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The Summer when It Snowed
The year winter came back in the summer, Kirkor, the young son of a chieftain meets Alin, a man with eyes so blue they seem to melt the snow around him. That same night, Kirkor loses Alin to another man’s ruthless greed, but he is only a child, and no one believes his testimony. Years later, Kirkor is unjustly accused of plotting against the chieftain and banished from his home. Roaming through the forest, he finds shelter under a lone weeping willow. There is nothing extraordinary about the tree, but if so, why does its whisper seem so familiar?
Themes: Slavic, supernatural, pagan, dark ages, ancient, god, magic, witchcraft, myth, fairy, folklore, warrior, betrayal, shape-shifting
Genre: historical fantasy, fairytale
Erotic Content: m/m erotic scene
Length: ~14.000 words
Themes: Slavic, supernatural, pagan, dark ages, ancient, god, magic, witchcraft, myth, fairy, folklore, warrior, betrayal, shape-shifting
Genre: historical fantasy, fairytale
Erotic Content: m/m erotic scene
Length: ~14.000 words
43 pages, ebook
First published June 14, 2014
102 people want to read
About the author
K.A. Merikan
139 books2,995 followers(Goodreads profile run by Kat)
K. A. Merikan is a duo of queer writers who don’t believe in following the well-trodden path. In their books you can dip your toe into dangerous romance with mafiosi, outlaw bikers and bad boys, all from the safety of your sofa. They love the weird and wonderful, stepping out of the box, and bending stereotypes both in life and in fiction. Their stories don’t shy away from exploring the darker side of M/M romance, and feature a variety of anti-heroes, rebels, misfits, and underdogs who go against the grain.
Be prepared for shocking twists, dark humor, raw emotions, and sizzling hot scenes.
K.A. Merikan also writes steamy M/M romcoms as Devon Doe.
e-mail: kamerikan@gmail.com
More information about ongoing projects, works in progress and publishing at:
K.A. Merikan’s author page: http://kamerikan.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/kamerikan
K. A. Merikan is a duo of queer writers who don’t believe in following the well-trodden path. In their books you can dip your toe into dangerous romance with mafiosi, outlaw bikers and bad boys, all from the safety of your sofa. They love the weird and wonderful, stepping out of the box, and bending stereotypes both in life and in fiction. Their stories don’t shy away from exploring the darker side of M/M romance, and feature a variety of anti-heroes, rebels, misfits, and underdogs who go against the grain.
Be prepared for shocking twists, dark humor, raw emotions, and sizzling hot scenes.
K.A. Merikan also writes steamy M/M romcoms as Devon Doe.
e-mail: kamerikan@gmail.com
More information about ongoing projects, works in progress and publishing at:
K.A. Merikan’s author page: http://kamerikan.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/kamerikan
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 9, 2014
Fairy tales rewritten as M/M stories are a favorite type of book for me. There is just something about using an old storyline and refreshing it in some way that makes me smile, usually because I know the original tale and enjoy what an author can do with it. In the case of ‘The Summer When It Snowed’, though, I do not know he original, which is a Slavic tragedy by Julisz Slowacki named Balladyna. What I especially liked was that the original story is briefly retold in the foreword, so that I was aware of what this version was based on. And I have to say that K.A. Merikan did an excellent job at not just making the setting come alive, but at keeping some of the best original elements and making them work in a new way. Best of all? Yes, you have guessed, this version of the story is no longer a tragedy but has a “proper” fairy tale ending. I am very grateful for that!
Kirkor is the very young son of a chieftain somewhere in Eastern Europe. It is summer suddenly turned cold and wintery when he first meets Alin, a simple villager. He falls under Alin’s spell, the man’s blue eyes making promises Kirkor is too young to understand. A challenge has Alin and his brother go up against each other, and when the brother cheats and Alin is turned into ice, Kirkor witnesses the horrible event and is stunned. Worse, nobody believes he is telling the truth and the brother is declared the victor and moves in with Kirkor’s family. But Kirkor never forgets Alin and, years later when he is an adult and needs to flee his homeland, he revisits the same forest only to find out there is a lot more to the story of Alin having been bewitched than he originally thought. It is now up to him to fix things.
Full of wonderful descriptions of nature and the people living in the harsh environment, teeming with magic and mythical beings, and a healthy dose of yarning and love, this story had me captured and turning the pages. It’s and enchanting romance, and whether fairy tales are your thing, or whether you like unusual and slightly exotic love stories, this could be just what you’re looking for. I think it is an enchanting piece of writing and know the characters will stay with me for quite a while.
Kirkor is the very young son of a chieftain somewhere in Eastern Europe. It is summer suddenly turned cold and wintery when he first meets Alin, a simple villager. He falls under Alin’s spell, the man’s blue eyes making promises Kirkor is too young to understand. A challenge has Alin and his brother go up against each other, and when the brother cheats and Alin is turned into ice, Kirkor witnesses the horrible event and is stunned. Worse, nobody believes he is telling the truth and the brother is declared the victor and moves in with Kirkor’s family. But Kirkor never forgets Alin and, years later when he is an adult and needs to flee his homeland, he revisits the same forest only to find out there is a lot more to the story of Alin having been bewitched than he originally thought. It is now up to him to fix things.
Full of wonderful descriptions of nature and the people living in the harsh environment, teeming with magic and mythical beings, and a healthy dose of yarning and love, this story had me captured and turning the pages. It’s and enchanting romance, and whether fairy tales are your thing, or whether you like unusual and slightly exotic love stories, this could be just what you’re looking for. I think it is an enchanting piece of writing and know the characters will stay with me for quite a while.
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January 6, 2015A fairy tale story inspired by a famous tragedy by Juliusz Słowacki, a XIXth century Polish poet. The plot is extremely loosely based on the original story, but we liked adding that Slavic mood to it.
Wolves, betrayal, raspberries and Slavic magic :)
All Romance:
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/prod...
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Summer-When-Sno...
Wolves, betrayal, raspberries and Slavic magic :)
All Romance:
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/prod...
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Summer-When-Sno...
June 30, 2014
Kirkor is only 13 when he meets the lovely, kind Alin. Kirkor is the knyazich, or prince, and Alin is a villager, meeting when the knyaz’s, or king’s, caravan is escaping wolves. Alin is gentle with the young Kirkor and loyal to his brother. It’s a shame brother isn’t as loyal to Alin. When Kirkor witnesses the betrayal of Alin by someone so close to Alin, well, he’s a child and no one believes him. He sees what happens, is powerless to stop it or help, and just cries. It’s so sad.
Years pass and that evil betrayer has now done the same to Kirkor (and SHAME on father for believing anything). Kirkor has been banished and ends up in the same place where he lost Alin. Magic happens and there is a chance for Alin and Kirkor both to set the record straight.
It’s sweet, based on a tragedy called Balladyna and is a retelling of the folktale. This short story was a pleasure to read and I recommend it highly, especially for fairy tale fans.
Years pass and that evil betrayer has now done the same to Kirkor (and SHAME on father for believing anything). Kirkor has been banished and ends up in the same place where he lost Alin. Magic happens and there is a chance for Alin and Kirkor both to set the record straight.
It’s sweet, based on a tragedy called Balladyna and is a retelling of the folktale. This short story was a pleasure to read and I recommend it highly, especially for fairy tale fans.
July 8, 2014
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
The Summer When it Snowed is inspired by the tragedy Balladyna, which was first published in 1839. The book starts with a Foreword explaining a bit of the connection and then there is a Glossary. Two good things right from the start with the Foreword and a Glossary.
The story starts off at a rapid pace and draws you right in as we are already in the midst of the action and a chase is afoot. Being a fairy tale, the story has some common themes. First, there is the untimely return of winter, which shows a contrast between death (winter) and life (summer). These traits are used to illustrate Alin, the sun, as a contrast to his darker brother. The broader theme is transformation. Literal transformation, in humans shape shifting into objects of nature, and transformation as the characters mature and grow. The only constant is the dark forces which remain fixed.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
The Summer When it Snowed is inspired by the tragedy Balladyna, which was first published in 1839. The book starts with a Foreword explaining a bit of the connection and then there is a Glossary. Two good things right from the start with the Foreword and a Glossary.
The story starts off at a rapid pace and draws you right in as we are already in the midst of the action and a chase is afoot. Being a fairy tale, the story has some common themes. First, there is the untimely return of winter, which shows a contrast between death (winter) and life (summer). These traits are used to illustrate Alin, the sun, as a contrast to his darker brother. The broader theme is transformation. Literal transformation, in humans shape shifting into objects of nature, and transformation as the characters mature and grow. The only constant is the dark forces which remain fixed.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
January 30, 2025
Nothing had ever felt this good, and it had to be destiny that had brought them together.
The Slavic mythology and symbolism, explained in the beginning of the story, is fascinating.
Kirkor is the son of the chieftain. His position is similar to that of a prince.
The story begins when Kirkor is just 13.
Having sustained an injury, Kirkor is attended by one of the villagers named Alin.
Kirkor’s eyes skipped a beat. It was as if summer came back, melting the snow with the strength of a thousand suns. Eyes made of blue sky and long hair, bright like ripe wheat.
Balladyn, Alin’s brother, takes a keen interest in the chieftain and his family.
An enchanted first meeting ends in ghastly tragedy. Following Balladyn’s betrayal and deception, Alin is imprisoned in ice.
Later. Banished and exiled, Kirkor becomes an outcast.
A stunning weeping willow tree offers respite from Kirkor’s travels.
The fox fur bracelet. The first love he can never forget. 😍
Beautiful intimacy. Lots of kissing.
The evil witch (vella), and her intriguing request. The crows. A village destroyed. And a mendacious sycophant.
Drama at the Hillfort Palace…
The descriptive writing is stellar. From the forest setting to the emotional work, this is an excellent fairytale retelling. A fitting conclusion for all.
A part of him even considered destiny to be too generous. It was as if Alin had waited for him, frozen in time, until Kirkor reached the age when he could appreciate the full glory of his sun god.
The Slavic mythology and symbolism, explained in the beginning of the story, is fascinating.
Kirkor is the son of the chieftain. His position is similar to that of a prince.
The story begins when Kirkor is just 13.
Having sustained an injury, Kirkor is attended by one of the villagers named Alin.
Kirkor’s eyes skipped a beat. It was as if summer came back, melting the snow with the strength of a thousand suns. Eyes made of blue sky and long hair, bright like ripe wheat.
Balladyn, Alin’s brother, takes a keen interest in the chieftain and his family.
An enchanted first meeting ends in ghastly tragedy. Following Balladyn’s betrayal and deception, Alin is imprisoned in ice.
Later. Banished and exiled, Kirkor becomes an outcast.
A stunning weeping willow tree offers respite from Kirkor’s travels.
The fox fur bracelet. The first love he can never forget. 😍
Beautiful intimacy. Lots of kissing.
The evil witch (vella), and her intriguing request. The crows. A village destroyed. And a mendacious sycophant.
Drama at the Hillfort Palace…
The descriptive writing is stellar. From the forest setting to the emotional work, this is an excellent fairytale retelling. A fitting conclusion for all.
A part of him even considered destiny to be too generous. It was as if Alin had waited for him, frozen in time, until Kirkor reached the age when he could appreciate the full glory of his sun god.
July 9, 2014
4 STARS
Reviewed by Cindy
I love a good fairy tale and this one made me smile! I love the first meeting between Kirkor and Alin and how Alin seems to be the only person who really sees the young man. It sets the tone for the rest of the story.
It has all the ingredients of a good fairytale…except the damsel in distress and I like that about it. Both men in this story are the hero and it takes both of them working together to save the all the people in the land.
The bad guy is very dastardly indeed and of course the Chieftain is woefully oblivious to the wolf among his sheep.
The reunion of Kirkor and Alin is sweet and magical and I wouldn’t have minded that part lasting a little longer.
In fact that is my only (small) complaint about this lovely story. I wanted it to be more. Of course I always want more because I’m greedy and while more room to grow anticipation would have enhanced the tale, the story really is fully told.
I had a couple of short moments where I was a little confused about POV, but slowing down and re-reading helped me figure it out. The writing is well done and the prose is beautifully worded.
All in all, this was a wonderful little read that I enjoyed a lot.
Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, interviews guest posts and giveaways
Reviewed by Cindy
I love a good fairy tale and this one made me smile! I love the first meeting between Kirkor and Alin and how Alin seems to be the only person who really sees the young man. It sets the tone for the rest of the story.
It has all the ingredients of a good fairytale…except the damsel in distress and I like that about it. Both men in this story are the hero and it takes both of them working together to save the all the people in the land.
The bad guy is very dastardly indeed and of course the Chieftain is woefully oblivious to the wolf among his sheep.
The reunion of Kirkor and Alin is sweet and magical and I wouldn’t have minded that part lasting a little longer.
In fact that is my only (small) complaint about this lovely story. I wanted it to be more. Of course I always want more because I’m greedy and while more room to grow anticipation would have enhanced the tale, the story really is fully told.
I had a couple of short moments where I was a little confused about POV, but slowing down and re-reading helped me figure it out. The writing is well done and the prose is beautifully worded.
All in all, this was a wonderful little read that I enjoyed a lot.
Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, interviews guest posts and giveaways
August 6, 2014
A completely charming and beautifully written folk tale.
Full review on the blog 08/13, then here :D
Full review on the blog 08/13, then here :D
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews