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The Chronicles of Dorsa #1
Princess of Dorsa
The fate of an empire lies in the hands of one untested princess.
Princess Natasia is the eldest child of the Emperor Andreth, ruler of the Four Realms. If she were a boy, she’d be the unquestioned heir to the throne. But as a girl, her main duty in life is to marry someone her father can shape into his successor.
Everything changes when an unknown would-be assassin nearly takes Tasia’s life. Someone wants to destabilize the Empire — but who? Was the assassin aligned with the power-hungry Western lords, who have always rebelled against the Emperor? Was he hired by the barbarians in the East, who are fighting against the Empire’s subjugation? Or was he a member of the mysterious Cult of Culo?
Unsure of whom he can trust, the Emperor realizes that his daughter might be his best option for an heir. There hasn't been a female heir to the throne in living memory, but as palace intrigue becomes increasingly dangerous, the reckless, rebellious, and stubborn princess suddenly has to face the responsibility of learning to lead.
Will she rise to the occasion? Or will the Empire fall at the hands of one of its many enemies?
For fans of epic fantasy… with an LGBTQ twist.
591 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2018
522 people are currently reading
6296 people want to read
About the author
Eliza Andrews
14 books379 followersWhen I started thinking of a new pen name to write fiction featuring lesbian protagonists, I commandeered the name of an ancestor. Eliza Frances Andrews was an interesting woman, one I have mixed feelings about. A southern belle who lived through the civil war as the privileged daughter of a prominent plantation owner, she refused to marry "below her station" after the war and therefore set about creating her own career -- highly unusual for a woman of her day and age. Eventually she became a teacher, novelist, and world-renowned botanist. And interestingly, a socialist.
But she was quite racist and I can only imagine what she would have to say about LGBTQ people. It is therefore somewhat tongue-in-cheek to borrow her name; it is my reimagining of Eliza if she'd grown up in the 21st century rather than the 19th, after women's lib and the Civil Rights movement and Stonewall. Perhaps a 21st-century Eliza would grin at me and say, "Right on." Perhaps the 19th-century Eliza is rolling over in her grave -- if she is, call it karmic justice.
Reach out anytime: eliza@ninja-writer.com.
PS, I also write young adult science fiction / fantasy under the name R. A. Marshall (another borrowed name). LGBTQ readers might enjoy the Lost Children trilogy.
But she was quite racist and I can only imagine what she would have to say about LGBTQ people. It is therefore somewhat tongue-in-cheek to borrow her name; it is my reimagining of Eliza if she'd grown up in the 21st century rather than the 19th, after women's lib and the Civil Rights movement and Stonewall. Perhaps a 21st-century Eliza would grin at me and say, "Right on." Perhaps the 19th-century Eliza is rolling over in her grave -- if she is, call it karmic justice.
Reach out anytime: eliza@ninja-writer.com.
PS, I also write young adult science fiction / fantasy under the name R. A. Marshall (another borrowed name). LGBTQ readers might enjoy the Lost Children trilogy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 355 reviews
November 13, 2018
Elements of this book are really good but I also found the read to be uneven in parts which had me frustrated at certain times.
Eliza Andrews set out to write an epic fantasy that happened to have queer protagonists and she's done that here. This was just the first book of the intended three part series and it felt epic unto itself.
A LOT happens in the book and I think the pacing suffers some. But, the good parts are worth sticking around for. The story has intrigue, drama, action, adventure, and romance.
For lesfic readers, do know that sexuality is somewhat fluid in this world. I couldn't tell if Princess Natasia was lesbian who happened to have sex with men because of reasons or if she was truly bisexual. It could be either, I guess, but her heart she only has given or gives to women and the romance centers around an f/f relationship. All sex scenes depicted on page are also f/f.
The genre of fantasy is fed first by having the story centered around a monarchy and all that it entails. However, it's a world that mainly echoes our own and is based in reality: patriarchy, slavery, homophobia, discrimination, classism, racism, sexual assault, and so on. The actual fantasy portion with magical beings and strange happenings doesn't come into play until much later in the read.
The story carries a lot of angst and there's plenty of action but I didn't find the book particularly dark or grisly. We're reading a soap opera more than anything and the author alludes to a strategy game that is basically playing out in real time in the Princess' real life.
Where the story excels is in the character of Princess Natasia. She has a pretty large character arc AND we're in her POV for the entire book so it's important that we like her. And I did.
As far as the romance aspect, my enjoyment wavered and I think each reader's mileage may vary. We see the end of Princess Natasia's first love and the development of her new love with guard, Joslyn. Considering the circumstances, I actually found the romance between Natasia and Joslyn to develop in a believable way and it is slow burn. There is a certain amount of satisfying emotional intimacy. That said, by the time they DO get together as a couple, it's been SO long that their romance lost its spark and intensity to me because of lot of different plot elements come into play at the same time that are a distraction. And then...well, you'll have to read.
I also saw some of the villains a mile away in the plot and it was bugging me to no end. I don't know if this will be true for all readers but I just wanted the truth to come out already...and I had to wait nearly the whole book for that to happen. Ugh. BUT, the author did manage to throw in some things I wasn't expecting and for that I thank her.
And one other thing that bothered me. What ethnicity is Joslyn supposed to emulate? Disregard the depiction of her on the cover. It's not accurate. Joslyn has darker skin, black hair, and black eyes. For most of the read I ended up giving her an Asian ethnicity but then I think she could be black, Indian, or Middle Eastern...who knows. I'm happy for the diversity but it was bothering me that I couldn't lock down her appearance to hold in my head.
The book does end on some cliffhangers but it doesn't stop mid story, either. It felt like a natural place to stop as the story already was very long.
Ultimately, my final conclusion was that I'd be happy to continue with the series and I'm interested to see where it takes us. I think fans of fantasy will most likely enjoy the read. The book is currently available on Kindle Unlimited and it's one to read.
Eliza Andrews set out to write an epic fantasy that happened to have queer protagonists and she's done that here. This was just the first book of the intended three part series and it felt epic unto itself.
A LOT happens in the book and I think the pacing suffers some. But, the good parts are worth sticking around for. The story has intrigue, drama, action, adventure, and romance.
For lesfic readers, do know that sexuality is somewhat fluid in this world. I couldn't tell if Princess Natasia was lesbian who happened to have sex with men because of reasons or if she was truly bisexual. It could be either, I guess, but her heart she only has given or gives to women and the romance centers around an f/f relationship. All sex scenes depicted on page are also f/f.
The genre of fantasy is fed first by having the story centered around a monarchy and all that it entails. However, it's a world that mainly echoes our own and is based in reality: patriarchy, slavery, homophobia, discrimination, classism, racism, sexual assault, and so on. The actual fantasy portion with magical beings and strange happenings doesn't come into play until much later in the read.
The story carries a lot of angst and there's plenty of action but I didn't find the book particularly dark or grisly. We're reading a soap opera more than anything and the author alludes to a strategy game that is basically playing out in real time in the Princess' real life.
Where the story excels is in the character of Princess Natasia. She has a pretty large character arc AND we're in her POV for the entire book so it's important that we like her. And I did.
As far as the romance aspect, my enjoyment wavered and I think each reader's mileage may vary. We see the end of Princess Natasia's first love and the development of her new love with guard, Joslyn. Considering the circumstances, I actually found the romance between Natasia and Joslyn to develop in a believable way and it is slow burn. There is a certain amount of satisfying emotional intimacy. That said, by the time they DO get together as a couple, it's been SO long that their romance lost its spark and intensity to me because of lot of different plot elements come into play at the same time that are a distraction. And then...well, you'll have to read.
I also saw some of the villains a mile away in the plot and it was bugging me to no end. I don't know if this will be true for all readers but I just wanted the truth to come out already...and I had to wait nearly the whole book for that to happen. Ugh. BUT, the author did manage to throw in some things I wasn't expecting and for that I thank her.
And one other thing that bothered me. What ethnicity is Joslyn supposed to emulate? Disregard the depiction of her on the cover. It's not accurate. Joslyn has darker skin, black hair, and black eyes. For most of the read I ended up giving her an Asian ethnicity but then I think she could be black, Indian, or Middle Eastern...who knows. I'm happy for the diversity but it was bothering me that I couldn't lock down her appearance to hold in my head.
The book does end on some cliffhangers but it doesn't stop mid story, either. It felt like a natural place to stop as the story already was very long.
Ultimately, my final conclusion was that I'd be happy to continue with the series and I'm interested to see where it takes us. I think fans of fantasy will most likely enjoy the read. The book is currently available on Kindle Unlimited and it's one to read.
October 26, 2018
Princess of Dorsa has been a very pleasant surprise.
Bought it on Amazon at a very low, promotional price (less than 1$), I felt like I just found a little shining, authentic gem on the side of the road, for all to just pick up.
It is one of those epic fantasy books I used to read when I was young, written by the masters of this genre, full of adventures, mysteries, conspiracy plots, wars and a stream of very dark, subterranean magic, gradually revealed.
It is extremely well written. One of those books that makes you lose important hours of sleep because you need to know what happens next. All the characters, heroes (or better… heroines!) and villains are three-dimensional, intriguing, charming or unbearable, according to their nature, but never trivial. Many of them were surprising: I just didn’t expect how they unfolded.
And the two leading women, the Princess and the Sword Master, are simply breathtaking.
Readers follow the POV of the Princess, a bisexual young lady with a strong propensity for women, a spoiled aristocratic girl who grows up to become a truly noble young woman. And the Sword Master, lowborn, ex slave, with a dark, hidden past, extraordinary warrior and wise by many life experiences, is the other heroine, the woman of mystery, the heart under the many armors, both physical and psychological.
Oh yes, it’s lesbian fiction. But it is not the same old love story with just a fantasy frame to color the romance with a bit of magic powder. On the contrary it is pure Fantasy, of the highest quality. At last!
I recommend it to all lovers of the Fantasy genre, regardless of their own gender and sexual orientation.
Then, if it happens for them to be queer women, they will find representation too. But again, this book is for all the lovers of good Fantasy.
6 stars
Bought it on Amazon at a very low, promotional price (less than 1$), I felt like I just found a little shining, authentic gem on the side of the road, for all to just pick up.
It is one of those epic fantasy books I used to read when I was young, written by the masters of this genre, full of adventures, mysteries, conspiracy plots, wars and a stream of very dark, subterranean magic, gradually revealed.
It is extremely well written. One of those books that makes you lose important hours of sleep because you need to know what happens next. All the characters, heroes (or better… heroines!) and villains are three-dimensional, intriguing, charming or unbearable, according to their nature, but never trivial. Many of them were surprising: I just didn’t expect how they unfolded.
And the two leading women, the Princess and the Sword Master, are simply breathtaking.
Readers follow the POV of the Princess, a bisexual young lady with a strong propensity for women, a spoiled aristocratic girl who grows up to become a truly noble young woman. And the Sword Master, lowborn, ex slave, with a dark, hidden past, extraordinary warrior and wise by many life experiences, is the other heroine, the woman of mystery, the heart under the many armors, both physical and psychological.
Oh yes, it’s lesbian fiction. But it is not the same old love story with just a fantasy frame to color the romance with a bit of magic powder. On the contrary it is pure Fantasy, of the highest quality. At last!
I recommend it to all lovers of the Fantasy genre, regardless of their own gender and sexual orientation.
Then, if it happens for them to be queer women, they will find representation too. But again, this book is for all the lovers of good Fantasy.
6 stars
April 13, 2019
I actually passed this book by a few times while scrolling through KU merely because I thought the cover was cheesy. Princess of Dorsa has been sitting on my iPad for a while now…simply because it has ‘Princess’ in the title and I’m not a fan of the cover art. We hear it time and time again: Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.
This has been compared to the f/f version of GoT and I will admit, I have never watched GoT, so I really have no idea what that means, so I can’t relate the two. (Sorry, not a TV person.) Still, apparently if you love the show you’ll love this…because, on top of being very well written, there are a lot more lady-loving-ladies here.
What I can say is that this was a highly enjoyable, well written fantasy that left me turning the pages well after I should have been fast asleep. No, I could not wait to find out what happened until morning; I needed to know now. Since this is only book 1 and the next is not due out for a bit (unfortunately), I cannot spend another caffeine induced night poring over this tale. This is probably a good thing for my overall well-being, but not for my curious mind.
I’m not getting deep into synopsis here…because who needs that? Princess is spoiled, princess learns many lessons, princess is a wild child who sleeps with whoever, whenever and loves to circumvent the rules of her title...until shit gets real. Once it does, a lot of growth follows, along with a love story. A very gay, and very lovely, love story. I'm only conflicted about the ending of book 1. I am waiting with bated breath for book 2.
If you like fantasy, intriguing plot, and detail so well written you become immersed in the storyline as if you were a part of it, I definitely recommend this book. It is one of my top favorites for 2019 so far. I had almost given up on KU, but Andrews just sucked me back in. Well done.
This has been compared to the f/f version of GoT and I will admit, I have never watched GoT, so I really have no idea what that means, so I can’t relate the two. (Sorry, not a TV person.) Still, apparently if you love the show you’ll love this…because, on top of being very well written, there are a lot more lady-loving-ladies here.
What I can say is that this was a highly enjoyable, well written fantasy that left me turning the pages well after I should have been fast asleep. No, I could not wait to find out what happened until morning; I needed to know now. Since this is only book 1 and the next is not due out for a bit (unfortunately), I cannot spend another caffeine induced night poring over this tale. This is probably a good thing for my overall well-being, but not for my curious mind.
I’m not getting deep into synopsis here…because who needs that? Princess is spoiled, princess learns many lessons, princess is a wild child who sleeps with whoever, whenever and loves to circumvent the rules of her title...until shit gets real. Once it does, a lot of growth follows, along with a love story. A very gay, and very lovely, love story. I'm only conflicted about the ending of book 1. I am waiting with bated breath for book 2.
If you like fantasy, intriguing plot, and detail so well written you become immersed in the storyline as if you were a part of it, I definitely recommend this book. It is one of my top favorites for 2019 so far. I had almost given up on KU, but Andrews just sucked me back in. Well done.
October 19, 2018
At last! We have our very own lesbian–Game of Thrones in lesfic!! YES! Eliza Andrews‘ recently released “Princess of Dorsa,” Book 1 of the Chronicles of Dorsa, delivered just as Andrews promised when she announced that she’d be giving us lesfic readers our very own Game of Thrones (GoT)!! I was fortunate to be given the opportunity to beta-read an advance copy (Ta, Eliza!) and re-read the final version when it was out on Amazon….will be re-reading this, tbh! Anyway, Andrews, with her usual knack for weaving compelling stories with her brilliant writing style, gives Mr. Martin a run for his money. I was reeling after devouring it literally in one bated breath. I wanted MORE!!!
There was so much going on in this Book 1, I was beside meself with utter amazement and awe because I couldn’t believe I was actually reading about this whole universe that Andrews so richly created, inspired by GoT‘s, complete with the fabulous Empire consisting of the Four Realms (with the West being the largest most populated, and the East being the desert, strange and exotic, rich with myths and superstitions that the West and other Realms steered clear of), conquered by an Emperor from a Noble House, with Wise Men (like the Maesters in GoT) as the Empire’s influential advisers besides the military commanders. The Empire, as in GoT, obviously was always under threats of rebellion or attacks either from within the walls of the Realms or beyond its territories. So, Andrews’ Empire was ruled by the noble house, House of Dorsa. Princess Natasia aka Tasia was the daughter of its king, Emperor Andreth, future Empress-in-waiting. The Wise Men from the House of Wisdom, just like the Maesters from the Citadel in GoT, were an order of scholars, healers, messengers and scientists. I was utterly enthralled by Andrews’ vivid descriptions of the surroundings, the designs, the colours, the outfits of the different characters. They were visually stunning in me mind!
I was immediately intrigued by Tasia the moment she appeared on the first page of the book. Although Andrews portrayed her as the typical young and spoiled royal princess, future heiress, Empress of the Throne, who cared for nothing but herself, Tasia was also head strong, fiercely independent, smart and intelligent, with a streak of wild, cunning, mischievous and reckless behavioural traits, if only to escape the inevitability of her being married off to a worthy nobleman who’d take over her father’s position as the Emperor (as we know, even in historical fiction, men still held all the power whilst women were men’s properties), and her hatred for being imprisoned behind the royal walls because of the responsibilities that were expected of her instead of being allowed to be free to do whatever she desired. So obviously, she tried her utmost to rebel against her father and all the sodded rules. But the best thing I loved about the saga’s main protagonist, Tasia, thanks to Andrews, was that she was a LESBIAN (bloody yeh!)…even though being gay was not allowed and she had to hide it (take in male lovers, for e.g.) and be vigilant about her sexual trysts with women. But a near-success assassination attempt on her life put her constant recklessness and rule-breaking days to a screeching halt! And yes, that was when the story began.
But me favourite moment came when Josyln of Terinto, the best swordswoman in the Imperial Army, made her first appearance! She was charged as Tasia’s bodyguard, much to Tasia’s dismay because she saw Joslyn as an obstacle to her freedom to engage in rule-breaking activities. Joslyn was also expected to teach Tasia, the future ruler of the Empire, self-defence, which angered Tasia even more! Oh…I absolutely LOVED Josyln who was also a…LESBIAN!! YES! I had no words to describe just how excited I felt, really (imagining GoT but with lesbians kept playing in me mind because I was still coming to terms with the fact that me wish actually came true, thanks to Andrews!)! A strong, exotic woman hailed from the desert wasteland called Terinto in the mysterious East, with a quiet nature, intimidatingly observant, with utterly intelligent and deeply soulful eyes that held many secrets, and took her role as Tasia’s bodyguard very seriously. Andrews skilfully depicted Tasia and Josyln’s first encounter with richly described expressions of Tasia’s utter dislike for her designated “shadow” against Josyln’s seemingly unconcerned, apathetic and indifferent behavioural response, which irked Tasia even more! But their chemistry was effing palpable, bouncing off the pages like balls of smouldering flames! I was immediately enthralled. Andrews spared no effort in developing their initially fractured protector-protectee, teacher-student relationship, with grounded authenticity and wit. Oh, just wait until you read about how Josyln tried very hard to train Tasia in the art of self-defence, from the ground up! All the “harsh work” that Tasia felt was thrust upon her spoiled, taking-liberties-for-granted, utterly sheltered life, with Josyln not taking any shite from her was HILARIOUS! The progression of their relationship from enemies to friends was utterly captivating because everything was happening in the midst of all the political, power play with Tasia, her father, and his advisers, the apparently neverending war in the West, threats from the East, not to mention rumours that the banned religious sect, The Cult of Culo (something like GoT’s Lord of Light), was gaining strength and power, supernatural or otherwise! As if that wasn’t enough, Tasia was also plagued by the wretched “marriage of strategic alliance” which was expected of her. Although, ruling the Empire herself without a man beside her, wasn’t beyond the realm of possibility!
As Tasia spent more time with Josyln, observing her behaviour, her perception about her bodyguard changed little by little, from the preconceived ideas she had based on negative stereotypes instilled upon her and the rest of the so-called “civilised” West regarding people from the deserts in the East who were perceived as tribal barbarians, uncultured, uncivilised, laced with mad beliefs about the supernatural, myths and dark magic, to being enlightened by her exposure to the person and character that Joslyn was. I love how Andrews always writes about class, race, social politics in her stories, how they affect human behaviour, interactions and relationships between people from different political, social and economic status. No exception in the story about Joslyn and Tasia’s journey, as Andrews masterfully weaved the threads of their differences, slowly untangling and bonding them through all the adventures, encounters, communication that these two shared along the way.
The best thing about Andrews’ storytelling of this epic fantasy was how she merged the action-filled, thrilling adventures with the relationship between Tasia and Joslyn ever so seamlessly. This story is not focussed on romance alone, not by a long shot, but much more on the friendship these two struck with deeply felt emotions as it developed in progressive stages and the camaraderie that Tasia formed with a few of the vital characters as the story progressed into her inevitable political position of power. Joslyn became not only her protector but her close, protective friend and trusted adviser. I was gratified by the fact that Andrews spent the time to develop their relationship before it gradually turned into something more intimate. It was glorious to uncover their growing affection for each other because the pacing was utterly organic and perfectly timed in conjunction with the wretched journey they had to tread on as the political turmoil within the Realms became more dangerous and threatening to the future of the House Dorsa. In other words, the slow-burn type crafted between Tasia and Joslyn was ideally perfect! It was intoxicating to read their slow but utterly affective development.
Just like GoT, amidst all the political manoeuvring amongst the cast of characters plotting against each other in order to gain power for control of the Empire, there were some absolutely mindfucking twists and turns! The dangerous game of chess reached its peak when Tasia, Joslyn and her guards were confronted by faceless enemies and strange mythical creatures just when they thought they were in safe waters. Andrews’ brilliant depiction of the non-stop, violent, gruesome action sequences was nothing short of EPIC! I was literally gasping for breath by the time the big explosive scene came crashing, involving Joslyn’s mad, heroic stance and Tasia’s courageous move as a desperate measure, as they encountered the entity! Phew! This insidious, dark, supernatural entity that Andrews crafted into this series was phenomenal. I was entranced. I know it will play a vital role as the saga continues in future installments of this epic fantasy series! Nevermind that there weren’t any dragons because this malevolent entity (god knows how long its rein stretches as I’m sure subsequent installments of the Series will reveal!) consumed me sense of intrigue and curiosity completely! It was simply magnificent how Andrews wrote it so vividly I could visually see the entire scene unfold before me mind’s eye! Truly monumental!
As Tasia and Joslyn journeyed deeper into the pit of political turmoil, not surprisingly, nothing was what it seemed. Let’s just say that shit hit the fan as the power play became more deadly than Tasia and Joslyn would have wanted. Needless to say, the final action sequence was a pulse-racing, bile-inducing, heart-pounding event! What a 3rd and final act, indeed! Bravo, Andrews! As we know how the political game is played, unexpected cast of characters emerged showing their true colours as Tasia and Co. fought to survive. And so was Joslyn who was mercilessly separated from Tasia! Ohhh…just wait until you read how Tasia was handling the dilemma, the deeply held emotions and the depth of her feelings for her loyal and trusted friend and confidant, adviser, protector who came to hold the most important place in her heart! Andrews’ superbly written depiction of Tasia’s inner psyche, her emotional state about Josyln, especially upon uncovering just how Josyln felt about her which was left unspoken, was heartrendingly affective. On the other hand, Joslyn’s fierce and steadfast love, loyalty and protectiveness of Tasia reverberated powerfully as Andrews’ poetically resonating words and expressions seeped through the recesses of me mind ever so effectively. Phew!
Oh, when you read this book and come to the turning point at the end of the final act, you’ll grasp at all signs of hope and will for Joslyn and Tasia to triumph! How they were gonna go about it, I was left reeling because Andrews has this knack for throwing breadcrumbs that would leave you wanting more, yearning for more! Needless to say, the cliffhanger left me clutching the edge of me seat, screaming, demanding for the next installment to be available so I could learn Joslyn’s plan to reunite with Tasia, who’s become one of me favourite fictional characters! What’s more, Joslyn’s character throughout this installment remained hugely a mystery. She was an enigma, really. And because Andrews portrayed her with such deep-seated resonance, I was desperate to know more about her, to discover what her back story was, what made her who she was! Alas, Andrews only revealed bits of her heartbreaking history, which already had me wanting to just shield this brave tortured soul from further misfortune, misery and sorrow, who deserves nothing but happiness and joy in her life from here on out! I want to see Tasia love and protect her at all costs throughout the Series! Ohhhhh….!!!!
Anyway, the saga continues in the next installment, roughly entitled, “Soldier of Dorsa,” which hopefully will be available mid-2019!! Andrews promised the 2nd installment will reveal a whole lot more about Joslyn!! Bloody hell YES! Gaaaaahhh!!! The wait is KILLING me!!! And yes, besides that, I’m utterly psyched to also find out more about the other corners of the Realms, other groups and regions, especially the magical, mystical part of the universe, how it’s gonna play a role in Tasia and Joslyn’s continued journey.
All in all, as if you haven’t realised already from me aforementioned commentary, “Princess of Dorsa” is a RESOUNDING MUST-READ for everyone! In particular, if you’re a fan of epic fantasy fiction and/or simply the TV adaptation of GoT, if not the original “A Song of Ice and Fire” by the one and only George R.R. Martin, you’ll find this book a heart-pounding, breathtaking, utterly suspenseful, fantastic read!! It’s defo reread material for me! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND everyone take this INCREDIBLE RIDE of an EPIC saga that is the best fantasy series I’ve read besides Martin’s “A Song Of Ice and Fire” series! More imperatively, Andrews’ Chronicles of Dorsa, starting with this Book 1 is SO MUCH MORE and BETTER because…LESBIANS!!!!! Bloody hell YES! This book has become one of me favourites not only in 2018 but in the world of fiction and I know, just like I know about Jody Klaire’s Above and Beyond series, the entire Chronicles of Dorsa series, regardless of how many installments there will be, also makes me list of all-time favourites in general and lesbian fiction!
ONE-CLICK it. READ it. RIDE it. EXPERIENCE it. FEEL it. REVEL in it. REPEAT.
Obligatory mention: I received an advanced (beta) copy in exchange for an honest review (commentary, really!)
In Bugs' Own Words
There was so much going on in this Book 1, I was beside meself with utter amazement and awe because I couldn’t believe I was actually reading about this whole universe that Andrews so richly created, inspired by GoT‘s, complete with the fabulous Empire consisting of the Four Realms (with the West being the largest most populated, and the East being the desert, strange and exotic, rich with myths and superstitions that the West and other Realms steered clear of), conquered by an Emperor from a Noble House, with Wise Men (like the Maesters in GoT) as the Empire’s influential advisers besides the military commanders. The Empire, as in GoT, obviously was always under threats of rebellion or attacks either from within the walls of the Realms or beyond its territories. So, Andrews’ Empire was ruled by the noble house, House of Dorsa. Princess Natasia aka Tasia was the daughter of its king, Emperor Andreth, future Empress-in-waiting. The Wise Men from the House of Wisdom, just like the Maesters from the Citadel in GoT, were an order of scholars, healers, messengers and scientists. I was utterly enthralled by Andrews’ vivid descriptions of the surroundings, the designs, the colours, the outfits of the different characters. They were visually stunning in me mind!
I was immediately intrigued by Tasia the moment she appeared on the first page of the book. Although Andrews portrayed her as the typical young and spoiled royal princess, future heiress, Empress of the Throne, who cared for nothing but herself, Tasia was also head strong, fiercely independent, smart and intelligent, with a streak of wild, cunning, mischievous and reckless behavioural traits, if only to escape the inevitability of her being married off to a worthy nobleman who’d take over her father’s position as the Emperor (as we know, even in historical fiction, men still held all the power whilst women were men’s properties), and her hatred for being imprisoned behind the royal walls because of the responsibilities that were expected of her instead of being allowed to be free to do whatever she desired. So obviously, she tried her utmost to rebel against her father and all the sodded rules. But the best thing I loved about the saga’s main protagonist, Tasia, thanks to Andrews, was that she was a LESBIAN (bloody yeh!)…even though being gay was not allowed and she had to hide it (take in male lovers, for e.g.) and be vigilant about her sexual trysts with women. But a near-success assassination attempt on her life put her constant recklessness and rule-breaking days to a screeching halt! And yes, that was when the story began.
But me favourite moment came when Josyln of Terinto, the best swordswoman in the Imperial Army, made her first appearance! She was charged as Tasia’s bodyguard, much to Tasia’s dismay because she saw Joslyn as an obstacle to her freedom to engage in rule-breaking activities. Joslyn was also expected to teach Tasia, the future ruler of the Empire, self-defence, which angered Tasia even more! Oh…I absolutely LOVED Josyln who was also a…LESBIAN!! YES! I had no words to describe just how excited I felt, really (imagining GoT but with lesbians kept playing in me mind because I was still coming to terms with the fact that me wish actually came true, thanks to Andrews!)! A strong, exotic woman hailed from the desert wasteland called Terinto in the mysterious East, with a quiet nature, intimidatingly observant, with utterly intelligent and deeply soulful eyes that held many secrets, and took her role as Tasia’s bodyguard very seriously. Andrews skilfully depicted Tasia and Josyln’s first encounter with richly described expressions of Tasia’s utter dislike for her designated “shadow” against Josyln’s seemingly unconcerned, apathetic and indifferent behavioural response, which irked Tasia even more! But their chemistry was effing palpable, bouncing off the pages like balls of smouldering flames! I was immediately enthralled. Andrews spared no effort in developing their initially fractured protector-protectee, teacher-student relationship, with grounded authenticity and wit. Oh, just wait until you read about how Josyln tried very hard to train Tasia in the art of self-defence, from the ground up! All the “harsh work” that Tasia felt was thrust upon her spoiled, taking-liberties-for-granted, utterly sheltered life, with Josyln not taking any shite from her was HILARIOUS! The progression of their relationship from enemies to friends was utterly captivating because everything was happening in the midst of all the political, power play with Tasia, her father, and his advisers, the apparently neverending war in the West, threats from the East, not to mention rumours that the banned religious sect, The Cult of Culo (something like GoT’s Lord of Light), was gaining strength and power, supernatural or otherwise! As if that wasn’t enough, Tasia was also plagued by the wretched “marriage of strategic alliance” which was expected of her. Although, ruling the Empire herself without a man beside her, wasn’t beyond the realm of possibility!
As Tasia spent more time with Josyln, observing her behaviour, her perception about her bodyguard changed little by little, from the preconceived ideas she had based on negative stereotypes instilled upon her and the rest of the so-called “civilised” West regarding people from the deserts in the East who were perceived as tribal barbarians, uncultured, uncivilised, laced with mad beliefs about the supernatural, myths and dark magic, to being enlightened by her exposure to the person and character that Joslyn was. I love how Andrews always writes about class, race, social politics in her stories, how they affect human behaviour, interactions and relationships between people from different political, social and economic status. No exception in the story about Joslyn and Tasia’s journey, as Andrews masterfully weaved the threads of their differences, slowly untangling and bonding them through all the adventures, encounters, communication that these two shared along the way.
The best thing about Andrews’ storytelling of this epic fantasy was how she merged the action-filled, thrilling adventures with the relationship between Tasia and Joslyn ever so seamlessly. This story is not focussed on romance alone, not by a long shot, but much more on the friendship these two struck with deeply felt emotions as it developed in progressive stages and the camaraderie that Tasia formed with a few of the vital characters as the story progressed into her inevitable political position of power. Joslyn became not only her protector but her close, protective friend and trusted adviser. I was gratified by the fact that Andrews spent the time to develop their relationship before it gradually turned into something more intimate. It was glorious to uncover their growing affection for each other because the pacing was utterly organic and perfectly timed in conjunction with the wretched journey they had to tread on as the political turmoil within the Realms became more dangerous and threatening to the future of the House Dorsa. In other words, the slow-burn type crafted between Tasia and Joslyn was ideally perfect! It was intoxicating to read their slow but utterly affective development.
Just like GoT, amidst all the political manoeuvring amongst the cast of characters plotting against each other in order to gain power for control of the Empire, there were some absolutely mindfucking twists and turns! The dangerous game of chess reached its peak when Tasia, Joslyn and her guards were confronted by faceless enemies and strange mythical creatures just when they thought they were in safe waters. Andrews’ brilliant depiction of the non-stop, violent, gruesome action sequences was nothing short of EPIC! I was literally gasping for breath by the time the big explosive scene came crashing, involving Joslyn’s mad, heroic stance and Tasia’s courageous move as a desperate measure, as they encountered the entity! Phew! This insidious, dark, supernatural entity that Andrews crafted into this series was phenomenal. I was entranced. I know it will play a vital role as the saga continues in future installments of this epic fantasy series! Nevermind that there weren’t any dragons because this malevolent entity (god knows how long its rein stretches as I’m sure subsequent installments of the Series will reveal!) consumed me sense of intrigue and curiosity completely! It was simply magnificent how Andrews wrote it so vividly I could visually see the entire scene unfold before me mind’s eye! Truly monumental!
As Tasia and Joslyn journeyed deeper into the pit of political turmoil, not surprisingly, nothing was what it seemed. Let’s just say that shit hit the fan as the power play became more deadly than Tasia and Joslyn would have wanted. Needless to say, the final action sequence was a pulse-racing, bile-inducing, heart-pounding event! What a 3rd and final act, indeed! Bravo, Andrews! As we know how the political game is played, unexpected cast of characters emerged showing their true colours as Tasia and Co. fought to survive. And so was Joslyn who was mercilessly separated from Tasia! Ohhh…just wait until you read how Tasia was handling the dilemma, the deeply held emotions and the depth of her feelings for her loyal and trusted friend and confidant, adviser, protector who came to hold the most important place in her heart! Andrews’ superbly written depiction of Tasia’s inner psyche, her emotional state about Josyln, especially upon uncovering just how Josyln felt about her which was left unspoken, was heartrendingly affective. On the other hand, Joslyn’s fierce and steadfast love, loyalty and protectiveness of Tasia reverberated powerfully as Andrews’ poetically resonating words and expressions seeped through the recesses of me mind ever so effectively. Phew!
Oh, when you read this book and come to the turning point at the end of the final act, you’ll grasp at all signs of hope and will for Joslyn and Tasia to triumph! How they were gonna go about it, I was left reeling because Andrews has this knack for throwing breadcrumbs that would leave you wanting more, yearning for more! Needless to say, the cliffhanger left me clutching the edge of me seat, screaming, demanding for the next installment to be available so I could learn Joslyn’s plan to reunite with Tasia, who’s become one of me favourite fictional characters! What’s more, Joslyn’s character throughout this installment remained hugely a mystery. She was an enigma, really. And because Andrews portrayed her with such deep-seated resonance, I was desperate to know more about her, to discover what her back story was, what made her who she was! Alas, Andrews only revealed bits of her heartbreaking history, which already had me wanting to just shield this brave tortured soul from further misfortune, misery and sorrow, who deserves nothing but happiness and joy in her life from here on out! I want to see Tasia love and protect her at all costs throughout the Series! Ohhhhh….!!!!
Anyway, the saga continues in the next installment, roughly entitled, “Soldier of Dorsa,” which hopefully will be available mid-2019!! Andrews promised the 2nd installment will reveal a whole lot more about Joslyn!! Bloody hell YES! Gaaaaahhh!!! The wait is KILLING me!!! And yes, besides that, I’m utterly psyched to also find out more about the other corners of the Realms, other groups and regions, especially the magical, mystical part of the universe, how it’s gonna play a role in Tasia and Joslyn’s continued journey.
All in all, as if you haven’t realised already from me aforementioned commentary, “Princess of Dorsa” is a RESOUNDING MUST-READ for everyone! In particular, if you’re a fan of epic fantasy fiction and/or simply the TV adaptation of GoT, if not the original “A Song of Ice and Fire” by the one and only George R.R. Martin, you’ll find this book a heart-pounding, breathtaking, utterly suspenseful, fantastic read!! It’s defo reread material for me! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND everyone take this INCREDIBLE RIDE of an EPIC saga that is the best fantasy series I’ve read besides Martin’s “A Song Of Ice and Fire” series! More imperatively, Andrews’ Chronicles of Dorsa, starting with this Book 1 is SO MUCH MORE and BETTER because…LESBIANS!!!!! Bloody hell YES! This book has become one of me favourites not only in 2018 but in the world of fiction and I know, just like I know about Jody Klaire’s Above and Beyond series, the entire Chronicles of Dorsa series, regardless of how many installments there will be, also makes me list of all-time favourites in general and lesbian fiction!
ONE-CLICK it. READ it. RIDE it. EXPERIENCE it. FEEL it. REVEL in it. REPEAT.
Obligatory mention: I received an advanced (beta) copy in exchange for an honest review (commentary, really!)
In Bugs' Own Words
did-not-finish
May 6, 2022DNF at 40%. Just couldn't get into it, which is just my own issue, since so many rated it so highly. I just found the palace politics boring and tedious and there being very little action to hold my attention. I just couldn't care enough to continue.
I did enjoy the slight growth of the Princess Tasia so far, and her connection to her new bodyguard. But found her handmaid Mylla a complete bitch! Which I get is probably the point to showcase the princesses own growth from that stage, and where she is headed - but still it ended up just frustrating me so much that she never really got called out, and then forgiven far too easily by the princess.
The Princess was so pussy-whipped by her handmaid in allowing her to treat both herself and others so poorly, I couldn't care for her any further. I basically wanted their whole kingdom to take a dive if this is how she acted. lol.
I found this patriarchal realm discouraging and depressing, hearing about the bodyguards slave past was upsetting. So why would I want to see that kingdom continue? It was all not going anywhere, fast - for me!
Just not for me, I'm afraid. but do not let that discourage you, I am an odd duck at times!! And freely admit it! 🦆 So give it a go yourself and let me know what you thought!
I did enjoy the slight growth of the Princess Tasia so far, and her connection to her new bodyguard. But found her handmaid Mylla a complete bitch! Which I get is probably the point to showcase the princesses own growth from that stage, and where she is headed - but still it ended up just frustrating me so much that she never really got called out, and then forgiven far too easily by the princess.
The Princess was so pussy-whipped by her handmaid in allowing her to treat both herself and others so poorly, I couldn't care for her any further. I basically wanted their whole kingdom to take a dive if this is how she acted. lol.
I found this patriarchal realm discouraging and depressing, hearing about the bodyguards slave past was upsetting. So why would I want to see that kingdom continue? It was all not going anywhere, fast - for me!
Just not for me, I'm afraid. but do not let that discourage you, I am an odd duck at times!! And freely admit it! 🦆 So give it a go yourself and let me know what you thought!
September 25, 2022
I set out to finally listen to the audio of Book 3 of this series, Empress of Dorsa, but I felt like I needed a quick refresher of Princess and Soldier. What started out as me just skimming over key points turned into me falling right back into the saga. If anything, I loved and appreciated the book even more the second time, the details of the world, the layers, the intricate pieces of intrigue that fed the whole story are so worth reading and rereading.
Princess Natasia is petulant, entitled, and barely of age but when the world turns upside down, she is forced to grow up overnight. As the rightful heir to the Empire, she discovers the sacrifices that she must make and the risks others must take on her behalf, especially during these turbulent times. By her side, the nomad warrior, Joslyn of Terinto guards her with her life and her heart. I fell in love with the passion that they had for one another.
The books ends in a satisfying way but of course, it’s also a gateway to Soldier of Dorsa. Onwards to Book 2. Btw, the narration is absolutely top notch.
Princess Natasia is petulant, entitled, and barely of age but when the world turns upside down, she is forced to grow up overnight. As the rightful heir to the Empire, she discovers the sacrifices that she must make and the risks others must take on her behalf, especially during these turbulent times. By her side, the nomad warrior, Joslyn of Terinto guards her with her life and her heart. I fell in love with the passion that they had for one another.
The books ends in a satisfying way but of course, it’s also a gateway to Soldier of Dorsa. Onwards to Book 2. Btw, the narration is absolutely top notch.
April 23, 2019
I'm so not ready for this book to be over… I loved everything, the story, the characters, the narration. I can't wait for book 2 to come out!
October 30, 2018
I wish I liked this as much as most others seem to have enjoyed it. The beginning, and really up until the 65% mark were a bit of a slog for me, but the prose either improved or I got used to it. It's really not that similar to Game of Thrones, except in a general sense of fictional Western European-like white people fighting against a magical (ancient) foe, with "exotic" non-white peoples in the background. And one who winds up being the token for the white princess to learn better; to be fair, Joslyn is a fully realized character, but there are tropes in her backstory that are a little too typical for the Token POC(tm) to have, and it sours the whole thing.
While the author is more aware of the "exotic" type of racism than GRRM is, and she wrote it in a way that suggests she's not completely oblivious to the implications, it still needs a bit more work. If she was completely unaware, I'd have DNF'd it about halfway through, at least. Still, she chose to write a setting mostly without homophobia, but not one without racism. It's a choice, and a questionable one when she didn't really address it as well as it should have been.
Other than that, I again almost DNF'd when The epilogue at least made it, if not forgivable, less hopeless for a HEA.
The book picked up towards the end, but it was almost a bit too little, too late for me. I will get the next book, though I'm not as excited about it as I wish I was. I'm wary, I guess, but willing to give the author another chance. Overall, the politics and plots in the last quarter of the book were interesting and kept me up later than I should have been to finish reading it, but there were a few things that strained my suspension of disbelief. I also just don't much like cliffhangers, and the last page along with the epilogue are big ones, which irritates me especially considering the second book isn't even out yet.
Edit: Also, there were several errors throughout the book, most notably "brazier" for "brassiere" (ouch!) and "bail" for "bale" (of hay), and at least one instance of "their" when it should've been "there" instead. I can only assume the editor was skimming, if there was one at all.
While the author is more aware of the "exotic" type of racism than GRRM is, and she wrote it in a way that suggests she's not completely oblivious to the implications, it still needs a bit more work. If she was completely unaware, I'd have DNF'd it about halfway through, at least. Still, she chose to write a setting mostly without homophobia, but not one without racism. It's a choice, and a questionable one when she didn't really address it as well as it should have been.
Other than that, I again almost DNF'd when The epilogue at least made it, if not forgivable, less hopeless for a HEA.
The book picked up towards the end, but it was almost a bit too little, too late for me. I will get the next book, though I'm not as excited about it as I wish I was. I'm wary, I guess, but willing to give the author another chance. Overall, the politics and plots in the last quarter of the book were interesting and kept me up later than I should have been to finish reading it, but there were a few things that strained my suspension of disbelief. I also just don't much like cliffhangers, and the last page along with the epilogue are big ones, which irritates me especially considering the second book isn't even out yet.
Edit: Also, there were several errors throughout the book, most notably "brazier" for "brassiere" (ouch!) and "bail" for "bale" (of hay), and at least one instance of "their" when it should've been "there" instead. I can only assume the editor was skimming, if there was one at all.
August 10, 2020
4 Stars - A princess and her bodyguard have some adventures - ending makes you really want to pick up the next book
MASSIVE SPOILERS AHEAD. I am serious, do not click this link until you have read the book. I am putting these here for myself and anyone else that wants a refresher on major points that happened in this book before starting on book 2: Soldier of Dorsa
also - I listened to the audio book so if I have misspelled names, let me know in the comments and I can fix them. thanks.
MASSIVE SPOILERS AHEAD. I am serious, do not click this link until you have read the book. I am putting these here for myself and anyone else that wants a refresher on major points that happened in this book before starting on book 2: Soldier of Dorsa
also - I listened to the audio book so if I have misspelled names, let me know in the comments and I can fix them. thanks.
July 7, 2021
I thought I had bought the wrong book when the opening scene found the protagonist in bed with a man... but then it got interesting, and we find out why she was there. The princess starts out impetuous, irresponsible, still a little loveable, but that's because the author was leaving room for her to grow, and grow she does. Her girlfriend, however, is snobbish, bossy, and immature. There's plenty of reasons for our heroine to be infatuated with her, but I never really liked her. I was all in once the female bodyguard entered the narrative!
There are lots of plot twists and turns (with enough clues for the suspicious reader to not be totally off guard when they smack you in the face.) Some nice fantasy elements that are only alluded to until nearer the end, and a strong plot line. I am now invested and must read book two to see what happens next.
There are lots of plot twists and turns (with enough clues for the suspicious reader to not be totally off guard when they smack you in the face.) Some nice fantasy elements that are only alluded to until nearer the end, and a strong plot line. I am now invested and must read book two to see what happens next.
March 30, 2023
I'm traveling so unable to write a full review. I'll come back to it. But for now I just want to say that I absolutely LOVED it and can't wait to continue the series!
Adventure! Romance! Betrayal! Suspense! Twists! Turns! Yay!
Adventure! Romance! Betrayal! Suspense! Twists! Turns! Yay!
February 16, 2020
When Princess Natasia, the eldest child of the Emperor Andreth, is almost killed by an assassin, her father decides to name her the heir to the throne. But there hasn’t been a female Empress in living memory and when the internal divisions in the palace become increasingly dangerous, the reckless and inexperienced princess will have to learn to lead. She can trust no one but her personal guard, the mysterious but fiercely loyal Joslyn.
This is such a great lesbian epic fantasy audiobook, that any fans of fantasy and/or ‘Game of Thrones’ should give it a go in either audio or printed format. I’m not a fan of this genre but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it anyway. Even though this is mostly an adventure fantasy book, there is also a lesbian romance in it. I have to warn that this story ends in a cliffhanger but there’s no need to panic as book 2 is about to be released soon.
This is an intricate tale and the author takes her time to let it flow in all its possibilities. There are a good number of secondary characters, some more prominent than others and the action takes place in different locations so I’m glad that nothing was rushed. ‘Princess of Dorsa’ is a long story but, in my opinion, there is nothing in the plot superfluous or meaningless. The book is more than 400 pages long and the audiobook version is 15 hours and 34 minutes of pure entertainment. It’s really great value for money.
Ms. Andrews has a really descriptive style of writing so even though I’m not particularly imaginative, I could see in my mind’s eye the story unfolding in great detail. I’ve never listened to Elizabeth Saydah narrating before, and although it took me some time to get used to her voice, I liked the final product a lot. The amount of different characters is one of the challenges of this story but Ms. Saydah is very good at performing different voices, especially the male ones. The book has many different moments, some of danger, others of adventure and even emotional ones but Ms. Saydah delivered them all outstandingly. Highly recommended.
Overall, a great lesbian epic fantasy audiobook. 5 stars for both the story and the narration.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
This is such a great lesbian epic fantasy audiobook, that any fans of fantasy and/or ‘Game of Thrones’ should give it a go in either audio or printed format. I’m not a fan of this genre but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it anyway. Even though this is mostly an adventure fantasy book, there is also a lesbian romance in it. I have to warn that this story ends in a cliffhanger but there’s no need to panic as book 2 is about to be released soon.
This is an intricate tale and the author takes her time to let it flow in all its possibilities. There are a good number of secondary characters, some more prominent than others and the action takes place in different locations so I’m glad that nothing was rushed. ‘Princess of Dorsa’ is a long story but, in my opinion, there is nothing in the plot superfluous or meaningless. The book is more than 400 pages long and the audiobook version is 15 hours and 34 minutes of pure entertainment. It’s really great value for money.
Ms. Andrews has a really descriptive style of writing so even though I’m not particularly imaginative, I could see in my mind’s eye the story unfolding in great detail. I’ve never listened to Elizabeth Saydah narrating before, and although it took me some time to get used to her voice, I liked the final product a lot. The amount of different characters is one of the challenges of this story but Ms. Saydah is very good at performing different voices, especially the male ones. The book has many different moments, some of danger, others of adventure and even emotional ones but Ms. Saydah delivered them all outstandingly. Highly recommended.
Overall, a great lesbian epic fantasy audiobook. 5 stars for both the story and the narration.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
January 22, 2022
4.25 stars
sapphic princess and the bodyguard ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
sapphic princess and the bodyguard ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
November 4, 2018
An epic tale
One of the better stories I have read. A young princess becoming something she never could have imagined. Finding her strength amongst the perils of the four realms. Action, suspense, mystery, fantasy, love... This book had it all.
The author is very talented at world building and setting the scene through description and emotion. I truly felt as if I could visualize and feel every single aspect of this. And when I say feel, let me say that I'm almost glad the second in this planned trilogy isn't expected until at least mid 2019. I think I need that much time to recover.
Just beautiful.
One of the better stories I have read. A young princess becoming something she never could have imagined. Finding her strength amongst the perils of the four realms. Action, suspense, mystery, fantasy, love... This book had it all.
The author is very talented at world building and setting the scene through description and emotion. I truly felt as if I could visualize and feel every single aspect of this. And when I say feel, let me say that I'm almost glad the second in this planned trilogy isn't expected until at least mid 2019. I think I need that much time to recover.
Just beautiful.
October 30, 2018
Wow! In what feels like months of 2, 3, and barely 4 star books this is an easy, solid, bright and shining 5 stars!! If you’re a fan of well written fantasy, political intrigue, f/f romance, and a great cliffhanger (really, it’s a very satisfying ‘ending’) then this is the book for you...don’t hesitate, READ THIS. 😊 I very rarely read books for a second time once I’ve finished one but I will def be reading this again and anxiously awaiting the next of the series.
March 28, 2020
Why was this book so bad?
More importantly, why does a book so bad has an average rating of 4.44?
I was intrigued by the plot because it promised the reader an epic fantasy with an LGBTQ twist. But as plot progresses there are many more twists - sexism, racism, idiocy and plenty more. The plot is really badly managed and so very predictable. Maybe it would have helped if the author had included multiple perspective. The story only follows Tasia on her journey to become the Empress, and let me tell you Tasia's story or character is not that interesting. I don't think I understood Tasia's character. On one hand we find her whining over the fact that because she's a woman she will be a token Empress while her husband becomes the true ruler. On the other hand, when she's named the true heir, we find her dozing off during her lessons? The actions of the characters lead nowhere, the readers are not aware of perspectives where Tasia might not be present, they are only mentioned in the passing when the true potential would be exploring those plot points.
It's just bad writing.
More importantly, why does a book so bad has an average rating of 4.44?
I was intrigued by the plot because it promised the reader an epic fantasy with an LGBTQ twist. But as plot progresses there are many more twists - sexism, racism, idiocy and plenty more. The plot is really badly managed and so very predictable. Maybe it would have helped if the author had included multiple perspective. The story only follows Tasia on her journey to become the Empress, and let me tell you Tasia's story or character is not that interesting. I don't think I understood Tasia's character. On one hand we find her whining over the fact that because she's a woman she will be a token Empress while her husband becomes the true ruler. On the other hand, when she's named the true heir, we find her dozing off during her lessons? The actions of the characters lead nowhere, the readers are not aware of perspectives where Tasia might not be present, they are only mentioned in the passing when the true potential would be exploring those plot points.
It's just bad writing.
November 29, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the plot, the characters, the mystery and everything. I hope we don´t have to wait too long for the sequel.
June 12, 2019
3.75 stars. Man this book had a lot going on. The main character Natasia princess of Dorsa seems to be a fluid character, when it comes to her beddings. She starts out as the spoiled whiny princess you would expect, who through unfortunate circumstances & tutoring has her own metamorphosis. As with most castle intrigue, treachery & duplicity are abound. The bad guys can be seen throughout & the final reveal is a bit underwhelming. There are some twists I won't reveal. All in all, the problems in the story/ writing are small enough that the reading isn't overburdened by them. The ending leaves you ready for the sequel which should be out soon. This is a free read on KU.
January 17, 2019
I really enjoyed this book, and am immensely looking forward to the next part
October 16, 2020
Boy the ending of this book left me in tears. Loved loved the world created, and cultures. Of man Joselyn you are amazing. I can ramble on about this book for... I recommend for sure.
February 1, 2022
4.5 stars, a truly excellent WLW, fantasy read.
I don’t know where to start with this, perhaps by saying if you liked The Priory of the Orange Tree you will love this- it’s similar just with less dragons and far more (strap) spice.
I went into this with low expectations, perhaps because I’ve read a lot of fantasy on kindle unlimited that just hasn’t been good at all. This however is a book that people in my socials comments KEPT telling me to read and now I fully understand why.
It’s a bloody enjoyable read.
Though it’s 600 pages for this part, it doesn’t feel it whatsoever. The book flows with so many twists and turns and things happening that there isn’t really ever a dull moment.
The magic system is intriguing; with it having been lost to the memory of tall folk, only now remembered by the short men (beings that live in the mountains and use rune systems.) I’m intrigued to see how this will be explored in book two as little is revealed in the first novel.
Now let’s talk about the spice because the strap scene not even 100 pages in KILLED ME, stole my soul and left me wondering if I could ever put this book down. (I didn’t, read it in two days.) There’s also other scenes throughout that without many spoilers are filled with so much heart that my sappy gay self was an emotional wreck✋🏻
The political system and the eyes of feminine empowerment are also prominent, there’s also themes of PTSD and SA, so bare that in mind. Joslyn was enslaved as a child until the age of 16 ish.
The book mainly follows the story of Joslyn (now a soldier) and the princess who is to be the first female Emperor of Dorsa (only one female ruler ever known aside from her.)
I absolutely loved this story. LOVED IT. A beautiful, captivating read with magic in its veins.
TW// *may contain spoilers*
Sexual content, Mentions of sexual assault, of physical assault, Gore, assault with fire, assault both physical and sexual of a minor, mentions of alcohol, decapitation.
Whilst the SA mentions are not overly described they are still prominent, reoccurring and fairly heavy. Joslyn also exhibits PTSD.
I don’t know where to start with this, perhaps by saying if you liked The Priory of the Orange Tree you will love this- it’s similar just with less dragons and far more (strap) spice.
I went into this with low expectations, perhaps because I’ve read a lot of fantasy on kindle unlimited that just hasn’t been good at all. This however is a book that people in my socials comments KEPT telling me to read and now I fully understand why.
It’s a bloody enjoyable read.
Though it’s 600 pages for this part, it doesn’t feel it whatsoever. The book flows with so many twists and turns and things happening that there isn’t really ever a dull moment.
The magic system is intriguing; with it having been lost to the memory of tall folk, only now remembered by the short men (beings that live in the mountains and use rune systems.) I’m intrigued to see how this will be explored in book two as little is revealed in the first novel.
Now let’s talk about the spice because the strap scene not even 100 pages in KILLED ME, stole my soul and left me wondering if I could ever put this book down. (I didn’t, read it in two days.) There’s also other scenes throughout that without many spoilers are filled with so much heart that my sappy gay self was an emotional wreck✋🏻
The political system and the eyes of feminine empowerment are also prominent, there’s also themes of PTSD and SA, so bare that in mind. Joslyn was enslaved as a child until the age of 16 ish.
The book mainly follows the story of Joslyn (now a soldier) and the princess who is to be the first female Emperor of Dorsa (only one female ruler ever known aside from her.)
I absolutely loved this story. LOVED IT. A beautiful, captivating read with magic in its veins.
TW// *may contain spoilers*
Sexual content, Mentions of sexual assault, of physical assault, Gore, assault with fire, assault both physical and sexual of a minor, mentions of alcohol, decapitation.
Whilst the SA mentions are not overly described they are still prominent, reoccurring and fairly heavy. Joslyn also exhibits PTSD.
December 29, 2018
3.5 stars rounded up.
And then there's the characters. I did like the protagonist and from whose point of view the story is told, Tasia, but I'm not sure why, I just wasn't a fan of Joslyn, so that means the romance there was didn't really do much for me.
I don't have complaints as far as the plot is concerned, I think it was well developed. Although... I'm sorry, but I couldn't take it seriously every time the "Cult of Culo" was mentioned because of Culo's meaning in Spanish, haha.
Overall I did enjoy the book for the most part and was entertained. I think this is a good addition to the fantasy genre with F/F romance elements.
“And no slave becomes truly free until they realize that ‘slave’ is just a word and not who they are.”I feel like I should've enjoyed this so much more than I actually did, but there was something missing. I had some issues with the pacing, sometimes it was too slow for me, although after the 60% mark or so it really picked up.
And then there's the characters. I did like the protagonist and from whose point of view the story is told, Tasia, but I'm not sure why, I just wasn't a fan of Joslyn, so that means the romance there was didn't really do much for me.
I don't have complaints as far as the plot is concerned, I think it was well developed. Although... I'm sorry, but I couldn't take it seriously every time the "Cult of Culo" was mentioned because of Culo's meaning in Spanish, haha.
Overall I did enjoy the book for the most part and was entertained. I think this is a good addition to the fantasy genre with F/F romance elements.
December 29, 2018
I shouldn't have been surprised about loving this book, because so far I've loved all of Eliza Andrew's book. The only thing I wish is that I hadn't read this before the sequel is done. However, it isn't the worst thing for me to re-read this book right before I get the sequel and read that...hint, hint. In case Eliza is not catching my drift, I am stomping my feet in a tiny tantrum until she writes the sequel and puts it out there for her rabid fans. I loved the time period. I loved the characters, especially the guard who is truly drool worthy and so damned sympathetic. She is one of my all-time favorite characters. I cannot wait to read the continuing saga. I highly recommend this book.
April 2, 2020
This read was most definitely an unexpected hit.
I can't wait to read book 2.
I can't wait to read book 2.
March 13, 2024
5 Stars
I get it now. I get the hype and the chatter surrounding the book. It had all the elements one would expect from a fantasy book PLUS queer main characters. What’s not to love???
The relationship development between the two main characters was the icing on the cake. It was hard going, started from scratch and it didn’t help one of them was so obnoxious but it just made their story more enjoyable.
I am glad the whole story didn’t revolve around pining and frivolity. A chunk was directed towards the game of thrones and successions which was so painful to read as deception after deception unfolded but the reader had to go through it to see savour the the brilliance of the entire story.
I get it now. I get the hype and the chatter surrounding the book. It had all the elements one would expect from a fantasy book PLUS queer main characters. What’s not to love???
The relationship development between the two main characters was the icing on the cake. It was hard going, started from scratch and it didn’t help one of them was so obnoxious but it just made their story more enjoyable.
I am glad the whole story didn’t revolve around pining and frivolity. A chunk was directed towards the game of thrones and successions which was so painful to read as deception after deception unfolded but the reader had to go through it to see savour the the brilliance of the entire story.
May 31, 2021
Very well written 5-star read. The second book in the series is now available.
January 28, 2019
"...my love will always be as unfailing as the path of the sun across the sky, as bountiful as the stars the fill a clear night in the desert, as steady as the rhythm of the waves on a stormless sea."
I adored this fantasy romance with a WLW (women loving women, a catch-all term for two women in love that covers any sexuality that permits woman to woman attraction) heroine and romance! Tasia and Joslyn were excellent characters in a nicely woven fantasy world of politics, conflict, and a preternatural evil that looms over them all. It's a good blend of complexity to be enjoyable and allow the characters room to exist, but not so basic or simplistic as to be dull or pandering.
The plot is that Tasia, the eldest daughter of a emperor, find her life quickly escalating in a way she never imagined while trying to sneak back home after oversleeping at a lover's apartments in the city. Named her father's heir, she sets out on a mission that's meant for her to cut her teeth as a heir-in-training, but soon finds herself in a dire situation as two huge revelations come her way that have life-changing effects for our heroine. She must go from a regal princess who can afford to be bratty and break the rules to a woman who must uphold the empire and keep it from the machinations of those who would drive it into ruin.
And also have a super sweet, loving relationship with Joslyn, her personal guard, which is one of the best parts. I appreciate what this book did with their connection and that the sex scenes were neither fetishized or denied. They just felt natural.
My only complaint is that I could see this story having an even longer, more complex narrative and I hope that Eliza Andrews continues working on her fantasy game because if this is her first shot at it, she's done very well! I don't know if I'd necessarily compare this to A Game of Thrones on a super similar level due to the disparity of scale (that universe is complex as all hell), but if you wanted something that was toned down (as in not absolutely sopping wet with an abundance of plot threads, characters, events, etc.) but still has some nice substance to it and has a lovely WLW heroine and relationship, then I give this book my full recommendation!
I'm very much looking forward to the second book!
Also, this book is currently $5.99 which is a bit pricey and I'm personally a bit too poor to afford it, though I can't say that price isn't warranted due to the indie nature, good writing, and overall enjoyability, but it is also available with Kindle Unlimited, so I'd definitely check it out if the blurb sounds interesting or you just want very good WLW representation.
I adored this fantasy romance with a WLW (women loving women, a catch-all term for two women in love that covers any sexuality that permits woman to woman attraction) heroine and romance! Tasia and Joslyn were excellent characters in a nicely woven fantasy world of politics, conflict, and a preternatural evil that looms over them all. It's a good blend of complexity to be enjoyable and allow the characters room to exist, but not so basic or simplistic as to be dull or pandering.
The plot is that Tasia, the eldest daughter of a emperor, find her life quickly escalating in a way she never imagined while trying to sneak back home after oversleeping at a lover's apartments in the city. Named her father's heir, she sets out on a mission that's meant for her to cut her teeth as a heir-in-training, but soon finds herself in a dire situation as two huge revelations come her way that have life-changing effects for our heroine. She must go from a regal princess who can afford to be bratty and break the rules to a woman who must uphold the empire and keep it from the machinations of those who would drive it into ruin.
And also have a super sweet, loving relationship with Joslyn, her personal guard, which is one of the best parts. I appreciate what this book did with their connection and that the sex scenes were neither fetishized or denied. They just felt natural.
My only complaint is that I could see this story having an even longer, more complex narrative and I hope that Eliza Andrews continues working on her fantasy game because if this is her first shot at it, she's done very well! I don't know if I'd necessarily compare this to A Game of Thrones on a super similar level due to the disparity of scale (that universe is complex as all hell), but if you wanted something that was toned down (as in not absolutely sopping wet with an abundance of plot threads, characters, events, etc.) but still has some nice substance to it and has a lovely WLW heroine and relationship, then I give this book my full recommendation!
I'm very much looking forward to the second book!
Also, this book is currently $5.99 which is a bit pricey and I'm personally a bit too poor to afford it, though I can't say that price isn't warranted due to the indie nature, good writing, and overall enjoyability, but it is also available with Kindle Unlimited, so I'd definitely check it out if the blurb sounds interesting or you just want very good WLW representation.
January 5, 2021
I don’t usually leave reviews, but this book was acutely disappointing. The smaller issues were underdeveloped characters/plot lines/world building, a stunningly incompetent and sometimes cruel MC (who we are meant to sympathize with), and lacklustre/insta-lovey romance with no chemistry. However, the prominent imperialism and xenophobia that are never questioned is what really got to me. The MC is heir to essentially a colonial power, and the bodyguard comes from their most recent conquest. The comments made about her ethnicity, the ‘uncivilized barbarians’, and the explicit superiority of the white characters, is constant and horrifying.
I kept telling myself that this was a part of the MC’s character development of confronting all of her bigotry and the institutionalized oppression present in her country, BUT IT IS LITERALLY NEVER ADDRESSED. Even the bodyguard seems to agree with everything those around her seem to say, which could of have been an interesting journey of questioning your internalized racism etc, but once again, it is literally never addressed. I hope that this notion of the characters confronting their personal beliefs and the systematic discrimination around them is a part of the rest of the trilogy, but I won’t be sticking around to find out.
Genuinely quite a surreal and upsetting experience, I could barely believe that this was such a prominent part of the book, and somehow never tackled in a slightly meaningful manner.
I kept telling myself that this was a part of the MC’s character development of confronting all of her bigotry and the institutionalized oppression present in her country, BUT IT IS LITERALLY NEVER ADDRESSED. Even the bodyguard seems to agree with everything those around her seem to say, which could of have been an interesting journey of questioning your internalized racism etc, but once again, it is literally never addressed. I hope that this notion of the characters confronting their personal beliefs and the systematic discrimination around them is a part of the rest of the trilogy, but I won’t be sticking around to find out.
Genuinely quite a surreal and upsetting experience, I could barely believe that this was such a prominent part of the book, and somehow never tackled in a slightly meaningful manner.
February 2, 2019
For most of the first half of the book I really didn’t like Tasia, she is spoilt, arrogant and self-centred and I couldn’t develop any empathy for her. It didn’t help that she was also extremely naïve and often just plain stupid. I presume the author has written the story this way so that Tasia can develop and improve as it progresses, but I really prefer my heroines to be more competent.
The second half of the book improved and Joslyn and Tasia became an interesting couple, however at the end of PART II it was beginning to get interesting and I was looking forward to see how Joslyn and Tasia would work to regain her throne, then I read the introduction to PART III. What is the point of telling the reader what is going to happen in the rest of the book. 'As it happens', most of this section wasn’t particularly interesting.
Although I quite enjoyed some parts of the story and I will read the next book, I am not sure why so many people think this is a great epic Fantasy, it just isn’t.
The second half of the book improved and Joslyn and Tasia became an interesting couple, however at the end of PART II it was beginning to get interesting and I was looking forward to see how Joslyn and Tasia would work to regain her throne, then I read the introduction to PART III. What is the point of telling the reader what is going to happen in the rest of the book. 'As it happens', most of this section wasn’t particularly interesting.
Although I quite enjoyed some parts of the story and I will read the next book, I am not sure why so many people think this is a great epic Fantasy, it just isn’t.
January 18, 2020
I was drawn to this book because it’s gay and that’s always all right with me, but I couldn’t stand the racist treatment of Joslyn. I was uncomfortable with how many times Joslyn was referred to as wild and untamed and foreign and exotic, especially as the only WoC in the book. I also couldn’t get a read on what her ethnicity was based on. It really read like a bunch of cultures were thrown together.
And Tasia was mostly unlikeable. She only became bearable through her interactions with Joslyn. Reading the story through her POV was a struggle, especially the paragraphs dedicated to political maneuvering and court intrigue.
I found myself skimming a lot of the book wondering when it could be over with. The book could’ve really benefitted from a sensitivity reader and a heavy-handed editor.
I don’t usually leave reviews, but this book made me so angry I couldn’t stop myself.
And Tasia was mostly unlikeable. She only became bearable through her interactions with Joslyn. Reading the story through her POV was a struggle, especially the paragraphs dedicated to political maneuvering and court intrigue.
I found myself skimming a lot of the book wondering when it could be over with. The book could’ve really benefitted from a sensitivity reader and a heavy-handed editor.
I don’t usually leave reviews, but this book made me so angry I couldn’t stop myself.
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