The Spoils of Victory

Heirs of the Empire #1

by Jem Blackwing

The gift of a male war prize is meant to insult him.
It ruins him.

The last thing Damon needs is to return home from war with this heavily-scarred, beautiful man amongst his spoils. But Damon’s jealous brother threatens to put the frightened creature to the sword if Damon refuses his gift.

The rumours about Damon’s preferences for men in his bed have dogged him all his life. Preferences that are a crime in the Azurian Empire. An empire that has owned Damon as an indentured soldier for two decades.

And as the illegitimate son of the Crown Prince, Damon has many enemies. Enemies who would love to expose his secrets. If his true nature were uncovered now, just as he gains his hard won freedom, he’d lose everything to shame and exile.

But every time Damon looks at his unwanted treasure, he is tempted by the only thing that could destroy him.

And Damon’s war prize has terrible secrets of his own. Secrets in the scars that cover his skin.

__

Spoils of War is the first book of the Heirs of the Empire. An MM dark fantasy romance series set in a cruel and repressive world. Each of the books will follow one of the illegitimate sons of the heir to the Imperial throne of Azuria, as they find love, fight for justice and discover their part in a long-forgotten prophecy.

Every couple will get an HEA by the end of the series and an HFN in their book.

Tropes include
Hurt/comfort,
Angst,
Forbidden passion,
‘Who hurt you?’,
‘Do what you want to me but don’t hurt him’
‘Touch him and die’

Genres: Fantasy, M M Romance, Romance, M M Fantasy, Dark, Forced Proximity, LGBT

418 pages, Paperback

Published September 15, 2024

About the author

Feel-bad MM Romantasy
Swords crossing and *swords* *crossing*
SERIES STARTER: The Spoils of Victory

Find fun extras about my books at my website https://jemblackwing.co.uk/

Follow me on instagram @jemblackwing

My pronouns are they/them

Reviews

[Ethen · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 22%

I had to put this one down cause I feel like we’re just not a match.
I’ve been trying to push it, thinking it’s just a me problem; being in a different headspace, but reading this feels like a chore and I’m just getting deeper into a reading slump again.

I don’t feel connected to either of the MCs.
Also, I feel like the power dynamics are not so outlined considering the master/slave trope and that these two are coming from different countries with different cultures and customs.

What really threw me off this early in and why I couldn’t continue is probably the writing. It’s not necessarily bad, but it feels too choppy. I feel like there are a lot of very short and direct sentences thrown next to each other and they just don’t flow together that well. I feel like a robot while reading.
The POVs feel messy as well. Sometimes I just got a bit confused who is who and what is happening.

[Олександр Грозов · Rating 5 out of 5]

Це було просто офігезно.
Історія розповідає про бастарда кронпринца Деймона. Він з армією завоював та знищив інше королівство. Під час розподілення награбованого, йому дістається раб короля по імені Лір.
На батьківщині Деймона релігією заборонені одностатеві стосунки, але він закохується в Ліра.
Мені просто неймовірно сильно сподобалася динаміка стосунків головних героїв. Як вони могли зізнатися в своїх істинних почуттях у ті небагаточисельні хвилини, коли поруч нікого немає.
Сам текст доволі легко написаний, тож швидко прочитав. Однозначно збираюся прочитати і продовження

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This was a pretty accomplished début by new-to-me author Jem Blackwing. It's high fantasy MM set in a conquering empire ruled by a puritanical religion. Our protagonist is Damon, bastard son of the heir to the throne, a celebrated warrior. We meet him at the end of a long campaign and close to his retirement from the army. We also meet his dickhead brother Atticul, the eldest legitimate son. Atticul humiliates Damon by forcing him to take a male pleasure slave from the conquered king's harem. This slave, Lyr, becomes the turning point in Damon's destiny and triggers a series of events that alter the course of Damon's life. Being queer is not allowed in their religion, so Damon, who does in fact like men, has to exercise all of his willpower to resist, all the while Atticul is trying to catch him in the act.

I enjoyed the premise and world-building in this book, it gets a bit complex at times and there are loads of characters to remember, but it's set to be a series, so that tracks. I enjoyed the MCs less. Damon is kind of a big dum-dum. Sure, he is noble and honourable, but he is also kind of stupid at times, or at least makes some really dumb decisions. Lyr is a bit of a paper doll, he is beautiful and sweet, but his sole defining characteristic is that he's horny for Damon. His backstory is interesting though.

I sometimes found the matter-of-fact tone of the writing difficult, mostly because I wasn't really plugged into the emotions. We get told a lot about Damon and Lyr's devotion to each other, but I didn't really feel it, maybe it's also because their whole thing is forbidden, so we only get snatches of them together and not much spice.

Ultimately, it was a pretty entertaining book, set in a universe I want to explore further, so will definitely be looking out for the sequel.

[martina (the life of a chaotic reader)]

no rating because it’s my fault for severely underestimating the tws.
it’s clearly written that homosexuality is a crime there why the hell am i surprised at the amount of homophobia 😂😂😂😂 like i swear im too dumb to live sometimes 😂😂😂

[Precious · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness this book was fire.

The Spoils of Victory has got to be one of my favorite books of all time.

The heat, the banter, the victory, the storyline, the characters- everything in this book hooked me in. It took me to the point of sleepiness in order to put this book down for the day. It was that good.

Lyr, my sweetheart. My poor traumatized sweetheart, is lovely, cheerful, witty and so loyal it hurts my heart. He did everything in his power to protect Damon and got punched in the face for it.

Damon, my repressed teddy bear, is someone who will sacrifice himself for those he loves. He will to go above and beyond for him and Lyr to be together but with external forces plotting against him, he has difficulty finding the happiness he craves.

“Slave? You like to be called so?”

“By you,”

Oh my cheesecakes, Jem Blackwing managed to make the act of speaking hot. Most of the time I found myself getting hot and bothered by Lyr and Damon's lust-filled conversations. The way the author conveys the eminent want and need in simple words was immaculate.

“You are my slave. I own you. Spend now as your Master commands.”

I never knew I'd love the master/slave dynamic between these two, as I have read other master/slave books prior to this one and haven't necessarily loved their portrayal in comparison to this book.
This dynamic works so well with these to MCs.

Overall, The Spoils of Victory is a fantasy book including dark themes, Master/Slave dynamics, size difference and an interesting story line.


//ARC Review//

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Spoils of Victory is the first novel in the Heirs of the empire series. It is a dark fantasy novel.

Set in a fictional empire, the first book is about Damon, one of the Emperor's brother's bastards, as he finishes his twenty years of service in the army. He returns home, along with his wife, an arranged marriage, with an unexpected booty, Lyr, a young man whose life he saved at the last moment.

Lyr , my sweet boy, is caught up in these palace intrigues while falling in love with Damon.

Damon does not want anyone to know that he has certain desires, since in the empire it is punishable by death or banishment.

I really enjoyed the political intrigue along with the romance between the two mc's.

There is a second book, about another of Damon's half-brothers, that I am looking forward to.

[aidni · Rating 2 out of 5]

The most obliging and chatty slave wh0re I’ve ever read.
Immediately loves his new master (a word he isn’t even told to use) and literally grills him on where they are going, how long it will take, how does the royal family work, shouldn’t you Off your brother etc etc.


It’s WILD to think that this young man would go from enslaved king to enslaved prince and be so darn happy about it.

A matter of fact ALL the slaves in the book are so happy about their with their situation. I’m sorry if I was forced into an army as a slave fighter I don’t think I would be chummy chummy with those that took me and make a lot light hearted jokes.

On top Damon is like just the nicest conquistador that exists.

It’s ridiculous.

[Alias11 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling fantasy with thorough world-building and character development. There is treachery, drama, political intrigue, jealousy, danger, religious intolerance, prophecy, and so much more. Damon Darekul is the bastard son of the crown prince, and has been indentured to the Imperial, where he worked his way to honor and glory. His jealous half-brother, the heir, 'gifts' him with a pleasure slave, as both an insult and temptation, as MM relations are forbidden in heir kingdom. Damon and Lyr have undeniable chemistry, but Damon must resist or lose all he has achieved. What does their future hold? I really enjoyed this compelling start to a new series by an author who is new to me, and I look forward to the stories of the other bastard princes.

I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

[Nimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know what to think the whole time I had this book, but once I started, I couldn't stop. The story just keeps eveolvingvatvevery point but not in the exhausting kind of way. I absolutely enjoyed reading it.

[❀ Jess ( Semi hiatus )]

Self note:
@Rainbowlover
Thank you SO MUCH for the info letting me know this isn't safe for me. ❤️

[M. B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Damon, 36
Lyr, 25

I have mixed feelings about the book.
I really loved the premise of slave plus king’s bastard son and war hero. There was a lot of court intrigue which was exciting, sometimes a bit confusing. I sometimes struggled with keeping everyone right. A part of that might’ve been my fault as well. I only realized that there was a glossary at the end of the book after I finished it…
I love that it is so mixed together of different cultures. I mean we get the brothers Damon, Atticus, Endrew, and Lukas.

I really didn’t like and couldn’t understand the whole religion and the homophobia that came with it.
The god Zai doesn’t allow same sex bonds. But it's allowed when you’re on sea, because who else would you fuck. Or when there are some pleasure parties. Everything goes there.
There’s also a festival where all men can fuck all the unmarried woman. But like they can’t choose the other way round.
And someone like the highest priest can give absolution and allow you to do whatever you want.
It gave me a headache…

Damon also gave me a headache.
He’s very gay, aka sly or luxoli, which is mentioned like every second page in the first half of the book. But because the god forbids it, he doesn’t act on it at first with Lyr.
There is a lot of pining and strange (unreasonable) reasoning for staying away and not giving in the urge to fuck and with that a chance to their love (maybe more like insta-lust). Of course some time and some lusting later, Damon, who also repeatedly refers to himself as The One Man Army, gave in. It came a bit sudden and it felt a bit like missing a chapter of the story.

As I said, the court intrigue was really great! It had me guessing for a long time and it was quite twisty. Damon and Lyr really didn’t get a lot of time to simply be and enjoy each other.
Also Damon was a bit too blind and naive. He got fucked over and used by so many people of his close family.

Lyr was a character I couldn’t quite place. I never fully concluded if there was more to him in the background or not. He seemed to be scheming as well but it was never clear how much or in what capacity. I was never fully sure if he was broken but sweet and innocent at heart… or if it was all an act. Even after finishing the book I don’t fully trust him.

The last third of the book brought a lot of excitement! There was still more world building and politics, which felt necessary and rightly placed.

The overall storyline continues in the next book. I guess it ends in a HFN, but you really need to go on with the series to see these characters at peace and I’m excited for the next book!

[Boyslove · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m writing this review as I read.

First 25%

I was pleasantly surprised to be sucked into this book right from the get go. It has a sense of realism and grittiness that is missing in most m/m fantasy. The world building is very interesting and told in a way that meshes it into daily situations and interactions rather than info dumping. The plot is suuuper interesting at this point. There’s some politics but not a depressing amount so far. I’m also really loving the different characters, the main characters especially, but even the random off characters have specific traits that make sense based on their different circumstances and cultures. At this point in the book, we’re at a solid 5 stars.

50%

The plot thickens. There is an element of “destiny” that might be creeping in to the story, which I’m usually not a fan of destiny/foretold type stuff, but I’m 100% invested in the plot still. Damon has gotten the most character building, while Lyr hasn’t gotten quite as much backstory and history, so I’m hoping to get some more for Lyr. There’s more politics and scheming, but it’s very digestible and I’m actually enjoying that part. Overall, still in 5 star territory, the plot is really the big draw for me right now. The relationship is nice, but it needs more growth opportunity still.

100%

The second half of the book lost some of its realism in some ways for me, the story progresses and becomes a bit of a cluster-fk in a few places where I was left going “WHAT…?” Sort of unrealistic or convenient situations that move the plot forward. Don’t get me wrong, the story is really good, I just wish it had been developed without needing some of these convenient situations that leave you a bit at a loss. My only other complaint is that I feel like we are missing some character building between Lyr and Damon. They went from level 1 in their relationship to level 2 in the first 20%, but after that, we move from level 2 to level 5 and skipped 3 and 4 in the relationship building process.

All in all, this was a fantastic gay fantasy story with rich lore, world building I could see and feel, and plenty of intriguing plot and action. It sounds like there’s more to come as well, I can’t wait to pick up the next book when it releases.

[369Pages · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️
The bastard general finds himself with a male pleasure slave as a result of his Prince older brother trying to insult him. From there, the story unfolds into one of forbidden romance and desire, political drama, and conflicts of interest.

I will say, this book did have some beautiful writing and does a great job with a lot of the world building aspects. The different countries, languages and cultures were interesting to read about. It’s definitely an immersive universe. I also liked that there were diverse and interesting female characters in the plot as well.

For me, there were just a couple things I didn’t really vibe with. For one, the entire plot is basically centred around violent homophobia. I already have to face that every day in real life, so having it as such a major plot point got old real fast. I felt like that was used a lot to make the relationship feel more forbidden. I also felt like the whole master/slave thing was used as a way to make their dynamic more kinky, without really going into much depth about how awful it is to keep slaves, actually. I know these are definitely in the TWs, but the way it was presented in the book didn’t really vibe with me.

There was also a loooot of characters explaining backstory and lore in dialogue instead of through action, especially in the first 1/3 of the book. This made the reading experience a little tedious, even though some of the lore was definitely interesting!

Though it might not be the best fit for me personally, I do think people who enjoy fantasy/historical romance could find this book interesting.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

3 stars

The Spoils of Victory is the first book in the Heirs of the Empires series. The official blurb lists this book as a dark fantasy and that’’s going to be something I spend some time dealing with, because this book … has made some choices. Choices that I don’t think work, either for the world it tries to create or the story it tries to tell. It is a book that revels in slut shaming, homophobia, misogyny, and the word “whore.” Whore, used here, is not to indicate someone involved in sex work; rather, it’s used to indicate someone who has sex outside of marriage, whether they are able to consent to the sex or not, whether it’s rape or not.

Honestly, the slavery and whore comments feel, to me, like they’re there to make this a dark fantasy when they’re not needed, not well used, and make no sense. I found both aspects to be distracting, needlessly so, and only took away from and lessened the actual parts of this book that I did like.

However, it’s also got a strong sense of story. The writing is solid, the pace is good, and the overall story of an empire with too many potential heirs, of prophecies, demons and gods, fractured religions, and lost bloodlines comes together in a way that makes me want to read the next book to see if my suspicions are correct. If you like strong plots, don’t mind lackluster world building, and can get past the whole whore thing, this book could be worth a read.

Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.

[LJ Henley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, Just Wow! When I read the blurb about this book I was intrigued. But I wasn’t prepared to be woken up to finish this book to find out what happened next. I was there really were men like Damon! And Lyr isn’t too bad either! But their story is dark at times, so read the warnings so you’re prepared and don’t leave negative stuff because you’re offended. But root for our two men throughout the book and onto the next one.

Such interesting characters and world building. It makes me wonder just what lurks in Jem’s mind to create such great characters and stories! Wow!

[Astra Astrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like I'm sorta cheating, since I haven't actually finished the book, but that's not because it isn't good. I've loved what I've read, including the free precursor. No, the problem isn't that it's not a good book, the problem is that my mental health has taken a down turn, and the book is...too good. There's too much depth to it for me at this time.

So, my apologies to everyone; I heartily recommend it!

[Zoey]

Skipped to the end and found it unsatisfying. The MCs were too tortured and too idiotic for me.

[Carol (§CoverLoverGirl§)]

4 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟- The Spoils of Victory by Jem Blackwing

Having just read ‘ The Spoils of Victory’ I feel as if I have fought alongside Damon Darekul, a man of many names within the Azurian capital of Attar. Also regarded as the One Man Army of Azuria and the Bastard first son of Prince Rafus who fathered him with a woman of ill repute. Rafus married more than once since then and has several other sons and a daughter. His legitimate successor is Prince Atticul, a very jealous man who hates and fears Damon because of his accomplishments. He also knows that Damon is ‘sly’, meaning he ‘lies with men’. Prince Rafus arranged a marriage between Damon and Inez, a reputable woman, with whom Damon has only once shared a bed. Damon and Atticul have just returned from the latest battlefield and are attending the celebrations. Prince Rafus has other sons besides Damon and Atticul. Lucas, Tobi, Kerik and Endrew plus one daughter Ferra. Lucas joined a group of outlaws in the mountains, Kerik is missing, and Tobi joined a group of entertainers.

Prince Rafus is the cause of all that befalls Damon and all those closest to him, Trysta a female soldier, Opeth a court slave. Rafus had broken a rule of the Zai God and as punishment should have been sent off to war for twenty years, instead he had Damon, his’bastard son’ serve the punishment in his stead. Now after twenty two years, Damon is set to retire with the spoils of war. As his prize for his valour, he has been granted a Manor House with lands.

He is also entitled to help himself to any slaves that they captured in battle. Atticul, in his efforts to rile Damon insists he take the only male among them. Lyr, had been a ‘pleasure slave’ of King Ramen. Damon refuses, but when he sets eyes on Lyr, he feels that forbidden desire rise in his stomach. When Atticul insists that Lyr will be taken and killed if Damon doesn’t accept him, Damon relents, he couldn’t bear the thought of such a beautiful man being killed because of his refusal.

The spoils of war brought no joy to Damon’s life. Between Prince Atticul antagonising him whenever possible, the Zai religion and its many acolytes within the Royal Court spying on everyone, his life in retirement is not what he expected. Within the Royal Court there is intrigue, betrayal, distrust and jealousy among various factions. There are several characters who are interested in the whereabouts of a set of important books that may forelock the future of the Azurian empire. When it becomes known that Lyr may have the answer to some questions his life is in danger. Life in the Azurian Court is not a place I’d want to spend any time.


It has been a rollercoaster of a ride reading this long story of what happens between Damon and Lyr and “stuff does happen”, there is lots of hot steamy goings on, especially with the use of foribunda, pearl juice, and other such aphrodisiacs that make one very naughty if too much is imbibed.🥰

Jem Blackwing has written and created a mind boggling world here with a huge cast of characters. Luckily there is a list of ‘Who’s Who’, plus an explanation of various drinks/foods/aphrodisiacs and creatures.

‘The Spoils of Victory’ ends with a HFN but Damon and Lyr’s story is not finished. There is Book 2, plus a character that surfaced very briefly in Book 1 and gets their own story when they meet with someone very unexpected. My ‘boggled mind’ will need to recuperate before I can tackle any more intrigue and skullduggery but I definitely look forward to catch up with Damon and Lyr in Book 2. Damon made a bargain that he, as the man of honour that he is, has to keep in order to get his HEA. In the meantime, there is another related book, ‘ The Emperor’s Whore’, which I have on my TBR list. I’ve enjoyed this ‘swashbuckling’ visit to the Azurian world and will await Damon and Lyr’s next venture.

[Declan Mc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Character- 3.75/5
Plot- 4.25/5
Pacing- 4/5
Entertainment- 4.25/5
Rating- 4/5

This book scratched the itch that Captive Prince left me with. This read is a full on medieval fantasy romance, complete with scheming court politics, bloody warriors, and over zealous religious fanatics, isn't fantasy wonderful?

This book follows Daman, a bastard prince turned war hero, who commands the respect of his family through his sheer talent as a warrior and leader. He is very by the book, and behaves as a dutiful and honourable soldier in all aspects of his life. Except of course for one thing, that being the fact that Daman is gay, and that is very, VERY illegal in this world. It doesn't help that he then takes ownership of a slave that is essentially a walking temptation for him. The rest of the book follows these two as they try to politically manoeuvre a way of being together in this world that despises their existence.

Daman I like as a character, he's your typical clean cut honourable man who is only really looking for a little bit of happiness after being indentured into war most of his life. You want to root for his success, and trust that the confidence he has in his political scheming is enough to protect him and Lyr. However there is a naivety to him that results in a lot trouble down the line, and he struggles often to see the bigger picture throughout the book.

Lyr is an interesting character, subservient to Daman, yet outspoken with others of Daman's rank. There is a cleverness to him that allows him to see the bigger picture, making him a little more intellectually savvy than Daman, and yet entirely selfish and childish too. Lyr will allow himself to put Daman in compromising situations constantly, and the two seem to feed off their own stupidity when together. To say that they are reckless together is an understatement, and it can be quite frustrating to watch these two constantly risk their lives due to a lack of self-control.

An element that some might find uncomfortable is the slave/master dynamic these two have going on. Lyr is perfectly content being Daman's slave, and Daman is equally as eager to have him, leaving a rather prominent power imbalance between them that can be awkward. Personally it didn't bother me overly much, though I did feel it was overplayed at moments, but I wouldn't blame someone for feeling uncomfortable reading it. I just feel its right to acknowledge that as a reality with these characters.

But the plot is interesting and filled with plenty of twists and turns, some which could have been a bit more cleverly laid out. It does at times feel like the characters are only having really bad luck, because that bad guys are literally incompetent and inefficient in this book. But I can see a bigger picture, and the world building is excellent, so I'm hoping for further reveals in the next entries (which I will be reading).

Yeah this book was really solid, a fine fantasy that has lots of potential to become more intricate and engaging. If fantasy is your thing, particularly of the sneaky political kind, then this is right up your alley, kudos to the author.

[Stephanie Oldeck · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Spoils of Victory is a dark fantasy romance mostly taking place in the kingdom of Azuria, a place ruled by a strict and unforgiving god. Damon, the bastard son of the Crown Prince of Azuria, spent 20 years in the army as an indentured servant, a punishment meant for his father, and then several extra years at the behest of his uncle, the Emperor of Azuria. Damon has made a name for himself and successfully overtakes Jur-Mattan. His brother Atticul insists Damon take one of the Juran harem as a spoil of victory. Damon only wants men, but he must accept the "gift" from Atticul not only to appease their stupid rivalry but also to save Lyr's life. Their attraction to each other is immediate, but being gay is a crime in Damon's country, and it becomes a test of wills for both of them to resist each other. Soon Lyr and Damon are forced into palace and religious politics and intrigue. When everything seems like they might finally get their way, someone sabatoges Damon's drink, a prince is killed, and Lyr's secrets nearly destroy everything they'd worked towards.

I really enjoyed this book. The writing is really beautiful, and I loved the world building. I liked Lyr and Trysta, Damon's best friend and fellow warrior. I HATED Atticul. He was a great villain. The religious aspect was interesting and well done, though it got a little confusing sometimes because of all the different parts. And then I loved that we kind of never know who Damon's enemies are. I'm not sure what to think of Doroth Zain! Is he a good guy or a bad guy???

I liked the plot overall. I appreciated that Damon was being pulled in so many different directions and had so many expectations. He tried really hard to be good and follow the rules, but his love and lust for Lyr won out. He took a punishment meant for Lyr and took so many risks just to be with him. It certainly is a love story for the history books.

Having said all that, I really wished that there had been more internal dialogue from the characters. There was a lot of telling rather than showing, which made it hard to connect to sometimes. I thought the dialogue was pretty good, though it seemed stilted in some places. Also, Damon and Lyr's relationship seemed to move very fast and didn't really have the emotional development that I was hoping for. And then Damon didn't give Lyr a chance to explain anything after Sanvicta. I thought that was crap. He could have waited until Atticul left. And then there was exactly ZERO groveling. That was even more crap. Damon deserved to grovel for eons as far as I was concerned. Lyr forgave him wayyyyy too easily. There was a happily for now ending, which was good, but I wanted more out of the ending. If the other books are to cover the other brothers, I think I needed more out of this book.

Overall I did like it, though. I wanted more from it, but it was a good read. The prose and the world building really sold it for me. So I give this 4/5 🌟.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book in the new Heirs of the Empire series quickly pulled me in and took me for a compelling ride into a world of strict religion, political intrigue, sibling rivalry and jealousy, forbidden “sins of the body” (think gay couplings), honesty and loyalty, bloody war, and a forbidden love with the chance to cost our hero everything. Damon Darekul is the son of the Crown Prince, the eldest one of four known bastard sons, a man who started as an indentured slave in the Imperial Army at 14 but who rose to be hailed as “The One Man Army”, the greatest warrior of his time, famous and honored for his military prowess. As part of his spoils over the last country conquered he is given a male member of the dead king’s harem by his half-brother Prince Atticul, more as an insult since he knows about Damon’s attraction to men, a crime against the gods in his home country. When he initially refuses, he changes his mind to save the beautiful man from death. Lyr is now his slave, and will bring more danger to his life than he ever imagined. The two are drawn to each other with a chemistry almost impossible to resist, but Damon does, knowing he cannot give in, no matter how much he wants to. He will lose everything he has worked for during the last 20 years, he has a wife to think of, and his reputation would be on the line.

As time around him makes it harder to resist Lyr, events conspire to weaken his resistance and lead to a fall from grace he never imagined, threatening his life, his love, and everything he believed to be true, changing the course of his life in irrevocable ways. He may get his Happy For Now ending, but things are far from over as other events in future books will come together to lead him to his unknown prophesy.

There was enough action and intrigue going on to keep me interested and involved, with hints at ways that Damon will have a larger impact in an unknown future and the course of his country and family. It isn’t clear what impact his brothers will have but with one book for each brother planned, they must all have an influence in one way or another, so I will follow the other books as they are released, to see how it all plays out.

Great world building, an fascinating group of main and supporting characters, prophesies, intrigue, and mystery are all threads that I expect will begin to weave a complex tapestry taking more shape with each successive book, and will hopefully give additional glimpses into what is in store for Damon and Lyr in the weeks, months, and possibly years ahead in this imaginary world of Azuria. If you like stories evolving over several books, set in imaginary worlds, I recommend this book as the beginning of an interesting one.

I received an ARC of this book and this is my voluntary review.

[ivanareadsalot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank GRR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

This was an amazing start to a promising new series!!!

Def gave me soft Captive Prince vibes, and even being vibe-adjacent, i think that's pretty much the highest compliment I could ever give an MM historical fantasy romance! And tbh, i don't think i've ever thought that about anything i'd read post CPT before!

So woooow way to go, Jem Blackwing, for bringing IT!

The Spoils of Victory very much stands on its own merit though, because it had some MEGA world building, and much, much more sexy sexy love! And though there was a "Damen" (MC's name is Damon lol) but no "Laurent", i thought the whole world, with its lore and politics and religion in play, was "Laurent" in spirit ;p i was fully enthralled and loved every second of this story! Even the parts that made me ferocious!

I'm looking at you, Damon-in-the-last-15%!!!

Ugh i was soooo mad at him, the blasted fool! And there absolutely should have been waaayyyyy more groveling!!! Lyr was a precious pumpkin from start to finish and Damon should have known better!

But ultimately, I was just so blown away by Jem's excellent narrative, and the brilliant characterization, and all the epic intricacies of bloodlines and culture, kingdoms and conquerors, that my superficial niggles paled in comparison to how much this book's quality kept feeding me!

The storytelling was so gripping!

For a fantasy romance.

I'm still speechless at what i got caught up in!

i legit got that feeling when your heart drops out of your body because the worst thing that could happen to your favourite characters happened and you forget to breathe!!

And yesss the last quarter of this was an emo rollercoaster for sure! but i'm now hooked on the feeling and i just want more of it in my brain!

Eager to see how this whole series will pan out because this beauty was a monster!

As an aside, i'm really hoping i've manifested an amazing series (tbc in the future obvs) that i can binge in the aftermath of the Captive Prince trilogy, which never fails to leave me despairing at the end of Kings Rising! and ofc no reread of CPT would be complete without leaving me with the most supreme book hangover like no other series can, so it's practically essential that Jem Blackwing delivers another win when Book Two in the Heirs of the Empire series, The Price of Freedom, comes out!

Ahhhhh Spring 2025 is so far away, but i'm a super fan of everything i've just read, and i'm sure it will be worth the wait!

[Patdbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Spoils of Victory is a first in a series of books set in a world where an empire is conquering the known world. An empire that is driven by religious favour where the penalties for breaking the rules are severe. In some cases these rules are overlooked due to situation. One of these areas is being 'sly' or gay.

The book looks at Damon who is the 'bastard son' of the emperors brother, who had a propensity to sire children outside of matrimony. Again the penalty strong , yet you could get over that if you or someone takes a punishment on the guilty petsons behalf. In this book Damon the eldest and favoured bustard son is endentured to the army for the sins of thr father, Crown Prince rufus. For 20 years he climbs to top of the army become a general to be feared conquring before him on behalf of the empire. But still he is a bastard son. However his biggest sin is that he is sly. Always hiding it, unless away at war. Damon is a good man, though ruthless, and after his latest conquest he saves a young male from the defeated Kings harem. This young man , lyr has been treated badly by the witch queen, who is a priestess of the outlawed and feared religion. Used as a vessel, scared, blood and seed letted, he has been the source of the witch queen's religious activity to fulfil a prophesy. The prophecy you get glimpses of as the book goes on but invoke at its centre Damon. Lyr is destined to bring Damon to the witch queen. However it us not foreseen that both men will fall in love witheacj other.

A scheming brother, the ligimit son of the sane father, fears Damon and will do anything to brumg him down, mostly centred around publicly denouncing and proving him being Sly. Other characters you come across are scheming in their own way, some very dangerous and manipulative, but they don't become clear in some cases to the very end.

Damon and Lyr have to fight the string attraction, and along the way experience the many emotions and actions one woukd expect of a book and series of its genre. The actions of all are hard to take at times. It's a ruthless society, the love between the two main characters is strong even in its master slave role. The manipulation of people what you'd expect. A long book that st times has you vexed, at times ready to put the book down, at times unable to put the book down. It takes persistence and as I.am started on book two, worth persevering as the plots and world keep on being built. A masterpiece. The author's skill amazing. Lookimg forward to the series.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5, rounding up because honestly I just love it

Damon is a bastard son of a crown prince whos been forced to deny himself everything he's ever wanted in favor of indentured service to the military. He's done well for himself, earning the title of One Man Army, but he's ready to retire and go home to live peacefully with his wife. So of course in the aftermath of his final battle things go sideways. He ends up acquiring a male pleasure slave, Lyr. In a world where slavery is normal this wouldn't be much of a problem except homosexuality is taboo and Damon's accumulated more than one enemy who would like to use his sexuality against him. He's determined to ignore Lyr and keep his interests to himself but he can't help it. These two are just drawn to each other.

There's a good amount of insta-lust but it's countered by some solid pining as Damon tries to deny himself. Over time these two bond over more than just wanting to fuck each others brains out and it's wonderful watching them fall in love even as they know they shouldn't.

The world building here is fantastic and I was sucked in from page one. I was wholly brought into this world the author has created and I absolutely cannot wait for book 2. It ends with a HFN and it looks like the next book focuses on a different character/couple but I'm hoping we'll get more of Damon and Lyr in the sequel even as I'm excited to meet more in this universe.

My only complaints are pretty minor. There are a few too many editing errors I noticed, more as the book went on. Also at one point one of the characters sustains an injury and I felt like it wasn't treated as seriously as it should have been. There are comments that he is injured but I felt such an injury would have a greater impact on him than it seemed to.

Finally, there is a reference on page to a suicide attempt that was not warned for. I can understand possibly why there was no warning since it's a brief mention and there doesn't seem to be much intent behind it but it could be potentially triggering.

[Tashyka · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Heirs of the Empire series begins with Spoils of War and continues with the wretched offspring of Azurian Crown Prince Rafus. The protagonist of this work is Damon, an imperial army general. He has served as an indentured servant for twenty years and a free man for two, and now he is retiring from the army. Instead of his father, who was truly the one who committed the crime, he was indentured. Although he was secretly a gay man, Damon was coerced into marrying Inez. Damon, his brothers Atticul and Endrew, and themselves are dividing up the riches of a recently conquered city at the beginning of the story. Damon's brother Atticul tries to embarrass him by insisting that Damon take Lyr, a male pleasure slave, one of the whores. Damon and Lyr have a strong attraction to one another. It is against the law for Damon and Lyr to be together, but he can't resist the terrified, scarred, and stunning Lyr. However, their world is harsh and oppressive. Damon has a lot riding on this. He is a rich man in his retirement years, with an island and an exquisite mansion. However, he is beset by envious rivals who plot his downfall and exile him. None more so than his own brother Atticul, who is relentless in his attempts to defame and ruin him. Like the people, the story's plot is complex and multi-layered. A large cast of supporting characters requires constant attention. Inez, the patient and loving woman who knows her husband Damon's real nature, was my favorite character. Readers will be stunned by the shocking treachery that takes place, and the story's brutality is justified given the time period. Conflict, anguish, remorse, and treachery abound in this fiery, emotive, and captivating drama. This sultry instalove romance is a fast-paced, wonderfully forbidden read. Additional installments in the series are something I'm eager to read.I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

[Sheila M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spoils of War is Book 1 in the Heirs of the Empire, which follows the bastard sons of the Crown Prince Rafus, heir of the Imperial throne of Azuria. This book is about Damon, a general in the Imperial Army. He is retiring after the army after twenty years of indentured servitude and two years of service as a free man. He was indentured instead of his father, who actually committed the crime. Damon was forced into a marriage with Inez but was secretly a sly (gay man). As the story begins, Damon and his brothers Atticul and Endrew have just conquered an important city and are splitting the spoils of their victory. Damon’s brother Atticul insists that Damon take one of the whores, a male pleasure slave named Lyr, trying to humiliate him. The attraction between Damon and Lyr is intense. Damon cannot resist the frightened, scarred and beautiful Lyr, yet their world is a cruel and repressive world, and it is illegal for Damon and Lyr to be together. There is a lot at stake for Damon. He is retiring a wealthy man with an island and a beautiful estate, and has many jealous enemies that could take it all away and exile him, especially his brother Atticul, who is always trying to sabotage and humiliate him.

The story plot is multi-layered and complicated, just like the characters. There are a lot of supporting characters to keep up with. My favorite character was Inez, the understanding and supportive wife, who knows Damon’s true self. The story is brutal at times, but it is in context with the time of the story, and readers will be shocked by the betrayal that occurs. The story is a spicy, emotional, engaging drama that is full of struggle, angst, regrets, and betrayal. It is a deliciously forbidden steamy instalove romance that is a fast-paced page-turner. I look forward to reading more books in the series.

[Coqui Rana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Spoils of Victory by Jem Blackwing is a captivating dark fantasy MM romance. The story follows Damon, an illegitimate son of the Crown Prince, who returns from war with a heavily scarred, beautiful man among his spoils. The complex dynamics between Damon and his war prize, set against the backdrop of a cruel and repressive empire, create a gripping narrative that is hard to put down.
Damon and his war prize are richly developed characters with deep, intricate backstories. Their evolving relationship is heart-wrenching and heartwarming, making you root for them despite their harsh world. The book is filled with twists and turns, keeping you on the edge of your seat. The themes of forbidden love, personal sacrifice, and the struggle for justice are expertly woven into the narrative.
One of the book's most compelling aspects is its exploration of organized religion and how it can be manipulated by those in power to serve their own needs. This theme is subtly interwoven into the story, prompting readers to reflect on religion's true intent and how it can sometimes suppress people's true nature.
Jem Blackwing's writing is lyrical and evocative, vividly describing the world and the characters' emotions. The dark, steamy romance is balanced with moments of tenderness and hope, making for a well-rounded reading experience.
I loved The Spoils of Victory and can't wait for the next installment in the series. In the meantime, I'm excited to dive into the prequel, The Emperor's Whore, to get more backstory on some of the characters. This book is a must-read if you're a fan of dark fantasy romance with complex characters and thought-provoking themes!

[Jeanette Waters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm of two opinions on this story. The author sets the stage for a sweeping epic with this Heirs of the Empire series. Lots of swordplay, lots of violence. Toss in two male main characters in a land that considers same sex love a crime and a sin. Some mystery, some magic. A bit of steamy sizzle.
The story mostly held my attention. Third person present tense is a peeve of mine. I find it jarring and it can knock me out of a good story. And Victory is a good story. It is a widely sweeping tale with a lot of characters, needing TWO appendixes to cover all the characters and who is married/ child to who.
Damon Darekul is a bastard son to the Crown Prince of the Azurian Empire. One of several it seems. His father's legitimate son is an evil bastard who gifts him with a male concubine. It's an insult as well as a possible death sentence.
Lyr, the concubine, has bent sent on a quest by his queen, which is revealed slowly. Damon saves his life and becomes Lyr's master. They're drawn to teach other from the start. Lots of angst. They get a HFN and hopefully we'll see their story continue in further books.
My favorite character was the warrior Trysta. Definitely gave off Grace Jones vibes. Tall and regal. Damon started off stiff. Rule abiding. Honorable. A tad boring. Lyr is an enigma. Slightly more interesting. There's some very detailed worldbuiding.
This was not a quick read. Tense issues aside, a fairly good read. Will I read the next in line? I'm wavering.
I received an advanced copy of this book and this is my review.

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damon is many things – a general and former indentured soldier in the Army of the Azurian Empire; he is the illegitimate son of the Crown Prince; and someone who prefers men in his bed, something that is illegal and heavily punished. He is returning home from victory, ready to retire. He also brings home a young slave that he took to prevent his death at the hands of his brother. Now, temptation is close but he must resist. Political intrigue, betrayal, and secrets are the name of the game. In the end, the only one they may be able to trust is each other.

Damon was a man of opposites. He could be a vicious soldier and a caring man with those he loved. Lyr, the slave, really wanted Damon but Damon was trying to not endanger not only Lyr but his wife and his household workers. The Zai religion called for severe punishments if he was caught giving into his desires for Lyr. The plot was not totally revealed. We are given a glimpse into what is coming. Many pages had a surprise twist or two, including some involving Lyr. You never knew what would happen next. There are some unanswered questions that will have you anxiously awaiting the next book. This book would be enjoyed by anyone who is a fan of dark romance. It is perfect.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my personal opinion.

[Laura Wilke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ended up really enjoying this start to a new MM romantacy series. And this is a series. There’s an HFN ending for the main characters romance but the ending is a lead into the next phase of the story. The main relationship is between a slave and reluctant master. It’s love/intense attraction at first site. This is not a fluffy romance and touches on dark topics and tropes. There are themes of sexuality, homophobia, royalty, religion, suppression of other ideas and thoughts and desires, power and corruption, and xenophobia. The dialog between characters is quite formal. Took some getting used to. But once I was about midway through the book, I was hooked in. I will be reading the next installment and the prologue provided by the author. This is both a romance between two male characters and an epic fantasy. It reminds me of some of the epic series that I’ve read through the years. But maybe with a bit more smexy times and darkness and grit.

I received a free advanced readers copy of this book.