The Rusted Sword

by R.D. Hero

In his prime, Raleigh had snared the vicious fighter Moshe into marriage through a mutual game of push and pull. Ten years later, Raleigh suffers from a chronic knee injury and flagging confidence, while his bond with Moshe has eroded drastically.

During yet another domestic squabble, Raleigh learns that Moshe intends to leave their home to take part in a winter sword fighting tournament. Roused by a mix of broken pride and desperation, Raleigh chooses to attend as well—in what he believes is the last chance to win back Moshe's devotion.

Genres: Fantasy, M M Romance, Short Stories, Historical

57 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 27, 2014

About the author

R.D. Hero bombed out of art school. After that, she admitted writing might be the best course of action, and hopped to it. She likes writing about people who shouldn't fall in love, which she's been doing for about eight years. Starting with online serial fiction, R.D. developed her favorite tropes and dynamics, writing what she wanted to read.

Aside from that, she loves spicy food, boxer dogs, camping, and photography.

Reviews

[Jyanx · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this story. The premise was good, but it just fell flat for me. I didn't like Raleigh at all. I found him to be more like a petulant child than a grown mad. He treated Moshe more like a possession than a person, and was more worried about possessing him, and beating his cousin than silly little things like Moshe's feelings or desires. I found Moshe's character too thinly written to get a handle on, so I found this need of his to be controlled unbelievable. It just didn't work for me. Their dynamic felt out of balance, and stilted. Maybe if I felt Raleigh had real feeling for Moshe the person, not his idea of Moshe this could have been good, but I never got that feeling.

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Much as I love reading about those first meetings, those falling in love moments, once in awhile I also love to read about “after-the-end”. Stories that deal with established couples that experience issues and how they reconnect and find their way back into love. So when I read the blurb for this one, I was intrigued.

It was quite a good short story — I did get the idea of what kind of problem this couple was experiencing. Once when Lord Raleigh was the winner of sword fights and battles, he was able to snare vicious fighter Moshe into marriage. However, after a chronic knee injury left his confidence in the dust, Raleigh felt that he was no longer the man whom Moshe married to ten years ago. But he couldn’t communicate this with his husband because of his pride — Raleigh felt that Moshe married him because Raleigh was able to control Moshe but now he was just half of the man he used to be.

I thought R.D. Hero wrote the marriage problem well. Being married for 10-years to someone doesn’t mean that you always know how to handle things when something hits your pride — especially followed by shutting down your spouse from communicating. Raleigh thought that he would no longer be appealing to Moshe, once the reason for Moshe being married him was gone. He thought that by joining the sword fighting tournament again, despite his knee injury, he would be back to that victorious man. He didn’t realize that Moshe would adjust with the situation, if only Raleigh let him in. I did feel Raleigh’s pain and insecurities, though I also would have liked to knock him in the head for pushing Moshe away with his own action.

It would be lovelier if I could get more of Raleigh’s history on how he managed to win Moshe’s heart — the little clues in here, coming from Raleigh’s musings were intriguing. I thought it would involve a lot of good banter and sword fights. But all in all, I quite enjoyed this.





The ARC is provided by the publisher via NetGalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.

[Milica · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars...

Beautiful short story packed with emotions...and this author really has a way with words - she can say so much using only handful of them. Some authors can't manage that in 3 times longer books. My only complaint was that it was too short, but not in that incomplete way. I just wanted to read more about R&M, but even as such to me it was perfect. Highly recommended!

[Elizabetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Raleigh and Moshe are an established couple when we enter their story. The focus here is on what sparked their youthful connection and why things seem to be going so very wrong for them now.


They’ve been married for three years in a tumultuous relationship that looks to be undergoing more strain. They’ve grown up together as fierce rivals and competitors, always physically pushing the other to be better, fiercer, stronger.


Raleigh is mesmerized by Moshe…


‘… he was bowled over… watching Moshe fight, of wanting him and wanting to defeat him, and all the prizes that lay in wait from doing that.’


And what prizes… those intimate games that taunt and tease… and lure. These two have some provocative power-play going on, some sweet rough and tumble. When Raleigh realizes that dominance intrigues and enthralls Moshe, he capitalizes on that and finally wins him in marriage. But we’re guessing it wasn’t easy, Moshe is demanding and aloof and he needs to be taken in hand.


Somewhere along the way Raleigh sustains a serious injury and things go cold. He goes into a downward spiral of frustration and fretting about how he will keep Moshe if he can no longer compete with him, no longer keep that edge that seems to fuel them. An invitation to a sparring tournament with some serious swordplay is the catalyst that gets the sparks flying again.


Really, you just want to slap Raleigh upside the head. He slides so often into bitter self pity and doubt. His stupid pride eats away at him, he gets lost in memories of the glory days, and you wonder how Moshe can put up with it all. It’s not really clear at first that Moshe even cares enough to do anything about it.


And that is the fun of the first half of this short story… all the verbal jousting and trying to figure out the dynamic between these two. And who can resist two alpha males duking it out? The second half is not quite as gripping for me… I chalk it up to the inevitability of the slide towards the HEA. I just love the delicious turmoil a tad more than that slide, I guess. Ah well, such is romance.


Though, come to think of it… I think what I really want is more of what must have been a luscious rivalry and coming together of younger Raleigh and Moshe. I’m mostly left guessing at it. Weighting this with more of their backstory would have been so much fun.


So things come to a head at that fight tournament and it does become clear (to the reader) where Moshe is coming from. And the author builds a case for not giving up on Raleigh. We see some of what pulled Moshe to him in the first place.


The writing, mostly strong, got a bit muddier towards the end with a fair amount of ‘Moshe this, Raleigh that, Moshe this, Raleigh, etc…’ Just kinda awkward. Story-wise, Rusted Sword works well… It’s a good look at what happens when someone loses themselves and has to reinvent. Or discovers that they didn’t really knew what they had in the first place.


A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Visit Love Bytes Reviews for this and other great reviews, author interviews, and general fabulousness:

[Serena Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting old isn’t easy for anyone, but for a man who has built his life, his marriage, and everything he is around his physical prowess, losing that strength is a blow he fears he’ll never recover from. This is the story of Raleigh, lord of a faraway castle and its lands in the rough north, and his husband of ten years, Moshe, who comes from the refined south. They used to be happy, but ever since a knee injury of Raleigh’s that refuses to heal, Raleigh and Moshe have drifted apart far enough for Raleigh to fear he is losing the man he still loves beyond all reason.

Raleigh is a proud man. His self-worth is built on being strong, winning tournaments and sword fights, and making his lover submit in the power games they play. His knee injury is beginning to bother him on a daily basis, but when he hears of the invitation to his cousin’s refined estate for the winter games, he is determined to make one last stand and win back Moshe’s affection. All the more because he fought his cousin for Moshe, and Raleigh fears he will ultimately use Moshe to his more worldly cousin.

Moshe is a stubborn man, small of stature and all the more determined to prove his worth. He loves Raleigh more than anything, but his husband’s refusal to open up, to let him in, makes him fear it is all over. He cannot live with being ignored, yet everything he does to get noticed doesn’t seem to matter anymore. He desperately wants to help Raleigh, and the man’s walls infuriate him to the point of rage.

This is a tale full of testosterone, male pride, some hot bedroom interludes, and, ultimately, about the importance of love. If you like stories with noble knights set in the past, if you enjoy an honorable fight or two between lovers and rivals alike, and if you’re looking for an unusual love story with lots of posturing and some real inner conflict, then you will probably like this short story.


NOTE: This book was provided by Less Than Three Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4 stars out of 5


From my review: "The Rusted Sword by R.D. Hero is a well written short story that encapsulates the problems of one couple's marriage. That the couple is located in a fantasy world of snowbound keeps and a kingdom where swordplay and tournaments go hand in hand doesn't alter the fact that most couples issues stem from the same problems. A lack of attention to each other, a shutting down of communication and a walling away of self from your partner. Those relationship truths exist no matter the genre or couple or even universe…"



For my full review, visit http://wp.me/p220KL-2H3


for all my reviews, author interviews, book contests and more, visit http;//scatteredthoughtsandroguewords.com

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a short story about a married couple who have lost their connection over the years due to pride and misunderstandings.
Because it was so short I didn't get to know the characters very well but I liked what I did see of them. I liked the tension between them and I would've loved to have had more time with them.
It was a good book to kill the time but I don't think I would buy a copy. It just wasn't quite polished or long enough.


Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my free review copy.

[Samington · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had potential, but the pacing was awkward and the characters never felt fully fleshed out. Add that to the shortness of the story, and it just didn't clink. Would be interesting to see it expanded a little, maybe.

[Deeze · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this little read.

Even if it was obvious this still kept my interest. I just wish it had been longer, I would of enjoyed seeing the beginning of this relationship.

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.3 stars.

[Love Bytes Reviews]

This book was read and reviewed by Love Bytes Reviews.

[Lid Hime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes 4.5 stars.
Was it new?
Was it complicated?
Was it mind-numbing and brilliant?
Was it groundbreaking?
Well, probably the answer to all is a sound, NO -but I loved it. I have a soft spot for established relationships facing problems, and to me it was, awesome!

[Shelba · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't say I really liked the dynamic of this relationship, which made it hard to like the story. It was well written though.

[光彩 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[rosy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this but it was so short and I really wish there was more.

[Hannah Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly never expect much out of short stories. I typically don't even bother wasting my money buying them. But then I saw that R.D. Hero–the whole reason I fell in love with M/M romance–had just released a short story. I had to buy it.

And of course, R.D. Hero spoke to the M/M romance cravings I didn't even know I was having. I honestly have no idea how she does that; it's like her writing is my own personal little therapist. Hallelujah RoughDraftHero!

R.D. Hero's characters always seem to come alive to me. After having been reading novels non-stop since 6th grade, being able to see characters as more than just writing on paper is rare. She manages to bring freshness and originality to every one of her works. She never ceases to awe and inspire me.

The Rusted Sword was surprisingly tender. Raleigh's feelings and thoughts had my heart trembling in my chest. I don't know if the book was supposed to leave me emotionally raw or if the book was simply connecting with something very personal to me, in particular. Raleigh–now older and suffering from past injuries–feels inadequate compared to the man he used to be. Since he still sees his husband Moshe as beautiful and as strong as ever, Raleigh feels undeserving of Moshe's love, both consciously and unconsciously. His vulnerability really struck home for me. I guess I hold physical ability and looks to such a high level of self-worth (mostly for myself) that my eyes were watery as I read Raleigh's inner torment. The story also kept my tensions high because of the miscommunication going on between the couple. Neither character was able to clearly tell the other their issues and feelings. Oh well, if you want to know more about The Rusted Sword story in detail, then, by-golly, go buy it!

Also, if you want to read more of this up-and-coming writer's works, I can recommend a few.

On Wattpad.com, RoughDraftHero has free stories.
Ventures an Investments- the story of the two main characters really revealed itself in a magnificent way. There is a lot of angst, guilt, and inner-rebellion going on too.
Leviathan- completely changed my view on heroes and villains forever. I can't wait for this story to be complete. It's brilliant, absolutely brilliant.

For those of you with a kinky side, I recommend…
Stalker- coming-of-age college story that happens to involve spanking. You have to buy this story though; it is no longer for free.
Rorschach Blots- student/teacher relationship, but I'd say it's more about the student growing up then a steamy romance.
Somnolence- has not yet been completed. It's about a man exploring BDSM with his boss, but so far things aren't going so well...

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

What's nice about R.D. Hero is that the build-up is always gentle and yet fantastically intriguing, and then you're hooked.

Unfortunately, this story feels ultimately underdeveloped. The characters and backstories were wonderful, but not much of it was explored. There was also only three characters with any real screen-time. Lacks OCs. Would be much better with more length and depth to each plot line. I certainly don't feel I wasted my time reading this, however -- the MC and relationship conflict was top-notch.

This is about two medieval nobles in a soured established relationship, and the steps needed to rekindle their affections. The beginning was shaky, but the writing style and wholly interesting content made it easily forgettable.

The MC is pretty disagreeable, and I was doubtful at first, but he's terribly relatable and I love him.

They would see Raleigh, with his limp and now graceless presence, and they would wonder how such a pathetic man had managed to shackle the dangerous Moshe.

Emotion expressed in Hero's writing style is understated, but all the more effective for it. This got all my feels:

Raleigh had the whole premise, every nook and cranny, mapped out since he was a child, and he loved every crumbling stone deeply. Raleigh would always remember the look on Moshe's face upon seeing Chaylain for the first time when they had finally arrived after days and days of travel from Marvle-Dein. It was abject disappointment.

Problems: While there's a satisfying amount of background story -- even fun little things, also large gaps in the reader's knowledge. I'm not really sure what any of the characters look like, even if personalities are down pretty pat. All I know is Raleigh is taller than Moshe. There was also fairly poor resolution -- the ending was a bit of an info dump of feelings and outburts.

Moshe: Moshe needs much more development. While I have a good idea of his character, its very superficial especially compared to Raleigh.

Romance: Lots of UST; 1 satisfying resolved sexual tension

[GayListBookReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bittersweet little gem. This one will only take you moments to read, but in those moments you will be pulled into a time of sword fights and lords, set in an alternate world where men marry men and two men fight to hold on to a love that's grown for a lifetime.

What happens when you have a relationship that was created through mock battle, when every submission was earned through superior force and determination? What happens when the dominant partner is injured and can no longer physically demand submission from his lover? What happens when two soldiers stop communicating, stop listening, stop looking?

I loved these men and their passion and pain. Their struggles are ones we can all relate to. I enjoyed every moment with them and was hoping, fingers and toes crossed, the whole way through that it was all a misunderstanding and jealousy and everything would please be alright. There is sweetness and beauty mixed in with the ache. I loved every minute and made Beans read it too (she loved it!). Highly recommended short story.

Reviewed by Nina

To see more of this review and others like it please visit us at Gay List Book Reviews at www.gaylistbookreviews.wordpress.com

[Crystal Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was actually really surprised at how much I enjoyed this story! Although it was short, it was very packed with details; the storyline grabbed my attention right away, and the characters were done extremely well.

I especially liked how the author was able to take the two characters, Raleigh and Moshe, that seemed like they were complete opposites and bring them together in a way that worked amazingly well. One thing that I enjoyed about Moshe’s character was that he was the complete opposite of what I would have thought he would have been like, and I love being caught off guard while reading a story.

Overall, I did enjoy the story; it was one about love, jealousy, romance, fighting for what you want, and just the right amount of smuttiness. I haven’t read anything by this author in the past, but you can be sure that I will read more from them in the future.

*Copy provided for review*
Reviewed by Crystal Marie for Crystal’s Many Reviewers

[Wren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short read by R.D. Hero - maybe even one of her best. She really was able to capture something unique by dropping me into an already established relationship but making me feel like I knew them from their very first meeting. Within the first chapter my heart was aching for all the mis-steps and pain that had built up in their relationship. By presented a very real world issue with couples to an exaggerated fantasy setting you really got to see something beautiful. I highly recommend.

[bookstuff · Rating 2 out of 5]

I used to follow this author on FP and really like several of their stories, some of them unfortunately unfinished. I'm really glad to see they're published now. But this was just really really boring. Couldn't finish. Two stars cause it wasn't offensive. Hopefully I'll like the next one more.

[Hpstrangelove · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to connect to the main characters. Several times I found myself tearing up and that doesn't happen often.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's one book I love by this author, so I keep trying them out, but the rest I just like, mainly...