navigate a treaty).
Sinnan is an interesting character on his own, and only adds to the complexities of Domitris's story - what starts as a simple encounter between noble and courtesan becomes a lot more, through a combination of Sinnan's charm and mystery. I loved that the romance wasn't just a side plot - it was intricately woven into Domitris's other plans, and had an ongoing impact on how the main plotline developed. This added an ongoing tension about Sinnan's identity and his motives that played very well with the light-hearted way these characters generally interacted.
Wildt does very well to maximise the simple joys of living alongside Domitris and Sinnan, while also keeping one eye on the plot at all times. It meant that this book didn't have the grittiness of a lot of fantasy books, but it also didn't linger on too much fluffy content - it knew when to move on, and when to escalate things. I found myself astonished at its pace, but didn't have any issue keeping up with the turns of events.
I also loved the way the romance developed - firstly, that it normalised queer relationships, and the other characters' issue seemed to be more about the fact that the Emperor had a courtesan than about the fact that he was male; and secondly, that sex was never the goal of the relationship, as it so often is in fantasy romance books. The characters learn to love each other through what is effectively ongoing friendship alongside their attraction, but in Domitris's point of view, the reader is torn between loving this character completely and wondering whether to trust him in the first place.
The ending was also very well pulled off - and even though I've read many books like this and written some of my own, my heart still skipped a beat at the major plot twists. Although the book was very subtle about its worldbuilding, it's clear the universe is quite expansive, and there's a lot more to discover (not to mention a lot more to learn about these characters!).
As We Fall was a very compelling, well-written debut novel with a great cast of characters, who I can't wait to read more about. This gem of a book comes out on June 10, - I can't wait for more people to read it, and for you all to love these characters as much as I do.
April 23, 2023
Often when I’m really looking forward to reading a book, it doesn’t quite live up to my expectations. But this wasn’t the case with Anya Wildt’s novel As We Fall - not only did it meet all of my expectations, it actually exceeded them in every way possible.
In a story following Domitris’ struggles to bring peace to his country in the middle of political pressures and conspiracies, alongside a beautiful and spicy m/m romance, and all set against the backdrop of an ancient Rome-inspired setting, Anya’s incredible writing had me completely engrossed. And it really is such a beautifully written book - gorgeous prose that’s rich and evocative, and filled with wonderful details that made me feel fully immersed in this brilliantly imagined world.
The plot is full of intrigue and carries you, along with Domitris, through the shifting sands of trust, loyalty and suspicions as events start to rapidly unfold. Some chapters are absolutely nerve-wracking and the last part of the book is full of ever-increasing suspense as those events finally play out in a thrilling conclusion.
But there are also many wonderful slower parts throughout the book that allow both Domitris and the reader to pause and take a breath from all the developments. These are full of depth, warmth, humour, passion and tenderness and allow us to explore some of the relationships and friendships that are threaded through the story - not just Domitris’ compelling relationship with Sinnan, which I became deeply invested in, but with the many other intriguing characters too. I especially enjoyed the beautiful connection that Domitris had with Lyra.
It’s always the characters that make a book for me, and Anya really knows how to write them! She has the amazing skill of being able to find that essential spark that is utterly unique to each character and then breathe life into that spark, creating real, flawed, original, interesting and memorable characters. There’s no finer example of that in this book than that of Sinnan. The very first time we see him, Anya so lightly and deftly creates an impression of him that manages to conjure up his very essence, even in what is such a fleeting scene. And what a character he is - probably the most intriguing, alluring, wonderful and unique character I’ve read in a book for a very, very long time.
I absolutely loved the exciting, tense, beautiful and captivating journey that Anya took me on with this novel. I still haven’t started another book since I finished it - I’m just not quite ready to let go of this story and these characters yet. Anya really is a writer of incredible talent, and I’ll wait with eagerness to see where she’ll take us next - in the continuation of this story, and beyond.
In a story following Domitris’ struggles to bring peace to his country in the middle of political pressures and conspiracies, alongside a beautiful and spicy m/m romance, and all set against the backdrop of an ancient Rome-inspired setting, Anya’s incredible writing had me completely engrossed. And it really is such a beautifully written book - gorgeous prose that’s rich and evocative, and filled with wonderful details that made me feel fully immersed in this brilliantly imagined world.
The plot is full of intrigue and carries you, along with Domitris, through the shifting sands of trust, loyalty and suspicions as events start to rapidly unfold. Some chapters are absolutely nerve-wracking and the last part of the book is full of ever-increasing suspense as those events finally play out in a thrilling conclusion.
But there are also many wonderful slower parts throughout the book that allow both Domitris and the reader to pause and take a breath from all the developments. These are full of depth, warmth, humour, passion and tenderness and allow us to explore some of the relationships and friendships that are threaded through the story - not just Domitris’ compelling relationship with Sinnan, which I became deeply invested in, but with the many other intriguing characters too. I especially enjoyed the beautiful connection that Domitris had with Lyra.
It’s always the characters that make a book for me, and Anya really knows how to write them! She has the amazing skill of being able to find that essential spark that is utterly unique to each character and then breathe life into that spark, creating real, flawed, original, interesting and memorable characters. There’s no finer example of that in this book than that of Sinnan. The very first time we see him, Anya so lightly and deftly creates an impression of him that manages to conjure up his very essence, even in what is such a fleeting scene. And what a character he is - probably the most intriguing, alluring, wonderful and unique character I’ve read in a book for a very, very long time.
I absolutely loved the exciting, tense, beautiful and captivating journey that Anya took me on with this novel. I still haven’t started another book since I finished it - I’m just not quite ready to let go of this story and these characters yet. Anya really is a writer of incredible talent, and I’ll wait with eagerness to see where she’ll take us next - in the continuation of this story, and beyond.
January 18, 2024
So much to say about this book! And honestly, all of it is good. Here we go.
The characters, even the minor ones, each had incredibly diverse voices. It is no easy task to be able to separate one character from another in a large group, but at no point was I confused as to who was speaking. And this was not because there was an over abundance of clarification, it was because I could hear them in my head from the moment they were introduced, and at no point did I feel that any of them had broken character, fallen flat, or changed tone.
The setting was very well delivered. There was no Tolkein-esque flood of description, neither was I searching for hints or guidelines. Another difficult thing she executed very well, was that she gave me JUST enough to set the picture in my mind, and fed me bits and pieces of more throughout. This painted such a vivid picture that I could easily follow the paths of the characters, auto-generating a little world map in my head as the story progressed.
The romance. Oh, the romance. There was sweetness and longing on every page that Sinnan and Domitris shared. It wasn't the sticky-sweet and overripe redundancy of a classic 'romance novel', it didn't have 'yearning' or 'lustful' in every other paragraph. No, this was measured out *perfectly*. This was a slow burn that carried on throughout the book, even with the spicy scenes that accompanied it. And it wasn't all hot and heavy either (which I appreciated on a personal level, just my own preferences showing here.) I think one of the ways she so excellently kept the fire burning was that this romance was threaded around such a beautifully crafted plot of intrigue, that every time it came up it was a fresh little zing to the heartstrings. I WANT them to be together, and I am tantalizingly left with only the one POV.
A Relatable Main Character. 100%. He is so very human, so genuine, so delightful to read. I was cheering for him throughout the whole story, gritting my teeth every time he got angry, swooning whenever he swooned.
And the love interest? Good Heavens <3 Charm and sweetness, with this nagging underline of something one can't put their finger on. My brain tells me swarthy, but that feels too piratey. I think he's a magnificent foil, for one, and I found their chemistry to be so natural, so delightfully real.
And can I just say how much I appreciate everything about this book? Did I say that already?
If you haven't read this book yet, you should. Then you should sit here and wait patiently with me until the next one comes out, so I'm not losing my mind over it all by myself.
Thank you for writing this. I'm glad I kicked off 2024 with this as my first novel of choice.
The characters, even the minor ones, each had incredibly diverse voices. It is no easy task to be able to separate one character from another in a large group, but at no point was I confused as to who was speaking. And this was not because there was an over abundance of clarification, it was because I could hear them in my head from the moment they were introduced, and at no point did I feel that any of them had broken character, fallen flat, or changed tone.
The setting was very well delivered. There was no Tolkein-esque flood of description, neither was I searching for hints or guidelines. Another difficult thing she executed very well, was that she gave me JUST enough to set the picture in my mind, and fed me bits and pieces of more throughout. This painted such a vivid picture that I could easily follow the paths of the characters, auto-generating a little world map in my head as the story progressed.
The romance. Oh, the romance. There was sweetness and longing on every page that Sinnan and Domitris shared. It wasn't the sticky-sweet and overripe redundancy of a classic 'romance novel', it didn't have 'yearning' or 'lustful' in every other paragraph. No, this was measured out *perfectly*. This was a slow burn that carried on throughout the book, even with the spicy scenes that accompanied it. And it wasn't all hot and heavy either (which I appreciated on a personal level, just my own preferences showing here.) I think one of the ways she so excellently kept the fire burning was that this romance was threaded around such a beautifully crafted plot of intrigue, that every time it came up it was a fresh little zing to the heartstrings. I WANT them to be together, and I am tantalizingly left with only the one POV.
A Relatable Main Character. 100%. He is so very human, so genuine, so delightful to read. I was cheering for him throughout the whole story, gritting my teeth every time he got angry, swooning whenever he swooned.
And the love interest? Good Heavens <3 Charm and sweetness, with this nagging underline of something one can't put their finger on. My brain tells me swarthy, but that feels too piratey. I think he's a magnificent foil, for one, and I found their chemistry to be so natural, so delightfully real.
And can I just say how much I appreciate everything about this book? Did I say that already?
If you haven't read this book yet, you should. Then you should sit here and wait patiently with me until the next one comes out, so I'm not losing my mind over it all by myself.
Thank you for writing this. I'm glad I kicked off 2024 with this as my first novel of choice.
August 15, 2023
romance m/m - politics - Rome - treasons
📣 : mc gays, sc lesbians
"Are you ready to make History ?"
[fr below]
TW : war, blood
Settings in an antic Rome inspiration, Domitris, new and first elected emperor by the people, struggle to bring peace. By the same time, he is seduced by Sinnan, a mysterious courtesan who is definitely hiding something.
I don't know how to say this except it was SO DAMN GOOD. All political intrigue, the world building, the love story that we want to see, but we know who lead to more problems...
First of all, i may say : I actually love the main character. I was able to see myself through him. How is that so rare and i often hate main characters ? Not in this. I actually even like antagonists, but well... Not a surprise.
Two more things i love : beautiful descriptions and angst. I Can even now imagine myself in the beautiful library or even the garden. I can sense the anger, doubt, freeness, love of some of them.
Actually, I didn't want to leave them and i'm so, so glad that to know it will be three books in this series.
Please, please for all history lover, read this book and let me know what you think of it. I'm sure you will love it 🤌
@anya.wildt
------------------------
Domitris, empereur nouvellement élu, a du mal à maintenir la paix. Tout juste revenu de la guerre, il se retrouve au milieu de nouvelles intrigues de cour, mais aussi séduit par Sinnan, un mystérieux courtisan...
Est-ce que je vous ai déjà dit que je ne savais pas résumer un livre ? Parce que clairement, CLAIREMENT, ça ne lui rend pas justice. Le livre soulève plusieurs points, la confiance, la politique, la guerre, le pouvoir lorsqu'on n'y est pas forcément prêt...
Vous savez quoi ? J'ai adoré le personnage principal et c'est suffisamment rare pour que je le souligne. J'ai réussi à m'identifier à Domitris parce qu'il est humain, il est parfois colérique, il fait trop facilement confiance, il doute... Gros coeur sur lui 🤎
Et pour ceux qui adorent les belles descriptions, les lieux magnifiques, mais aussi ressentir des émotions lors de la lecture... Vous attendez quoi ?
Vraiment, lisez ce livre. J'ai plus de place pour lui dire mon love 🤌🤎✨
📣 : mc gays, sc lesbians
"Are you ready to make History ?"
[fr below]
TW : war, blood
Settings in an antic Rome inspiration, Domitris, new and first elected emperor by the people, struggle to bring peace. By the same time, he is seduced by Sinnan, a mysterious courtesan who is definitely hiding something.
I don't know how to say this except it was SO DAMN GOOD. All political intrigue, the world building, the love story that we want to see, but we know who lead to more problems...
First of all, i may say : I actually love the main character. I was able to see myself through him. How is that so rare and i often hate main characters ? Not in this. I actually even like antagonists, but well... Not a surprise.
Two more things i love : beautiful descriptions and angst. I Can even now imagine myself in the beautiful library or even the garden. I can sense the anger, doubt, freeness, love of some of them.
Actually, I didn't want to leave them and i'm so, so glad that to know it will be three books in this series.
Please, please for all history lover, read this book and let me know what you think of it. I'm sure you will love it 🤌
@anya.wildt
------------------------
Domitris, empereur nouvellement élu, a du mal à maintenir la paix. Tout juste revenu de la guerre, il se retrouve au milieu de nouvelles intrigues de cour, mais aussi séduit par Sinnan, un mystérieux courtisan...
Est-ce que je vous ai déjà dit que je ne savais pas résumer un livre ? Parce que clairement, CLAIREMENT, ça ne lui rend pas justice. Le livre soulève plusieurs points, la confiance, la politique, la guerre, le pouvoir lorsqu'on n'y est pas forcément prêt...
Vous savez quoi ? J'ai adoré le personnage principal et c'est suffisamment rare pour que je le souligne. J'ai réussi à m'identifier à Domitris parce qu'il est humain, il est parfois colérique, il fait trop facilement confiance, il doute... Gros coeur sur lui 🤎
Et pour ceux qui adorent les belles descriptions, les lieux magnifiques, mais aussi ressentir des émotions lors de la lecture... Vous attendez quoi ?
Vraiment, lisez ce livre. J'ai plus de place pour lui dire mon love 🤌🤎✨
March 31, 2025
Excellent debut! Sadly I spoiled my brain, reading some reviews earlier and can’t shake some thoughts read there off of my brain… but on that note later.
Modelling the world in a shape of Rome? Well… give me more 😅 after all “how often do you think about the Roman Empire?”. Truthfully, in current world situation - more than I’d like to. It was nice to recognise things I remember from my own trip to Rome! Author clearly can put her story within the world she is knowledgable about and comfortable with. Much better choice than many half-baked new fantasy settings.
Romance part - here I’m new to the genre, so my critical apparatus is a bit untrained, but I have already read some cheesy things and some good things, and here I liked it a lot. Would like to have more sex scenes but they were quite good and plastic and eh… impactful 😅🤣
Story was engaging, and the plot against emperor revealing in nice pace. I’m not sure if it’s a big negative but I was a bit disappointed that, long before the end I already knew the culprit, yet main character was still oblivious until the confrontation and reveal.
When the action happens language is quite plastic and paints a very… I’m missing words… well, it makes the scene in my brain much more engaging and still traceable unlike most of the action movies. (English is not my first language 😭 not doing great reviewing job here…).
The thought I was unable to shake from reading other reviews, before finishing was about the emperor. For majority of the book I couldn’t believe that such character would ever be chosen as a first elected emperor. Justification for that was provided at the very end with final reveal. I feel that these parts could’ve been somehow disentangled (probably it’s easy to say when I’m not the author 😅) to provide the reader more reason to believe that this character for that or these reasons was elected.
Now I’m going to dig in the ARC of the sequel :3 hope for more erotica, but still within this nice balance for it to be a part of, nice addition to the story, and not the other way around.
Good job! Please continue your work!
Modelling the world in a shape of Rome? Well… give me more 😅 after all “how often do you think about the Roman Empire?”. Truthfully, in current world situation - more than I’d like to. It was nice to recognise things I remember from my own trip to Rome! Author clearly can put her story within the world she is knowledgable about and comfortable with. Much better choice than many half-baked new fantasy settings.
Romance part - here I’m new to the genre, so my critical apparatus is a bit untrained, but I have already read some cheesy things and some good things, and here I liked it a lot. Would like to have more sex scenes but they were quite good and plastic and eh… impactful 😅🤣
Story was engaging, and the plot against emperor revealing in nice pace. I’m not sure if it’s a big negative but I was a bit disappointed that, long before the end I already knew the culprit, yet main character was still oblivious until the confrontation and reveal.
When the action happens language is quite plastic and paints a very… I’m missing words… well, it makes the scene in my brain much more engaging and still traceable unlike most of the action movies. (English is not my first language 😭 not doing great reviewing job here…).
The thought I was unable to shake from reading other reviews, before finishing was about the emperor. For majority of the book I couldn’t believe that such character would ever be chosen as a first elected emperor. Justification for that was provided at the very end with final reveal. I feel that these parts could’ve been somehow disentangled (probably it’s easy to say when I’m not the author 😅) to provide the reader more reason to believe that this character for that or these reasons was elected.
Now I’m going to dig in the ARC of the sequel :3 hope for more erotica, but still within this nice balance for it to be a part of, nice addition to the story, and not the other way around.
Good job! Please continue your work!
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