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Zyntarren #1
Wyndemere's Failed Gambit
When Death has too much compassion. . .
The Others suffer the consequences.
It was supposed to be a quick experiment. . .
now they were like fleas . . .
They all had to go. It is several decades in the future and time has run out for the Earth, its fauna and flora, the zyntarren that protect it, and the Others that reside upon it. The Reorganization has begun. Into this picture come volgende and halven, the only good things to come out of Death’s failed experiment, who are destined to aid with this vast endeavor and fated to find love.
Wynn, Death’s great granddaughter, questions so many things about her life and how she will be able help with the urgent Reorganization. Outside she appears to be strong, but internally she questions everything. Thirty-seven years ago, she could have had it all. Can she reach for the love she refused so many years ago in the midst of chaos? Or is it too late?
Orion, a Vatra with a fiery temper, has known Wynn is the only one for him most of his life. When she refused to join with him even after their child was born, he tried to move on. But his heart did not listen. He has waited for her steadfast in his belief that she will come around. Faced with an overwhelming task, he needs her desperately. Will he succumb to the escalating flames within him, or will Wynn’s love tame the fire within?
Some cursing, violence, and mature themes. Closed-door romance.
The Others suffer the consequences.
It was supposed to be a quick experiment. . .
now they were like fleas . . .
They all had to go. It is several decades in the future and time has run out for the Earth, its fauna and flora, the zyntarren that protect it, and the Others that reside upon it. The Reorganization has begun. Into this picture come volgende and halven, the only good things to come out of Death’s failed experiment, who are destined to aid with this vast endeavor and fated to find love.
Wynn, Death’s great granddaughter, questions so many things about her life and how she will be able help with the urgent Reorganization. Outside she appears to be strong, but internally she questions everything. Thirty-seven years ago, she could have had it all. Can she reach for the love she refused so many years ago in the midst of chaos? Or is it too late?
Orion, a Vatra with a fiery temper, has known Wynn is the only one for him most of his life. When she refused to join with him even after their child was born, he tried to move on. But his heart did not listen. He has waited for her steadfast in his belief that she will come around. Faced with an overwhelming task, he needs her desperately. Will he succumb to the escalating flames within him, or will Wynn’s love tame the fire within?
Some cursing, violence, and mature themes. Closed-door romance.
269 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 7, 2023
1 person is currently reading
1367 people want to read
About the author
R.L. Lubin
4 books14 followersR. L. Lubin lives in New England. She is an Indie author, an animal and environmental advocate, and her extended family includes 4 adopted Premarin horses and several former stray cats. She has been married to a POC for 30+ years and has a multiracial daughter.
Her love of the Earth and all the creatures that live on it led to the creation of the first book in her romantasy series, The Zyntarren, Wyndemere's Failed Gambit. The second book in the series, The Sorcerer’s Snake, came out in April 2025.
She has published Memoir of an Austro-Hungarian Soldier, a novella titled The Secret of the Funeral Home, and is currently working on a second novella.
You can follow her on her Amazon author page and via followit on her website, www.rllubin.com
Her love of the Earth and all the creatures that live on it led to the creation of the first book in her romantasy series, The Zyntarren, Wyndemere's Failed Gambit. The second book in the series, The Sorcerer’s Snake, came out in April 2025.
She has published Memoir of an Austro-Hungarian Soldier, a novella titled The Secret of the Funeral Home, and is currently working on a second novella.
You can follow her on her Amazon author page and via followit on her website, www.rllubin.com
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 19, 2025
I am not going to force myself to continue reading Wyndemere’s Failed Gambit at this point. I received it for free via Goodreads, so assumed the poor editing must mean it was an ARC, but it was published 2 1/2 years ago. I only made it through about 20%. Introducing the races and characters so rapidly seemed a bit overwhelming. I would have liked a little more background for each before moving to the next one.
I thought it was confusing that Wynn’s grandmother is referred to as “her” who had 12 children but soon becomes a “him”. Is this to gratuitously make it LGBTQ? If the mother is genderfluid, it would be nice to have a bit more explanation.
“His mom, the Prince of Life, and her [Wynn’s] grandmother, had fallen so in love with a Scottish laird from this realm that she had lived the life of a human noble and raised twelve sons. All of them had passed except Da and Mikhail who had inherited their mother’s Life energy. Their mother, Tarin, had ‘died’ several years after her husband and returned to her realm…”
“Tarin pulled another big armchair next to his son, sat in it, and turned his body toward his son’s profile.”
Maybe I overlooked a later explanation for the sex change.
The author gave us a main character who has suffered severe domestic abuse, so the psychological effects of that are an issue she must overcome. Although I did not yet finish it, there is an obvious love interest for her.
So, for now, I am giving it 2 stars.
I thought it was confusing that Wynn’s grandmother is referred to as “her” who had 12 children but soon becomes a “him”. Is this to gratuitously make it LGBTQ? If the mother is genderfluid, it would be nice to have a bit more explanation.
“His mom, the Prince of Life, and her [Wynn’s] grandmother, had fallen so in love with a Scottish laird from this realm that she had lived the life of a human noble and raised twelve sons. All of them had passed except Da and Mikhail who had inherited their mother’s Life energy. Their mother, Tarin, had ‘died’ several years after her husband and returned to her realm…”
“Tarin pulled another big armchair next to his son, sat in it, and turned his body toward his son’s profile.”
Maybe I overlooked a later explanation for the sex change.
The author gave us a main character who has suffered severe domestic abuse, so the psychological effects of that are an issue she must overcome. Although I did not yet finish it, there is an obvious love interest for her.
So, for now, I am giving it 2 stars.
December 15, 2023
Fast and Full
Wow! There are a couple of chapters that really had me turning the pages to see that happened. Also, so many kinds of characters and Fantasy references throughtout, really looking forward to seeing what happens next.
Wow! There are a couple of chapters that really had me turning the pages to see that happened. Also, so many kinds of characters and Fantasy references throughtout, really looking forward to seeing what happens next.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews