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Of Princes False and True
A tennis match? Starting a war between the Duchy of Avann and the Kingdom of the Westlands?
Only in a fairy tale.
When Prince Henry hurts a young ball boy who told him Danilo’s ball was inside the line, Danilo’s response is automatic. Punch the prince’s face, pick him up left-handed, and break the royal jaw. Unfortunately, there’s another “automatic” at work: a death sentence for whoever strikes royalty.
King Hiram can’t—won’t—change the rule of law to rule of royal whim. But he grants the Heir of Avann fifteen days to find words that will allow Danilo to live.
In those fifteen days: Magick. The gods, goddesses and gender-fluid deities on Deity Lane. Kilvar, the assassin. A wallet which opens to a box in a bank vault. A mysterious old man. The Lady of All. The Magickal Hand writing, rewriting. A fairy tale within a fairy tale. A huge horse called Brute. And at the end...perhaps the right words and a most unexpected love. Plus a deity-supplied dinner with just the right amount of garlic.
All royalties will go to a local LGBT organization.
Only in a fairy tale.
When Prince Henry hurts a young ball boy who told him Danilo’s ball was inside the line, Danilo’s response is automatic. Punch the prince’s face, pick him up left-handed, and break the royal jaw. Unfortunately, there’s another “automatic” at work: a death sentence for whoever strikes royalty.
King Hiram can’t—won’t—change the rule of law to rule of royal whim. But he grants the Heir of Avann fifteen days to find words that will allow Danilo to live.
In those fifteen days: Magick. The gods, goddesses and gender-fluid deities on Deity Lane. Kilvar, the assassin. A wallet which opens to a box in a bank vault. A mysterious old man. The Lady of All. The Magickal Hand writing, rewriting. A fairy tale within a fairy tale. A huge horse called Brute. And at the end...perhaps the right words and a most unexpected love. Plus a deity-supplied dinner with just the right amount of garlic.
All royalties will go to a local LGBT organization.
- GenresFantasyM M Romance
225 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 8, 2018
2 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Eric Alan Westfall
29 books65 followersGuess what...that image ain't really me! (Not nearly enough grey hair). That's Kerry Chin Chew Yee's image of DarkFire for the cover of The Warlord and the Bard. And since he's the favorite of my characters...what better image? Maybe more about me later.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 8, 2018
This tale is bawdy, naughty, hilarious, and altogether magical. I took a risk on a new-to-me author because the book blurb was irresistible, and it paid off several times over. I couldn’t put the book down once I started reading.
Ages ago, I pilfered a book off my parents’ shelf full of what amounted to retold fables and fairy tales, but with a healthy dose of dirty humor. This book reminds me a lot of that, only far better written. Some of it is outright comedy, but the majority is far more subtle.
If someone were to set out to write the “perfect” fairy tale, combining just about every trope and element, they might end up with something like this. If they were any good, that is, and Eric Alan Westfall is one hundred percent brilliant. There are so many little gems and nods to all kinds of fables, fantasy, and fairy tales. I spotted a whole lot of things that reminded me of many of my favorite stories. I won’t spoil them; it’s much more fun for readers to discover for themselves.
There is also a lot of (mostly gentle) humor at the expense of gay romance tropes. Readers should hold onto their hats because nothing is safe. I suspect a lot of people who pick this up will miss the point. For me, it read as though it came from a place of great affection but with an understanding that tropes are…well, tropey. It’s done in such a way as to create a terrific story, and none of the humor is mean-spirited or cruel digs.
The characters are, on the whole, likable. Yes, even the wonderfully horrible Prince Henry. The plot is a little on the predictable side, and I suspect intentionally so. It makes no difference because the joy isn’t in the twists (though there are some of those too). What makes this such a treasure is all the fun along the way. You can only read it once for the surprises. But then you’ll want to read it a second time for anything you might’ve missed, and by the third time, you’ll be reading it just because the author’s writing is such a pleasure.
For delightful naughtiness, a magical land of hidden gems, and a good time had by all, this gets 5 stars. “So it has been said. So let it be done.”
Ages ago, I pilfered a book off my parents’ shelf full of what amounted to retold fables and fairy tales, but with a healthy dose of dirty humor. This book reminds me a lot of that, only far better written. Some of it is outright comedy, but the majority is far more subtle.
If someone were to set out to write the “perfect” fairy tale, combining just about every trope and element, they might end up with something like this. If they were any good, that is, and Eric Alan Westfall is one hundred percent brilliant. There are so many little gems and nods to all kinds of fables, fantasy, and fairy tales. I spotted a whole lot of things that reminded me of many of my favorite stories. I won’t spoil them; it’s much more fun for readers to discover for themselves.
There is also a lot of (mostly gentle) humor at the expense of gay romance tropes. Readers should hold onto their hats because nothing is safe. I suspect a lot of people who pick this up will miss the point. For me, it read as though it came from a place of great affection but with an understanding that tropes are…well, tropey. It’s done in such a way as to create a terrific story, and none of the humor is mean-spirited or cruel digs.
The characters are, on the whole, likable. Yes, even the wonderfully horrible Prince Henry. The plot is a little on the predictable side, and I suspect intentionally so. It makes no difference because the joy isn’t in the twists (though there are some of those too). What makes this such a treasure is all the fun along the way. You can only read it once for the surprises. But then you’ll want to read it a second time for anything you might’ve missed, and by the third time, you’ll be reading it just because the author’s writing is such a pleasure.
For delightful naughtiness, a magical land of hidden gems, and a good time had by all, this gets 5 stars. “So it has been said. So let it be done.”
September 11, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
2 stars
Parody and satire are difficult art forms and comedy is highly subjective. When reading a book that is trying to be funny, you have to read it with a grain of salt and a dash of kindness. If you’re interested in this book, I strongly suggest you download a sample chapter or two before purchase to make certain that you and this book get along. You will either find the writing style whimsical and charming, or, like me, grow tired of it by the second paragraph. Jokes are either run into the ground again and again and again. And again. Or they’re not jokes at all, just a name, like the Wizard of Ahz, mentioned offhand seemingly in the hopes of being clever.
In the first chapter, we are introduced to King Hiram and Roger. Hiram is your standard “retired warrior” king. He is physically fit-ish, gruff, blunt, and not a terribly political person. He enjoys getting rogered by Rodger the rogering rogerer (you’ll get tired of that before the end of the first chapter. Alas, the author doesn’t), thinks about being rogered by Rodger, and when he isn’t thinking about being rogered by Rodger, he’s missing Rodger and his rogering. Hiram’s not a bad man, but he’s dull and barely manages to be a two-dimensional character. He was married to his wife, a queen who wasn’t so much evil as petty and hateful, and had as much interest in her death as he did her life. He doesn’t spare much more thought to his son than he did his wife, other than to regret he wasn’t a better father. Hiram would like to avoid killing Danilo, but … that’s as far as it goes. He doesn’t try to help the young man, doesn’t think to change the law, doesn’t do anything but feel wistfully a little put out that he can’t save the young man with the lovely, pert ass from being killed. Oh well, alas, alack and come here, Rodger.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
2 stars
Parody and satire are difficult art forms and comedy is highly subjective. When reading a book that is trying to be funny, you have to read it with a grain of salt and a dash of kindness. If you’re interested in this book, I strongly suggest you download a sample chapter or two before purchase to make certain that you and this book get along. You will either find the writing style whimsical and charming, or, like me, grow tired of it by the second paragraph. Jokes are either run into the ground again and again and again. And again. Or they’re not jokes at all, just a name, like the Wizard of Ahz, mentioned offhand seemingly in the hopes of being clever.
In the first chapter, we are introduced to King Hiram and Roger. Hiram is your standard “retired warrior” king. He is physically fit-ish, gruff, blunt, and not a terribly political person. He enjoys getting rogered by Rodger the rogering rogerer (you’ll get tired of that before the end of the first chapter. Alas, the author doesn’t), thinks about being rogered by Rodger, and when he isn’t thinking about being rogered by Rodger, he’s missing Rodger and his rogering. Hiram’s not a bad man, but he’s dull and barely manages to be a two-dimensional character. He was married to his wife, a queen who wasn’t so much evil as petty and hateful, and had as much interest in her death as he did her life. He doesn’t spare much more thought to his son than he did his wife, other than to regret he wasn’t a better father. Hiram would like to avoid killing Danilo, but … that’s as far as it goes. He doesn’t try to help the young man, doesn’t think to change the law, doesn’t do anything but feel wistfully a little put out that he can’t save the young man with the lovely, pert ass from being killed. Oh well, alas, alack and come here, Rodger.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
August 26, 2018
A ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords Review. This review can also be found here.
At a Tennis Match, Danilo saves a child from Prince Henry’s wrath and his fists, pummeling royalty in the process and as the law says the punishment to striking a member of the Royal Family is nothing less than death itself. Not wanting to punish an innocent the Good King Hiram gives Danilo a chance, he has fourteen days to find the words that will let him live. Fourteen days at the end of which, Danilo either lives or dies.
This book is an adventure Danilo sets on to find the words that will let him live. It is a journey that leads him to Diety Lane, to an old man and to the very truth of his existence.
I loved this book. It was just delightful. All things considered, this made for a very interesting read that had me hooked and that writing… oh! What can I say about that writing?
I’m in love with the writing of this book. I started reading this book and found myself laughing and smiling at the way things were described and I was enjoying myself so much that I was completely surprised. You pick up a book that you think you might enjoy and sometimes you enjoy the book more than you ever thought possible and it was so surprising, that it caught me completely off guard. This book is written in a very unique style. It is basically the story of a story within a story and the story encompassing our main story features the writing hand that is penning down this story, so you can see the author change the storylines, take pauses and make decisions which was a very interesting way of presenting this particular story. You would think that being reminded that the characters in this story are merely words on a page would make you less interested in their fates but it had an almost opposite effect. It’s like knowing that it is a story makes you even more invested and I guess that in one line sums up why people read.
Also, I love the world the author envisages. I loved the concept of Diety Lane and I’m completely taken with the concept of the Kitchen. It was the single bright spot on a lane besmirched. I loved this world and was particularly excited about the shaecul and what that could mean for the storyline, though yeah, we didn’t quite go there. Overall, I’m just very taken with this world and the plot and the characters.
The characters are quite a colourful lot, what with Hiram the King and Roger, Danilo, Ivyn, Jonar, Anatol and all the Royal Guards, and I mean it, the guards were so amazing. Also, Kilvar the assassin left quite the impression.
I am a bit on the fence with Henry because while he is just words on a page he is a pretty unscrupulous group of words at that and I never quite understood his sudden redemption. Changing one facet of how the plot plays out doesn’t absolve a character of the traits he previously possessed. Though this is a point of contention, Henry is a very small part of the book and some of his anger could be justified, emphasis on some, I get why he felt like an imposter at the castle but not his bad reputation and I definitely can’t forgive his actions and I’m definitely on the fence about his happy ending. Redemption is a good thing but it has to be earned, it can’t be granted at the turn of a phrase.
There are still things I find myself wanting to know about this world. There was just some gorgeous worldbuilding and I would love to see more of how it works.
I quite enjoyed this story. It happens to be a retelling of a fairy tale but since I haven’t read the original I can’t quite offer comparison though if the retelling is anything to go by the original should be a hoot.
Cover Art by Karrie Jax. I liked the cover, it fits the medieval quality of the story and I especially love how the text highlights the image of the two boys.
At a Tennis Match, Danilo saves a child from Prince Henry’s wrath and his fists, pummeling royalty in the process and as the law says the punishment to striking a member of the Royal Family is nothing less than death itself. Not wanting to punish an innocent the Good King Hiram gives Danilo a chance, he has fourteen days to find the words that will let him live. Fourteen days at the end of which, Danilo either lives or dies.
This book is an adventure Danilo sets on to find the words that will let him live. It is a journey that leads him to Diety Lane, to an old man and to the very truth of his existence.
I loved this book. It was just delightful. All things considered, this made for a very interesting read that had me hooked and that writing… oh! What can I say about that writing?
I’m in love with the writing of this book. I started reading this book and found myself laughing and smiling at the way things were described and I was enjoying myself so much that I was completely surprised. You pick up a book that you think you might enjoy and sometimes you enjoy the book more than you ever thought possible and it was so surprising, that it caught me completely off guard. This book is written in a very unique style. It is basically the story of a story within a story and the story encompassing our main story features the writing hand that is penning down this story, so you can see the author change the storylines, take pauses and make decisions which was a very interesting way of presenting this particular story. You would think that being reminded that the characters in this story are merely words on a page would make you less interested in their fates but it had an almost opposite effect. It’s like knowing that it is a story makes you even more invested and I guess that in one line sums up why people read.
