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Secrets of Socendor #2
Dragonblade
Winning this battle requires a faith stronger than steel…
Secrets of Socendor, Book 2
Legends tell of a dragon-forged weapon so powerful, it possesses the ability to traverse time itself. Knowing the havoc it could wreak, the dragons sealed it deep beneath the mountains.
No one was meant to find it, let alone wield it.
General Kalen Ysindroc, leader of the human king’s armies and the long-lost son of Socendor’s most feared wizard-king of old, is in a race against time. His half brother, Braen, is searching for the sword as a means to return their father from the grave. Kalen must not let that happen. Joined by his elven lover, wizard Micheil Thierauf, he sets out on a journey beneath the mountains to stop Braen from doing the unthinkable.
As secrets come to light that test Kalen’s faith in every way possible, including his trust in the man he’s loved nearly all his life, the right path is as clouded as the murky, dragon-blood-tainted waters of the Ebon Sea. And Kalen is forced to make a decision that could very well be his last.
This book contains treason and treachery, magic and steel, clawed behemoths, and secrets no man should ever keep from his lover.
122 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 2, 2013
About the author
Mychael Black
331 books113 followersFormerly known as Kay Derwydd
Myc has been writing professionally since 2005, solo and with Shayne Carmichael. Genres include pretty much anything (no steampunk yet), though Myc is well known for paranormal stories. When not writing, Myc is usually playing PC games, reading, editing, watching movies and shows on Netflix and Amazon, or spending way too much time on Facebook.
Myc has been writing professionally since 2005, solo and with Shayne Carmichael. Genres include pretty much anything (no steampunk yet), though Myc is well known for paranormal stories. When not writing, Myc is usually playing PC games, reading, editing, watching movies and shows on Netflix and Amazon, or spending way too much time on Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 4, 2013
B+
A great fantasy adventure series full of magic, sex, love, adventure, sex, mysteries to be solved, betrayal, sex, a hidden past that comes with new family, sex, swordfighting and dragon fighting, sex, obsession, sex, evil, greed, elves, royalty, sex. I really like these books. There is a lot of sex, this doesn't bother me in the least, but it has to be said. The sex is well written and both of the men are gorgeous. Together they are dirty, devoted, in love, and sizzling hot. They are both such warriors and strategists that the open affection and desire they show is beautiful to see.
I say these books because this is the second in the series and you must read the first book, The Lost Son, for you to have any hope of avoiding the sense that you are always missing something. You are, because they are not stand alone, while the author does make explanatory references to events in the first book and give brief explanations there are too many things happening and the story too short for a complete rehash of the first book. This one takes off where the first book ended and keeps a strong pace. There was never a dull moment and many of the moments were filled with fighting and adventuring and lots of loving.
We are dealing with an established couple who have been in love for a long time. Kalen has loved Micheil for most of his life and they are such an interesting couple. Extremely devoted and in love, and in this book, freer in expressing that deep love in more than body language. There is a shift in the relationship as Kalen begins to come into his powers and they realize that those powers will continue to grow and they have to try to get some control over them before he begins to do serious damage.
There is something incredibly sexy to me about the reluctant hero. A person who is strong and capable and does what they must to save the people they care about and are loyal to, but who don't seek out their grand destiny. They have a dangerous adventure full of scary enemies and impossible choices. They rise to the occasion because that is who they are and what they do, but they would have been just as happy living in their small world, loving their mate and doing their job, taking care of and protecting people.
These men are delicious and I enjoyed every well written moment of steamy love between them. They are equals and true partners and compliment each other very well. The support and devotion that they show one another is a pleasure to see. They will not survive without each other and I doubt that they would want to.
The supporting cast in this series is great, I liked the core group that accompanies them on their epic adventuring. I appreciated that there was a flexibility to the characters that allowed for them to change and be more and less than they first appeared as our men gain more knowledge. This created, for me, a depth and a sense of reality that one dimensional props who are static friends and foes could never hope to convey. These men possess a ruthless compassion that made them very endearing and real to me. They are warriors who do what they must, but they do not seek out death nor do they reject new information or perspective.
The world building in this series is great. I love it when authors create a world that is familiar yet unique, populating it with their own animals and rules. This was a slice of a past time and way of life while at the same time allowing for magic, myth, and an acceptance of sexuality that was not of our world. The author stayed true to the rules of their created universe and I would greatly love to visit it sometime.
There is obviously much more to be told of this world, many things left to be resolved and much more of this couple that must be explored. I am waiting, not so patiently, for the next installment to come. Please write faster Mychael Black.
Reviewed by Nina
A great fantasy adventure series full of magic, sex, love, adventure, sex, mysteries to be solved, betrayal, sex, a hidden past that comes with new family, sex, swordfighting and dragon fighting, sex, obsession, sex, evil, greed, elves, royalty, sex. I really like these books. There is a lot of sex, this doesn't bother me in the least, but it has to be said. The sex is well written and both of the men are gorgeous. Together they are dirty, devoted, in love, and sizzling hot. They are both such warriors and strategists that the open affection and desire they show is beautiful to see.
I say these books because this is the second in the series and you must read the first book, The Lost Son, for you to have any hope of avoiding the sense that you are always missing something. You are, because they are not stand alone, while the author does make explanatory references to events in the first book and give brief explanations there are too many things happening and the story too short for a complete rehash of the first book. This one takes off where the first book ended and keeps a strong pace. There was never a dull moment and many of the moments were filled with fighting and adventuring and lots of loving.
We are dealing with an established couple who have been in love for a long time. Kalen has loved Micheil for most of his life and they are such an interesting couple. Extremely devoted and in love, and in this book, freer in expressing that deep love in more than body language. There is a shift in the relationship as Kalen begins to come into his powers and they realize that those powers will continue to grow and they have to try to get some control over them before he begins to do serious damage.
There is something incredibly sexy to me about the reluctant hero. A person who is strong and capable and does what they must to save the people they care about and are loyal to, but who don't seek out their grand destiny. They have a dangerous adventure full of scary enemies and impossible choices. They rise to the occasion because that is who they are and what they do, but they would have been just as happy living in their small world, loving their mate and doing their job, taking care of and protecting people.
These men are delicious and I enjoyed every well written moment of steamy love between them. They are equals and true partners and compliment each other very well. The support and devotion that they show one another is a pleasure to see. They will not survive without each other and I doubt that they would want to.
The supporting cast in this series is great, I liked the core group that accompanies them on their epic adventuring. I appreciated that there was a flexibility to the characters that allowed for them to change and be more and less than they first appeared as our men gain more knowledge. This created, for me, a depth and a sense of reality that one dimensional props who are static friends and foes could never hope to convey. These men possess a ruthless compassion that made them very endearing and real to me. They are warriors who do what they must, but they do not seek out death nor do they reject new information or perspective.
The world building in this series is great. I love it when authors create a world that is familiar yet unique, populating it with their own animals and rules. This was a slice of a past time and way of life while at the same time allowing for magic, myth, and an acceptance of sexuality that was not of our world. The author stayed true to the rules of their created universe and I would greatly love to visit it sometime.
There is obviously much more to be told of this world, many things left to be resolved and much more of this couple that must be explored. I am waiting, not so patiently, for the next installment to come. Please write faster Mychael Black.
Reviewed by Nina
September 8, 2013
There's a lot of summarizing in the beginning. A lot of it.
It's not so much plot interspersed with bits of sex as it is sex interspersed with bits of plot. There's...a lot of sex.
The writing's not particularly great, the world creation's rather hazy at best, *sigh. I want it to be good, but it's not really that great, and I'm extrapolating to make it great. It's not terrible, you know. It's just...doesn't got that edge to it that makes it great. It's got all the potential to be a great epic high fantasy piece, but instead, it's like the best the author could do was prepare the pieces and lay them out for someone else to put together. Except it's provisionally strung together with bits of cliches. Which makes it also seemed rushed.
Add to that the profusion of sex scenes and the rather vague characterization that becomes more apparently vague the more the author tries to keep at it...
I dunno. I became uninterested in the hints of Kalen's dark past/angst, which is the main thing that drew me to this story.
Everything's too laid out. There's not much tension, suspense, drama even. The drama is spelled out, not played out.
There doesn't even really seem to be an enemy. Even the dude the author's trying to set up as the enemy isn't so enemy-like. He's got his token sob story that's supposed to make you feel sorry for him because his hand was forced, but it seems stupid because I, at least, don't really care. There's maybe one person who's actually an enemy, and he's dead-ish.
Boring. Completely and utterly boring. *sigh. I am disappointed.
It's not so much plot interspersed with bits of sex as it is sex interspersed with bits of plot. There's...a lot of sex.
The writing's not particularly great, the world creation's rather hazy at best, *sigh. I want it to be good, but it's not really that great, and I'm extrapolating to make it great. It's not terrible, you know. It's just...doesn't got that edge to it that makes it great. It's got all the potential to be a great epic high fantasy piece, but instead, it's like the best the author could do was prepare the pieces and lay them out for someone else to put together. Except it's provisionally strung together with bits of cliches. Which makes it also seemed rushed.
Add to that the profusion of sex scenes and the rather vague characterization that becomes more apparently vague the more the author tries to keep at it...
I dunno. I became uninterested in the hints of Kalen's dark past/angst, which is the main thing that drew me to this story.
Everything's too laid out. There's not much tension, suspense, drama even. The drama is spelled out, not played out.
There doesn't even really seem to be an enemy. Even the dude the author's trying to set up as the enemy isn't so enemy-like. He's got his token sob story that's supposed to make you feel sorry for him because his hand was forced, but it seems stupid because I, at least, don't really care. There's maybe one person who's actually an enemy, and he's dead-ish.
Boring. Completely and utterly boring. *sigh. I am disappointed.
July 19, 2013
4.5 Rating
General Kalen Ysindroc, along with his elven lover wizard Micheil Thierauf, is on a quest to stop Kalen’s half brother Braen, who has vowed to return their evil father from the grave. Death, as well as secrets, foils their mission; yet Kalen’s new found strength will triumph.
Dragonblade is the second book in the Secrets of Socendor Series. The story has an intricate plot of elves, ghosts and dragons, in addition to other fanciful creatures. The most prominent character traits illustrated are honor plus esteem for each other regardless of the social status or hereditary origins.
Kalen and Micheil are equal partners in all things. Their relationship exhibits trust, respect as well as unconditional love. Kalen learns more of his true ancestry, secrets regarding Micheil’s past are revealed and that Braen is not Kalen’s enemy. The brothers must form an alliance if their evil father is to be defeated. The human king’s realm is all but destroyed. Everything is contingent on Kalen and the few survivors who follow him.
Mychael Black has created a fantastic romantic escapade that I enjoyed immensely. I look forward to the next installment of this amazing magical series.
General Kalen Ysindroc, along with his elven lover wizard Micheil Thierauf, is on a quest to stop Kalen’s half brother Braen, who has vowed to return their evil father from the grave. Death, as well as secrets, foils their mission; yet Kalen’s new found strength will triumph.
Dragonblade is the second book in the Secrets of Socendor Series. The story has an intricate plot of elves, ghosts and dragons, in addition to other fanciful creatures. The most prominent character traits illustrated are honor plus esteem for each other regardless of the social status or hereditary origins.
Kalen and Micheil are equal partners in all things. Their relationship exhibits trust, respect as well as unconditional love. Kalen learns more of his true ancestry, secrets regarding Micheil’s past are revealed and that Braen is not Kalen’s enemy. The brothers must form an alliance if their evil father is to be defeated. The human king’s realm is all but destroyed. Everything is contingent on Kalen and the few survivors who follow him.
Mychael Black has created a fantastic romantic escapade that I enjoyed immensely. I look forward to the next installment of this amazing magical series.
December 27, 2014
2.5 stars.
Slightly better than book #1. This started directly from where
ended. The general and sorcerer still had at it (meaning sex, coupling, whatever) each times they can; in their room, in the inns, in the caves, outdoors... you name it! At least there's the adventure looking for the sword, fighting the dragons, spiders, wraiths... And the "bad" brother Braen wasn't so bad after all.
Although, there's many things left unanswered (no doubt to prepare for next books) and lack of details which was pretty unsatisfying.
How did the evil sorcerer Breasal finally brought back into the world, how deep treacheries were the royal siblings into, what happened to the castle's people, the king and queen. The MCs assumed the laters being held prisoners. And I assume there will be more books throwing bits of story after this.
Slightly better than book #1. This started directly from where
ended. The general and sorcerer still had at it (meaning sex, coupling, whatever) each times they can; in their room, in the inns, in the caves, outdoors... you name it! At least there's the adventure looking for the sword, fighting the dragons, spiders, wraiths... And the "bad" brother Braen wasn't so bad after all.Although, there's many things left unanswered (no doubt to prepare for next books) and lack of details which was pretty unsatisfying.
How did the evil sorcerer Breasal finally brought back into the world, how deep treacheries were the royal siblings into, what happened to the castle's people, the king and queen. The MCs assumed the laters being held prisoners. And I assume there will be more books throwing bits of story after this.
July 2, 2013
3.5 stars - I'm so thoroughly hooked, it's ridiculous. Too bad the next part is still a work in progress. I want more of Kalen and Micheil, and definitely want to see where Braen and Jéan's story goes. Ah, patience...so not one of my virtues!
June 30, 2013
3.5 stars
The story continues (directly after the ending of book 1, The Lost Son) with deepening concerns about the infiltration by the mysterious lithings into Akuron. We get more of Braen’s quest to raise his dead father’s (Breasal) spirit using magic. It seems this magic can only be had with the help of “Dragonblade” a mythical sword entrapped in stone (of course) and hidden away in the mountains. Kalen and Micheil’s mission is now to find and claim the sword in order to thwart Braen’s plans. The race is on. Along the way, it becomes clear that Kalen has his own hidden depths… and his dreams of dragons grow stronger.
Dragonblade moves along at a better pace than its prequel and with more story building. Kalen and Micheil are still wild-for-each-other randy-lads but major developments occur more in balance with the love-making. Adding to the interest are some nice action and fight sequences, some fierce dragons, and Braen, in particular, gets more character development. Kalen and Micheil are fine as lovers but I wish we had a chance to get to know them as people outside their relationship and see their bond tested more. The plot does thicken, however, and my reading enjoyment increased accordingly.
Readers who love sword and sorcery-type fantasy stories may want to give this series a try. Be warned, though, that Dragonblade has an HFN ending as our two heros and Akuron are left in dire straights. For this review and more visit: The Blog of Sid Love
July 23, 2013
Each day that passes brings Kalen one step closer to understanding what he is capable of. The fire burning in his soul is becoming hotter, terrifying him that it will soon destroy the one he loves more than life itself. Seeing the power grow within his lover is a double edged sword for Micheil. There is a battle brewing that has been years in the making, and only Kalen’s as yet untested strength will be enough to stop it. Learning that his father has been the much hated Breasal is bad enough. Now Kalen must also go up against his brother, Braen, leader of his people’s sworn enemy. They are both after the same thing, which will spell generations of disaster if it gets into the wrong hands. Micheil will stand by Kalen no matter what, but even he is vulnerable to such ancient power. Breasal must be stopped at all costs, yet neither Braen nor Kalen are prepared for what it will take. There is so much within these pages that tantalizes the senses…you are going to be amazed at how fast you read this. Horse-sized cats, with the ability to mind-speak, dragons older than civilization and a system of caves and caverns to rival the size of a small country are just a few of the highlights. Then you get to envision men like Kalen and Micheil, whose love for each other means they are willing to die to protect the other. Finding out what happens next is going to make for a very long wait indeed. Lototy Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More - See more at: http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/Book...
December 6, 2014
Lithings and feralaans feature in this fantasy, part of a trilogy. Lithings are people who are a mix of elf and human. Feralaans are large catlike steeds. Kalen is a warrior and Micheil a sorcerer, and the two young men are partners. They support each other to repel invaders of their kingdom. A mythical artefact called the DRAGONBLADE, a sword supposedly forged by dragons (we are not told how) and hidden in a mountain, is thought to possess magical qualities and time-travelling powers. The pair are sent out to seek the blade but they are not the only ones, with some wanting to restore a king to life by returning to the time before he was killed. Their enemies the lithings are planning to use the blade in battle.
The journey is dangerous, through woodlands and a ruined castle to a mountainside infested with giant spiders and breeding dragons, and earlier adventurers including a princess have not escaped alive. Kalen has acquired a feralaan steed and an escort of soldiers, but even with Micheil's magical skills it may not be enough for them to succeed. And if Kalen does find the fabled sword, can he actually wield it?
This is the second book in the 'Secrets of Socendor' series. The first chapter contains several references to the previous story and the ongoing politics of the kingdom of Socendor. Once I got past that, it was possible to read this as a standalone. The characterisation was good and the settings, though not unusual, were vividly described. This novella struck me as a blend of adult gay romance and a fantasy adventure wargame.
The journey is dangerous, through woodlands and a ruined castle to a mountainside infested with giant spiders and breeding dragons, and earlier adventurers including a princess have not escaped alive. Kalen has acquired a feralaan steed and an escort of soldiers, but even with Micheil's magical skills it may not be enough for them to succeed. And if Kalen does find the fabled sword, can he actually wield it?
This is the second book in the 'Secrets of Socendor' series. The first chapter contains several references to the previous story and the ongoing politics of the kingdom of Socendor. Once I got past that, it was possible to read this as a standalone. The characterisation was good and the settings, though not unusual, were vividly described. This novella struck me as a blend of adult gay romance and a fantasy adventure wargame.
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July 1, 20133.5 Stars
Please read review at The Blog of Sid Love
Please read review at The Blog of Sid Love
July 13, 2013
so good. I loved it!!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews