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The Servant
After saving his younger brother’s child, Daemon Shar is cursed by a witch and runs far from home, a stray who will seemingly never be anything more. But destiny is hard to outrun, even for a man who is now more cat than man beneath his robes and cowl. A chance battlefield meeting between he and Ehron, a foreign lord, gives him purpose amidst the darkness of his accursed life. Soon Daemon finds that his true nature cannot be corrupted no matter the form he inhabits.
As Ehron’s consul, Daemon plots and plans to shape his new lord's future so that he may leave it blessed when he runs away yet again. But he never counted on his soul hungering for Ehron’s brother Gareth or for his past to catch him by the tail at last.
Librarian's note: See alternate cover edition of ASIN B004JU1K9M here.
As Ehron’s consul, Daemon plots and plans to shape his new lord's future so that he may leave it blessed when he runs away yet again. But he never counted on his soul hungering for Ehron’s brother Gareth or for his past to catch him by the tail at last.
Librarian's note: See alternate cover edition of ASIN B004JU1K9M here.
155 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 18, 2011
64 people are currently reading
469 people want to read
About the author
Mary Calmes
129 books5,028 followersMary Calmes believes in romance, happily ever afters, and the faith it takes for her characters to get there. She bleeds coffee, thinks chocolate should be its own food group, and currently lives in Kentucky with a six-pound furry ninja that protects her from baby birds, spiders and the neighbor’s dogs. To stay up to date on her ponderings and pandemonium (as well as the adventures of the ninja) follow her on Twitter @MaryCalmes, connect with her on Facebook, and subscribe to her Mary’s Mob newsletter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
April 2, 2016
I love Mary Calmes. I am quite vocal in the fact she is one of my favorite authors. I love Greg Tremblay. I am equally vocal in praise of his stunning talent as a narrator. I reread and re-listen to both their work often. Seriously, really often.
So it is with a heavy heart and a stunned sadness that I say this story on literally no level whatsoever worked for me. I was lost, confused, and befuddled for most of the story.
From what I was able to cobble together, and I could be wrong, because like I said I was confused for a lot of this, Daemon Valian Shar is one of three brothers. Two of whom are fighting to reign over their kingdom of Narsyk. When he saves the infant son of one of his brothers from a witch's blade, Daemon Valian is cursed to take the form of a cat.
Daemon runs from Narsyk to the neighboring country of Rieyn, and, keeping covered at all times, finds himself the right-hand Consul to Ehron Terhazien. He plots and schemes for ten years (off page) to advance Ehron politically. When the war that Ehron has been fighting in is over, Daemon returns with Ehron to Ehron's home, the holding of Deshal Mar in the barony of Kasan, where Daemon meets and becomes much beloved by all of Ehron's family, including his younger brother Gareth who claims Daemon as his own.
There are a lot of characters, and they all have difficult names, and the places are all fantasy-named and it was all really confusing for me.
Then there was the narration. Which was good for the most part, except for the accents. Greg's ease with accents was his undoing in this for me, because everyone, it seemed, had a different accent. Which made no sense to me within members of the same immediate family. I didn't get it. How could a mother, father, brothers and sister all sound so completely different from one another? Or most servants within the household? I spent a lot of my time listening to the story wondering why certain accents were chosen and why there were so many.
I even went and bought the book thinking reading it would be an easier time, and while I could then suss out names a lot easier, it didn't help me to enjoy the story at all.
Bottom line, I didn't enjoy this story or the narration.
Audio copy of The Servant provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange of an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
July 25, 2011
Blech. This book isn't actually as bad as my reaction to it, but I've read too many Mary Calmes books in a row and the stuff she does well I love, the other stuff makes me gag.
This is a fantasy that is not so loosely based on the puss-in-boots fable. It's re-set in a world at war, cast of thousands, clever political m/m romantic fable. Sound confusing? It is. Not brain twisting, but really too complicated of a plot for so simple of a story.
This is a fantasy that is not so loosely based on the puss-in-boots fable. It's re-set in a world at war, cast of thousands, clever political m/m romantic fable. Sound confusing? It is. Not brain twisting, but really too complicated of a plot for so simple of a story.
February 19, 2013
I don't like to give rating to a book I didn't finish... But this one deserve it. I don't read just some pages, I read 70% of this freaking book it's impossible to understand, and it tired me.
It's not because the plot is so complex (as many fantasy books) I had a hard to understand. No. Very simple plot, very incompressible story! The switch of narrator is absurd, all characters talk exactly like another. There is no unique voice or behave, everyone is a clone of another. Many times when the narrator changed I didn't even notice and read some paragraphs before undertand it.
My English sucks! Oh yeah, it sucks. But I read a lot, and even from this same writer I read other books, and never was so confused as I was reading The Servant.
I'm in bitchy mode, so let me say I waste my money for a book that is not cheap, and because I'm in such bitch mode let me say this seems like a story that someone had to write, not want to write.
Giving up. 70% read
P.S.: Acrobat or Frog are AMAZING books... I'm having hard time to believe the same writer wrote The Servant... Seriously... Stay away from this book.
It's not because the plot is so complex (as many fantasy books) I had a hard to understand. No. Very simple plot, very incompressible story! The switch of narrator is absurd, all characters talk exactly like another. There is no unique voice or behave, everyone is a clone of another. Many times when the narrator changed I didn't even notice and read some paragraphs before undertand it.
My English sucks! Oh yeah, it sucks. But I read a lot, and even from this same writer I read other books, and never was so confused as I was reading The Servant.
I'm in bitchy mode, so let me say I waste my money for a book that is not cheap, and because I'm in such bitch mode let me say this seems like a story that someone had to write, not want to write.
Giving up. 70% read
P.S.: Acrobat or Frog are AMAZING books... I'm having hard time to believe the same writer wrote The Servant... Seriously... Stay away from this book.
January 18, 2026
Daemon Shar/Valian Shar has been cursed by a witch and now lives completely covered from head to toe. However his intrinsic light shines through and upon those he comes across; he is a blessing and blesses all in his path to his best ability. This is fantasy and a journey, more so than a romance. I found it very entertaining, watching Daemon manipultate those he loves into better positions with their best interest at the forefront, even as they know what he does.
I can see this will be a reread for me :)
17 Feb 2019
This is now a solid comfort read for me. I love the characters, the interactions, the story line and plot development. I know all the characters backwards now and just love to relax with them. And the climax is so satisfying.
Some find the multitude of characters too much, but its a bit of complexity that I love and savour - from the second time I read it ;)
28 March 2021
A full on comfort read for me, this is as much adventure and life realisation, as a romance. Its fantasy with LOTS of characters but I think this is why I enjoy my rereads so much ~ its very complete and reflective of how this story might play out if anything so wonderful could be real... (I'm blithering I know, but that's my current tired state of mind ;)
I can see this will be a reread for me :)
17 Feb 2019
This is now a solid comfort read for me. I love the characters, the interactions, the story line and plot development. I know all the characters backwards now and just love to relax with them. And the climax is so satisfying.
Some find the multitude of characters too much, but its a bit of complexity that I love and savour - from the second time I read it ;)
28 March 2021
A full on comfort read for me, this is as much adventure and life realisation, as a romance. Its fantasy with LOTS of characters but I think this is why I enjoy my rereads so much ~ its very complete and reflective of how this story might play out if anything so wonderful could be real... (I'm blithering I know, but that's my current tired state of mind ;)
December 20, 2020
RE Read 2020
3 stars
I listened to this one on my daily walks, so with nothing else to do but listen I enjoyed the narration and the story so I'm going to up my rating, but I still didn't understand or see how Gareth and Daemon fell in love, they hardly spoke or had any time together, but were then declaring their devotion for each other.
Its not the best story Ms Calmes has written but for some reason I keep coming back to it.
Just ok
2.5 ⭐️
I struggled with this one keeping track of who was who and I found myself confused throughout the book. When I knew who the people were and what was happening I enjoyed it, but I spent too much time trying to understand what was happening.
I didn’t really understand why Gareth fell for Daemon. He didn’t really have any interactions with him and was declaring his love and could see the man behind the beast, and Daemon didn’t really act like a man who was in love either till the very end.
3 stars
I listened to this one on my daily walks, so with nothing else to do but listen I enjoyed the narration and the story so I'm going to up my rating, but I still didn't understand or see how Gareth and Daemon fell in love, they hardly spoke or had any time together, but were then declaring their devotion for each other.
Its not the best story Ms Calmes has written but for some reason I keep coming back to it.
Just ok
2.5 ⭐️
I struggled with this one keeping track of who was who and I found myself confused throughout the book. When I knew who the people were and what was happening I enjoyed it, but I spent too much time trying to understand what was happening.
I didn’t really understand why Gareth fell for Daemon. He didn’t really have any interactions with him and was declaring his love and could see the man behind the beast, and Daemon didn’t really act like a man who was in love either till the very end.
October 20, 2012
Way, way too brief. Fun and compelling, and then—poof! Very much over. An awful lot of world-building for such a little story—but, never mind. A charming read overall.
March 10, 2011
The Servant is a ‘classic’ fantasy novel (in the sense that the story is simple, the scope is intimate, and the magic is kept to a minimum) that takes a while to find its romantic footing. It’s not initially clear where the story is headed, and there is a rather abrupt transition in setting and theme, but it eventually comes together in the end.
Valian Shar is introduced as a dashing, yet troubled hero who serves as conscience of his feuding family. Trapped in the middle of a conflict that represents both a family squabble and a civil war, he finds himself cursed to become more cat than man. As the wandering nomad, Daemon Shar, he is a man of mystery, immediately endearing to everyone he meets. He is the archetypal fairy tale hero, perfect in every way, and as admirable as he is amusing. While his altered physical appearance could have made him an outcast, his curse has also made him charming, clever of wit, and as agile as a cat. He is so adept at reading and managing others, in fact, that it’s easy to dismiss his initial flirtations with Gareth as nothing more than an attempt to be friendly and polite.
When we first encounter Gareth, he is very much the typical brother of a hero, too young to go to war, and sullen and resentful because of it. Although he initially comes across as petty and selfish, there is a core of strength and goodness within him that is only revealed through his interactions with Daemon. He is the younger brother of a warrior, but he's also growing and maturing into a very competent steward and politician. Although not as immediately likable as Daemon, he is a character worthy of both our respect and our admiration. Initially, his feelings for Daemon seem to be simple infatuation, but they quickly evolve into the kind of true love only a fairy tale can capture once fate provides him with the chance to reveals the true strengths of his character.
After a rousing start, this is a story that settles into a very leisurely pace that is (at times) frustrating, but which allows the romance between Daemon and Gareth to develop naturally. For me, the key to the story was the delightful variation on the traditional fairy tale themes of true love and dashing heroes. Instead of the macho hero swooping in to save the girl (or, in this case, boy) and winning his love, the roles are reversed – it’s the love struck young man who takes charge, saving the not so macho hero, and boldly claiming his love for himself. It's a twist to their relationship that is so unexpected, yet so undeniably beautiful, that it really sets the story back on its course, leading us into the reality of happily ever after.
DISCLAIMER: This book was received from the publisher for the purpose of a review on Queer Magazine online.
Valian Shar is introduced as a dashing, yet troubled hero who serves as conscience of his feuding family. Trapped in the middle of a conflict that represents both a family squabble and a civil war, he finds himself cursed to become more cat than man. As the wandering nomad, Daemon Shar, he is a man of mystery, immediately endearing to everyone he meets. He is the archetypal fairy tale hero, perfect in every way, and as admirable as he is amusing. While his altered physical appearance could have made him an outcast, his curse has also made him charming, clever of wit, and as agile as a cat. He is so adept at reading and managing others, in fact, that it’s easy to dismiss his initial flirtations with Gareth as nothing more than an attempt to be friendly and polite.
When we first encounter Gareth, he is very much the typical brother of a hero, too young to go to war, and sullen and resentful because of it. Although he initially comes across as petty and selfish, there is a core of strength and goodness within him that is only revealed through his interactions with Daemon. He is the younger brother of a warrior, but he's also growing and maturing into a very competent steward and politician. Although not as immediately likable as Daemon, he is a character worthy of both our respect and our admiration. Initially, his feelings for Daemon seem to be simple infatuation, but they quickly evolve into the kind of true love only a fairy tale can capture once fate provides him with the chance to reveals the true strengths of his character.
After a rousing start, this is a story that settles into a very leisurely pace that is (at times) frustrating, but which allows the romance between Daemon and Gareth to develop naturally. For me, the key to the story was the delightful variation on the traditional fairy tale themes of true love and dashing heroes. Instead of the macho hero swooping in to save the girl (or, in this case, boy) and winning his love, the roles are reversed – it’s the love struck young man who takes charge, saving the not so macho hero, and boldly claiming his love for himself. It's a twist to their relationship that is so unexpected, yet so undeniably beautiful, that it really sets the story back on its course, leading us into the reality of happily ever after.
DISCLAIMER: This book was received from the publisher for the purpose of a review on Queer Magazine online.
February 16, 2011
2.5
A bit of confusion at the beginning.
On page 1, we have:
So Ostyn is the lord and Valian's the devoted servant? Except no, it's actually the other way around.
Other than that, pretty standard Mary Calmes fare: a main character, adrift, with no place to call home, who's beautiful beyond compare; who's loved, adored, admired by all; who's capable of solving all problems, righting all wrongs; who's the only man who can bring together opposing sides, etc. finds love and a home for himself without much conflict. Nothing really new here.
A bit of confusion at the beginning.
On page 1, we have:
"Guardians of Yuan defend us," Ostyn Tan gasped as he stared out across the valley and took in the crimson-washed sky. He turned and looked at his friend and servant; wincing as he saw the visible pain and dread etched on the face of the only man he would willingly give his life for, Valian.
So Ostyn is the lord and Valian's the devoted servant? Except no, it's actually the other way around.
Other than that, pretty standard Mary Calmes fare: a main character, adrift, with no place to call home, who's beautiful beyond compare; who's loved, adored, admired by all; who's capable of solving all problems, righting all wrongs; who's the only man who can bring together opposing sides, etc. finds love and a home for himself without much conflict. Nothing really new here.
January 21, 2011
Mary Calmes wrote a solid fantasy in this one. Valian Shar is an interesting hero, a 'rat-catcher' among men, and Gareth Terhazian is a surprising protector. The lands of Rieyn and the political structure is thoroughly imagined, and the world-building is first rate. If you grew up on The Blue Fairy Book and Lloyd Alexander (*raises hand*) you will very much enjoy this:-)
October 28, 2017
I liked he idea behind this one, but I gotta say, like the previous book I've read by Mary it was all over the place where POVs were concerned. Each paragraph could be right around anyone's POV and it kept changing. I don't like this style of narration though it wasn't that difficult to understand who was "talking". The world building was all over the place as well, though I don't fault Mary for it, there was a lot to build in very few pages.. I've read the synopsis a while back so actually I wasn't sure what is going to happen or rather who our "cat in a hat" is going to chose. That was fun!
Valian "Daemon" Shar is one of three brothers. Two are constantly fighting over the thrown of Emperor in their land. Loving both of his brothers he has "no other choice" but stay in the middle and try to keep them from each other's throats.. Yet when he is cursed by a witch he shamefully decided to take his leave and find a life somewhere else. Covering his whole body not to show anything of his hideous cat-like appearance. He finds himself in the service of Ehron. After he saved his life and gave him purpose (though he did also a lot of saving and find his true propose on his own) he decided to make Ehron's life perfect offering him and his family everything they could ask for with his special powers and mostly his wisdom.
When the war is finally over, 10 years has passed since he ran from home, leaving his best friend and companion and his quarreling brothers. He is home sick already but he isn't sure how and when to return. Now he is a free man and he needs to decide his path but it's so difficult with Ehron's brother Gareth is so alluring! He wants him like he hasn't wanted anyone in a long while but he can't offer him anything when he is half human and half cat.. Yet that's not their only problem. There is another war brewing - one with his own country and since they have significantly larger land and armies he is afraid of the consequences. Being so far from home for such a long time he isn't even sure what's the dynamic and if he can make any difference. He is tired of war, he wants a home, preferably with Gareth so a solution must be found..
I liked the characters and the way they were portrayed, we had many POVs so we got glimpses of each person from different angles yet what we mostly got was how damn PERFECT Daemon is. That was my main argument in the previous book I've read by Mary and it's my main issue in this book as well. It's not that I need a significantly flawed character, I just need one I can relate to, which feels genuine. Daemon didn't and it wasn't because he was half cat half human.. the story flowed, it was quite short and yet a lot was going on with many characters (mainly because Daemon was constantly plotting..) and so it was fun seeing everything unfold. The world building was a bit too much for me though, I was confused and at a loss at many situations not remembering characters, cities and lands. It's A LOT to take in when all you got are 158 pages.. but it also means we got a WHOLE story. A very complex one. So even if I WAS frustrated I also appreciated the effort that was put into making this world "real". The romance was a bit clumsy at times but it was also terribly sweet. It's more of a rounded up 4 star rating I guess. Yet it was a fun short read.
More Reviews HERE
Valian "Daemon" Shar is one of three brothers. Two are constantly fighting over the thrown of Emperor in their land. Loving both of his brothers he has "no other choice" but stay in the middle and try to keep them from each other's throats.. Yet when he is cursed by a witch he shamefully decided to take his leave and find a life somewhere else. Covering his whole body not to show anything of his hideous cat-like appearance. He finds himself in the service of Ehron. After he saved his life and gave him purpose (though he did also a lot of saving and find his true propose on his own) he decided to make Ehron's life perfect offering him and his family everything they could ask for with his special powers and mostly his wisdom.
When the war is finally over, 10 years has passed since he ran from home, leaving his best friend and companion and his quarreling brothers. He is home sick already but he isn't sure how and when to return. Now he is a free man and he needs to decide his path but it's so difficult with Ehron's brother Gareth is so alluring! He wants him like he hasn't wanted anyone in a long while but he can't offer him anything when he is half human and half cat.. Yet that's not their only problem. There is another war brewing - one with his own country and since they have significantly larger land and armies he is afraid of the consequences. Being so far from home for such a long time he isn't even sure what's the dynamic and if he can make any difference. He is tired of war, he wants a home, preferably with Gareth so a solution must be found..
I liked the characters and the way they were portrayed, we had many POVs so we got glimpses of each person from different angles yet what we mostly got was how damn PERFECT Daemon is. That was my main argument in the previous book I've read by Mary and it's my main issue in this book as well. It's not that I need a significantly flawed character, I just need one I can relate to, which feels genuine. Daemon didn't and it wasn't because he was half cat half human.. the story flowed, it was quite short and yet a lot was going on with many characters (mainly because Daemon was constantly plotting..) and so it was fun seeing everything unfold. The world building was a bit too much for me though, I was confused and at a loss at many situations not remembering characters, cities and lands. It's A LOT to take in when all you got are 158 pages.. but it also means we got a WHOLE story. A very complex one. So even if I WAS frustrated I also appreciated the effort that was put into making this world "real". The romance was a bit clumsy at times but it was also terribly sweet. It's more of a rounded up 4 star rating I guess. Yet it was a fun short read.
More Reviews HERE
July 8, 2018
Complex mystery that unfolds slowly in self revelation, glorying in rich language and emotion as well as history and fate. This book reads like a great classic, often demanding that we pause and ponder its import.
Even so, this is a familiar tale too, of love between brothers long separated, and at the same time the heat of passion between two men who have just found each other.
I found this to be pure delight, but probably not to everyone's taste. The leisurely pace and heavy description is more like a novel of two centuries past than it is of what we expect today. Do not down this heady wine in a gulp. Savor it slowly to get the most from it.
Even so, this is a familiar tale too, of love between brothers long separated, and at the same time the heat of passion between two men who have just found each other.
I found this to be pure delight, but probably not to everyone's taste. The leisurely pace and heavy description is more like a novel of two centuries past than it is of what we expect today. Do not down this heady wine in a gulp. Savor it slowly to get the most from it.
July 24, 2021
Omg I finally found a Calmes book I didn’t really like.
My main issue with this book was that I was lost by the second chapter. I find fantasy hit or miss mainly because of the intense world building needed to set it up.
I found the character names confusing, the references to particular elements of the world confusing - there were so many unique terms built upon one another that although they were explained just threw me. I had to go back and reread and reread to make sure I remembered what a term, title or persons name was.
The story was alright but the romance doesn’t really kick in until like half way through and it’s pretty left of field.
I enjoyed the second half more than the first half, so definitely not my favourite.
My main issue with this book was that I was lost by the second chapter. I find fantasy hit or miss mainly because of the intense world building needed to set it up.
I found the character names confusing, the references to particular elements of the world confusing - there were so many unique terms built upon one another that although they were explained just threw me. I had to go back and reread and reread to make sure I remembered what a term, title or persons name was.
The story was alright but the romance doesn’t really kick in until like half way through and it’s pretty left of field.
I enjoyed the second half more than the first half, so definitely not my favourite.
January 15, 2019
So much going on. There was so much detail that I couldn’t come close to following it and I skimmed a fair amount of the detail of the political intrigue. That said, I could see the seeds of Mary Calmes and I appreciate so much her evolution as a writer.
August 14, 2016
Note: This audiobook was provided to me through Hearts on Fire Reviews in exchange for an impartial review.
First and foremost, this story is outstanding in its complexity and creativity. Because of that, it can be a bit confusing at times. There is a host of characters with uncommon names and a kingdom, or two, with equally uncommon people, places, and things. Thanks to the narration of Greg Tremblay, who was clear and concise in his diction and provided a variety of voices for all the main and principal secondary characters, I was able to not only follow it, but absolutely delight in it.
Daemon Jadin Sahr, accompanied by his faithful servant, finds his brother’s castle under siege as he arrives to rescue his sister-in-law and nephew. In fact, it’s an all-out slaughter, and he has trouble making his way to the family apartment. Just as he arrives, his sister-in-law is under attack and trying valiantly to save her child. When Jadin manages to save the child, his opponent, a witch, casts a spell changing him to an animal. He manages to get the child back to his brother, but won’t let anyone see what he now looks like in cat form and insists his servant remain behind with his brother as well. All he wants is what he gets—to get away and never bring harm to his loved ones.
Years later, the story picks up with Daemon now being the faithful counsel for a soldier named Ehron who happens to be the son of a landed lord in a different kingdom. Daemon, no matter the outer form, is still a fighter, a champion of the underdog, and he’s taken on the project of not only getting Ehron home to his family, but also getting Ehron into a formidable position within the court. As I said before, the story is quite complex and the disadvantage of listening to audio is that I can’t use the correct names of all the characters and the locations, however, there are a few that were memorable and I likely spelled correctly. Among these is Gareth, the younger son of Ehron, who Daemon falls in love with when they first meet.
Gareth had thought that when his brother returned from war, he’d be usurped as his father’s heir to the land, however, due to Daemon’s machinations, much more is in store for Ehron, and Gareth’s place is secured. Gareth is intrigued by Daemon and wants nothing more than to bed him, but circumstances keep coming between them and this becomes a very slow build sexually charged relationship. I was rooting for these two to get together, and then I was rooting for these two to get together, if you know what I mean. Finally! And it was so worth the wait.
Mary Calmes built a world as complex as the world in which one of my favorite series takes place—Change of Heart. It’s uncanny that one mind can build the world of Jin and Logan Church, but it’s incredible that that same mind can build an entirely different world that is just as complex and fascinating. This book is very underrated by reviewers. It’s incredibly intricately detailed and does require time to absorb as one is reading or listening, however, it is so outstanding I highly recommend it to all lovers of MM romance in a fantasy or historical setting.
The ending was a surprise, which is always nice in my opinion. I enjoyed the entire story, but surprise endings are the icing on the cake. As I said, this story requires concentration and attention to detail. It’s not a simple tale, but it is so worth taking the time to read or listen to. In this case, I highly recommend the audiobook version as Greg Tremblay did an outstanding job in setting a pace that was easy to follow by inserting clean pauses between scenes and focusing on clear pronunciation of names and places. In fact, I think it’s the best I’ve heard from him. Don’t miss a chance to listen to this one!
First and foremost, this story is outstanding in its complexity and creativity. Because of that, it can be a bit confusing at times. There is a host of characters with uncommon names and a kingdom, or two, with equally uncommon people, places, and things. Thanks to the narration of Greg Tremblay, who was clear and concise in his diction and provided a variety of voices for all the main and principal secondary characters, I was able to not only follow it, but absolutely delight in it.
Daemon Jadin Sahr, accompanied by his faithful servant, finds his brother’s castle under siege as he arrives to rescue his sister-in-law and nephew. In fact, it’s an all-out slaughter, and he has trouble making his way to the family apartment. Just as he arrives, his sister-in-law is under attack and trying valiantly to save her child. When Jadin manages to save the child, his opponent, a witch, casts a spell changing him to an animal. He manages to get the child back to his brother, but won’t let anyone see what he now looks like in cat form and insists his servant remain behind with his brother as well. All he wants is what he gets—to get away and never bring harm to his loved ones.
Years later, the story picks up with Daemon now being the faithful counsel for a soldier named Ehron who happens to be the son of a landed lord in a different kingdom. Daemon, no matter the outer form, is still a fighter, a champion of the underdog, and he’s taken on the project of not only getting Ehron home to his family, but also getting Ehron into a formidable position within the court. As I said before, the story is quite complex and the disadvantage of listening to audio is that I can’t use the correct names of all the characters and the locations, however, there are a few that were memorable and I likely spelled correctly. Among these is Gareth, the younger son of Ehron, who Daemon falls in love with when they first meet.
Gareth had thought that when his brother returned from war, he’d be usurped as his father’s heir to the land, however, due to Daemon’s machinations, much more is in store for Ehron, and Gareth’s place is secured. Gareth is intrigued by Daemon and wants nothing more than to bed him, but circumstances keep coming between them and this becomes a very slow build sexually charged relationship. I was rooting for these two to get together, and then I was rooting for these two to get together, if you know what I mean. Finally! And it was so worth the wait.
Mary Calmes built a world as complex as the world in which one of my favorite series takes place—Change of Heart. It’s uncanny that one mind can build the world of Jin and Logan Church, but it’s incredible that that same mind can build an entirely different world that is just as complex and fascinating. This book is very underrated by reviewers. It’s incredibly intricately detailed and does require time to absorb as one is reading or listening, however, it is so outstanding I highly recommend it to all lovers of MM romance in a fantasy or historical setting.
The ending was a surprise, which is always nice in my opinion. I enjoyed the entire story, but surprise endings are the icing on the cake. As I said, this story requires concentration and attention to detail. It’s not a simple tale, but it is so worth taking the time to read or listen to. In this case, I highly recommend the audiobook version as Greg Tremblay did an outstanding job in setting a pace that was easy to follow by inserting clean pauses between scenes and focusing on clear pronunciation of names and places. In fact, I think it’s the best I’ve heard from him. Don’t miss a chance to listen to this one!
August 7, 2012
I actually stressed over as to what I should put as the rating for this book. There were times i was like, hmm 3 Stars and a mention that it may be more around 3.5. Or maybe 3.75 with 4 Stars as the official rating.
Well anyway. 3.75 it is.
A In-The-Three's Star rating may sound low, but in actuality it, The Servant was actually a pretty good book. Unfortunately, not much more than that. While I enjoyed certain aspects of it, I also disliked some, or just found others rather mediocre.
One of my biggest (and it isn't really even that big) grievances was at the beginning, with all the sudden foreign terms, words and places all chucked in. With no explanation whatsoever. We were just thrown into the world of ____ (as you can see, none of the names actually stuck with me. Huh.). But apart from that, I rather thought the world was pretty unique in some ways, and nicely built. This probably can't even be classified as a "grievance" because really, I wouldn't be surprised if it was just me. It was late and I was tired but I wanted to just finish this goddamn book. And not exactly for all the right reasons too.
Which leads me to another point. No, the book wasn't bad so I wanted to be rid of it quickly. It's just that a while in, I could tell that I'd enjoy but not love this book. I knew I'd think it was "okay" and never really look back. So I really just wanted to finish this book and be done with it. Not in a bad way, but because it just didn't really strike any chord with me.
There was nothing in the book that was really "exciting" to be honest. There were times when I sort of drifted off while reading and conjured up some incredibly sexy, angsty scenario with Daemon and Gareth in my mind. And at times that was more interesting then what was happening at the time.
Overall however, I actually enjoyed The Servant quite a lot, and if it managed to catch your eye, by all means, read and enjoy. As someone said, this was a solid fantasy novel and quite a fun read.
Well anyway. 3.75 it is.
A In-The-Three's Star rating may sound low, but in actuality it, The Servant was actually a pretty good book. Unfortunately, not much more than that. While I enjoyed certain aspects of it, I also disliked some, or just found others rather mediocre.
One of my biggest (and it isn't really even that big) grievances was at the beginning, with all the sudden foreign terms, words and places all chucked in. With no explanation whatsoever. We were just thrown into the world of ____ (as you can see, none of the names actually stuck with me. Huh.). But apart from that, I rather thought the world was pretty unique in some ways, and nicely built. This probably can't even be classified as a "grievance" because really, I wouldn't be surprised if it was just me. It was late and I was tired but I wanted to just finish this goddamn book. And not exactly for all the right reasons too.
Which leads me to another point. No, the book wasn't bad so I wanted to be rid of it quickly. It's just that a while in, I could tell that I'd enjoy but not love this book. I knew I'd think it was "okay" and never really look back. So I really just wanted to finish this book and be done with it. Not in a bad way, but because it just didn't really strike any chord with me.
There was nothing in the book that was really "exciting" to be honest. There were times when I sort of drifted off while reading and conjured up some incredibly sexy, angsty scenario with Daemon and Gareth in my mind. And at times that was more interesting then what was happening at the time.
Overall however, I actually enjoyed The Servant quite a lot, and if it managed to catch your eye, by all means, read and enjoy. As someone said, this was a solid fantasy novel and quite a fun read.
April 26, 2011
This one had a different feel to me that others of Mary's stories. It wasn't bad, just different-I'm not sure I can describe it. It felt more descriptive than other stories, but that might have just been because she was world-building this time around, and not setting it in a "world within our world" like the Hearth series or The Guardian.
I liked Daemon's character a lot. He always has a shield up in the form of his cloak, but he's still very much himself as far as his personality coming through. Even so, he's still very lonely while he's surrounded by people who adore him and would quite literally do anything for him.
Gareth felt like Jan Brady at first - always concerned about how he's not his older brother, Ehron (his Marsha). It took me longer to like him. And it took me a while to figure out that he was the love interest - that wasn't immediately apparent. I liked him in the end.
It struck me as a bit odd how fast he and Gareth became so entangled with each other when they had so little knowledge of each other - just a fascination really. But it's a fairy tale, so I forgive it for that.
It's not my favorite Mary Calmes story, but it's not my least favorite, either. It was worth the read.
I liked Daemon's character a lot. He always has a shield up in the form of his cloak, but he's still very much himself as far as his personality coming through. Even so, he's still very lonely while he's surrounded by people who adore him and would quite literally do anything for him.
Gareth felt like Jan Brady at first - always concerned about how he's not his older brother, Ehron (his Marsha). It took me longer to like him. And it took me a while to figure out that he was the love interest - that wasn't immediately apparent. I liked him in the end.
It struck me as a bit odd how fast he and Gareth became so entangled with each other when they had so little knowledge of each other - just a fascination really. But it's a fairy tale, so I forgive it for that.
It's not my favorite Mary Calmes story, but it's not my least favorite, either. It was worth the read.
March 31, 2012
I had been considering this book for at least a year now, but was unsure due to a few ratings. Knowing myself and my love for Mary Calmes's writing, why would I ever doubt how good this book would be? I do not know. What I do know is that I am glad I have read it. I loved Valian and his heroism, his quick wit, his love for his fellow man. I loved Gareth as he grew to reveal who he truly was becoming the strength and protection that Valian needed. I loved the supporting characters, the foil of Ehran and his family as well as his bounty of friends.
What did I not love? Ending this book. I am sorry that it took me so long to enjoy yet another fantastic story by such a gifted author, and I am thrilled that it was indeed a treasure.
The Servant is an awesome book. Give it a try. You will come away fulfilled.
What did I not love? Ending this book. I am sorry that it took me so long to enjoy yet another fantastic story by such a gifted author, and I am thrilled that it was indeed a treasure.
The Servant is an awesome book. Give it a try. You will come away fulfilled.
October 4, 2011
This fairytale was based on the puss-in-boots tale. I am personally not familiar with the original tale, but this one, for me, was a little tedious.
This story is set in a post war time and our puss in boots, Daemon, is beloved by everyone. People meet him and are instantly drawn to him or charmed by him. My problem with this book was really that there were so many details that I really lost the story of Daemon. It focused a lot on the family he was with and the political climate and posturing that was occurring. It didn't focus nearly enough on the main couple in my opinion. It took a long time for the story to really get started and once it did, Daemon spent a lot of time missing.
I like Mary Calmes writing usually. this book just wasn't for me.
This story is set in a post war time and our puss in boots, Daemon, is beloved by everyone. People meet him and are instantly drawn to him or charmed by him. My problem with this book was really that there were so many details that I really lost the story of Daemon. It focused a lot on the family he was with and the political climate and posturing that was occurring. It didn't focus nearly enough on the main couple in my opinion. It took a long time for the story to really get started and once it did, Daemon spent a lot of time missing.
I like Mary Calmes writing usually. this book just wasn't for me.
November 23, 2011
Daemon Sharは魔女の手から甥っ子を救い出すのに成功したが、倒すことはできず、呪いをかけられ、顔が猫に変えられてしまう。フードで顔を隠して祖国を離れたDaemonは、戦場で異国の貴族Ehronと出会い、彼に仕えることになったのだが…。
表紙のイラストがDaemonの呪いをかけられた姿で、民話の「長靴をはいた猫」をモチーフにしたお話だと思う。民話の猫よろしく、DaemonはEhronのために八面六臂の大活躍。
受が超有能で、登場人物の全員から愛されるのはMary Calmes作品のお約束。なので、そこは楽しく読めた。星2つにした理由は、お相手のGarethがあんまり良いところがなく、Daemonがどうして彼に恋したのか全く理解できなかったから。彼よりもっといい男がいっぱい出てくるのに！
DaemonとEhronの絆の強さについてページを割きすぎて、Garethの見せ場とロマンスが短くなった印象を受ける。
もともとこの作家さんは受のための小説を書いてる感じだけど、この作品ではそれがより顕著で、Garethは別にいらないんじゃない？と思ってしまった。設定は面白いだけに残念。
表紙のイラストがDaemonの呪いをかけられた姿で、民話の「長靴をはいた猫」をモチーフにしたお話だと思う。民話の猫よろしく、DaemonはEhronのために八面六臂の大活躍。
受が超有能で、登場人物の全員から愛されるのはMary Calmes作品のお約束。なので、そこは楽しく読めた。星2つにした理由は、お相手のGarethがあんまり良いところがなく、Daemonがどうして彼に恋したのか全く理解できなかったから。彼よりもっといい男がいっぱい出てくるのに！
DaemonとEhronの絆の強さについてページを割きすぎて、Garethの見せ場とロマンスが短くなった印象を受ける。
もともとこの作家さんは受のための小説を書いてる感じだけど、この作品ではそれがより顕著で、Garethは別にいらないんじゃない？と思ってしまった。設定は面白いだけに残念。
December 2, 2013
Well written, as always..
but for God's sake, is it just me or all author's main characters always the same? beautiful, ultimately loved by all, funny, clever, witty...just... best in everything...needing firm hand (without even knowing it)...and trying to run away when problem arises - to save their beloved.
always. the. same.
i was happy it never came to running in Servant.
It was cute little fairy tale.
but for God's sake, is it just me or all author's main characters always the same? beautiful, ultimately loved by all, funny, clever, witty...just... best in everything...needing firm hand (without even knowing it)...and trying to run away when problem arises - to save their beloved.
always. the. same.
i was happy it never came to running in Servant.
It was cute little fairy tale.
February 17, 2012
My only regret is having bought this book a year ago and only reading it now.
Ms Calmes's ability to create new worlds is incredible!!! The Daemon's irresistibility, that insane need to posses, is the same phenomenon seen with the likes of Jory (AMOT) and Jin (Change of Heart).
A great read!!!
Ms Calmes's ability to create new worlds is incredible!!! The Daemon's irresistibility, that insane need to posses, is the same phenomenon seen with the likes of Jory (AMOT) and Jin (Change of Heart).
A great read!!!
March 9, 2012
I generally enjoy Ms. Calmes' books very much but this one just didn't do it for me. I kept losing track of who was who, what was going on and frankly had to force myself to finish.
May 23, 2020
Not only am I a fan of Mary Calmes, the book cover intrigued me, so The Servant has been on my list for a while. I decided to pick it up now because, at 155 pages, it was relatively short. And, despite some rocky areas, I’m glad I did.
The book dives into the action right away, which I admit I’m not always a fan of. You don’t really know who Valian or Ostyn Tan are before they’re smack in the middle of a life-and-death situation. But Calmes is a talented writer, and all the information you need is expertly woven into the fabric of the story by the end of the prologue.
Then chapter one begins and the story gets a little confusing, in part because of the omniscient point of view. Omniscient point of view is something I don’t think I’ll ever be a fan of, no matter who the writer is. I got used to it, but it made me glad that this book is both short and a standalone. I was forced to really pay attention to whose point of view things were coming from because it bounced around so much.
Luckily, the omniscient point of view did tend to stay within the Terhazien family. It was easy enough to remember who they were, which is something that can’t be said for all the other side characters. There were way too many names for me to accurately remember them all, especially since none of the people played a big part in the story.
As for the plot, I both loved and hated it. It’s complex in both a good and bad way. The good is that, if you follow along closely, the payoff at the end is totally worth it. The bad is that, especially at the beginning, it’s very confusing. This book has a lot to it, both that’s on the page and a whole bunch of stuff that happened in the past. There was a point at about halfway through the book when I realized that reading this book was how it would feel if someone made a 2 hour move of the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy. Like, the central plot was there, but a bunch of stuff was only mentioned briefly in passing.
That being said, I’m amazed that Calmes made a complete high fantasy book in so few pages. All the information that the reader needs is there. Of course, being the eternal fan of world building that I am, I wanted more than just the bare basics. In terms of the politics and war elements, this book could easily have been turned into a trilogy. In terms of the romance, it did well.
Daemon and Gareth had an instant attraction that quickly turned into something more. I love that Gareth fell for Daemon before ever seeing his face. Calmes can always write hot smut and this book was no exception. Too bad we don’t actually see Daemon in his half-cat form, but that would have made the smut scenes uncomfortable for me, so it’s probably for the best.
Overall, I think this book was an entertaining read, and something a little different from everything else I’ve been reading lately. This was an early book from Calmes, originally published in 2011, which feels like eons ago. If she ever decided to rework it into a sprawling epic, I would be at the front of the line to get my copy.
Find the original post, complete with list of likes and dislikes, at Love is Love Reviews
The book dives into the action right away, which I admit I’m not always a fan of. You don’t really know who Valian or Ostyn Tan are before they’re smack in the middle of a life-and-death situation. But Calmes is a talented writer, and all the information you need is expertly woven into the fabric of the story by the end of the prologue.
Then chapter one begins and the story gets a little confusing, in part because of the omniscient point of view. Omniscient point of view is something I don’t think I’ll ever be a fan of, no matter who the writer is. I got used to it, but it made me glad that this book is both short and a standalone. I was forced to really pay attention to whose point of view things were coming from because it bounced around so much.
Luckily, the omniscient point of view did tend to stay within the Terhazien family. It was easy enough to remember who they were, which is something that can’t be said for all the other side characters. There were way too many names for me to accurately remember them all, especially since none of the people played a big part in the story.
As for the plot, I both loved and hated it. It’s complex in both a good and bad way. The good is that, if you follow along closely, the payoff at the end is totally worth it. The bad is that, especially at the beginning, it’s very confusing. This book has a lot to it, both that’s on the page and a whole bunch of stuff that happened in the past. There was a point at about halfway through the book when I realized that reading this book was how it would feel if someone made a 2 hour move of the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy. Like, the central plot was there, but a bunch of stuff was only mentioned briefly in passing.
That being said, I’m amazed that Calmes made a complete high fantasy book in so few pages. All the information that the reader needs is there. Of course, being the eternal fan of world building that I am, I wanted more than just the bare basics. In terms of the politics and war elements, this book could easily have been turned into a trilogy. In terms of the romance, it did well.
Daemon and Gareth had an instant attraction that quickly turned into something more. I love that Gareth fell for Daemon before ever seeing his face. Calmes can always write hot smut and this book was no exception. Too bad we don’t actually see Daemon in his half-cat form, but that would have made the smut scenes uncomfortable for me, so it’s probably for the best.
Overall, I think this book was an entertaining read, and something a little different from everything else I’ve been reading lately. This was an early book from Calmes, originally published in 2011, which feels like eons ago. If she ever decided to rework it into a sprawling epic, I would be at the front of the line to get my copy.
Find the original post, complete with list of likes and dislikes, at Love is Love Reviews
March 24, 2020
Oh Mary, Oh Mary. I do adore you and even if I don't adore you as I used to I still do and this was such a Mary Calmes novel but with some unexpected elements...
Well, if you're a fan, definitely go for it.
For the rest...
How can I describe the unique snowflake that happens to be Mary's MC's? She really like these.. Irresistible, Magnetic, Charismatic Cuties, people who come into a room or a situation and after some times, manages to basically wrap everyone around their little finger and have them eating out of their hands.
The MC here has a curse. He was basically a big cat. Meow. (I like cats, by the way.) So he goes around in this ... shawl, I guess. But that still doesn't stop him from being loved by every person he meets. Everyone who meets him wants a piece of him. Wants to be with him or employ him or take him into his bed...
And this kind of situation takes a lot of attention and resources so that it basically makes up the whole plot. First he has to charm his whole family, than disappear so he can reappear again and find love and than make that big revelation and... well, the end.
But of course, it's Calmes, so it's still somehow so entertaining and endearing and you just really like it. Well, I do.
Also, fantasy? LOL. No. There may be some wars or what and some big events or anything but this is 90% romance, the plot is all about romance so no battles except the one at the beginning and mostly focused on a) convincing the reader the Cat is Awesome b) convincing the Cat he can find happiness with the kind, funny, hot and respectable rich guy.
Anyway, definitely recommend.
Well, if you're a fan, definitely go for it.
For the rest...
How can I describe the unique snowflake that happens to be Mary's MC's? She really like these.. Irresistible, Magnetic, Charismatic Cuties, people who come into a room or a situation and after some times, manages to basically wrap everyone around their little finger and have them eating out of their hands.
The MC here has a curse. He was basically a big cat. Meow. (I like cats, by the way.) So he goes around in this ... shawl, I guess. But that still doesn't stop him from being loved by every person he meets. Everyone who meets him wants a piece of him. Wants to be with him or employ him or take him into his bed...
And this kind of situation takes a lot of attention and resources so that it basically makes up the whole plot. First he has to charm his whole family, than disappear so he can reappear again and find love and than make that big revelation and... well, the end.
But of course, it's Calmes, so it's still somehow so entertaining and endearing and you just really like it. Well, I do.
Also, fantasy? LOL. No. There may be some wars or what and some big events or anything but this is 90% romance, the plot is all about romance so no battles except the one at the beginning and mostly focused on a) convincing the reader the Cat is Awesome b) convincing the Cat he can find happiness with the kind, funny, hot and respectable rich guy.
Anyway, definitely recommend.
February 11, 2017
I was very excited going into this. The premise was intriguing; the reality... not so much. I still enjoyed reading it to some extent, but I didn't care for it overall. The POV was constantly shifting, not sticking with one character. While third person allows this to some extent, it was still incredibly annoying trying to keep track of who the story was following as it switched sometimes multiple times in a single paragraph. Also, while the fancy titles were definitely interesting and important to the book, that is no excuse for how incredibly confusing they were. I did not get a solid idea of who everyone was until the third or fourth chapter. A warning that will greatly help: Daemon is Valian. Same guy. Different name. No idea why. While the end was supposed to reveal the name switch, I think, I just did not get it. Because the entire book was just incredibly annoying and to some extent confusing. Normally I love Mary Calmes, but I struggled with this one. A lot.
October 14, 2018
★★★ = It was good but I wouldn't read it again.
Another stort story from Mary Calmes. I am slowly working my way through her entire collection and I had left this one on my list for a while. You can see a lot of character similarities compared to her recent releases and you can see how Mary has grown as a writer and a novelist from here.
I am glad to have added this to my collection but can't see myself reading it again.
Another stort story from Mary Calmes. I am slowly working my way through her entire collection and I had left this one on my list for a while. You can see a lot of character similarities compared to her recent releases and you can see how Mary has grown as a writer and a novelist from here.
I am glad to have added this to my collection but can't see myself reading it again.
October 28, 2025
This book is absolutely bonkers (in a good way).
I'd say it's fantasy with a touch of historical thrown in maybe. It's hard to explain. There is so much happening and for the majority of the book I didn't understand who was who or what was what.
But once I figured it out I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Mary Calmes is a go to author for me. I find myself captivated by her characters. This story was no different.
I'd say it's fantasy with a touch of historical thrown in maybe. It's hard to explain. There is so much happening and for the majority of the book I didn't understand who was who or what was what.
But once I figured it out I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Mary Calmes is a go to author for me. I find myself captivated by her characters. This story was no different.
November 12, 2023
I love this short story by Mary Calmes. It's awesome! I bought the audiobook, and I also love the narrator. Daemon is a total badass, and he's also adorable. I love how possessive Gareth is of him and how Daemon just allows it because he loves him. This is one where even though I could see how it was going to end, the story was exciting and I never got bored. I loved it! I didn't want it to end.
July 1, 2017
The writing was ok, but it suffers from the usual too beautiful syndrome. The reveal in the book happened too soon and then it just felt like a kind of wank fest on who could be exposed to the beautiful hidden one next. Might have given more points if the curse ended up being cooler than it was.
May 18, 2020
The servant was set in different world. Daemon was excellent at setting up his employer to move up in power. But he felt he had been cursed and did not want to commit to anyone. I loved the world building. It was amazing.
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