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Tales of the Forest #2
Lost and Found: Forester Triad Act Two
The Guide mentioned puddles, but I envisioned lakes, deep treacherous lakes, and I was drowning.
One turn has passed, another Solstice is just around the corner, and having an illicit affair with not one but two lovers—smith Ianys and shunned forester Taruif—is taking its toll on truth seeker Kelnaht.
A stripling has gone missing from the tribe, and heavy rainfall hides all traces of his whereabouts. With days creeping by without a lead, it's hard to keep the tribe's spirits up, more so when Kelnaht's own future depends on the elders. Taruif has been shunned for almost twenty turns, but now that a possible forester's apprentice is coming of age, the elders consider reducing his sentence. Taruif could be set free.
In gaining one lover, Kelnaht may lose another. Ianys seems to be pulling away from them both. He doesn't want to hinder Taruif's happiness while an old promise keeps Ianys from loving Kelnaht openly. But Taruif needs Kelnaht and Ianys' support more than ever. If they lose faith in each other, the puddles in their paths will swallow them all.
___________________________
This is the second revised/re-edited edition of Lost and Found.
One turn has passed, another Solstice is just around the corner, and having an illicit affair with not one but two lovers—smith Ianys and shunned forester Taruif—is taking its toll on truth seeker Kelnaht.
A stripling has gone missing from the tribe, and heavy rainfall hides all traces of his whereabouts. With days creeping by without a lead, it's hard to keep the tribe's spirits up, more so when Kelnaht's own future depends on the elders. Taruif has been shunned for almost twenty turns, but now that a possible forester's apprentice is coming of age, the elders consider reducing his sentence. Taruif could be set free.
In gaining one lover, Kelnaht may lose another. Ianys seems to be pulling away from them both. He doesn't want to hinder Taruif's happiness while an old promise keeps Ianys from loving Kelnaht openly. But Taruif needs Kelnaht and Ianys' support more than ever. If they lose faith in each other, the puddles in their paths will swallow them all.
___________________________
This is the second revised/re-edited edition of Lost and Found.
117 pages, ebook
First published December 21, 2013
4 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Blaine D. Arden
30 books145 followersBlaine D. Arden is an EPIC Award-winning author of Romantic Speculative Fiction. Non-binary and proud, ey sings eir way through life in platform boots and delights in creating magical worlds for queer heroes to bump into the loves of their lives at just the wrong—or right—moment. Ey believes in celebrating the transformative power of diversity and inclusivity in all aspects of life, and that our unique experiences and perspectives are what make us strong: “Our Difference is Our Strength.”
Born and raised in Zutphen, the Netherlands, Blaine spent eir youth immersed in books, daydreaming, and making up stories. Quite content in entertaining emself, ey evolved from telling stories to eir favourite doll, to acting them out with eir Barbies, and finally, putting pen to paper.
When not writing, Blaine enjoys singing, sewing, and indulging in building LEGO botanical sets. Ey lives in the Netherlands with eir supportive partner of over thirty years. Despite their differences—Blaine craves shade and doesn’t drink the beers he brews, he doesn’t read romance and loves soaking up the sun—they enjoy watching quiz shows during dinner and playing cooperative games.
From the award-winning Oren’s Right to Aliens, Smith and Jones, Blaine’s books offer readers a safe and enchanting escape into richly imagined worlds with a unique blend of adventure, emotional depth, and belonging.
______________________
Non-Binary / Asexual
ey/em/eir | she/her | Mx.
Born and raised in Zutphen, the Netherlands, Blaine spent eir youth immersed in books, daydreaming, and making up stories. Quite content in entertaining emself, ey evolved from telling stories to eir favourite doll, to acting them out with eir Barbies, and finally, putting pen to paper.
When not writing, Blaine enjoys singing, sewing, and indulging in building LEGO botanical sets. Ey lives in the Netherlands with eir supportive partner of over thirty years. Despite their differences—Blaine craves shade and doesn’t drink the beers he brews, he doesn’t read romance and loves soaking up the sun—they enjoy watching quiz shows during dinner and playing cooperative games.
From the award-winning Oren’s Right to Aliens, Smith and Jones, Blaine’s books offer readers a safe and enchanting escape into richly imagined worlds with a unique blend of adventure, emotional depth, and belonging.
______________________
Non-Binary / Asexual
ey/em/eir | she/her | Mx.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 28, 2022
Act Two delivered everything that was promised and more in Act One!!
Wow!!! This was just breathtaking!!! I am just in complete awe of what the author has created. A true masterpiece!
Wow!!! This was just breathtaking!!! I am just in complete awe of what the author has created. A true masterpiece!
November 2, 2016
This second volume, or act, of the Forester trilogy picks up the story about a year after the first one ended. There are two subplots woven through this tale, and one is as interesting as the other. First, there is the relationship between truth seeker Kelnaht, smith Ianys, and the currently still shunned forester Taruif. But there is also the mystery of a vanished youngster that challenges Kelnaht’s talents as a truth seeker and turns out to be linked to the potential reduction in Taruif’s sentence.
Kelnaht is not happy having to hide the fact that he has two lovers. Taruif is still officially shunned, but chances that his sentence will be reduced are good. Ianys is off limits because his deceased ex-wife expressly forbade any deeper contact between him and Kelnaht. Meanwhile Kelnaht has to figure out what happened to the youngling who seems to have wandered off, except when he is still missing a week later, the situation is beginning to look more serious.
I enjoyed Kelnaht employing his magical talents to find tracks, decipher evidence, and interrogate suspects. Kelnaht’s apprentice turns out to be more and more capable, and the hunt for the missing boy uncovers all kinds of additional plots and plans. But the key part of the book for me was the three elves struggling with the various restrictions placed on their union – none of them what a human would “expect” – and that made this story delightfully otherworldly.
If you like the elves of the Forester trilogy with all their “rules and regulations” about what is allowed and what is off limits, if you want to see how the complicated three-way relationship between Kelnaht, Taruif and Ianys progresses, and if you’re looking for a read that is suspenseful, revealing, and filled with magic, then you will probably like this novella. I definitely look forward to the final act!
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Kelnaht is not happy having to hide the fact that he has two lovers. Taruif is still officially shunned, but chances that his sentence will be reduced are good. Ianys is off limits because his deceased ex-wife expressly forbade any deeper contact between him and Kelnaht. Meanwhile Kelnaht has to figure out what happened to the youngling who seems to have wandered off, except when he is still missing a week later, the situation is beginning to look more serious.
I enjoyed Kelnaht employing his magical talents to find tracks, decipher evidence, and interrogate suspects. Kelnaht’s apprentice turns out to be more and more capable, and the hunt for the missing boy uncovers all kinds of additional plots and plans. But the key part of the book for me was the three elves struggling with the various restrictions placed on their union – none of them what a human would “expect” – and that made this story delightfully otherworldly.
If you like the elves of the Forester trilogy with all their “rules and regulations” about what is allowed and what is off limits, if you want to see how the complicated three-way relationship between Kelnaht, Taruif and Ianys progresses, and if you’re looking for a read that is suspenseful, revealing, and filled with magic, then you will probably like this novella. I definitely look forward to the final act!
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
April 10, 2025
The second novella of the trilogy. A cute little series. Not mind-blowing, but cute.
June 21, 2022
In the second of this excellent series, the author has established and complete, detailed and emotionally complex world. As the village truth seeker, Kelnaht's urgent task to find a missing youngster is exacerbated by his concern that his secret lover Taruif will, at last, be pardoned from his sentence of banishment, while maintaining the balance of their triad, with Ianys who cannot be seen publicly with Kel.
The mystery was absorbing with beautiful details of the elvish forest world and the romantic element was woven in seamlessly. A thoroughly absorbing story.
The mystery was absorbing with beautiful details of the elvish forest world and the romantic element was woven in seamlessly. A thoroughly absorbing story.
February 4, 2024
M/M/M fantasy romance with an abduction crime as the backdrop. Book 2/3.
Told from Kelnaht’s POV, a cloud elf detective of sorts and as he investigates an abduction he has to navigate his secret triad drama.
The abduction/crime provided a reasonable backdrop to the story and tied the plot well together between the crime and the personal.
What had me flabbergasted though was Taruif’s reaction to having his . That didn’t make a lick of sense! Why push Kel and Ianys away?!
The chemistry was a little better and the one sex scene was better than the first book but still light on details.
I still feel that the plot is overly and unnecessarily dramatic between those three. Ends on another HFN.
Told from Kelnaht’s POV, a cloud elf detective of sorts and as he investigates an abduction he has to navigate his secret triad drama.
The abduction/crime provided a reasonable backdrop to the story and tied the plot well together between the crime and the personal.
What had me flabbergasted though was Taruif’s reaction to having his . That didn’t make a lick of sense! Why push Kel and Ianys away?!
The chemistry was a little better and the one sex scene was better than the first book but still light on details.
I still feel that the plot is overly and unnecessarily dramatic between those three. Ends on another HFN.
July 13, 2021
Seriously, the story is good a lot of details but easy enough to understand. I really like and recommend it.
July 6, 2022
See my web site for a full review of “Lost and Found”.
April 9, 2014
This review will probably contain bits that may spoil the first book if you haven’t read it. The characters in this book got together in the first book. I’m not sure how to talk about the plot in this one without mentioning things that happened in the first one. I apologize now! I’ll try to be careful…
This story picks up a turn after the last one ends. Kelnaht has been having a secret affair with two elves, Ianys, his former lover who dumped him for a female elf he knocked up. I’m not sure how I feel about him… He lied and cheated on Kelnaht, then his lover made him promise to stay away from Kelnaht before she died after having a child, then he started an affair with a shunned elf. Meanwhile Kelnaht was alone and devastated. Not cool! His other secret lover is Taruif, the shunned elf. We have learned what caused his shunning, and it is tragic. Taruif has been alone except for Ianys sneaking off to see him, pining for Kelnaht, as Kelnaht has been pining for him as well. It’s all just a hot mess. So that’s where we start with the relationship aspect of the book.
This story contains another mystery, there is a missing stripling that Kelnaht and Brem, with the assistance of a group of elves, are trying to locate. He’s vanished during a hunt with his father and some others. Again, Kelnaht and Brem are using observation, hunting for visual clues, and magic, hunting for traces of where the kid has passed. It’s very interesting, very modern feeling in their investigation. One of the many things I like about these books is the contemporary feeling they have, even though they arent. They have none of the flowery language some fantasy books have, sort of a fake medieval feel to them. These have names and words that are from Blaine’s imagination, but it’s not overdone and works well. The mystery is well thought out, the crime makes sense to me, I can understand why the perpetrator did what they did. Well, I can’t in my head, but I see why that person thought it made sense.
I did get a better understanding of the community in this book, it is longer and had time for more details. It’s a wonderful world I want to know more about! I’m still curious about some of the other characters and their roles in the community…
The relationship developing between the three elves is intriguing, I’m still having a hard time with Ianys. And I like that. I like that a writer can make me question whether I like a character or not. It’s ok to not like someone in a book, I’ve come to realize. I don’t exactly dislike him, I’m just not sure I trust him! I do have to mention I like a bit more intimacy in the books I read, I would have like a bit more sex between the three elves.
Anyway, this second book is as good as the first, great story, world, characters, mystery, solution, and writing! I can’t wait for the next one!
A copy of this book was provided for reviewing. The original review posted at www.sidlove.com!
This story picks up a turn after the last one ends. Kelnaht has been having a secret affair with two elves, Ianys, his former lover who dumped him for a female elf he knocked up. I’m not sure how I feel about him… He lied and cheated on Kelnaht, then his lover made him promise to stay away from Kelnaht before she died after having a child, then he started an affair with a shunned elf. Meanwhile Kelnaht was alone and devastated. Not cool! His other secret lover is Taruif, the shunned elf. We have learned what caused his shunning, and it is tragic. Taruif has been alone except for Ianys sneaking off to see him, pining for Kelnaht, as Kelnaht has been pining for him as well. It’s all just a hot mess. So that’s where we start with the relationship aspect of the book.
This story contains another mystery, there is a missing stripling that Kelnaht and Brem, with the assistance of a group of elves, are trying to locate. He’s vanished during a hunt with his father and some others. Again, Kelnaht and Brem are using observation, hunting for visual clues, and magic, hunting for traces of where the kid has passed. It’s very interesting, very modern feeling in their investigation. One of the many things I like about these books is the contemporary feeling they have, even though they arent. They have none of the flowery language some fantasy books have, sort of a fake medieval feel to them. These have names and words that are from Blaine’s imagination, but it’s not overdone and works well. The mystery is well thought out, the crime makes sense to me, I can understand why the perpetrator did what they did. Well, I can’t in my head, but I see why that person thought it made sense.
I did get a better understanding of the community in this book, it is longer and had time for more details. It’s a wonderful world I want to know more about! I’m still curious about some of the other characters and their roles in the community…
The relationship developing between the three elves is intriguing, I’m still having a hard time with Ianys. And I like that. I like that a writer can make me question whether I like a character or not. It’s ok to not like someone in a book, I’ve come to realize. I don’t exactly dislike him, I’m just not sure I trust him! I do have to mention I like a bit more intimacy in the books I read, I would have like a bit more sex between the three elves.
Anyway, this second book is as good as the first, great story, world, characters, mystery, solution, and writing! I can’t wait for the next one!
A copy of this book was provided for reviewing. The original review posted at www.sidlove.com!
August 2, 2014
Review posted at The Blogger Girls http://thebloggergirls.com/2014/05/12...
Spoilers ahead
There is something about this world that I fell in love with. Maybe it’s the setting, the characters or the flawless writing? I think it may be all three. This story takes place in the same fantasy world but has moved forward in time. The Triad has continued to grow in their relationship but the sneaking around for Kelnaht, Ianys and Taruif is starting to weigh on Kelnaht. However, he battles through while investigating a missing stripling, aka young one, called Ustion.
This part of the trilogy is driven more by the investigation which takes a bit longer solving this go round. As the details of the missing stripling start to unravel, it becomes clear the connection to Taruif is pretty strong. The pacing of the story is quick, as it would need to be since it is on the short side, but it does not feel rushed. This is where I feel the author does an amazing job. She writes a short fantasy story with a side of mystery all evolving around a secret ménage relationship, and at no point did I feel short changed with the world building or depth of the main characters or even details of the missing stripling. Kudos.
We are introduced to a few new characters, one of which is specifically tied to Taruif. Won’t go into details, but there was some endearing and well deserved moments for Taruif. The Guide is very much involved again as he helps the characters work through the feelings of sneaking around. As the story moves along, you can’t help but feel for Ianys. As things come full circle for Taruif and Kelnaht, it is a bittersweet time because Ianys must still keep his feelings hidden.
I enjoyed this part of the trilogy just as much as the first. I am really looking forward to the last part and finding out how the Triad will work through the issue with Ianys. I am sure the author will do a great job, but I think it will take a bit more to resolve than it did with Taruif.
Spoilers ahead
There is something about this world that I fell in love with. Maybe it’s the setting, the characters or the flawless writing? I think it may be all three. This story takes place in the same fantasy world but has moved forward in time. The Triad has continued to grow in their relationship but the sneaking around for Kelnaht, Ianys and Taruif is starting to weigh on Kelnaht. However, he battles through while investigating a missing stripling, aka young one, called Ustion.
This part of the trilogy is driven more by the investigation which takes a bit longer solving this go round. As the details of the missing stripling start to unravel, it becomes clear the connection to Taruif is pretty strong. The pacing of the story is quick, as it would need to be since it is on the short side, but it does not feel rushed. This is where I feel the author does an amazing job. She writes a short fantasy story with a side of mystery all evolving around a secret ménage relationship, and at no point did I feel short changed with the world building or depth of the main characters or even details of the missing stripling. Kudos.
We are introduced to a few new characters, one of which is specifically tied to Taruif. Won’t go into details, but there was some endearing and well deserved moments for Taruif. The Guide is very much involved again as he helps the characters work through the feelings of sneaking around. As the story moves along, you can’t help but feel for Ianys. As things come full circle for Taruif and Kelnaht, it is a bittersweet time because Ianys must still keep his feelings hidden.
I enjoyed this part of the trilogy just as much as the first. I am really looking forward to the last part and finding out how the Triad will work through the issue with Ianys. I am sure the author will do a great job, but I think it will take a bit more to resolve than it did with Taruif.
March 28, 2014
Forester II continues the ‘Triad’ relationship between the MCs from the first book, which they conduct in secret because Taruif is still ‘shunned’ by the community. However, there is a chance his sentence will be reduced giving Kel and Ianys a chance to be with him publicly as a committed ‘Triad’. This time the crime to be solved is the abduction of a ‘stripling’, a young man, named ‘Ustion’ and this time the crime strikes too close to home and heart. Again the mystery is good and carries though the story in tandem with the relationship issues of the MCs. I really like this world created by Blaine D. Arden and I can see the potential here for more stories from it. I really hope this is the case and I would so love to see a full novel length story, with more time to delve into the roles of the ‘Guide’, the ‘Truth Seekers’, ‘The Forester’, the Elders, The Apprentices and their Mentors. If the idea of an Elven CSI seems too outlandish, believe me this story is written in a way that it all seems believable and quite addictive.
This is not a standalone and I recommend you read the excellent 'The Forester' first.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion
Full review at www.prismbookalliance.com
This is not a standalone and I recommend you read the excellent 'The Forester' first.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion
Full review at www.prismbookalliance.com
May 3, 2014
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
I don’t read a lot of fantasy but something about this series really works for me. I think it is the way Arden manages to blend so many genres in an unusual way. We have the menage and the fantasy, and overlaid on top is a really great mystery and investigation plot. It is not a typical combination, but it works so well here. The investigation is my favorite part of this story and it has the right amount of mystery and suspense blended together with the powers of Kelnaht as a Truth Seeker. I enjoyed following along as they examined clues and pieced together the mystery of what happened to Ustion. It is clever and suspenseful and ties together really well with larger elements of the story.
Read Jay's review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
I don’t read a lot of fantasy but something about this series really works for me. I think it is the way Arden manages to blend so many genres in an unusual way. We have the menage and the fantasy, and overlaid on top is a really great mystery and investigation plot. It is not a typical combination, but it works so well here. The investigation is my favorite part of this story and it has the right amount of mystery and suspense blended together with the powers of Kelnaht as a Truth Seeker. I enjoyed following along as they examined clues and pieced together the mystery of what happened to Ustion. It is clever and suspenseful and ties together really well with larger elements of the story.
Read Jay's review in its entirety here.
April 8, 2014
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
From my review: "The Forester II: Lost and Found was my first introduction to this trilogy by Blaine D. Arden. But upon finishing this lushly spellbinding tale, I quickly returned to grab up the first story, wanting to know all about these charming characters and their complicated relationship. I did so because for the most part The Forester II: Lost and Found is not a story that can totally exist as a standalone tale. While Arden does supply a sufficient amount of backstory to these elves and their tumultuous relationships, these characters are so well created that the need to know more becomes almost compulsive by the end of the story."
For my full review, visit http://wp.me/p220KL-2df
For all my reviews and essays on writing, visit http://ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords...
February 3, 2014
3.5 Hearts
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
What a lovely read, again. I’m really obtaining an obsession with this world/series. There’s just something really attractive about these elves, the way they use their magic that is so composed, the way they live their life… It’s alluring I tell you. You only want more after each installment is done and you dread the moment when all is going to come to an end...
Read the entire review here.
Thommie
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
What a lovely read, again. I’m really obtaining an obsession with this world/series. There’s just something really attractive about these elves, the way they use their magic that is so composed, the way they live their life… It’s alluring I tell you. You only want more after each installment is done and you dread the moment when all is going to come to an end...
Read the entire review here.
Thommie
February 22, 2016
Lost and found is wederom een kortverhaal, maar daarom niet minder intens of meeslepend. Als lezer word je meteen meegenomen in het speuren naar Ustion en het hopen op een goede afloop voor de relatie van de drie mannen.
Een volledige review is te vinden op http://www.boekenvlinder.be
Een volledige review is te vinden op http://www.boekenvlinder.be
February 21, 2016
I really like the fantasy world Blaine D. Arden has created. Am I right in suspecting another book will follow this one?
February 11, 2014
Review at Read the Rainbow.
January 4, 2017
Despite the wonderful love story *sigh* this woods seem a dangerous place to be. ;)
Murder, betrayal, old grudges everywhere. And Guide must be one hell of a job.
Murder, betrayal, old grudges everywhere. And Guide must be one hell of a job.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews