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Lover, Destroyer: A Grandimanderian Tale
Can he build his dreams with a destroyer?
Beautiful young Elarhe, crown prince of Ayklinn, leaves his homeland disguised in rags because he wants to learn how to use his magic. He travels to a border city in the Grandimanderian Empire, where magic isn’t forbidden. But that land isn’t fond of immigrants; fear permeates its streets, and cruel things lurk in its shadows. One of these cruel things is a man who wields a terrible magic that—instead of healing or mending—deals only in death…. And Elarhe wants to rule his heart.
As a child, Kite destroyed an entire city with his dark magic. Now, he serves the Overfather of Grandimanderia. Feared and alone, Kite is content with the ice in his veins…until a talented young immigrant challenges everything he thought he knew.
This gay erotic romance depicts two lovers testing each other’s boundaries and discovering new experiences together. It contains sexually explicit scenes, including scenes with BDSM and various fetishes such as bondage (cuffs, suspension, straitjacket), pony play, spanking, flogging, gut punching, wax play, and others. Some scenes are extreme. (But there’s actually a story!)
Beautiful young Elarhe, crown prince of Ayklinn, leaves his homeland disguised in rags because he wants to learn how to use his magic. He travels to a border city in the Grandimanderian Empire, where magic isn’t forbidden. But that land isn’t fond of immigrants; fear permeates its streets, and cruel things lurk in its shadows. One of these cruel things is a man who wields a terrible magic that—instead of healing or mending—deals only in death…. And Elarhe wants to rule his heart.
As a child, Kite destroyed an entire city with his dark magic. Now, he serves the Overfather of Grandimanderia. Feared and alone, Kite is content with the ice in his veins…until a talented young immigrant challenges everything he thought he knew.
This gay erotic romance depicts two lovers testing each other’s boundaries and discovering new experiences together. It contains sexually explicit scenes, including scenes with BDSM and various fetishes such as bondage (cuffs, suspension, straitjacket), pony play, spanking, flogging, gut punching, wax play, and others. Some scenes are extreme. (But there’s actually a story!)
- GenresFantasyM M RomanceBDSM
229 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 11, 2017
9 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Sionnach Wintergreen
28 books48 followersSionnach (pronounced shuhn ukh) Wintergreen is a trans male author of gay romance, epic fantasy, and adult fantasy. His character-driven stories usually involve misfits because he is one. Sionnach has always loved writing and animals; he was a grant writer for an animal rescue group. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his husband and six furbabies—one sweet dog and five spoiled-rotten cats. He also has a wonderful human son.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 7, 2017
3.5 stars
** I received a copy in exchange for an honest review through the DBML program**
Overall, Lover, Destroyer: A Grandimanderian Tale by Sionnach Wintergreen was an entertaining read. The story focuses on Elarhe, also known as Squirrel, the crown prince of Ayklinn who runs away to study and improve his magical abilities. Along the way, and after some particularly awful things happen to him, he meets Kite, a one of a kind mage who brings death. [Please note I am keeping the synopsis as vague as possible because I think that this is a book that is more interesting to read in a learn-as-you-go fashion.] Squirrel goes to live with Kite and the two grow closer together and learn to let their guards down.
The book is pretty heavy on the BDSM and Dom/sub relationships. Sex heavy in general, which is mainly the reason that I gave the book an overall rating of 3.5. Its good, and I am not opposed to BDSM in a consensual setting, but this book goes from zero to 60 and it jarred me enough that I couldn't enjoy it enough. Plus the age difference between the two [ten years] gave it an off feeling. I think I would have been more open to the entire thing if they had been closer in age and magical abilities so they felt like equal partners. And I think that was what Wintergreen was trying to do with switching their roles with Kite being the sub and Squirrel being the Dom in their sexual relationship, still didn't enjoy it as much as I probably should have.
I also thought that the second half of the book could have been drawn out. There are places and people that are introduced and it would most likely be helpful to read other books in the series, before reading this book. That wasn't something specified anywhere, in fact I wouldn't have figured that there are other companion books except that the description felt lack towards the second half - and I assuming its because of the development in previous book[s?] After complaining about this, I will still say that you can read this on its own, and it will make sense, but it probably won't read as rich a story without the prior knowledge of other characters and the importance that they serve.
Even with these minor issues, I still thoroughly enjoyed how this book turned out. The plot around their relationship was interesting on its own and I had wished there could have been more about the Overfather and why things are the way they are. If you are okay with magic being incorporated into a book, then I would give this book a try.
Final notes:
- Told in third person POV
- Heavy on BDSM/kinky sex
- Magic "users" are the fantasy element [you don't need to be super into fantasy to read the book]
- 10 year age difference
- There are animals in the book [always a plus for a story]
** I received a copy in exchange for an honest review through the DBML program**
Overall, Lover, Destroyer: A Grandimanderian Tale by Sionnach Wintergreen was an entertaining read. The story focuses on Elarhe, also known as Squirrel, the crown prince of Ayklinn who runs away to study and improve his magical abilities. Along the way, and after some particularly awful things happen to him, he meets Kite, a one of a kind mage who brings death. [Please note I am keeping the synopsis as vague as possible because I think that this is a book that is more interesting to read in a learn-as-you-go fashion.] Squirrel goes to live with Kite and the two grow closer together and learn to let their guards down.
The book is pretty heavy on the BDSM and Dom/sub relationships. Sex heavy in general, which is mainly the reason that I gave the book an overall rating of 3.5. Its good, and I am not opposed to BDSM in a consensual setting, but this book goes from zero to 60 and it jarred me enough that I couldn't enjoy it enough. Plus the age difference between the two [ten years] gave it an off feeling. I think I would have been more open to the entire thing if they had been closer in age and magical abilities so they felt like equal partners. And I think that was what Wintergreen was trying to do with switching their roles with Kite being the sub and Squirrel being the Dom in their sexual relationship, still didn't enjoy it as much as I probably should have.
I also thought that the second half of the book could have been drawn out. There are places and people that are introduced and it would most likely be helpful to read other books in the series, before reading this book. That wasn't something specified anywhere, in fact I wouldn't have figured that there are other companion books except that the description felt lack towards the second half - and I assuming its because of the development in previous book[s?] After complaining about this, I will still say that you can read this on its own, and it will make sense, but it probably won't read as rich a story without the prior knowledge of other characters and the importance that they serve.
Even with these minor issues, I still thoroughly enjoyed how this book turned out. The plot around their relationship was interesting on its own and I had wished there could have been more about the Overfather and why things are the way they are. If you are okay with magic being incorporated into a book, then I would give this book a try.
Final notes:
- Told in third person POV
- Heavy on BDSM/kinky sex
- Magic "users" are the fantasy element [you don't need to be super into fantasy to read the book]
- 10 year age difference
- There are animals in the book [always a plus for a story]
July 13, 2017
Lover, Destroyer is a sexy, adventurous romance set in a magical fantasy world. It ties into The Inquisitor's Gift, which in itself is a fantastic read.
The book is well written, easy enough to follow. I enjoyed reading it, to a point where I read it faster than I have read anything thus far this year. It was interesting to watch the characters grow both personally, and together: A young man who thinks he is a monster and that he can never be loved finds that he is wrong, and a prince who has fallen from grace starts a new life, eventually learning to harness his powers with the help of a sage activist. And of course there are the sex scenes – all dirty, in a very good way.
The world that Sionnach has created is wonderful and fun to explore. I would definitely suggest it for anyone who likes fantasy, romance and non-vanilla sex, or for anyone who is a fan of The Inquisitor's Gift.
The book is well written, easy enough to follow. I enjoyed reading it, to a point where I read it faster than I have read anything thus far this year. It was interesting to watch the characters grow both personally, and together: A young man who thinks he is a monster and that he can never be loved finds that he is wrong, and a prince who has fallen from grace starts a new life, eventually learning to harness his powers with the help of a sage activist. And of course there are the sex scenes – all dirty, in a very good way.
The world that Sionnach has created is wonderful and fun to explore. I would definitely suggest it for anyone who likes fantasy, romance and non-vanilla sex, or for anyone who is a fan of The Inquisitor's Gift.
July 13, 2017
Wintergreen has created a fantasy in which anything goes, especially the passionate love between her main characters, Elarhe and Kite. It starts out as an uneven love match between a prince and a lowly peasant boy. But it quickly developed into something much more passionate, as both characters uses their “color power” in aiding each other. I was most surprised about the coupling that took place in Kite’s strange bed. What imagination! Lovers of M/M erotica with love this book as they follow Elarhe and Kite on their journey of discovery. Great fantasy erotica!
September 14, 2017
This is an explicit adult book. It was filled with incredible characters and a wonderful plot. Definitely a good start to what I hope will be an engaging series.
December 28, 2019
Intriguing premise
I really enjoyed this book. Magic and mages are not something I normally read but this book was done so well. Plus ALL the kink! It was hot and a smidge dark but overall very satisfying read.
I really enjoyed this book. Magic and mages are not something I normally read but this book was done so well. Plus ALL the kink! It was hot and a smidge dark but overall very satisfying read.
February 4, 2022
As a prelude, we are told of Lord Kite, who, as an untrained mage at the age of 13, completely destroys a whole city.
But the story begins with Elahe, a prince in his own country, living on the streets eking out a living whilst learning to live as a green mage with no training. He catches the eye of Kite, who, because of his huge feelings of guilt about the city he destroyed, is a lonely, quiet man. But he manipulates their meeting, and it is then Elahe who decides to help Kite overcome his guilt by introducing him to a BDSM dungeon and what can be achieved there.
BE WARNED: this is vibrantly descriptive of HARD BDSM practices, so be prepared to be (quite nicely) shocked (if you like these things) :) - aka: NOT for the faint-hearted.
These sexual encounters are well woven into the story (yes! there IS a story) and do not detract from the development of the relationship between Kite and Elahe.
Bloody brilliant!
But the story begins with Elahe, a prince in his own country, living on the streets eking out a living whilst learning to live as a green mage with no training. He catches the eye of Kite, who, because of his huge feelings of guilt about the city he destroyed, is a lonely, quiet man. But he manipulates their meeting, and it is then Elahe who decides to help Kite overcome his guilt by introducing him to a BDSM dungeon and what can be achieved there.
BE WARNED: this is vibrantly descriptive of HARD BDSM practices, so be prepared to be (quite nicely) shocked (if you like these things) :) - aka: NOT for the faint-hearted.
These sexual encounters are well woven into the story (yes! there IS a story) and do not detract from the development of the relationship between Kite and Elahe.
Bloody brilliant!
August 24, 2017
A Joyfully Jay review.
2 stars
Lover, Destroyer is something of a chaotic mess. On the surface the story seems fairly straightforward: a great lord rescues a poverty stricken young man and offers him a new life in return for sexual favors. So it’s a real Pretty Woman situation…at least until your add borderline hardcore but poorly portrayed BDSM, a jumbled plot, and characters that never felt comfortable in their own skin. The plot here stumbles from the start and never really defines itself. Events are mentioned but never explained and given this is a fantasy, it suffers from a serious lack of world building. As a result, readers may be left either scratching their head or wondering why event A had anything to do with situation B.
I’m generally a fan of BDSM, but I prefer reading it in the context of a healthy, nurturing environment. Lover, Destroyer often seems violent for the sake of violence and at least a few of the interactions between Kite and Elarhe are given only a frail veneer of consent. The idea of a safe word shows up almost as an afterthought. Now I realize this is fiction and not every reader will be bothered by the rough interactions between by Kite and Elarhe (and normally I love this kind of intense romance). But when it’s added to the stilted and plastic nature of Kite and Elarhe’s bond, it left me feeling completely removed from the story.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
2 stars
Lover, Destroyer is something of a chaotic mess. On the surface the story seems fairly straightforward: a great lord rescues a poverty stricken young man and offers him a new life in return for sexual favors. So it’s a real Pretty Woman situation…at least until your add borderline hardcore but poorly portrayed BDSM, a jumbled plot, and characters that never felt comfortable in their own skin. The plot here stumbles from the start and never really defines itself. Events are mentioned but never explained and given this is a fantasy, it suffers from a serious lack of world building. As a result, readers may be left either scratching their head or wondering why event A had anything to do with situation B.
I’m generally a fan of BDSM, but I prefer reading it in the context of a healthy, nurturing environment. Lover, Destroyer often seems violent for the sake of violence and at least a few of the interactions between Kite and Elarhe are given only a frail veneer of consent. The idea of a safe word shows up almost as an afterthought. Now I realize this is fiction and not every reader will be bothered by the rough interactions between by Kite and Elarhe (and normally I love this kind of intense romance). But when it’s added to the stilted and plastic nature of Kite and Elarhe’s bond, it left me feeling completely removed from the story.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
June 21, 2022
Had a blast reading this one! Although the characters go through a lot to find each other, the angst is overall relatively low in this m/m fantasy romance. Elarhe is a prince in disguise yearning to learn how to use his magic. Kite is a brooding wizard with a secret. I would have liked a bit more detail about the lore in this world, but, as a fan of Wintergreen, I enjoyed this one overall.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews