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Dalriada
TV writer Alex is having a bad day. Dumped by his soap star ex and on the verge
of being fired for being too American to write for a British period drama,
London has never felt more isolating for a Black, gay history graduate from
Chicago’s South Side.
When his Scottish flatmate drags him to her home on the Isle of Mull, Alex
expects a distraction. Instead, after a whisky-soaked night, he meets Fergus, a
flame-haired fisherman who speaks only ancient Gaelic. After a stormy night
of passion, Alex wakes in ancient Dalriada, a kingdom that has not yet found
its missing king.
War is coming to fifth-century Scotland. The Roman general Valerius is closing
in, and Fergus may be the leader Dalriada needs to survive. Alex has a different
problem. Without his HIV medication, time itself is killing him. To have any
chance of getting home, Alex must face a vengeful Celtic goddess and
of being fired for being too American to write for a British period drama,
London has never felt more isolating for a Black, gay history graduate from
Chicago’s South Side.
When his Scottish flatmate drags him to her home on the Isle of Mull, Alex
expects a distraction. Instead, after a whisky-soaked night, he meets Fergus, a
flame-haired fisherman who speaks only ancient Gaelic. After a stormy night
of passion, Alex wakes in ancient Dalriada, a kingdom that has not yet found
its missing king.
War is coming to fifth-century Scotland. The Roman general Valerius is closing
in, and Fergus may be the leader Dalriada needs to survive. Alex has a different
problem. Without his HIV medication, time itself is killing him. To have any
chance of getting home, Alex must face a vengeful Celtic goddess and
- GenresFantasyM M Romance
388 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 22, 2026
About the author
Harry F. Rey
30 books100 followersHarry F. Rey is an author of over a dozen fiction novels. He's a graduate of Penguin WriteNow 2020, a member of the TV Foundation's New Writers Collective 2024, and has been Pushcart-nominated for his short stories.
Harry's main works include the MM royal drama series The Line of Succession from Deep Desires Press, the queer sci-fi series The Galactic Captains from Nine Star Press, the WWII-era gay historical novel Why in Paris? from Encircle Publications and the historical romance Six Days in Jerusalem.
His debut young adult gay romance - Of Gods and Boys - from Deep Hearts YA recently topped the Amazon teen charts. His other works include the rom-com All the Lovers from Deep Desires and the forthcoming sci-fi thriller The Dorvethan Conspiracy from Rebel Satori Press.
Harry's work has also been featured in anthologies including Not Meant for Each Other from Lost Boys Press and Queer Life, Queer Love from Muswell Press.
Harry can often be found scouring second-hand bookshops for the lost classics of gay literature, which he blogs about on his website and social media.
Harry's main works include the MM royal drama series The Line of Succession from Deep Desires Press, the queer sci-fi series The Galactic Captains from Nine Star Press, the WWII-era gay historical novel Why in Paris? from Encircle Publications and the historical romance Six Days in Jerusalem.
His debut young adult gay romance - Of Gods and Boys - from Deep Hearts YA recently topped the Amazon teen charts. His other works include the rom-com All the Lovers from Deep Desires and the forthcoming sci-fi thriller The Dorvethan Conspiracy from Rebel Satori Press.
Harry's work has also been featured in anthologies including Not Meant for Each Other from Lost Boys Press and Queer Life, Queer Love from Muswell Press.
Harry can often be found scouring second-hand bookshops for the lost classics of gay literature, which he blogs about on his website and social media.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 22, 2026
4⭐
I have some conflicting feelings about this book, but I got hooked and enjoyed most of it. I would recommend it with minor caveats, and personally became very interested in checking out what else the author has to offer. By the way, the blurb of this book is misleading, it's mixing up current events and things that happened 2 or even 7 years ago. I guess that's sort of funny for a time traveling novel, but maybe don't let the blurb form too much of an impression when going in.
So this was my first book by Harry F. Rey. Initially the prose felt a bit oversaturated with similes and metaphors, not really in a way that would have made it feel pretentious, but more like I had to reread some parts to understand, and sometimes still didn't. But either I got used to it or it got toned down, or I just didn't pay so much attention to it when the plot started picking up. I honestly don't know, I wish someone entered my brain and told me what the hell is going on in there. Anyway, I consider this a minor issue that basically went away during the book.
Despite some confusion in the beginning, I immediately liked Alex, and he made me feel, which is pretty much the most important thing I'm ever looking for in a story. I was crying before chapter 3, and obviously I'm talking about the good kind of cry. (Not a fan of true tear-jerkers here.) Honestly the build up to that moment felt masterful: all the conflicting feelings forming into an emerging hope and then the bomb hits—in an absurdly humorous way. When something is funny yet makes me cry, I'm just weak for it. 🤌
So, what are my caveats? After some consideration I'm going to spoiler tag part of the next paragraph, but feel free to check it out, it's not very detailed. They concern the romantic plot which includes things that could disturb several romance readers.
The big THING is... and neither of these things are talked through. I know many readers won't care so much—this is my personal hang-up—but I honestly don't even care if you show your love and save the world 5 times over, I will still have that discussion. Actually, you could put that world-saving on hold for a moment, and focus on having this discussion. So yeah, again I felt for Alex here, so so strongly. And those past hurts were never settled on-page, so I will forever remain salty and bothered. Though I do appreciate that for once we have grand gestures that are proper grand gestures, and not just stupid and selfish stunts. I liked these grand gestures, I just needed that damn discussion too.
I love fantasy and historical stories and honestly don't know that much about authenticity. This certainly felt real enough for a thrill reader like myself, even I can still notice if something is completely ridiculous. Though obviously with the fantasy aspects some suspension of disbelief is required.
I was especially hooked to the heart-breaking and unnerving adventure in the past timeline: Alex is not only displaced in time, he's in a place where there's no treatment for his HIV and no way back, surrounded by a strange world and strange people, his only companion suddenly taking on a very different role, and actual war around him. God, now I want to slap Fergus again. Though honestly even the THING was not a deal-breaker for me (or my rating would be lowered much more), but I felt like things happened much faster that during the early contemporary times, including the conclusion, and we're missing out not only the talk but other possible bonding moments. But I am bothered, because it was good, and I was invested in it.
My thanks to the author and BookSirens. I received an ARC for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I have some conflicting feelings about this book, but I got hooked and enjoyed most of it. I would recommend it with minor caveats, and personally became very interested in checking out what else the author has to offer. By the way, the blurb of this book is misleading, it's mixing up current events and things that happened 2 or even 7 years ago. I guess that's sort of funny for a time traveling novel, but maybe don't let the blurb form too much of an impression when going in.
So this was my first book by Harry F. Rey. Initially the prose felt a bit oversaturated with similes and metaphors, not really in a way that would have made it feel pretentious, but more like I had to reread some parts to understand, and sometimes still didn't. But either I got used to it or it got toned down, or I just didn't pay so much attention to it when the plot started picking up. I honestly don't know, I wish someone entered my brain and told me what the hell is going on in there. Anyway, I consider this a minor issue that basically went away during the book.
Despite some confusion in the beginning, I immediately liked Alex, and he made me feel, which is pretty much the most important thing I'm ever looking for in a story. I was crying before chapter 3, and obviously I'm talking about the good kind of cry. (Not a fan of true tear-jerkers here.) Honestly the build up to that moment felt masterful: all the conflicting feelings forming into an emerging hope and then the bomb hits—in an absurdly humorous way. When something is funny yet makes me cry, I'm just weak for it. 🤌
So, what are my caveats? After some consideration I'm going to spoiler tag part of the next paragraph, but feel free to check it out, it's not very detailed. They concern the romantic plot which includes things that could disturb several romance readers.
The big THING is... and neither of these things are talked through. I know many readers won't care so much—this is my personal hang-up—but I honestly don't even care if you show your love and save the world 5 times over, I will still have that discussion. Actually, you could put that world-saving on hold for a moment, and focus on having this discussion. So yeah, again I felt for Alex here, so so strongly. And those past hurts were never settled on-page, so I will forever remain salty and bothered. Though I do appreciate that for once we have grand gestures that are proper grand gestures, and not just stupid and selfish stunts. I liked these grand gestures, I just needed that damn discussion too.
I love fantasy and historical stories and honestly don't know that much about authenticity. This certainly felt real enough for a thrill reader like myself, even I can still notice if something is completely ridiculous. Though obviously with the fantasy aspects some suspension of disbelief is required.
I was especially hooked to the heart-breaking and unnerving adventure in the past timeline: Alex is not only displaced in time, he's in a place where there's no treatment for his HIV and no way back, surrounded by a strange world and strange people, his only companion suddenly taking on a very different role, and actual war around him. God, now I want to slap Fergus again. Though honestly even the THING was not a deal-breaker for me (or my rating would be lowered much more), but I felt like things happened much faster that during the early contemporary times, including the conclusion, and we're missing out not only the talk but other possible bonding moments. But I am bothered, because it was good, and I was invested in it.
My thanks to the author and BookSirens. I received an ARC for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 23, 2026
I did enjoy this - particularly the present-day sections. The blend of ridiculousness and serious issues was really appealing.
However, the section in the past was too melodramatic for me. For Alex it made sense given everything going on for him, but everyone else was a bit much. It was also messy and jumped too abruptly from one thing to the next and I was relieved when that part of the book was over.
However, the section in the past was too melodramatic for me. For Alex it made sense given everything going on for him, but everyone else was a bit much. It was also messy and jumped too abruptly from one thing to the next and I was relieved when that part of the book was over.
October 6, 2026
I received an ARC from the author via BookSirens & this review only contains my honest thoughts and feelings about this book.💐
This book was about a king loving a man way ahead of his time, about romans taking what isn't theirs and destroying it and most important of all this book was about a man who couldn't find his place in the world but found out he belongs in between the arms of an ancient gaelic king.
I didn't love the fact that Morrigan was the bad guy, because like why are they always portraying the villain as a jealous woman? Even though I loved loved loved Siobhan and her relationship with Alex.
I also didn't love how Fergus turned on Alex when he reunited with Eogan, who had betrayed him!
All in all, it was a looong book but I'm so so sad it's over. It was beautiful and it made me feel things that I loved.
This book was about a king loving a man way ahead of his time, about romans taking what isn't theirs and destroying it and most important of all this book was about a man who couldn't find his place in the world but found out he belongs in between the arms of an ancient gaelic king.
I didn't love the fact that Morrigan was the bad guy, because like why are they always portraying the villain as a jealous woman? Even though I loved loved loved Siobhan and her relationship with Alex.
I also didn't love how Fergus turned on Alex when he reunited with Eogan, who had betrayed him!
All in all, it was a looong book but I'm so so sad it's over. It was beautiful and it made me feel things that I loved.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am not normally a huge fan of historical romance, however this book did it so well and throughly enjoyed it!
It starts with Alex, a TV writer living with HIV.
He decides to head to his flatmates home up in Scotland and meets the mysterious Fergus who washed up on the island years prior. After a night together, they are transported to Dalriada in the year 466. With no pills left , Alex is desperate to get home. With war brewing against Fergus and his people, Fergus and Alex must win the war, deal with the goddess who casted Fergus into the present day and try to get home so Alex can get his medication.
This book was honestly such a good read!
I was so glad that Alex was about to get home and his HIV hadn't progressed and both alex and fergus found each other again!
It starts with Alex, a TV writer living with HIV.
He decides to head to his flatmates home up in Scotland and meets the mysterious Fergus who washed up on the island years prior. After a night together, they are transported to Dalriada in the year 466. With no pills left , Alex is desperate to get home. With war brewing against Fergus and his people, Fergus and Alex must win the war, deal with the goddess who casted Fergus into the present day and try to get home so Alex can get his medication.
This book was honestly such a good read!
I was so glad that Alex was about to get home and his HIV hadn't progressed and both alex and fergus found each other again!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews