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Haffling #2
Exile
The Book Two
Liam Summer, with the face of an angel and the body of an underwear model, has done bad things. Raised as the whore and cat’s paw of a murderous fairy queen, he has ruined many with his beauty. When Queen May’s plot to unite and rule the fairy and human realms fails, Liam wakes naked and alone in a Manhattan building on fire. Unaware the blaze is arson, and he’s its intended victim, he prepares to die.
Enter ax-wielding FDNY firefighter Charlie Fitzgerald, who Liam mistakes for an ogre assassin. As Charlie rescues Liam, he realizes the handsome blond has nowhere to go. So he does what he and his family have always done—he helps.
As for Queen May, trapped in the body of a flame-throwing salamander, she may be down, but she’s not out. Yes, she failed the last time, but Liam—and others—will pay. She knows what must be possess a haffling, cross into the human world engorged with magic, and become queen and Goddess over all.
As Liam realizes the danger they all face, he discovers unexpected truths. That even the most wicked are not beyond redemption, and that love—true love—is a gift even he can receive.
236 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 24, 2017
3 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Caleb James
55 books30 followersCaleb James is an author, member of the Yale volunteer faculty, practicing psychiatrist, and clinical trainer. He writes both fiction and nonfiction and has published books in multiple genres and under different names. Writing as Charles Atkins, he has been a Lambda Literary finalist. He lives in Connecticut with his partner and four cats.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 30, 2017
Should've kept it in Alex's perspective in my opinion
May 21, 2017
This is my review of Exile, by Caleb James, from my M/M Romance Books Blog, OJ He Say. Click the link below to see the whole review and more.
Exile by Caleb James at OJ He Say!
To be honest I’m not one for fantasy usually, however after having read Dark Blood by Caleb James and then seeing that he’d gone on and written other fantasy I just had to give this a whirl, and I am so glad I did. Mr. James, AKA Charles Atkins, weaves an incredible tale of fantasy in the modern world that, for me, makes it all work wonderfully. By bringing the age old stories of the fey in to the 21st Century one can see the plausibility of such happenings. To do it as masterfully as he does? That’s an awesome talent! One bit of advice: read Haffling, the first book in this series, as Exile follows the happenings in book 1.
THE CHARACTERS
Liam Summer:
The man, who had to be about his age, in his early twenties, with matted blond hair that glinted gold from the reflected flashers on the streets and the shoots of fire that surrounded them, met Charlie’s gaze. Even in the dim light, Charlie marveled at the color of his eyes— purple. Guy’s naked in an abandoned apartment, wearing colored contacts. Stop staring at him, Charlie. “Come on. Can you stand?” Is he totally naked? Shit! He averted his eyes. Don’t be a perv… It didn’t help that, even covered in soot and sawdust, He’s perfect. Like someone out of an underwear ad, only… no underwear.
Charlie Fitzgerald:
For an instant he couldn’t recognize the tall man, but he knew those blue eyes, the dark hair matted to his scalp from the helmet Liam had originally taken to be an ogre’s head…
He’s not hurt, just filthy. His face, hands, and arms were smudged with soot, and his thick wavy hair clung matted to his scalp from the Kevlar hood of his respirator.
THE STORY
Exile, Haffling Book 2, is the story of Liam Summer, a gorgeous, blond fey whose gift is the ability to glamor others. May, Queen of The Fey, enslaves him as a youth after she kills and eats his parents and uses him as her tool to glamor others so she can eat them, as that is how she maintains her powers.
Exile picks up at the end of Haffling as Liam escapes the world of the fey, the Unsee, into the realm of humans. Even though May is being held prisoner by her sister Lizbeta she is steadily regaining her powers and re-starting her attempted conquest of the human realm. May attempts to kill Liam by sending a ball of fairy fire after him and instead ends up burning down the condo where Liam has entered the human realm. As the building is burning down Charlie Fitzgerald, a hunky, tall black Irish firefighter, rescues Liam and falls head over heels for him.
As I don’t do spoilers I’ll leave it for you to continue with this wonderfully written story of gorgeous, magical fey and hunky Irish firefighters. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
THE WRITING
Mr. James’ writing, AKA Charles Atkins, is simply, superbly flawless. This is the third book I’ve read by him and I can honestly say the experience is consistently flawless. It’s that rare ability to develop the characters and build a universe with such laser-like precision that allows the reader to totally and completely immerse him/herself in the story and go along with the ride.
I would like to thank Caleb James and Dream Spinner Press for providing OJ He Say! with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Exile by Caleb James at OJ He Say!
To be honest I’m not one for fantasy usually, however after having read Dark Blood by Caleb James and then seeing that he’d gone on and written other fantasy I just had to give this a whirl, and I am so glad I did. Mr. James, AKA Charles Atkins, weaves an incredible tale of fantasy in the modern world that, for me, makes it all work wonderfully. By bringing the age old stories of the fey in to the 21st Century one can see the plausibility of such happenings. To do it as masterfully as he does? That’s an awesome talent! One bit of advice: read Haffling, the first book in this series, as Exile follows the happenings in book 1.
THE CHARACTERS
Liam Summer:
The man, who had to be about his age, in his early twenties, with matted blond hair that glinted gold from the reflected flashers on the streets and the shoots of fire that surrounded them, met Charlie’s gaze. Even in the dim light, Charlie marveled at the color of his eyes— purple. Guy’s naked in an abandoned apartment, wearing colored contacts. Stop staring at him, Charlie. “Come on. Can you stand?” Is he totally naked? Shit! He averted his eyes. Don’t be a perv… It didn’t help that, even covered in soot and sawdust, He’s perfect. Like someone out of an underwear ad, only… no underwear.
Charlie Fitzgerald:
For an instant he couldn’t recognize the tall man, but he knew those blue eyes, the dark hair matted to his scalp from the helmet Liam had originally taken to be an ogre’s head…
He’s not hurt, just filthy. His face, hands, and arms were smudged with soot, and his thick wavy hair clung matted to his scalp from the Kevlar hood of his respirator.
THE STORY
Exile, Haffling Book 2, is the story of Liam Summer, a gorgeous, blond fey whose gift is the ability to glamor others. May, Queen of The Fey, enslaves him as a youth after she kills and eats his parents and uses him as her tool to glamor others so she can eat them, as that is how she maintains her powers.
Exile picks up at the end of Haffling as Liam escapes the world of the fey, the Unsee, into the realm of humans. Even though May is being held prisoner by her sister Lizbeta she is steadily regaining her powers and re-starting her attempted conquest of the human realm. May attempts to kill Liam by sending a ball of fairy fire after him and instead ends up burning down the condo where Liam has entered the human realm. As the building is burning down Charlie Fitzgerald, a hunky, tall black Irish firefighter, rescues Liam and falls head over heels for him.
As I don’t do spoilers I’ll leave it for you to continue with this wonderfully written story of gorgeous, magical fey and hunky Irish firefighters. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
THE WRITING
Mr. James’ writing, AKA Charles Atkins, is simply, superbly flawless. This is the third book I’ve read by him and I can honestly say the experience is consistently flawless. It’s that rare ability to develop the characters and build a universe with such laser-like precision that allows the reader to totally and completely immerse him/herself in the story and go along with the ride.
I would like to thank Caleb James and Dream Spinner Press for providing OJ He Say! with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 9, 2017
Author Caleb James has released his sequel to Halfling and it was more than worth the wait! Before I begin my review it is best to note that these books must be read in order and the second installment, Exile, picks up pretty much on the heels of its predecessor. Also without the wealth of background information given in the first, Exile will simply leave the reader lost as to the intricate relationship between the two worlds this author has so cleverly and painstakingly created. And finally, my review will contain a few spoilers for those of you who choose to read it before reading Halfling. Let’s venture into this amazing sequel now and highlight a few of the many reasons I feel that this novel was actually even better than the first.
First a very brief summary: In the first book, we have been made aware of the vicious and evil Queen May who strengthens her own powers by literally eating her own kind—the sidhe or fey people of the Unsee world that coexists with that of the world we humans know as the See. While she has been held in check by her two sisters, once she learns of the halflings, Alex Summer and his sister, Alice, she makes it her business to possess him in an attempt to take over both worlds. But as you will recall, one of her minions, Liam, was sent to seduce Alex’s boyfriend in the first book and failed, leaving Alex and his boyfriend, Jared, even closer than before. It also seemed to spell the end for May—but the first novel left us with a virtual cliffhanger, knowing that she was indeed still alive and hell bent on getting her revenge. We were also privy to the fact that on earth Alex’s mother who seemed undeniably mad was actually also alive in the Unsee world and not only sane but along with Alex and his sister, has a third child named Adam—also a Halfling like his siblings.
This is where the second story begins with a naked, frightened Liam under siege in a desolate New York apartment building that is alight with fairy fire sent by May to destroy Liam for failing to seduce Jared and escaping into the human world. Having very little knowledge of this world, Liam is terrified when a firefighter, Charlie Fitzgerald, uses an axe to break down the door and rescue him. While Liam may have lost the physical characteristics of a fairy (no pointy teeth or ears) when he crossed over, he can still glamour humans and fears he has done such a thing when Charlie seems instantly smitten of him.
Meanwhile, Charlie takes the confused young man to his Grandmother’s home for the night—for Liam has no where else to go and refuses to go to the hospital. It is then that Charlie is introduced to the fairy world for the first time by his grandmother Flora who immediately recognizes Liam for what he is—the Queen’s whore and plaything. While Liam tries to assure her that he means no harm and is, in fact, attempting to escape May’s clutches, Flora is having none of it and knows that fairies are tricksters who often bring death and unhappiness with them. But Liam and Charlie have forged a connection beyond simple glamouring and when Liam returns to the fairy world only to find that May is growing stronger and cannot be held in check by her sister any longer, he must return to the human world and do everything he can to save it before it is too late.
Once again I must apologize for distilling down this story to such a simple summary when there is so much more here than one can do justice to in a few paragraphs. Suffice it to say that the focus is now on Charlie and Liam even while Alex, Alice, and Jared still play critical roles in this installment and these two are absolutely captivating. Their interactions are both beautiful and tender in so many ways and you watch the transformation of Liam, who has been dealt the harshest of lives under May’s evil hand, and cannot help but cheer him on as he stumbles his way into Charlie’s heart. The action in this one is intense and never ending. While there are still trips between the two worlds they are done seamlessly and one never feels lost or confused by the different worlds or creatures that inhabit them both. The story is tightly woven and with the introduction of new characters, the novel takes on epic proportions while never feeling too big or rambling. The writing is clear, focused and packs a punch.
Once again, author Caleb James establishes his fairy world with exacting patience and incredible detail, painting pictures with his words that arouse the most vivid of pictures in the reader’s imagination. His heroes, Liam and Charlie are the painfully flawed and yet incredibly brave and selfless. I was held enthralled by this story, reading it in one sitting, and left eager for the next one in the series to see just where this talented writer will take us next. Caleb James has arrived—and his work is more polished, fascinating and truly top notch.
First a very brief summary: In the first book, we have been made aware of the vicious and evil Queen May who strengthens her own powers by literally eating her own kind—the sidhe or fey people of the Unsee world that coexists with that of the world we humans know as the See. While she has been held in check by her two sisters, once she learns of the halflings, Alex Summer and his sister, Alice, she makes it her business to possess him in an attempt to take over both worlds. But as you will recall, one of her minions, Liam, was sent to seduce Alex’s boyfriend in the first book and failed, leaving Alex and his boyfriend, Jared, even closer than before. It also seemed to spell the end for May—but the first novel left us with a virtual cliffhanger, knowing that she was indeed still alive and hell bent on getting her revenge. We were also privy to the fact that on earth Alex’s mother who seemed undeniably mad was actually also alive in the Unsee world and not only sane but along with Alex and his sister, has a third child named Adam—also a Halfling like his siblings.
This is where the second story begins with a naked, frightened Liam under siege in a desolate New York apartment building that is alight with fairy fire sent by May to destroy Liam for failing to seduce Jared and escaping into the human world. Having very little knowledge of this world, Liam is terrified when a firefighter, Charlie Fitzgerald, uses an axe to break down the door and rescue him. While Liam may have lost the physical characteristics of a fairy (no pointy teeth or ears) when he crossed over, he can still glamour humans and fears he has done such a thing when Charlie seems instantly smitten of him.
Meanwhile, Charlie takes the confused young man to his Grandmother’s home for the night—for Liam has no where else to go and refuses to go to the hospital. It is then that Charlie is introduced to the fairy world for the first time by his grandmother Flora who immediately recognizes Liam for what he is—the Queen’s whore and plaything. While Liam tries to assure her that he means no harm and is, in fact, attempting to escape May’s clutches, Flora is having none of it and knows that fairies are tricksters who often bring death and unhappiness with them. But Liam and Charlie have forged a connection beyond simple glamouring and when Liam returns to the fairy world only to find that May is growing stronger and cannot be held in check by her sister any longer, he must return to the human world and do everything he can to save it before it is too late.
Once again I must apologize for distilling down this story to such a simple summary when there is so much more here than one can do justice to in a few paragraphs. Suffice it to say that the focus is now on Charlie and Liam even while Alex, Alice, and Jared still play critical roles in this installment and these two are absolutely captivating. Their interactions are both beautiful and tender in so many ways and you watch the transformation of Liam, who has been dealt the harshest of lives under May’s evil hand, and cannot help but cheer him on as he stumbles his way into Charlie’s heart. The action in this one is intense and never ending. While there are still trips between the two worlds they are done seamlessly and one never feels lost or confused by the different worlds or creatures that inhabit them both. The story is tightly woven and with the introduction of new characters, the novel takes on epic proportions while never feeling too big or rambling. The writing is clear, focused and packs a punch.
Once again, author Caleb James establishes his fairy world with exacting patience and incredible detail, painting pictures with his words that arouse the most vivid of pictures in the reader’s imagination. His heroes, Liam and Charlie are the painfully flawed and yet incredibly brave and selfless. I was held enthralled by this story, reading it in one sitting, and left eager for the next one in the series to see just where this talented writer will take us next. Caleb James has arrived—and his work is more polished, fascinating and truly top notch.
October 28, 2017
Book – Exile (Haffling #2)
Author – Caleb James
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages – 236
Cover – Great!
POV – 3rd person, Omni, multi-POV
Would I read it again – Yes!
Genre – LGBT, Fantasy, Fey, Romance
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
I loved Book 1 in the Haffling series. I was hesitant about entering book 2's world, because I liked Liam but wasn't sure how his story would unfold, after the events of book 1.
I was NOT disappointed. If possible, book 2 was even better than book 1.
~
POV
First off, let me go through the POV system with you, because at first it's a little confusing. With book 1 being 1st person, I assumed that this book would be the same, which was part of the reason I was so unsure about how it would read. However, the entirety of book 2 is in 3rd person, with multiple POV's. But, in this case, the multiple POV's are vitally important. Here's how it works:
Prologue – we begin with the Prologue in the salamander's POV (May)
Chapter 1- next up, we get Liam's story, as he wakes up in the middle of a fire (as we're told in the blurb) and realises that May is trying to kill him. Then, enter the “ogre” with an ax – our firefighter, Charlie.
Chapter 2 – begins the dual POV between Liam and Charlie, which are the most prominent POV's of the entire book.
Chapter 3 – this is where the omni-present POV begins. Before this, it was a straight one character 3rd person POV, but I think this was deliberate, as neither character knew each other and using omni would take away some of the mystery of their first POV's.
Chapter 4 – enter Flora, Charlie's grandmother. She has a very important part in the overall story and provides much needed information that helps Charlie, so her POV is very important.
Chapter 6 – we get to see Alice's POV. Also vitally important to the understanding of the plot and the experiences that follow, her POV provides so much information that we, the readers, need.
So, there you have it : May, Liam, Charlie, Flora and Alice all in a progressively omni-present POV. Now, I know it looks confusing, but by the time I'd reached Chapter 6, I understood the need for all of the separate POV's and the reason for the omni-presence. If the story had stuck to single person POV, it would have been twice the size and us readers would have had to read one event in sometimes multiple POV's and the repetition would have killed me. I much prefer the sense of omni-present, letting us see how two or three individuals feel about the same situation, without becoming repetitive. For instances, in one chapter, within Charlie's POV for the whole chapter, we get glimmers of Alex, Jerod, Nimby and Liam's thoughts. These are important, but also minor and make more sense slipped into the current POV.
~
Characters
I really loved Liam in book 1, but in this one we really got to see just how amazing he was. Flirts, sullen and mysterious in book 1, book 2 compounded on this by making him vulnerable, sweet and confused.
The first moment I really knew he'd changed was when he curled up in the bath and thought he was going to die, rather than go back to serving May. Then he saved the Chihuahua dog and became the Naked Chihuahua Guy on YouTube and he just became utterly adorable. As terrified as he was that he was going to die, that his life was over and that he thought he was the lowest creature in the universe, he still stopped to use what little magic he had – his glimmer – to convince the dog to go with him and live another day. Adorable!
When Charlie entered the story, it was a great new addition to the series. To see an adult, with his own life, his own rules and a family to back him up, he had a whole lot more freedom and less to hold him back when Liam came onto the scene and complicated his life. And, although he questioned his sanity somewhat, when he found out about the Fey and Liam, he had a historical background within his family that explained it all so well that there was no reason for him not to believe it.
I absolutely loved seeing Alex, Jerod, Nimby and Alice back again. It was really cute to see their romance still alive and to know that they were all still as strong together as a family as ever.
Flora was a hoot. She was entertaining, fun and shook things up a little, with her total scepticism about Liam. She had experience with the Fey and instantly distrusted him, while keeping an open mind enough to learn about May and what she was up to.
~
Plot
It was fantastic to see that all the old rules still applied, but that Liam really didn't have to live by them anymore, because he was in the See not the Unsee. Watching him navigate his way through conversations with regular humans who had no hesitation over asking a million questions was exciting and lovely. The way he reacted was so sweet and naïve, so innocent in so many ways, that it rejuvenated the character of Liam from the hard, frosty pawn that he'd come across in book 1.
I loved Liam's innocence and the way that he gradually learned that questions weren't going to get him hurt and that he wouldn't be punished for asking questions of his own. To see him navigating the See world was just so sweet; the way he got to see and learn that people could be kind and giving without expecting anything in return and that questions didn't equal pain. Even the simple things, like calling fire engines metal dragons and small rectangles for mobile phones were so sweet.
This story is a lot less YA, because it does mention sex, but not in an explicit way. As two grown men, it makes a whole lot of sense that their relationship extended beyond the flirtations and seduction of Alex and Jerod's relationship.
Seeing Lizbeta in this book was fantastic, because we've now seen all three of the sisters and we got to see the extent of her powers and what she's capable of. Her part – and her sister's parts – in the future book(s) will be very interesting.
At the same time, it was interesting to see the way Alex and Jerod began the story so prejudiced against Liam, for his past deeds. Yet knowing how evil May is and her power over the Fey world, I'm surprised they continued to believe him to be pure evil. As Liam grew and the story unfolded, it was really beautiful and incredible to see the way they changed their thinking and began to realise so much more than what they'd known before.
~
Overall
The entire book was a whirlwind of emotions, adventure and excitement. There wasn't one thing I didn't love, from the incredibly diverse characterisation, the attention to detail that linked both books together and offered hints to the overall big reveal at the end, to the amazing chemistry between the main characters.
This book was nothing short of another piece of amazingly talented writing from Caleb James.
I can't wait for book 3, when the whole gang get back together again.
~
Favourite Quote
““No, Charlie. Your gran knows. She will tell you it's for the best. I'm not good.” Liam winced at the effect the words had. Now was no time for kindness. If he were ever going to do one right thing, it had to be now, and it would have to hurt. He averted his gaze and spoke. “May killed my parents and raised me a whore. That's what you see. I am a vicious thing, unworthy of your affections. I will leave now and never forget your kindness. But trust me in this. I am not good, Charlie. Not for you...not for anyone.””
“He thought back through last night, Charlie's hand in his as they'd walked along the shore before going upstairs. Charlie had stayed true to his word – damn him – of just one kiss. But that walk, gentle waves and sand beneath their feet, hands connected, and the moon's silver light across the water. He replayed each moment, and when they'd finally gone up to his little house, and he'd turned the sofa into a bed. What sweet agony, lying there, knowing Charlie was just feet away in his own bed. Just one kiss.”
“I have known love. I am ready to die.”
Author – Caleb James
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages – 236
Cover – Great!
POV – 3rd person, Omni, multi-POV
Would I read it again – Yes!
Genre – LGBT, Fantasy, Fey, Romance
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
I loved Book 1 in the Haffling series. I was hesitant about entering book 2's world, because I liked Liam but wasn't sure how his story would unfold, after the events of book 1.
I was NOT disappointed. If possible, book 2 was even better than book 1.
~
POV
First off, let me go through the POV system with you, because at first it's a little confusing. With book 1 being 1st person, I assumed that this book would be the same, which was part of the reason I was so unsure about how it would read. However, the entirety of book 2 is in 3rd person, with multiple POV's. But, in this case, the multiple POV's are vitally important. Here's how it works:
Prologue – we begin with the Prologue in the salamander's POV (May)
Chapter 1- next up, we get Liam's story, as he wakes up in the middle of a fire (as we're told in the blurb) and realises that May is trying to kill him. Then, enter the “ogre” with an ax – our firefighter, Charlie.
Chapter 2 – begins the dual POV between Liam and Charlie, which are the most prominent POV's of the entire book.
Chapter 3 – this is where the omni-present POV begins. Before this, it was a straight one character 3rd person POV, but I think this was deliberate, as neither character knew each other and using omni would take away some of the mystery of their first POV's.
Chapter 4 – enter Flora, Charlie's grandmother. She has a very important part in the overall story and provides much needed information that helps Charlie, so her POV is very important.
Chapter 6 – we get to see Alice's POV. Also vitally important to the understanding of the plot and the experiences that follow, her POV provides so much information that we, the readers, need.
So, there you have it : May, Liam, Charlie, Flora and Alice all in a progressively omni-present POV. Now, I know it looks confusing, but by the time I'd reached Chapter 6, I understood the need for all of the separate POV's and the reason for the omni-presence. If the story had stuck to single person POV, it would have been twice the size and us readers would have had to read one event in sometimes multiple POV's and the repetition would have killed me. I much prefer the sense of omni-present, letting us see how two or three individuals feel about the same situation, without becoming repetitive. For instances, in one chapter, within Charlie's POV for the whole chapter, we get glimmers of Alex, Jerod, Nimby and Liam's thoughts. These are important, but also minor and make more sense slipped into the current POV.
~
Characters
I really loved Liam in book 1, but in this one we really got to see just how amazing he was. Flirts, sullen and mysterious in book 1, book 2 compounded on this by making him vulnerable, sweet and confused.
The first moment I really knew he'd changed was when he curled up in the bath and thought he was going to die, rather than go back to serving May. Then he saved the Chihuahua dog and became the Naked Chihuahua Guy on YouTube and he just became utterly adorable. As terrified as he was that he was going to die, that his life was over and that he thought he was the lowest creature in the universe, he still stopped to use what little magic he had – his glimmer – to convince the dog to go with him and live another day. Adorable!
When Charlie entered the story, it was a great new addition to the series. To see an adult, with his own life, his own rules and a family to back him up, he had a whole lot more freedom and less to hold him back when Liam came onto the scene and complicated his life. And, although he questioned his sanity somewhat, when he found out about the Fey and Liam, he had a historical background within his family that explained it all so well that there was no reason for him not to believe it.
I absolutely loved seeing Alex, Jerod, Nimby and Alice back again. It was really cute to see their romance still alive and to know that they were all still as strong together as a family as ever.
Flora was a hoot. She was entertaining, fun and shook things up a little, with her total scepticism about Liam. She had experience with the Fey and instantly distrusted him, while keeping an open mind enough to learn about May and what she was up to.
~
Plot
It was fantastic to see that all the old rules still applied, but that Liam really didn't have to live by them anymore, because he was in the See not the Unsee. Watching him navigate his way through conversations with regular humans who had no hesitation over asking a million questions was exciting and lovely. The way he reacted was so sweet and naïve, so innocent in so many ways, that it rejuvenated the character of Liam from the hard, frosty pawn that he'd come across in book 1.
I loved Liam's innocence and the way that he gradually learned that questions weren't going to get him hurt and that he wouldn't be punished for asking questions of his own. To see him navigating the See world was just so sweet; the way he got to see and learn that people could be kind and giving without expecting anything in return and that questions didn't equal pain. Even the simple things, like calling fire engines metal dragons and small rectangles for mobile phones were so sweet.
This story is a lot less YA, because it does mention sex, but not in an explicit way. As two grown men, it makes a whole lot of sense that their relationship extended beyond the flirtations and seduction of Alex and Jerod's relationship.
Seeing Lizbeta in this book was fantastic, because we've now seen all three of the sisters and we got to see the extent of her powers and what she's capable of. Her part – and her sister's parts – in the future book(s) will be very interesting.
At the same time, it was interesting to see the way Alex and Jerod began the story so prejudiced against Liam, for his past deeds. Yet knowing how evil May is and her power over the Fey world, I'm surprised they continued to believe him to be pure evil. As Liam grew and the story unfolded, it was really beautiful and incredible to see the way they changed their thinking and began to realise so much more than what they'd known before.
~
Overall
The entire book was a whirlwind of emotions, adventure and excitement. There wasn't one thing I didn't love, from the incredibly diverse characterisation, the attention to detail that linked both books together and offered hints to the overall big reveal at the end, to the amazing chemistry between the main characters.
This book was nothing short of another piece of amazingly talented writing from Caleb James.
I can't wait for book 3, when the whole gang get back together again.
~
Favourite Quote
““No, Charlie. Your gran knows. She will tell you it's for the best. I'm not good.” Liam winced at the effect the words had. Now was no time for kindness. If he were ever going to do one right thing, it had to be now, and it would have to hurt. He averted his gaze and spoke. “May killed my parents and raised me a whore. That's what you see. I am a vicious thing, unworthy of your affections. I will leave now and never forget your kindness. But trust me in this. I am not good, Charlie. Not for you...not for anyone.””
“He thought back through last night, Charlie's hand in his as they'd walked along the shore before going upstairs. Charlie had stayed true to his word – damn him – of just one kiss. But that walk, gentle waves and sand beneath their feet, hands connected, and the moon's silver light across the water. He replayed each moment, and when they'd finally gone up to his little house, and he'd turned the sofa into a bed. What sweet agony, lying there, knowing Charlie was just feet away in his own bed. Just one kiss.”
“I have known love. I am ready to die.”
June 8, 2018
Two down, one to go. This is a really fast paced book, you won't notice insta-love had already hit you. Love being the gratest power is kind of clichéd, but it still works in this story. I just wish the MCs could have shared a little more one on one moments.
Many questions that I thought would be answered in this book, weren't. So...
Many questions that I thought would be answered in this book, weren't. So...
December 7, 2017
Incredible book! Romance secondary to the plot, no sex and one of the best fantasies I've ever read. This was a total immersion book for me. 2nd book in a series but reads well as a standalone. I didn't read the first one but will now.
February 7, 2017
Exile
is the second installment in James’s fantasy series, The Haffling, about half-human/half-fae descendants and their fights against evil Queen May, who wants to rule over both See and Unsee worlds. The first book, Haffling, was released in 2013 and introduced readers to this world, including the main protagonist, Alex Nevus. Exile, on the other hand, focuses on Liam Summer, the paw of Queen May, who used to do her deeds, even though Alex makes an appearance in this book.
Overall, I thought it was a good follow-up. I got to know more about Queen May and why she became ambitious of ruling both human and fairy realms. I was introduced to other new characters, and I was quite pulled in with the legends that made up this universe. I felt empathy with Liam who wanted to do penance after basically being Queen May’s ‘slave,’ and destroying a lot of lives.
However, I have to admit that I stumbled in terms of the writing … most of the time, I felt like I was being told a story by characters that were in a trance, that they talked in riddles which made everything fuzzy. I also wasn’t a fan of how the perspectives seem to switch from one character to another within the span of paragraph after the other. I didn’t recall the same experience happening when I read the first book, so I was quite annoyed with this one. It reduced my enjoyment, in an attempt to feel involved with the characters and storyline.
I will still follow the series in case James decides to continue. But I hope the writing style will be smoother than this one.
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
The ARC is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
Overall, I thought it was a good follow-up. I got to know more about Queen May and why she became ambitious of ruling both human and fairy realms. I was introduced to other new characters, and I was quite pulled in with the legends that made up this universe. I felt empathy with Liam who wanted to do penance after basically being Queen May’s ‘slave,’ and destroying a lot of lives.
However, I have to admit that I stumbled in terms of the writing … most of the time, I felt like I was being told a story by characters that were in a trance, that they talked in riddles which made everything fuzzy. I also wasn’t a fan of how the perspectives seem to switch from one character to another within the span of paragraph after the other. I didn’t recall the same experience happening when I read the first book, so I was quite annoyed with this one. It reduced my enjoyment, in an attempt to feel involved with the characters and storyline.
I will still follow the series in case James decides to continue. But I hope the writing style will be smoother than this one.
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
The ARC is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
February 3, 2017
A Joyfully Jay review.
5 stars
Author Caleb James has released his sequel to Haffling and it was more than worth the wait! Before I begin my review it is best to note that these books must be read in order and the second installment, Exile, picks up pretty much on the heels of its predecessor. Also without the wealth of background information given in the first, Exile will simply leave the reader lost as to the intricate relationship between the two worlds this author has so cleverly and painstakingly created. And finally, my review will contain a few spoilers for those of you who choose to read it before reading Haffling. Let’s venture into this amazing sequel now and highlight a few of the many reasons I feel that this novel was actually even better than the first.
This is where the second story begins, with a naked, frightened Liam under siege in a desolate New York apartment building that is alight with fairy fire sent by May to destroy Liam for failing to seduce Jared and escaping into the human world. Having very little knowledge of this world, Liam is terrified when a firefighter, Charlie Fitzgerald, uses an axe to break down the door and rescue him. While Liam may have lost the physical characteristics of a fairy (no pointy teeth or ears) when he crossed over, he can still glamour humans and fears he has done such a thing when Charlie seems instantly smitten with him.
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
5 stars
Author Caleb James has released his sequel to Haffling and it was more than worth the wait! Before I begin my review it is best to note that these books must be read in order and the second installment, Exile, picks up pretty much on the heels of its predecessor. Also without the wealth of background information given in the first, Exile will simply leave the reader lost as to the intricate relationship between the two worlds this author has so cleverly and painstakingly created. And finally, my review will contain a few spoilers for those of you who choose to read it before reading Haffling. Let’s venture into this amazing sequel now and highlight a few of the many reasons I feel that this novel was actually even better than the first.
This is where the second story begins, with a naked, frightened Liam under siege in a desolate New York apartment building that is alight with fairy fire sent by May to destroy Liam for failing to seduce Jared and escaping into the human world. Having very little knowledge of this world, Liam is terrified when a firefighter, Charlie Fitzgerald, uses an axe to break down the door and rescue him. While Liam may have lost the physical characteristics of a fairy (no pointy teeth or ears) when he crossed over, he can still glamour humans and fears he has done such a thing when Charlie seems instantly smitten with him.
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
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