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Paladin Cycle #1
Malachite
Marion Casterline is the highwarden of Malachite, an ancient, beautiful city floating in a shallow sea. In the aftermath of a brutal gang war, there is finally peace in the city, which gains new life every year through the sacred ritual of Aequora. Through Aequora, exiles, outlaws, and orphans can become citizens of Malachite. This ritual is vital to the city's survival, because Malachite is populated only by males. Jean Rivard grew up in the Zanzare slums at Marion's side. As boys, they were branded into the violent Teschio gangs that ruled the criminal underworld of Malachite. Known in the slums as the Prince, Jean became a spy, an assassin, and Marion's lover. As men, they worked together to destroy the Teschio and crown Kon Sessane as magestros of the city, only to drift apart after the battles were won: Jean to the Black Keep, Marion to the grand halls of the Consolari. When Marion announces his engagement to Kon's son, Jean is hurt and resentful. Marion is leaving him and their past behind in every possible way. Marion also believes that he's starting a new life, but when a charismatic rebel leader kindles a revolt in the slums, he realizes that the only man who can prevent war from devouring the city he loves is his very own prince.
408 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2016
6 people are currently reading
390 people want to read
About the author
Kirby Crow
24 books383 followersKirby Crow worked as an entertainment editor and ghostwriter for several years before happily giving it up to bake brownies, read yaoi, play video games, and write her own novels. Whenever she isn't slaying Orcs or flying a battleship for the glory of the Amarr Empire, she can be found in the kitchen, her vegetable garden, or at the keyboard, tapping away at her next book.
Kirby is a winner of the EPIC Award and the Rainbow Award. She is the author of the bestselling "Scarlet and the White Wolf" series of fantasy novels.
Her published novels are:
Prisoner of the Raven
Scarlet and the White Wolf: The Pedlar and the Bandit King
Scarlet and the White Wolf: Mariner's Luck
Scarlet and the White Wolf: The Land of Night
Angels of the Deep
Hammer and Bone
Malachite
Scarlet and the White Wolf: The King of Forever
Meridian
Windward
Scarlet and the White Wolf: The Temple Road
Novellas:
Turks Cay
Poison Apples
Circuit Theory
The Art of Fire
Chimera
For upcoming news of her future novels, visit http://kirbycrow.com
Kirby is a winner of the EPIC Award and the Rainbow Award. She is the author of the bestselling "Scarlet and the White Wolf" series of fantasy novels.
Her published novels are:
Prisoner of the Raven
Scarlet and the White Wolf: The Pedlar and the Bandit King
Scarlet and the White Wolf: Mariner's Luck
Scarlet and the White Wolf: The Land of Night
Angels of the Deep
Hammer and Bone
Malachite
Scarlet and the White Wolf: The King of Forever
Meridian
Windward
Scarlet and the White Wolf: The Temple Road
Novellas:
Turks Cay
Poison Apples
Circuit Theory
The Art of Fire
Chimera
For upcoming news of her future novels, visit http://kirbycrow.com
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 31, 2015
refreshingly atypical.
i found the beginning a bit chewy and tough to get into, but once my grasp of the world and the characters was complete i had a lot of fun.
and once i'd got my bearings, that knottiness and character density was a pleasure, instead of an impediment.
i'm looking forward to the sequel to find out what happens next.
nicely done.
i found the beginning a bit chewy and tough to get into, but once my grasp of the world and the characters was complete i had a lot of fun.
and once i'd got my bearings, that knottiness and character density was a pleasure, instead of an impediment.
i'm looking forward to the sequel to find out what happens next.
nicely done.
February 4, 2016
My Review on Prism Book Alliance
This was my first book of the new year, and if this is anything to go by, this year is gonna be amazing. Seriously, I can’t believe how fabulous this was.
Fan’s of Kirby should stop right here with the review and just start the book. The less you know is always the better, in my opinion ;-)
MALACHITE is a high fantasy with a setting that is so unique that you won’t find it anywhere else. Imagine an isolated island with a society of solely exiled men. Imagine power struggles, outlaws, and pirates, and think of struggling for survival and freedom to live in a safe place.
I won’t lie, the beginning of the book is rather epic—I personally even found it challenging—because we’re thrown right into this mess of a world, not only in the present but also in the past. There are names and places and races and, geeez, I’m glad I started taking notes when reading books a while ago. I have a bad memory for details, that’s why.
There is a huge pay-off, though, because the world Kirby creates is so alive and vivid. It’s like you’re travelling the streets and canals yourself. You experience the feel of the different houses and places and you don’t even want to go everywhere because not everything is safe.
30 years ago, there was a man, a gang leader, a legend who forged the lives of two of our main characters, Aureo Marigny. In chapters alternating between the present and several times in the past, we’re introduced to Marion and Jean. We get to know how they grew up and forged an unbreakable bond, and how they freed themselves and Malachite from the tyrant that was Aureo.
Today, Malachite is a safer place, but it’s still far from perfect. Not only is there a huge gap between the leading rich class and the poor remaining men of the gangs, there is a new secret player in Malachite who threatens to disturb the peace even more.
MALACHITE is full of intrigue, secrets, twists, and surprises. The tension and suspense is constantly growing and you never cease to want to know more, to get behind what is going on, what secrets the characters keep from each other and from us, the reader.
The main protagonists are Marion, Jean, and Tris, through whose eyes the story is told in alternating point of views and chapters. This is absolutely well done, because all of them have a distinct voice. It was great to get to know each of them—well, at least to get to know what they would tell you ;-) And I think it worked really well with the plot development.
Marion, Jean, and Tris have a very interesting relationship—and I’m not really talking about the romantic one here. How their feelings towards each other change and develop was so very fascinating to witness. Till the end I wasn’t sure where this was all going and it kept me at the edge of my seat.
To give you a few snippets…
Well, if you want to know how the three of them come to a very satisfying place, you should definitely read the book, and I won’t spoil it for you.
The cast of important characters, however, is even larger. A very important role is also played by Kon, Tris’s father. We will see more of him and his partner Mica is the next book, as I could see from Kirby’s interview.
I think it’s extraordinary how different and realistic every single one of the characters is. Every important character, the villains, the minor characters, they give life to the setting that was amazing to begin with.
Near the end of the book, there was one part that I felt was a bit bumpy regarding the flow of the story. I would have loved to see two scenes between Kris and Marion that took place off-page, and the battle ended kinda a bit abruptly. It took me out of the story for a few pages. The rest of the book, however, was so outstanding that I still give all 5 stars and will put the first book I’ve read this year on my favourite shelf.
I hope you will give this gem a chance. Highly recommended.
___________________________________
This is the story of my tweets while reading the book.
___________________________________
Genre: high fantasy, gay, dystopia/utopia, society study
Tags: dark, untraditional relationship(s), some explicit sex, some D/s elements
Content warnings: dubious consent, violence, brutality off-page
This was my first book of the new year, and if this is anything to go by, this year is gonna be amazing. Seriously, I can’t believe how fabulous this was.
Fan’s of Kirby should stop right here with the review and just start the book. The less you know is always the better, in my opinion ;-)
MALACHITE is a high fantasy with a setting that is so unique that you won’t find it anywhere else. Imagine an isolated island with a society of solely exiled men. Imagine power struggles, outlaws, and pirates, and think of struggling for survival and freedom to live in a safe place.
I won’t lie, the beginning of the book is rather epic—I personally even found it challenging—because we’re thrown right into this mess of a world, not only in the present but also in the past. There are names and places and races and, geeez, I’m glad I started taking notes when reading books a while ago. I have a bad memory for details, that’s why.
There is a huge pay-off, though, because the world Kirby creates is so alive and vivid. It’s like you’re travelling the streets and canals yourself. You experience the feel of the different houses and places and you don’t even want to go everywhere because not everything is safe.
30 years ago, there was a man, a gang leader, a legend who forged the lives of two of our main characters, Aureo Marigny. In chapters alternating between the present and several times in the past, we’re introduced to Marion and Jean. We get to know how they grew up and forged an unbreakable bond, and how they freed themselves and Malachite from the tyrant that was Aureo.
The life of a wolf cannot be retold as a lamb, but Aureo was neither, was nothing so ordinary. In his world, Aureo had been a Kraken: a beast of incalculable menace that rises with the storm, covers the land and savages man and nature alike before vanishing as quickly as it appeared. Unknowable. Invincible.
Today, Malachite is a safer place, but it’s still far from perfect. Not only is there a huge gap between the leading rich class and the poor remaining men of the gangs, there is a new secret player in Malachite who threatens to disturb the peace even more.
MALACHITE is full of intrigue, secrets, twists, and surprises. The tension and suspense is constantly growing and you never cease to want to know more, to get behind what is going on, what secrets the characters keep from each other and from us, the reader.
The main protagonists are Marion, Jean, and Tris, through whose eyes the story is told in alternating point of views and chapters. This is absolutely well done, because all of them have a distinct voice. It was great to get to know each of them—well, at least to get to know what they would tell you ;-) And I think it worked really well with the plot development.
Marion, Jean, and Tris have a very interesting relationship—and I’m not really talking about the romantic one here. How their feelings towards each other change and develop was so very fascinating to witness. Till the end I wasn’t sure where this was all going and it kept me at the edge of my seat.
To give you a few snippets…
Jean and Marion:
A cricket chirped near them, opening a chorus as they stood with the rain pelting them softly, locked together by their shared past, unable to find a future together.
Jean and Tris:
Jean pulled back and stared, his heavy brows knitting together. “Aw fuck, are you crying? Don't do that. I can't do anything about that. Stop it!”
Tris and Marion:
Tris sees me for the man I always wanted to become. He sees only the best part of me. When that happens to you, when that dream comes along, you can't help reaching for it.
Well, if you want to know how the three of them come to a very satisfying place, you should definitely read the book, and I won’t spoil it for you.
The cast of important characters, however, is even larger. A very important role is also played by Kon, Tris’s father. We will see more of him and his partner Mica is the next book, as I could see from Kirby’s interview.
I think it’s extraordinary how different and realistic every single one of the characters is. Every important character, the villains, the minor characters, they give life to the setting that was amazing to begin with.
Near the end of the book, there was one part that I felt was a bit bumpy regarding the flow of the story. I would have loved to see two scenes between Kris and Marion that took place off-page, and the battle ended kinda a bit abruptly. It took me out of the story for a few pages. The rest of the book, however, was so outstanding that I still give all 5 stars and will put the first book I’ve read this year on my favourite shelf.
I hope you will give this gem a chance. Highly recommended.
___________________________________
This is the story of my tweets while reading the book.
___________________________________
Genre: high fantasy, gay, dystopia/utopia, society study
Tags: dark, untraditional relationship(s), some explicit sex, some D/s elements
Content warnings: dubious consent, violence, brutality off-page
February 25, 2016
I don't read much fantasy and even less MM but this was a an intriguing story. I loved lots of things in it but there were also some elements which I'm unsure about. I will need some time to think through my review.
This is the first book in a series and I definitely want to read the next one in order to see where things will go.
Here is the full review:
This is my first book by Kirby Crow and can also be considered my first try of M/M high fantasy. I was curious to read this story after seeing the blurb and I absolutely loved the cover.
This is a well written, complex story and while I loved some elements in it, there were others that made me feel uneasy and uncomfortable.
This is the first book in a new series and as such there is a lot of world building and scene setting. It felt a bit overwhelming at the beginning though I appreciate the complex and quite intriguing world Ms Crow has set on creating.
There is a love story at the heart of the this book but I'd classify it as high fantasy with strong romantic elements rather than a fantasy romance.
The plot moves between the present and past while telling the story of Marrion and Jean and young Tris who has become part of their lives quite unexpectedly and his presence provoked profound changes in both older men.
I wasn't sure how I felt about the romantic relationship initially but by the end of the book I was totally convinced that they all ended at the right place for them. It was a very moving and satisfying journey in terms of romance. I admit the casual attitude towards sex, the multiple partners they (well, in fact, just Jean) entertained throughout the story was not my favourite element in it but at the same time it did not bother me too much. It is a matter of personal preference and attitude towards love and sex, not a weakness of the story.
My biggest issue with this book is the way women were presented/erased from the fantasy world Ms Crow created. This bit of my review might have some spoilers, so if that bothers you, please keep it in mind and proceed with caution. There are no women in Malachite, or rather we are led to believe so initially. There are other kingdoms run be women and they are all presented as vicious, aggressive (humiliating, mistreating, raping the men, sending them in exile). It all felt misogynistic and hurtful to me. later on, Tris' mother is briefly mentioned and the way I see it, once again we have a woman presented in a negative light - not loving, caring enough to stay on the island (in hiding) and be with her son. The treatment and presentation of women as whole was problematic for me. It's a plot line that will hopefully be further developed in the next books and I hope things will go in a more positive light, but they didn't quite work for me here.
To be completely honest I feel somewhat ambiguous about the whole society in Malachite. I read it as imperfect and deeply problematic but I'm not sure if that was the author's message or she wanted to present it as a good/better alternative to the other matriarchal society mentioned in the book and our present-day society. It could my failure to grasp the author's intentions but it could equally be a weakness of the author's writing not making the situation cleat enough. I keep going over and over that and still have not fully made up my mind how I feel about it.
Overall, I'd say Malachite was an interesting read, thought-provoking and entertaining at the same time. I loved the writing - strong and highly imaginative. Despite my issues with some elements in the story, I'm curious how this series will continue and would love read the next book.
This is the first book in a series and I definitely want to read the next one in order to see where things will go.
Here is the full review:
This is my first book by Kirby Crow and can also be considered my first try of M/M high fantasy. I was curious to read this story after seeing the blurb and I absolutely loved the cover.
This is a well written, complex story and while I loved some elements in it, there were others that made me feel uneasy and uncomfortable.
This is the first book in a new series and as such there is a lot of world building and scene setting. It felt a bit overwhelming at the beginning though I appreciate the complex and quite intriguing world Ms Crow has set on creating.
There is a love story at the heart of the this book but I'd classify it as high fantasy with strong romantic elements rather than a fantasy romance.
The plot moves between the present and past while telling the story of Marrion and Jean and young Tris who has become part of their lives quite unexpectedly and his presence provoked profound changes in both older men.
I wasn't sure how I felt about the romantic relationship initially but by the end of the book I was totally convinced that they all ended at the right place for them. It was a very moving and satisfying journey in terms of romance. I admit the casual attitude towards sex, the multiple partners they (well, in fact, just Jean) entertained throughout the story was not my favourite element in it but at the same time it did not bother me too much. It is a matter of personal preference and attitude towards love and sex, not a weakness of the story.
My biggest issue with this book is the way women were presented/erased from the fantasy world Ms Crow created. This bit of my review might have some spoilers, so if that bothers you, please keep it in mind and proceed with caution. There are no women in Malachite, or rather we are led to believe so initially. There are other kingdoms run be women and they are all presented as vicious, aggressive (humiliating, mistreating, raping the men, sending them in exile). It all felt misogynistic and hurtful to me. later on, Tris' mother is briefly mentioned and the way I see it, once again we have a woman presented in a negative light - not loving, caring enough to stay on the island (in hiding) and be with her son. The treatment and presentation of women as whole was problematic for me. It's a plot line that will hopefully be further developed in the next books and I hope things will go in a more positive light, but they didn't quite work for me here.
To be completely honest I feel somewhat ambiguous about the whole society in Malachite. I read it as imperfect and deeply problematic but I'm not sure if that was the author's message or she wanted to present it as a good/better alternative to the other matriarchal society mentioned in the book and our present-day society. It could my failure to grasp the author's intentions but it could equally be a weakness of the author's writing not making the situation cleat enough. I keep going over and over that and still have not fully made up my mind how I feel about it.
Overall, I'd say Malachite was an interesting read, thought-provoking and entertaining at the same time. I loved the writing - strong and highly imaginative. Despite my issues with some elements in the story, I'm curious how this series will continue and would love read the next book.
October 14, 2018
Have I told you how glad I am that I discovered Kirby Crow books this year?
If I didn't, well then know that I am! Especially her fantasy stories. The world building is flawless, the characters complex and interesting and engaging, the stories flow uninterrupted through flawless plot.
Malachite is no exception to this. I loved it and find myself wanting to know so much more.
The world - an echo of Venice and its island - was one of my favourite things about the book. Venice as a background for Fantasy is not a new thing - in this case it's a decaying version of Venice, a world in ruin. A decay effortlessly paralleled in the characters development.
Fave thing number two is the way the Malachan society is structured and the complete absence of women. An absence so blaring that as readers we are left questioning the narrator on how is this going to develop? Can this narrator be trusted with their social views when they don't even know the name for a young female? It is masterly done I think as hooks go: what will the story reveal about this absence of women? How did it come to be? How has it affected the main players? How will it affect the coming books? At what point will the story told and the story yet to be told merge and give us the full picture? I found that this was fascinating from a narrative perspective and I cannot wait to read the next books.
There is intrigue and twists - the relationship between all of the main characters runs deep and it is delivered through large glimpses into the characters past which let the reader view how complex and related these all are. I loved Jean and the push and pull between him and Marion and between friendship, camaraderie and romantic ties was, IMO, incredibly well done.
Highly recommended for all lovers of intriguing fantasy and fans of exquisite writing.
If I didn't, well then know that I am! Especially her fantasy stories. The world building is flawless, the characters complex and interesting and engaging, the stories flow uninterrupted through flawless plot.
Malachite is no exception to this. I loved it and find myself wanting to know so much more.
The world - an echo of Venice and its island - was one of my favourite things about the book. Venice as a background for Fantasy is not a new thing - in this case it's a decaying version of Venice, a world in ruin. A decay effortlessly paralleled in the characters development.
Fave thing number two is the way the Malachan society is structured and the complete absence of women. An absence so blaring that as readers we are left questioning the narrator on how is this going to develop? Can this narrator be trusted with their social views when they don't even know the name for a young female? It is masterly done I think as hooks go: what will the story reveal about this absence of women? How did it come to be? How has it affected the main players? How will it affect the coming books? At what point will the story told and the story yet to be told merge and give us the full picture? I found that this was fascinating from a narrative perspective and I cannot wait to read the next books.
There is intrigue and twists - the relationship between all of the main characters runs deep and it is delivered through large glimpses into the characters past which let the reader view how complex and related these all are. I loved Jean and the push and pull between him and Marion and between friendship, camaraderie and romantic ties was, IMO, incredibly well done.
Highly recommended for all lovers of intriguing fantasy and fans of exquisite writing.
June 6, 2016
What a beautiful and refreshing piece of fantasy this book is!
Kirby is well known to create interesting fantasy stories with a lot of worldbuilding and interesting characters. I think, here, she mastered her crafting.
We're thrown into Malachite, an isolated island where only exiled men from Solaris and Cwen live. They get their population by the ritual of Aequora which is the time the Cwen send their exiled men and orphan boys to the island. The island itself holds a complex estructure that brings order to the place. Although many years ago was ruled by gangs now, they are separated by classes and ruled by the Sessanes.
Through the point of view of two former gangers, and the son of the magestros of the city we get to see how people live in Malachite, the struggle of the lower part versus the loose life of the wealthy, also how the sense of peace is rattled by a plot against the Sessanes.
The dynamics of these 3 characters is nothing easy, there's hurt, love, jealousy, a past of violence, and hope for a better future that makes Jean's, Marion's, and Tris' journey a complex one, but their development leads them to choose what is best for them.
The strong worldbuilding, the politics, intrigue, well planned plot and interesting secondary characters make this book an enjoyable read that makes you feel on the edge, wondering in each turn of page what's going to happen and how are the problems going to be resolved.
This is the kind of fantasy books that made me fall for the genre, and I hope to keep stumbleupon others with such quality as the ones i've read so far.
Kirby is well known to create interesting fantasy stories with a lot of worldbuilding and interesting characters. I think, here, she mastered her crafting.
We're thrown into Malachite, an isolated island where only exiled men from Solaris and Cwen live. They get their population by the ritual of Aequora which is the time the Cwen send their exiled men and orphan boys to the island. The island itself holds a complex estructure that brings order to the place. Although many years ago was ruled by gangs now, they are separated by classes and ruled by the Sessanes.
Through the point of view of two former gangers, and the son of the magestros of the city we get to see how people live in Malachite, the struggle of the lower part versus the loose life of the wealthy, also how the sense of peace is rattled by a plot against the Sessanes.
The dynamics of these 3 characters is nothing easy, there's hurt, love, jealousy, a past of violence, and hope for a better future that makes Jean's, Marion's, and Tris' journey a complex one, but their development leads them to choose what is best for them.
The strong worldbuilding, the politics, intrigue, well planned plot and interesting secondary characters make this book an enjoyable read that makes you feel on the edge, wondering in each turn of page what's going to happen and how are the problems going to be resolved.
This is the kind of fantasy books that made me fall for the genre, and I hope to keep stumbleupon others with such quality as the ones i've read so far.
June 8, 2016
Have you ever ate something that was a combination of several ingredients you didn’t like – only to find that the final dish was actually really, really good? That was what came to mind after finishing Malachite.
Malachite is a high fantasy novel featuring three main characters: Jean, Marion and Tris. The story is told from these three characters’ perspectives. The plot alternates between present and past for the first one-third to one-half of the book, before continuing on in the present till the very end.
First and foremost, I generally dislike stories with “flashback” chapters. However, Kirby does a good job with not focusing too much in the past – these flashback chapters are usually one-half to one-third the length of the “present” chapters. The author does a good job leaving small enough gaps that readers can easily fill in with what we’re given – which is probably why we don’t have humongous flashback chapters that alone take up half of the book (thank goodness for that). I guess what I’m trying to say is that we’re given enough details without actually given all the details.
I also tend to not like stories told through more than two characters’ perspectives. BUT, Kirby did something here – she made all these characters interesting and also vital to one another. Readers learn about the characters as individuals, but gradually come to understand that they all exist in a triangular relationship – a polygon that can only exist with all three of them. Without one, there is no definition in what they have. Was it a bit confusing how it came to that point? Perhaps a little. But I can’t really complain by the end, and was actually very impressed with the outcome.
In terms of world building, I will give this two thumbs up. The world of Malachite became richer as I continued reading – a great blend of landscapes, cultures, races with touches of real life influences, and a different approach to the balance of power. Plus, the author has a great writing style that sets the appropriate tone and atmosphere.
While there are many things that I absolutely loved with this book, there were a couple of things that bothered me. One was the pacing – not necessarily with the plot, but with the progression in the relationship(s) between the characters. Things seemed kind of rushed towards the end, which made things a bit harder to swallow, but wasn’t a deterrent to my overall enjoyment of the relationship dynamic.
The second problem I had was the proofreading. I found myself stumbling over extra words, or misplaced words throughout my readings that made me go over the sentences more slowly. It wasn’t enough for me to subtract any stars from my rating, but it did force me out of the moment a few times.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Malachite. If you’re looking for something different from your everyday M/M romance, and aren’t afraid to put on your high fantasy hat, then definitely give this book a go!
Malachite is a high fantasy novel featuring three main characters: Jean, Marion and Tris. The story is told from these three characters’ perspectives. The plot alternates between present and past for the first one-third to one-half of the book, before continuing on in the present till the very end.
First and foremost, I generally dislike stories with “flashback” chapters. However, Kirby does a good job with not focusing too much in the past – these flashback chapters are usually one-half to one-third the length of the “present” chapters. The author does a good job leaving small enough gaps that readers can easily fill in with what we’re given – which is probably why we don’t have humongous flashback chapters that alone take up half of the book (thank goodness for that). I guess what I’m trying to say is that we’re given enough details without actually given all the details.
I also tend to not like stories told through more than two characters’ perspectives. BUT, Kirby did something here – she made all these characters interesting and also vital to one another. Readers learn about the characters as individuals, but gradually come to understand that they all exist in a triangular relationship – a polygon that can only exist with all three of them. Without one, there is no definition in what they have. Was it a bit confusing how it came to that point? Perhaps a little. But I can’t really complain by the end, and was actually very impressed with the outcome.
In terms of world building, I will give this two thumbs up. The world of Malachite became richer as I continued reading – a great blend of landscapes, cultures, races with touches of real life influences, and a different approach to the balance of power. Plus, the author has a great writing style that sets the appropriate tone and atmosphere.
While there are many things that I absolutely loved with this book, there were a couple of things that bothered me. One was the pacing – not necessarily with the plot, but with the progression in the relationship(s) between the characters. Things seemed kind of rushed towards the end, which made things a bit harder to swallow, but wasn’t a deterrent to my overall enjoyment of the relationship dynamic.
The second problem I had was the proofreading. I found myself stumbling over extra words, or misplaced words throughout my readings that made me go over the sentences more slowly. It wasn’t enough for me to subtract any stars from my rating, but it did force me out of the moment a few times.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Malachite. If you’re looking for something different from your everyday M/M romance, and aren’t afraid to put on your high fantasy hat, then definitely give this book a go!
Read
January 23, 2016Once every ten or twenty years a book like this comes along, a book that is exactly what you want it to be.
I loved every line, every word of this fantastic, tragic, romantic thriller and political intrigue.
It embroiled me in the lives of its utterly fascinating characters, had me biting my knuckles at times, and then gave me the ending I'd been wishing, hoping, and longing for.
Razor-witted, involved, brilliantly planned and executed, emotionally deep and real fiction of the finest.
It's only January, but if anyone strives to kick this one off the top of my 2016 list, they'll have their work cut out for them.
I loved every line, every word of this fantastic, tragic, romantic thriller and political intrigue.
It embroiled me in the lives of its utterly fascinating characters, had me biting my knuckles at times, and then gave me the ending I'd been wishing, hoping, and longing for.
Razor-witted, involved, brilliantly planned and executed, emotionally deep and real fiction of the finest.
It's only January, but if anyone strives to kick this one off the top of my 2016 list, they'll have their work cut out for them.
Read
October 9, 2018For reasons I'm not totally sure of I couldn't get on with this book, and I have loved everything that Kirby Crow has written that I've read.
The world building was as expected terrific and detailed enough to suck one in, but not so complicated that there was a need to check back or desperately need an index.
However I didn't like Jean or Marion very much, and the romance felt a little contrived.
Sad
The world building was as expected terrific and detailed enough to suck one in, but not so complicated that there was a need to check back or desperately need an index.
However I didn't like Jean or Marion very much, and the romance felt a little contrived.
Sad
January 4, 2016
(Originally reviewed for Love Bytes Same Sex Book Reviews with a copy provided by the author / publisher for an honest review.)
I knew, just from reading the blurb, this book was going to be a complicated read. I didn’t realize what an understatement that would be. As with any first book in a fantasy series, there are lot of world building descriptors. There are a lot of characters, background characters, inter-related stories and plots jammed into one book.
Part way through the first chapter, I was thinking to myself…”what the heck did I get myself into”. Within a couple more chapters, I was hooked solidly. I really enjoyed the way the author provided us with the history of the characters through flashbacks that moved forward through time as we read further. Starting with thirty years ago, and moving up to only eight years ago, the flashbacks enabled us to know two of the MC’s far better than just a simple info dump would have.
Marion Casterline and Jean Rivard are the products of their pasts having grown up in the worst slum of the island city of Malachite. During their youth, they were taken in by the leader of a gang who then acted almost as a father figure to them…but a father figure with issues and an agenda. Between the two of them they killed many, many boys and men at that leader’s behest. Those years in their past, their actions, and their joint history, have a lot to do with where they are currently.
For most of the book, we’re in the current timeframe of the characters. Now both men are adults, Marion is the highwarden of the city, and Jean is the southwarden of the city. Marion’s duties include the entire city, while Jean’s are focused on the very slum where the two men grew up, became lovers, and then went their separate ways.
This book has a ton of stuff going on within its pages. We have nefarious sea pirates. We have a city named Malachite inhabited only by men and partially ruled by gangs. Malachite’s new citizens arrive as castoffs from other lands, because a land of only men has no way to reproduce. Many of the citizens arrive/arrived as children and have never seen a female. All love and sex is between men only. Females rule everywhere outside the island city and most of the world looks down on Malachite as an island of perversion.
The story intrigued me, and drew me in. I’ll be very interested in finding out where the author is going to take us from here with the story. I liked where the story ended, but there are a bunch of open storylines that carry into the next installment.
If you are into a dark and quite heavy alternate world / speculative fiction type story, this would be a good fit for you. If you’re into the light and fluffy reads…this one isn’t even slightly in your comfort level, so walk away.
I was sitting here typing this review and wondering how I would describe it…and decided on the speculative fiction moniker because while I think it is a dark fantasy…probably, it didn’t really fit into just fantasy. Was it an alternate world? Kind of. Floating/sinking city inhabited only by men. Was it a romance? Not really, although there were some romance aspects. Overall, I would have to say it kept me confused, but in a good way. I’ll be waiting for the next book in the series, and I just might have to go check out some other works by the author in the meantime!
I knew, just from reading the blurb, this book was going to be a complicated read. I didn’t realize what an understatement that would be. As with any first book in a fantasy series, there are lot of world building descriptors. There are a lot of characters, background characters, inter-related stories and plots jammed into one book.
Part way through the first chapter, I was thinking to myself…”what the heck did I get myself into”. Within a couple more chapters, I was hooked solidly. I really enjoyed the way the author provided us with the history of the characters through flashbacks that moved forward through time as we read further. Starting with thirty years ago, and moving up to only eight years ago, the flashbacks enabled us to know two of the MC’s far better than just a simple info dump would have.
Marion Casterline and Jean Rivard are the products of their pasts having grown up in the worst slum of the island city of Malachite. During their youth, they were taken in by the leader of a gang who then acted almost as a father figure to them…but a father figure with issues and an agenda. Between the two of them they killed many, many boys and men at that leader’s behest. Those years in their past, their actions, and their joint history, have a lot to do with where they are currently.
For most of the book, we’re in the current timeframe of the characters. Now both men are adults, Marion is the highwarden of the city, and Jean is the southwarden of the city. Marion’s duties include the entire city, while Jean’s are focused on the very slum where the two men grew up, became lovers, and then went their separate ways.
This book has a ton of stuff going on within its pages. We have nefarious sea pirates. We have a city named Malachite inhabited only by men and partially ruled by gangs. Malachite’s new citizens arrive as castoffs from other lands, because a land of only men has no way to reproduce. Many of the citizens arrive/arrived as children and have never seen a female. All love and sex is between men only. Females rule everywhere outside the island city and most of the world looks down on Malachite as an island of perversion.
The story intrigued me, and drew me in. I’ll be very interested in finding out where the author is going to take us from here with the story. I liked where the story ended, but there are a bunch of open storylines that carry into the next installment.
If you are into a dark and quite heavy alternate world / speculative fiction type story, this would be a good fit for you. If you’re into the light and fluffy reads…this one isn’t even slightly in your comfort level, so walk away.
I was sitting here typing this review and wondering how I would describe it…and decided on the speculative fiction moniker because while I think it is a dark fantasy…probably, it didn’t really fit into just fantasy. Was it an alternate world? Kind of. Floating/sinking city inhabited only by men. Was it a romance? Not really, although there were some romance aspects. Overall, I would have to say it kept me confused, but in a good way. I’ll be waiting for the next book in the series, and I just might have to go check out some other works by the author in the meantime!
June 1, 2016
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.75 stars
First and foremost, I was enthralled by the relationship dynamics in the book. These are uh-may-zing. The book has a LOT of delicious angst that revolves around complex interpersonal relationships between complex characters. I found it utterly compelling because I was geared up for Jean and Marrion reconciling. Given their history and devotion (and how Marion seems likely to cave at certain points), I got the impression that these two are soul mates. It primed me to view Tris as nothing more than an interloper flashing his power and influence to snag Marion (whom general consensus paints as a very good catch, physically and professionally). Yet when we finally get introduced to him, Tris is neither loathsome, shallow, or petty. Which forced me to expand my scope of “will Marion and Jean get back together” to “who will Marion end up with, Tris or Jean?” About two-thirds of the way through the story, this dynamic shifts slightly yet again and gets solidified at the end of the book. When it comes to these three characters, I’d say their thread is delightfully tangled and definitely as messy as you could ever hope for. As far as I could tell, the resolution never really came until the last couple chapters of the book though there were hints at it earlier. As much as choices get made, I was still left with the impression that we’re left with a “happily for now” kind of ending, too. Part of that depends on what ultimately happens with the city of Malachite and the rising threat against it, and part of it lies with the characters themselves.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
4.75 stars
First and foremost, I was enthralled by the relationship dynamics in the book. These are uh-may-zing. The book has a LOT of delicious angst that revolves around complex interpersonal relationships between complex characters. I found it utterly compelling because I was geared up for Jean and Marrion reconciling. Given their history and devotion (and how Marion seems likely to cave at certain points), I got the impression that these two are soul mates. It primed me to view Tris as nothing more than an interloper flashing his power and influence to snag Marion (whom general consensus paints as a very good catch, physically and professionally). Yet when we finally get introduced to him, Tris is neither loathsome, shallow, or petty. Which forced me to expand my scope of “will Marion and Jean get back together” to “who will Marion end up with, Tris or Jean?” About two-thirds of the way through the story, this dynamic shifts slightly yet again and gets solidified at the end of the book. When it comes to these three characters, I’d say their thread is delightfully tangled and definitely as messy as you could ever hope for. As far as I could tell, the resolution never really came until the last couple chapters of the book though there were hints at it earlier. As much as choices get made, I was still left with the impression that we’re left with a “happily for now” kind of ending, too. Part of that depends on what ultimately happens with the city of Malachite and the rising threat against it, and part of it lies with the characters themselves.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
November 29, 2016
2016 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Malachite by Kirby Crow
1) Little slow to start but really built into a great story.
2) I loved how the author was able to establish character, setting, and history in a few deft strokes. The world of this story drew me in right away. A rousing and thoroughly enjoyable read.
3) This book was high fantasy at its best. An intriguing setting based on ancient Venice, lost princes and lost love, intrigue and power play both political and personal... The three main character's paths were wonderfully convoluted and intertwined, nothing was quite as it seemed in the beginning, and the plot twists kept me on the edge with tension all through the story. Loved it and will definitely reread. My only issue was the tedious beginning; actually not all too surprising with that much worldbuilding to take care of, but still a bit tough to get through.
4) Another story deserving of full marks - absolutely stunning representation of an alternate Venice where men are sent as exiles from a woman dominated world and left to sink or swim as it were. Living in a culture of murder and robbery some men rise to the top and find love and honor while others lead lives of chaos and mindless sex. A dark but never depressing story of power struggles and a desperate need for happiness in a world gone mad.
1) Little slow to start but really built into a great story.
2) I loved how the author was able to establish character, setting, and history in a few deft strokes. The world of this story drew me in right away. A rousing and thoroughly enjoyable read.
3) This book was high fantasy at its best. An intriguing setting based on ancient Venice, lost princes and lost love, intrigue and power play both political and personal... The three main character's paths were wonderfully convoluted and intertwined, nothing was quite as it seemed in the beginning, and the plot twists kept me on the edge with tension all through the story. Loved it and will definitely reread. My only issue was the tedious beginning; actually not all too surprising with that much worldbuilding to take care of, but still a bit tough to get through.
4) Another story deserving of full marks - absolutely stunning representation of an alternate Venice where men are sent as exiles from a woman dominated world and left to sink or swim as it were. Living in a culture of murder and robbery some men rise to the top and find love and honor while others lead lives of chaos and mindless sex. A dark but never depressing story of power struggles and a desperate need for happiness in a world gone mad.
January 12, 2017
I absolutely loved this. It's awesome! It's a gripping and vivid fantasy set in a place that makes me think of an AU Renaissance Venice and it's so cool. The characters are amazing, the plot is exciting, the world-building is thorough, and the writing is snappy. The characters are spectacularly well done and wonderfully complex. These people are full of depth and life and flaws and realism and it's fantastic. I absolutely loved the main characters--Marion, Jean, and Tris. They are very endearing and their adventures completely took over my brain. The relationships in this story are so captivating and complicated and completely fascinating. The romance is very satisfying and I loved the unexpected ending. There's gorgeous emotion here, both heartwarming and heartbreaking. I enjoyed the flashbacks to Marion and Jean's youth and I thought they worked really well to expand on the story. This is an all-male island nation, made up of exiles from other lands, and it's a really interesting basis for a society. This book is full of political intrigue, action, mystery, pining, secrets, daring heroics, epic love, and great dialogue. I think there's way more story here to be told and I am so excited for the sequel. May it come soon.
March 27, 2016
I loved this book! It's cleverly written, with fantastic characters and some surprising twists and turns. At the beginning I maybe felt a bit lost. A new world, new rules and so many secrets. But at some point everything clicked and made sense. The story is complex - but in a good way! One minute you think you know who's friend or foe and then the next minute you're totally surprised and speechless. I loved Jean, Marion, Tris and all the others. Even Daeron was awesome! And the ending? Just what I wanted. :)
Will I read the next book? YES.
Will I read the next book? YES.
January 7, 2016
Kirby Crow has done an excellent job of creating a world and characters that are intriguing and complex.
The main characters each have very distinct voices and getting to experience this world from their different perspectives really helped paint a clear picture of Malachite. This book had a bit of everything: Romance, political intrigue, murder, mystery, I could never really guess what was going to happen next. There were characters that I loved and characters that I really really hated.
This is a fantastic book that I would highly recommend to anyone who likes a kind of dark and complicated story.
The main characters each have very distinct voices and getting to experience this world from their different perspectives really helped paint a clear picture of Malachite. This book had a bit of everything: Romance, political intrigue, murder, mystery, I could never really guess what was going to happen next. There were characters that I loved and characters that I really really hated.
This is a fantastic book that I would highly recommend to anyone who likes a kind of dark and complicated story.
July 26, 2016
All the things I love in a fantasy: intriguing, complex characters, fascinating world, and a compelling storyline I could really sink my teeth into. Excellent series opener. Looking forward to more!
January 21, 2016
Review can be read at It's About The Book
Marion Casterline is the highwarden and he’s going to marry Tris Sessane, the son of the most noble family in all of Malachite. Marion’s former lover, Jean Rivard, doesn’t take kindly to that. Marion and Jean grew up in interesting times. They’ve experienced deprivation and horror the likes of which Tris has never known. Unfortunately, times seem to be becoming interesting once again, and possibly Marion still loves Jean a little. Marion, Tris, and Jean find themselves stumbling into plans within plans. Everyone seems to be hiding something up their sleeve. As an island of only men, Malachite accepts refugees to keep their populations stable. Marion begins to notice some subtle changes in who comes to Malachite. Jean begins to uncover some machinations within the poorer neighborhoods he patrols, and Tris finds himself learning way more about his own family history than he ever wanted to know. These men need to find out to whom they can give their loyalty and love without dying or having it thrown back in their face.
As the first in a series this book contains a lot of world building, backstory, and character introduction. For me, Malachite was a post apocalyptic future Venice. It was a marshy island full of canals with inhabitants who spoke Italian. Malachite is an all male island surrounded by militarily powerful matriarchies. Consequently, Malachite is easy to pick on. No one really respects them, but they’re largely left alone.
The characters in this book were mostly unlikeable and that was awesome. I loved that I didn’t like these guys. Not only did the three main characters have legitimate reasons for their less than pleasant behaviors and attitudes, but so did the secondary characters. Kon, Mika, and Paris were also delightfully unlikeable. It is not often I come across characters who are as complex as these. I understood why Tris had his moments of indecision and brattiness. I understood Kon’s obsessive need to keep his son safe. I understood Jean feeling as though everyone had either thrown him away or been stolen from him. These characters had painful and on occasion torturous experiences and were allowed to act damaged because of them. Most compellingly, they still felt a strong need for a human connection, and I wanted them to get it. In a lot of ways this was largely a character driven novel, and the characters are fascinating.
There are major conflicts brewing as of the end of this story. Everyone is safe-ish as of now. The biggest conflicts will be when people have to define for themselves loyalty and family. What is an appropriate secret to keep and what is appropriate secret to tell? Marion, Tris, and Jean have some disturbing truths in their romance. Adding Paris, Kon, and Mika to the mix, with their respective secrets and histories, will make for compelling reading.
This review is vague and meandering in part because a lot of this book was world building and introduction, in part because a lot of the story was character driven, and because I don’t want to spoiler. Overwhelmingly it is the characters that are best part of this story. Much like Malachite they are complex and damaged. A modern thing built upon the ruins of what once was and could have been.
Marion Casterline is the highwarden and he’s going to marry Tris Sessane, the son of the most noble family in all of Malachite. Marion’s former lover, Jean Rivard, doesn’t take kindly to that. Marion and Jean grew up in interesting times. They’ve experienced deprivation and horror the likes of which Tris has never known. Unfortunately, times seem to be becoming interesting once again, and possibly Marion still loves Jean a little. Marion, Tris, and Jean find themselves stumbling into plans within plans. Everyone seems to be hiding something up their sleeve. As an island of only men, Malachite accepts refugees to keep their populations stable. Marion begins to notice some subtle changes in who comes to Malachite. Jean begins to uncover some machinations within the poorer neighborhoods he patrols, and Tris finds himself learning way more about his own family history than he ever wanted to know. These men need to find out to whom they can give their loyalty and love without dying or having it thrown back in their face.
As the first in a series this book contains a lot of world building, backstory, and character introduction. For me, Malachite was a post apocalyptic future Venice. It was a marshy island full of canals with inhabitants who spoke Italian. Malachite is an all male island surrounded by militarily powerful matriarchies. Consequently, Malachite is easy to pick on. No one really respects them, but they’re largely left alone.
The characters in this book were mostly unlikeable and that was awesome. I loved that I didn’t like these guys. Not only did the three main characters have legitimate reasons for their less than pleasant behaviors and attitudes, but so did the secondary characters. Kon, Mika, and Paris were also delightfully unlikeable. It is not often I come across characters who are as complex as these. I understood why Tris had his moments of indecision and brattiness. I understood Kon’s obsessive need to keep his son safe. I understood Jean feeling as though everyone had either thrown him away or been stolen from him. These characters had painful and on occasion torturous experiences and were allowed to act damaged because of them. Most compellingly, they still felt a strong need for a human connection, and I wanted them to get it. In a lot of ways this was largely a character driven novel, and the characters are fascinating.
There are major conflicts brewing as of the end of this story. Everyone is safe-ish as of now. The biggest conflicts will be when people have to define for themselves loyalty and family. What is an appropriate secret to keep and what is appropriate secret to tell? Marion, Tris, and Jean have some disturbing truths in their romance. Adding Paris, Kon, and Mika to the mix, with their respective secrets and histories, will make for compelling reading.
This review is vague and meandering in part because a lot of this book was world building and introduction, in part because a lot of the story was character driven, and because I don’t want to spoiler. Overwhelmingly it is the characters that are best part of this story. Much like Malachite they are complex and damaged. A modern thing built upon the ruins of what once was and could have been.
February 6, 2016
I adored Malachite, and I'm really looking forward to the series that will follow. I didn't know much about the book before I read it, aside from the very brief synopsis from Amazon. Upon reading a Q&A from Kirby Crow, I figured out that the book was also an alternate Earth story--but this is laced in lightly, so you aren't taken aback by language/names that show up (mostly Italian, I believe).
Briefly, you have Jean and Marion, who grew up together, had a change of circumstance, and came into positions of some authority as Wardens. The entire society that's been created is vastly different from the surrounding civilizations, and also from most historical cultures. They are affected by the outside world, but operate autonomously as far as they can. Jean and Marion have been more or less together for ages by the time the book begins, but Marion has cut all ties but work, and is pursuing Tris. I tried--so hard--to hate Tris, because I fell in love with Jean, but it isn't possible. I like Marion with Tris, and Jean with Marion, and Tris in defiance of his naivete. There are two other characters with significant page time: Kon, who is Tris's father, and Paris, who is a peer of Marion and Jean, but who works in the same location as Tris, though not with him. There are a handful of other character we see from time to time, but these are a bit more fleshed out.
As per the blurb, Jean and Marion are Wardens, and responsible for overseeing the districts of Malachite. Men are shipped to the island annually, and something goes wrong with the receipt of exiles this year. Throughout the book, the two of them (and Tris, and others) determine a con is being played out to deceive the populus, and this against intrigues between the men and their respective pasts, as well as a subversive, long-term threat against the upper echelon courtesy of the Archer. There is some resolution at the end, and some mysteries explained, but there is plenty to be addressed in the following books of the Paladin Cycle, including (hopefully!) some more of the societal history.
The writing is stunningly beautiful in places, and I like how the perspectives change between Marion, Jean, and Tris. The flashbacks provide more information on how Malachite is structured, and how all of the main and supporting characters interact and relate to each other.
I can't wait to read what happens next!
Briefly, you have Jean and Marion, who grew up together, had a change of circumstance, and came into positions of some authority as Wardens. The entire society that's been created is vastly different from the surrounding civilizations, and also from most historical cultures. They are affected by the outside world, but operate autonomously as far as they can. Jean and Marion have been more or less together for ages by the time the book begins, but Marion has cut all ties but work, and is pursuing Tris. I tried--so hard--to hate Tris, because I fell in love with Jean, but it isn't possible. I like Marion with Tris, and Jean with Marion, and Tris in defiance of his naivete. There are two other characters with significant page time: Kon, who is Tris's father, and Paris, who is a peer of Marion and Jean, but who works in the same location as Tris, though not with him. There are a handful of other character we see from time to time, but these are a bit more fleshed out.
As per the blurb, Jean and Marion are Wardens, and responsible for overseeing the districts of Malachite. Men are shipped to the island annually, and something goes wrong with the receipt of exiles this year. Throughout the book, the two of them (and Tris, and others) determine a con is being played out to deceive the populus, and this against intrigues between the men and their respective pasts, as well as a subversive, long-term threat against the upper echelon courtesy of the Archer. There is some resolution at the end, and some mysteries explained, but there is plenty to be addressed in the following books of the Paladin Cycle, including (hopefully!) some more of the societal history.
The writing is stunningly beautiful in places, and I like how the perspectives change between Marion, Jean, and Tris. The flashbacks provide more information on how Malachite is structured, and how all of the main and supporting characters interact and relate to each other.
I can't wait to read what happens next!
October 1, 2017
My rating of this book has nothing to do with the quality of this book but rather because personally, I DID NOT LIKE IT!. I feel like I was deceived by the blurb which made it seem like it was about a love triangle between Jean and Marion with Tris being an interloper, however this book turned out to be more of a ménage which is a no no for me. Finally I fell in love with Jean ( surprisingly enough Tris was my second favourite character with Marion coming in last place ) and in my opinion the ending was not in his favour. He seems more like a third wheel ( that Marion used to love and Tris is attracted to) rather a real loved party in the ménage relationship while him himself seems to love both of them.
April 21, 2016
To me Malachite felt like one of those fantasy books that reads more like historical fiction. It's definitely placed in a different world with different cultural rules and norms. However these are the main fantasy elements. I had a hard time getting into the book at first as trying to understand the world took some time and I didn't particularly like the characters at first. Around a third to halfway through the book though it got much better as the character relationships and plot gets more complicated. There's a little bit of a twist ending to it as well.
January 23, 2016
Great story! I loved Jean the most and I hope I loved all the characters and I'd love to see more of Thorn in the future, too. He's really interesting. I liked Paris a lot, too. I found the world they all live in very interesting and there is plenty to it, for lots of books to be written about it.
Read
January 2, 2016 I can appreciate this book and its writing. Kirby Crow does fantasy so well and I would recommend this to any. But I can't get past certain elements and it's just ruining my enjoyment of the story. So, not for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2016
3.5 stars rounded up. A series that shows great promise, I'm already looking forward to the next installment. It has it's flaws, but it's definitely worth reading for any fantasy lover. It's a shame that there doesn't seem to be much buzz around this novel.
March 3, 2016
Nice. A thouroughly enjoyable read.
The worldbuilding is solid and I found the history of the city-state fascinating. The characters are endearing though sometimes frustratingly dense with their interpersonal relationships.
I'll anticipate the sequel.
The worldbuilding is solid and I found the history of the city-state fascinating. The characters are endearing though sometimes frustratingly dense with their interpersonal relationships.
I'll anticipate the sequel.
January 4, 2019
A mesmerising world, an intriguing society populated only by men, and a score of fascinating characters, living, loving, hurting and growing: it all had me hooked from the very first pages. Though there is a lot of back-and-forth going on with flash-backs and fast-forwards, and though there are surprising twists and turns the story never becomes difficult to follow. Each of the characters, the minor ones as well as the main ones, kept me enthralled till the very last page. Fantasy story telling at its best!
June 29, 2020
I really enjoyed this book because most of the characters were older with established lives. Books usually have the protagonists young and just discovering the world whereas here the protagonists have been through all the crazy shit and their drama is in their baggage, not because they're inexperienced teens.
Also enjoyed that nothing was black and white, none of the main characters were totally good or totally bad.
I need a side story about Kon and Mika though, definitely the MVPs of the story for me!
Also enjoyed that nothing was black and white, none of the main characters were totally good or totally bad.
I need a side story about Kon and Mika though, definitely the MVPs of the story for me!
April 4, 2019
The relationship on here is A+ tbh, I want more of those three.
March 2, 2016
WARNING AND POTENTIAL SPOILER:
This contains a poly relationship, which I was unaware of just based on the description. It is usually a big no for me, but with these characters it is really the only way for it to work and I was ok with it. Still, it made it a bit difficult for me to whole heartedly get into because of that.
I DID enjoy the plot a lot, and quite like the characters, even though I feel like I probably shouldn't. They are all wonderfully flawed and very human.
This contains a poly relationship, which I was unaware of just based on the description. It is usually a big no for me, but with these characters it is really the only way for it to work and I was ok with it. Still, it made it a bit difficult for me to whole heartedly get into because of that.
I DID enjoy the plot a lot, and quite like the characters, even though I feel like I probably shouldn't. They are all wonderfully flawed and very human.
Read
March 13, 2016I wish there was a warning that it is a ménage... Not a fan.
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