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Love and War #4
Anthelion
Ash is dead.
Okay, that’s a lie. He’s not. Not really.
Somehow, that doesn’t make things any better.
After reports of a fatal hovercar accident outside the Capital—complete with a charred body and DNA identification—it seems at first that all is lost in the Shadow Wing’s quest to infiltrate the Premiere’s inner circle.
But one member of the vigilante group refuses to accept the evidence of his human comrade’s death. Draven knows Ash. He knows that devious mind, and more importantly, he knows the martyr complex that lies beneath it.
He should know. Draven is also a master at hiding. He’s done it for most of his life. Now, though, he’s done living in the shadows.
Can Draven track down a man who is so intent on not being found that he would stage his own death to prevent it? And if he does succeed in finding Ash, what then?
No one ever said that emerging from the darkness of the past was easy. No one ever said that forbidden love was painless.
Especially when the object of that love is convinced he’s damaged goods.
* * *
From USA Today bestselling author R. A. Steffan comes a sizzling sci-fi romance series, perfect for fans of J. R. Ward and Sherrilyn Kenyon.
Strap in tight, because all's fair in LOVE AND WAR.
Author’s note: Ash and Draven are gay. This is their story. If that’s an issue for you, please don’t purchase the book.
Okay, that’s a lie. He’s not. Not really.
Somehow, that doesn’t make things any better.
After reports of a fatal hovercar accident outside the Capital—complete with a charred body and DNA identification—it seems at first that all is lost in the Shadow Wing’s quest to infiltrate the Premiere’s inner circle.
But one member of the vigilante group refuses to accept the evidence of his human comrade’s death. Draven knows Ash. He knows that devious mind, and more importantly, he knows the martyr complex that lies beneath it.
He should know. Draven is also a master at hiding. He’s done it for most of his life. Now, though, he’s done living in the shadows.
Can Draven track down a man who is so intent on not being found that he would stage his own death to prevent it? And if he does succeed in finding Ash, what then?
No one ever said that emerging from the darkness of the past was easy. No one ever said that forbidden love was painless.
Especially when the object of that love is convinced he’s damaged goods.
* * *
From USA Today bestselling author R. A. Steffan comes a sizzling sci-fi romance series, perfect for fans of J. R. Ward and Sherrilyn Kenyon.
Strap in tight, because all's fair in LOVE AND WAR.
Author’s note: Ash and Draven are gay. This is their story. If that’s an issue for you, please don’t purchase the book.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 3, 2019
18 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
R.A. Steffan
85 books501 followersUSA Today bestselling author R. A. Steffan lives in New Mexico, where the sunsets paint the mountains purple, and roadrunners roam the desert endlessly in search of their coyote victims. When she’s not busy writing stories about people loving each other in all sorts of different and interesting ways, she can be found taking care of her small menagerie of critters.
A rebel to the core, she is currently sticking it to the man by illegally harvesting graywater from the kitchen and bathroom sinks to water trees outside. This fearless disregard for societal norms extends to her writing, as well. There, you will find polyamory along with straight, gay, bisexual, and non-gender conforming love of all flavors. You will also find families of choice, profound friendships, adventure, danger, and good triumphing over evil.
That, and sex. Lots of sex. Most of which is not the vanilla variety.
If any of that appeals, sign up at http://www.rasteffan.com/ to get a free starter library featuring the first books in several of her series. You can also follow her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RASteffanAut..., or on Twitter at https://twitter.com/RA_Steffan.
A rebel to the core, she is currently sticking it to the man by illegally harvesting graywater from the kitchen and bathroom sinks to water trees outside. This fearless disregard for societal norms extends to her writing, as well. There, you will find polyamory along with straight, gay, bisexual, and non-gender conforming love of all flavors. You will also find families of choice, profound friendships, adventure, danger, and good triumphing over evil.
That, and sex. Lots of sex. Most of which is not the vanilla variety.
If any of that appeals, sign up at http://www.rasteffan.com/ to get a free starter library featuring the first books in several of her series. You can also follow her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RASteffanAut..., or on Twitter at https://twitter.com/RA_Steffan.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 1, 2019
3 Stars
Ash is on a mission to extract the bond mate of an Adjunct of Ilarious. In order to do so Ash has to submit himself as the Adjunct's sex slave. However for Ash, that means extreme abusive treatment. Jontalyss (the bond mate) is their only hope to let other worlds know the atrocities that will be happening to the humans on Ilarious.
This was my least favorite of the 4 books. I really missed having all the other characters involved in the storyline.
Ash is on a mission to extract the bond mate of an Adjunct of Ilarious. In order to do so Ash has to submit himself as the Adjunct's sex slave. However for Ash, that means extreme abusive treatment. Jontalyss (the bond mate) is their only hope to let other worlds know the atrocities that will be happening to the humans on Ilarious.
This was my least favorite of the 4 books. I really missed having all the other characters involved in the storyline.
October 14, 2021
I've been so excited to get Ash's story because he's really intrigued me from the very beginning. ANTHELION had high points and low points for me and overall, it just felt like things were rushed between Ash and Draven. Ash has been prostituting himself to wealthy Vithii men in an attempt to get secret governmental information that could stop the impending war between the xenophobic Vithii and the humans. Ash is sure that he can handle the long term abuse he'll suffer as a veelhat (human body slave) to the Adjunct but as time goes by, he begins to lose himself to the pain and suffering. My heart was breaking for what Ash has put himself through and I can't imagine the mental, emotional, and physical pain he's suffered.
In the Vithii world, homosexuality is reviled -- unless you're wealthy or important -- and as such, Draven has repressed his feelings for men and kept his crush on Ash a secret. But now he's determined to be with Ash because the thought of never seeing him again is more painful than anything he's experienced. Draven is a protector but he's also impulsive and that's gotten him into trouble several times. He'll do anything for Ash, even if it means holding back the natural dominance of a Vithii male. Draven has the best of intentions and his care for Ash is so clear but boy, does he go about it the wrong way.
I know everyone handles trauma differently but things just felt so rushed between Draven and Ash. Their first few sexual interactions are aggressive and more about proving a point and this just seemed so unhealthy after everything Ash has been through. I just wanted Ash to be happy and to heal so maybe this was what he needed. Overall, I liked the progression of the overall series arc but I wanted more for Draven and Ash.
Content Warning: References to prostitution, rape, slavery, selling ones body to obtain information; Ash was abused and raped repeatedly
In the Vithii world, homosexuality is reviled -- unless you're wealthy or important -- and as such, Draven has repressed his feelings for men and kept his crush on Ash a secret. But now he's determined to be with Ash because the thought of never seeing him again is more painful than anything he's experienced. Draven is a protector but he's also impulsive and that's gotten him into trouble several times. He'll do anything for Ash, even if it means holding back the natural dominance of a Vithii male. Draven has the best of intentions and his care for Ash is so clear but boy, does he go about it the wrong way.
I know everyone handles trauma differently but things just felt so rushed between Draven and Ash. Their first few sexual interactions are aggressive and more about proving a point and this just seemed so unhealthy after everything Ash has been through. I just wanted Ash to be happy and to heal so maybe this was what he needed. Overall, I liked the progression of the overall series arc but I wanted more for Draven and Ash.
Content Warning: References to prostitution, rape, slavery, selling ones body to obtain information; Ash was abused and raped repeatedly
June 2, 2019
R.A Steffan is a new to me author and I have not read the prior books. This story can be read as a stand-alone and I didn’t feel like I missed out on anything.
Such a heart-breaking story! Ash is an idiot. I realize that is harsh because he suffers greatly for a cause but he also makes his own suffering worse. The most redeeming part of him is his willingness to admit a mistake and try something, anything to fix it.
So apparently Ash and Draven have been attracted to each other for some time. I sensed that neither really respected the other as an equal until this tragedy. Both men are broken down to their emotional core and wow, this packed a punch. People process assault differently and I believe we get a good sense of how a male may process rape. It was a difficult and beautiful scene when both Ash and Draven deal with what it means for them.
There is some great political maneuvering and darn it I listened to the epilogue so now I gotta pick up the next one.
Can i just say the audiobook is outstanding? The performance is remarkable and really brought the depth and compassion needed to make this story more. So while some may be turned off by the m/m MC’s, I say take a chance and listen to the audiobook. You will be amazed!
"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."
Such a heart-breaking story! Ash is an idiot. I realize that is harsh because he suffers greatly for a cause but he also makes his own suffering worse. The most redeeming part of him is his willingness to admit a mistake and try something, anything to fix it.
So apparently Ash and Draven have been attracted to each other for some time. I sensed that neither really respected the other as an equal until this tragedy. Both men are broken down to their emotional core and wow, this packed a punch. People process assault differently and I believe we get a good sense of how a male may process rape. It was a difficult and beautiful scene when both Ash and Draven deal with what it means for them.
There is some great political maneuvering and darn it I listened to the epilogue so now I gotta pick up the next one.
Can i just say the audiobook is outstanding? The performance is remarkable and really brought the depth and compassion needed to make this story more. So while some may be turned off by the m/m MC’s, I say take a chance and listen to the audiobook. You will be amazed!
"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."
June 5, 2019
In this 4th installment of the Love and War series, we get to the character of Ash. Maybe. When the Shadow Wing gets a report of Ash’s death, Draven refuses to believe that is a possibility. He does everything he can to save the human man that he finally lets himself acknowledge he loves.
For those of us who have been reading the series, Ash has been one of the most interesting people in the small rebel group, but he’s also been used sparingly, which further makes his appearances all the more effective. We get a lot of insight into Draven in this book, too, which is good because the only time I’d previously noticed him was as a grumpy presence on the fringe of book 3.
In general, I am a fan of RA Steffan’s books, and if she keeps writing them with Gwendolyn Druyor narrating them, I’ll be there! There is so much care she put into this book. She put effort and creativity into it that I recognize and admire. This was admittedly a tough balancing act for everything that she wanted and needed to do. But there is stuff in this book that fell flat for me at the end of it all, and mostly it was Draven.
When Draven decides to get over his internalized homophobia, he also decides to let Ash know how he feels as soon as they’re reunited. It’s a fantastic personal breakthrough, but have we gotten ANY indication in the previous books that Ash might have an attraction for Draven, too? If we have, I seriously missed it. It feels a little bit like “I’m gay; you’re gay. We should be together.”
Once they finally talk and try to get over their issues, I can see it working. But not before then. Up until the point of the first love scene, everything seemed hella presumptuous on Draven’s part. As they work through their issues, they really work at it, and that part Steffan handled with grace.
Maybe I’m feeling the weight of the balancing act because there was no way this novel with these characters was ever going to be sunshine. Maybe Draven had to be the bonehead before either one of them could get to the place where they could be something more than two gay men in the same resistance cell.
Final thoughts: Part of an engaging SFR series. For readers who came for the het, don’t let the MM scare you away. For lovers of angst and such, yes, this has it. It’s not the lightest of reads, but I wouldn’t call it dark fic.
Disclaimer: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
For those of us who have been reading the series, Ash has been one of the most interesting people in the small rebel group, but he’s also been used sparingly, which further makes his appearances all the more effective. We get a lot of insight into Draven in this book, too, which is good because the only time I’d previously noticed him was as a grumpy presence on the fringe of book 3.
In general, I am a fan of RA Steffan’s books, and if she keeps writing them with Gwendolyn Druyor narrating them, I’ll be there! There is so much care she put into this book. She put effort and creativity into it that I recognize and admire. This was admittedly a tough balancing act for everything that she wanted and needed to do. But there is stuff in this book that fell flat for me at the end of it all, and mostly it was Draven.
When Draven decides to get over his internalized homophobia, he also decides to let Ash know how he feels as soon as they’re reunited. It’s a fantastic personal breakthrough, but have we gotten ANY indication in the previous books that Ash might have an attraction for Draven, too? If we have, I seriously missed it. It feels a little bit like “I’m gay; you’re gay. We should be together.”
Once they finally talk and try to get over their issues, I can see it working. But not before then. Up until the point of the first love scene, everything seemed hella presumptuous on Draven’s part. As they work through their issues, they really work at it, and that part Steffan handled with grace.
Maybe I’m feeling the weight of the balancing act because there was no way this novel with these characters was ever going to be sunshine. Maybe Draven had to be the bonehead before either one of them could get to the place where they could be something more than two gay men in the same resistance cell.
Final thoughts: Part of an engaging SFR series. For readers who came for the het, don’t let the MM scare you away. For lovers of angst and such, yes, this has it. It’s not the lightest of reads, but I wouldn’t call it dark fic.
Disclaimer: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
May 5, 2019
A Short Read for Draven and Ash's Story
Not a bad fourth book in this series. There is a little action when the rescue goes down, and a little adventure when the get to their destination. Revelations happen on the freighter between Draven and Ash, and then later while on Terra Nova. If that seems cryptic, you'll have to read the book.
This book isn't as long as the others, and is really a quick read. All the characters were only mentioned at the beginning of the book. The POV's were Draven and Ash. Kade was the only other Shadow Wing member to make a longer appearance in this book.
Overall, not bad for a short read about Draven and Ash. I'm not a MM reader, but felt I needed to continue this series. I do have to say, it was done pretty well, that it didn't make me quit reading.
Not a bad fourth book in this series. There is a little action when the rescue goes down, and a little adventure when the get to their destination. Revelations happen on the freighter between Draven and Ash, and then later while on Terra Nova. If that seems cryptic, you'll have to read the book.
This book isn't as long as the others, and is really a quick read. All the characters were only mentioned at the beginning of the book. The POV's were Draven and Ash. Kade was the only other Shadow Wing member to make a longer appearance in this book.
Overall, not bad for a short read about Draven and Ash. I'm not a MM reader, but felt I needed to continue this series. I do have to say, it was done pretty well, that it didn't make me quit reading.
November 18, 2023
I really wanted to like this more than I did, but there was just too much talking/political stuff and planning, not enough action. And the ending was really anticlimactic.
The depictions of Ash's trauma responses were good though. The dissociation, withdrawal, and anger, the fear of never enjoying things again, all of that really rang true. So did Draven's fury over the things Ash endured.
And the audiobook narration was really good too.
I just wish there was more happening in this one. A daring rescue attempt from a sexual sadist, a political coup, an escape from a hostile planet... it could've been so much more intense than it was.
The depictions of Ash's trauma responses were good though. The dissociation, withdrawal, and anger, the fear of never enjoying things again, all of that really rang true. So did Draven's fury over the things Ash endured.
And the audiobook narration was really good too.
I just wish there was more happening in this one. A daring rescue attempt from a sexual sadist, a political coup, an escape from a hostile planet... it could've been so much more intense than it was.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2019
Worth the waiting
Draven and Ash have been dancing around each other, never truly accepting their feelings for each other. When the news of Ash’s death reach the Shadow Wing Draven refuses to believe it. After so long living a double and dangerous life it seems Ash’s luck ran out. I was looking forward for this story to be told and it didn’t disappoint.
Draven and Ash have been dancing around each other, never truly accepting their feelings for each other. When the news of Ash’s death reach the Shadow Wing Draven refuses to believe it. After so long living a double and dangerous life it seems Ash’s luck ran out. I was looking forward for this story to be told and it didn’t disappoint.
March 29, 2021
This book had me in tears with how emotional it got between the main characters. This book goes above and beyond in its descriptions and retelling of abuse and its aftermath. It was a hard book to read emotionally but totally worth the tears.
July 30, 2019
Maybe too much hype but my least favorite. Ironically the only one in the series I purchased (rather than waiting for the library). Guessing on date
May 6, 2021
Ash and Devon
Ash is dead according to all the information but Devon does not, will not believe it when he finally allows himself to realise he loves Ash.
Ash is dead according to all the information but Devon does not, will not believe it when he finally allows himself to realise he loves Ash.
Read
February 13, 2025Trigger & Content Warnings:
Homophobia & internalised homophobia
Rape
Sex work & sex slavery
Homophobia & internalised homophobia
Rape
Sex work & sex slavery
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews