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Aria of the Eclipse
Nothing has ever excited Tylen Merodine more than being invited by the Regent himself to celebrate the first solar eclipse in his planet’s recorded history. It’s the party of the millennium, and if he has to restrain his normal exuberant instincts to fit in, that’s what he’ll do to be a part of it. His good intentions vanish, however, the moment he’s presented to the Regent. Because there, in a gilded cage, playing music unlike anything Tylen’s ever heard, is the most beautiful alien he could imagine.
For more than twenty years, Dek has lived in captivity, performing at the whim of those who see him as an animal. The Regent is just the latest in a long line of owners, and while he’s kind, he’s still blind to Dek’s sentient nature. Only music gives Dek a voice, until Tylen breaks the rules and sneaks in to see and speak to him alone.
The time they have together is stolen and precious, the minutes ticking away until the eclipse is past and they have to go back to the way their lives were before. But when the Regent shows an unexpected interest in Tylen’s future, they begin to wonder if their worlds need to remain so separate...
For more than twenty years, Dek has lived in captivity, performing at the whim of those who see him as an animal. The Regent is just the latest in a long line of owners, and while he’s kind, he’s still blind to Dek’s sentient nature. Only music gives Dek a voice, until Tylen breaks the rules and sneaks in to see and speak to him alone.
The time they have together is stolen and precious, the minutes ticking away until the eclipse is past and they have to go back to the way their lives were before. But when the Regent shows an unexpected interest in Tylen’s future, they begin to wonder if their worlds need to remain so separate...
120 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
87 people want to read
About the author
Vivien Dean
77 books67 followersVivien Dean has had a lifetime love affair with stories. A multi-published author, her books have been EPPIE finalists, Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Nominees, and readers favorites. After spending her twenties and early thirties traveling, she has finally settled down and currently resides in northern California with her British husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 19, 2015
This read like a free read but actually cost me six bucks! I'm very disappointed!
January 16, 2014
Oh…I really wanted to like this book. I was searching for alien/human romance stories on Goodreads and came across this synopsis and fell in love with the idea. I downloaded it onto my Kindle and read it in two days.
First off, let me start with what I LIKED about this novel.
1. The idea was very unique..it's hard to find male/male romance in science fiction, especially interspecies romance, so overall the idea was very new and interesting
2. The writing was lyrical, engaging, and fun to read. This author has a lot of talent with words
3. The character names were cool
Now, why did I give this book a 1 star rating? Well…
1. The romance…..ugh. It wasn't really romance at all. It was obsessive, often downright creepy, infatuated instalove that makes Twilight look decent and realistic. And throughout the whole book, never once did I believe that Tylen and Dek truly loved each other. It was all about lust and sex, not love. I almost wanted to stop reading the book when they had sex THE FIRST NIGHT THEY TALKED TO EACHOTHER. Like, what is up with that??? I hate that in gay AND straight romances. Their whole relationship was built on sex and nothing more.
2. The characters….they were boring, unrealistic, and unlikable. Tylen had about as much personality as a rock and spoke in such a clichéd, annoying manner. I should also be really sympathetic toward Dek, but I didn't care about him at all. He hardly has a personality outside of music and longing to be free (and wanting Tylen's body). The Regent was emotionless, Vescha was boring and stereotypical, Dourack was a non-character…I'm surprised I even remember their names, to be honest. That's how boring and unlikable they were.
3. The setting….it's very vague and boring. The world building was nearly nonexistent. I couldn't really get a feel for the solar system and how things work on these planets. While it's mostly a romance, it's still a SCIENCE FICTION story. You would think it would have a bit more science fiction stuff? I don't know…the only thing described in any sort of rich detail was the solarium (which was lovely). Everything else was a generic town, banquet hall, a snippet of a library, and that was about all. I expect much more world building in speculative fiction like this, especially one that's exploring interstellar travel, other planets, and what appears to be trade among planets in a solar system. Where did these humans come from? How do the other planets interact? I wanted to know more. There was so much potential for a good story here!
4. The alien……I realize that evolutionary biology on other worlds could be very similar (even parallel) to Earth's, according to many astrobiologists, but I had a hard time believing Dek's situation. So, he's seen as an "it" and is kept in a cage, no one knows his gender, and no one knows he can speak their language. He just plays music via some weird finger thread-like appendages and can also fly with them or something along those lines (honestly, it was so unremarkable, I can't remember). This is a really unique alien design, but I can't will my suspension of disbelief enough to go along with the "inhuman" angle this author was trying to portray. He's practically human. He has pale skin, grey eyes, greyish hair, and some strange freckle-bumps on his body. Furthermore, he has two legs, two arms, two eyes, two ears, normal male anatomy……bull CRAP they think he's an animal! That doesn't even make any sense! If you're going to play up his "alien" heritage, at least make him an alien. I hate it when authors make completely human aliens, then just throw in something like "oh, he has weird-colored eyes, so he's an alien, you guys."
5. The genre….it's marketed as "science fiction" but it's not even science fiction. It's science fantasy, really, but I would even go as far as calling it a straightup fantasy novel. There's not even an ounce of science in this thing. The futuristic setting is vague and doesn't make a whole lot of sense. The author doesn't even bother explaining the solar system or how the other planets are inhabited/colonized, how humans and aliens can breathe on other planets, the vegetation, the food, the language…it's all about sex, sex, sex and no science. It doesn't even explore other sciences like philosophy, anthropology, psychology, politics, anything. It's a whole lot of empty nothingness.
6. The sexism…..it's bad enough that all the characters are cardboard cutouts, but the women in this story are truly pitiful. There was a part where Tylen thinks something like: "It was impressive that Veshca, as a woman, was interested in the hard sciences. Maybe she was smarter than he thought." Wait…WHAT? This is supposedly an advanced civilization that's mastered technology enough to travel the freakin stars, and he actually thought this? I feel like I stepped through a time portal and am reading a science fiction book that was written in the 1940s or 1950s. You know who else doesn't understand "hard sciences?" The author and all her characters. There were also hints in this book that somehow the women were dumb and just served to be married off and they didn't understand "hard science" like almighty Tylen and his cohorts. Unbelievably stupid.
7. The plot…..it was kind of nonexistent. Tylen and Dek have sex a lot, Tylen's obsessed with Dek…then some boring stuff happens at the end and that's all.
Overall, it was a pretty boring, tedious book set in an equally boring, tedious universe.
First off, let me start with what I LIKED about this novel.
1. The idea was very unique..it's hard to find male/male romance in science fiction, especially interspecies romance, so overall the idea was very new and interesting
2. The writing was lyrical, engaging, and fun to read. This author has a lot of talent with words
3. The character names were cool
Now, why did I give this book a 1 star rating? Well…
1. The romance…..ugh. It wasn't really romance at all. It was obsessive, often downright creepy, infatuated instalove that makes Twilight look decent and realistic. And throughout the whole book, never once did I believe that Tylen and Dek truly loved each other. It was all about lust and sex, not love. I almost wanted to stop reading the book when they had sex THE FIRST NIGHT THEY TALKED TO EACHOTHER. Like, what is up with that??? I hate that in gay AND straight romances. Their whole relationship was built on sex and nothing more.
2. The characters….they were boring, unrealistic, and unlikable. Tylen had about as much personality as a rock and spoke in such a clichéd, annoying manner. I should also be really sympathetic toward Dek, but I didn't care about him at all. He hardly has a personality outside of music and longing to be free (and wanting Tylen's body). The Regent was emotionless, Vescha was boring and stereotypical, Dourack was a non-character…I'm surprised I even remember their names, to be honest. That's how boring and unlikable they were.
3. The setting….it's very vague and boring. The world building was nearly nonexistent. I couldn't really get a feel for the solar system and how things work on these planets. While it's mostly a romance, it's still a SCIENCE FICTION story. You would think it would have a bit more science fiction stuff? I don't know…the only thing described in any sort of rich detail was the solarium (which was lovely). Everything else was a generic town, banquet hall, a snippet of a library, and that was about all. I expect much more world building in speculative fiction like this, especially one that's exploring interstellar travel, other planets, and what appears to be trade among planets in a solar system. Where did these humans come from? How do the other planets interact? I wanted to know more. There was so much potential for a good story here!
4. The alien……I realize that evolutionary biology on other worlds could be very similar (even parallel) to Earth's, according to many astrobiologists, but I had a hard time believing Dek's situation. So, he's seen as an "it" and is kept in a cage, no one knows his gender, and no one knows he can speak their language. He just plays music via some weird finger thread-like appendages and can also fly with them or something along those lines (honestly, it was so unremarkable, I can't remember). This is a really unique alien design, but I can't will my suspension of disbelief enough to go along with the "inhuman" angle this author was trying to portray. He's practically human. He has pale skin, grey eyes, greyish hair, and some strange freckle-bumps on his body. Furthermore, he has two legs, two arms, two eyes, two ears, normal male anatomy……bull CRAP they think he's an animal! That doesn't even make any sense! If you're going to play up his "alien" heritage, at least make him an alien. I hate it when authors make completely human aliens, then just throw in something like "oh, he has weird-colored eyes, so he's an alien, you guys."
5. The genre….it's marketed as "science fiction" but it's not even science fiction. It's science fantasy, really, but I would even go as far as calling it a straightup fantasy novel. There's not even an ounce of science in this thing. The futuristic setting is vague and doesn't make a whole lot of sense. The author doesn't even bother explaining the solar system or how the other planets are inhabited/colonized, how humans and aliens can breathe on other planets, the vegetation, the food, the language…it's all about sex, sex, sex and no science. It doesn't even explore other sciences like philosophy, anthropology, psychology, politics, anything. It's a whole lot of empty nothingness.
6. The sexism…..it's bad enough that all the characters are cardboard cutouts, but the women in this story are truly pitiful. There was a part where Tylen thinks something like: "It was impressive that Veshca, as a woman, was interested in the hard sciences. Maybe she was smarter than he thought." Wait…WHAT? This is supposedly an advanced civilization that's mastered technology enough to travel the freakin stars, and he actually thought this? I feel like I stepped through a time portal and am reading a science fiction book that was written in the 1940s or 1950s. You know who else doesn't understand "hard sciences?" The author and all her characters. There were also hints in this book that somehow the women were dumb and just served to be married off and they didn't understand "hard science" like almighty Tylen and his cohorts. Unbelievably stupid.
7. The plot…..it was kind of nonexistent. Tylen and Dek have sex a lot, Tylen's obsessed with Dek…then some boring stuff happens at the end and that's all.
Overall, it was a pretty boring, tedious book set in an equally boring, tedious universe.
April 25, 2013
4 Hearts
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/
What a lovely, lovely book this was. I’m very fond of the sci-fi genre and the whole different species idea I admit, but this story was truly worth reading even if I was not partial to it.
As much as I crave my freedom, I’ve lived so much of my life
in a cage that I’m not sure what I’d do with it once it was mine.
This is how it starts and it comes from Dek’s point of view. Dek is a sentient species similar to humans but also very different. Hunted down at age thirteen he has spent nearly two decades in captivity. The first time he spoke to his “owner” it didn’t go well hence his decision not to speak ever again to anyone that treats him like an animal. His only way of communication his music.
When the story begins I was fascinated not only by the new species introduced but mostly from the melancholic tone as Dek narrated it. It was such a romantic way of writing I got lost in it from the first line and through it you get to understand Dek’s personality and admire the character Ms. Dean created here. He is melancholic due to captivity, yet not depressed. He has an understanding for his captors/owners yet he hasn’t succumbed to his hopeless situation, maintaining dreams yet not getting overwhelmed by them or the fact that he might always be a slave. It is a beautiful character you instantly fall in love for.
And then Tylen comes in the scene and he has his own point of view. The writing while similar is also different, the voices between Tylen and Dek easily distinguishable and you can see how easily he falls for the “songbird” in the golden cage and feel his fury and emotions for said cage.
Being the first one to ever acknowledge Dek as a person, Tylen instantly earns the honor of being the first to hear his voice too. The bond created between them is almost tangible for me as a reader, the emotions the come from the anguish of their fate easily traveled my way. When the pair came together it was almost magical and the writing once again took me within the dreamy intensity of their lovemaking.
In addition to the wonderful love story there was the romantic side of Dek’s owner, the Regent, who made things even more interesting with his behavior. A mysterious character in his doings he had both characters and me wondering what on Earth is going on, giving the plot that little something needed to rise it from a mere nice story to a great one. It was absolutely brilliant and I loved the conclusion, expected yet so very unique and romantic in its execution.
This is most definitely a read I’d recommend to those who love sci-fi and romantic stories. I loved it.
Tommie.
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/
What a lovely, lovely book this was. I’m very fond of the sci-fi genre and the whole different species idea I admit, but this story was truly worth reading even if I was not partial to it.
As much as I crave my freedom, I’ve lived so much of my life
in a cage that I’m not sure what I’d do with it once it was mine.
This is how it starts and it comes from Dek’s point of view. Dek is a sentient species similar to humans but also very different. Hunted down at age thirteen he has spent nearly two decades in captivity. The first time he spoke to his “owner” it didn’t go well hence his decision not to speak ever again to anyone that treats him like an animal. His only way of communication his music.
When the story begins I was fascinated not only by the new species introduced but mostly from the melancholic tone as Dek narrated it. It was such a romantic way of writing I got lost in it from the first line and through it you get to understand Dek’s personality and admire the character Ms. Dean created here. He is melancholic due to captivity, yet not depressed. He has an understanding for his captors/owners yet he hasn’t succumbed to his hopeless situation, maintaining dreams yet not getting overwhelmed by them or the fact that he might always be a slave. It is a beautiful character you instantly fall in love for.
And then Tylen comes in the scene and he has his own point of view. The writing while similar is also different, the voices between Tylen and Dek easily distinguishable and you can see how easily he falls for the “songbird” in the golden cage and feel his fury and emotions for said cage.
Being the first one to ever acknowledge Dek as a person, Tylen instantly earns the honor of being the first to hear his voice too. The bond created between them is almost tangible for me as a reader, the emotions the come from the anguish of their fate easily traveled my way. When the pair came together it was almost magical and the writing once again took me within the dreamy intensity of their lovemaking.
In addition to the wonderful love story there was the romantic side of Dek’s owner, the Regent, who made things even more interesting with his behavior. A mysterious character in his doings he had both characters and me wondering what on Earth is going on, giving the plot that little something needed to rise it from a mere nice story to a great one. It was absolutely brilliant and I loved the conclusion, expected yet so very unique and romantic in its execution.
This is most definitely a read I’d recommend to those who love sci-fi and romantic stories. I loved it.
Tommie.
May 4, 2013
aria |ˈärēə|
nounMusic
a long, accompanied song for a solo voice, typically one in an opera or oratorio.
ORIGIN early 18th cent.: from Italian, from Latin aer ‘air.’
Tylan and Dek... nothing in common. One (Tylan) human and a part from high ranks of society. The other an alien (Dek), captured at the young age of 14 a bird like creature. Humanoid (no wings) and in a gold cage used as a entertaining, to sing and create music... as a songbird... as a exquisite pet ... for 20 years.
The story start with Tylan arriving in the court, when the king decide to call all influent families to share with him an unique event in their planet.. an eclipse.
The love story will be told from both point of view. It's quick, an instant love, and obviously heartbreaking. For the first time in 20 years Dek will be challenged to want more, to be more... to break free. BUT, it's him, inside a gold cage the prisoner, or Tylan, in a invisible cage of rigid formalities from the court?
It's perfect to sci-fi fanatics looking for unique alien description. You will know immediately (from Tylan POV) how "weird" is Dek. His music is created with thin tendrils between his fingers. His eyes, his color, his body... everything will be described in details and I LOVE IT! It's really hard to find a sci-fi with an alien main character so well described as Dek.
Read it... hear it....open your ears...
to hear Dek's love aria of the eclipse
no doubt... 5 stars, and it's a pity there is nothing more with this two main characters! I would LOVE to read more!
nounMusic
a long, accompanied song for a solo voice, typically one in an opera or oratorio.
ORIGIN early 18th cent.: from Italian, from Latin aer ‘air.’
Tylan and Dek... nothing in common. One (Tylan) human and a part from high ranks of society. The other an alien (Dek), captured at the young age of 14 a bird like creature. Humanoid (no wings) and in a gold cage used as a entertaining, to sing and create music... as a songbird... as a exquisite pet ... for 20 years.
The story start with Tylan arriving in the court, when the king decide to call all influent families to share with him an unique event in their planet.. an eclipse.
The love story will be told from both point of view. It's quick, an instant love, and obviously heartbreaking. For the first time in 20 years Dek will be challenged to want more, to be more... to break free. BUT, it's him, inside a gold cage the prisoner, or Tylan, in a invisible cage of rigid formalities from the court?
It's perfect to sci-fi fanatics looking for unique alien description. You will know immediately (from Tylan POV) how "weird" is Dek. His music is created with thin tendrils between his fingers. His eyes, his color, his body... everything will be described in details and I LOVE IT! It's really hard to find a sci-fi with an alien main character so well described as Dek.
Read it... hear it....open your ears...
to hear Dek's love aria of the eclipse
no doubt... 5 stars, and it's a pity there is nothing more with this two main characters! I would LOVE to read more!
June 16, 2013
Vivien Dean has written a fascinating story that combines sex and science fiction in Aria of the Eclipse. After coming of status, Tylen Merodine has been invited to the party of the millennium thrown by the Regent of the planet Ymoro. When he is first presented to meet the Regent, he hears the most beautiful music coming from a being locked inside a golden cage. Dek has been passed from one owner to another, each one has treated him as nothing more than an animal, not even knowing his gender. The blurb covers the basic storyline but you really need to read the book to appreciate the richly woven details and the fantastic world building.
This is a character driven tale with a plot that flows smoothly from beginning to end. Each chapter alternately tells the story from each character's first person POV. The main and secondary characters are totally convincing with all the emotions, attitudes, faults, and foibles of anyone in real life. The backstory gives enough detail to keep you from being lost and plot holes are nonexistent. The sex between the characters is a little different, but still hot enough to steam up the page.
The author's writing style is original, concise, and renders a world that is alien, but also convincingly familiar. I really like how the author starts the story one way, then skillfully turns it in a totally unexpected direction. The HEA ending has a unique twist that I really enjoyed and I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a read that is anything but ordinary.
Trish's 4 sweet pea review appears at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index.... on June 17, 2013
This is a character driven tale with a plot that flows smoothly from beginning to end. Each chapter alternately tells the story from each character's first person POV. The main and secondary characters are totally convincing with all the emotions, attitudes, faults, and foibles of anyone in real life. The backstory gives enough detail to keep you from being lost and plot holes are nonexistent. The sex between the characters is a little different, but still hot enough to steam up the page.
The author's writing style is original, concise, and renders a world that is alien, but also convincingly familiar. I really like how the author starts the story one way, then skillfully turns it in a totally unexpected direction. The HEA ending has a unique twist that I really enjoyed and I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a read that is anything but ordinary.
Trish's 4 sweet pea review appears at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index.... on June 17, 2013
May 21, 2020
Awww, I really loved this. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
It was short, but after reading it, I felt so fond of Aria of the Eclipse. The author does such a good job describing one of the main characters who is an “alien”. I’ve read a lot of alien descriptions in books, and the creativity in this one was so awesome! (In a subtle way) Quite unique and endearing.
There wasn’t a story of magnificent scope or anything, but there was still a plot that held my attention and kept me asking questions till the end.
On top of it all, I really liked the writing. It went a little deeper than the average books I read. Though there were a few errors here and there.
Overall, a quick read that left me with warm and fond feels which is why I have it 5 stars.
Warning: I would say this is definitely insta love, and I had to suspend some reality to believe in the process that went very fast with the main characters.
It was short, but after reading it, I felt so fond of Aria of the Eclipse. The author does such a good job describing one of the main characters who is an “alien”. I’ve read a lot of alien descriptions in books, and the creativity in this one was so awesome! (In a subtle way) Quite unique and endearing.
There wasn’t a story of magnificent scope or anything, but there was still a plot that held my attention and kept me asking questions till the end.
On top of it all, I really liked the writing. It went a little deeper than the average books I read. Though there were a few errors here and there.
Overall, a quick read that left me with warm and fond feels which is why I have it 5 stars.
Warning: I would say this is definitely insta love, and I had to suspend some reality to believe in the process that went very fast with the main characters.
October 24, 2023
2.5 stars
Virtually no romance, but plenty of sex
Instalove
Slow moving
All secondary characters are dull and flat
Virtually no conflict
Whatever little conflict there was, was resolved swiftly and with... uh... no conflict. *eye roll*
Virtually no romance, but plenty of sex
Instalove
Slow moving
All secondary characters are dull and flat
Virtually no conflict
Whatever little conflict there was, was resolved swiftly and with... uh... no conflict. *eye roll*
June 14, 2014
Interesting story and lovely characters. The only problem was that I really didn't understand the Regent. He seemed to be the bad guy in the beginning, but afterwards he turned into a sort of mysterious benefactor. In my opinion he was one of the most interesting characters, so I'd have liked him to open up to the couple or to someone else.
November 9, 2013
Simply, ... *M*A*G*I*C*A*L* -&- *E*N*C*H*A*N*T*I*N*G* ...
June 7, 2013
Wonderfully imaginative and magical in its descriptions of alien music and love among the stars. I loved this and hope it finds a large audience.
Read my full review here http://wp.me/p220KL-1hb
Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5
http://scatteredthoughtsandroguewords...
April 15, 2015
Beautiful writing but not enough depth - couldn't get into it.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews