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The Hidden Game #1
Luminous
Necessity forces Prince Telion of Amrontil to enter into an alliance marriage with Prince Farven of Vinge. Normal in Vinge, such a thing was completely unheard of in stuffy Amrontil. But Farven brings a cadre of powerful mages with him, and the promise to train any with mage ability to fight against the unstoppable armies of Un. Little does Telion know, his Prince also brings love and adventure...
ebook
First published August 13, 2012
2 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Marie Brown
92 books9 followers"Marie Brown has lived in many locations across the United States, but spends most of her time exploring the realms of imagination. Currently located in Colorado, her brief moments of free time are spent in front of her computer, frequently covered in cats."
Blah.
Yeah, okay, that's all true. But I'm tired of hiding behind a bland, third-person pseudo-bio, utterly lacking in personality.
Hi! I'm Marie Brown, and I write a lot. I self-publish through Smashwords and Amazon because I got tired of getting "well-written, but not our thing" rejection letters. Because, you see, most of my fiction tends to include characters that are either bi or just plain homosexual, and despite increasing acceptance of human sexuality and its many variations across the world, heroes and heroines are still supposed to be straight.
Well, mine aren't. So if you're brave, and you don't mind that the main character of a story either isn't interested in sex at all, or is quite likely to hop in bed with someone of the same gender, then give my writings a chance. Come explore my fantasy worlds, or my science fiction worlds, or even spend some time with an occasional random love story set on Earth.
And by the way, just this once, I wrote this entire blurb without a cat on my keyboard.
Blah.
Yeah, okay, that's all true. But I'm tired of hiding behind a bland, third-person pseudo-bio, utterly lacking in personality.
Hi! I'm Marie Brown, and I write a lot. I self-publish through Smashwords and Amazon because I got tired of getting "well-written, but not our thing" rejection letters. Because, you see, most of my fiction tends to include characters that are either bi or just plain homosexual, and despite increasing acceptance of human sexuality and its many variations across the world, heroes and heroines are still supposed to be straight.
Well, mine aren't. So if you're brave, and you don't mind that the main character of a story either isn't interested in sex at all, or is quite likely to hop in bed with someone of the same gender, then give my writings a chance. Come explore my fantasy worlds, or my science fiction worlds, or even spend some time with an occasional random love story set on Earth.
And by the way, just this once, I wrote this entire blurb without a cat on my keyboard.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 29, 2012
(4.5 stars)
Oh boy, this ended up being a lot more fun than I expected, and it's only the fact that it ends pretty much in a cliffhanger (Again! *sigh*) is what prevents me giving it 5 stars.
Telion and Farven, both Princes of neighboring kingdoms, marry with the aim of uniting their very different countries in an effort to fend of the depredations of the Un. (Why they're named the Un becomes clear late in the novel, and is worth waiting for... Well I found it so...)
Telion's country is basically a theocracy, where marriage is only between a man and a women, and sex is only had with the aim of conceiving children. Farven's country, on the other hand, celebrates pleasure - sex, drugs, alcohol, etc - as a way of thanking God for his gifts - and they thank him a lot. Marriage has no limits other love and comittment, and God rewards his people with the gift of magic.
Both Princes are wary of the marriage, but both are soon convinced that their marriage is blessed by God - they glow! (And more after sex, lol!) Telion soon becomes converted to Farven's way of life, and Farven finds he has found his mate after all. Thing are very sweet, but only until they enjoin the battle. Here things become darker; people are dying and the two men find they must act in concert, both magically and politically, if they have any hope of defeating the Un.
Unfortunately, the end of the book comes after a major scene, so it is rather frustrating as it leaves the reader with the knowledge that things have drastically changed for the two Princes.
But the best part of the novel, for me anyway, was the underlying humour, as well as some snarky dialogue. For example, when the two men actually meet God, things are rather less divine than you expect -
Oh boy, this ended up being a lot more fun than I expected, and it's only the fact that it ends pretty much in a cliffhanger (Again! *sigh*) is what prevents me giving it 5 stars.
Telion and Farven, both Princes of neighboring kingdoms, marry with the aim of uniting their very different countries in an effort to fend of the depredations of the Un. (Why they're named the Un becomes clear late in the novel, and is worth waiting for... Well I found it so...)
Telion's country is basically a theocracy, where marriage is only between a man and a women, and sex is only had with the aim of conceiving children. Farven's country, on the other hand, celebrates pleasure - sex, drugs, alcohol, etc - as a way of thanking God for his gifts - and they thank him a lot. Marriage has no limits other love and comittment, and God rewards his people with the gift of magic.
Both Princes are wary of the marriage, but both are soon convinced that their marriage is blessed by God - they glow! (And more after sex, lol!) Telion soon becomes converted to Farven's way of life, and Farven finds he has found his mate after all. Thing are very sweet, but only until they enjoin the battle. Here things become darker; people are dying and the two men find they must act in concert, both magically and politically, if they have any hope of defeating the Un.
Unfortunately, the end of the book comes after a major scene, so it is rather frustrating as it leaves the reader with the knowledge that things have drastically changed for the two Princes.
But the best part of the novel, for me anyway, was the underlying humour, as well as some snarky dialogue. For example, when the two men actually meet God, things are rather less divine than you expect -
"Poor innocent little lambie," God said, shaking his head. "Telion. I made you people in My Image. I swear, and drink, and have sex. I even burp and fart, but I damn sure don't snore. You seriously think I mind if people I made to reflect me act like I do? Not hardly. And there's another bone I have to pick with you lot. Know why I don't mess with Amrontil for the most part? I'll tell you. You sorry fuckers forgot how to talk to Me and you completely fucking rejected My gifts. You grovel and beg and plead like you're talking to My asshole Brother Gabriel. Makes Me want to barf. Come on, people, get a backbone! And fucking get laid, would you? Uptight repressed bastards."How can you not enjoy that?Lol!
June 28, 2013
I'm slightly flabbergasted. Honestly, I have no idea what to say.
I want to say it was almost - but not quite - completely unlike anything I've read before.
Still, I quite liked it.
It's got an interesting concept and it executes it nicely. There are comma issues, but I think by now I've given up on finding an ebook without comma splices.
I want to say it was almost - but not quite - completely unlike anything I've read before.
Still, I quite liked it.
It's got an interesting concept and it executes it nicely. There are comma issues, but I think by now I've given up on finding an ebook without comma splices.
March 27, 2016
Not bad. Interesting with an enjoyable premise. The author is obviously poking fun at organized religion and its influence over society. I can't say I've fallen in love with the characters but they are enjoyable and I've gotten involved in their story and adventures.
I'm just not happy with the writing style. The author doesn't seem to be able to make the words flow. Stilted is the best I can describe it. I'm not a writer but reading a good book should be easy and the the story, descriptions of events or people and conversations that take place should flow easily, this doesn't.
There is humor, intelligence and adventure here, everything that should make a great read. I think the author has a great imagination, maybe just not the talent to bring it to life. I'm going to read the next book in the series, partly because I already own it but also because I'm interested enough to see where the author is taking the storyline. After that I'll have to see if I'm still interested enough to continue.
I'm just not happy with the writing style. The author doesn't seem to be able to make the words flow. Stilted is the best I can describe it. I'm not a writer but reading a good book should be easy and the the story, descriptions of events or people and conversations that take place should flow easily, this doesn't.
There is humor, intelligence and adventure here, everything that should make a great read. I think the author has a great imagination, maybe just not the talent to bring it to life. I'm going to read the next book in the series, partly because I already own it but also because I'm interested enough to see where the author is taking the storyline. After that I'll have to see if I'm still interested enough to continue.
April 22, 2013
The concept was great but writing is somehow sketchy and shallow. Relationship goes from “I don’t want to” to “I am crazy about you” within fist 10 pages.
DNF
DNF
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews