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Champion of the Gods #0.5
First Love
Prequel to The Last Grand Master
A Champion of the Gods Story
On a visit to Yar-del with Grand Master Heminaltose to celebrate his age of majority birthday, Farrell catches the eye of Lieutenant Cameron, a handsome young officer in the Queen’s Guard. But having spent most of his life cooped up at Heminaltose’s school for wizards, Farrell is clueless as to palace intrigue. He is unaware that his access to the queen is something others would greatly prize. When the queen points out that his suitor is the son of a social climbing minor noble, Farrell must decide whether to heed the warning or meet with Cameron anyway.
A Champion of the Gods Story
On a visit to Yar-del with Grand Master Heminaltose to celebrate his age of majority birthday, Farrell catches the eye of Lieutenant Cameron, a handsome young officer in the Queen’s Guard. But having spent most of his life cooped up at Heminaltose’s school for wizards, Farrell is clueless as to palace intrigue. He is unaware that his access to the queen is something others would greatly prize. When the queen points out that his suitor is the son of a social climbing minor noble, Farrell must decide whether to heed the warning or meet with Cameron anyway.
40 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 27, 2015
6 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Q. Gordon
22 books122 followersAfter a minor in creative writing in college, Andrew Q. Gordon decided to become old and stodgy and went to law school. At the urging of his partner, he returned to creative writing almost two decades later . Still working as a lawyer, he and his husband of seventeen years and their dogs live in the DC area. In 2011 they welcomed their daughter into their family. Andrew still manages to write after the last diaper is changed and he unwraps himself from his daughter's little finger.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 12, 2016
Reviewed for Prism Book Alliance
If you have read Last Grand Master, this is a little insight that you will likely greatly appreciate. If you have not read Last Grand Master, you may not understand the interaction and accord among the characters.
September 12, 2019
A great introduction
Mr. Gordon's books have been on my to be read pile for far too long. I finally managed to start reading his story and am now kicking myself for waiting so long.
Though this prequel is nothing more than backstory and character introduction, I found myself craving more. I'm amazed at how easily I fell in love with our hero, young Farrell. I was right there with him as he discloses his attraction to men to his mother and felt her love for him as she stumbles to accept. I felt his fears as The Queen cautions him against those who would use him as an access to the court. But most of all I felt envy for the young man who is in the throes of growing up and discovering all the pleasures of finding someone special.
Based off of what I read in First Love, the prequel story of the Champion of the Gods series, I know I'm going to be in for a fantastic series of reads. I strongly recommend that you give Mr. Gordon's stories a try. Like me, you may find yourself falling for Ferrell too.
Mr. Gordon's books have been on my to be read pile for far too long. I finally managed to start reading his story and am now kicking myself for waiting so long.
Though this prequel is nothing more than backstory and character introduction, I found myself craving more. I'm amazed at how easily I fell in love with our hero, young Farrell. I was right there with him as he discloses his attraction to men to his mother and felt her love for him as she stumbles to accept. I felt his fears as The Queen cautions him against those who would use him as an access to the court. But most of all I felt envy for the young man who is in the throes of growing up and discovering all the pleasures of finding someone special.
Based off of what I read in First Love, the prequel story of the Champion of the Gods series, I know I'm going to be in for a fantastic series of reads. I strongly recommend that you give Mr. Gordon's stories a try. Like me, you may find yourself falling for Ferrell too.
December 24, 2017
I read this after "The Last Grand Master ", which I had enjoyed and wanted more from the series and writer.
This would have given me a heads up on the M/M aspect of the series, however, I have found that this aspect has been dealt with in a very upfront and straight forward manner. It is a major part of this story, as more an explanation of sorts and background to the main series.
This would have given me a heads up on the M/M aspect of the series, however, I have found that this aspect has been dealt with in a very upfront and straight forward manner. It is a major part of this story, as more an explanation of sorts and background to the main series.
November 3, 2020
Hartwarming short story
So what I was expecting given the frist few sentances of the book was not what I got in the end. But the twist was a nice one giving a toned down version that warmed the heart and made me want to read more. The birthday suprise was a very sweet moment. I like how much characterization worked to change the attitudes of the side characters quickly. So it was a nice introduction to the world.
So what I was expecting given the frist few sentances of the book was not what I got in the end. But the twist was a nice one giving a toned down version that warmed the heart and made me want to read more. The birthday suprise was a very sweet moment. I like how much characterization worked to change the attitudes of the side characters quickly. So it was a nice introduction to the world.
July 14, 2017
Appetizer that helped launch me into book 1. I really enjoyed this one!
February 5, 2020
A great insight into Ferrell's adolescence
2020 Second Edition
This short prequel, as said in the forward, is best to be read after book one, The Last Grand Master. It not only gives insight into something alluded to in the first book, but also gives the reader a glimpse at the relationships Ferrell had with Zenora, the Queen of Yar-del and his absentee mother, as well as the not so loving instructor, Grand Master Heminaltose. It dives into Ferrell's fears of his sexuality and how it could affect the throne, as well as the beginning of a dalliance with a character whom we meet in book four, Child of Night and Day. A few issues that will undoubtedly be fixed in the formatting are found, but my biggest complaint is that it was way too short!
Happy reading!
2020 Second Edition
This short prequel, as said in the forward, is best to be read after book one, The Last Grand Master. It not only gives insight into something alluded to in the first book, but also gives the reader a glimpse at the relationships Ferrell had with Zenora, the Queen of Yar-del and his absentee mother, as well as the not so loving instructor, Grand Master Heminaltose. It dives into Ferrell's fears of his sexuality and how it could affect the throne, as well as the beginning of a dalliance with a character whom we meet in book four, Child of Night and Day. A few issues that will undoubtedly be fixed in the formatting are found, but my biggest complaint is that it was way too short!
Happy reading!
December 1, 2019
as a short story this is a nice read. you get to meet a young prince wizard Farrell who you sense there is more to him than meets the eye. you meet two other critical characters who play a big part the entire saga that is to follow.
as a reader you do no get to understand the importance of this short read as one makes your way through the remaining books. two of the characters central in this short are significant to young Farrell's life as he fights evil.
as a stand alone short it probably does not deserve the 5 stars I gave it, but as an important scene setter for the entire saga, it deserves all it gets.
I like the way the author builds up the character of Farrell seeing his insecurities and his strengths. you sense that he has an enormous task ahead of him.
Read it but don't stop just here, it will be such a loss if you do.
As i write this I have completed 'the last grand master' (OMG) and out at sea with the 'eye and the arm' cant put them down.
as a reader you do no get to understand the importance of this short read as one makes your way through the remaining books. two of the characters central in this short are significant to young Farrell's life as he fights evil.
as a stand alone short it probably does not deserve the 5 stars I gave it, but as an important scene setter for the entire saga, it deserves all it gets.
I like the way the author builds up the character of Farrell seeing his insecurities and his strengths. you sense that he has an enormous task ahead of him.
Read it but don't stop just here, it will be such a loss if you do.
As i write this I have completed 'the last grand master' (OMG) and out at sea with the 'eye and the arm' cant put them down.
February 14, 2016
First Love is a great short story from Andrew Q. Gordon which acts as a prequel for his Champion of the Gods fantasy M/M series.
Although chronologically first, I actually wish I'd read this after Book One in the series. The reason for that is the fact this tale introduces characters who have died or are otherwise gone by the time the events of Book One take place and I had gotten invested in the characters in this short story, and was therefore sad to find them missing in the first main book.
But that aside, this is an engaging tale and helps to illuminate Farrell's background and some of the events that lead to the main storyline of the series.
Although chronologically first, I actually wish I'd read this after Book One in the series. The reason for that is the fact this tale introduces characters who have died or are otherwise gone by the time the events of Book One take place and I had gotten invested in the characters in this short story, and was therefore sad to find them missing in the first main book.
But that aside, this is an engaging tale and helps to illuminate Farrell's background and some of the events that lead to the main storyline of the series.
February 21, 2015
Reviewed for The Novel Approach. Review to come soon (in conjunction with The Last Grand Master)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews