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Like Fire Through Bone
Vasilios Eleni has learned to make the best of life as a eunuch and valued slave in the household of a wealthy silk merchant. When he begins having dreams of a demon who steals away children and eats them alive, Vasilios's well-ordered life begins to unravel. General Markos Özdemir has been ordered by the Emperor to investigate the kidnapping and murder of children from the capital, but he’s become frustrated with lack of progress. When he learns of Vasilios’s dreams he begins to suspect they are the key to tracking down the demon.
Vasilios and Markos work together, and soon the attraction between them flares, leading to deeper attachment. Vasilios admits to his feelings for Markos but knows they must first find a way to exorcise the child-eating demon. Their quest takes them into to desert to seek out mystics and a half-man, half-serpent monk, as well as heretics, ex-concubines, and angels. The mission remains unsolved when Vasilios is trapped in the household of a cruel man. Things go from bad to worse for Vasilios, and getting back to freedom and the new love he has with Markos could cost him his life.
A Timeless Dreams While reaction to same-sex relationships throughout time and across cultures has not always been positive, these stories celebrate M/M love in a manner that may address, minimize, or ignore historical stigma.
Vasilios and Markos work together, and soon the attraction between them flares, leading to deeper attachment. Vasilios admits to his feelings for Markos but knows they must first find a way to exorcise the child-eating demon. Their quest takes them into to desert to seek out mystics and a half-man, half-serpent monk, as well as heretics, ex-concubines, and angels. The mission remains unsolved when Vasilios is trapped in the household of a cruel man. Things go from bad to worse for Vasilios, and getting back to freedom and the new love he has with Markos could cost him his life.
A Timeless Dreams While reaction to same-sex relationships throughout time and across cultures has not always been positive, these stories celebrate M/M love in a manner that may address, minimize, or ignore historical stigma.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 21, 2012
1 person is currently reading
226 people want to read
About the author
E.E. Ottoman
29 books347 followerswrites romance novels, wears pretty clothes, does history stuff.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 12, 2016
What an amazing book! Over the last few days I went to another time, to another universe. EE created a vivid, beautiful, and also very tragic fantasy world.
‘Like Fire Through Bone’ tells the story of eunuch Vasilios Eleni, how he endures many challenges, stands up bravely to help those in need, how he falls in love, and finally finds hope and a future that is his own.
I very much enjoyed to read Vasilios’s story and I was so very happy for him in the end. If anyone deserves a happy ending, it sure is him. I… It was not always easy to read what he had to endure. But I am very grateful that EE balanced it all out with such beautiful and tender scenes in between. They were so lovely, they made my toes curls.
EE describes Vasilios’s life and the world he lives in with a lot of detail. Not in the way of info-dumping, but in the way they pays attention to everything, the houses and streets, the journeys out of town, the clothes and daily routines. Now this… I am not so much used to that kind of writing… This is definitely a story with a slow built, but I think after the first 25%, I was engrossed in the story, in Vasilios’s life, in the world he lived in. I could feel it, and I absolutely loved that.
The suspense plot was dominating the pace of the story, the events. EE does not write for the faint-hearted and their monsters are horrific.
As is the society in their fantasy world. It is not easy for me to read about slaves, castration and torture, and I am glad that, besides this one scene, I didn’t have to read lots of details about that at least. It’s just… It’s omnipresent. The more amazing that Vasilios did not lose himself, that he found a purpose for his life, even while being a slave. The more rewarding that he got free and was his own again.
The romance between Vasilios and Markos was so very precious in my eyes. So tender and beautiful. Because Vasilios isn’t free for most part of the story, there couldn’t really be a relationship between them, but they cared so much for each other, it was just heartwarming to see them together. The slightest touch, the most cautious of words. I… It was amazing. When they finally are free to love each other, it blew my mind.
Yeah, so, we have to wait for a love scene, like, for ages, which was absolutely no problem, since I melted for them anyway. And when… when they finally had sex, it was just awesome. I really love how EE lets their characters communicate about sex, about their likes and dislikes. I think it’s really brilliant how they put the scenes together on so many different levels. There is of course the physical level, but the emotional and communicational are just as present and important. And I am also amazed at how the sex always fits the characters.
4.5 stars for a perfect romance in a fantasy setting with demons and horror on the side. Recommended for those who have gone into the desert and those who have come out of it.
***
December 31 2014, 11:30 pm:
Sitting in front of my to-read-next-already-own shelf, another book by EE is what I want to start my New Year with. I don't care it only starts in 30 minutes ;-) It will be interesting how I will end 2015, because this year brought on quite the change in my reading habits...
***
This book counts for my following reading challenges 2015:
- 100 books in total
- 20 books about a marginalised group
‘Like Fire Through Bone’ tells the story of eunuch Vasilios Eleni, how he endures many challenges, stands up bravely to help those in need, how he falls in love, and finally finds hope and a future that is his own.
I very much enjoyed to read Vasilios’s story and I was so very happy for him in the end. If anyone deserves a happy ending, it sure is him. I… It was not always easy to read what he had to endure. But I am very grateful that EE balanced it all out with such beautiful and tender scenes in between. They were so lovely, they made my toes curls.
EE describes Vasilios’s life and the world he lives in with a lot of detail. Not in the way of info-dumping, but in the way they pays attention to everything, the houses and streets, the journeys out of town, the clothes and daily routines. Now this… I am not so much used to that kind of writing… This is definitely a story with a slow built, but I think after the first 25%, I was engrossed in the story, in Vasilios’s life, in the world he lived in. I could feel it, and I absolutely loved that.
The suspense plot was dominating the pace of the story, the events. EE does not write for the faint-hearted and their monsters are horrific.
As is the society in their fantasy world. It is not easy for me to read about slaves, castration and torture, and I am glad that, besides this one scene, I didn’t have to read lots of details about that at least. It’s just… It’s omnipresent. The more amazing that Vasilios did not lose himself, that he found a purpose for his life, even while being a slave. The more rewarding that he got free and was his own again.
The romance between Vasilios and Markos was so very precious in my eyes. So tender and beautiful. Because Vasilios isn’t free for most part of the story, there couldn’t really be a relationship between them, but they cared so much for each other, it was just heartwarming to see them together. The slightest touch, the most cautious of words. I… It was amazing. When they finally are free to love each other, it blew my mind.
Yeah, so, we have to wait for a love scene, like, for ages, which was absolutely no problem, since I melted for them anyway. And when… when they finally had sex, it was just awesome. I really love how EE lets their characters communicate about sex, about their likes and dislikes. I think it’s really brilliant how they put the scenes together on so many different levels. There is of course the physical level, but the emotional and communicational are just as present and important. And I am also amazed at how the sex always fits the characters.
4.5 stars for a perfect romance in a fantasy setting with demons and horror on the side. Recommended for those who have gone into the desert and those who have come out of it.
***
December 31 2014, 11:30 pm:
Sitting in front of my to-read-next-already-own shelf, another book by EE is what I want to start my New Year with. I don't care it only starts in 30 minutes ;-) It will be interesting how I will end 2015, because this year brought on quite the change in my reading habits...
***
This book counts for my following reading challenges 2015:
- 100 books in total
- 20 books about a marginalised group
December 11, 2013
Unusual and engrossing tale with a well-developed viewpoint character. The intriguing slow-burn romance shared focus with a nicely paced linear plot.
Vasilios is a slave and full eunuch (castratus, lacking all external genitalia) in a wealthy family, where his duties involve bookkeeping and household administration. He is not a bed slave, although his owner has occasionally made use of him so. Now in his thirties, Vasilios’ future is uncertain. His owner is in poor health, and as property, Vasilios is destined to pass to another owner without any say in his own fate.
Vasilios is troubled by terrifying dreams of a monster. At the same time, children in the community are disappearing from their homes and being brutally killed. General Markos has been tasked with solving this mystery. He and Vasilios eventually team up.
There is some unexplained history between the two, and both men clearly wish for more, but circumstances and obstacles intervene while they work on the mystery and Vasilios deals with upheavals in his own life.
We don’t get Markos’ point of view, so the narrative is entirely Vasilios’. While the story includes a romance, it is mostly a character study. Vasilios has integrity and honor, and he has struggled to make the best of the bitter hand life has dealt him. His feelings for Markos develop without the customary sexual preoccupation and bodily sensations of arousal and desire. Markos plainly adores him, and unfailingly treats him as an equal, with sympathy but never pity or coddling. Their eventual physical intimacy is a worthy payoff to a long buildup.
The mystical quest plot to find and vanquish the demon provides a suitable framework for the worldbuilding and the introduction of secondary characters. The writing style is straightforward and keeps the reader’s attention. Some questions remain unanswered at book’s end, but the romance is solidly HFN, and Vasilios has satisfyingly embarked on his personal journey.
Recommended.
Vasilios is a slave and full eunuch (castratus, lacking all external genitalia) in a wealthy family, where his duties involve bookkeeping and household administration. He is not a bed slave, although his owner has occasionally made use of him so. Now in his thirties, Vasilios’ future is uncertain. His owner is in poor health, and as property, Vasilios is destined to pass to another owner without any say in his own fate.
Vasilios is troubled by terrifying dreams of a monster. At the same time, children in the community are disappearing from their homes and being brutally killed. General Markos has been tasked with solving this mystery. He and Vasilios eventually team up.
There is some unexplained history between the two, and both men clearly wish for more, but circumstances and obstacles intervene while they work on the mystery and Vasilios deals with upheavals in his own life.
We don’t get Markos’ point of view, so the narrative is entirely Vasilios’. While the story includes a romance, it is mostly a character study. Vasilios has integrity and honor, and he has struggled to make the best of the bitter hand life has dealt him. His feelings for Markos develop without the customary sexual preoccupation and bodily sensations of arousal and desire. Markos plainly adores him, and unfailingly treats him as an equal, with sympathy but never pity or coddling. Their eventual physical intimacy is a worthy payoff to a long buildup.
The mystical quest plot to find and vanquish the demon provides a suitable framework for the worldbuilding and the introduction of secondary characters. The writing style is straightforward and keeps the reader’s attention. Some questions remain unanswered at book’s end, but the romance is solidly HFN, and Vasilios has satisfyingly embarked on his personal journey.
Recommended.
January 30, 2015
What?!
Did you expect a coherent and eloquent review from me?
Well, the joke's on you! Cause I can't!
This books was beautiful, heartbreaking, cruel, heartwarming, gentle, romantic, gruesome.... Yes! You read that right! It's all of these things!
I absolutely adore Vasilios and I'm helplessly in love with Markos..
Just one thing I want to mention, when deciding to start this book don't expect your average romance story.. This is about longing, about having the patience to wait for the one you love, about hoping one day you are free to express your love.. It was simply beautiful to see Markos and Vasilios together.
This is manly Vasilios' story and we follow him through both beautiful and difficult (really, really difficult) moments but there's just such a elegance about him.. I just..
I'm sorry I just can't write the review this book deserves...
All I want to do is:
Really hope there's a sequel..
October 28, 2013
This was a book that had the possibility to be a great fantasy book, now it fell just short.
Set in a fantastical land called the Empire, and the protagonist being an eunuch, and having paranormal influences, this book was a mix of a lot of good things. I liked the world building, but still I felt that I missed something, but it wasn't much, and I can't tell you exactly what felt wrong. The names struck me as unnecessarily difficult in the beginning, and reminded me of this comic I saw about a week earlier: Fantasy books & naming And it might be just that, the names, or the fact that I'm a map person, and would have loved to see a map of the Empire, or at least the part where they were.
The story itself was compelling, and interesting, but it ended so suddenly. I understood the reasons and feelings at the ending, but I missed the HEA or even a HFN for the protagonist. I wanted something more for Vasilios. I'm so hoping for a next book and will look forward getting to follow Vasilios's life a bit more.
September 29, 2013
I would like to preface this by admitting that I have not read a lot of m/m romance (maybe one or two over the past several years, I can't even recall any titles). I was aware of a few tropes, however, that made me reluctant to try it again. But I was whining about things as usual the other day, and my partner pretty much put the book in my hand and said, "If you're so bored, read this." And honestly, I'm glad that I did, because it's got me thinking that perhaps I should give m/m more of a chance in the future.
This book takes place in a world that seems to be similar to the Holy Roman Empire. Slavery is legal, and the protagonist Vasilios is a eunuch, a slave captured in war and completely castrated at the age of fifteen. He has overcome adversity within the household he was bought into and is now respected for his skill in overseeing his master's financial and household affairs. I don't recall ever seeing his actual age at the time of the story, but I assumed him to be middle-aged.
He seems to have admired the love interest, Markos, for a long while before they are brought together again in the book. Markos is the Emperor's general and is a tough but kind man, perhaps a few years older than Vasilios. Markos is currently investigating the mysterious disappearance of infants in the city, and when Vasilios realises that his recent nightmares of a child-devouring demon are in fact linked to the disappearances, he goes to Markos to offer his assistance.
While working with Markos and other characters in finding and eradicating the demon, Vasilios also must deal with the harsh realities of living as a slave in a society that affords them no security or protection. There are sudden changes in the household in which he lives that force him to make some dangerous and life-altering decisions. Meanwhile, he and Markos tentatively begin to explore their mutual attraction and desire for a relationship, despite the various barriers between them.
Now for the actual review
Overall, I very much enjoyed this book. It was a quick read, but satisfying. Though it wasn't very long, I was pleased to find that I was consistently wanting to continue and discover what happened next. The pacing was well done and there was always something happening.
Something I found that I liked quite a bit was the fact that neither of the love interests was a young, astonishingly attractive, melodramatic sex god. As amazing as I'm sure such people are, I've found that a) there seem to be a lot of them in romance, particularly what I've read of m/m and b) I do not in fact like to read such characters (at the very least, not more than one per novel!) Vasilios and Markos were older, only reasonably attractive, relatable and appealing in character. They handled situations and their relationship in a mature way, despite obvious emotion. They prioritized and thought of other people and attempted to navigate the various situations with sense and delicacy. In my experience plots, particularly romantic ones, all too often progress due to an astounding lack of common sense on the parts of the characters. It was nice to read about sensible people.
I have mixed feelings about the worldbuilding. I found that it confused me on some points and that I wanted clarification. The society itself was well done and navigable, but the world it was in seemed like an odd mixture of original fantasy world and our own history. I was distracted by things like a mention of Latin: if they have Latin, did they have a Roman Empire? What happened to it, why wasn't it mentioned? Is it an alternative version of our own world, or not? Is there a pattern or reasoning behind the bits and pieces of our own history that appear?
It seemed to me that it was based on our own geography, Christian mythology, and the Holy Roman Empire. But why use the term 'Latin' and not the term 'Roman'? Similarly, the name 'Christ' was used, which implies that there must be Christian history, meaning the crucifixion of Christ due to the persecution of the Jews and gentile Christians by the Romans (otherwise, why would the Christ figure have been considered a criminal, tried and executed?) I would have accepted it if there were a brief explanation of the history included with the glossary in the back of the book. As it was, I found the sudden references jarring in an otherwise self-contained world.
This could just be my own nitpicking, however.
Along a similar vein, I found it interesting that Vasilios interacted with angels and demons despite not personally believing in the religion. I liked that, as otherwise I would have felt like the story was some sort of Christian allegory and I prefer such things to be much subtler.
I had mixed feelings again about the dealings with the demon. He was definitely unpleasant and I was a bit creeped out by him (which is in fact what I want in an evil half-decayed baby-eating monster). His actions were, considering his circumstances and the rules of mythology, very reasonable. But although I liked the way Vasiolos' dreams worked, the demonic entity itself, the settings described, etc., I somehow found the climax oddly disappointing. I honestly cannot figure out why - I don't know what I was expecting, and there was some action on Vasilios' part. Perhaps it felt over too quickly, or I subconsciously expected Vasilios to have more to do with the actual dispensation of the baby-eater.
Most of the characters were, in my opinion, well done, with their own concerns and histories. I would love to know who eventually went out of their way for Vasilios at the end, since it wasn't Markos. A few of the characters I did not like as people, but through no fault of the author.
The relationship between Vasilios and Markos was, as I mentioned, nice and mature. However, there was something a bit strange about it, again something that I can't quite pinpoint. Perhaps it was because of Vasilios' inexperience with romance - he seemed so startled by everything! Nevertheless, I enjoyed it. The intimate scenes were also handled pretty well, and I was pleasantly surprised that they did not follow the traditional route.
And one last thing: I loved the title, but I could not for the life of me figure out how it pertained to the story. I kept expecting to see a theme develop, but I simply didn't find one. Fire was mentioned at the end and briefly elsewhere, but not enough that it made sense to me. Maybe I missed something.
Four out of five for this one. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading some other works by E. E. Ottoman, particularly for their realistic and appealing characters. If LFTB is part of a series (I couldn't tell, but is seems implied by the 'Into Flame' at the top of the book), I will definitely be buying the next volume.
This book takes place in a world that seems to be similar to the Holy Roman Empire. Slavery is legal, and the protagonist Vasilios is a eunuch, a slave captured in war and completely castrated at the age of fifteen. He has overcome adversity within the household he was bought into and is now respected for his skill in overseeing his master's financial and household affairs. I don't recall ever seeing his actual age at the time of the story, but I assumed him to be middle-aged.
He seems to have admired the love interest, Markos, for a long while before they are brought together again in the book. Markos is the Emperor's general and is a tough but kind man, perhaps a few years older than Vasilios. Markos is currently investigating the mysterious disappearance of infants in the city, and when Vasilios realises that his recent nightmares of a child-devouring demon are in fact linked to the disappearances, he goes to Markos to offer his assistance.
While working with Markos and other characters in finding and eradicating the demon, Vasilios also must deal with the harsh realities of living as a slave in a society that affords them no security or protection. There are sudden changes in the household in which he lives that force him to make some dangerous and life-altering decisions. Meanwhile, he and Markos tentatively begin to explore their mutual attraction and desire for a relationship, despite the various barriers between them.
Now for the actual review
Overall, I very much enjoyed this book. It was a quick read, but satisfying. Though it wasn't very long, I was pleased to find that I was consistently wanting to continue and discover what happened next. The pacing was well done and there was always something happening.
Something I found that I liked quite a bit was the fact that neither of the love interests was a young, astonishingly attractive, melodramatic sex god. As amazing as I'm sure such people are, I've found that a) there seem to be a lot of them in romance, particularly what I've read of m/m and b) I do not in fact like to read such characters (at the very least, not more than one per novel!) Vasilios and Markos were older, only reasonably attractive, relatable and appealing in character. They handled situations and their relationship in a mature way, despite obvious emotion. They prioritized and thought of other people and attempted to navigate the various situations with sense and delicacy. In my experience plots, particularly romantic ones, all too often progress due to an astounding lack of common sense on the parts of the characters. It was nice to read about sensible people.
I have mixed feelings about the worldbuilding. I found that it confused me on some points and that I wanted clarification. The society itself was well done and navigable, but the world it was in seemed like an odd mixture of original fantasy world and our own history. I was distracted by things like a mention of Latin: if they have Latin, did they have a Roman Empire? What happened to it, why wasn't it mentioned? Is it an alternative version of our own world, or not? Is there a pattern or reasoning behind the bits and pieces of our own history that appear?
It seemed to me that it was based on our own geography, Christian mythology, and the Holy Roman Empire. But why use the term 'Latin' and not the term 'Roman'? Similarly, the name 'Christ' was used, which implies that there must be Christian history, meaning the crucifixion of Christ due to the persecution of the Jews and gentile Christians by the Romans (otherwise, why would the Christ figure have been considered a criminal, tried and executed?) I would have accepted it if there were a brief explanation of the history included with the glossary in the back of the book. As it was, I found the sudden references jarring in an otherwise self-contained world.
This could just be my own nitpicking, however.
Along a similar vein, I found it interesting that Vasilios interacted with angels and demons despite not personally believing in the religion. I liked that, as otherwise I would have felt like the story was some sort of Christian allegory and I prefer such things to be much subtler.
I had mixed feelings again about the dealings with the demon. He was definitely unpleasant and I was a bit creeped out by him (which is in fact what I want in an evil half-decayed baby-eating monster). His actions were, considering his circumstances and the rules of mythology, very reasonable. But although I liked the way Vasiolos' dreams worked, the demonic entity itself, the settings described, etc., I somehow found the climax oddly disappointing. I honestly cannot figure out why - I don't know what I was expecting, and there was some action on Vasilios' part. Perhaps it felt over too quickly, or I subconsciously expected Vasilios to have more to do with the actual dispensation of the baby-eater.
Most of the characters were, in my opinion, well done, with their own concerns and histories. I would love to know who eventually went out of their way for Vasilios at the end, since it wasn't Markos. A few of the characters I did not like as people, but through no fault of the author.
The relationship between Vasilios and Markos was, as I mentioned, nice and mature. However, there was something a bit strange about it, again something that I can't quite pinpoint. Perhaps it was because of Vasilios' inexperience with romance - he seemed so startled by everything! Nevertheless, I enjoyed it. The intimate scenes were also handled pretty well, and I was pleasantly surprised that they did not follow the traditional route.
And one last thing: I loved the title, but I could not for the life of me figure out how it pertained to the story. I kept expecting to see a theme develop, but I simply didn't find one. Fire was mentioned at the end and briefly elsewhere, but not enough that it made sense to me. Maybe I missed something.
Four out of five for this one. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading some other works by E. E. Ottoman, particularly for their realistic and appealing characters. If LFTB is part of a series (I couldn't tell, but is seems implied by the 'Into Flame' at the top of the book), I will definitely be buying the next volume.
January 29, 2015
I need to think and breathe.
Okay. This book is going towards my "Scared to read" for my personal challenge. It wasn't marked as so, but I hadn't read the blurb, if I had, I would have been too scared to read it. Whatever, it makes sense to me.
I know I typically get something different out of reading something than what everyone else does. I think once all is said and done, this was a beautiful story. It was well written, creating an world I could vividly see and hear and I had no trouble imaging Vasilios walking along or riding into the desert.
However, the world was really hard for me. People as property is like a hard limit, I hate it worse than BDSM. So the slave, jewel, concubine, eunuch, master, selling people, if you want to borrow him--just ask, lashing...I was truly struggling through all of that.
Again, the writing was good, because I experienced that cold knot of dread right along with V. many times. There were so many people I wanted to murder, but I'm not going to get into that.
The story line apart from V. was a disturbing one for sure, and V's dreams were just absolutely horrific. I tried not to think too much about what was happening there. I will say I was a bit surprised at the way it wrapped up.
We meet some interesting characters, Brother Stavros and Arite, I liked Patros as well and Nereida.
I will say, and this is just how I took the book, this is not a love story. There are some romantic elements woven through for sure. This thing between Markos and V. is real, but that's not really what this story is. Their interactions were important and wonderful and a little heartbreaking. It was also...I don't know, Markos was rather transparent with his feelings and frustrations but there is a history there that we are only told of and I often wondered why they were so taken with each other.
For me, this was V.'s journey. I like how at the start of the book he felt he had no choices and this was his fate, and by the end, he felt we make our own fate.V gets a HEA and he deserves it. I think I would have liked some other things to have happened, but that probably wouldn't have been realistic.
Momo should earn a cookie for reading something so far out of her comfort zone!
The rating is hard for me, its a well written story, vivid characters, my enjoyment level, well, no one enjoys reading about other people being so miserable and abused...as an overall journey...I don't know...I'm still thinking on it..
I think its important to go into this not looking for anything specific. If I was looking for a romance, I would be disappointed, if I was looking for a paranormal type thing I would be disappointed, but as a story about V and his life and what he endures and how things play out for him, I think it is worth the read, but definitely tough
Okay. This book is going towards my "Scared to read" for my personal challenge. It wasn't marked as so, but I hadn't read the blurb, if I had, I would have been too scared to read it. Whatever, it makes sense to me.
I know I typically get something different out of reading something than what everyone else does. I think once all is said and done, this was a beautiful story. It was well written, creating an world I could vividly see and hear and I had no trouble imaging Vasilios walking along or riding into the desert.
However, the world was really hard for me. People as property is like a hard limit, I hate it worse than BDSM. So the slave, jewel, concubine, eunuch, master, selling people, if you want to borrow him--just ask, lashing...I was truly struggling through all of that.
Again, the writing was good, because I experienced that cold knot of dread right along with V. many times. There were so many people I wanted to murder, but I'm not going to get into that.
The story line apart from V. was a disturbing one for sure, and V's dreams were just absolutely horrific. I tried not to think too much about what was happening there. I will say I was a bit surprised at the way it wrapped up.
We meet some interesting characters, Brother Stavros and Arite, I liked Patros as well and Nereida.
I will say, and this is just how I took the book, this is not a love story. There are some romantic elements woven through for sure. This thing between Markos and V. is real, but that's not really what this story is. Their interactions were important and wonderful and a little heartbreaking. It was also...I don't know, Markos was rather transparent with his feelings and frustrations but there is a history there that we are only told of and I often wondered why they were so taken with each other.
For me, this was V.'s journey. I like how at the start of the book he felt he had no choices and this was his fate, and by the end, he felt we make our own fate.V gets a HEA and he deserves it. I think I would have liked some other things to have happened, but that probably wouldn't have been realistic.
Momo should earn a cookie for reading something so far out of her comfort zone!
The rating is hard for me, its a well written story, vivid characters, my enjoyment level, well, no one enjoys reading about other people being so miserable and abused...as an overall journey...I don't know...I'm still thinking on it..
I think its important to go into this not looking for anything specific. If I was looking for a romance, I would be disappointed, if I was looking for a paranormal type thing I would be disappointed, but as a story about V and his life and what he endures and how things play out for him, I think it is worth the read, but definitely tough
September 1, 2016
Well, this was disappointing. 1.5 stars worthy.
I assumed this was meant to be an alternate universe or some sort, where society approved of slaves and eunuchs. But some of the masters did all the work in the house, letting the slaves rest (or maybe they just did that with Vasilios only). Can't say how many times I rolled my eyes at having Markos or Nereida take care of Vasilios. Bottom line was partway into the story, I couldn't really understand the dynamics between the characters. I felt cut off and couldn't really enjoy the story.
I couldn't understand how after more than 2 decades of following orders, being calm and collected, Vasilios was losing control, crying and raging against his fate. Once you follow a pattern for some time (especially as long as Vasilios has been a castrato and serving Panagiotis) one develops a routine, it becomes ingrained in you. Yet suddenly, Vasilios was complaining about not speaking up when he was sent to Anthimos. My understanding of social hierarchy was that his status did not allow him that privilege. He only had to do what he was being told.
I didn't understand the part of Vasilios being named 'the Patient'. Was it supposed to make reference to him enduring the rough treatment from Anthimos? If that's the case, then it's soooo corny. Otherwise, that was just added to the story without any value to the story as it was never brought up again.
What exactly made Markos fall in love with Vasilios when they rarely saw each other? Towards the end of the book the author seems to realise there was no basis for Markos to have any feelings for Vasilios and had Markos make some comments that he had noticed Vasilios for some time.
I was thrown off course by the whole religious vibe throughout the story, mixing Christian elements with other religions and just throwing that combo over the story. For that fact, it was somewhat off-putting to focus one moment on supernatural elements and finding a way to kill the demon, then the next moment focus on Vasilios’ abuse and hard living. It was like the author couldn't decide which plot line to focus on. And just to be bitchy all the way, I saw no reason why Vasilios had to be an eunuch. His social standing could have been added to the overall hierarchy without actually cutting off genitals. The last few pages of the book where Markos and Vasilios become intimate were right down ludicrous. Markos did not enjoy penetration, Vasilios didn't either and also disliked blowjobs. So, it pretty much summarised the whole book, where there had been only a platonic, romantic notion between the two. I really didn't care to read about them rubbing against each other.
So yeah, complete opposite to what I was expecting. This gets a very low rating from me.
I assumed this was meant to be an alternate universe or some sort, where society approved of slaves and eunuchs. But some of the masters did all the work in the house, letting the slaves rest (or maybe they just did that with Vasilios only). Can't say how many times I rolled my eyes at having Markos or Nereida take care of Vasilios. Bottom line was partway into the story, I couldn't really understand the dynamics between the characters. I felt cut off and couldn't really enjoy the story.
I couldn't understand how after more than 2 decades of following orders, being calm and collected, Vasilios was losing control, crying and raging against his fate. Once you follow a pattern for some time (especially as long as Vasilios has been a castrato and serving Panagiotis) one develops a routine, it becomes ingrained in you. Yet suddenly, Vasilios was complaining about not speaking up when he was sent to Anthimos. My understanding of social hierarchy was that his status did not allow him that privilege. He only had to do what he was being told.
I didn't understand the part of Vasilios being named 'the Patient'. Was it supposed to make reference to him enduring the rough treatment from Anthimos? If that's the case, then it's soooo corny. Otherwise, that was just added to the story without any value to the story as it was never brought up again.
What exactly made Markos fall in love with Vasilios when they rarely saw each other? Towards the end of the book the author seems to realise there was no basis for Markos to have any feelings for Vasilios and had Markos make some comments that he had noticed Vasilios for some time.
I was thrown off course by the whole religious vibe throughout the story, mixing Christian elements with other religions and just throwing that combo over the story. For that fact, it was somewhat off-putting to focus one moment on supernatural elements and finding a way to kill the demon, then the next moment focus on Vasilios’ abuse and hard living. It was like the author couldn't decide which plot line to focus on. And just to be bitchy all the way, I saw no reason why Vasilios had to be an eunuch. His social standing could have been added to the overall hierarchy without actually cutting off genitals. The last few pages of the book where Markos and Vasilios become intimate were right down ludicrous. Markos did not enjoy penetration, Vasilios didn't either and also disliked blowjobs. So, it pretty much summarised the whole book, where there had been only a platonic, romantic notion between the two. I really didn't care to read about them rubbing against each other.
So yeah, complete opposite to what I was expecting. This gets a very low rating from me.
September 5, 2015
I guess I'd have to call this a historical paranormal fantasy although the setting was actually a fictional world similar to the Roman Empire. The story's main character, Vasilios Eleni, is a eunuch. He wasn't born a slave, though, but was captured during his adolescence and castrated. He was then trained as a slave, forced to serve both as a household servant and sexual slave (like a concubine). The castration process was quite extreme. Not only were the testicles removed, but the entire penis as well.
I really enjoyed the story and cared deeply for the main character. Some of the events in the story did confuse me, though. But I think this was due mainly to cultural and legal issues within this world. There was also a paranormal element to the story, and if the reader is incapable of buying into that, the plot is not plausible. I guess I should also mention that one of the characters is half-human, half-snake. Too bad he was a monk, though. I'd have enjoyed a sex scene with that character. LOL. Would have been interesting, anyway.
Overall I found the story quite fascinating. The world building was very complex. I particularly found it interesting that Christianity was a part of this world. It was curious that the Church sanctioned sexual relations between two men as long as one was a eunuch. I guess once man has lost his penis, he's no longer viewed as being male according to their doctrine.
I'd love to read more stories set in this world, particularly with a protagonist who was a jewel (a eunuch who was castrated prior to adolescence). I'd also like to see a follow-up to this story so I can find out what becomes of Vasilios and Markos. I also want to know who it was who paid for Vasilios's freedom.
This is the first book I've read by this author, but hopefully not the last. It was definitely a worthwhile read.
I really enjoyed the story and cared deeply for the main character. Some of the events in the story did confuse me, though. But I think this was due mainly to cultural and legal issues within this world. There was also a paranormal element to the story, and if the reader is incapable of buying into that, the plot is not plausible. I guess I should also mention that one of the characters is half-human, half-snake. Too bad he was a monk, though. I'd have enjoyed a sex scene with that character. LOL. Would have been interesting, anyway.
Overall I found the story quite fascinating. The world building was very complex. I particularly found it interesting that Christianity was a part of this world. It was curious that the Church sanctioned sexual relations between two men as long as one was a eunuch. I guess once man has lost his penis, he's no longer viewed as being male according to their doctrine.
I'd love to read more stories set in this world, particularly with a protagonist who was a jewel (a eunuch who was castrated prior to adolescence). I'd also like to see a follow-up to this story so I can find out what becomes of Vasilios and Markos. I also want to know who it was who paid for Vasilios's freedom.
This is the first book I've read by this author, but hopefully not the last. It was definitely a worthwhile read.
March 10, 2015
This novel was doing a few different things. First, there's a Byzantine-esque fantasy world, and all the important characters in the story are eunuch household servants to high-status people. Then, there's haunted dreams, a demon, and a monk who is half-snake. Finally this is capped by eunuch-on-male erotica. More about the character of Vasilios (with spoilers) on Disruptive Dissertation.
November 2, 2013
A pretty good book. Not what I was expecting, but the world building was great. Unfortunately, the ending felt a little flat for me because I feel the MCs personal matters haven't been resolved and I was left with questions that need answering.
Anyway, great book for anyone who wants a solid historical paranormal/fantasy without the romance overpowering everything else.
Anyway, great book for anyone who wants a solid historical paranormal/fantasy without the romance overpowering everything else.
March 13, 2014
Actually, three and a half stars. I didn't like the sex scenes at the end. It just seemed awkward and pointless.
April 21, 2014
The formula is about 60% romance / 40% fantasy, for whatever that means to you.
February 4, 2018
Sigh. Let's see.
The world building starts off weak; I was sure for a long time that the story took place in some shadowy, confusing fantasy world, but then it was made clear that the dominant religion is christianity and I was completely thrown off. I spent a ridiculous ammount of time then trying to figure out if the author actually used a historical setting, but things don't quite fit. I looks like someone took big chunks of a bunch of real cultures and thew them into a mixer, and didn't do a great job at that.
About the presence of chistianity, it doesn't bother me to have a religion featured in a book, or to have it being an important part of the plot or the characters, but it does bother me to feel like I've been through a preaching. And that's how I feel right now, like someone has tried to lecture me on how much god loves me. Not enjoyable.
Now, the plot. It fell flat to me. I believe it could have been better with a bit more horror. I was told time and time again about how terrifying these dreams are, but I didn't feel that terror. There was one scene (the one in the bath) that was fairly creepy, and for a second there I was interested. But then nothing like that ever happened again and I have to wonder, what was that scene exactly? (Besides a plot device to force Vasilios to give the next step and set shit in motion, of course). There was also this unsettling feeling Vasilios had at one point of being watched, it was promissing, but again it ends up going nowhere and meaning nothing. And those are just two examples of the many things that were mentioned and never followed through or explained. Another: who is that Malachi guy? No clue (besides a plot device to allow Vasilios to move and stay involved in the story, of course).
The romance is okay. It appears to have started some undetermined time before the beggining of the story, which I don't like. It was kind of a mistery to me for a while what really drove these characters together. This does get sort of explained, surprisingly enough, just not very satisfyingly (to me). Besides that, the relationship developement is fine. The sex, though, is really really great. Really great. I had pretty low expectations, to be honest, but I was so wrong. Loved it, favorite part of the book.
About the characters, they're not bad, they're not extremely believable either. The master/slave relationships are kinda... shaky. Although I did like the depiction of Panagiotis as The Good Slaver, how at first Vasilios thinks only wonders of him, but then slowly lets us see him for who he really is. Vasilios could have been an amazing character if the writer didn't do one of the worst things a writer can do, in my opinion: completely erease all traces of trauma. This guy was forced to fight in a war as a child, separated from his family (all of them likely dead), enslaved, horribly mutilated, raped, beatten, owned and dehumanized for twenty years, whipped almost to death, attacked by a monster he saw eat children alive... he's fine now though, don't worry. Yeah, no.
So in short, I didn't like it. Honestly, I think with only a few tweaks I would, but as it is I don't.
The world building starts off weak; I was sure for a long time that the story took place in some shadowy, confusing fantasy world, but then it was made clear that the dominant religion is christianity and I was completely thrown off. I spent a ridiculous ammount of time then trying to figure out if the author actually used a historical setting, but things don't quite fit. I looks like someone took big chunks of a bunch of real cultures and thew them into a mixer, and didn't do a great job at that.
About the presence of chistianity, it doesn't bother me to have a religion featured in a book, or to have it being an important part of the plot or the characters, but it does bother me to feel like I've been through a preaching. And that's how I feel right now, like someone has tried to lecture me on how much god loves me. Not enjoyable.
Now, the plot. It fell flat to me. I believe it could have been better with a bit more horror. I was told time and time again about how terrifying these dreams are, but I didn't feel that terror. There was one scene (the one in the bath) that was fairly creepy, and for a second there I was interested. But then nothing like that ever happened again and I have to wonder, what was that scene exactly? (Besides a plot device to force Vasilios to give the next step and set shit in motion, of course). There was also this unsettling feeling Vasilios had at one point of being watched, it was promissing, but again it ends up going nowhere and meaning nothing. And those are just two examples of the many things that were mentioned and never followed through or explained. Another: who is that Malachi guy? No clue (besides a plot device to allow Vasilios to move and stay involved in the story, of course).
The romance is okay. It appears to have started some undetermined time before the beggining of the story, which I don't like. It was kind of a mistery to me for a while what really drove these characters together. This does get sort of explained, surprisingly enough, just not very satisfyingly (to me). Besides that, the relationship developement is fine. The sex, though, is really really great. Really great. I had pretty low expectations, to be honest, but I was so wrong. Loved it, favorite part of the book.
About the characters, they're not bad, they're not extremely believable either. The master/slave relationships are kinda... shaky. Although I did like the depiction of Panagiotis as The Good Slaver, how at first Vasilios thinks only wonders of him, but then slowly lets us see him for who he really is. Vasilios could have been an amazing character if the writer didn't do one of the worst things a writer can do, in my opinion: completely erease all traces of trauma. This guy was forced to fight in a war as a child, separated from his family (all of them likely dead), enslaved, horribly mutilated, raped, beatten, owned and dehumanized for twenty years, whipped almost to death, attacked by a monster he saw eat children alive... he's fine now though, don't worry. Yeah, no.
So in short, I didn't like it. Honestly, I think with only a few tweaks I would, but as it is I don't.
December 31, 2021
The story was quite good, really, but the romance part rather disappointing. It could go without it and would be a better book. Romance is awkward at best, and the sex scene awkward as hell :D Ruined the end of the book. Sorry, but the author should take the A.J.DEMAS path. Her "Sword dance" series, beautiful and well-balanced, with eunuch person also as MC.
Yes, there is a way to have good approach to sex scenes with eunuch, it really is.
Yes, there is a way to have good approach to sex scenes with eunuch, it really is.
November 4, 2025
I enjoyed this book. It is set in a fantasy world with influences from ancient Rome and Greece, and a touch of Christianity—but not too much. The tone leans more toward horror/paranormal than romance. I liked the developing relationship between Vasilios and Markos.
May 26, 2014
It could have been a lot better than it ended up being. Which is a damn shame.
The setting is pseudo-historical, with bits and pieces that don't quite seem to fit, but since it also appears to be fantasy later on, I'll let that go.
It took me a while to get into it. Luckily, it had a few quite evocative scenes early on that got me wanting to know more about Vasilios.
I think, throughout it all, Vasilios' character was very engaging. He's active, but passive, all at once, even, and so lucid that you don't excatly think he's a stupid idiot for making the choices he does.
I snickered a bit when it was revealed he was cut later in his life, so more manly looking and not so eunuch-y in appearance cuz clearly that's the author's modern-day sensibilities speaking or something, and it was a bit of odd OOC moment for me. I mean, the author does spin it as making him therefore not so valuable for his looks or whatever, but clearly he's got no problems drawing "suitors" where it matters still, so *shrug w/e. I think the main problem with that is it wasn't tied to anything else. Even a little casual cruelty from
After the resolution, though, things seemed rather...rote. I think the author tried to work it as if there was some sort of coming-of-age with Vasilios, but...that didn't really happen. He's still kind of the same as he was before. It made the ending rather kitsch-y, imo.
Actually, the entire latter part, after the resolution of the main conflict, was just...patently bizarre. I think it was the modern-day propriety exhibited by the characters. Whereas Vasilios was long-suffering before, he became a puppet, to be moved at the author's whim, and Markos, too, actually.
The sex was weird. There's no other word for it. I mean, sex usually is weird already, but this was just bizarre.
And then they start talking about Markos' kid. "'Let us not talk about Isaias any futher'" Oh hell yes stop it stop talking about his kid while you're having a sexy dinner scene.
It was good-ish, but then the falling action/wrapping-it-up section rendered it meh. There were stupid things all around (like if he's a really great scribe and can do sums really well and run households and shit, why does he despair about not having any marketable skills? Like did he conveniently forget he had all those skills and his mind skittered away from the idea of becoming a prostitute, so all he was left with was pointless despair? <-- author's fault; trying to generate further drama/tension after the drama was over).
Also, basically every interaction with him and Markos. Like wow, clearly this is modern-day propriety coloring everything, and it makes it seem OOC and anachronistic, as it were.
The ending was inopportune. It ended in a stupid place. It just...ended. Just cut off. Just like that. and I also thought the characterization was off, and since it landed on that note, it screwed up everything else, too.
The setting is pseudo-historical, with bits and pieces that don't quite seem to fit, but since it also appears to be fantasy later on, I'll let that go.
It took me a while to get into it. Luckily, it had a few quite evocative scenes early on that got me wanting to know more about Vasilios.
I think, throughout it all, Vasilios' character was very engaging. He's active, but passive, all at once, even, and so lucid that you don't excatly think he's a stupid idiot for making the choices he does.
I snickered a bit when it was revealed he was cut later in his life, so more manly looking and not so eunuch-y in appearance cuz clearly that's the author's modern-day sensibilities speaking or something, and it was a bit of odd OOC moment for me. I mean, the author does spin it as making him therefore not so valuable for his looks or whatever, but clearly he's got no problems drawing "suitors" where it matters still, so *shrug w/e. I think the main problem with that is it wasn't tied to anything else. Even a little casual cruelty from
After the resolution, though, things seemed rather...rote. I think the author tried to work it as if there was some sort of coming-of-age with Vasilios, but...that didn't really happen. He's still kind of the same as he was before. It made the ending rather kitsch-y, imo.
Actually, the entire latter part, after the resolution of the main conflict, was just...patently bizarre. I think it was the modern-day propriety exhibited by the characters. Whereas Vasilios was long-suffering before, he became a puppet, to be moved at the author's whim, and Markos, too, actually.
The sex was weird. There's no other word for it. I mean, sex usually is weird already, but this was just bizarre.
And then they start talking about Markos' kid. "'Let us not talk about Isaias any futher'" Oh hell yes stop it stop talking about his kid while you're having a sexy dinner scene.
It was good-ish, but then the falling action/wrapping-it-up section rendered it meh. There were stupid things all around (like if he's a really great scribe and can do sums really well and run households and shit, why does he despair about not having any marketable skills? Like did he conveniently forget he had all those skills and his mind skittered away from the idea of becoming a prostitute, so all he was left with was pointless despair? <-- author's fault; trying to generate further drama/tension after the drama was over).
Also, basically every interaction with him and Markos. Like wow, clearly this is modern-day propriety coloring everything, and it makes it seem OOC and anachronistic, as it were.
The ending was inopportune. It ended in a stupid place. It just...ended. Just cut off. Just like that. and I also thought the characterization was off, and since it landed on that note, it screwed up everything else, too.
November 8, 2013
Excellent story. I felt that one of the strengths of this book is that it was about Vasilios and his life and his emotional evolution (I hesitate to say growth because that seems to imply immaturity which is definitely not a word I would apply to Vasilios and what he went through was more of a metamorphosis, maybe?) with the investigation secondary to that and the romance almost in the background but constantly threaded through the story holding it together.
A variety of interesting characters some of whom didn't have a lot page space but still had a great impact on the story. I really liked that Markos saw Vasilios as an equal and wanted to be with him, but only when Vasilios was able to say no, which, as a slave, even if Markos told him it was okay to say no, he could never be sure that he would. In return, Vasilios refused to think of freedom because he knew there was no way for him to escape from his current masters. He was too valuable for them to be willing to sell him and if he was able to save up the money to free himself, they were well within their rights to take it away from him before he could. So he didn't want to be given that hope. That is how he survived and thrived all these years, by doing the best he could and not thinking of what couldn't be.
A variety of interesting characters some of whom didn't have a lot page space but still had a great impact on the story. I really liked that Markos saw Vasilios as an equal and wanted to be with him, but only when Vasilios was able to say no, which, as a slave, even if Markos told him it was okay to say no, he could never be sure that he would. In return, Vasilios refused to think of freedom because he knew there was no way for him to escape from his current masters. He was too valuable for them to be willing to sell him and if he was able to save up the money to free himself, they were well within their rights to take it away from him before he could. So he didn't want to be given that hope. That is how he survived and thrived all these years, by doing the best he could and not thinking of what couldn't be.
February 26, 2014
3 Hearts
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
Okay so, I start reading this book and I had to force myself to put it down last night and get some sleep (yeah, I do that) only to pick it up first thing in the morning. That said, when it ended I was left with the incredulous look and a thought spinning in my head drilling over and over “was that it?” and turning the next page just in case I missed something. The happily for now ending and the not so satisfactory closure spoiled the entire read for me.
Starting from the beginning though, I was entranced with this book. It had a Greek air on almost everything in the story and naturally, I was drawn to it. The names, the place where it’s set (The Empire), the society that oddly enough resembles so much ancient Greece, everything were intriguing and had a special allure. I did not like the religious stuff at all, but they hardly made it into my consciousness. The demon hunting, the bishops and Church politics, the monasteries and believers, they were all very well woven into the plot and place, and I believe looking at the story now that it’s finished that it would have not been as good without it anyway...
Read the entire review here: http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.co...
Thommie
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
Okay so, I start reading this book and I had to force myself to put it down last night and get some sleep (yeah, I do that) only to pick it up first thing in the morning. That said, when it ended I was left with the incredulous look and a thought spinning in my head drilling over and over “was that it?” and turning the next page just in case I missed something. The happily for now ending and the not so satisfactory closure spoiled the entire read for me.
Starting from the beginning though, I was entranced with this book. It had a Greek air on almost everything in the story and naturally, I was drawn to it. The names, the place where it’s set (The Empire), the society that oddly enough resembles so much ancient Greece, everything were intriguing and had a special allure. I did not like the religious stuff at all, but they hardly made it into my consciousness. The demon hunting, the bishops and Church politics, the monasteries and believers, they were all very well woven into the plot and place, and I believe looking at the story now that it’s finished that it would have not been as good without it anyway...
Read the entire review here: http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.co...
Thommie
July 23, 2015
Christian mythology set in the Holy Roman Empire. The mythology is done fairly creatively, and the use of a eunuch is creative. But the story is paced very poorly, with a somewhat interesting beginning, a loooooong slooooow middle, and speeding up again toward the end.
As slavefic you'll be disappointed to know that there is no sex to speak of (two scenes, consensual, toward the end) . And the overall theme seems to be "slaves have choices" which is an odd choice even given that this is supposed to be a multi-tiered hierarchy and Vasilios a high ranked slave. But when he is owned by a cruel master, he basically just leaves and decides not to go back. So whether this is an accurate depiction of slavery in the Holy Roman Empire or not, it isn't slavery as most of us understand it. And at the end, God decides he's worthy and rescues him from slavery (or that's the underlying premise). And they lived happily ever after. This book is based on "slavery light," in which one has no residual trauma from being captured and castrated at 15, you can just avoid the people who don't treat you well, good slaves are set free, and there is no stigma to being a former slave, even a castrated former slave who is not considered male.
As slavefic you'll be disappointed to know that there is no sex to speak of (two scenes, consensual, toward the end) . And the overall theme seems to be "slaves have choices" which is an odd choice even given that this is supposed to be a multi-tiered hierarchy and Vasilios a high ranked slave. But when he is owned by a cruel master, he basically just leaves and decides not to go back. So whether this is an accurate depiction of slavery in the Holy Roman Empire or not, it isn't slavery as most of us understand it. And at the end, God decides he's worthy and rescues him from slavery (or that's the underlying premise). And they lived happily ever after. This book is based on "slavery light," in which one has no residual trauma from being captured and castrated at 15, you can just avoid the people who don't treat you well, good slaves are set free, and there is no stigma to being a former slave, even a castrated former slave who is not considered male.
September 26, 2013
First time I've read this author, and I thought it was a very interesting story. The premise of a slave who is also a eunuch, and how he comes to terms with his elevated yet limited place in society was rather fascinating.
I was very much pulled into this alternate universe, and it read like a historical, religious quest, adventure, with a touch of paranormal...sitting here trying to figure out where I would place it in my reading experience.
I did find I came to relate to the MC's struggles, and was a lttle frustrated with the society, and what was done, and/or allowed to be done to him as an object to be owned.
I also liked the way he treated everyone he met with such respect, but most certainly would have had a hard time keeping my mouth closed or not standing up for myself or fighting/struggling rather than thinking things were going to be inevitible when certain events came to pass.
I actually felt my heart in my throat when events made a major change for him, and basically, to me, this story was more bittersweet, then an HEA. But definitely a new idea, to me at least, on an old practice in society.
I was very much pulled into this alternate universe, and it read like a historical, religious quest, adventure, with a touch of paranormal...sitting here trying to figure out where I would place it in my reading experience.
I did find I came to relate to the MC's struggles, and was a lttle frustrated with the society, and what was done, and/or allowed to be done to him as an object to be owned.
I also liked the way he treated everyone he met with such respect, but most certainly would have had a hard time keeping my mouth closed or not standing up for myself or fighting/struggling rather than thinking things were going to be inevitible when certain events came to pass.
I actually felt my heart in my throat when events made a major change for him, and basically, to me, this story was more bittersweet, then an HEA. But definitely a new idea, to me at least, on an old practice in society.
February 13, 2021
3.5 stars. Enjoyable historical paranormal fantasy. Vasilios is a great character and this is really his story of finding his place in the world. He's an owned eunuch, well into his thirties, who's starting to wonder about his future. The writing is solid and the story moves along steadily and quietly and matter-of-factly. The world is vivid and well-developed and the story is interesting, though I didn't feel very emotionally connected to this book. This isn't really a romance, but there's a really nice, tender love story. It's always good to see an older love interest and General Markos is a dashing, grey-haired war hero who is quite delightful. I really enjoy E.E. Ottoman's books. His writing is lovely and detailed and their characters are always well-drawn and have a lot of depth. This story didn't grab me quite as much as some of Ottoman's other books, but I still enjoyed it.
November 25, 2014
Like Fire Through Bone isn't a traditional romance. It's a fascinating historical paranormal mystery, with angels and demons of the very biblical sort. But along with baby-eating Old Ones and secondary characters that absolutely rocked, there's also a very sweet love between General Markos and the seeing eunuch Vasilios. I am so glad that the author didn't shy away from the sex scenes when we finally came down to it, even with Vasilios being as he is. It made the story that much more satisfying and real.
April 1, 2016
An fantasy with heavy Egyptian dynasty influence on the setting.
I've read and enjoyed quite a few books where the protagonist is an eunuch of high standing. It's a popular trope. This one is of that ilk.
It's enjoyable and intriguing especially in terms of religion vs demons and creatures that seem undefinable.
I thought the "romance" was rather trite. When that subplot took center stage, it felt like I was reading a poorly written bodice ripper romance.
I've read and enjoyed quite a few books where the protagonist is an eunuch of high standing. It's a popular trope. This one is of that ilk.
It's enjoyable and intriguing especially in terms of religion vs demons and creatures that seem undefinable.
I thought the "romance" was rather trite. When that subplot took center stage, it felt like I was reading a poorly written bodice ripper romance.
December 21, 2014
My recommendation from this weeks's reading:
https://elingregory.wordpress.com/201...
https://elingregory.wordpress.com/201...
I read this book almost at a sitting and enjoyed every word of it. Very highly recommended. If you want a standard romance structure you might be a little disappointed in the slightly ambiguous ending but for me it was perfect for Vasilios and an ending that is good for the character has to be better than one that panders to readers tastes doesn’t it? Get it, read it. I’m sure you’ll love it as much as I did.
May 29, 2016
10 stars, fantastic story, loved every moment, and couldn't put it down. Satisfying and fascinating.
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