Also, I love the world the author envisages. I loved the concept of Diety Lane and I’m completely taken with the concept of the Kitchen. It was the single bright spot on a lane besmirched. I loved this world and was particularly excited about the shaecul and what that could mean for the storyline, though yeah, we didn’t quite go there. Overall, I’m just very taken with this world and the plot and the characters.
The characters are quite a colourful lot, what with Hiram the King and Roger, Danilo, Ivyn, Jonar, Anatol and all the Royal Guards, and I mean it, the guards were so amazing. Also, Kilvar the assassin left quite the impression.
I am a bit on the fence with Henry because while he is just words on a page he is a pretty unscrupulous group of words at that and I never quite understood his sudden redemption. Changing one facet of how the plot plays out doesn’t absolve a character of the traits he previously possessed. Though this is a point of contention, Henry is a very small part of the book and some of his anger could be justified, emphasis on some, I get why he felt like an imposter at the castle but not his bad reputation and I definitely can’t forgive his actions and I’m definitely on the fence about his happy ending. Redemption is a good thing but it has to be earned, it can’t be granted at the turn of a phrase.
There are still things I find myself wanting to know about this world. There was just some gorgeous worldbuilding and I would love to see more of how it works.
I quite enjoyed this story. It happens to be a retelling of a fairy tale but since I haven’t read the original I can’t quite offer comparison though if the retelling is anything to go by the original should be a hoot.
Cover Art by Karrie Jax. I liked the cover, it fits the medieval quality of the story and I especially love how the text highlights the image of the two boys.
December 15, 2018
This is a gay retelling of a little-known fairytale (one I had not heard of.) Several princes - good, bad, reluctant, and hidden - come together in this tale of unintended consequences and the risk of angering fairies disguised as old crones. Danilo, Heir in a neighboring kingdom, is playing a tennis match involving autocratic local Prince Henry, when a young ball-boy calls a shot in Danilo's favor. Violent and spoiled Henry's reaction is to beat the boy. Danilo's unthinking response is to punch the Prince. Unfortunately, hitting royalty carries a death penalty, and Henry insists justice be done.
Henry's father, Good King Hiram, is well aware of what his son is like and wants to spare Danilo, but he can't bend laws to suit his preferences without destabilizing rule of law. He gives Danilo time, though, to petition the local gods and search for a way out of the death sentence. And thus begins the tale.
This author has a distinctive style, well suited to fairytale telling (and to his alternate-history historicals). The narrator's often-present voice is wry, sex is lusty more than erotic, and the tone is amused and breezy in the portrayal of characters and events. I was surprised more than once by the turn of events, and appreciated the humor and resilience in the characters. Romance tropes (including MPreg) are given a gentle twist here and there. The characters down to the secondary supports are colorful and appealing, and the resolution was satisfying. If you enjoy fairytales in their "storytelling" mode (as opposed to fantasy realism) turned on their heads, consider this one.
Henry's father, Good King Hiram, is well aware of what his son is like and wants to spare Danilo, but he can't bend laws to suit his preferences without destabilizing rule of law. He gives Danilo time, though, to petition the local gods and search for a way out of the death sentence. And thus begins the tale.
This author has a distinctive style, well suited to fairytale telling (and to his alternate-history historicals). The narrator's often-present voice is wry, sex is lusty more than erotic, and the tone is amused and breezy in the portrayal of characters and events. I was surprised more than once by the turn of events, and appreciated the humor and resilience in the characters. Romance tropes (including MPreg) are given a gentle twist here and there. The characters down to the secondary supports are colorful and appealing, and the resolution was satisfying. If you enjoy fairytales in their "storytelling" mode (as opposed to fantasy realism) turned on their heads, consider this one.
May 28, 2020
E.A. Westfall is fast becoming my favorite contemporary author. He can beautifuly write any genre. Check out My Lieutenant. I am so glad he writes about gay characters and their issues and relationships. Bravo!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews