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Midland Chronicles #1
Iron Rune: A Queer Romantasy
A new queer romantic fantasy novel from indie author Kent Holland.ARTAGNAN THORNE, a demi-elf, has one simple goal in to get a promotion at the elven Scriptorium so that he can afford his own place to live. His five-year plan certainly does not include getting selected to go on a holy quest to recover the stolen Amulet of Ansel, but that is, unfortunately, what the Oracles have decided.
LYSANDER MOONBANE has been known as the Mad Prince of the Dark Elves for almost his entire life. Finally, he has decided to do something about his fate, and embarks on a quest to find a magical pool that will supposedly cure any ailment.
What neither young man expects is for their paths to bring them into contact with each other, or that they may be able to help the other achieve his goal.
Together, the two young men brave ancient evils, wily witches, and awkward interspecies politics, bargain with gods, romance princes, and maybe even ride some dragons, as they attempt to find the answers to their problems.
Their heroes’ journeys aren’t what they seem, though, and they find themselves unexpectedly up against a darkness far bigger than either of them anticipated.
LYSANDER MOONBANE has been known as the Mad Prince of the Dark Elves for almost his entire life. Finally, he has decided to do something about his fate, and embarks on a quest to find a magical pool that will supposedly cure any ailment.
What neither young man expects is for their paths to bring them into contact with each other, or that they may be able to help the other achieve his goal.
Together, the two young men brave ancient evils, wily witches, and awkward interspecies politics, bargain with gods, romance princes, and maybe even ride some dragons, as they attempt to find the answers to their problems.
Their heroes’ journeys aren’t what they seem, though, and they find themselves unexpectedly up against a darkness far bigger than either of them anticipated.
551 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2025
11 people want to read
About the author
Kent Holland
12 books21 followersKent Holland is an openly Queer writer of gay and queer romance novels that have a lot of heart and a healthy amount of spice. He is based in Tennessee. When he is not writing, he enjoys listening to music, running marathons, spending time with his friends, and reading books in any number of genres. A percentage of the profits of all of his book sales goes to support various LGBTQ+ charities, and you can explore various resources to support the LGBTQ+ community on his website, or through the QR code linked in each book. You can connect with him on Instagram at kenthollandwrites.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 4, 2025
4.5 stars
Iron Rune is Holland’s most ambitious book, and the author does an excellent job. It’s his first foray into the fantasy genre and I was excited to discover this is the first in a planned series with book 2 due out in January 2026. In many ways Iron Rune is a very different book from Holland’s previous two contemporary romance trilogies but much of what fans of the author have come to particularly appreciate about his storytelling remains as the foundation of this work – at its heart the book champions the queer sensibility, vulnerability, intelligence, and authenticity that we love about his works.
As with previous books, I was engaged and moved by the introduction, and I really hope Holland never stops including them in this work. They are such an insightful glimpse into the author’s inspiration and process and make me appreciate his books all the more. I especially relate to loving the fantasy genre but being deeply disappointed by its lack of diversity and representation when there is so much possibility for creativity and ingenuity.
This, however, is not a fantasy where you feel disappointed by the author’s lack of imagination – instead Holland has created a complex and layered hero’s journey with a large cast of diverse and compelling characters. There was a full complement of magical beings and creatures – elves, wizards, witches, fairies, ogres, dwarves, gnomes, wraiths, banshees, and even a dragon. The worldbuilding is solid and soundly constructed – there are some lore dumps but always delivered in a way that feels integrated, necessary, and that doesn’t stop the story. The only thing that didn’t quite work for me, and this is noticeable trend in recent contributions to this genre, is one of the characters becomes what has been term over-powered – so strong there is little doubt about the outcome. Without giving any spoilers, the author does attempt to grapple with this and does succeed in creating some suspense through clever manoeuvring, but it would have worked better for me not to have one person with such devastating force available to them. Overall though, this is an accomplished narrative, with well-crafted moments of tension and a thoroughly enjoyable read.
The themes Holland chooses to centre in his books will resonate with queer readers. To read works infused with queer joy and which celebrate the importance of community and love is so affirming and vital. Moreover, I adored the placing of a significant site of queer history and culture into this alternate world. Grab yourself a copy now! I will certainly be rushing to get my hands on book 2 when it drops.
Thank you to the author for the advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Iron Rune is Holland’s most ambitious book, and the author does an excellent job. It’s his first foray into the fantasy genre and I was excited to discover this is the first in a planned series with book 2 due out in January 2026. In many ways Iron Rune is a very different book from Holland’s previous two contemporary romance trilogies but much of what fans of the author have come to particularly appreciate about his storytelling remains as the foundation of this work – at its heart the book champions the queer sensibility, vulnerability, intelligence, and authenticity that we love about his works.
As with previous books, I was engaged and moved by the introduction, and I really hope Holland never stops including them in this work. They are such an insightful glimpse into the author’s inspiration and process and make me appreciate his books all the more. I especially relate to loving the fantasy genre but being deeply disappointed by its lack of diversity and representation when there is so much possibility for creativity and ingenuity.
This, however, is not a fantasy where you feel disappointed by the author’s lack of imagination – instead Holland has created a complex and layered hero’s journey with a large cast of diverse and compelling characters. There was a full complement of magical beings and creatures – elves, wizards, witches, fairies, ogres, dwarves, gnomes, wraiths, banshees, and even a dragon. The worldbuilding is solid and soundly constructed – there are some lore dumps but always delivered in a way that feels integrated, necessary, and that doesn’t stop the story. The only thing that didn’t quite work for me, and this is noticeable trend in recent contributions to this genre, is one of the characters becomes what has been term over-powered – so strong there is little doubt about the outcome. Without giving any spoilers, the author does attempt to grapple with this and does succeed in creating some suspense through clever manoeuvring, but it would have worked better for me not to have one person with such devastating force available to them. Overall though, this is an accomplished narrative, with well-crafted moments of tension and a thoroughly enjoyable read.
The themes Holland chooses to centre in his books will resonate with queer readers. To read works infused with queer joy and which celebrate the importance of community and love is so affirming and vital. Moreover, I adored the placing of a significant site of queer history and culture into this alternate world. Grab yourself a copy now! I will certainly be rushing to get my hands on book 2 when it drops.
Thank you to the author for the advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
November 1, 2025
Kent Holland writes MM Romance well, but this queer romantasy was out of this world! Artagnan, a Demi-elf on a quest to recover a stolen amulet, and Lysander, a Dark Elf that’s determined to figure out his powers, are fantastic characters. Their paths lead them into each other’s lives and on a dark journey against a dangerous foe. Their story was completely engaging and held my attention from the very first page.
The world Holland has created is beautifully written. There were moments where I was totally transported into the story. From creepy forests to dark castles to beautiful oases, Holland vividly paints a picture with his words. Each village, each group of people, and each world was so unique, full of lore and history, and written with such care. The whole book felt well-rounded, really fleshed out, and believable.
All of the characters are actually really well written. There are witches, ogres, elves, shades and more! The group traveling with Artagnan and Lysander are all interesting and make great friends. Their own stories and personalities are able to stand on their own, so hopefully we learn even more about them in the next book.
Holland also does a good job capturing the emotions of the characters. The stakes are high, so you definitely feel the fear and desperation when the characters are in a tight spot. But you also feel the love and hope that they feel, which makes the quest and story all worth it!
The relationship between Artagnan and Lysander is amazing.
“I cradle the side of his face in my hand. "I will stand in that storm with you, Lysander. I will stand in all those worlds colliding and hold them apart." My voice is tight, raw with emotion. "Let me be your lighthouse," I whisper. "Let me show you what is real."”
Ugh! So good! I want nothing but the best for them!
This book is just the start of an epic, queer romantasy. And I totally recommend people read it before the next book comes out!
The world Holland has created is beautifully written. There were moments where I was totally transported into the story. From creepy forests to dark castles to beautiful oases, Holland vividly paints a picture with his words. Each village, each group of people, and each world was so unique, full of lore and history, and written with such care. The whole book felt well-rounded, really fleshed out, and believable.
All of the characters are actually really well written. There are witches, ogres, elves, shades and more! The group traveling with Artagnan and Lysander are all interesting and make great friends. Their own stories and personalities are able to stand on their own, so hopefully we learn even more about them in the next book.
Holland also does a good job capturing the emotions of the characters. The stakes are high, so you definitely feel the fear and desperation when the characters are in a tight spot. But you also feel the love and hope that they feel, which makes the quest and story all worth it!
The relationship between Artagnan and Lysander is amazing.
“I cradle the side of his face in my hand. "I will stand in that storm with you, Lysander. I will stand in all those worlds colliding and hold them apart." My voice is tight, raw with emotion. "Let me be your lighthouse," I whisper. "Let me show you what is real."”
Ugh! So good! I want nothing but the best for them!
This book is just the start of an epic, queer romantasy. And I totally recommend people read it before the next book comes out!
September 13, 2025
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5, rounded up to 5.
Thank you Kent for the ARC!
My thoughts: This was different from what Kent normally writes, however you could still feel his love for writing and making you feel attached to the characters and what they are going through. Iron Rune was just that for me, and I found my self cheering for Artagnan, Lysander, and the rest of their little mishmash group to succeed in their ever evolving quest. I think my one complaint is that everything felt rushed towards the final chapters.
What I loved:
🧝🏽 Artagnan is funny and had me endeared from the moment he burst into his meeting saying “I can explain!”
🧝🏽 Lysander, I’m just a sucker for someone who is seen as a bad boy in reality is a bit of a softie.
🧝🏽 Creepy evil that wants to comeback and destroy everything…low key relatable to what’s happening in the US right now.
🧝🏽 Cresta and Dagna - I loved their backstories.
🧝🏽 Oh Ziria…
🧝🏽Ramaziah, I guess you’re cool, even though you lied a bit.
🧝🏽 Skyler, a ride or die! Literally.
🧝🏽 Sassyness with Gods because honestly they sometimes need it since it seems like they’re just playing guessing games at times.
🧝🏽“I will stand in that storm with you, Lysander. I will stand in all those worlds colliding and hold them apart.” I was about to cry here 😭
Overall, I really enjoyed this romantasy. It was fun, had some turns and twists, made me want to punch a few characters at times, and made love some of them so much to the point that I would cry if they died.
Thank you Kent for the ARC!
My thoughts: This was different from what Kent normally writes, however you could still feel his love for writing and making you feel attached to the characters and what they are going through. Iron Rune was just that for me, and I found my self cheering for Artagnan, Lysander, and the rest of their little mishmash group to succeed in their ever evolving quest. I think my one complaint is that everything felt rushed towards the final chapters.
What I loved:
🧝🏽 Artagnan is funny and had me endeared from the moment he burst into his meeting saying “I can explain!”
🧝🏽 Lysander, I’m just a sucker for someone who is seen as a bad boy in reality is a bit of a softie.
🧝🏽 Creepy evil that wants to comeback and destroy everything…low key relatable to what’s happening in the US right now.
🧝🏽 Cresta and Dagna - I loved their backstories.
🧝🏽 Oh Ziria…
🧝🏽Ramaziah, I guess you’re cool, even though you lied a bit.
🧝🏽 Skyler, a ride or die! Literally.
🧝🏽 Sassyness with Gods because honestly they sometimes need it since it seems like they’re just playing guessing games at times.
🧝🏽“I will stand in that storm with you, Lysander. I will stand in all those worlds colliding and hold them apart.” I was about to cry here 😭
Overall, I really enjoyed this romantasy. It was fun, had some turns and twists, made me want to punch a few characters at times, and made love some of them so much to the point that I would cry if they died.
October 1, 2025
A dazzling adventure that proves Holland is a masterful storyteller. His writing is addicting and I can't get enough.
While Iron Rune departs from the modern setting of his previous novels, it carries the same heart, care, and lyrical touch that made me fall in love with his work. This time, Holland leads us into a world of demi-elves, dark princes, gods, witches, and dragons, crafting an adventure that is as thrilling as it is tender.
Artagnan only wants a promotion, not a holy quest. Lysander only wants freedom from the fate that has defined him. What they find instead is each other. Their journey is filled with danger and wonder, but also with the kind of love that takes root when two souls recognize themselves in one another.
It is a story about purpose, courage, and the unexpected ways love can reshape a life. Holland has written another gem, and I cannot wait to see where his storytelling takes us next. Epic, heartfelt, and brilliantly written—Kent Holland at his best.
While Iron Rune departs from the modern setting of his previous novels, it carries the same heart, care, and lyrical touch that made me fall in love with his work. This time, Holland leads us into a world of demi-elves, dark princes, gods, witches, and dragons, crafting an adventure that is as thrilling as it is tender.
Artagnan only wants a promotion, not a holy quest. Lysander only wants freedom from the fate that has defined him. What they find instead is each other. Their journey is filled with danger and wonder, but also with the kind of love that takes root when two souls recognize themselves in one another.
It is a story about purpose, courage, and the unexpected ways love can reshape a life. Holland has written another gem, and I cannot wait to see where his storytelling takes us next. Epic, heartfelt, and brilliantly written—Kent Holland at his best.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews