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Seducing the Sorcerer
Homeless and jobless, Fenn Todd has nearly run out of hope. All he has left is his longing for horses and the strength of his own two hands. But when he’s cheated into accepting a very ugly sackcloth horse, he’s catapulted into a world of magic, politics and desire.
Fenn’s invited to stay at the black tower, home of the most terrifying man in the realm: Morgrim, the court sorcerer. Morgrim has a reputation as a scheming villain, but he seems surprisingly charming—and sexy—and Fenn falls hard for him.
However, nothing is as it seems and everyone at the tower is lying about something. Beset by evil hexes, violent political intrigue and a horse that eats eiderdowns, Fenn must make the hardest choices of his life.
Can a plain man like Fenn ever find true love with a scheming sorcerer?
Fenn’s invited to stay at the black tower, home of the most terrifying man in the realm: Morgrim, the court sorcerer. Morgrim has a reputation as a scheming villain, but he seems surprisingly charming—and sexy—and Fenn falls hard for him.
However, nothing is as it seems and everyone at the tower is lying about something. Beset by evil hexes, violent political intrigue and a horse that eats eiderdowns, Fenn must make the hardest choices of his life.
Can a plain man like Fenn ever find true love with a scheming sorcerer?
250 pages, Paperback
First published September 23, 2021
54 people are currently reading
1363 people want to read
About the author
Lee Welch
7 books382 followersLee Welch lives in a house on a hill in the windiest city in the world – Wellington, New Zealand. She shares the house with her partner, two kids and two cats. Hedgehogs visit occasionally, which makes her happy.
Lee wrote her first novel (an unpublished pastiche of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) when she was seven and has been writing on-and-off ever since.
She studied ancient history at Auckland University and creative writing at Birkbeck, University of London.
To pay the bills, she works as an editor and business communications adviser for a large government department. By night, she writes escapist fantasies, mostly m/m romances, usually with magic in them. She likes crumbling mansions, cavernous libraries, mysterious curses and handsome magicians.
When she’s not writing, she reads, especially fantasy, history, romance, biography, folklore, comics, and children’s books. Her favourite authors include Ursula Le Guin, Peter Ackroyd and KJ Charles.
Lee wrote her first novel (an unpublished pastiche of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) when she was seven and has been writing on-and-off ever since.
She studied ancient history at Auckland University and creative writing at Birkbeck, University of London.
To pay the bills, she works as an editor and business communications adviser for a large government department. By night, she writes escapist fantasies, mostly m/m romances, usually with magic in them. She likes crumbling mansions, cavernous libraries, mysterious curses and handsome magicians.
When she’s not writing, she reads, especially fantasy, history, romance, biography, folklore, comics, and children’s books. Her favourite authors include Ursula Le Guin, Peter Ackroyd and KJ Charles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 341 reviews
September 29, 2024
First half: 5 stars
Second half: 1 star
I adored this book (until I didn’t). What a charmer it was at first — particularly for anyone who knows and loves horses. If you’re a horseperson, you’ll find so much humor here, mostly in the thought processes of Fenn, a very-down-on-his-luck former groom. That man knows horses, and it was hilarious to watch him grapple with a horse of a most unusual color, one that challenged him to his very limits.
I laughed, I cried, I was smitten. With a great start like that, what could go wrong?
I posted this comment to my friends in our buddy read: “This book is one of those rare ones where I’m not sure I even want a romance. It’s plenty interesting to me without. I hope the romance doesn’t end up weakening it, if you know what I mean.”
F L W
As in, Famous Last Words.
Ugh, I don’t even want to talk about it.
Okay, it’s like this. Imagine… and I’m going to *change the details* here, so none of this will be spoilery… but imagine you’re reading a charming fantasy book. It’s got just enough of an edge to it to jerk a tear or two, but overall it’s sweet and magical and heartwarming and funny, and then it’s time for some golden showers. And maybe some scat play.
Huh?
Like I said, that’s not exactly what’s in this book. But it might give you a sense of how jarring it was when the sex scenes commenced and suddenly it’s all . At least that’s what I’ve BEEN TOLD is in those sex scenes. I got so creeped out by the weird vibes during their foreplay that I skipped right over the sex scenes. Not even skimmed. Skipped.
For context, all 4 of us in the BR (waiting eagerly to hear from the 5th — *update! The 5th has spoken! And sure enough, the story imploded for her at the same place it did for the rest of us, and for the same reasons*), including those who enjoy reading about BDSM, were weirded out. That aspect felt so awkwardly shoehorned in. Especially the long didactic discourse about rules and consent that surely — surely — could have been summed up or implied or gracefully elided or or or — or anything other than the boring and weird clunktastic oddity it was. I was WTF-ing pretty hard. Never have I so longed for fade-to-black. Like, literally never.
And then came It's-80%-And-I'm-Following-A-Formula-So-Now-It's-Breakup-Time. We *had* (past tense) two 40-something guys who excelled at talking things out rather than pitching hissy fits. They'd talked (and talked and talked and talked and talked) about their sexual preferences and kinky fantasies and indulged in lengthy post-coital analyses that seemed totes unlikely to me, but hey what do I know. But oops, their characterization was inconvenient to the formula, so it got thrown out the window.
That's when I DNF'd.
I got lured back in by a buddy who was sure one scene late in the book would appeal to me... and she was right. It was cute and hilarious, very much in the spirit of the first half of the book. So I managed to finish after all, practicing self-care by skipping the sex scenes.
(5 stars for 50%) + (1 star for 50%) = 3 stars for the average, right? Yeah but no. It left me with a very 2-star feeling, so 2 stars it is.
Second half: 1 star
I adored this book (until I didn’t). What a charmer it was at first — particularly for anyone who knows and loves horses. If you’re a horseperson, you’ll find so much humor here, mostly in the thought processes of Fenn, a very-down-on-his-luck former groom. That man knows horses, and it was hilarious to watch him grapple with a horse of a most unusual color, one that challenged him to his very limits.
I laughed, I cried, I was smitten. With a great start like that, what could go wrong?
I posted this comment to my friends in our buddy read: “This book is one of those rare ones where I’m not sure I even want a romance. It’s plenty interesting to me without. I hope the romance doesn’t end up weakening it, if you know what I mean.”
F L W
As in, Famous Last Words.
Ugh, I don’t even want to talk about it.
Okay, it’s like this. Imagine… and I’m going to *change the details* here, so none of this will be spoilery… but imagine you’re reading a charming fantasy book. It’s got just enough of an edge to it to jerk a tear or two, but overall it’s sweet and magical and heartwarming and funny, and then it’s time for some golden showers. And maybe some scat play.
Huh?
Like I said, that’s not exactly what’s in this book. But it might give you a sense of how jarring it was when the sex scenes commenced and suddenly it’s all . At least that’s what I’ve BEEN TOLD is in those sex scenes. I got so creeped out by the weird vibes during their foreplay that I skipped right over the sex scenes. Not even skimmed. Skipped.
For context, all 4 of us in the BR (waiting eagerly to hear from the 5th — *update! The 5th has spoken! And sure enough, the story imploded for her at the same place it did for the rest of us, and for the same reasons*), including those who enjoy reading about BDSM, were weirded out. That aspect felt so awkwardly shoehorned in. Especially the long didactic discourse about rules and consent that surely — surely — could have been summed up or implied or gracefully elided or or or — or anything other than the boring and weird clunktastic oddity it was. I was WTF-ing pretty hard. Never have I so longed for fade-to-black. Like, literally never.
And then came It's-80%-And-I'm-Following-A-Formula-So-Now-It's-Breakup-Time. We *had* (past tense) two 40-something guys who excelled at talking things out rather than pitching hissy fits. They'd talked (and talked and talked and talked and talked) about their sexual preferences and kinky fantasies and indulged in lengthy post-coital analyses that seemed totes unlikely to me, but hey what do I know. But oops, their characterization was inconvenient to the formula, so it got thrown out the window.
That's when I DNF'd.
I got lured back in by a buddy who was sure one scene late in the book would appeal to me... and she was right. It was cute and hilarious, very much in the spirit of the first half of the book. So I managed to finish after all, practicing self-care by skipping the sex scenes.
(5 stars for 50%) + (1 star for 50%) = 3 stars for the average, right? Yeah but no. It left me with a very 2-star feeling, so 2 stars it is.
November 10, 2021
4 Hearts
I think I’m safe to say that I’m not the only one who has been waiting impatiently for Welch’s next creation and overall, I wasn’t disappointed.
What the blurb doesn’t tell you is that this is really rich in world building. As with Salt Magic, Skin Magic, the atmosphere is weighted and full of portent. This realm is steeped in magic (though it’s sadly dwindling), with a history of war, current political machinations, and a drought that is affecting everyone.
Our hero Fenn has not had it easy, and his story is quite heartbreaking. He doesn’t want a handout or anyone’s pity but life has been quite unfair. It has shaped who he has become and of course, every decision and reaction that befalls him for better or for worse is influenced by his past. When Fenn unexpectedly is confronted with the kingdom’s most intimidating, scariest court sorcerer, he doesn’t know whether to run for the hills screaming or at least partake in the small comforts offered before being blasted into oblivion.
Admittedly, this starts off at an extremely unhurried pace, making me wonder often if there would be any more to this tale than the daily goings on of Fenn and Morgrim eyeballing each other and not having conversations. However, at the halfway point (be patient dear reader) things literally take off and revelations abound and lives are endangered and a kingdom hangs on the precipice of annihilation. Well…. mild dramatics aside, the potential for dire consequences is a real threat, and Fenn must believe in himself and in Morgrim, should they ever have the chance of making things right with their country and with each other.
So again, beware of very leisurely beginnings. This also had a lot of self-flagellation from both Fenn and Morgrim, a lot of hurt comfort all intermixed with a bit of D/s kink that may or may not be your thing (it sorta kinda wasn’t for me). On the other hand, be prepared to be charmed by a gruff gentle giant with a tender heart who only wants to believe in hope again, a misunderstood sorcerer with always good intentions, and magically created stubborn silly horses who can fly. Don’t forget lots of subterfuge, spies and bad guys, kidnapping and double crosses, all interspersed with a slow brewing romance with a deeply satisfying conclusion.
Despite having enjoyed Salt Magic, Skin Magic and Mended with Gold more, there’s no doubt Welch can write. She definitely can create. I would not say no should she deign our presence with more of her imagination and skill. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait long, but I’m okay with being patient no matter what.
Thank you to the author for a copy in exchange for an honest review
I think I’m safe to say that I’m not the only one who has been waiting impatiently for Welch’s next creation and overall, I wasn’t disappointed.
What the blurb doesn’t tell you is that this is really rich in world building. As with Salt Magic, Skin Magic, the atmosphere is weighted and full of portent. This realm is steeped in magic (though it’s sadly dwindling), with a history of war, current political machinations, and a drought that is affecting everyone.
Our hero Fenn has not had it easy, and his story is quite heartbreaking. He doesn’t want a handout or anyone’s pity but life has been quite unfair. It has shaped who he has become and of course, every decision and reaction that befalls him for better or for worse is influenced by his past. When Fenn unexpectedly is confronted with the kingdom’s most intimidating, scariest court sorcerer, he doesn’t know whether to run for the hills screaming or at least partake in the small comforts offered before being blasted into oblivion.
Admittedly, this starts off at an extremely unhurried pace, making me wonder often if there would be any more to this tale than the daily goings on of Fenn and Morgrim eyeballing each other and not having conversations. However, at the halfway point (be patient dear reader) things literally take off and revelations abound and lives are endangered and a kingdom hangs on the precipice of annihilation. Well…. mild dramatics aside, the potential for dire consequences is a real threat, and Fenn must believe in himself and in Morgrim, should they ever have the chance of making things right with their country and with each other.
So again, beware of very leisurely beginnings. This also had a lot of self-flagellation from both Fenn and Morgrim, a lot of hurt comfort all intermixed with a bit of D/s kink that may or may not be your thing (it sorta kinda wasn’t for me). On the other hand, be prepared to be charmed by a gruff gentle giant with a tender heart who only wants to believe in hope again, a misunderstood sorcerer with always good intentions, and magically created stubborn silly horses who can fly. Don’t forget lots of subterfuge, spies and bad guys, kidnapping and double crosses, all interspersed with a slow brewing romance with a deeply satisfying conclusion.
Despite having enjoyed Salt Magic, Skin Magic and Mended with Gold more, there’s no doubt Welch can write. She definitely can create. I would not say no should she deign our presence with more of her imagination and skill. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait long, but I’m okay with being patient no matter what.
Thank you to the author for a copy in exchange for an honest review
September 23, 2021
*3.5 stars*
I have some mixed emotions about Seducing the Sorcerer by the very talented Lee Welch. First of all, I had an extremely difficult time getting into the story, and even debated DNFing it at times. Luckily, things picked up and I really enjoyed the story in the end, but it was touch and go at times. I finished the story on a high note, but I think there were definitely some flaws.
I don't know if the world-building was strong enough here. I had a really hard time with the world and the place that magic had in everything. It just felt... strange. There were horses made of cloth and a few people (not nearly enough, it seemed) and some mystery, and it just didn't draw me in. I think the start of the book is the weakest part, and the magic stuff and power dynamics needed more finessing.
However, I love a gruff MC and I love an opposites-attract story, and I was slowly but surely won over as the story progressed. I thought some of the way that things tied together at the end were very cool, and I enjoyed getting to know these characters and see their romance blossom. I still didn't enjoy the story quite as much as others by this author, but I really liked where she ended up taking it, in the end.
I think Seducing the Sorcerer will, overall, be a winner for Lee Welch, and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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I have some mixed emotions about Seducing the Sorcerer by the very talented Lee Welch. First of all, I had an extremely difficult time getting into the story, and even debated DNFing it at times. Luckily, things picked up and I really enjoyed the story in the end, but it was touch and go at times. I finished the story on a high note, but I think there were definitely some flaws.
I don't know if the world-building was strong enough here. I had a really hard time with the world and the place that magic had in everything. It just felt... strange. There were horses made of cloth and a few people (not nearly enough, it seemed) and some mystery, and it just didn't draw me in. I think the start of the book is the weakest part, and the magic stuff and power dynamics needed more finessing.
However, I love a gruff MC and I love an opposites-attract story, and I was slowly but surely won over as the story progressed. I thought some of the way that things tied together at the end were very cool, and I enjoyed getting to know these characters and see their romance blossom. I still didn't enjoy the story quite as much as others by this author, but I really liked where she ended up taking it, in the end.
I think Seducing the Sorcerer will, overall, be a winner for Lee Welch, and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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maybe
December 2, 2021Okay, I'm filing this one under "Things I Can't Un-See". 🤣
Is it just my imagination or does the cover model look 99.999% like Nandor, one of the vampires from the FX show, "What We Do In The Shadows"?
I mean, I'm not the only one to think that, right? heh
I may give this one a go, just so that I can read that MC's parts in Nandor's heavily-accented, Eastern European, comedic voice. 😁
Want to read
August 14, 2021Hoooo-boy, look at that COVER!!! 🥵😍😍
October 9, 2021
Scant 2 stars at best, dammit. I’m disenchanted about this one. I have enough respect for certain pieces of it, and for other work I’ve read by this author, that I’d like to write a constructive review. But I’m perturbed about it going so sideways for me.
The first quarter or so of the book was delightful... Fenn, the world building, the horse, the story setup. It all had so much personality and mystery; I was engaged and excited to see how it would play out.
But then it started to fall apart. And that was before it got worse.
In retrospect, I think the biggest issue affecting everything was the (lack of) character development. Morgrim was all over the board, and after 100k words I’m none the wiser about who tf he is. Not only was he inconsistent, but it seemed like his actions were based on whatever was convenient for the plot.
And because of this shortcoming, I didn’t feel any tension or chemistry between the MCs. I didn’t see what they saw in each other. Yeah I know, I was told, but I didn’t feel it. The next paragraph isn’t much of a spoiler, but it has to do with their sexual dynamic, so if you’re strictly spoiler-averse, leave it alone.
Fenn’s character was one of the pieces that started strong for me, but instead of evolving and becoming more dimensional as the story progressed, it did the opposite. He became sort of a blue-collar stereotype. Even though his inner monologue at one point assured us that he had changed over the course of the story’s events, his words and actions became less nuanced. The “good ole boy” dialect wasn’t used judiciously; it was every time he opened his mouth, with repetitive phrasing that grated. He was increasingly portrayed as naive, unrealistic, and idealistic despite having lived a difficult life that was incongruent with these traits.
I have a particular dislike for conflicts wrapping up neatly, sweetly, and conveniently during the last stage of the book, and this one tapped into that but hard. With every new saccharine conclusion it got worse. That’s enough said about that, because to be fair there’s probably nothing the book could have done to rescue itself by that point anyway.
The first quarter or so of the book was delightful... Fenn, the world building, the horse, the story setup. It all had so much personality and mystery; I was engaged and excited to see how it would play out.
But then it started to fall apart. And that was before it got worse.
In retrospect, I think the biggest issue affecting everything was the (lack of) character development. Morgrim was all over the board, and after 100k words I’m none the wiser about who tf he is. Not only was he inconsistent, but it seemed like his actions were based on whatever was convenient for the plot.
And because of this shortcoming, I didn’t feel any tension or chemistry between the MCs. I didn’t see what they saw in each other. Yeah I know, I was told, but I didn’t feel it. The next paragraph isn’t much of a spoiler, but it has to do with their sexual dynamic, so if you’re strictly spoiler-averse, leave it alone.
Fenn’s character was one of the pieces that started strong for me, but instead of evolving and becoming more dimensional as the story progressed, it did the opposite. He became sort of a blue-collar stereotype. Even though his inner monologue at one point assured us that he had changed over the course of the story’s events, his words and actions became less nuanced. The “good ole boy” dialect wasn’t used judiciously; it was every time he opened his mouth, with repetitive phrasing that grated. He was increasingly portrayed as naive, unrealistic, and idealistic despite having lived a difficult life that was incongruent with these traits.
I have a particular dislike for conflicts wrapping up neatly, sweetly, and conveniently during the last stage of the book, and this one tapped into that but hard. With every new saccharine conclusion it got worse. That’s enough said about that, because to be fair there’s probably nothing the book could have done to rescue itself by that point anyway.
August 19, 2021
Lee Welch has written three books (that I am aware of) and I have absolutely loved every one of them, this being the third.
It's like she can see directly into my brain and find out all the things I want best in either a fantasy historical Salt Magic, Skin Magic or a contemporary romance Mended with Gold and now she's done it with her latest paranormal fantasy romance.
Seducing the Sorcerer has pretty much every trope I love - grumpy guys, fabulous world-building, an intriguing magic system, political dodgy dealings between nation states and a cast of interesting secondary characters.
Both Fenn and Morgrim are wonderfully crafted, Fenn is 46, he's seen a lot of life, he's down on his luck and wondering if life is worth it when he gets tricked into taking away a sack horse from a farm.
What follows is a heady ride into a world of mystery and intrigue centred around the Court Sorcerer Morgrim and, as the story unfolds, we get to see beyond the foreboding black tower, surrounded by rain clouds in which he hides away, and discover that rumours of his villainy are far from the truth.
I cannot express how much I loved this book, these characters, the way the narrative winds through the revelation of secrets and takes you deep into the heart of the adventure as both men come to discover something truly special in the other.
There's some wonderful exploratory kink too, when Morgrim gives up control to Fenn it's everything. Add in cute black kittens, spies who don't want to be, worple horses who know just when to save the day with a bit of magic, and everything about this book is a delight.
I am so so happy to see Lee Welch creating again. She crafts unique stories which don't really fit into any specific trope but which manage to mix a number of elements into a glorious package.
The cover is fabulous too, it perfectly depicts the mysterious man at the heart of the book.
Cannot wait for more and I would love another book in this world!
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review
It's like she can see directly into my brain and find out all the things I want best in either a fantasy historical Salt Magic, Skin Magic or a contemporary romance Mended with Gold and now she's done it with her latest paranormal fantasy romance.
Seducing the Sorcerer has pretty much every trope I love - grumpy guys, fabulous world-building, an intriguing magic system, political dodgy dealings between nation states and a cast of interesting secondary characters.
Both Fenn and Morgrim are wonderfully crafted, Fenn is 46, he's seen a lot of life, he's down on his luck and wondering if life is worth it when he gets tricked into taking away a sack horse from a farm.
What follows is a heady ride into a world of mystery and intrigue centred around the Court Sorcerer Morgrim and, as the story unfolds, we get to see beyond the foreboding black tower, surrounded by rain clouds in which he hides away, and discover that rumours of his villainy are far from the truth.
I cannot express how much I loved this book, these characters, the way the narrative winds through the revelation of secrets and takes you deep into the heart of the adventure as both men come to discover something truly special in the other.
There's some wonderful exploratory kink too, when Morgrim gives up control to Fenn it's everything. Add in cute black kittens, spies who don't want to be, worple horses who know just when to save the day with a bit of magic, and everything about this book is a delight.
I am so so happy to see Lee Welch creating again. She crafts unique stories which don't really fit into any specific trope but which manage to mix a number of elements into a glorious package.
The cover is fabulous too, it perfectly depicts the mysterious man at the heart of the book.
Cannot wait for more and I would love another book in this world!
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review
September 28, 2021
I liked the MCs and the world building, the fantasy aspect was very good and the story and the romance were working well for me until was given unexpected focus in a way that didn’t feel organic to the previous characterization. I don’t usually mind that dynamic, but here it felt so forced that it made me cringe and skim
For all that the beginning was very promising, with a slow build-up, the big revelation wasn’t much of a surprise for me and the final part was a little anticlimactic and chaotic, with
The writing flew well and, apart from a couple of chapters, I enjoyed reading this story. It just didn’t come nowhere near Mended with Gold.
For all that the beginning was very promising, with a slow build-up, the big revelation wasn’t much of a surprise for me and the final part was a little anticlimactic and chaotic, with
The writing flew well and, apart from a couple of chapters, I enjoyed reading this story. It just didn’t come nowhere near Mended with Gold.
November 5, 2024
I've given this an A- at AAR, so 4.5 stars rounded up
Lee Welch’s original and inventive fantasy romance Salt Magic, Skin Magic was one of my favourite books of 2018. Like most of those who read it, I was excited to read the work of such a gifted new author, and I’ve been eager for more of it ever since. In Seducing the Sorcerer, Ms. Welch once again combines a slow-burn romance with mystery and political intrigue, strong world-building and an interesting magic system, to create something altogether fresh and innovative.
Forty-six-year-old Fenn Todd is down on his luck and barely managing to keep body and soul together. After losing everything that really mattered to him more than twenty years earlier, he’s had neither home nor job since and ekes out a meagre living travelling around, doing casual work and odd jobs whenever and wherever he can get them.
When the book opens, he’s just woken up hungover and hungry, but he’s got no food or money left, so he’s going to have to find work if he wants to eat. After some time spent trudging through bone-dry fields, he arrives at Rolling Hills Farm, where the farmer offers him a meal and some coin in return for digging a new cesspit. But when the farmer leaves, a younger man – the farmer’s nephew - offers Fenn a horse instead of the money. Fenn can’t quell he hope and longing he feels, even as he knows he’s being had, knows if something seems too good to be true it usually is, but… a horse of his own? Even an old, broken down one he’ll likely have to take to the knacker’s yard… even if he only gets to care for it for a short while? In spite of his misgivings, Fenn agrees to the deal.
After a good meal and a hard day’s work, Fenn goes to receive his payment – hoping against hope that the offer of a horse wasn’t a cruel trick… and can’t help the rush of disappointment that swamps him when he’s presented with an “ugly, horse-shaped scarecrow” made of a bundle of old sacks, with “a tail like a tube and a raw edge of fringe stuck up for a mane.” Feeling as angry with himself for hoping as with the farmer’s nephew for tricking him, Fenn refuses to show his humiliation, hoists the bundle of rags onto his shoulders and carries it away with the sound of the laughter of the lads at the farm ringing in his ears. If nothing else, he reasons, the wad of sacking will at least provide something softer than the ground to bed down on that night.
He’s just dropping off, thinking about how he’d have cared for a real horse - how he’d have rubbed it down, given it a good scratch, found it something to eat - when he feels something moving underneath him. At first he thinks it’s the ground shaking, but then he realises the sacking horse is moving, filling out and getting to its feet, a bright blue rune shining on its chest. It’s inelegant, wall-eyed, gormless and hoofless… but it’s definitely a horse. Of sorts.
When the magical horse won’t go away, and won’t let him leave it behind, Fenn reluctantly decides to try riding it. And suddenly, for the first time in more than twenty years, Fenn feels like himself again – happy, free and never more at home than when on the back of a horse. The ridiculous creature moves well and handles brilliantly, but when they take a fence, they don’t land and instead, Fenn is taken higher and higher up into the air until he’s flying. Exhilarated and terrified all at once, Fenn decides this must be what heaven feels like… although when he realises the horse isn’t responding to his commands to land, he wonders how much longer he’ll be able to hold on. At last, the horse begins to descend, landing in a courtyard between a looming tower and a gatehouse with battlements and a portcullis. Fenn tries to urge the horse back up into the air, but it’s having none of it – and then the doors of the tower burst open to reveal the figure of a man wearing a long black robe, a tall hat and carrying a staff standing at the top of the steps. Fenn knows at once who it is. Morgrim the ruthless, scheming and power-hungry Court Sorcerer who has stolen all the clouds, caused a never-ending drought – and who is planning to kidnap and marry the Queen.
This is just the beginning of what opens out to become a truly charming and enchanting love story between two very different men, neither of them in the first flush of youth, neither of them exactly what they seem. Fenn knows Morgrim’s reputation, but refuses to be cowed by him and his fierce dark eyes and intimidating manner. He’s certainly wary, but it isn’t long before Fenn starts to realise that the Morgrim he’s spending time with and getting to know is a very different man to the one he’s reputed to be, and to see that he’s struggling under the weight of a huge burden. Morgrim is secretive and devious but he’s also charming, occasionally and endearingly awkward, and someone who very obviously feels the weight of his responsibility to those around him very keenly. He’s also gorgeous, which Fenn hadn’t expected – and nor had he expected the intense attraction he feels to be mutual.
Seducing the Sorcerer is about so much more than seduction. It’s a gentle, beautiful courtship really, a story of two misfits who find love and acceptance in each other, who for the first time in their lives feel really seen, and are comfortable enough with one another to allow themselves to be vulnerable in a way they’ve been with no one else. And it’s a romance in which the little things are the things that count; Fenn insists he isn’t romantic because he can’t write poetry or sing love songs, but the things he does do – fixing shelves and other things around the castle, bringing Morgrim a kitten – mean a lot to Morgrim, who has never had anyone truly care for him before.
“- because if you looked after things in a bloke’s house, that was a bit like looking after him, wasn’t it?”
The story is, of necessity, told entirely through Fenn’s eyes, but the author does such an excellent job of peeling away the layers behind the veneer of the formidable sorcerer that I never felt the lack of Morgrim’s PoV. The romance is superbly developed, and a strong, deeply emotional connection grows between the two men as they spend their days together riding in the enchanted field, sharing their life stories, and talking about anything and everything, They have fantastic sexual chemistry as well; there’s a D/s vibe to their physical relationship which is perfectly in character, with Fenn’s willingness to take control being exactly what Morgrim needs, and a strong focus on the way they make each other feel.
There’s a small, but well-drawn secondary cast including the spirited and wily Queen Aramella, Jasper, a young servant at the castle, and the magical worple horse, Squab, who may not have any lines, but who nonetheless plays essential role in the story.
Seducing the Sorcerer is a wonderful read and is quite unlike anything else I’ve read this year so far. Funny and sweet, poignant and sensual, featuring a well-crafted plot, superbly drawn characters with very real problems and an utterly captivating romance, I loved it from start to finish and it’s going straight onto my keeper shelf.
Lee Welch’s original and inventive fantasy romance Salt Magic, Skin Magic was one of my favourite books of 2018. Like most of those who read it, I was excited to read the work of such a gifted new author, and I’ve been eager for more of it ever since. In Seducing the Sorcerer, Ms. Welch once again combines a slow-burn romance with mystery and political intrigue, strong world-building and an interesting magic system, to create something altogether fresh and innovative.
Forty-six-year-old Fenn Todd is down on his luck and barely managing to keep body and soul together. After losing everything that really mattered to him more than twenty years earlier, he’s had neither home nor job since and ekes out a meagre living travelling around, doing casual work and odd jobs whenever and wherever he can get them.
When the book opens, he’s just woken up hungover and hungry, but he’s got no food or money left, so he’s going to have to find work if he wants to eat. After some time spent trudging through bone-dry fields, he arrives at Rolling Hills Farm, where the farmer offers him a meal and some coin in return for digging a new cesspit. But when the farmer leaves, a younger man – the farmer’s nephew - offers Fenn a horse instead of the money. Fenn can’t quell he hope and longing he feels, even as he knows he’s being had, knows if something seems too good to be true it usually is, but… a horse of his own? Even an old, broken down one he’ll likely have to take to the knacker’s yard… even if he only gets to care for it for a short while? In spite of his misgivings, Fenn agrees to the deal.
After a good meal and a hard day’s work, Fenn goes to receive his payment – hoping against hope that the offer of a horse wasn’t a cruel trick… and can’t help the rush of disappointment that swamps him when he’s presented with an “ugly, horse-shaped scarecrow” made of a bundle of old sacks, with “a tail like a tube and a raw edge of fringe stuck up for a mane.” Feeling as angry with himself for hoping as with the farmer’s nephew for tricking him, Fenn refuses to show his humiliation, hoists the bundle of rags onto his shoulders and carries it away with the sound of the laughter of the lads at the farm ringing in his ears. If nothing else, he reasons, the wad of sacking will at least provide something softer than the ground to bed down on that night.
He’s just dropping off, thinking about how he’d have cared for a real horse - how he’d have rubbed it down, given it a good scratch, found it something to eat - when he feels something moving underneath him. At first he thinks it’s the ground shaking, but then he realises the sacking horse is moving, filling out and getting to its feet, a bright blue rune shining on its chest. It’s inelegant, wall-eyed, gormless and hoofless… but it’s definitely a horse. Of sorts.
When the magical horse won’t go away, and won’t let him leave it behind, Fenn reluctantly decides to try riding it. And suddenly, for the first time in more than twenty years, Fenn feels like himself again – happy, free and never more at home than when on the back of a horse. The ridiculous creature moves well and handles brilliantly, but when they take a fence, they don’t land and instead, Fenn is taken higher and higher up into the air until he’s flying. Exhilarated and terrified all at once, Fenn decides this must be what heaven feels like… although when he realises the horse isn’t responding to his commands to land, he wonders how much longer he’ll be able to hold on. At last, the horse begins to descend, landing in a courtyard between a looming tower and a gatehouse with battlements and a portcullis. Fenn tries to urge the horse back up into the air, but it’s having none of it – and then the doors of the tower burst open to reveal the figure of a man wearing a long black robe, a tall hat and carrying a staff standing at the top of the steps. Fenn knows at once who it is. Morgrim the ruthless, scheming and power-hungry Court Sorcerer who has stolen all the clouds, caused a never-ending drought – and who is planning to kidnap and marry the Queen.
This is just the beginning of what opens out to become a truly charming and enchanting love story between two very different men, neither of them in the first flush of youth, neither of them exactly what they seem. Fenn knows Morgrim’s reputation, but refuses to be cowed by him and his fierce dark eyes and intimidating manner. He’s certainly wary, but it isn’t long before Fenn starts to realise that the Morgrim he’s spending time with and getting to know is a very different man to the one he’s reputed to be, and to see that he’s struggling under the weight of a huge burden. Morgrim is secretive and devious but he’s also charming, occasionally and endearingly awkward, and someone who very obviously feels the weight of his responsibility to those around him very keenly. He’s also gorgeous, which Fenn hadn’t expected – and nor had he expected the intense attraction he feels to be mutual.
Seducing the Sorcerer is about so much more than seduction. It’s a gentle, beautiful courtship really, a story of two misfits who find love and acceptance in each other, who for the first time in their lives feel really seen, and are comfortable enough with one another to allow themselves to be vulnerable in a way they’ve been with no one else. And it’s a romance in which the little things are the things that count; Fenn insists he isn’t romantic because he can’t write poetry or sing love songs, but the things he does do – fixing shelves and other things around the castle, bringing Morgrim a kitten – mean a lot to Morgrim, who has never had anyone truly care for him before.
“- because if you looked after things in a bloke’s house, that was a bit like looking after him, wasn’t it?”
The story is, of necessity, told entirely through Fenn’s eyes, but the author does such an excellent job of peeling away the layers behind the veneer of the formidable sorcerer that I never felt the lack of Morgrim’s PoV. The romance is superbly developed, and a strong, deeply emotional connection grows between the two men as they spend their days together riding in the enchanted field, sharing their life stories, and talking about anything and everything, They have fantastic sexual chemistry as well; there’s a D/s vibe to their physical relationship which is perfectly in character, with Fenn’s willingness to take control being exactly what Morgrim needs, and a strong focus on the way they make each other feel.
There’s a small, but well-drawn secondary cast including the spirited and wily Queen Aramella, Jasper, a young servant at the castle, and the magical worple horse, Squab, who may not have any lines, but who nonetheless plays essential role in the story.
Seducing the Sorcerer is a wonderful read and is quite unlike anything else I’ve read this year so far. Funny and sweet, poignant and sensual, featuring a well-crafted plot, superbly drawn characters with very real problems and an utterly captivating romance, I loved it from start to finish and it’s going straight onto my keeper shelf.
November 23, 2021
What a pleasant delight! Lee Welch reached out to me a few weeks ago about possibly reviewing this book, but as usual, I hadn’t checked my inbox for a while. The book sounded so good though that I went ahead and purchased a copy for myself. I’m thrilled I did because I enjoyed my time with Seducing the Sorcerer and it’s convinced me to give the author’s backlist a try.
MORE LIGHT AND FLUFFY FANTASIES, PLEASE!
Seducing the Sorcerer is what I would describe as “fantasy romance lite”. There’s some magic, world-building, and adventure, without overtaking the romance. I love fantasy as a genre, but I admit to sometimes not having enough brain energy to truly take in complex world-building. So I find books like Seducing the Sorcerer gems because they keep the world-building in the background. We get some light politics and a good dose of magic that’s used very interestingly. This book is really quite fluffy and I don’t mean that in a demeaning way. There’s almost a warm embracing quality to it that I find hard to describe. I just know I cracked a smile from time to time and if you know me, then you know that’s a rare feat.
Seducing the Sorcerer starts off with our tired, hopeless, and homeless horse-loving hero, Fenn, accepting a random job to dig a cesspit he comes across post a night out of drinking in exchange for food and a horse. Turns out, the horse isn’t exactly the horse Fenn was expecting. It’s an ugly and ridiculous straw and cloth creation (basically, it’s a scarecrow, a scarehorse?) that leaves him feeling betrayed and embarrassed. Next thing Fenn knows, he is literally being flown away on this horse into the domain of a certain notorious sorcerer, Morgrim.
I’VE MET A FAVORITE CHARACTER
Certainly, Fenn is the star of this book. I was overwhelmed by his kind and gentle personality despite having been so frequently down on his luck. Being inside of his head is a really lovely experience. I found myself very easily sympathizing with him and rooting for him. Fenn also has a self-deprecating sense of humor that really worked for me. He had me cracking up several times throughout the story. It’s probably not an exaggeration to admit that he is possibly one of my all-time favorite characters. I mean this is a gritty-looking man who is gentle and only wants to love horses? How could I resist?
A SWEET OPPOSITES-ATTRACT ROMANCE
Fenn’s love story with Morgrim develops at a lovely and emotional pace. The two are quite unsure of each other at first, but as they try to figure out why and the horse brought Fenn into Morgrim’s territory, the two develop a kinship with each other that soon turns into something more romantic. Fenn also wants to bang the heck out of the stoic and handsome sorcerer, but he’s not sure his attraction is reciprocated. These two almost gave grumpy-sunshine vibes because Morgrim is growly and Fenn is quite optimistic. I love a good opposites-attract romance where you can clearly see how the two parties work together because they understand each other. There’s a scene where Fenn buys a kitten for Morgrim because he thought Morgrim could use the companionship and it’s one of the most romantic scenes ever! Oh and also, they are both in their 40s. Can I just say how refreshing that was?
I was also surprised by how steamy their love scenes together were. I wasn’t expecting it, so I was out here clutching my pearls when Fenn got vocal and dominant in the bedroom. The author also brings some very light BDSM elements to their scenes. I love a romance that’s a combination of gentle and steamy, so their relationship was a hit for me. Of course, things do turn bleak in their relationship at a certain point when secrets about Morgrim’s magic and the threat of a potential war emerge. I was totally Team Fenn here and needed Morgrim to apologize (which he does).
A FRESH & UNIQUE FANTASY THAT I RECOMMEND
Alright, this review has gotten quite lengthy now, so I’ll stop my babbling. I really did have a pleasant time with Seducing the Sorcerer. I didn’t even get a chance to talk about the horse, but I guess I should leave some things as a surprise for you. Just know, it’s actually quite cute and plays an important role in the book. Anyways, Seducing the Sorcerer is fresh and charming and I think you should read it! 🙂
Content notes: on-page sex, some violence
Relationship disclosure: Lee Welch and I are mutuals on social media.
MORE LIGHT AND FLUFFY FANTASIES, PLEASE!
Seducing the Sorcerer is what I would describe as “fantasy romance lite”. There’s some magic, world-building, and adventure, without overtaking the romance. I love fantasy as a genre, but I admit to sometimes not having enough brain energy to truly take in complex world-building. So I find books like Seducing the Sorcerer gems because they keep the world-building in the background. We get some light politics and a good dose of magic that’s used very interestingly. This book is really quite fluffy and I don’t mean that in a demeaning way. There’s almost a warm embracing quality to it that I find hard to describe. I just know I cracked a smile from time to time and if you know me, then you know that’s a rare feat.
Seducing the Sorcerer starts off with our tired, hopeless, and homeless horse-loving hero, Fenn, accepting a random job to dig a cesspit he comes across post a night out of drinking in exchange for food and a horse. Turns out, the horse isn’t exactly the horse Fenn was expecting. It’s an ugly and ridiculous straw and cloth creation (basically, it’s a scarecrow, a scarehorse?) that leaves him feeling betrayed and embarrassed. Next thing Fenn knows, he is literally being flown away on this horse into the domain of a certain notorious sorcerer, Morgrim.
I’VE MET A FAVORITE CHARACTER
Certainly, Fenn is the star of this book. I was overwhelmed by his kind and gentle personality despite having been so frequently down on his luck. Being inside of his head is a really lovely experience. I found myself very easily sympathizing with him and rooting for him. Fenn also has a self-deprecating sense of humor that really worked for me. He had me cracking up several times throughout the story. It’s probably not an exaggeration to admit that he is possibly one of my all-time favorite characters. I mean this is a gritty-looking man who is gentle and only wants to love horses? How could I resist?
A SWEET OPPOSITES-ATTRACT ROMANCE
Fenn’s love story with Morgrim develops at a lovely and emotional pace. The two are quite unsure of each other at first, but as they try to figure out why and the horse brought Fenn into Morgrim’s territory, the two develop a kinship with each other that soon turns into something more romantic. Fenn also wants to bang the heck out of the stoic and handsome sorcerer, but he’s not sure his attraction is reciprocated. These two almost gave grumpy-sunshine vibes because Morgrim is growly and Fenn is quite optimistic. I love a good opposites-attract romance where you can clearly see how the two parties work together because they understand each other. There’s a scene where Fenn buys a kitten for Morgrim because he thought Morgrim could use the companionship and it’s one of the most romantic scenes ever! Oh and also, they are both in their 40s. Can I just say how refreshing that was?
I was also surprised by how steamy their love scenes together were. I wasn’t expecting it, so I was out here clutching my pearls when Fenn got vocal and dominant in the bedroom. The author also brings some very light BDSM elements to their scenes. I love a romance that’s a combination of gentle and steamy, so their relationship was a hit for me. Of course, things do turn bleak in their relationship at a certain point when secrets about Morgrim’s magic and the threat of a potential war emerge. I was totally Team Fenn here and needed Morgrim to apologize (which he does).
A FRESH & UNIQUE FANTASY THAT I RECOMMEND
Alright, this review has gotten quite lengthy now, so I’ll stop my babbling. I really did have a pleasant time with Seducing the Sorcerer. I didn’t even get a chance to talk about the horse, but I guess I should leave some things as a surprise for you. Just know, it’s actually quite cute and plays an important role in the book. Anyways, Seducing the Sorcerer is fresh and charming and I think you should read it! 🙂
Content notes: on-page sex, some violence
Relationship disclosure: Lee Welch and I are mutuals on social media.
September 27, 2021
2.75 stars
I'm at a loss as to how to review this. But I'll try...
A lot of intriguing ideas thrown into a literary stew pot with a less than stellar outcome.
Firstly, there was FAR too much tell vs. show. I detest that storytelling style and almost lost interest several times. Secondly, the fantasy elements and world building were grossly underdeveloped, and the setting was so vague. I just felt adrift while I read on, waiting for things to make sense. And thirdly, what was up with the bedroom BDSM? That felt so out of place and ridiculous.
I love Welch's Salt Magic, Skin Magic, one of my all-time favorite fantasy novels. But this book just stumped me. Who the heck edited this mish-mash?
I just want to add that I fell in love with some of the prose as I did with SMSM, and at times it reminded me of some of my favorite Harper Fox books. But in the end, even those bright bits couldn't make up for its lack of cohesion and focus.
I'm at a loss as to how to review this. But I'll try...
A lot of intriguing ideas thrown into a literary stew pot with a less than stellar outcome.
Firstly, there was FAR too much tell vs. show. I detest that storytelling style and almost lost interest several times. Secondly, the fantasy elements and world building were grossly underdeveloped, and the setting was so vague. I just felt adrift while I read on, waiting for things to make sense. And thirdly, what was up with the bedroom BDSM? That felt so out of place and ridiculous.
I love Welch's Salt Magic, Skin Magic, one of my all-time favorite fantasy novels. But this book just stumped me. Who the heck edited this mish-mash?
I just want to add that I fell in love with some of the prose as I did with SMSM, and at times it reminded me of some of my favorite Harper Fox books. But in the end, even those bright bits couldn't make up for its lack of cohesion and focus.
September 20, 2021
2021 Fall Bingo (#FallInLoveBingo🍂): Sub-genre You Rarely Read
The latent Magical Horse Girl in me ignited after years of dormancy (sorry to the Companions of Valdemar, I never should've forgotten you). Interesting mix of relatively gentle/magical storyline with high-heat/BDSM-lite sex scenes. Not complaining about the disparity, I just wasn't expecting it!
I have a couple qualms: 1) I wanted a better post-bleak moment apology from Morgrim because, wow, was he an asshole! (I don't forgive easily) and 2) I got a bit confused about the worldbuilding -- it's definitely secondary world fantasy, but there are enough modern-ish Earth terms that took me aback! Not a big deal at all, but I did go "huh" a lot in order to recalibrate my understanding of the world.
The narrator Fenn is LOVELY and KIND and WONDERFUL (no, I will not stop using caps-lock). He has a unique core of decency/generosity that made me cry at least three times. Totally worth the read. I recommend for folks interested in m/m fantasy romance featuring older protagonists and ugly/adorable horse-like creatures.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The latent Magical Horse Girl in me ignited after years of dormancy (sorry to the Companions of Valdemar, I never should've forgotten you). Interesting mix of relatively gentle/magical storyline with high-heat/BDSM-lite sex scenes. Not complaining about the disparity, I just wasn't expecting it!
I have a couple qualms: 1) I wanted a better post-bleak moment apology from Morgrim because, wow, was he an asshole! (I don't forgive easily) and 2) I got a bit confused about the worldbuilding -- it's definitely secondary world fantasy, but there are enough modern-ish Earth terms that took me aback! Not a big deal at all, but I did go "huh" a lot in order to recalibrate my understanding of the world.
The narrator Fenn is LOVELY and KIND and WONDERFUL (no, I will not stop using caps-lock). He has a unique core of decency/generosity that made me cry at least three times. Totally worth the read. I recommend for folks interested in m/m fantasy romance featuring older protagonists and ugly/adorable horse-like creatures.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
July 4, 2022
I have enjoyed almost everything I have read by the author so far, that's why even a 3-star read this time feels like a disappointment. The weird thing is I had avoided this book for a long time after reading some unflattering reviews by my friends. But an audiobook narrated by Joel Leslie is always a temptation to read a book.
Overall I enjoyed the 2/3rd of the story. Actually, the first 25% was pure delight. I could feel the connection with Fenn from the start and felt his sense of loss. Then came the Sorcerer and the story started to go downhill because we do not get any character development. Still, I was enjoying the romance and Fenn's connection with the wobble horse.
But, the last 25% was messy. Everything was all over the place and then got wrapped quickly within a few scenes. I may have DNFed if I was not listening to Joel Leslie.
Overall I enjoyed the 2/3rd of the story. Actually, the first 25% was pure delight. I could feel the connection with Fenn from the start and felt his sense of loss. Then came the Sorcerer and the story started to go downhill because we do not get any character development. Still, I was enjoying the romance and Fenn's connection with the wobble horse.
But, the last 25% was messy. Everything was all over the place and then got wrapped quickly within a few scenes. I may have DNFed if I was not listening to Joel Leslie.
December 7, 2021
It took me a week to finish this - and mostly, like Heather said in her review it was touch and go for me.
I think the problem is that I have no idea where Welch would take the story? There's a lot of secret that Morgrim keeps from Fenn, and since Fenn is our sole narrator, then myself as a reader also feel that I'm in the dark. And that's not exactly fun. The world-building feels less strong, and I can't grasp the politics surrounding the country.
BUT, I like Fenn enough - and my heart breaks for him when he tells Morgrim the story about his horses. So I push through the book and in the end, it's still a nice one.
I think the problem is that I have no idea where Welch would take the story? There's a lot of secret that Morgrim keeps from Fenn, and since Fenn is our sole narrator, then myself as a reader also feel that I'm in the dark. And that's not exactly fun. The world-building feels less strong, and I can't grasp the politics surrounding the country.
BUT, I like Fenn enough - and my heart breaks for him when he tells Morgrim the story about his horses. So I push through the book and in the end, it's still a nice one.
September 28, 2021
I really enjoyed the beginning of the story. The fantastical elements were entertaining, cute; it gave me many laughs. And I also liked that we have an MC and a love interest who are over 40 years old, not the usual sexy in his twenties. But somehow I didn't feel the connection between the pair. The interactions between Fenn as a groom and Morgrim as a magician were good and I liked those, but as their relationship turned into the romantic kind, I didn't care about that as much, it rather felt forced to me.
Fenn's love for his profession as a groom, was shining through the pages. Tending to his horses was his passion. It was clear he knew what he's on about.
I could've read a few hundred more pages if there was nothing happening but Fenn interacting with his Horse. For me, the Horse stole the show.
3.5 stars
Fenn's love for his profession as a groom, was shining through the pages. Tending to his horses was his passion. It was clear he knew what he's on about.
I could've read a few hundred more pages if there was nothing happening but Fenn interacting with his Horse. For me, the Horse stole the show.
3.5 stars
April 15, 2022
This is a book that had so much potential and just was a huge let down in the end. I almost feel bad about giving it 1 star, but the fact that this took me 4 days to read. In fact, it took me most of the day to get through the last chapter, and that was even with skimming most of it.
While I think the idea of the story was very interesting, the execution was not. For the first half of the book, not a whole lot happened. Some of that nothing was sweet and interesting. Some of it was painfully dull. It wasn’t til halfway in that the ball got moving on the actual plot.
And then came Chapter 16. At first I thought I just have once more done a poor job of reading the blurb, and did a double take. BDSM, right out of nowhere. Fenn goes from seducing Morgrim by oiling squeaky doors, fixing crooked shelves, cleaning up the garden and gifting him with a cat to yanking his hair, calling him a whore, fucking him roughy and negotiating links and safewords.
It’s not really my thing, but it just also came out of left field. The two sex scenes before this one were very brief in length and details, but then we get this BDSM sex scene that’s pages long, even without all the negotiations. But my main issue is that there was more discussion of the practicalities of sex than magic in a book about a sorcerer, a flying horse made of sacks, a tower that rebuilds itself and magic that can be done through dance, or horses or whatever the user has an affinity for (or at least it suppose, since the author didn’t deem to explain that, but instead gave a lengthy talk about spanking).
We had a couple dramatic, rather hypocritical fights that were instantly forgiven. No major plot conflicts are resolved by the end, though. There is still a drought, the queen’s brother kill Morgrim and steal the throne, Fenn still doesn’t know how to use magic and Morgrim .
In the end, I think I’m more frustrated with this book than anything. 4 days wasted on a book that threw the plot out the window midway to throw in the BDSM twist. It would be less frustrating if this was just PWP from the get-go.
While I think the idea of the story was very interesting, the execution was not. For the first half of the book, not a whole lot happened. Some of that nothing was sweet and interesting. Some of it was painfully dull. It wasn’t til halfway in that the ball got moving on the actual plot.
And then came Chapter 16. At first I thought I just have once more done a poor job of reading the blurb, and did a double take. BDSM, right out of nowhere. Fenn goes from seducing Morgrim by oiling squeaky doors, fixing crooked shelves, cleaning up the garden and gifting him with a cat to yanking his hair, calling him a whore, fucking him roughy and negotiating links and safewords.
It’s not really my thing, but it just also came out of left field. The two sex scenes before this one were very brief in length and details, but then we get this BDSM sex scene that’s pages long, even without all the negotiations. But my main issue is that there was more discussion of the practicalities of sex than magic in a book about a sorcerer, a flying horse made of sacks, a tower that rebuilds itself and magic that can be done through dance, or horses or whatever the user has an affinity for (or at least it suppose, since the author didn’t deem to explain that, but instead gave a lengthy talk about spanking).
We had a couple dramatic, rather hypocritical fights that were instantly forgiven. No major plot conflicts are resolved by the end, though. There is still a drought, the queen’s brother kill Morgrim and steal the throne, Fenn still doesn’t know how to use magic and Morgrim .
In the end, I think I’m more frustrated with this book than anything. 4 days wasted on a book that threw the plot out the window midway to throw in the BDSM twist. It would be less frustrating if this was just PWP from the get-go.
September 23, 2022
Attention. Spoilers and horse ahead.
I finished it on attempt no 3. It was not what I expected. Firstly imo the blurb was misleading. Gods even the title was misleading. I present to you a few alternative title options:
1. Man who despratley wants a horse has his dreams become reality in a seven layers of subvert-your-expectations hell.
2. Man wants a horse. Gets a horse and an emo magician as a lover. But the horse comes first.
3. The word “horse” and some other words in English.
4. A horse and other magical mishaps.
Be prepared. Every third word in this novel is “horse”.
My main problem with the novel was not the horse. It was the relationship and characters who were not what I expected. I love stories about social status gaps and fantasy. This time it didn’t work for me.
I finished it on attempt no 3. It was not what I expected. Firstly imo the blurb was misleading. Gods even the title was misleading. I present to you a few alternative title options:
1. Man who despratley wants a horse has his dreams become reality in a seven layers of subvert-your-expectations hell.
2. Man wants a horse. Gets a horse and an emo magician as a lover. But the horse comes first.
3. The word “horse” and some other words in English.
4. A horse and other magical mishaps.
Be prepared. Every third word in this novel is “horse”.
My main problem with the novel was not the horse. It was the relationship and characters who were not what I expected. I love stories about social status gaps and fantasy. This time it didn’t work for me.
September 17, 2021
So enjoyable. Another book that I wanted to keep reading until I'd finished rather than the series of DNFs I've recently had. Lee's writing is very beautiful. Her descriptions make it easy to picture exactly what she wants the reader to see. I love horsie!!!! That was so clever and a great theme through the book. The one thing I did feel was slightly off was the age thing. Fenn, yes, he did seem his age, but Morgrim didn't. He came over as much younger, though maybe it was because he'd never really had the chance to grow up. Even so, I never felt he was the age he was. Even with the cover as a hint. But a triumph, none the less. An intriguing tale and so well written.
October 1, 2021
I'm so sad because one aspect of this book almost ruined it completely for me. I was so happy when I started reading this one because the writing is really good, I was truly invested in the story and characters. I liked the main characters weren't too young and had faced a lot of difficulties in their lives and some of them left me hearkbroken Everything was going very well until they get into the bedroom. This is one of those books I think it would have been much better for me with the sexy times fading to black, or no sexy times at all. The book was interesting enough without those. . All this almost did the book for me, but being unable to DNF a book sometimes pays up, and the story recovered a bit by the end. The ending was a bit too neat and quick but at least it left me with a good feeling.
I loved reading this with my fellow BReaders, it was fun and the discussion very interesting as always. I'm still debating between a two or three stars rating, but if I compare this one with my last read, I think this one doesn't deserve two.
I loved reading this with my fellow BReaders, it was fun and the discussion very interesting as always. I'm still debating between a two or three stars rating, but if I compare this one with my last read, I think this one doesn't deserve two.
October 10, 2022
I have mixed feelings and struggled finishing it
November 24, 2021
Ahahaha. Lovely romance with a rich seam of delicious absurdity. Morgrim the court sorcerer is a marvellous creation and I love the worldbuilding.
October 9, 2023
I've given this an A- for narration and a B for content at AudioGals.
Lee Welch’s Seducing the Sorcerer is a quirky, sweet and inventive fantasy that combines an opposites-attract, slow-burn romance between two men in their forties (yay for older protagonists!) with magic, mystery and political intrigue. I enjoyed the book when I read it last year and have been looking forward to experiencing it again in audio, especially with the always entertaining Joel Leslie at the microphone.
Forty-six-year-old Fenn Todd, a down on his luck itinerant labourer, finds a day’s work on a farm where he’s offered coin and a meal as payment. He’s about to get to work when a younger man – the farmer’s nephew – offers him a horse instead of the money, and even though Fenn suspects he’s being played, he can’t squash the hope he feels. A horse of his own, even if it’s one bound for the knacker’s yard, even if he only gets to take care of it for a short while… he agrees, in spite of his misgivings.
He later realises he should have taken more heed of his suspicions when he’s presented with an ugly, horse-shaped scarecrow made of a bundle of old sacks. Refusing to show his anger or humiliation, Fenn hoists the bundle onto his shoulders and leaves, with the sound of the farm lads’ laughter ringing in his ears. At least a bundle of old sacking will give him something softer than the ground to sleep on that night – but as he’s close to dropping off, starting to dream about how he’d have loved and cared for a real horse, he feels the ground moving beneath him. The sacking is growing, filling out and getting to its feet, an inelegant, gormless-looking, hoofless… horse.
When the creature won’t let Fenn leave it behind, he decides to try riding it, and is surprised to find that while it may not look like much, it handles like a dream. Then they take a fence, but instead of landing on the other side, the horse keeps going up into the air until… they’re flying. The horse doesn’t respond to any of Fenn’s commands, so all he can do is hang on and hope he doesn’t fall when at last, they begin to descend, landing in a rain-drenched courtyard with a looming tower on one side and a gatehouse complete with battlements and portcullis on the other. Nervous, Fenn tries to get the horse back up into the air, but it’s having none of it – then the door to the tower slams open to reveal a man wearing black robes and a tall hat, and holding a staff standing at the top of the steps. Fenn knows immediately this is Morgrim, the powerful and dangerous court sorcerer, a man reputed to be a heartless, ruthless schemer with plans to kidnap and marry the Queen and who is believed to have caused the never-ending drought that has plagued the land for the last two years.
Fenn is on his guard immediately. He has no idea what to expect – but it isn’t the offer of a meal and bed for the night. Morgrim is every bit as forbidding as his reputation suggests and there’s more than an edge of impatience and sarcasm to his words, but there’s no indication he intends to blast Fenn to oblivion – at least, not right now – and with no way of leaving, he warily accepts the offered hospitality.
Fenn is the single PoV character and undoubtedly the star of the show. He’s beautifully crafted, a man who has been through so much and yet has retained his humanity; he’s kind and gentle with a wonderfully dry, self-deprecating sense of humour, and his love for horses is described in a way that’s palpable, the longing he feels to be able to tend to just one more making it easy to understand why he’s prepared to risk being duped at the farm.
Morgrim is more of a shadowy figure, but it doesn’t take Fenn – or the listener – long to work out that the whole Big Bad thing he’s got going on is a cover, and that behind it is a decent, troubled and very lonely man who is struggling under the weight of a huge burden. He’s secretive and devious – for very good reason, we discover later – but he’s also charming and endearingly awkward at times, and after an initial wariness, the two men begin to develop a friendship of sorts as they try to work out why the horse brought Fenn to the tower.
The romance between this very odd couple is a delightful slow burn (mostly – see below) and I really appreciated the way the author shows Fenn caring for Morgrim in small ways which are so very much in character; he says he’s not romantic because he can’t write poetry or sing love songs, so instead he fixes things around the tower and gets Morgrim a kitten – things which mean a lot to Morgrim because he’s never had someone truly care for him before. But after all the sweetness there’s a jarring tonal shift when it comes to the sex scenes which comes across far more strongly in audio than it did in print. The fact that Morgrim would want someone to take over and tell him what to do isn’t unexpected – the D/s vibe isn’t what bothers me – it’s that it’s so full on right from the moment they start a sexual relationship, and it doesn’t feel organic to what’s gone before.
The audio also exposes the fact that the story is very narrative-heavy – there’s a LOT of description and internal monologue – and that that despite the prevelance of description, sometimes the prose wasn’t clear enough for me to be really able to get a mental picture of certain things and events, which I found frustrating. Writing issues often stand out to me more in audio, and the ones I’ve mentioned mean that Seducing the Sorcerer didn’t work as well for me this time around, despite the participation of one of my favourite narrators.
Joel Leslie is a hugely talented and skilled vocal actor and someone I know I can rely on to deliver an expressive, animated performance that will capture every facet of the author’s vision. In Fenn’s world-weary, wryly observant voice, he expertly conveys all the tension and drama in the story, his gruffly accented tones bringing the character and his innate goodness vividly to life. His interpretation of Morgrim is pitch-perfect, too, his tone positively dripping with sarcasm or urgency when called for, slowly unbending as he responds to Fenn’s gentleness and understanding to reveal the vulnerability beneath. The emotional content of the story is superbly realised – Fenn’s longing when he talks about his work as a groom, his devastation, his despair – all are right there in his voice, and the same is true of Morgrim; you can hear how tightly-wound he is and how he longs, just for a little while, to be able to set down his burden. There’s a small secondary cast, each role clearly differentiated by means of a variety of accent and timbre, and the single female character of Queen Aramella is very well done. The main criticism I can level at the performance is that the pacing is a bit on the slow side, which means the longer descriptive passages sometimes dragged a bit. Even taking my reservations into account, there’s a lot to enjoy about this unique story. The magical world the author has created permeates the tale – the worple horse is a wonderful invention – the political intrigue and adventure are nicely balanced by the intimacy and domesticity Fenn and Morgrim find together, and I really enjoyed the way these two lonely, burdened men find love, comfort and acceptance in each other. So even though Seducing the Sorcerer didn’t quite work as well for me in audio as it did in print, I’m still happy to recommend it.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals .
Lee Welch’s Seducing the Sorcerer is a quirky, sweet and inventive fantasy that combines an opposites-attract, slow-burn romance between two men in their forties (yay for older protagonists!) with magic, mystery and political intrigue. I enjoyed the book when I read it last year and have been looking forward to experiencing it again in audio, especially with the always entertaining Joel Leslie at the microphone.
Forty-six-year-old Fenn Todd, a down on his luck itinerant labourer, finds a day’s work on a farm where he’s offered coin and a meal as payment. He’s about to get to work when a younger man – the farmer’s nephew – offers him a horse instead of the money, and even though Fenn suspects he’s being played, he can’t squash the hope he feels. A horse of his own, even if it’s one bound for the knacker’s yard, even if he only gets to take care of it for a short while… he agrees, in spite of his misgivings.
He later realises he should have taken more heed of his suspicions when he’s presented with an ugly, horse-shaped scarecrow made of a bundle of old sacks. Refusing to show his anger or humiliation, Fenn hoists the bundle onto his shoulders and leaves, with the sound of the farm lads’ laughter ringing in his ears. At least a bundle of old sacking will give him something softer than the ground to sleep on that night – but as he’s close to dropping off, starting to dream about how he’d have loved and cared for a real horse, he feels the ground moving beneath him. The sacking is growing, filling out and getting to its feet, an inelegant, gormless-looking, hoofless… horse.
When the creature won’t let Fenn leave it behind, he decides to try riding it, and is surprised to find that while it may not look like much, it handles like a dream. Then they take a fence, but instead of landing on the other side, the horse keeps going up into the air until… they’re flying. The horse doesn’t respond to any of Fenn’s commands, so all he can do is hang on and hope he doesn’t fall when at last, they begin to descend, landing in a rain-drenched courtyard with a looming tower on one side and a gatehouse complete with battlements and portcullis on the other. Nervous, Fenn tries to get the horse back up into the air, but it’s having none of it – then the door to the tower slams open to reveal a man wearing black robes and a tall hat, and holding a staff standing at the top of the steps. Fenn knows immediately this is Morgrim, the powerful and dangerous court sorcerer, a man reputed to be a heartless, ruthless schemer with plans to kidnap and marry the Queen and who is believed to have caused the never-ending drought that has plagued the land for the last two years.
Fenn is on his guard immediately. He has no idea what to expect – but it isn’t the offer of a meal and bed for the night. Morgrim is every bit as forbidding as his reputation suggests and there’s more than an edge of impatience and sarcasm to his words, but there’s no indication he intends to blast Fenn to oblivion – at least, not right now – and with no way of leaving, he warily accepts the offered hospitality.
Fenn is the single PoV character and undoubtedly the star of the show. He’s beautifully crafted, a man who has been through so much and yet has retained his humanity; he’s kind and gentle with a wonderfully dry, self-deprecating sense of humour, and his love for horses is described in a way that’s palpable, the longing he feels to be able to tend to just one more making it easy to understand why he’s prepared to risk being duped at the farm.
Morgrim is more of a shadowy figure, but it doesn’t take Fenn – or the listener – long to work out that the whole Big Bad thing he’s got going on is a cover, and that behind it is a decent, troubled and very lonely man who is struggling under the weight of a huge burden. He’s secretive and devious – for very good reason, we discover later – but he’s also charming and endearingly awkward at times, and after an initial wariness, the two men begin to develop a friendship of sorts as they try to work out why the horse brought Fenn to the tower.
The romance between this very odd couple is a delightful slow burn (mostly – see below) and I really appreciated the way the author shows Fenn caring for Morgrim in small ways which are so very much in character; he says he’s not romantic because he can’t write poetry or sing love songs, so instead he fixes things around the tower and gets Morgrim a kitten – things which mean a lot to Morgrim because he’s never had someone truly care for him before. But after all the sweetness there’s a jarring tonal shift when it comes to the sex scenes which comes across far more strongly in audio than it did in print. The fact that Morgrim would want someone to take over and tell him what to do isn’t unexpected – the D/s vibe isn’t what bothers me – it’s that it’s so full on right from the moment they start a sexual relationship, and it doesn’t feel organic to what’s gone before.
The audio also exposes the fact that the story is very narrative-heavy – there’s a LOT of description and internal monologue – and that that despite the prevelance of description, sometimes the prose wasn’t clear enough for me to be really able to get a mental picture of certain things and events, which I found frustrating. Writing issues often stand out to me more in audio, and the ones I’ve mentioned mean that Seducing the Sorcerer didn’t work as well for me this time around, despite the participation of one of my favourite narrators.
Joel Leslie is a hugely talented and skilled vocal actor and someone I know I can rely on to deliver an expressive, animated performance that will capture every facet of the author’s vision. In Fenn’s world-weary, wryly observant voice, he expertly conveys all the tension and drama in the story, his gruffly accented tones bringing the character and his innate goodness vividly to life. His interpretation of Morgrim is pitch-perfect, too, his tone positively dripping with sarcasm or urgency when called for, slowly unbending as he responds to Fenn’s gentleness and understanding to reveal the vulnerability beneath. The emotional content of the story is superbly realised – Fenn’s longing when he talks about his work as a groom, his devastation, his despair – all are right there in his voice, and the same is true of Morgrim; you can hear how tightly-wound he is and how he longs, just for a little while, to be able to set down his burden. There’s a small secondary cast, each role clearly differentiated by means of a variety of accent and timbre, and the single female character of Queen Aramella is very well done. The main criticism I can level at the performance is that the pacing is a bit on the slow side, which means the longer descriptive passages sometimes dragged a bit. Even taking my reservations into account, there’s a lot to enjoy about this unique story. The magical world the author has created permeates the tale – the worple horse is a wonderful invention – the political intrigue and adventure are nicely balanced by the intimacy and domesticity Fenn and Morgrim find together, and I really enjoyed the way these two lonely, burdened men find love, comfort and acceptance in each other. So even though Seducing the Sorcerer didn’t quite work as well for me in audio as it did in print, I’m still happy to recommend it.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals .
October 11, 2021
There's a magic horse that eats eiderdowns. That's all you should need to know in order to one-click this book. Go and get it now. Immediately.
Other than that...it's just as beautifully written as Lee Welch's previous books. The characters are complex and well drawn--Fenn, who's POV we follow--is an older character in his mid-forties and has fallen on hard times. He's at the end of his rope when he gets swindled by a farmer he does some work for and is paid with a sackcloth horse. After that his life gets extremely weird.
I loved this whole premise. Fenn is just such a good character. He's likeable, he's realistic in that he tries to do the right thing and doesn't always quite manage it. He makes assumptions and he acts on the spur of the moment and he is tired of fighting for things. He's also seriously freaked out by magic. The world-building is wonderful--the magic system is there in the background and we pick it up as we go along rather than it being spoon-fed to us. This is my bag, as you are probably aware. The slow-burn romance between Fenn and Morgrim the sorcerer is very well paced and there are political machinations going on behind the scenes that gradually become clear to both the reader and Fenn. I loved their relationship dynamic. Hard recommend!
Other than that...it's just as beautifully written as Lee Welch's previous books. The characters are complex and well drawn--Fenn, who's POV we follow--is an older character in his mid-forties and has fallen on hard times. He's at the end of his rope when he gets swindled by a farmer he does some work for and is paid with a sackcloth horse. After that his life gets extremely weird.
I loved this whole premise. Fenn is just such a good character. He's likeable, he's realistic in that he tries to do the right thing and doesn't always quite manage it. He makes assumptions and he acts on the spur of the moment and he is tired of fighting for things. He's also seriously freaked out by magic. The world-building is wonderful--the magic system is there in the background and we pick it up as we go along rather than it being spoon-fed to us. This is my bag, as you are probably aware. The slow-burn romance between Fenn and Morgrim the sorcerer is very well paced and there are political machinations going on behind the scenes that gradually become clear to both the reader and Fenn. I loved their relationship dynamic. Hard recommend!
September 24, 2021
It was really great to see something new from this author and if this is the book it took to get her out of writers' block, then huzzah. That said, this was a perfectly decent read with some interesting elements but I never really connected deeply to it on any level. I struggled with the fantasy elements because the world-building felt thin and the locale is pretty insular, so I ended up with a lot of questions about how this world and its magic system worked that were never addressed. The beginning is really slow and I found Fenn's folksy diction vaguely irritating and artificial. The whole worple horse plot - well, I felt I was clearly meant to be charmed by it but I just found it weird? Weird to start with, weird when bits of it got explained, weird all the way through.
I felt similarly about the relationship. It was nice to see some older MCs who were not movie star hot and I could tell what the author was going for, but it never seemed to quite land with me - not the pacing of the connection, not the spark, not the actual feelings.
The writing was good and I'll definitely continue to keep this author on my radar, this just didn't really work for me.
I felt similarly about the relationship. It was nice to see some older MCs who were not movie star hot and I could tell what the author was going for, but it never seemed to quite land with me - not the pacing of the connection, not the spark, not the actual feelings.
The writing was good and I'll definitely continue to keep this author on my radar, this just didn't really work for me.
September 18, 2021
I am not surprised May Peterson edited this. It has an opaqueness similar to The Sacred Darkness novels - which, FTR, I struggled to get through. I just didn't connect with those novels - and I didn't connect with this one either.
Okay. I loved/liked everything I've read from Lee Welch. The characters, the setting, the stories - all excellent. So I thought I would enjoy Seducing the Sorcerer, too. But like might be a stretch. It was alright? It felt underdeveloped on every level, and the fantasy elements never clicked in my head. I kept trying to picture the eiderdown eating horse/worple and couldn't; I kept trying to picture the hex and I couldn't; I kept trying to picture Morgrim's rainy tower...and I couldn't. I mean, I get that the author probably balks at ACTUAL pictures, but in this story, I really felt like I needed them to bring these fantasy elements to life because the text didn't do it. Sorry not sorry.
And while I liked the chemistry between the principal characters - I still don't feel like I know Morgrim AT ALL. I felt like Fenn fell in love with a caricature and not a man, and it seemed like every secondary character made a brief cameo and then went on to play a super pivotal and important role in the story. The queen! Jasper! His sister! Can't we delve a little deeper into these significant characters? The world building was underwhelming.
The setting is similarly vague; it seemed like there was this tower with a whole world just waiting beyond the gates, but for whatever reason all of the characters in this story don't actually participate in normal daily activities and/or interact w/anyone outside their bubble and...that's normal? I mean, is it? I don't think so.
And finally, I love a high steam level in my romance novels. Unfortunately, steam/sexy thoughts feel like poor substitutions for character, story and relationship development. It was doubtful thoughts/sexual tension/doubtful thoughts/sexual tension and maybe a steamy scene/doubtful thoughts/sexual tension....and the actual story was missing? Lacking? Nowhere to be found?
I can't recommend this one.
Okay. I loved/liked everything I've read from Lee Welch. The characters, the setting, the stories - all excellent. So I thought I would enjoy Seducing the Sorcerer, too. But like might be a stretch. It was alright? It felt underdeveloped on every level, and the fantasy elements never clicked in my head. I kept trying to picture the eiderdown eating horse/worple and couldn't; I kept trying to picture the hex and I couldn't; I kept trying to picture Morgrim's rainy tower...and I couldn't. I mean, I get that the author probably balks at ACTUAL pictures, but in this story, I really felt like I needed them to bring these fantasy elements to life because the text didn't do it. Sorry not sorry.
And while I liked the chemistry between the principal characters - I still don't feel like I know Morgrim AT ALL. I felt like Fenn fell in love with a caricature and not a man, and it seemed like every secondary character made a brief cameo and then went on to play a super pivotal and important role in the story. The queen! Jasper! His sister! Can't we delve a little deeper into these significant characters? The world building was underwhelming.
The setting is similarly vague; it seemed like there was this tower with a whole world just waiting beyond the gates, but for whatever reason all of the characters in this story don't actually participate in normal daily activities and/or interact w/anyone outside their bubble and...that's normal? I mean, is it? I don't think so.
And finally, I love a high steam level in my romance novels. Unfortunately, steam/sexy thoughts feel like poor substitutions for character, story and relationship development. It was doubtful thoughts/sexual tension/doubtful thoughts/sexual tension and maybe a steamy scene/doubtful thoughts/sexual tension....and the actual story was missing? Lacking? Nowhere to be found?
I can't recommend this one.
November 3, 2021
Loved this. Sweet and enchanting. Will definitely re-read, and where can I get a worple horse, please. Well-drawn MCs, with Fenn a stand-out. Lee Welch on auto-buy.
Couple of reservations about the sex-dynamic, not because it was wrong or disturbing (in fact the slight D/s element felt very much in keeping with the characters), but more because there's a sepia vibe to the book, yet the descriptive level of the sex scenes rendered them in neon colours. If that makes sense.
A small detail (one of many) on the plus side. Fenn is given a set of new clothes. What happened to his old clothes, I wondered idly; we should be told. And then we were, and their eventual destination was so much more satisfying than "he threw his old clothes away" would have been.
Couple of reservations about the sex-dynamic, not because it was wrong or disturbing (in fact the slight D/s element felt very much in keeping with the characters), but more because there's a sepia vibe to the book, yet the descriptive level of the sex scenes rendered them in neon colours. If that makes sense.
A small detail (one of many) on the plus side. Fenn is given a set of new clothes. What happened to his old clothes, I wondered idly; we should be told. And then we were, and their eventual destination was so much more satisfying than "he threw his old clothes away" would have been.
Read
November 12, 2025The title is really not doing this book any favors.
I am really digging Lee Welch’s writing and world building, she does a lot really well, though there may be one or two elements that tip the whole into tackling Too Much. I think there’s a hell of an imagination at work- this had (best as I could tell) completely diff magic system & world from SMSM.
It was a nice change of pace to have a middle aged MC that actually had a character and voice that matched their age.
I am really digging Lee Welch’s writing and world building, she does a lot really well, though there may be one or two elements that tip the whole into tackling Too Much. I think there’s a hell of an imagination at work- this had (best as I could tell) completely diff magic system & world from SMSM.
It was a nice change of pace to have a middle aged MC that actually had a character and voice that matched their age.
Read
September 8, 2022Dnf @46%
Way too much focus on the fake magical horse for me. Pretty bummed because this has a lot of aspects I love in a romance, just wasn't working for me.
Way too much focus on the fake magical horse for me. Pretty bummed because this has a lot of aspects I love in a romance, just wasn't working for me.
October 6, 2021
I loved this book. It could've gone in a lot of different directions, but I like the focus that it has.
Before reading it, I appreciated that it was about men in their 40s, but I find age really is just a number in many romance novels. To me, though, this does actually feel like a book about older characters. I could identify with them easily.
I usually like the journey from despair to hope as a romance plot arc, but in some books, only one MC is on that path. Here, both characters have almost given up on life (understandably so); the events of the story, including their romance, teach them how to hope again and experience joy. I thought it was beautiful.
I loved how the MCs first connected over old (imaginary) popular culture and how surprising it was to Fenn that Morgrim had once needed to learn the same kinds of things that he did. I also liked how Fenn could so clearly see the boy Morgrim had once been. While some of the establishment of their connection was told and not shown, I thought that worked very well:
The sexual tension is high and lasts for what feels like a long time, although it's actually a standard amount of romance-novel pages. But I really felt their connection to each other. The sex scenes all have pretty intense BDSM play, which I felt suited these characters' needs very well.
The magic in this book is mysterious and never fully explained, which also worked very well for the story. I loved the worple horse! I don't know anything about horses but I truly felt Fenn's love for them.
I thought the main conflict in the book was very good, in a romance-novel sense, because I couldn't guess how they would resolve it. Of course they do, and the happy ending is really solid. I am very pleased to have read another book by this author, and I hope she'll continue writing and publishing.
Before reading it, I appreciated that it was about men in their 40s, but I find age really is just a number in many romance novels. To me, though, this does actually feel like a book about older characters. I could identify with them easily.
I usually like the journey from despair to hope as a romance plot arc, but in some books, only one MC is on that path. Here, both characters have almost given up on life (understandably so); the events of the story, including their romance, teach them how to hope again and experience joy. I thought it was beautiful.
I loved how the MCs first connected over old (imaginary) popular culture and how surprising it was to Fenn that Morgrim had once needed to learn the same kinds of things that he did. I also liked how Fenn could so clearly see the boy Morgrim had once been. While some of the establishment of their connection was told and not shown, I thought that worked very well:
They talked. About horses and books and magic and the ways the world had changed since they’d been boys. Morgrim remembered a lot of the same things Fenn remembered. Fenn didn’t have to explain how things used to be different: Morgrim knew. He’d lived it himself.
The sexual tension is high and lasts for what feels like a long time, although it's actually a standard amount of romance-novel pages. But I really felt their connection to each other. The sex scenes all have pretty intense BDSM play, which I felt suited these characters' needs very well.
The magic in this book is mysterious and never fully explained, which also worked very well for the story. I loved the worple horse! I don't know anything about horses but I truly felt Fenn's love for them.
I thought the main conflict in the book was very good, in a romance-novel sense, because I couldn't guess how they would resolve it. Of course they do, and the happy ending is really solid. I am very pleased to have read another book by this author, and I hope she'll continue writing and publishing.
September 3, 2021
This is a new-to-me author and I am happy a took a chance on her. This book turned out to be exactly what I needed at the moment - fantasy romance with older MCs, very real despite the magic.
I liked the fantasy setting and found it to be engaging without being too complicated or overwhelming which is sometimes the case for me in fantasy/paranormal romances.
The story is told from Fenn's POV and I loved his voice. A common man in his early forties, he has been trough some hard times, he is a bit rough around the edges but he is not jaded or cynical. There is inherent kindness and empathy in him that loved. His passion for horses is a thing of beauty, it's contagious and reminded me how great it can feel to be this passionate about something, the utter joy it can bring. I also appreciate how ordinary Fenn was, he was no soldier/courtier or hero, he just loved Morgrim and wanted him to be safe and well.
I was fully sold on the romance, despite not liking Morgrim, the sorcerer, nearly as much as Fenn. I could see how he was all lonely and vulnerable behind the mask of the great court sorcerer, but somehow he read/sounded more juvenile than a man in his 40s. I might be harsh in my judgement but him keeping all these secrets all the time, playing his political games with Fenn even after they got together, didn't help his case.
The romance itself was lovely - light BDSM elements and role play coupled with deep feels and explicit consent was a winning combination. What was an interesting twist in the romantic relationship was the potential for their magic to influence their feelings for one another. It added further tension to the romance which kept recurring in different forms till the end. Sometimes it worked better for me, other times it felt forced and out of place. Overall, I quite enjoyed their romantic journey
A fairytale ending that fitted the fairytale vibe of the whole book - love conquers all, the good guys won and the bad guys got what they deserved.
This has been a great escapist fun - a bit magical, a bit real - very charming and a pleasure to read.
I liked the fantasy setting and found it to be engaging without being too complicated or overwhelming which is sometimes the case for me in fantasy/paranormal romances.
The story is told from Fenn's POV and I loved his voice. A common man in his early forties, he has been trough some hard times, he is a bit rough around the edges but he is not jaded or cynical. There is inherent kindness and empathy in him that loved. His passion for horses is a thing of beauty, it's contagious and reminded me how great it can feel to be this passionate about something, the utter joy it can bring. I also appreciate how ordinary Fenn was, he was no soldier/courtier or hero, he just loved Morgrim and wanted him to be safe and well.
I was fully sold on the romance, despite not liking Morgrim, the sorcerer, nearly as much as Fenn. I could see how he was all lonely and vulnerable behind the mask of the great court sorcerer, but somehow he read/sounded more juvenile than a man in his 40s. I might be harsh in my judgement but him keeping all these secrets all the time, playing his political games with Fenn even after they got together, didn't help his case.
The romance itself was lovely - light BDSM elements and role play coupled with deep feels and explicit consent was a winning combination. What was an interesting twist in the romantic relationship was the potential for their magic to influence their feelings for one another. It added further tension to the romance which kept recurring in different forms till the end. Sometimes it worked better for me, other times it felt forced and out of place. Overall, I quite enjoyed their romantic journey
A fairytale ending that fitted the fairytale vibe of the whole book - love conquers all, the good guys won and the bad guys got what they deserved.
This has been a great escapist fun - a bit magical, a bit real - very charming and a pleasure to read.
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