Apple Boy

The Quiet Work #1

by Isobel Starling

A new Fantasy series by award-winning author Isobel Starling


A lost lordling, a farm boy, and a tale of mystery, magic, and murder!

After a traumatic event, Winter Aeling finds himself destitute and penniless in the backwater town of Mallowick. He needs to travel to the city of Serein and impart grave news that will bring war to the Empire, but without a horse, money, and with not a soul willing to help him, he has no choice but to line up with the common folk seeking paid work on the harvest.

As wagons roll into the market square and farmers choose day laborers, Winter is singled out for abuse by a brute of a farmer. The only man who stands up for him is the farmer's beguiling son, Adam, and on locking eyes with the swarthy young man Winter feels the immediate spark of attraction.

Winter soon realizes there is a reason he has been drawn to Blackdown Farm. The farmer possesses a precious item that was stolen long ago from Winter’s family, and he determines to retrieve it. He also cannot take his eyes off the farmer's son, and as the young man opens up Winter can’t help wondering if Adam is just kind or his kind!

Genres: Fantasy, M M Romance, Audiobook, Romance, LGBT, Magic, Historical

488 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 15, 2019

About the author

AWARD WINNING AUTHOR OF GAY ROMANCE.

Born in Germany, Isobel Starling spent most of her twenty-year professional career making art in Ireland. Now she writes full-time and runs her publishing company, Decent Fellows Press.

The Shatterproof Bond series is Gay Romance bestseller in the US, Germany and France. It is also a bestseller in audiobook format, narrated by Gary Furlong

Isobel is currently working on "The Dark Harvest", (The Quiet Work #2) The follow up to her successful Fantasy novel "Apple Boy"

When that book is done Isobel will be working on "Infernal Vices" book #3 of the Resurrectionist Historical MM series, and then "The Rebel Candidate " Book #6 in the Shatterproof Bond series.

Reviews

[Shin Mon Thway · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading and living in a book world where everything is full of magic, mystery and wonders where the good prevails and the evil fails. 😌 In a fantasy, everything is possible and your imagination is your only limit. G.R.R.M said “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies”. And that’s why I’m drawn to reading and especially fantasy. Because I’m a dreamer and this dreamer had a beautiful dream because of this wonderful epic fantasy story. 💜 When I heard Isobel Starling is publishing a fantasy book, I’m beyond ecstatic. I usually stay away from contemporary and she’s the one who made me fall in love with contemporary books. So I have super high expectations when it comes to reading her books. And I do prefer fantasy .. so hearing that one of your your favorite authors is going to write your favorite genre is a dream comes true for every reader. 😁 And my expectations were met and more. 🥰


Winter Aeling, the Count of Thorn, finds himself at the doorstep of almost whoring himself out for a bite of bread. Without a friend and money, away from home and with no one who re recognizes him as one of the ton, Winter has no choice but to work as a day laborer to earn some coins. And he does desperately need some money so that he can continue his journey to the city of Serein to find answers for himself and to bring a gravely news for the Empire. But earning money working as a laborer in a backwater town doesn’t seem as easy as he had thought. He’s now being targeted by his brutish employer, the owner of Blackdown apple farm. And the only one who’s between him and that despicable, cruel farmer is no other than his son, the charming, kind and helpful Adam who stirs all the emotions in Winter’s heart and body. 😉 Laying with a man in the state of Erias means death and Winter really doesn’t have time for a fling in his state. But soon, Winter is coming to realize Adam Sewell is the key to his survival and fulfilling his destiny in the unfolding the dark, ugly secrets of the Empire. 😱 And if they are to still alive and come out unscathed from this whole bone-chilling treachery, Adam and Winter need to trust and love each other with all their hearts and soul.


Boy, despite it being over 600 pages long, I felt like it wasn’t enough to get my fill of Adam and Winter. 😁 And in my opinion, instead of thinking this book as a gay fantasy romance, it would be better to think it as an epic fantasy book where there happens to be gay protagonists. Because although there is abundant romance and sizzling UST in it, up and foremost, this is a fantasy book with the depiction of the vile and revolting evil and how the good is going to conquer it. The prose is lyrical, beautiful and magical and the scenery depiction of this book is just seamless and alluring. 😍 The world building is especially splendid and the character crafting is just marvelous. And there are so many feels in it! 😌 I laughed, I cried, I was really really frustrated and angry, and terrified and there are some “Wow! I really didn’t see that one coming moments”. 😱 And the villains of this fantasy? Man, I really got goosebumps reading about how cruel, terrifying and appalling villains! You know it’s good writing when the villain makes you scared for real. 🥶 I’m not going to spoil about what you are going to encounter reading this book because this one is definitely worth to experience it yourself. But you are in for a treat with some colorful, magical, amorous birds! *wink wink* 😉 And there are so many clever twists and turns!!! I’m just delighted! ❤️ And I loved that Isobel Starling delivered the beautiful romance of Adam and Winter although she was being a minxy tease in the beginning. 😂 Sullying virgins will never get old in my book so I am very happy with the heat level in this book. 🔥 Since this is the first book of an epic fantasy series, the ending is a HFN but I think that will make the readers just a bit more expectant for the next book to come. 😌 I can’t express how much I enjoyed this lovely, magical tale and I think everyone who loves magic, sorcery, mages and enchanted stones will fall in love with this book just like I did. 💜 PS. I can’t freaking wait for the audio of this book because I will never EVER get enough of Isobel Starling and Gary Furlong combo! 😍



5 our hearts, our souls and our magic is entwined stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️









Disclaimer: A beta copy of this book was provided by the author for an honest and unbiased review.

[Trio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epic fantasy, gripping mystery, erotic romance… YES! Apple Boy, the first book in Isobel Starling’s latest series The Quiet Work, is a non-stop adventure and thoroughly entrancing. I’ve never read anything that wasn’t excellent by this talented author, but Ms. Starling has definitely raised the bar with this one! I’m recommending it to everybody, because it’s just that good.

As fans of Isobel Starling’s audiobooks can attest, no one can do her stories justice like Gary Furlong. His performances elevate the experience, and bring everything to life in the most wonderful way. It’s like listening to a Broadway play.

Mr. Furlong’s vocal style and accents are truly limitless and he continues to come up with new and inspired ways to add expression and uniqueness to every character. Who but Gary Furlong could make two elderly solicitors (who just happen to be birds) voices fit them so perfectly they actually come alive?

Told as a narrative, Winter Aeling’s story unfolds gradually. What appears to be a simple smuggling scheme turns out to run far deeper, and Winter’s unwitting discovery is the start to his incredible journey. Destiny, magic, and luck play equal parts in his quest to deliver his news to the political center of this empire, and without giving too much away I can say that his stopover at the apple orchard is no fluke.

The chemistry that sparks between Winter and Adam, the orchard owner’s son, evolves into a deep and true friendship. A delicious slow-burn, it’s a pleasure to watch as their unresolved sexual tension reaches astronomical proportions. Trust me when I say it’s definitely worth the wait. Isobel Starling is a master of erotic love scenes, and she hasn’t let her readers down yet.

Apple Boy is an emotional story and flows from playful humor to dark and tragic events with far reaching consequences. The deeply passionate connections of lovers are just as important as the poignant moments between family members and each contribute to the overall flavor of the tale. The world Isobel Starling builds is filled with olde tyme charm and colorful characters.

The happy-for-now ending is wonderful for Winter and Adam, and I'm looking forward to catching up with them later in the series. I know we’ve just scratched the surface of this incredible world, and I can’t wait to see what the next book in this marvelous new series will bring. There’s no doubt, with Isobel Starling’s imagination, the sky’s the limit!

[Eugenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous!! 4.5.....RTC after I get over the shock that Isobel Starling and Gary Furlong left me hanging off the side of a cliff! At least I can enjoy the spectacular view of this unique world they brought life!!

[Cadiva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complex and intriguing introduction to this new fantasy series

There's a lot going on here! And it's not concluded at the end of this first book in Isobel Starling's new fantasy series either, but there is the start of a complex narrative which I'm eager to learn more of.

I believe the three books together will bring different characters' backgrounds and stories so far into one over-reaching plot that will conclude once all is done.

First up was Adam and Winter and they're very cute together and delightfully stumble their way not only into a relationship but also into an epic adventure.

It's really hard to review this without giving the key parts away, which I'm not going to do, but let's just say I was kept interested from start to finish even when it all got a little bit complicated.

The book itself is gorgeous, with internal illustrations and a stunning world map, there's also a handy glossary at the start with a decent chunk of background information on each of the realms.

Like all good fantasy novels, it leaves as much unanswered as it does concluded so I can't wait to see where the story goes next.

[Gabi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book will be available to read and review via the MMRG Don't Buy My Love program from 5/2/2019, request it here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

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As if I was dropped in the 18th-century, the environment, the local slang, the aristocrats with their frilly clothes and arcane traditions, the whole setting reminded me of the Poldark era in England.

Winter was unfortunate enough to end up betrayed, penniless, homeless, only with his clothes on his back in a small town where he knew no one, and no way of getting home, unless he acquires some copper to pay for the carriage ride. He gets a job at an apple orchard, where he meets Adam, the farmer's son. Together they cook up a plan to get Winter home, and seek justice for the betrayal. On their journey, they experience strange things, thanks to a shiny little gem that has far more power they ever encountered.

This story was a sweet and slow-building romance between a noble boy and a farmer. They came from two different worlds, yet they understood each other from the very beginning as if they were destined to meet.

I had a hard time in general with this book, and I'm not sure the exact reason, but I was bored and stopped several times. It might have been the slow-moving plot, or that every time they entered a new setting or met new people, the description was very detailed, and I mean very. Also the history of this created world is very rich, and they always seemed to find someone who started telling tales from the past. Or it could have been that the protagonist, Winter (single, first person pov), was not interesting enough to me, I think his character was a little flat. The world-building was good, the other characters well rounded, and I love the slang, so that wasn't the problem either.

Once the magical stuff came into play, it was more exciting, but it was a long time coming. And if you haven't guessed yet, the story is not finished, this was just part one. Next up will be the Dark Harvest, which means, if I'm understanding it right, that we'll go back in time, with a different main character. But I hope eventually we go back to Winter and Adam coz I feel like their story is far from finished.

This book is just the very beginning of what I think will be a very long journey.
3.5 stars, rounded down for now. Hopefully the sequel (or prequel apparently?) will be more exciting.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

3 stars

This book has an interesting, fluid style, going from an almost 18th century feel for the first third of the book, with the light, affected manners and morals of a young noble slumming with the common folk, before it becomes more modern as Adam and Win begin their adventure, until it is almost completely modern as the boys find themselves in the city and magic begins to make an appearance. Some of the stylistic choices made by the author — such as italicizing place names, titles, dice games, and sometimes (but not always) people’s names — were not to my personal taste at all, and at times were very inconsistent.

Winter is a blithe, self-interested, feckless young man who thinks very, very highly of himself. For all that he’s not a worldly man, he has had a very solid education in politics since he was young. He is, after all, his father’s heir. Win knows he’s attractive and even calls his own ass “pert,” in an admiring tone, especially when he notices Adam looking at it. He’s also a very unreliable narrator as he has an opinion about everything and everyone. People don’t just talk to him, they bluster, shout, flirt, or snarl. Win has a flair for the dramatic, and it’s something to keep in mind as you read this story, which is told entirely from his point of view.

Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person · Rating 4 out of 5]

NTS: I borrowed this book from KU and bought the audio.

Well, Gary Furlong as narrator was excellent. This is my first listen of the highly regarded voice actor, because his performance was not mere reading. He became each character in the book.

The story was very interesting as well. There is fantasy (the genre), magic, mages, and politics, but there is more to come. There isn’t a cliff-hanger per say, but one definitely needs to read the next book when it is published.

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've given this an A- for narration and a C for content at AudioGals.

Isobel Starling’s Apple Boy is book one in a series of fantasy romantic adventures entitled The Quiet Work, set in the fictitious land of The Empire of Osia. In this story, a lordling and a farm boy set out on a journey, and end up uncovering a political conspiracy and discovering something about themselves that will change them forever. The story is quite interesting, but the pacing is slow until near the end, and I felt the whole thing could have been shortened by a third and none of the important plotlines would have been lost. I’ll also warn prospective listeners that the book ends on a cliffhanger – although it seems that the next one will feature different characters in main roles.

Our PoV character in Apple Boy is Winter Aeling, son of the Duke of Thorn, who, for reasons not yet explained, has arrived in the small town of Mallowick with only the clothes on his back and no way of getting home unless he can earn some money to pay for transportation. He gets work at an orchard run by the despotic farmer Col Sewell, where his eye is immediately caught by Sewell’s handsome son, Adam. Also catching his eye is the ring the farmer wears, which not only bears Winter’s own family crest, but also contains a magical Star-fall stone. Over the next few days, Win manages to spend some time with Adam – enough to recognise that he likely shares Win’s sexual preferences – but can’t allow his attraction to the other man to prevent him from leaving the farm to travel to the capital city of Serein in order to speak to the Great Council there. When he leaves – having managed to swipe the Star-fall – Adam insists on going with him, and Win then explains why it’s so important for him to get to Serein and how he came to be in Mallowick. Win had been aboard ship on his way to visit his uncle Ivon when he discovered that the ship – the Trojan Star – was carrying slaves. Appalled, Win refused to stay silent and foolishly confronted the captain about it with the result that both he and his valet were thrown overboard – and only Win survived. So now, he wants to inform the Great Council about the slaves, in the hope that perhaps its powerful members can find a way to free them and punish whoever is responsible for their transportation.

After an eventful journey, during which Adam and Win prevent a highway robbery by inadvertently using magic (a punishable offence), they arrive in Serein only to discover that Win is presumed dead after the Trojan Star was lost at sea. Win manages to get a message to his uncle – hoping he’ll be sober enough to recognise him – and is, after that, able to speak with the Council, the members of which are suitably horrified at the story, and have to work out how they are going to proceed against the powerful Twin Kings of Osia, who it seems are intent of regaining control of the city.

This is a long-ish audiobook, coming in at a little under ten hours, but not a great deal actually happens until well into the second half, and the pacing is slowed considerably by the continual interruption of excessive detail. This is one of my major complaints about the book; there is SO much descriptive prose that it disrupts the flow and progression of the story. For instance, every time Adam and Win arrive at a new place, there’s a lot of overly detailed description about the landscape and/or buildings and they invariably meet someone (also described in great detail) who starts in on telling them tales about the place, and while I appreciate meticulous worldbuilding in this sort of story, obvious info-dumping isn’t the way to go about it.

Win’s narrative voice suits his character, although I’m never fond of first person narrators who tell us things about themselves that nobody would ever actually say – like “I combed my flaxen tresses” (not a quote) or “I shook out my unruly auburn curls” (also not a quote, but you get the idea). He’s a nineteen-year-old aristocrat with a very high opinion of himself, but who is intelligent and shows a remarkable degree of resilience given his circumstances at the beginning of the book. He does have a tendency to overstate things, which can make the narrative as a whole feel rather overblown and melodramatic at times, but he’s likeable, if a bit bland. Likeable but a bit bland is how I’d describe Adam, too; he’s not very-well drawn, and I have no idea what he really saw in Winter apart from his good looks. In fact the romance between them is hardly developed at all; later in the book we find out they were “destined”, but that doesn’t make up for the lack of actual romantic development. (And the idea that they were only truly, “life-bonded” after they had penetrative sex as opposed to all the other stuff they did – oral, hand-jobs, rubbing off; if orgasms are involved, it’s having sex in my book! – made me roll my eyes.)

When it comes to the conspiracy angle, I did have to wonder how it was that the powerful Great Council didn’t seem to have read the contract they’d signed with the Twin Kings for the transportation of gold from Osia to Serein, which stated that they would be responsible for the shipment from the moment it left Osia (in the words of one of the Council “We’ve been stitched up!” – which, amid all the faux-historical dialogue and terminology was incredibly jarring). There is some distinctly creaky writing and clichéd dialogue and phrasing to be found, together with some odd grammatical quirks (which always stick out more in audio than in print).

Gary Furlong sounds like he had a blast recording this, and it was his exuberant performance that kept me going through the descriptive passages that felt like they’d never end! The people of the Pasturelands – which is where Mallowick is located – all speak with Irish accents, which gives Mr. Furlong the opportunity to go to town in his natural accent, using it to differing degrees and finding different timbres and pitches to depict and differentiate between the various secondary characters. Farmer Sewell’s dialogue is spoken in a rough, guttural tone, while for Adam, he employs a warm, natural baritone close to his own speaking voice; in fact, one of the reasons I wish part of the story had been told from Adam’s PoV is because I’d have liked to have had those lovely, lilting tones in my ears more frequently! There’s a large secondary cast, some of whom have just a line or two, and all are clearly and expertly characterised and delineated, from Win’s uncle Ivor, whose deep, resonant tones conjure up the image of a large, portly individual, to two unusual bankers (unusual because they’re birds!) who sound fussy, sharp and appropriately bird-like. The portrayal of Win is excellent as well – using a higher pitch and an ultra-posh English accent along with an air of worldly ennui, Mr. Furlong lends real charm to a character who might, in print, have come across as overly arrogant.

Apple Boy is, then, a mixed bag. The story has merit, but its progress is impeded by too many info dumps and too much extended description, and the characterisation is sketchy. Gary Furlong’s highly accomplished performance is a definite plus, however, so if I do decide to continue on to book two, it’ll definitely be in audio.

This review originally apepared at AudioGals

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

A complimentary audio was provided in exchange for an honest review.

I am a fan of Isobel Starling and Gary Furlong. I wish I could say I enjoyed this story as much as others. For me the story was slow and I struggled to continue listening. Based on all the other reviews I think this is the case of me and not the book. I wasn't able to connect.

When I did find a rhythm at times, I could see the how the overall plot is a good one. That's why I selected this story. You can't love them all though, sigh. 2 stars

[⚓Dan⚓ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down! It deserves more that five stars! I can't wait to see what other adventures Win and Adam get in to.

[Alfred Haplo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caveats: Apple Boy is my first M/M romantic fantasy so the subject matter is foreign. Yes, yes, since you asked, M/M as in anal penetration, tonguing and blushing and hot abs and all that jazz (or jizz? Both applies). You can turn away now or read on, do what you will.

My last review was two months ago but mentally, it seems longer with intervening personal matters so my mind is distrait, to say the least. In short, I can’t be relied upon to authenticate my novel experience but I did set one criterion at the onset of reading, “Was this the most fun M/M romantic fantasy story that I have ever read?”. To which I answer truly, “Yes”.

Any fan of this genre would love the flirty dynamic between the male protagonists. One is nicknamed Apple Boy, summer ripened and ready for the plucking as it were, while the other’s moniker is Winter, whose seasons come with lovers galore. In real life, these two - a farm boy and ducal heir - would never have met and fallen in love, much less soap each in a lavender-scented hot tub, but if any author can bring Apple, Winter and the genre reader together, and send them off on a magical adventure, it would be Isobel Starling.

Starling, already a prolific writer of contemporary M/M romances, plays up her many strengths in this debut fantasy novel, five years in the making. I haven’t read Starling’s other fictional works but I do have the benefit of having chatted with her over the years in GR’s Robin Hobb forum and elsewhere, and have come to recognize her enthusiasm for fantasy sagas, passion for art, artistry in descriptions, cheekiness in humor, and torrid fan-fiction, all of which is evident in Apple Boy but better. Starling re-imagines mainstream fantasy as she would like to read it, so not why write for her own pleasure?

The overarching The Quiet Work series spans across the Empire of Osia, the map of which is meticulously illustrated. Each successive book is an origin story, with book #1 a tale of Winter Aeling and Adam (Apple Boy) Sewell’s entwined destiny that culminated in a twisty cliffhanger, and the other two books (perhaps more?) focusing on connected characters with their explorations of M/F and F/F couplings. Expect Sexy Sex in Apple Boy but the content is often more boyishly charming as befits new lovers, than hardcore graphical. The male leads’ differences in stations, statuses and sexual experiences, along with their role acting of master and servant during their journey from agricultural backwater to cultural epicenter provide the requisite conflicts for attraction.

In having read The Quiet Work, I suppose this means I’m no longer a virgin insofar as M/M romantic fantasy is concerned (rugby and embroidery, though, I will *yawn* never read about...). That it was fun to boot means I must recommend the same for you. On the cover is a gorgeous young man holding out an apple. See that bite on it? That was mine. Your turn to try.


[* The Quiet Work series: Apple Boy #1 (released Feb 2019), Dark Harvest #2 (to be released)]

[Alycia Luster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!!! I shall eagerly await more for this series. I’m hoping for at least one more Adam and Winter book. So cute together!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing!! First thing, I swear every book I listen to narrated by Gary Furlong sounds like it’s narrated by a different person just perfect for that story. I don’t know how he does it, but he’s so talented that he can always make his voice just fit a character absolutely perfectly. Now, as for the actual story, I am completely blown away. This was a wild ride from beginning to end, and I for one was so glad to be on it. Our two hapless MCs know absolutely nothing about magic so we get to learn right there with them; which often times leads to way too wordy explanations or sloppy word building, but here it is done so perfectly you feel like you’re on this adventure too. And the romance is so right, kinda slow burn, definitely steamy, and definitely heartfelt. There’s a very firm HFN (these two aren’t going anywhere without each other), and I will just be over here dying until we get the next story.

[Josy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book: 4.5 stars
Audio: 5 stars

I really, really enjoyed this story and the narration was amazing! Can't wait for the next book!

[Stephanie GooglyEyes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Our MC, Win or Winter, goes on some travels to learn of all the realms. On the way to his last stop, he discovers some illegal things on the ship and is tossed over. Upon reaching land, he ends up alone and relieved of all his belongings, When he's lined up to find work so he can make some money to get home, he happens upon Adam and his father to work in an apple orchard. Then Win finds a lost family heirloom on Adam's fathers finger. Turns out Adam's father has been wielding the magic from the ring over the people working for him, whether he knows the true extent of the magi is unclear, though he does call it his "lucky" ring. Once the farmer is relieved of the stone he all of a sudden becomes tired and perhaps slightly ill. This is when Adam and Win run off to the big city to find Win's uncle and Adam's brother who ran off a year ago.

On the way they witness a highway robbery and accidental magic (which is forbidden). It seems one bad thing after another happens to Winter, like he can't catch a break. I don't want to keep going into detail or I will give the entire story away.

I thought the two MC's were immature and frustrating. Their constant back and forth, hot and cold attitudes gave me whip lash. One minute Adam is smitten, the next he's completely ignoring Win with a perma-glare, only to have him backed up against their shared room door as soon as their out of public eye. That one actually made me kind of mad, what was he playing at? And his excuses are flimsy at best. It was confusing and completely off putting. There was also a lot of !!! and hands on hips (as if they didn't seem immature enough to begin with). I found myself flipping through pages a lot to get to the rest of the conversation instead of the details in between and it felt more of a chore to finish than anything.

Unfortunately this book did not work for me, which sucks because magical fantasy is my go to genre.

[Rachel Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Just wow! If you’re on the mood for a beautifully written fantasy novel with fantastic world building (seriously, she’s got maps and the whole world and landscape completely figured out), great characters, some intrigue and escalating plot, you’ve got to try this book out!

I listened to the audiobook of this and was just blown away by Gary Furlong, his accents and narrative style was just excellent. There was a scene with 10 people in it, and I knew who was talking when. Great job!

And I loved Winter and Adam! From their beginning, the chemistry between these two was great, with Winter introducing Adam to all the wonderful things they can do together and discovering their connection. I loved when it was all revealed at the end!

Can’t wait for more of this world and what will happen next! Although this ends in a good place for Adam and Winter, it’s still an unfinished ending with the next story continuing the overall plot.

Highly, highly recommended for fantasy lovers!

I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

[Hart_D (ajibooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won a copy of this audiobook in a giveaway held by the narrator, Gary Furlong, but his generosity did not influence my review.

This book is difficult to review, because I really liked some elements and really disliked others. Three stars feels right. This was my first time reading this author, but I've listened to many of Gary Furlong's narrations before. His performance here is excellent!

This is a coming-of-age fantasy romance set in a secondary world that feels like pre-industrial Europe. Winter Aeling, a nobleman, is alone and destitute, when he meets a farm boy, Adam. They have an instant connection, and the book is all about their adventures together.

My main problem, which colors the rest of my opinions, is with the writing style. The author avoids the word "said," using other speech tags, some of which felt awkward and possibly incorrect (like "informed," with no object for the verb). When using "said," she almost always adds an adverb. I found this style distracting, and I doubt I could've continued, if I hadn't been listening to the audiobook instead of reading.

The author also frequently misplaces participles and prepositional phrases, and sometimes these mistakes confused me. Overall, I really feel she needs a better copy editor. There's a decent amount of info that feels unnecessary, too. For example, I didn't need a long and detailed physical description of every member of the council. A lot of scenes could've been streamlined.

I feel like this book would've benefited a lot from Adam's point of view. He is not a very well-drawn character and I don't really know why he fell in love with Winter, apart from destiny. I also felt more than once that Winter and the narrative were both neglecting Adam's needs. He feels like an accessory to Winter's story, which makes me uncomfortable.

The actual plot is very good. It isn't really unusual, but I thought it was interesting. This book does end in the middle of the story, but not on a cliffhanger. I thought everything revealed in the last few chapters could've been foreshadowed slightly more. But I'm sure it will be developed more in the next book. I didn't feel unsatisfied with the ending, but the book as a whole is very much part one of a longer story.

The romance is a fated mates with soulbonding kind of deal, in case anyone seeks out or avoids that plot. It isn't really fluffy; they both get irritated with each other sometimes. But there's no major conflict between them in this book.

I didn't like that (NSFW) the bond between Winter and Adam wasn't permanent or real or whatever until they had anal sex. They had already had oral sex, but not while touching the magical stone. But the chapter was called "Consummation," which makes me roll my eyes. This is really just a quirk of m/m, though. I know this, but it still annoys me.

Overall, this book is pretty good, and I will continue reading the series. Maybe some of my problems with it won't be as prominent in the next book. I think it might be a story from the world's past, with different characters.

[Stephan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review via the MMRG Don’t Buy My Love Program.

If you're a fan of fantasy, I highly recommend Apple Boy!

This is quite an adventure, full of magic, political intrigue, and personal growth. I found the start a little slow: the boys meet out on the apple farm during picking week, with the farmer father ominously hovering. Both boys are in a rather desperate situation and need to travel to other family members, but soon become part of major political machinations. In many ways the first 25% of the book, on the farm, feels like a prologue. As soon as the boys leave the farm, the adventure truly explodes, and the world is intricate and fascinating.

The magic here is fascinating. With no source of training, our heroes really bumble their way through; even by the end of the book, the boys only have the basics of the rules. Nothing like learning by trial and error!

I cannot WAIT to read the next book in the series! Who is trustworthy? What really happened in the past? I'm also still curious what happens on the farm after they leave on their journey. So many questions!

[Lulu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this adventure book. Twists and turns and magic!

[K.R. Phoenix · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5 stars
🔥🔥🔥 Heat Level: 3.5
🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 Narration: 5

So good!

This story is a mysterious adventure into a new world of magic, mages, mysteries, and murder. It has a unique historical undertone that makes it that much more enjoyable as you follow Winter and Adam, as they discover the truth of the world they live in and the special connection they share.

The book does end on a cliffhanger that’ll leave you dying for more but the story itself is a thrilling adventure I couldn’t put down!! I loved the attention to detail, here and there and the world Isobel has created is incredible. I love a good mystery and this has that in the bag! I look forward to the next book and can’t wait to see were Isobel will take us next!

I thought the connection between Winter and Adam was wonderful. They are drawn together and while there are situations beyond their control I found their connection very organic and their chemistry electric. I love the historical undertones were some town forbid Winter and Adam’s connection and that adds to the thriller and mystery of their bond and the magic they spark together.

A great creation by Isobel and I highly recommend giving it a listen. Gary does a fantastic job, gives each character a voice and draws you into the mystery and adventure! 5 stars from me!!!

Thanks for reading! For great stories, reviews and more please visit https://bookstattoosandtea.wordpress.com 📚

[Jeydon Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m in love with the fantasy world that Isobel Starling created with Apple Boy and the only reason this is a 4 Star for me instead of 5 is because the book had a teeny bit of a pacing problem. The main issue I had was that the book seemed to come to a very sudden end just as things started to pick up and get interesting in a supernatural witchy way.

Overall though, Apple Boy does a wonderful job at introducing a brand-new unique fantasy world to the reader and preparing us for future books in the series that will, I hope, include a lot more magic.

The Plot:

Winter Aeling, a nineteen year old lost Lordling of Thorn, finds himself stranded in the farm town of Mallowick after being thrown overboard by the Captain of the ship he was traveling to visit his uncle aboard. He needs to find work in order to pay for his passage to the city of Serin where his Uncle Ivon awaits him. Winter is the son of the Duke of Thorn, raised as a gentleman, and having never worked a day in his life. However, he’s left with no choice but to take on hard manual labor in order to make his way back to his family. Having learned his lesson after revealing his true identity and getting beaten for it, Winter takes on the alias of Irwin “Win” Harding when a farmer by the name of Col Sewell offers him work on his apple orchard.

Adam Sewell, the farmer’s youngest son at twenty-five summers, tries his best to protect Win from his father when he comes to work on their farm. Adam is forced to keep his interest in boys hidden because he lives in Erias where unlike in Thorn, it’s not the norm for same sex couples to be openly together. He’s determined to escape his brute of a father and travel to Serein to reunite with his older brother, Evan, who their father ran off years ago. Adam finds out that not only is Win an Apple Boy like him (a term used for boys who likes other boys), but that he’s planning on traveling the road to Serein as well, leading to him practically begging the other boy to let him come along with him.

Thoughts:

Usually I struggle a bit to finish books that are 500+ Pages long but I found that Apple Boy kept me invested enough in the story to keep reading without much pause. While things could slow down a bit at times and the magic of the world took a backseat for the majority of the book, I was still kept intrigued with the characters and watching as they worked through the many issues they faced throughout the first book.

Apple Boy was my first book by this author, and I truly loved Isobel Starling’s writing style. There was something just beautiful about the words she wrote down that became this well-developed world that we get to experience in Apple Boy. Winter’s POV, his inner-dialogue, was just fantastic.

While it took up a small portion of the book, I really enjoyed the time Win and Adam spent with other Mages, especially Lucien. I look forward to continuing where we left off at the end of Apple Boy when this series continues. Here’s hoping we get the second book in The Quiet Work series soon!

[Julia Sarene · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5* rounded up

Apple Boy by Isobel Starling had a tone I enjoyed, despite the main character being quite a bit in love with himself. I liked him, despite him mentioning how good his own bum looks and just being very cocksure about everything.

While I personally always like less romance, the (m/m) one in here was not bad, which is quite a compliment coming from me, though quite graphic in bits.

The story itself just felt a bit too light, and I would definitely have preferred a bit more fleshing out, and more of an actual plot than mostly drifting along.

The magic was intriguing, but again, I would definitely have preferred some more depth,. especially because I found it interesting enough to want to know more! It feels more painted on than a world I could fully stride in and get lost.

I still enjoyed the book overall, and quickly breezed through it.

[PaperMoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a rather uninspiring start - I sped through the rest of this once my interest was caught and i became invested in what would happen to Win and Adam. The world-building and magic-dynamics are actually quite good with the plot pacing brisk and filled with dramatic action. The only issue I have is that the second book of the series seems quite delayed in production so the HFN ending does leave readers a little in the lurch. A solid 4 stars.

[Free_dreamer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Achim · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Karolina Cebula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review in English and Polish || Recenzja po angielsku i polsku

*3.5-4 stars*

Winter Aeling is a young aristocrat who, as a result of a series of traumatic events taking place during his journey through the Empire of Osia, loses all his belongings and his faithful servant. Lonely, penniless and unadjusted to such a life, the young man finds an apple harvesting work on a large farm, belonging to a strength and power loving brute. Winter seems to be an easy target, so he almost immediately gets into trouble, but unexpectedly the attractive farmer's son, Adam, who's nothing like his father, takes his side. An affection between this two young men, banned in this part of the country, is immediately born, and it begins to grow with every moment.

"Apple Boy" is the first volume of the fantasy series "The Quiet Work", and I think we should take a look at this world which we enter and see how Isobel Starling builds it. I must admit that to some extent the author has impressed me, as we immediately sense the passion with which she creates the universe of this series, and she does so with intensity from the very beginning of the novel. We can say that the readers are kind of shown around this world like during a guided tour, and in this case their guide is the main character and narrator, Winter Aeling. It is worth noting that by getting to know the world of "The Quiet Work" we get acquainted not only with the topography of the place where our protagonist currently stays, but also have the opportunity to learn some things about other provinces, that are part of the Empire of Osia, which we can check out on the map attached to this book. Thus, step by step, we learn about the culture of the region, its laws and we are familiarized with the differences between individual provinces. And finally, among all this normality, appears the thing that starts to completely change the image of this series universe – magic. The author really did great and thanks to the way in which she created this world the reader feels encouraged to get to know it better.

As for the characters, especially the main ones, also in this case we see how meticulously Isobel Starling creates them and presents them step by step. She doesn't offer us the entire package of their characteristics at once, but allows us to watch them in action, get to know them through their deeds, learn something new as the story moves forward. I admit that what I really like about "Apple Boy" is that Winter and Adam represent two completely different worlds, which, through their encounter, clash with each other naturally and openly. These two young men don't close off to new experiences, knowledge, learning, but to some extent they influence each other, they learn to be able to evolve and change. What's more, the differences between the environments in which they were raised can be seen both in the language they use and in their behavior. They are not just described, but they seem to take a more realistic shape step by step.

In a few words, I would like to refer to the plot of the novel and its pace. "Apple Boy" is undoubtedly an interesting book and we cannot complain about the action, but I admit that we are getting to everything rather slowly. For while we don't lack the intriguing, absorbing events, the pace in which everything takes place is rather sluggish, unhurried. On the one hand it sometimes makes the readers get impatient, as they want to skip some parts of the text a little and move further, like a child who can't focus their attention on one activity for too long. On the other hand such and not the other pace allows a very descriptive world building and a closer understanding of Winter. And so it's hard to classify all of this as a disadvantage or advantage.

I mentioned the slow pace of the action and now I would like to write something about the reason behind it. Of course the one who's guilty of it is our narrator, Winter. Oh, how much this boy thinks before he does anything! Believe me, Winter thinks, meditates, contemplates, observes, analyzes. In short, he thinks, thinks and thinks. In fact, it shouldn't surprise us, as it all fits this character perfectly. In the end Winter is an educated young man from the upper classes, who until recently didn't know the world at all and who probably thought to be its center, or at least the center of his province. He wasn't taught to take action, but to think, and he really does it great. There is no doubt, therefore, that all the readers have to check for themselves how much they like this way of narrative and story building, and how much they don't.

In summary, "Apple Boy" is an interesting novel set in a meticulously constructed universe, the action of which develops rather slowly, although it can sometimes surprise us. People who like fantasy and fairy tale stories should definitely read this book, if only to have their own opinion about it. If you ask me, I find this novel interesting and I will gladly come back to this world again.

________________________

*3.5 - 4 gwiazdki*

Winter Aeling jest młodym arystokratą, który w wyniku serii traumatycznych wydarzeń mających miejsce podczas jego podróży po Imperium Osii traci cały swój dobytek oraz wiernego służącego. Osamotniony, bez grosza i nieprzystosowany do takiego życia chłopak znajduje zatrudnienie przy zbiorze jabłek na sporej farmie, należącej do lubującego się w poczuciu siły i władzy brutala. Wydający się łatwym celem Winter niemal od razu pakuje się w kłopoty, jednak nieoczekiwanie po jego stronie staje atrakcyjny syn farmera, Adam, który w niczym nie przypomina ojca. Między dwójką młodych ludzi od razu zaczyna rodzić się zakazane w tej części kraju uczucie, które rośnie z każdą chwilą.

„Apple Boy” to pierwszy tom serii fantasy „The Quiet Work”, warto więc na początek rzucić okiem na świat, w który wkraczamy oraz na to, w jaki sposób Isobel Starling go buduje. Muszę przyznać, że autorka w pewnym stopniu mi zaimponowała, jako że od razu wyczuwamy pasję, z jaką tworzy uniwersum tej serii, a robi to z rozmachem już od pierwszych stron powieści. Można powiedzieć, że czytelnik niejako jest po nim oprowadzany, niczym na wycieczce z przewodnikiem, którym w tym wypadku jest główny bohater i narrator, Winter Aeling. Warto zauważyć, że poznając świat „The Quiet Work” zaznajamiamy się z nie tylko z topografią miejsca, w którym aktualnie znajduje się nasz bohater, ale także mamy okazję dowiedzieć się czegoś o innych prowincjach, składającym się na Imperium Osii, któremu możemy przyjrzeć się dzięki załączonej mapie. Tym samym krok po kroku poznajemy kulturę danego rejonu, jego prawa oraz zostajemy zaznajomieni z różnicami między poszczególnymi prowincjami. I w końcu, wśród całej tej normalności pojawia się to, co zaczyna całkowicie zmieniać obraz uniwersum tej serii – magia. Autorka naprawdę przyłożyła się do budowy tego świata, dzięki czemu czytelnik czuje się zachęcony by poznać go lepiej.

Jeśli chodzi o bohaterów, a w szczególności tych głównych, także i w tym wypadku widzimy, z jaką skrupulatnością Isobel Starling ich tworzy i przedstawia nam krok po kroku. Nie oferuje nam od razu całego pakietu ich charakterystyki, ale pozwala abyśmy obserwowali ich w akcji, poznawali poprzez ich czyny, dowiadywali się czegoś nowego w miarę jak historia posuwa się do przodu. Przyznaję, że tym, co bardzo mi się spodobało w „Apple Boy” jest fakt, że Winter i Adam reprezentują dwa zupełnie różne światy, które poprzez ich spotkanie ścierają się ze sobą w sposób naturalny i otwarty. Ci dwaj młodzi mężczyźni nie zamykają się na nowe doświadczenia, wiedzę, naukę, ale w pewnym stopniu wpływają na siebie nawzajem, uczą się, aby móc się rozwijać, zmieniać. Co więcej, różnice między środowiskami w jakim się wychowali widzimy zarówno w języku, jakim się posługują, jak i w ich zachowaniu. Nie są więc tylko opisywani, ale wydają się krok po kroku nabierać bardziej realnych kształtów.

W kilku słowach chciałabym odnieść się także do fabuły powieści oraz jej tempa. „Apple Boy” bez wątpienia jest książką ciekawą i na akcję narzekać nie możemy, jednak przyznaję, że do wszystkiego dochodzimy raczej powoli. O ile bowiem nie brakuje tu intrygujących, wciągających czytelnika wydarzeń, o tyle tempo, w jakim wszystko się rozgrywa jest raczej leniwe, niespieszne. Z jednej strony sprawia to, że czytelnik chwilami zaczyna się niecierpliwić, ma ochotę przeskoczyć trochę dalej, niczym dziecko, które nie potrafi skupić uwagi zbyt długo na jednej czynności. Z drugiej jednak strony takie a nie inne tempo pozwala na bardzo opisowe budowanie świata oraz bliższe poznanie Wintera. Ciężko więc zaklasyfikować ten fakt jako wadę lub zaletę.

Wspomniałam o wolnym tempie akcji i teraz chciałabym napisać coś o przyczynie takiego stanu rzeczy. Winnym tego jest naturalnie nasz narrator, a więc Winter. Ileż ten chłopak się omyśli zanim coś zrobi! Wierzcie mi, Winter myśli, rozmyśla, kontempluje, obserwuje, analizuje. Krótko mówiąc myśli, myśli i myśli. Prawdę mówiąc, nie powinno nas to dziwić, jako że wszystko to idealnie pasuje do tej postaci. Winter jest w końcu wykształconym młodym mężczyzną z wyższych sfer, który jeszcze do niedawna zupełnie nie znał świata i któremu zapewne wydawało się, że jest jego pępkiem, a przynajmniej pępkiem swojej prowincji. Nie był nauczony działania, ale myślenia i naprawdę idzie mu to świetnie. Nie ulega więc wątpliwości, że każdy czytelnik sam musi ocenić na ile ten sposób narracji i budowania tej historii mu się podoba, a na ile nie.

Podsumowując, „Apple Boy” to interesująca powieść osadzona w skrupulatnie budowanym uniwersum, której akcja rozwija się raczej powoli, chociaż potrafi nas czasami zaskoczyć. Osoby lubiące fantastykę oraz lekko baśniowe historie na pewno powinny przeczytać tę książkę, chociażby po to by samemu wyrobić sobie zdanie na jej temat. Mnie zainteresowała i z chęcią powrócę do tego świata ponownie.

[Jenn (not Lily) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars -- one star taken off for the incorrect use of apostrophes through the entire book -- use it for possessives and contractions, not for plurals! Or should I say possessive's, contraction's, and plural's? (Its just a tad bit annoying...)

Good story, and very interesting world building. Pretty consistent overall and good differentiation between the different areas of the world in accent and attitude. I'll be looking for the next book to see what happens with Winter and Adam. BTW, Winter and Summer cannot be identical twins. Nope. I don't care if it's a fantasy world, that's not how twins work. Unless you want to just completely suspend any and all science.

[UnusualChild{beppy}]

DNF @ 56%.

I did a DNF @16%, then decided that since a lot of people enjoyed this, I should give it another shot. Yeah. No. Simplistic writing, childish characters, repetition. I didn't even care enough to go to the end and see what happened.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed for Rainbow Gold Reviews. A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

I feel like I have to explain something about myself before I start this review. First and foremost, I am a romance reader. I have always gravitated to books where there is at least romance going on. In this book, that isn’t a problem, because it is a romance, too. I also do better at contemporary even though I used to read a lot of historical romances. I actually learned a lot from them. There is a historical element to this book, in that there isn’t any technology. There’s magic and mages, and people travel in carriages and carry swords. This book also doesn’t take place in our world, and that is something that usually worries me. Having to try to understand things that don’t exist as I know them is daunting. Sometimes it isn’t too difficult, but other times, I don’t feel like putting in the effort to figure it all out. So why did I write a whole paragraph that isn’t really about the book? Because I loved this book and found it so easy to get into and I think the author did a great job making the story relatable.

This is a pretty long book, at 556 pages and there is a lot going on. I was a little intimidated taking this book on, but by the time I finished the first chapter, I was hooked. The blurb really only describes about the first-third of the book. We meet Winter after whatever fate left him disheveled and needing to do manual labor to survive. He is royalty from another part of the country but in the outer parts of the nation they live in, they don’t even believe that his city/province exists. He meets Adam when he goes to work for his father, and he also sees that Adam’s father is wearing a ring set with a stone from Winter’s family. Adam is a good guy, and his father is power hungry. I think without consciously knowing it, his father used the power of the ring to exert his will and it corrupted him. Still when the opportunity arose, Adam escaped with Winter who managed to collect the stone.

From there, Winter and Adam set off on a journey to Serein, the city where Winter’s uncle lives and Adam’s brother intended to travel to. Along the way, they grow closer and feelings develop. They also discover that when they connect physically and also have contact with the stone that the world changes, and that they are able to access the magic that resides in the stone. But magic is illegal and so is homosexuality in the province they are going to. Not to mention Winter’s news about a possible war on the horizon. Their trip seems doomed, but somehow by staying and working together, it looks like they might be able to survive and find the ones they seek.

Once the two reach Serein, there is another aspect of the story. The kings of Osia had once stolen from Serein and for some reason the people in Serein are not aware of it because of a mage’s spell. The arrival of Winter and Adam brings bad news to the council and they don’t know what to do. When Winter and Adam perform magic in the city’s boundaries, it becomes even crazier, and the veil ends up lifted from the people’s eyes. Things are in quite an upset when Winter is approached by a mage and discovers there is a lot more he doesn’t know about the world he lives in, or about himself and Adam.

I don’t want to say that this story ends in a cliffhanger, because it’s not really some precipice that you feel like you are hanging off of, but there is a sense of unfinished business. There are quite a few questions that I have, and I expect they will be answered in the following book or books in the series. It is just the beginning and I believe there will be a larger plot line that arcs over the series, and I am definitely in need of the next book. It does appear that it will be about a different couple and part of me is sad, because I truly liked Winter and Adam a whole lot, but I also am curious about what the other main characters have to say and I want to see how they move along this plot of the kings and the court in Serein. I love the magic and the political intrigue. Definitely recommend it.

10/10 Points of Gold (100% Recommended) – Compares to 5/5 Stars

[Gabbi Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastical adventure with a love story (an audio review)

I have always expressed great admiration for authors who write about worlds other than the one we currently inhabit. The level of creativity involves is, at times, staggering. World building, when done well, can be mind-blowing. What I love about Isobel Starling’s world in ‘Apple Boy’ is that there are so many elements of the known world and yet the fantasy aspects are so natural that they make the whole book feel like it is entirely plausible.

This books takes place in the past – a time when there were carriages, valets, and great stone castles. Not that those things don’t exist today, but they were, at one time, part of the landscape. A simpler time, if you will. But the social structure isn’t much different than it is today – the royals, the aristocracy, the gentry and the poor. In this world, one cannot simply rise about one’s station. Much as today, I would say.

Winter Aeling is a man who hasn’t had a lot of luck lately. He is about to hit his twenty-first birthday and instead of a party in the court, he requested an opportunity to visit all the principalities in the land. Endlessly curious, he wanted to see all the parts of the country that he’s heard about but never seen. His journey to various parts of the land should have been straightforward but an unfortunate series events left him destitute and at the mercy of a nasty farmer. Things only take a turn for the better when Winter is able to reclaim part of his birthright. He steals away in the night with the precious jewel and the farmer’s son.

Adam is an Apple Boy, both because of his lineage as a farmer’s son and because his perceived difference from the other people around the farm and in the village. He’s always known he was different but only when he steals away with Winter does he see the chance to live the life he’s always dreamed. Their journey to the city where Winter will be able to reclaim his life is challenging and there are more than a few adventures along the way. Winter, although very entitled, can adapt and is willing to share his knowledge with Adam. He trusts Adam, even taking the man under his wing, so to speak. Even though Adam is the older of the two, Winter is far more experienced in the way of the world and they ways between two men.

There is a lot of royal and political intrigue in this story and I might not have been able to follow every little detail, but that didn’t matter because the story pulled me through. I was fascinated by how characters interacted and how devious they could be. I worried when Winter was back among his kind he might revert to a haughtier version of himself, but Adam helped keep him grounded. There were also some interesting subplots and I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

I must give a shout-out to Gary Furlong. I recently listened to him narrate a book set in New York City and I believed he was American. Listening to this story, I’d swear he was British. Not only was his accent spot-on, but he was seamlessly able to go between the upper-class aristocracy and the lower class labourers. His narration carried me through the story and help me firmly captive. This is a longer book but between Gary’s narration and Ms. Starling’s world building, the time flew by. As I said, I can’t wait for the next book in the series. Finally, although the book ends on a cliffhanger, I was very satisfied that I got my HEA, HFN, or whatever you want to call it. Winter and Adam are together. The rest is just what will keep me glued to my seat and impatiently awaiting the next instalment.