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Anhaga
Aramin Decourcey—Min to his few friends—might be the best thief in Amberwich, and he might have a secret that helps him survive the cutthroat world of aristocratic families and their powerful magic users, but he does have one weakness: his affection for his adopted nephew, Harry.
When the formidable Sabadine family curses Harry, Min must accept a suicide mission to save his life: retrieve Kazimir Stone, a low-level Sabadine hedgewitch who refuses to come home after completing his apprenticeship… and who is in Anhaga, a seaside village under the control of the terrifying Hidden Lord of the fae. If that wasn’t enough, Kaz is far from the simple hedgewitch he seems.
With the Sabadines on one side and the fae on the other, Min doesn’t have time to deal with a crisis of conscience—or the growing attraction between him and Kaz. He needs to get Kaz back to Amberwich and get Harry’s curse lifted before it kills him. Saving Harry means handing Kaz over to his ruthless family. Saving Kaz means letting Harry die. Min might pride himself on his cleverness, but he can’t see his way out of this one.
The Hidden Lord might see that he never gets the choice.
When the formidable Sabadine family curses Harry, Min must accept a suicide mission to save his life: retrieve Kazimir Stone, a low-level Sabadine hedgewitch who refuses to come home after completing his apprenticeship… and who is in Anhaga, a seaside village under the control of the terrifying Hidden Lord of the fae. If that wasn’t enough, Kaz is far from the simple hedgewitch he seems.
With the Sabadines on one side and the fae on the other, Min doesn’t have time to deal with a crisis of conscience—or the growing attraction between him and Kaz. He needs to get Kaz back to Amberwich and get Harry’s curse lifted before it kills him. Saving Harry means handing Kaz over to his ruthless family. Saving Kaz means letting Harry die. Min might pride himself on his cleverness, but he can’t see his way out of this one.
The Hidden Lord might see that he never gets the choice.
262 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 23, 2019
66 people are currently reading
1215 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Henry
103 books2,280 followersI like to tell stories. Mostly with hot guys and happily ever afters. They gotta work for it though. No free lunches on my watch.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
August 22, 2019
Interesting, well-done fantasy-romance from the always reliable Lisa Henry.
I'm not a fantasy reader, so I was a little reluctant to try Anhaga, mostly because I adore Lisa Henry and I hate disliking a book from one of my favorite authors. However, I was surprised at how much I liked it.
Anhaga is low steam and low snark for a Lisa Henry book, so know that going into it. We have a bisexual MC and a virgin (yaaaassss), so that grabbed me right away, but this story isn't very explicit with the good details. There was nice chemistry between the two MCs, and I liked the innocence and potential of the romance.
I thought the romance was well done, even if it could have been fleshed out a bit more, but what really drew me in was the story. The world-building was exciting, and I couldn't wait to find out more about the fae and the magical people. I could have used more details and just more, but I was pretty happy with it just as is.
A solid book from a great author, Anhaga is worth your time.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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I'm not a fantasy reader, so I was a little reluctant to try Anhaga, mostly because I adore Lisa Henry and I hate disliking a book from one of my favorite authors. However, I was surprised at how much I liked it.
Anhaga is low steam and low snark for a Lisa Henry book, so know that going into it. We have a bisexual MC and a virgin (yaaaassss), so that grabbed me right away, but this story isn't very explicit with the good details. There was nice chemistry between the two MCs, and I liked the innocence and potential of the romance.
I thought the romance was well done, even if it could have been fleshed out a bit more, but what really drew me in was the story. The world-building was exciting, and I couldn't wait to find out more about the fae and the magical people. I could have used more details and just more, but I was pretty happy with it just as is.
A solid book from a great author, Anhaga is worth your time.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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April 25, 2019Anhaga is out on July 23 from Dreamspinner!
Any questions about Anhaga, feel free to ask here.
And thank you so much to the librarian who added the URL! You're awesome!
Any questions about Anhaga, feel free to ask here.
And thank you so much to the librarian who added the URL! You're awesome!
dnf
July 27, 2019DNF @ 45%
😴💤💤💤💤💤
I only made it as far as I did because it has Lisa Henry's name on it. If it had been by a new-to-me writer, I wouldn't have lasted as long as I did.
On the plus side, the writing quality is fine. And, miracle of miracles for Dreamspinner lately -- it's not riddled with typos and editing errors! I guess it's like they say, even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.
But any story involving "the fae" is not likely to be for me. Me + "the fae" = Snooze City. YMMV. There could be a marvelous story in here, and for the sake of all you Lisa Henry fans, I hope that's the case. But I don't feel like clinging on and waiting for it to show up; I feel like giving up and starting a new book.
😴💤💤💤💤💤
I only made it as far as I did because it has Lisa Henry's name on it. If it had been by a new-to-me writer, I wouldn't have lasted as long as I did.
On the plus side, the writing quality is fine. And, miracle of miracles for Dreamspinner lately -- it's not riddled with typos and editing errors! I guess it's like they say, even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.
But any story involving "the fae" is not likely to be for me. Me + "the fae" = Snooze City. YMMV. There could be a marvelous story in here, and for the sake of all you Lisa Henry fans, I hope that's the case. But I don't feel like clinging on and waiting for it to show up; I feel like giving up and starting a new book.
January 4, 2023
3.5 Stars!
An engaging fantasy showcasing thief Min and how he must accomplish an impossible mission, less his “nephew” Harry befall a fatal curse.
Min wants to project that he’s a badass loner who only watches out for himself. However, Harry is technically his protege and his found family and though he’d never admit it, Min would do anything to save Harry from his own folly. What ensues is a dangerous journey across fae infested lands to bring back the heir of one of the realm’s most powerful houses. What Min doesn’t expect is to actually sympathize with Kazimir’s predicament, nor does he plan on falling for the handsome mysterious lad as well.
This had some good world building, political machinations, and interesting magical goings on. The characters were layered, and though Min and Harry have their many faults, they have the best intentions despite their less than stellar reputations. The love story was sweet with lots of hurt comfort, and there was a great conclusive climax to see Min and company win the day!
Lisa Henry fans and fantasy lovers will find this combo difficult to resist! Enjoy!
An engaging fantasy showcasing thief Min and how he must accomplish an impossible mission, less his “nephew” Harry befall a fatal curse.
Min wants to project that he’s a badass loner who only watches out for himself. However, Harry is technically his protege and his found family and though he’d never admit it, Min would do anything to save Harry from his own folly. What ensues is a dangerous journey across fae infested lands to bring back the heir of one of the realm’s most powerful houses. What Min doesn’t expect is to actually sympathize with Kazimir’s predicament, nor does he plan on falling for the handsome mysterious lad as well.
This had some good world building, political machinations, and interesting magical goings on. The characters were layered, and though Min and Harry have their many faults, they have the best intentions despite their less than stellar reputations. The love story was sweet with lots of hurt comfort, and there was a great conclusive climax to see Min and company win the day!
Lisa Henry fans and fantasy lovers will find this combo difficult to resist! Enjoy!
July 9, 2020
4.5 stars. Really damn well done fantasy. I'm sorry there's not more!
July 28, 2019
4.25 stars!
Action, drama, heartbreak, romance, and magic - all the markings of an excellent MM fantasy adventure! Consider me very pleased.
In her latest work, Lisa Henry introduces us to Aramin Decourcey, who isn’t necessarily an anti-hero, but certainly isn’t the best of men.
Born in the underbelly of Amberwich society, Min has been raised to be tough and calculating; traits that serve him well in being a mercenary for the ruthless aristocracy.
However, his resolve and loose morals are put to the test when his nephew, Harry, becomes the latest victim of the nobility.
I was sucked into the story from the initial get-go. Yes, Harry’s a bit of an idiot. But he was just a kid, so I could overlook the repeated bad decisions. And it was nice to see from the start that Min had a weak spot, despite his reputation.
This book is action first, and romance second. The plot involves Min being put in the middle of the Sabadines, one of the most powerful families in the kingdom, and the Hidden Lord, the leader of the fae.
The Sabadines send Min on a dangerous journey to retrieve their wayward witch, Kazamir Stone. The terrifying fae seem to have taken a special interest as well.
Min definitely ends up between a rock and a hard place!
I don’t want to give too much away, but I will say that I was thoroughly entertained. The magic, the constant sense of danger, and the uncertain politics all kept me on the edge of my seat. The worldbuilding was excellent!
The relationship between Min and Kaz builds gradually. While Min finds Kaz attractive, being the younger man’s captor isn’t exactly conducive to romance.
Kaz stole my heart pretty early on. He’s a bit broken, but has a core of strength. Something Min can’t help but take notice of, despite trying to ignore it.
Kaz and Min are an odd pair, but they just work. I enjoyed their romance just as much as the grand action plot. The HEA was the perfect way to wrap things up.
Overall, this was an excellent fantasy read. If you’re looking for an entertaining read with magic and a sweet romance, give ‘Anhaga’ a try!
Action, drama, heartbreak, romance, and magic - all the markings of an excellent MM fantasy adventure! Consider me very pleased.
In her latest work, Lisa Henry introduces us to Aramin Decourcey, who isn’t necessarily an anti-hero, but certainly isn’t the best of men.
Born in the underbelly of Amberwich society, Min has been raised to be tough and calculating; traits that serve him well in being a mercenary for the ruthless aristocracy.
However, his resolve and loose morals are put to the test when his nephew, Harry, becomes the latest victim of the nobility.
I was sucked into the story from the initial get-go. Yes, Harry’s a bit of an idiot. But he was just a kid, so I could overlook the repeated bad decisions. And it was nice to see from the start that Min had a weak spot, despite his reputation.
This book is action first, and romance second. The plot involves Min being put in the middle of the Sabadines, one of the most powerful families in the kingdom, and the Hidden Lord, the leader of the fae.
The Sabadines send Min on a dangerous journey to retrieve their wayward witch, Kazamir Stone. The terrifying fae seem to have taken a special interest as well.
Min definitely ends up between a rock and a hard place!
I don’t want to give too much away, but I will say that I was thoroughly entertained. The magic, the constant sense of danger, and the uncertain politics all kept me on the edge of my seat. The worldbuilding was excellent!
The relationship between Min and Kaz builds gradually. While Min finds Kaz attractive, being the younger man’s captor isn’t exactly conducive to romance.
Kaz stole my heart pretty early on. He’s a bit broken, but has a core of strength. Something Min can’t help but take notice of, despite trying to ignore it.
Kaz and Min are an odd pair, but they just work. I enjoyed their romance just as much as the grand action plot. The HEA was the perfect way to wrap things up.
Overall, this was an excellent fantasy read. If you’re looking for an entertaining read with magic and a sweet romance, give ‘Anhaga’ a try!
August 7, 2022
*4.35* Aramin is snarky, quick-witted, loyal, and a lover of whomever catches his fancy.
Lisa Henry continues to impress me with her excellent story crafting. I first discovered her reading Dark Space, the first in a series, a sci-fi gem.
Of course, he always had problems differentiating between the people he'd like to punch and the people he'd like to fuck. They were so often the same people.And then you have Kaz. Someone with the power to bring down the kingdom, but also...
The boy who only ever wanted to make potions and poultices and be left alone.The book begins with Min waking up next to a women who is more than she seems. We learn his young friend Henry is missing, being held by a powerful family for sneaking into their daughter's window. Min is tasked (threatened) with bringing home a nephew for this family.
His gaze was speculative, clever and cold. That seemed to be a family trait of the Sabadines. They probably beat all the warmth out of their children from birth.If you enjoy intelligent fantasy, fabulous dialogue and well-fleshed out characters with depth and emotion, you'll love this MM, virgin H, high fantasy, magic driven story. There is steam here, but it's not gratuitous.
Lisa Henry continues to impress me with her excellent story crafting. I first discovered her reading Dark Space, the first in a series, a sci-fi gem.
December 19, 2022
4 Stars
I love me some high fantasy and I definitely love me some Lisa Henry storytelling. Put them together and Anhaga was my idea of a good time!
As a fantasy lover, I relish when magic and the mythical all blend together the way they did here. Throw in an adventurous, life-threatening quest, and a dash of romance and I’m one happy reader.
The romance between thief Aramin “Min” Decourcey and magical Kazamir “Kaz” Stone, whom Min has been tasked with kidnapping and returning to his abusive old grandfather, had a lovely slow-burn, forbidden lovers vibe to it, which I enjoyed.
Add in that Min is proudly bisexual and Kaz is a virgin and you’ve got yourself an extra good time!
Honestly, Lisa Henry makes great character arcs, engaging plot developments, delicious romances, and original world-building all seem easy.
Needless to say, I had grand time reading this and I definitely wouldn’t say no to another story set in this world, if the possibility ever arose.
I love me some high fantasy and I definitely love me some Lisa Henry storytelling. Put them together and Anhaga was my idea of a good time!
As a fantasy lover, I relish when magic and the mythical all blend together the way they did here. Throw in an adventurous, life-threatening quest, and a dash of romance and I’m one happy reader.
The romance between thief Aramin “Min” Decourcey and magical Kazamir “Kaz” Stone, whom Min has been tasked with kidnapping and returning to his abusive old grandfather, had a lovely slow-burn, forbidden lovers vibe to it, which I enjoyed.
Add in that Min is proudly bisexual and Kaz is a virgin and you’ve got yourself an extra good time!
Honestly, Lisa Henry makes great character arcs, engaging plot developments, delicious romances, and original world-building all seem easy.
Needless to say, I had grand time reading this and I definitely wouldn’t say no to another story set in this world, if the possibility ever arose.
July 25, 2019
So good. Everything about it worked for me. I woke up at 3 this morning, and I read the entire thing before work. My new favorite Lisa Henry.
September 20, 2019
Min makes a decent living by using his rare magical talent to achieve minor thieving and commissions. He keeps himself and his adopted-nephew Harry fed and housed, if not wealthy. But Harry has a weakness for young ladies, and Min, despite his pretense at being emotion-free and self-serving, has a weakness for the young man he rescued years ago. When Harry is caught in the wrong bedroom, his safety becomes hostage to the nobleman's demand - Min is to go to a town plagued by the fae, and bring home a runaway grandson of the house to do his familial duty.
Min undertakes the mission, but Kaz, the errant grandson, is both more and less than just the apprentice hedgewitch his grandfather described him as. He's beautiful, young, somehow both innocent and more powerful than even he realizes. And trading his freedom for Harry's life becomes less acceptable a bargain than Min expected. Especially when the fae also show a strong interest in Kaz.
Min's breezy, self-deprecating narrative tone makes this both more fun and less intense than this plot might have been, resulting in a light, enjoyable fantasy adventure. There are some imaginative touches, and I enjoyed the characters, right down to the satisfying conclusion.
Min undertakes the mission, but Kaz, the errant grandson, is both more and less than just the apprentice hedgewitch his grandfather described him as. He's beautiful, young, somehow both innocent and more powerful than even he realizes. And trading his freedom for Harry's life becomes less acceptable a bargain than Min expected. Especially when the fae also show a strong interest in Kaz.
Min's breezy, self-deprecating narrative tone makes this both more fun and less intense than this plot might have been, resulting in a light, enjoyable fantasy adventure. There are some imaginative touches, and I enjoyed the characters, right down to the satisfying conclusion.
July 23, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
I’ll admit that I don’t read much fantasy, but when I saw Lisa Henry had fantasy story coming out, I couldn’t resist giving it a try (also, look at that cover!). I have to say that I absolutely loved this one and was totally caught up in the story. The world building here is really nicely done, and Henry provides enough detail on the politics of the land, the magic users, and the fae to build a creative story. Things are just complex enough to make it interesting without being overwhelming. I also loved the ambiguity here between good and evil. There is more going on with just about every character than we think at first, and I particularly enjoyed Min as a man who is unrepentant in his bad behavior, but also clearly caring, not just for Harry, but ultimately for Kaz as well. He is sort of an anti-hero and I enjoyed the way that he cares about those he loves (as well as the good people of the city) and couldn’t care less about the ones who are out to do harm.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
I’ll admit that I don’t read much fantasy, but when I saw Lisa Henry had fantasy story coming out, I couldn’t resist giving it a try (also, look at that cover!). I have to say that I absolutely loved this one and was totally caught up in the story. The world building here is really nicely done, and Henry provides enough detail on the politics of the land, the magic users, and the fae to build a creative story. Things are just complex enough to make it interesting without being overwhelming. I also loved the ambiguity here between good and evil. There is more going on with just about every character than we think at first, and I particularly enjoyed Min as a man who is unrepentant in his bad behavior, but also clearly caring, not just for Harry, but ultimately for Kaz as well. He is sort of an anti-hero and I enjoyed the way that he cares about those he loves (as well as the good people of the city) and couldn’t care less about the ones who are out to do harm.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
January 4, 2020
The über-reliable Lisa Henry, an unusually solid storyteller and a master of atmosphere as demonstrated by her splendid Dark Space 1&2 or The Island, disappointed my expectations with this, very by-the-book and formulaic, first foray into fantasy. A risk-averse, not to say: wooden, approach to the genre was hardly the recipe for a strong sword-and-sorcery tale; how indeed could Anhaga strive to be anything beyond unfortunately flat, shallow and one-dimensional, when the author replaced the cast of characters by a full bullet list of types (the cantankerous thief with a heart of gold, his mouthy yet sweet partner-in-crime, the boyishly virginal love-interest with a checkered past, the almost too good to be true witch helper, the menacing faes, etc) and wove an equally derivative and generic plot full of convenient coincidences (the woman the alpha hero beds in the very first scene turns out to be the king’s cousin and therefore will take him inside the closely-guarded Iron Tower in due time for the climax of the story to take place, the alpha lead is of course wholly impervious to magic due to his being a Gifted, his acolyte has fallen in love with the very right aristocratic maiden at the best time to launch the tale, the love-interest happens to be a powerhouse in disguise, and so on and so forth)? I felt almost as robbed by the perfunctory universe building (Mrs Henry, who presently hardly ever bothers to provide backstory, managed to strike an unfortunate means between wholesale blandness of conception and the preposterousness of most details) as let down by the extremely tepid and unromantic love affair between Aramin ‘Min’ and Kazimir ‘Kaz’ (the very way they drop into bed, just because the latter does not want his first time to be with a rapist, reeks of desperate plotting); for there is no real progression in the feelings of these two, especially given the idiotic choice of internal focalization (the entire story happens from Min’s rather trite and jejune POV), and their chemistry never ever peers out. The few good ideas that stand out in the midst of all this fanfiction-type dreariness (such as Kaz’ animated tattoos and the quirky manifestation of his magic through feathers clogging the air) are utterly wasted. Did Mrs Henry lose her literary chops? For, apart from a good many poetic turns of sentences, neither the narrative nor the dialogue stand up to a comparison with her previous work (typos are rare but careless repetitions of words and nursery syntax abound). I am almost inclined to believe that this novel was in fact ghost-written (witness the very lazy and open-ended conclusion, which, among other cardinal sins, manages to skip showing us the Fae, and the moronic station in life of Min, who could roll in riches thanks to his being a Void - the rarest Gift in this fictional universe - yet is happy to wally in his street rat activities).
July 21, 2019
4.5 Stars!
Prior to this, I'd read two of Lisa Henry's books and at the end of this I asked myself "Why haven't you read more from this author you dummy?!" Lol!
Yup! This was great writing and just how I like my fantasy books.It had good word building(if admittedly a bit sparse), magic, wonder, great characterisation(Harry, Talys, Aiode, even Robert), great pacing and most importantly, it made me feel all of the feels.
Min was not someone who could be referred to as a hero. In fact, think of the furthest thing you can from a hero (but not evil) and you would have Aramin Decourcey. He was a scoundrel and an unrepentant criminal but deep deep DEEP down he had a conscience and it was this buried conscience that made him the unlikely hero that he turned out to be for Kaz.
Kaz,Kaz, Kaz... My sweet misunderstood Kazimir. He was such a lonely soul. Suffering over things he had no control over and grossly misunderstood just for being who he was, I just wanted to reach into the book and give him all the hugs!! His character wasn't as developed as it probably could've been but I think for the nature of the story, it worked pretty well. It was also the reason why I couldn't give the book 5-stars in good faith. If I'd gotten more Kaz, i would've thrown all the stars at it!
Nevertheless, these two men gave me so much even within all the limitations they faced. I do not want to say any more in case i mistakenly spoil something for any potential reader but I will say that I enjoyed every single moment of this story(yes, even the heart wrenching moments). My only wish was for the epilogue to have been longer because I am a greedy little reader like that and wanted more of Kaz. Lol
If you like your fantasy and MM mixed with just the right amount of snark and angst, get this book ! You'll thank me later.
*** eARC was Graciously Provided by The Publisher, DreamSpinner Press in Exchange For An Honest Review ***
Prior to this, I'd read two of Lisa Henry's books and at the end of this I asked myself "Why haven't you read more from this author you dummy?!" Lol!
Yup! This was great writing and just how I like my fantasy books.It had good word building(if admittedly a bit sparse), magic, wonder, great characterisation(Harry, Talys, Aiode, even Robert), great pacing and most importantly, it made me feel all of the feels.
Min was not someone who could be referred to as a hero. In fact, think of the furthest thing you can from a hero (but not evil) and you would have Aramin Decourcey. He was a scoundrel and an unrepentant criminal but deep deep DEEP down he had a conscience and it was this buried conscience that made him the unlikely hero that he turned out to be for Kaz.
Kaz,Kaz, Kaz... My sweet misunderstood Kazimir. He was such a lonely soul. Suffering over things he had no control over and grossly misunderstood just for being who he was, I just wanted to reach into the book and give him all the hugs!! His character wasn't as developed as it probably could've been but I think for the nature of the story, it worked pretty well. It was also the reason why I couldn't give the book 5-stars in good faith. If I'd gotten more Kaz, i would've thrown all the stars at it!
Nevertheless, these two men gave me so much even within all the limitations they faced. I do not want to say any more in case i mistakenly spoil something for any potential reader but I will say that I enjoyed every single moment of this story(yes, even the heart wrenching moments). My only wish was for the epilogue to have been longer because I am a greedy little reader like that and wanted more of Kaz. Lol
If you like your fantasy and MM mixed with just the right amount of snark and angst, get this book ! You'll thank me later.
*** eARC was Graciously Provided by The Publisher, DreamSpinner Press in Exchange For An Honest Review ***
March 16, 2024
I wish I had the energy to write a thoughtful review because this book deserves it but I’m super sleepy so this will be short and sweet. Suffice to say that while this story wasn’t perfect, I loved it.
The character building made this story for me. Not only were the main characters interesting, flawed and likable, the secondary characters were also captivating, thoughtfully crafted and rich. Even the “villains” had depth and nuance that brought them to life in a compelling way.
Though I’m not a fan of insta-love, Henry made it work here, partly because Min admits multiple times that though he hasn’t known Kaz long enough to feel “love,” his feelings are strong and are inspiring him to act in ways out of his norm. I liked that admission and the reality that sometimes we go with our gut for reasons even we don’t truly understand.
There was one small detail during the conclusion that seemed a little too convenient. That detail and the insta-love are why I deem the story less than perfect but between all the other elements I LOVED, not the least of which were Knifebeak and Taavi, I’m giving Anhaga 5 sparkly stars.
Edited to add March 15, 2024: FREE on Amazon until March 19.
The character building made this story for me. Not only were the main characters interesting, flawed and likable, the secondary characters were also captivating, thoughtfully crafted and rich. Even the “villains” had depth and nuance that brought them to life in a compelling way.
Though I’m not a fan of insta-love, Henry made it work here, partly because Min admits multiple times that though he hasn’t known Kaz long enough to feel “love,” his feelings are strong and are inspiring him to act in ways out of his norm. I liked that admission and the reality that sometimes we go with our gut for reasons even we don’t truly understand.
There was one small detail during the conclusion that seemed a little too convenient. That detail and the insta-love are why I deem the story less than perfect but between all the other elements I LOVED, not the least of which were Knifebeak and Taavi, I’m giving Anhaga 5 sparkly stars.
Edited to add March 15, 2024: FREE on Amazon until March 19.
September 24, 2022
Lisa Henry always puts a unique twist on her stories. Anhaga reminded me of an adventure The Avengers might have taken. Quirky characters, cool magic, and one heck of a nutty road trip. Very enjoyable.
I really liked the narrator, Erik Bloomquist! His voice was great for this story.
I really liked the narrator, Erik Bloomquist! His voice was great for this story.
July 29, 2019
Very nice fantasy, excellent writing, witty dialogues and a fast pace; what more can you ask for? Well, I needed a little more romance personally, or at least to understand how and when Min and Kaz fell in love. Also, it had a very prominent YA feel, despite the fact that Min was in his late twenties.
Highly recommended for fans of an intiguing and beautiful world building.
Highly recommended for fans of an intiguing and beautiful world building.
July 25, 2021
4.5 this is what I wanted Master of One to be.
I think I highlighted half of it?
It’s quietly brilliant in a way that reminds me of Charlie Adhara & Maggie Stiefvater’s writing
I will definitely read more Lisa Henry in the future
I think I highlighted half of it?
It’s quietly brilliant in a way that reminds me of Charlie Adhara & Maggie Stiefvater’s writing
I will definitely read more Lisa Henry in the future
September 25, 2024
Lisa Henry on her own (i.e. not co-writing with J.A. Rock) generally doesn't do it for me, but this was fun, with a hero who's less morally gray than he would like to believe, a non-evil necromancer (this is getting to be a trope, isn't it? a fantasy world in which necromancers are understood to be Terrible People but aw what a nice person this necromancer MC actually is). As is so often the case, the story ends by being tied up in a neat bow, but I almost always like to stop at the point when things are looking happily and optimistically toward the future.
There's a secondary character (MC1's more or less foster child, now grown up) who might be a trans man -- it's not 100% clear, IMO, but if he's read as trans then there's a scene where he's deadnamed, so take note if that's something that would distress you. NB the person deadnaming him isn't one of the MCs.
There's a secondary character (MC1's more or less foster child, now grown up) who might be a trans man -- it's not 100% clear, IMO, but if he's read as trans then there's a scene where he's deadnamed, so take note if that's something that would distress you. NB the person deadnaming him isn't one of the MCs.
February 19, 2023
I loved Anhaga's fantasy setting. It was atmospheric and the danger felt real. The cast of characters are interesting and well developed. I really enjoyed Min and Harry's relationship. Min cares for and protects Harry, acting as a mentor and father figure. They would do anything to keep the other safe.
The romance is between Min and Kaz. Min is hired to capture Kaz and return him to his family, who are a real piece of work. Min has no choice but to agree, as Harry has been cursed by the Sabadine family and will die if Kaz is not returned within the month.
I did like Min and Kaz's romance but I wish it was a more fleshed out in the beginning. A bit more actual flirting and getting to know one another, to make it more believable when their relationship gets more serious. At the start it's mainly Min thinking how hot Kaz is, but then convincing himself that a romance is futile as Kaz's family is going to marry him off .
The fae added a nice twist to the story. While they weren't on page a lot , the threat of their presence added to the tension nicely.
The romance is between Min and Kaz. Min is hired to capture Kaz and return him to his family, who are a real piece of work. Min has no choice but to agree, as Harry has been cursed by the Sabadine family and will die if Kaz is not returned within the month.
I did like Min and Kaz's romance but I wish it was a more fleshed out in the beginning. A bit more actual flirting and getting to know one another, to make it more believable when their relationship gets more serious. At the start it's mainly Min thinking how hot Kaz is, but then convincing himself that a romance is futile as Kaz's family is going to marry him off .
The fae added a nice twist to the story. While they weren't on page a lot , the threat of their presence added to the tension nicely.
October 1, 2019
4.25 stars!
While I am more familiar with Lisa Henry's contemporary romance, apparently Henry's fantasy work is SO GOOD, it is one of my favorites of hers for sure!! There isn't much that I could complain about with Anhaga (except for that pet peeve of the world "solider" for "soldier", it's a very common typo that annoy the HECK out of me!). Maybe the world build wasn't as extensive (I assume the human king thinks that the fae King as his enemy, thus the whole Iron Tower things -- though I wonder if there was a history prior to that) but I had no problem with the story itself.
I loved Aramin "Min" Decourcey, thief extraordinaire, best of the eastern quarter (apparently, it's because
I adored Min when he struggled between doing the right thing vs. doing things right - as he learned about who and Kazimir Sabadine was, and what fate waited the young man after Min retrieved him from Anhaga and delivered Kaz to the Sabadine's family.
I loved the adventure they all had, I loved the secondary characters (even if they might not be as developed as Min), and I definitely loved the "twist" in the end about Kazimir's identity.
All in all, this is a GREAT satisfying read. Maybe Lisa Henry should write more fantasy books. I won't mind if she returns to this universe someday.
While I am more familiar with Lisa Henry's contemporary romance, apparently Henry's fantasy work is SO GOOD, it is one of my favorites of hers for sure!! There isn't much that I could complain about with Anhaga (except for that pet peeve of the world "solider" for "soldier", it's a very common typo that annoy the HECK out of me!). Maybe the world build wasn't as extensive (I assume the human king thinks that the fae King as his enemy, thus the whole Iron Tower things -- though I wonder if there was a history prior to that) but I had no problem with the story itself.
I loved Aramin "Min" Decourcey, thief extraordinaire, best of the eastern quarter (apparently, it's because
I adored Min when he struggled between doing the right thing vs. doing things right - as he learned about who and Kazimir Sabadine was, and what fate waited the young man after Min retrieved him from Anhaga and delivered Kaz to the Sabadine's family.
I loved the adventure they all had, I loved the secondary characters (even if they might not be as developed as Min), and I definitely loved the "twist" in the end about Kazimir's identity.
All in all, this is a GREAT satisfying read. Maybe Lisa Henry should write more fantasy books. I won't mind if she returns to this universe someday.
January 21, 2021
2 stars because I managed to listen to the whole story but Erik Bloomquist is a narrator I will not be looking further into. He read the book like he was bored and it was the last thing he wanted to do. His voices showed very little emotion and most of the characters sounded so similar it was hard to differentiate between them. The one voice he did well was Robert Sabadine.
2.75 stars for the story. Aramin Decourcey is forced on a mission by the Sabadine family to bring back their hedgewitch who has completed their apprenticeship but has refused to come home. The only reason Aramin accepts such a mission is because the Sabadine's have placed a curse on his de facto nephew Harry. Harry who was caught in the bedroom of Robert Sabadine's daughter. Aramin discovers many truths about said hedgewitch and himself while on the mission.
2.75 stars for the story. Aramin Decourcey is forced on a mission by the Sabadine family to bring back their hedgewitch who has completed their apprenticeship but has refused to come home. The only reason Aramin accepts such a mission is because the Sabadine's have placed a curse on his de facto nephew Harry. Harry who was caught in the bedroom of Robert Sabadine's daughter. Aramin discovers many truths about said hedgewitch and himself while on the mission.
December 21, 2019
I adore this book
This book has skyrocketed to the top of my list of fantasy books. Absolutely stellar and the style invokes classic fantasy without problematic themes popping up. Great LGBTQ rep and the characters are so full of depth and weight, even secondary characters.
This book has skyrocketed to the top of my list of fantasy books. Absolutely stellar and the style invokes classic fantasy without problematic themes popping up. Great LGBTQ rep and the characters are so full of depth and weight, even secondary characters.
did-not-finish
October 3, 2019dnf at 20% ~
this made me uncomfortable for personal reasons so i will not continue with this
this made me uncomfortable for personal reasons so i will not continue with this
December 4, 2019
4.5 Stars
My heart is happy.
My heart is happy.
June 30, 2020
1,5
Love the cover.
The story is well told & I liked a lot this fantasy world.
However! Hated & was annoyed by characters.
And
rounded down b/c I couldn't forget & forgive that Mir kidnapped & delivered Kaz to his abusive family. Mir believed that Kaz is going to be raped & worse, and yet he made fun(!) of it. Don't care that he was sort of sorry at first and truly sorry later.
As for Kaz he was a classic damsel in distress (with super magic powers).
Hated Harry at first but he redeemed himself in my eyes.
Love the cover.
The story is well told & I liked a lot this fantasy world.
However! Hated & was annoyed by characters.
And
rounded down b/c I couldn't forget & forgive that Mir kidnapped & delivered Kaz to his abusive family. Mir believed that Kaz is going to be raped & worse, and yet he made fun(!) of it. Don't care that he was sort of sorry at first and truly sorry later.
As for Kaz he was a classic damsel in distress (with super magic powers).
Hated Harry at first but he redeemed himself in my eyes.
July 26, 2019
Another "MM" romance starting with the main character in bed with a woman. This author now has enough releases with "unnecessary heterosexual elements" to be added to my "Consistent Heteronormativity" list, proving once again that no matter how much some authors try to write "MM," the heterosexuality always bleeds through. So disappointing.
August 10, 2019
Anhaga's a good book. To be honest, it's not my usual Lisa Henry flavor, but it provided a nice enough entertainment.
I liked Min enough as a character, but everyone else seemed didn't really satisfy my love of character development. Interesting story and premise though.
I liked Min enough as a character, but everyone else seemed didn't really satisfy my love of character development. Interesting story and premise though.
January 4, 2025
I liked how unpredictable and original the story was and listened with joy. The romance was only one small aspect of the story. The narration was good.
December 23, 2020
Anhaga was a really nice, sweet, MM fantasy novel (I believe the first) by what I consider THE queen of MM, Lisa Henry.
Was it one of my favourites of hers? No.
If there was one thing that I wish Anhaga had, is a second POV. If Kaz had his own chapters, the book would have been elevated to another level. As it was now, I felt like I didn't know Kaz at all and I didn't really feel the connection between him and Min, eliminating the romance aspect completely for me.
Henry is a master in character development and it was so disappointing that she didn't do what she does best. So instead of giving me two solid characters and great story telling, she gave me only one semi solid (!) character, and a numerous of other secondary ones, plus Kaz, who was supposed to be a main character, but wasn't really. By not getting to know Kaz, he came across as quite unremarkable to me and not someone that streets smarts Min would risk his life saving and falling in love with. I wholeheartedly believed that Min did love him, but I just couldn't see it. And because the romance totally eluded me, I didn't particularly enjoy their love making scene-it was pretty awkward, considering that Kaz was a demure 19 year old virgin and the fact that there was almost no chemistry between them. Min has tons of chemistry with Harry though. That would have been fun, Min and Harry. But yeah, obviously it didn't happen.
The story was a very light fantasy tale without any intricate or complex world building, lacking the charged atmosphere that is a Lisa Henry trademark. Also, I found the ending to be inexcusably unfair to Min, him having to always wait for Kaz while he lived an entirely different life elsewhere, it seemed way out of character for sly, cunning Min.
I so wanted to fall in love with Anhaga but I didn't. Don't get me wrong, it's still a very well written, enjoyable book. However, after being super spoiled by Henry's past masterpieces, I had very high expectations which unfortunately weren't met. 😞
Was it one of my favourites of hers? No.
If there was one thing that I wish Anhaga had, is a second POV. If Kaz had his own chapters, the book would have been elevated to another level. As it was now, I felt like I didn't know Kaz at all and I didn't really feel the connection between him and Min, eliminating the romance aspect completely for me.
Henry is a master in character development and it was so disappointing that she didn't do what she does best. So instead of giving me two solid characters and great story telling, she gave me only one semi solid (!) character, and a numerous of other secondary ones, plus Kaz, who was supposed to be a main character, but wasn't really. By not getting to know Kaz, he came across as quite unremarkable to me and not someone that streets smarts Min would risk his life saving and falling in love with. I wholeheartedly believed that Min did love him, but I just couldn't see it. And because the romance totally eluded me, I didn't particularly enjoy their love making scene-it was pretty awkward, considering that Kaz was a demure 19 year old virgin and the fact that there was almost no chemistry between them. Min has tons of chemistry with Harry though. That would have been fun, Min and Harry. But yeah, obviously it didn't happen.
The story was a very light fantasy tale without any intricate or complex world building, lacking the charged atmosphere that is a Lisa Henry trademark. Also, I found the ending to be inexcusably unfair to Min, him having to always wait for Kaz while he lived an entirely different life elsewhere, it seemed way out of character for sly, cunning Min.
I so wanted to fall in love with Anhaga but I didn't. Don't get me wrong, it's still a very well written, enjoyable book. However, after being super spoiled by Henry's past masterpieces, I had very high expectations which unfortunately weren't met. 😞
December 18, 2019
I'm a fan of Lisa Henry's stories and I love her fan fiction ... hm, starting a review with such a confession usually doesn't end with much praise, at least not entirely and yes, I have to admit that Anhaga leaves me a bit at a loss. Her artistry in creating compelling characters is as great as I remember. She doesn't need much words and the character is believable and present. Min is no exception of that rule but unfortunately that probably also leads to the issue I was having with this story: Min's self-deprecating as they come. He belittles his own empathy and most of the time he seems to believe his own breezy sarcasm and because the story is told from his point of view and I as the reader started to believe him.
Now if you're asking why it's an issue believing the narrator and main character then think about a self-deprecating character who believes himself selfish and not interessed in emotional connections (except with his nephew) and his view on romance or relationships ... it's not much and frankly I didn't feel the connections between the charactersand that just doesn't do, not in a fantasy and even less in a romantic one.
What's left are great characters breezing through a light adventure in a fantasy world that obviously would be worth to be explored more but without an antagonist worth his salt and a beautiful romance I didn't feel.
Now if you're asking why it's an issue believing the narrator and main character then think about a self-deprecating character who believes himself selfish and not interessed in emotional connections (except with his nephew) and his view on romance or relationships ... it's not much and frankly I didn't feel the connections between the charactersand that just doesn't do, not in a fantasy and even less in a romantic one.
What's left are great characters breezing through a light adventure in a fantasy world that obviously would be worth to be explored more but without an antagonist worth his salt and a beautiful romance I didn't feel.
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