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Queens of Future Past #1
Ariana
Princess Ariana, stuck in a tower for fifteen years, can only inherit her kingdom if she cuts her hair and marries. She spends her days killing every suitor she meets and refusing to cut her hair for anyone.
Devin, a warrior king from a neighboring country, thinks he has what it takes to woo the princess. Though he has enjoyed a no-strings-attached relationship with his bodyguard, Devin wants to move on, worried that his deeper affection is not reciprocated.
But Tan, the king’s loyal bodyguard, has kept his true feelings a secret and will do anything to protect his love from a deadly princess. He lost another loved one fifteen years earlier, and he refuses to let the same fate befall his king.
When Devin and Tan spend a night in Ariana’s tower, they realize an unlikely arrangement could lead to them living happily ever after. But first, Ariana needs to learn to trust them. And Devin and Tan need to make it through the night alive.
This polyamorous MMF novella, set in a post-apocalyptic America, has 30,000 words, an unapologetic heroine, two bisexual heroes, three HEA’s, and several happy endings.
Devin, a warrior king from a neighboring country, thinks he has what it takes to woo the princess. Though he has enjoyed a no-strings-attached relationship with his bodyguard, Devin wants to move on, worried that his deeper affection is not reciprocated.
But Tan, the king’s loyal bodyguard, has kept his true feelings a secret and will do anything to protect his love from a deadly princess. He lost another loved one fifteen years earlier, and he refuses to let the same fate befall his king.
When Devin and Tan spend a night in Ariana’s tower, they realize an unlikely arrangement could lead to them living happily ever after. But first, Ariana needs to learn to trust them. And Devin and Tan need to make it through the night alive.
This polyamorous MMF novella, set in a post-apocalyptic America, has 30,000 words, an unapologetic heroine, two bisexual heroes, three HEA’s, and several happy endings.
132 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 26, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Did Not Finish
August 10, 2022This MMF romance caught my eye despite (or maybe because?) it's outside my usual reading fare. Early on it had a feeling of a fairy tale set in a future post-apocalyptic dystopia — and while I normally hate fairy tales and their retellings, I couldn't resist a genre mashup like that. It was so weird... and I mean that in a good way. I had no idea what to expect. I like that in a story.
Often when I'm reading something good-weird by a new-to-me-to-author, I end up unsure as to whether the strangeness is intended, or it's just that the story's run amok outside the author's control and is doomed to crash and burn. If it's short enough, I may never know. In this case it ran long enough that I reluctantly concluded it was the latter. I DNF'd at 80% — you know, the point in a romance where there's An Inevitable Obstacle — because the impetus for the breakup wasn't credible. It felt like the characters were being crudely manipulated by the author's hand, rather than being true to themselves.
The DNF was easy to embrace at that point because I'd been so squicked out by the m/f sex. This is a personal peculiarity, and honestly I didn't even know I had it that bad — I came to m/m romance without any familiarity with the romance genre in general. And of course "the romance genre in general" means m/f romance. But wowzers, I can tell you definitively that it's not for me. I know some m/m readers share my aversion, and some don't, so proceed accordingly.
I'm at a loss as to how to rate this. I loved the crazy dystopian fairy-tale setup. I was curious about the relationship dynamics and how the menage would work. But the writing wasn't strong enough to keep me believing in the story, especially when the m/f sex had already reduced me to skimming. In summary, it was a failure for me — but a very interesting failure. I'd be open to trying this author again, but with m/m only.
Often when I'm reading something good-weird by a new-to-me-to-author, I end up unsure as to whether the strangeness is intended, or it's just that the story's run amok outside the author's control and is doomed to crash and burn. If it's short enough, I may never know. In this case it ran long enough that I reluctantly concluded it was the latter. I DNF'd at 80% — you know, the point in a romance where there's An Inevitable Obstacle — because the impetus for the breakup wasn't credible. It felt like the characters were being crudely manipulated by the author's hand, rather than being true to themselves.
The DNF was easy to embrace at that point because I'd been so squicked out by the m/f sex. This is a personal peculiarity, and honestly I didn't even know I had it that bad — I came to m/m romance without any familiarity with the romance genre in general. And of course "the romance genre in general" means m/f romance. But wowzers, I can tell you definitively that it's not for me. I know some m/m readers share my aversion, and some don't, so proceed accordingly.
I'm at a loss as to how to rate this. I loved the crazy dystopian fairy-tale setup. I was curious about the relationship dynamics and how the menage would work. But the writing wasn't strong enough to keep me believing in the story, especially when the m/f sex had already reduced me to skimming. In summary, it was a failure for me — but a very interesting failure. I'd be open to trying this author again, but with m/m only.
August 7, 2021
A quick read, I finished this in one sitting. I liked the concept of Ariana being this tough, doesn't-give-a-shit heroine. I also thought it was interesting how sweet and innocent the bodyguard, Tan, was. I'm not totally sure I liked this characterization.
I did like that there were all kinds of connections and combinations between Ariana, Devin, and Tan. It's not exactly love at first sight for Devin and Ariana but they both want to make Tan happy.
I do feel this is the kind of story that suffers from being a novella because there's not enough time to actually develop the things being shown. The post-apocalyptic setting / fairy tale retelling was only hinted at (mentions of destruction, solar flares, and "past times") and it made it all feel too much like a device to force Ariana into her tower and create the situation of the marriage contract. I honestly forgot several times there was a different world out there because other than the government, everything seems the same.
Overall, I liked the characters and the idea behind it all more than I liked the story itself.
I did like that there were all kinds of connections and combinations between Ariana, Devin, and Tan. It's not exactly love at first sight for Devin and Ariana but they both want to make Tan happy.
I do feel this is the kind of story that suffers from being a novella because there's not enough time to actually develop the things being shown. The post-apocalyptic setting / fairy tale retelling was only hinted at (mentions of destruction, solar flares, and "past times") and it made it all feel too much like a device to force Ariana into her tower and create the situation of the marriage contract. I honestly forgot several times there was a different world out there because other than the government, everything seems the same.
Overall, I liked the characters and the idea behind it all more than I liked the story itself.
May 26, 2019
Quick steamy novella with an interesting premise that didn't quite deliver on the execution. It was too insta-love for my tastes with all of the characters saying and doing things that didn't quite add up. But if you're looking for an MFM with hot scenes, this will deliver.
CW: references to murder and violence
CW: references to murder and violence
September 5, 2022
3 stars.
The plot and worldbuilding was quite muddled, which I suppose is to be expected in a novella with so much sex. But I found all that distracting from the sex at hand.
Also, I was cool with the instalust but the instalove didn’t sell for me
Includes: MM bj, MF face sitting, MF fingering, MMF including DP
The plot and worldbuilding was quite muddled, which I suppose is to be expected in a novella with so much sex. But I found all that distracting from the sex at hand.
Also, I was cool with the instalust but the instalove didn’t sell for me
Includes: MM bj, MF face sitting, MF fingering, MMF including DP
March 19, 2019
Enjoyed it but there were times when I was thrown out of the story with the thought that a male must have written it... which made sense once I realized that a male did in fact write it...
March 17, 2019
I liked the IDEA of this novella a lot more than I liked the execution. Part of it is that old chestnut for me - I'm simply not much of a pure romance reader, so a lot of the tropes and conventions in published romance don't always work for me. The sex scenes didn't impress me, and I didn't really buy that the characters were in love so quickly.
The other factor was that the writing and characterisation wasn't that good. The set-up was interesting (a Rapunzel fairytale in a not-grim post-apocalyptic setting), and the IDEA of Ariana's character, in particular, I would have enjoyed more of. But the motivations of characters were only sketched in, I felt like like the political sub-plots didn't make sense, and the interactions between characters were often told-not-shown or didn't satisfy me narratively. I'm not sure if it's just writing skill, or the novella format, but I can't help but want the main character in a novel-length book by, perhaps, a different author.
The other factor was that the writing and characterisation wasn't that good. The set-up was interesting (a Rapunzel fairytale in a not-grim post-apocalyptic setting), and the IDEA of Ariana's character, in particular, I would have enjoyed more of. But the motivations of characters were only sketched in, I felt like like the political sub-plots didn't make sense, and the interactions between characters were often told-not-shown or didn't satisfy me narratively. I'm not sure if it's just writing skill, or the novella format, but I can't help but want the main character in a novel-length book by, perhaps, a different author.
February 11, 2019
I saw a friend talking about this on Twitter and knew it was the book for me when I read "She spends her days killing every suitor she meets and refusing to cut her hair for anyone." in the blurb. Yassss. I really liked the story. The MMF relationship really worked for me and I enjoyed the main characters. There were some flaws with the world-building (namely that there wasn't enough of it to truly give this a post-apocalyptic feel), but I really liked the way the story developed and the romance between the three. I'm looking forward to the next novella, which looks to be a FFM.
June 8, 2019
KU. Quick MMF novella. Like many novellas it’s short on plot/world building, but obviously part of series. Not a serial though ~ this story has its own arc and “Isha” appears to continue the overall storyline.
This is mostly sex with some plot thrown in and it suffers somewhat in that respect. Things were fairly predictable and even “clues” that were, I guess, supposed to be mysterious really weren’t. The only surprise to me was what happened to the 3rd suitor.
Ariana is a princess who needs to marry in order to take the throne. (There’s an explanation about a will and a bunch of things that have to be fulfilled to meet the terms of the will including her cutting her hair and bowing down to her betrothed.). She’s murdered her 3 previous suitors. Devin is a King from a neighboring land & Tan is his bodyguard and lover. Devin has come to woo Ariana and is willing to give up Tan to do so.
The author manages to write M/M, M/F, & MMF scenes into this short story. There’s a HEA for the threesome with a HFN for the kingdom. An epilogue leads to Isha’s story which will be a MFF.
It wasn’t great, it’s wasn’t bad. For “free” via KU it’s decent, not something I’d buy or read again. But I am looking forward to the next one which has already been released.
This is mostly sex with some plot thrown in and it suffers somewhat in that respect. Things were fairly predictable and even “clues” that were, I guess, supposed to be mysterious really weren’t. The only surprise to me was what happened to the 3rd suitor.
Ariana is a princess who needs to marry in order to take the throne. (There’s an explanation about a will and a bunch of things that have to be fulfilled to meet the terms of the will including her cutting her hair and bowing down to her betrothed.). She’s murdered her 3 previous suitors. Devin is a King from a neighboring land & Tan is his bodyguard and lover. Devin has come to woo Ariana and is willing to give up Tan to do so.
The author manages to write M/M, M/F, & MMF scenes into this short story. There’s a HEA for the threesome with a HFN for the kingdom. An epilogue leads to Isha’s story which will be a MFF.
It wasn’t great, it’s wasn’t bad. For “free” via KU it’s decent, not something I’d buy or read again. But I am looking forward to the next one which has already been released.
February 8, 2019
A Sweet MMF Love Story
I emphasize the word "love" because so many triad stories involving two men always seem to be more of a fantasy for the woman, which is fine, but I like that the two male characters already have an established relationship. I also love that while the story is certainly delightfully steamy, the core of it is about three people trying to figure out how to be together. My only complaint is that I wish there had been a little more story at the end instead of an epilogue, though complaining makes me a total hypocrite, because I totally did the same thing with all three of my own books.
I emphasize the word "love" because so many triad stories involving two men always seem to be more of a fantasy for the woman, which is fine, but I like that the two male characters already have an established relationship. I also love that while the story is certainly delightfully steamy, the core of it is about three people trying to figure out how to be together. My only complaint is that I wish there had been a little more story at the end instead of an epilogue, though complaining makes me a total hypocrite, because I totally did the same thing with all three of my own books.
February 28, 2019
It's fine. I need to stop reading novellas, especially ones that want to go from meeting to Together Forever *and* with multiple people in the relationship. It's too much for a short story. But this book's premise was interesting and I liked the characters and there sex was reasonably hot.
Read
December 14, 2019This is a future-set, loose-Rapunzel-retelling, erotic romance novella, with an amused/amusing voice I enjoyed. The characters and romantic development weren't strong enough to be very convincing or satisfying to me, but there were still some interesting storytelling choices.
February 10, 2019
Nice
This was a very unique story. I enjoyed it. There were some predictable parts but many unexpected layers. Glad I stumbled upon this when someone on Twitter recommended it.
This was a very unique story. I enjoyed it. There were some predictable parts but many unexpected layers. Glad I stumbled upon this when someone on Twitter recommended it.
March 17, 2019
It's got such a cool concept. I wanted so badly to like it, but the writing just doesn't do it for me.
September 27, 2019
Fairy tale porn and not particularly well done. Sorry but nope.
Read
July 26, 2021
Trigger & Content Warnings
Murder mentioned
Murder mentioned
February 20, 2019
A very sweet, sexy novella! I loved the implied political intrigue (which, if there's a sequel, will hopefully be explored) going on in the background, and all three of the main characters were sympathetic and appealing. My only quibble is that the final obstacle seemed a bit contrived, and there was a bit of a gambit pile-up at the end, but overall, it's a very fun book.
May 11, 2023
This is a unique post-apocalyptic royal M/M/F romance. The twists and turns are somewhat far-fetched, but if you embrace this as a "fairy tale" style tale, it goes down a lot better.
March 24, 2019
It was cute and even if the execution and characters' development could have been better, it was so obvious the author had a blast writing it, it made it really fun to read.
June 4, 2024
DNF at 52%
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews