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My Lady King
Keziah Ravenshade, Witch of the Outlands, has sworn never to love again, but her predictable life is upended when she takes a dying stranger into her home.
Esdelot, the Golden Prince, can outfight or befriend anyone — except for the usurpers who tried to kill her with a poisoned blade. Finding the young royal delirious and on the verge of death, Keziah saves her life. But while Esdelot regains her health, betrayal comes from an unlikely source: her brother has taken the throne in her absence and declared himself king. As the two women travel to the capital city to stop a false ruler’s coronation, they form a friendship that seems poised to turn into something more. But Esdelot has promised herself in marriage to a woman she barely knows... and Keziah knows she’s fallen too deeply for a woman whose betrothed waits for her along with her throne. When an enemy from Keziah’s past resurfaces, a mere conflict of politics becomes something that threatens to upend the gods themselves. Will love win out?
Esdelot, the Golden Prince, can outfight or befriend anyone — except for the usurpers who tried to kill her with a poisoned blade. Finding the young royal delirious and on the verge of death, Keziah saves her life. But while Esdelot regains her health, betrayal comes from an unlikely source: her brother has taken the throne in her absence and declared himself king. As the two women travel to the capital city to stop a false ruler’s coronation, they form a friendship that seems poised to turn into something more. But Esdelot has promised herself in marriage to a woman she barely knows... and Keziah knows she’s fallen too deeply for a woman whose betrothed waits for her along with her throne. When an enemy from Keziah’s past resurfaces, a mere conflict of politics becomes something that threatens to upend the gods themselves. Will love win out?
93 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 11, 2014
6 people are currently reading
490 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
January 31, 2018
This was an entertaining f/f romance novella set in the fantasy genre. If you want the story to remain somewhat of a mystery, don't read the blurb. It gives too much away.
Just know this story is about a burgeoning romance between an affable, forever optimistic big lug of a soon to be lady-king and a noble loner of a witch who's young but has already seen too much darkness and hurt in her life.
The author did a decent job of world building and I was pulled into the characters and their journey. There is a twist that I predicted but other elements were a nice surprise.
Overall, it's a feel good sapphic fairy-tale that has all of the drama in the right place.
The romance aspect is PG so don't expect anything explicit. The two leads are also non-white and unconventional so that's a plus.
I find this author's work to be very engaging, especially when it comes to her characters and their descriptions. She definitely has talent. But, there's also something a little rough around the edges, too, that hasn't made her stories five star quality to me, either. But, I like them. So far, I've only read her novellas and I would love to read something that is actual novel length to get into a meatier story.
I think fantasy readers would enjoy this and those who want an "awwww" ending to their read. I put this in the high 3 stars.
Just know this story is about a burgeoning romance between an affable, forever optimistic big lug of a soon to be lady-king and a noble loner of a witch who's young but has already seen too much darkness and hurt in her life.
The author did a decent job of world building and I was pulled into the characters and their journey. There is a twist that I predicted but other elements were a nice surprise.
Overall, it's a feel good sapphic fairy-tale that has all of the drama in the right place.
The romance aspect is PG so don't expect anything explicit. The two leads are also non-white and unconventional so that's a plus.
I find this author's work to be very engaging, especially when it comes to her characters and their descriptions. She definitely has talent. But, there's also something a little rough around the edges, too, that hasn't made her stories five star quality to me, either. But, I like them. So far, I've only read her novellas and I would love to read something that is actual novel length to get into a meatier story.
I think fantasy readers would enjoy this and those who want an "awwww" ending to their read. I put this in the high 3 stars.
September 19, 2014
I tried. I really did. It's a great premise, and I love me some fantasy and some lesbian romance. Add in trans and POC and the entire premise and I was all kinds of excited.
Then I read it. As the shelf says, I couldn't finish it and it needed more editing. I got a whole 4% in and had to stop. I can deal with being beaten over the head with characters' motivations. The grammar and spelling were solid, but content, good grief. Here are my beefs (and keep in mind, this is in the first 4%):
You can't have identical twins where one is taller. (Roll with the identical twins for which one of them is a different gender, woo trans* characters, but ye gods was it presented clunkily.)
If Esdelot is prince and heir to the throne, her brother would also be a prince. (Also why is she a prince vs. a princess? This could be explained at some point, but I was confused when this was introduced and not explained.) UNLESS something major happened that got him disowned, but again, not explained.
So the plan is to have her brother "deliver" a sword to her while she's sparring, he trips and stabs her in the stomach with a poisoned blade. B/c, y'know, when she gets sick and dies no one is going to look askance at the dude who stabbed her and stands to gain by her death. As he's approaching, he notes she's half-dressed, and pauses to think he should see if anyone is objectifying her so he can scold them--oh, but wait, he remembers that he hates her and is trying to kill her so it's all good. (WHAT?)
The stabbing goes as planned. Esdelot is all ??? weird and dodges around her sparring partner to go meet her fiancée (the one her brother is conspiring with). There's no notice paid to the fact that she just got stabbed (she doesn't appear to be hindered or in pain, just bleeding all over the place). At which point the fiancée is all "oh hell no you're not bleeding on my dress." Because as a conspirator to murder someone, your first concern should be your clothing and not making sure people think you're on the level and free of suspicion here.
That is the point at which I stopped b/c I was spending too much time going WHAT?
In summary: good concept, poor execution, pay for better editing.
Then I read it. As the shelf says, I couldn't finish it and it needed more editing. I got a whole 4% in and had to stop. I can deal with being beaten over the head with characters' motivations. The grammar and spelling were solid, but content, good grief. Here are my beefs (and keep in mind, this is in the first 4%):
You can't have identical twins where one is taller. (Roll with the identical twins for which one of them is a different gender, woo trans* characters, but ye gods was it presented clunkily.)
If Esdelot is prince and heir to the throne, her brother would also be a prince. (Also why is she a prince vs. a princess? This could be explained at some point, but I was confused when this was introduced and not explained.) UNLESS something major happened that got him disowned, but again, not explained.
So the plan is to have her brother "deliver" a sword to her while she's sparring, he trips and stabs her in the stomach with a poisoned blade. B/c, y'know, when she gets sick and dies no one is going to look askance at the dude who stabbed her and stands to gain by her death. As he's approaching, he notes she's half-dressed, and pauses to think he should see if anyone is objectifying her so he can scold them--oh, but wait, he remembers that he hates her and is trying to kill her so it's all good. (WHAT?)
The stabbing goes as planned. Esdelot is all ??? weird and dodges around her sparring partner to go meet her fiancée (the one her brother is conspiring with). There's no notice paid to the fact that she just got stabbed (she doesn't appear to be hindered or in pain, just bleeding all over the place). At which point the fiancée is all "oh hell no you're not bleeding on my dress." Because as a conspirator to murder someone, your first concern should be your clothing and not making sure people think you're on the level and free of suspicion here.
That is the point at which I stopped b/c I was spending too much time going WHAT?
In summary: good concept, poor execution, pay for better editing.
November 14, 2017
The last Kayla Bashe book I read, Graveyard Sparrow, was a very different type of story, but I could immediately tell both books were by the same author. Bashe writes pretty, unpretentious prose full of diverse characters from all walks of life, and her romances are tender and believable, no matter if they're crime-solving heiresses or, such as in this book, butch warriors and their witch wives.
For a fairly classic medieval fantasy setting, there's a distinct freshness in Bashe's kingdoms and fields. Esdelot is the prophesied "Golden Prince" of Coranthia, and she fits the role well. She's a strong, extroverted warrior with a big heart, and she lives up to the genderless King title well (though I didn't quite understand the lack of Queen titles--queens can be all-powerful, too!). But her identical twin brother (a transman), , injures her and sends her fleeing from the kingdom and into the wary healing hands of Keziah, Witch of the Outlands.
Esdelot reminds me a lot of Marvel's Thor in that she always means well but sometimes act before she speaks. She's better at charging into battle than using her words, but Keziah is a good match who slows her down and opens her eyes. Even though they fall quickly for one another, they are both mature women who feel the presses of their mutual duties coming before their attraction--Esdelot to her kingdom and her betrothed and Keziah to her village (and to her vow that she would never fall in love again).
Bashe writes diverse fantasy with great skill. There are several trans, non-binary, and genderfluid characters whose identities are recognized and seen as completely normal by their community. I also love how Keziah is a dark-skinned witch and is positively revered for both of those traits--her dark skin is considered the height of beauty and her witchcraft makes her smart and desirable within the community. The stereotypes we're so used to in fantasy are totally flipped here, which is so wonderful. The fact that a black woman exists apart from her blackness in fantasy shouldn't feel revolutionary, but it does. Keziah is an excellent character all-around. It's easy to get lost in the descriptions of her spells and remedies, in the quiet little life she's built around her pain, and seeing her fall deeply for raucous, bold Esdelot makes for a great fairy tale ending.
I was wary starting this book because Bashe uses a lot of em dash phrases, and while those phrases are grammatically correct, they consist of only one hyphen and a space, which drives me nuts. However, I use a ton of em dashes, and they don't always translate automatically. Even here on Goodreads they just show up as two hyphens. So, my personal pickiness aside, it took a few pages to start overlooking them.
I also think Bashe is better at character and detail than she is at advancing plot. Esdelot's , and the ending "battle" went by very quickly with too little insight into what actually occurred. It's a fast read that wraps up potentially large conflicts a little clumsily.
This book seems to be polarizing among reviewers--people love the characters but find the writing a little amateurish, which I can understand. But in the end, this is a simple story of a king and her witch written by a young, capable author, and I very much enjoyed it.
For a fairly classic medieval fantasy setting, there's a distinct freshness in Bashe's kingdoms and fields. Esdelot is the prophesied "Golden Prince" of Coranthia, and she fits the role well. She's a strong, extroverted warrior with a big heart, and she lives up to the genderless King title well (though I didn't quite understand the lack of Queen titles--queens can be all-powerful, too!). But her identical twin brother (a transman), , injures her and sends her fleeing from the kingdom and into the wary healing hands of Keziah, Witch of the Outlands.
Esdelot reminds me a lot of Marvel's Thor in that she always means well but sometimes act before she speaks. She's better at charging into battle than using her words, but Keziah is a good match who slows her down and opens her eyes. Even though they fall quickly for one another, they are both mature women who feel the presses of their mutual duties coming before their attraction--Esdelot to her kingdom and her betrothed and Keziah to her village (and to her vow that she would never fall in love again).
Bashe writes diverse fantasy with great skill. There are several trans, non-binary, and genderfluid characters whose identities are recognized and seen as completely normal by their community. I also love how Keziah is a dark-skinned witch and is positively revered for both of those traits--her dark skin is considered the height of beauty and her witchcraft makes her smart and desirable within the community. The stereotypes we're so used to in fantasy are totally flipped here, which is so wonderful. The fact that a black woman exists apart from her blackness in fantasy shouldn't feel revolutionary, but it does. Keziah is an excellent character all-around. It's easy to get lost in the descriptions of her spells and remedies, in the quiet little life she's built around her pain, and seeing her fall deeply for raucous, bold Esdelot makes for a great fairy tale ending.
I was wary starting this book because Bashe uses a lot of em dash phrases, and while those phrases are grammatically correct, they consist of only one hyphen and a space, which drives me nuts. However, I use a ton of em dashes, and they don't always translate automatically. Even here on Goodreads they just show up as two hyphens. So, my personal pickiness aside, it took a few pages to start overlooking them.
I also think Bashe is better at character and detail than she is at advancing plot. Esdelot's , and the ending "battle" went by very quickly with too little insight into what actually occurred. It's a fast read that wraps up potentially large conflicts a little clumsily.
This book seems to be polarizing among reviewers--people love the characters but find the writing a little amateurish, which I can understand. But in the end, this is a simple story of a king and her witch written by a young, capable author, and I very much enjoyed it.
December 30, 2017
Edit, 30/11/16: okay so I don't know what was wrong with me the first time I read this in May 2015, because it's nowhere near as bad as I thought I remembered it to be. Last time I hated the writing and the characters and only got to 32% before ragequitting, but ever since then I haven't been able to stop thinking about it, so when I couldn't sleep early this morning so I decided to give this another go. I'm glad I did.
In actual fact, the writing is fine and the characters are well-realised, even if Esdelot is perhaps not as deep as some of the others. It's fantastically diverse in terms of race and gender and sexuality, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting lost in the conspiracy and Esdelot and Keziah's slow-burn relationship. It also addresses abusive relationships and recovering from them in a way that was very beautiful and realistic. More books should be like this.
All in all this is a really fun, charming read. I'm moving my rating to 3.5 stars, rounded up to four.
Care warnings: betrayal, savage killing of a cow, extremely abusive relationship (but NOT Esdelot/Keziah), infertility, severe injury and illness, transphobic secondary character, identity theft and one mention of past misgendering near the end.
In actual fact, the writing is fine and the characters are well-realised, even if Esdelot is perhaps not as deep as some of the others. It's fantastically diverse in terms of race and gender and sexuality, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting lost in the conspiracy and Esdelot and Keziah's slow-burn relationship. It also addresses abusive relationships and recovering from them in a way that was very beautiful and realistic. More books should be like this.
All in all this is a really fun, charming read. I'm moving my rating to 3.5 stars, rounded up to four.
Care warnings: betrayal, savage killing of a cow, extremely abusive relationship (but NOT Esdelot/Keziah), infertility, severe injury and illness, transphobic secondary character, identity theft and one mention of past misgendering near the end.
November 17, 2020
Just OK. Great premise, but let down by a strange plotting that become more and more convoluted, and no real reaction from characters about what was going-on and then all too easily dealt with climaxes that fizzled out.
Disappointing.
Disappointing.
February 3, 2015
If you're looking for a book that has a majority of qeer POC as the main characters then not only have you found the perfect book for you, you've found the perfect book period. Kayla Bashe is one of my new favorite authors. Based on how amazingly she wrote her characters in My Lady King and how everything seemed to flow so naturally I have to say that I am more then pleased with this book.
Esdelot is a wonderful king and Keziah her loyal witch, together they give you a romance so sweet its like taffy for the brain.
Esdelot is a wonderful king and Keziah her loyal witch, together they give you a romance so sweet its like taffy for the brain.
September 9, 2015
Honestly? Trans-friendly fantasy fiction that reminds me of Tamora Pierce and is supportive of emotional abuse victims and centers on women of colour who love women. I couldn't rate this any lower.
August 13, 2014
I came across this absolute treasure of a book on tumblr, giving it a signal boost without even reading it first, because the premise alone was so great. The title alone, a lady king, I was hooked, I had to read it as well as support a fellow queer indie author. And I am so, so glad I read it. LGBTQ+ fantasy, particularly fantasy that evokes fairy tale nostalgia, the sword-and-sorcery feeling of books we grew up with, is a rare and wonderful find. This is the kind of book I would have read as a kid - except that in My Lady King, people like me are represented and celebrated instead of ignored or stereotyped.
I don't even know where to begin with the great things in this book. The writing style is beautiful, poetic while being accessible and clear, the characters are fully developed and realistic, and the worldbuilding is well thought-out with its own magic system, politics and mythology (though the divine subjects of those myths quickly show themselves to be quite real). The plot moves along quickly and the book can easily be gotten through in a few hours - to the point where my only qualm is that it's too short! It's so good, I wanted more, which is about the best problem a book can have. Plus there are a few wonderful twists. (I figured out the big one early on, but only because I'm a borderline-paranoid reader, and my constant twist-vigilance borders on the ridiculous. It's a good one!)
But writing techniques and usual book considerations aside, it's the characters that make My Lady King shine. The representation is incredibly refreshing; the cast is entirely made of people of color, and queer relationships are presented as completely normal. Entirely ordinary. There is zero prejudice, zero coming-out drama, zero sensationalization or ignorance, and I cannot tell you how refreshing this is.
Not only same-gender relationships, but transgender people are presented in the same way - as completely normal, accepted, expected. Several incidental characters are genderless or nonbinary, and one key character is transgender - which has absolutely no bearing on the plot and is not exploited in any way. These people simply are, as we simply are in real life, every day.
The heart of this book is love. Love of another, yes, but also self-love. Main character Keziah, the powerful, young but jaded witch, is still very much recovering from a damaging and traumatic abusive relationship - and this is written beautifully, and heartbreakingly. This is a love story not just about two people with each other, but Keziah with herself. Self-acceptance, self-love, self-forgiveness (or the realization that there was nothing to forgive!) is presented as just as important as romantic love, and this is something I have honestly never seen in a book before.
My Lady King is important for so many ways, and I've only really scratched the surface. Do yourself a favor and give it a read. Even if you are not a marginalized person or an abuse survivor - maybe especially then. There is something meaningful and good here for everyone. I can't say how much I recommend it. Sometimes a book comes along that stays with you, and this is one of those for me. I think it will be for a lot of you as well.
I don't even know where to begin with the great things in this book. The writing style is beautiful, poetic while being accessible and clear, the characters are fully developed and realistic, and the worldbuilding is well thought-out with its own magic system, politics and mythology (though the divine subjects of those myths quickly show themselves to be quite real). The plot moves along quickly and the book can easily be gotten through in a few hours - to the point where my only qualm is that it's too short! It's so good, I wanted more, which is about the best problem a book can have. Plus there are a few wonderful twists. (I figured out the big one early on, but only because I'm a borderline-paranoid reader, and my constant twist-vigilance borders on the ridiculous. It's a good one!)
But writing techniques and usual book considerations aside, it's the characters that make My Lady King shine. The representation is incredibly refreshing; the cast is entirely made of people of color, and queer relationships are presented as completely normal. Entirely ordinary. There is zero prejudice, zero coming-out drama, zero sensationalization or ignorance, and I cannot tell you how refreshing this is.
Not only same-gender relationships, but transgender people are presented in the same way - as completely normal, accepted, expected. Several incidental characters are genderless or nonbinary, and one key character is transgender - which has absolutely no bearing on the plot and is not exploited in any way. These people simply are, as we simply are in real life, every day.
The heart of this book is love. Love of another, yes, but also self-love. Main character Keziah, the powerful, young but jaded witch, is still very much recovering from a damaging and traumatic abusive relationship - and this is written beautifully, and heartbreakingly. This is a love story not just about two people with each other, but Keziah with herself. Self-acceptance, self-love, self-forgiveness (or the realization that there was nothing to forgive!) is presented as just as important as romantic love, and this is something I have honestly never seen in a book before.
My Lady King is important for so many ways, and I've only really scratched the surface. Do yourself a favor and give it a read. Even if you are not a marginalized person or an abuse survivor - maybe especially then. There is something meaningful and good here for everyone. I can't say how much I recommend it. Sometimes a book comes along that stays with you, and this is one of those for me. I think it will be for a lot of you as well.
March 19, 2015
DNFing at 21% I was really trying to stick with it, b/c there was so much promise.
But I'm too distracted by so many things that I'm simply not enjoying the book.
I do like she's a prince, and going to be king, but I hate it's qualified with 'lady' king. It feels like backpedaling on getting rid of queen/princess/etc.
The writing feels rough and unedited, like an outline rather than a fully realized novel. It's all telling (and telling and telling) rather than showing. Like showing us the POVs of the brother and fiance. That wasn't necessary, it did nothing to move the story forward and honestly took away a lot of the tension/mystery that should have been there. It would have been more engaging if the king had been happy and with her loved ones, without it being beaten over our head who the bad guys are.
Some little things just don't plain make sense. Why in the world would a veteran soldier play with a wooden sword against real steel? That's stupid and dangerous.
The whole throwing it in the air and catching it. That's showmanship, something for Hollywood or Broadway. It was random and weird and out of place.
Her brother says he's not a prince, but they're siblings and she's going to be king, so yes, he is a prince. I assume the author meant he's not *crown* prince, but I just don't know.
Then, while still badly wounded and recovering, the king just left out of nowhere to go traipsing about to see a village. No plan, no guard, no entourage, no discussing matters with people to take care of things while she's gone, no informing them how long she'll be gone. Nothing. Just goes off, nearly gets killed, wakes up alone and decides to keep going? Again, doesn't make sense for her character.
The cow thing was really weird, but I'm assuming that's an effect of the drugs.
Lastly, the kindle version I bought has lousy formatting. There's no space between paragraphs, no indentation, so they're mushed together and it's really hard to read.
I'm sorry my review couldn't be positive. The premise was everything I love in fantasy, but the execution needs a lot of work.
(also, this doesn't really matter to the book itself, does the armor on the cover have boob cups? Am I seeing that right? Because -_-)
But I'm too distracted by so many things that I'm simply not enjoying the book.
I do like she's a prince, and going to be king, but I hate it's qualified with 'lady' king. It feels like backpedaling on getting rid of queen/princess/etc.
The writing feels rough and unedited, like an outline rather than a fully realized novel. It's all telling (and telling and telling) rather than showing. Like showing us the POVs of the brother and fiance. That wasn't necessary, it did nothing to move the story forward and honestly took away a lot of the tension/mystery that should have been there. It would have been more engaging if the king had been happy and with her loved ones, without it being beaten over our head who the bad guys are.
Some little things just don't plain make sense. Why in the world would a veteran soldier play with a wooden sword against real steel? That's stupid and dangerous.
The whole throwing it in the air and catching it. That's showmanship, something for Hollywood or Broadway. It was random and weird and out of place.
Her brother says he's not a prince, but they're siblings and she's going to be king, so yes, he is a prince. I assume the author meant he's not *crown* prince, but I just don't know.
Then, while still badly wounded and recovering, the king just left out of nowhere to go traipsing about to see a village. No plan, no guard, no entourage, no discussing matters with people to take care of things while she's gone, no informing them how long she'll be gone. Nothing. Just goes off, nearly gets killed, wakes up alone and decides to keep going? Again, doesn't make sense for her character.
The cow thing was really weird, but I'm assuming that's an effect of the drugs.
Lastly, the kindle version I bought has lousy formatting. There's no space between paragraphs, no indentation, so they're mushed together and it's really hard to read.
I'm sorry my review couldn't be positive. The premise was everything I love in fantasy, but the execution needs a lot of work.
(also, this doesn't really matter to the book itself, does the armor on the cover have boob cups? Am I seeing that right? Because -_-)
June 10, 2017
Ladies. Ladies. This is it. This is the kind of fantasy I need in my life.
So, for starters, this is a novella about two WOC falling in love with each other. Good, right? But it gets better: one of them is a fierce warrior soon to be crowned king; the other is a witch. Yes. Witch. Not convinced? Gender representation. What kind, you ask? All of it. NB. Trans. Even genderless characters. Not all of them fleshed out - remember, this is a novella - but still there. Existing. Not suffering, not dying, because homophobia/transphobia isn't the norm in this world. "Oh, this is your wife? You're a lucky lady indeed!". BLESS.
But alright, let's say you're more interested in the fantasy itself. Well, you'll have it. There are divine beings lurking in the background. There's death bargaining. Magic itself is there and no one fears it or condeems it; witches are pretty much the doctors of this world. The author gives us just enough to form a picture, which I think was the point. It's a fantasy setting, almost a fairy tale, really, and you're there for the ride.
This could very well be stretched out in a book. There's a lot to unfold here, from the mythology to the magic system to the politics. But again, keep in mind this is a novella; it's short, it's quick, and it gets to the point. Which is why this is a solid 5 stars for me, because it delivered what it promised. AND GDI, I LOVE ESDELOT.
p.s. TW for abusive relationship. Because not satisfied with a good f/f romance sprinkled with gender rep, the story also covers the subtlety and the lasting trauma of abusive relationships. May the Goddess bless Kayla Bashe.
So, for starters, this is a novella about two WOC falling in love with each other. Good, right? But it gets better: one of them is a fierce warrior soon to be crowned king; the other is a witch. Yes. Witch. Not convinced? Gender representation. What kind, you ask? All of it. NB. Trans. Even genderless characters. Not all of them fleshed out - remember, this is a novella - but still there. Existing. Not suffering, not dying, because homophobia/transphobia isn't the norm in this world. "Oh, this is your wife? You're a lucky lady indeed!". BLESS.
But alright, let's say you're more interested in the fantasy itself. Well, you'll have it. There are divine beings lurking in the background. There's death bargaining. Magic itself is there and no one fears it or condeems it; witches are pretty much the doctors of this world. The author gives us just enough to form a picture, which I think was the point. It's a fantasy setting, almost a fairy tale, really, and you're there for the ride.
This could very well be stretched out in a book. There's a lot to unfold here, from the mythology to the magic system to the politics. But again, keep in mind this is a novella; it's short, it's quick, and it gets to the point. Which is why this is a solid 5 stars for me, because it delivered what it promised. AND GDI, I LOVE ESDELOT.
p.s. TW for abusive relationship. Because not satisfied with a good f/f romance sprinkled with gender rep, the story also covers the subtlety and the lasting trauma of abusive relationships. May the Goddess bless Kayla Bashe.
July 28, 2016
What a great, genderweird romp! Plot twists, rich worldbuilding, come on, I want a movie.
First of all, at its center it’s a romance between a butch warrior monarch who is female but is constantly referred to as a king and not a queen, and you know what? It just makes sense within the logic of the story, and a bisexual witch who’s devoted to helping her impoverished, hardworking people but is also recovering from a scary past.
Second of all, all the other important characters in the book are queer and/or trans, too, including several minor nonbinary characters.
The casualness with which same-sex attraction and trans identities are respected in the fantasy world she created were a lot of fun. Her leads still had plenty of problems to fight off — they just weren’t homo/bi/lesbo/transphobic microaggressions.
Both leading ladies are women of color, and the witch’s dark skin is complimented by other characters in a way that evokes this culture’s worship of the moon and the night.
Also, Bashe created a compelling Death character that, well, I guess I finished up the book with a crush on. MY TASTE IN MEN, IT IS WEIRD bye.
Anyway, short version: if you like things where ladies like other ladies, and defend other ladies, and want to play in a fantasy sandbox where YOU and YOU and YOU are included without having to write half the representation in your head, go download this!
First of all, at its center it’s a romance between a butch warrior monarch who is female but is constantly referred to as a king and not a queen, and you know what? It just makes sense within the logic of the story, and a bisexual witch who’s devoted to helping her impoverished, hardworking people but is also recovering from a scary past.
Second of all, all the other important characters in the book are queer and/or trans, too, including several minor nonbinary characters.
The casualness with which same-sex attraction and trans identities are respected in the fantasy world she created were a lot of fun. Her leads still had plenty of problems to fight off — they just weren’t homo/bi/lesbo/transphobic microaggressions.
Both leading ladies are women of color, and the witch’s dark skin is complimented by other characters in a way that evokes this culture’s worship of the moon and the night.
Also, Bashe created a compelling Death character that, well, I guess I finished up the book with a crush on. MY TASTE IN MEN, IT IS WEIRD bye.
Anyway, short version: if you like things where ladies like other ladies, and defend other ladies, and want to play in a fantasy sandbox where YOU and YOU and YOU are included without having to write half the representation in your head, go download this!
February 20, 2015
There is so much that is right about what Kayla Bashe is trying to do in her fantasy novella My Lady King that I wish I could give the book a better recommendation.
The good stuff: strong female heroes, prominent presence of people of colour, a society that is totally accepting of trans and genderqueer folk (the novella refers to the latter as nonbinaries) and of sexual and loving relationships between people of any and all genders. The world Bashe creates is nothing if not wildly and wonderfully inclusive, and that is something good to see - a beginning novelist who starts out writing projects that embody the diversity we desperately need in the speculative fiction genre.
But though I have much admiration for Bashe's intentions, this novella lacks in the execution. The writing is at times awkward, even clumsy. The characters are inconsistently drawn. I never felt that either of the protagonists developed a consistent voice, and the antagonist was overblown and lacked true motivation - she seemed to exist solely to be evil.
These flaws noted, I will say that it was by no means unreadable. I enjoyed the story, and I believe the author has the ability to improve her writing - perhaps with the help of some beta readers capable of making honest and detailed critiques, and a good editor.
The good stuff: strong female heroes, prominent presence of people of colour, a society that is totally accepting of trans and genderqueer folk (the novella refers to the latter as nonbinaries) and of sexual and loving relationships between people of any and all genders. The world Bashe creates is nothing if not wildly and wonderfully inclusive, and that is something good to see - a beginning novelist who starts out writing projects that embody the diversity we desperately need in the speculative fiction genre.
But though I have much admiration for Bashe's intentions, this novella lacks in the execution. The writing is at times awkward, even clumsy. The characters are inconsistently drawn. I never felt that either of the protagonists developed a consistent voice, and the antagonist was overblown and lacked true motivation - she seemed to exist solely to be evil.
These flaws noted, I will say that it was by no means unreadable. I enjoyed the story, and I believe the author has the ability to improve her writing - perhaps with the help of some beta readers capable of making honest and detailed critiques, and a good editor.
November 29, 2014
This was such a disappointment to me. I got all excited over the synopsis of a fantasy novel where the protagonist is a woman who's both warrior and king, and the lesbian romance has two of my guilty pleasure tropes: hurt/comfort and reluctance to be romantically involved. I was fully prepared to love this book.
Unfortunately it was apparent right off the bat that the writing is just sub par. Bashe clearly has a vision to share and a story to tell, but in its current state I found this to be unreadable.
If you're considering reading this book, then do yourself a favor and check out the preview of the first couple of pages that Amazon offers under their 'Look Inside' feature. That'll show you the level of writing in this book, and you can make your mind up for yourself.
Unfortunately it was apparent right off the bat that the writing is just sub par. Bashe clearly has a vision to share and a story to tell, but in its current state I found this to be unreadable.
If you're considering reading this book, then do yourself a favor and check out the preview of the first couple of pages that Amazon offers under their 'Look Inside' feature. That'll show you the level of writing in this book, and you can make your mind up for yourself.
June 5, 2015
This was an absolutely beautiful story, although quite short in length. This story included a wide variety of LGBTQIA+ people and Kayla Bashe wrote it all so incredibly well. Bashe wrote with such ease and comfort, that it felt as if I really did live in a world where heteronormativity ceased to exist. I was extremely impressed with Bashe's execution. You could tell exactly what the author wanted from the story, and Bashe nailed it.
September 3, 2014
This book was so amazing and I want more from this world. It doesn't have to be even around these same characters or even time period in this world, but I want to know more about a universe and country where non-binary, trans, cis, gay, bi, and asexual people are all considered the norm. That people are just people.
December 27, 2015
There's a lot of potential here. Gender norms turned on their heads, lesbians, POC, all under-represented things in most books. Unfortunately, the lack of world building, mediocre character development, and rushed scenes made this a very disappointing read.
December 22, 2016
So much potential, but unfortunately this reads like a children's fantasy book - no explanations, no background - things just happen, and as the reader you are just meant to accept it all without question. At the heart of the book is a lovely story, it's a pity it wasn't fleshed out more.
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September 4, 2015Poorly written, poorly edited, and just a mess with no showing, but telling. Would not recommend. Shake really.
December 13, 2017
WTF was that?? Like I don't mean to be rude, but I cannot possibly have read the same book as most people here... (I also think this is nowhere close to a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but that's really unimportant.)
In summary:
- awful editing
- awful writing
- awful storytelling
- awful world-building and exposition
- convoluted yet simplistic plot
- one-dimensional characters
- unrealistic ...everything actually, including but not limited to motivations, magic, governing structures, etc.
- weirdly simplistic sort-of-fake feminism
- racist crap all around (dehumanizing and exoticizing)
I also couldn't stand the main character constantly condescendingly addressing the love interest as "little witch." As well as the forced stiff insertions of diversity regarding sexual and gender identities. Especially when the author set up such a prime opportunity to make the main character trans, which I don't think was intentional? Like, in any other story, I'd say the undertones are pretty explicitly pointing to a trans character, even despite the numerous references to her shapely womanly forms and chest (until the love interest sees her naked). But this story hits you so hard and so frequently on the head with its unsubtle diversity that anything like subtle and respectful representation is ludicrous to even consider.
In summary:
- awful editing
- awful writing
- awful storytelling
- awful world-building and exposition
- convoluted yet simplistic plot
- one-dimensional characters
- unrealistic ...everything actually, including but not limited to motivations, magic, governing structures, etc.
- weirdly simplistic sort-of-fake feminism
- racist crap all around (dehumanizing and exoticizing)
I also couldn't stand the main character constantly condescendingly addressing the love interest as "little witch." As well as the forced stiff insertions of diversity regarding sexual and gender identities. Especially when the author set up such a prime opportunity to make the main character trans, which I don't think was intentional? Like, in any other story, I'd say the undertones are pretty explicitly pointing to a trans character, even despite the numerous references to her shapely womanly forms and chest (until the love interest sees her naked). But this story hits you so hard and so frequently on the head with its unsubtle diversity that anything like subtle and respectful representation is ludicrous to even consider.
April 19, 2021
this was so cute and all the non-binary rep made me so happy <3
December 12, 2021
Endearing, diverse characters, and an interesting concept. The constant switch between characters' points of view within a single scene made things quite confusing, though, and the grammar choices weren't consistent.
I love reading independently published books like this one, I think they have much more interesting ideas. And it's definitely a step away from the mainstream fantasy I'm so bored of! This was enjoyable, but as I read further, a few things stuck out. The metaphors/overall messages of the book are pretty heavy-handed, and the lack of consistent grammar started to bother me (for example, sometimes character's thoughts were italicized, making it very clear. But other times they were left in plain text, and suddenly it felt as though you were switching POVs).
Overall: Cute, interesting, and a quick read!
I love reading independently published books like this one, I think they have much more interesting ideas. And it's definitely a step away from the mainstream fantasy I'm so bored of! This was enjoyable, but as I read further, a few things stuck out. The metaphors/overall messages of the book are pretty heavy-handed, and the lack of consistent grammar started to bother me (for example, sometimes character's thoughts were italicized, making it very clear. But other times they were left in plain text, and suddenly it felt as though you were switching POVs).
Overall: Cute, interesting, and a quick read!
August 24, 2014
I'd greatly enjoyed Graveyard Sparrow by Kayla Bashe, and so was very excited when she let me know about her forays into high fantasy. While My Lady King didn't end up capturing my heart the way Graveyard Sparrow did, it was still a fun and romantic little episode in a setting we see all too little of in contemporary fantasy. Bashe's books continue to be page-turners (or page-scrollers, if you're reading them in e-format like I did!)
To get the negatives out of the way, My Lady King suffered from a lack of ambiguity. There's nothing wrong with having clear-cut villains and heroes, but being presented with who they all were and what they were scheming right off the bat was a bit much. It's a case of "show, don't tell"; let us judge characters by their actions, and see for ourselves what their moral character is. (As a writer, I might add that this advice is easier to give than to follow.)
But despite this, My Lady King is quite a charming story. Esdelot is the titular Lady King, a forward-thinking reformer and enthusiastic athlete, too good-natured to realise all the jealousy that stirs within her own house. Keziah (my favorite character) is a humble witch with the decidedly not-humble task of saving her king's life, as well as determining the fate of her own village. Their love comes slowly and naturally, and the best thing about it is how well the two get along as friends and partners first. The romance genre can use more of that.
My Lady King can be bought for 2.99 on Amazon. Read it if you want some optimistic fantasy in a sea of grim darkness.
To get the negatives out of the way, My Lady King suffered from a lack of ambiguity. There's nothing wrong with having clear-cut villains and heroes, but being presented with who they all were and what they were scheming right off the bat was a bit much. It's a case of "show, don't tell"; let us judge characters by their actions, and see for ourselves what their moral character is. (As a writer, I might add that this advice is easier to give than to follow.)
But despite this, My Lady King is quite a charming story. Esdelot is the titular Lady King, a forward-thinking reformer and enthusiastic athlete, too good-natured to realise all the jealousy that stirs within her own house. Keziah (my favorite character) is a humble witch with the decidedly not-humble task of saving her king's life, as well as determining the fate of her own village. Their love comes slowly and naturally, and the best thing about it is how well the two get along as friends and partners first. The romance genre can use more of that.
My Lady King can be bought for 2.99 on Amazon. Read it if you want some optimistic fantasy in a sea of grim darkness.
February 15, 2015
I have mixed but overall positive feelings about this book. The sudden transitions between scenes, and the way characters sometimes break into each other's conversations, sometimes left me confused about who was speaking. I wish the sections dealing with the royal court had been fleshed out more. Why do they turn against Esdelot so easily? What do the nobles, and the public in general, think of Esdelot and Thane and Josiana?
I was extremely impressed with the way Esdelot's character was developed. It would have been very easy for her to seem too completely perfect or too excessively flawed, but I think the way she was portrayed was very well-balanced. She's larger-than-life just like you'd expect a prophesied true king to be, but her personality and flaws are still believable.
Considering that the overall tone is of a fairy tale where people make deals with the gods and prophecies come true, the abusive relationships in the story are handled with an amazing amount of nuance and detail. For me, there's enough of that fairy-tale tone to keep the story from being truly dark, but Keziah's fears are described frankly and compellingly.
I was extremely impressed with the way Esdelot's character was developed. It would have been very easy for her to seem too completely perfect or too excessively flawed, but I think the way she was portrayed was very well-balanced. She's larger-than-life just like you'd expect a prophesied true king to be, but her personality and flaws are still believable.
Considering that the overall tone is of a fairy tale where people make deals with the gods and prophecies come true, the abusive relationships in the story are handled with an amazing amount of nuance and detail. For me, there's enough of that fairy-tale tone to keep the story from being truly dark, but Keziah's fears are described frankly and compellingly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2015
This book was really enjoyable. The characters were likable, the world was interesting, and the writing was good. It was a fast-paced story. It wasn't full of action necessarily, it was very character-driven, but I like that in a book. If you're a fan of more action, this might not be the book for you. However, as I mentioned, I liked it. The romance between the two main characters was adorable and although I feel like it would've been better if it had moved a bit slower, it was still very cute. The book is also very good representation-wise. It has many characters who are POC, as well as lesbian, bisexual,transgender, and non-binary characters. This book would've been a five star book for me if it had been a little bit longer and given time for the romance to move a bit slower and for more world-building. But nevertheless, I liked the book and definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a fun fantasy book with great POC & LGBT representation.
July 24, 2015
This was a charming book. As other reviewers have said, it could have used a decent editor--simple mistakes like "sight" instead of "site" as well as more complex things including a very big, "Wait, what?" moment. (Here I mean pretty much everything involving the antagonist's motives, as well as things she knew, like??)
But overall I did enjoy the book. It was fast-paced and the two main characters were lovable. And of course it gets a hundred points for nicely-done LGBTQ characters (although I thought we'd get some clarification about the T... If we did, I missed it). It was great to see a relationship involving two ladies, with one bi and one possibly trans. Another hundred points for so many characters of color (possibly all?).
I can't help but feel like, with a fresh pair of eyes and another draft, this book could have been four or five stars, but it's at a solid three. I do plan to look into the author's other works.
But overall I did enjoy the book. It was fast-paced and the two main characters were lovable. And of course it gets a hundred points for nicely-done LGBTQ characters (although I thought we'd get some clarification about the T... If we did, I missed it). It was great to see a relationship involving two ladies, with one bi and one possibly trans. Another hundred points for so many characters of color (possibly all?).
I can't help but feel like, with a fresh pair of eyes and another draft, this book could have been four or five stars, but it's at a solid three. I do plan to look into the author's other works.
March 21, 2017
Okay, so, genderqueer reviewer here, and the only thing I have to say about this book has to do with stuff revealed at the end, so spoilers from here on out.
At the beginning of the story, the author tries very hard to use subtext (and outright text) to trick the reader into thinking that Esdelot is trans. Yes, I said *trick.* The "twist" at the end is that Esdelot is not actually trans, her brother is instead. I can only imagine this was meant to be an eye opening moment for cis readers and teach them a lesson about making assumptions about genitals or whatever.
And I just... I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this. Does this author understand how painful it is to think you're being represented and then whoops, surprise, you're actually not? To be used as a prop in cis-centric bullshit? I can't imagine that this book was written with the feelings of trans readers in mind at all.
Yeah. Pass.
At the beginning of the story, the author tries very hard to use subtext (and outright text) to trick the reader into thinking that Esdelot is trans. Yes, I said *trick.* The "twist" at the end is that Esdelot is not actually trans, her brother is instead. I can only imagine this was meant to be an eye opening moment for cis readers and teach them a lesson about making assumptions about genitals or whatever.
And I just... I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this. Does this author understand how painful it is to think you're being represented and then whoops, surprise, you're actually not? To be used as a prop in cis-centric bullshit? I can't imagine that this book was written with the feelings of trans readers in mind at all.
Yeah. Pass.
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November 10, 2019For a self-published work from an author I hadn't read before, My Lady King actually impressed me by being... not as bad as it could've been.
I don't have any complaints about plot. If anything, I think the plot was the strong part of this novel. Each plot point made sense in moving the story forward and fleshing out the characters. The villain was very cardboard in this (I don't think we ever really learned her motivations aside from like, just bein' evil) but Keziah and Esdelot were decent characters. One issue is that this book is not properly formatted for Kindle. It shows up double-spaced and without paragraph indents, which is a problem for me as far as readability.
I don't have any complaints about plot. If anything, I think the plot was the strong part of this novel. Each plot point made sense in moving the story forward and fleshing out the characters. The villain was very cardboard in this (I don't think we ever really learned her motivations aside from like, just bein' evil) but Keziah and Esdelot were decent characters. One issue is that this book is not properly formatted for Kindle. It shows up double-spaced and without paragraph indents, which is a problem for me as far as readability.
January 10, 2015
I really loved this story. Yes, the execution isn't perfect - the writing style was initially off-putting but does improve as the book goes on, I felt.
However, what really got me is the slow build of the relationship between Esdelot and Keziah. I was throughly charmed by Esdelot's passionate, fierce, good-naturedness, and by Keziah's thoughtful quietness and sad past. I could see aspects of myself in both of them, and found it easy to identify with them and their story in a way that felt totally natural (as trying to identify with cis white straight male heroes never has).
I would love to see more stories set in this world and will definitely be reading other works by this author.
However, what really got me is the slow build of the relationship between Esdelot and Keziah. I was throughly charmed by Esdelot's passionate, fierce, good-naturedness, and by Keziah's thoughtful quietness and sad past. I could see aspects of myself in both of them, and found it easy to identify with them and their story in a way that felt totally natural (as trying to identify with cis white straight male heroes never has).
I would love to see more stories set in this world and will definitely be reading other works by this author.
January 11, 2015
I absolutely loved this book! It had a great plot with themes of self-forgiveness and self-worth that actually made me tear up a bit. They were words I really needed to read.
Kayla Bashe always fills her books with so much representation! All sorts of LGBTQIA+ people reside within, and they're all treated as perfectly normal. Not bad or even odd! Nonbinary people are common in this kingdom, and plenty of people were trans, as well.
I love Kayla Bashe's books, and this one might be my favorite so far!
Kayla Bashe always fills her books with so much representation! All sorts of LGBTQIA+ people reside within, and they're all treated as perfectly normal. Not bad or even odd! Nonbinary people are common in this kingdom, and plenty of people were trans, as well.
I love Kayla Bashe's books, and this one might be my favorite so far!
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