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The Errant Prince
Myron's task is easy enough on the surface: locate the runaway Prince Tamsen and bring him home. But Tamsen is not merely a talented wizard, he's an exceptionally stubborn one, and dozens of others have already failed at the task. When he manages to find the cabin where Tamsen is hiding, Myron isn't foolish enough to mistake the find for a victory.
Instead of attempting to drag the prince home by force, Myron tries a different tact: patience. He might not be able to best Tamsen magically or physically, but Myron can certainly out-stubborn him. He's nothing if not used to doing what other people say he can't.
But neither prince nor soldier expected stubbornness to be the crack in armor they've both become adept at wearing...
Instead of attempting to drag the prince home by force, Myron tries a different tact: patience. He might not be able to best Tamsen magically or physically, but Myron can certainly out-stubborn him. He's nothing if not used to doing what other people say he can't.
But neither prince nor soldier expected stubbornness to be the crack in armor they've both become adept at wearing...
115 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2015
25 people are currently reading
790 people want to read
About the author
Sasha L. Miller
59 books231 followersSasha L. Miller spends most of her time writing, reading, or playing with all things website design. She loves telling stories, especially romance, because there’s nothing better than giving people their happily ever afters. When not writing, she spends time cooking, harassing her roommates, and playing with her cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
March 14, 2015
The Errant Prince is a fantasy novella, with an LGBT romance at the heart. It’s set in the kind of world that I love in fantasy, where we haven’t automatically copied over the things we’re bigoted about. Even the fact that Myron is trans doesn’t get as much attention as it might in our world, and as we would assume it would’ve done in medieval-esque societies. It’s also awesome that the issues in this story are not to do with the sexuality or gender of the characters.
It’s also nice that this is a romance story in which there aren’t Terrible Misunderstandings. There’s one, but it doesn’t really count, because they actually communicate about it and sort themselves out before it escalates.
The fantasy aspect isn’t just backdrop, either. There’s some worldbuilding, though I’d welcome more; there’s a lot of information on magic and how it works; there’s a fair idea of the politics and society surrounding the story. It’s not as immersive as I like my secondary worlds to be, but it isn’t two dimensional. Overall, it’s a sweet and enjoyable story — and wonder of wonders, there’s no sex shoehorned in, despite the delicate balance of tension between the two main characters.
It’s also nice that this is a romance story in which there aren’t Terrible Misunderstandings. There’s one, but it doesn’t really count, because they actually communicate about it and sort themselves out before it escalates.
The fantasy aspect isn’t just backdrop, either. There’s some worldbuilding, though I’d welcome more; there’s a lot of information on magic and how it works; there’s a fair idea of the politics and society surrounding the story. It’s not as immersive as I like my secondary worlds to be, but it isn’t two dimensional. Overall, it’s a sweet and enjoyable story — and wonder of wonders, there’s no sex shoehorned in, despite the delicate balance of tension between the two main characters.
March 24, 2015
3.5 stars
The Errant Prince is a sweet and conflict-free romantic-fantasy between an improper guard and a crotchety errant prince.
Since Myron is adamant to bring Prince Tamsen home, he sits down under the tree in front of Tamsen’s house to wait. Thus the beginning of the story feels quite slow. Myron alternates between waiting and doing whatever daily activities that Tamsen tells him to. Through this their friendship is forged.
I enjoyed their conversational exchange and the learning of magic – I found Myron refreshingly cheeky, with him teasing Tamsen anyway that he can, which helps to wear Tamsen down.
Later, we find out why Tamsen ran away and avoided going home for the past seven years. The resolution conflict was predictable but nonetheless acceptable. As a note, Ms. Miller did a little twist with Myron’s identity. However, it was written in a low-key manner and never put forth as an issue. On one hand, it is appreciated but on the other hand, I thought highlighting that factor could actually boost up the somewhat lackluster manner of the story.
Oh, and as usual with stories from this publisher, it also lacks steam, with only a couple of kisses between Myron and Tamsen. For the smut lovers, you might need to look elsewhere :).
The Errant Prince is a sweet and conflict-free romantic-fantasy between an improper guard and a crotchety errant prince.
Since Myron is adamant to bring Prince Tamsen home, he sits down under the tree in front of Tamsen’s house to wait. Thus the beginning of the story feels quite slow. Myron alternates between waiting and doing whatever daily activities that Tamsen tells him to. Through this their friendship is forged.
I enjoyed their conversational exchange and the learning of magic – I found Myron refreshingly cheeky, with him teasing Tamsen anyway that he can, which helps to wear Tamsen down.
Later, we find out why Tamsen ran away and avoided going home for the past seven years. The resolution conflict was predictable but nonetheless acceptable. As a note, Ms. Miller did a little twist with Myron’s identity. However, it was written in a low-key manner and never put forth as an issue. On one hand, it is appreciated but on the other hand, I thought highlighting that factor could actually boost up the somewhat lackluster manner of the story.
Oh, and as usual with stories from this publisher, it also lacks steam, with only a couple of kisses between Myron and Tamsen. For the smut lovers, you might need to look elsewhere :).
October 15, 2023
Chatting about cozy fantasy recs with friends, I had to pick this one up, and it fit the bill exactly. A low-conflict fantasy romance.
The prince has hermited himself away in a cottage, and the soldier sent to fetch him is patient in convincing him to return. The first half is bowls of porridge, grassy tea, apples, chopping wood, and a roaring fireplace. A relaxing read, letting their cottagecore dynamic flow along as easy as a rippling stream.
The second half takes on a bit more, trying to balance magic lessons, a meddling brother, and a persistent ex. Perhaps not weighted perfectly, but I was happy to enjoy such an overall angst-free story.
This is a low-heat romance.
The prince has hermited himself away in a cottage, and the soldier sent to fetch him is patient in convincing him to return. The first half is bowls of porridge, grassy tea, apples, chopping wood, and a roaring fireplace. A relaxing read, letting their cottagecore dynamic flow along as easy as a rippling stream.
The second half takes on a bit more, trying to balance magic lessons, a meddling brother, and a persistent ex. Perhaps not weighted perfectly, but I was happy to enjoy such an overall angst-free story.
This is a low-heat romance.
March 2, 2017
A king's guardsman Myron, sent out to find and bring back a missing prince Tam, finds him in an enchanted cottage. They talk, they work, they play school of magic, where Tam spends pages and pages on teaching Myron some spell, they smooch, they cook and clean and so on. Nothing significant happens up until 45% of the book.
Then the prince suddenly decides to return to the royal castle to see his brother, the king. Tam magically transports Myron and himself to the king's quarters. Catching up with the brother and an ex-lover, kiddie scenes, more frigging spell teaching (hey, anyone needs beaming up? I have the manual! *waves "The Errant Prince" in the air*) ensues.
There is a minor issue of arranged marriage, but everyone plays nicely, even the evil ex, and as a result Tam and Myron live happily ever after.
The book is very nearly angst free. I was waiting for a conflict with the ex-lover, but the guy was decent, he apologized and said all the right words, even went an extra mile to teach Tam's new lover new spells. I really felt for the guy and Tam acted like a "bad dude" to him.
2 stars.
Then the prince suddenly decides to return to the royal castle to see his brother, the king. Tam magically transports Myron and himself to the king's quarters. Catching up with the brother and an ex-lover, kiddie scenes, more frigging spell teaching (hey, anyone needs beaming up? I have the manual! *waves "The Errant Prince" in the air*) ensues.
There is a minor issue of arranged marriage, but everyone plays nicely, even the evil ex, and as a result Tam and Myron live happily ever after.
The book is very nearly angst free. I was waiting for a conflict with the ex-lover, but the guy was decent, he apologized and said all the right words, even went an extra mile to teach Tam's new lover new spells. I really felt for the guy and Tam acted like a "bad dude" to him.
2 stars.
August 26, 2016
I'm so glad I found this story! :)
I instantly clicked with the characters–both were fun and cheeky and I always love some flirty banter and teasing. The Errant Prince is fun and sweet, a real Sunday afternoon treat.
It's very light on the romance –very low-steam level–but it's highly enjoyable and satisfying.
And there is magic! It was fun having Tam teach Myron some spells. Very nicely done!
I instantly clicked with the characters–both were fun and cheeky and I always love some flirty banter and teasing. The Errant Prince is fun and sweet, a real Sunday afternoon treat.
It's very light on the romance –very low-steam level–but it's highly enjoyable and satisfying.
And there is magic! It was fun having Tam teach Myron some spells. Very nicely done!
December 22, 2015
A lovely story with romance and attraction between a taciturn and reluctant prince, and the soldier who is sent to bring him home.
May 4, 2016
Prince Tamsen has successfully avoided being dragged back home for years. But Myron, a knight under the prince’s brother and king, intends to do just that. Ok, there will probably be very little dragging going on, but Myron intends to sit on the man’s front stoop if he has to until Tamsen agrees to go back to the palace with him. He is stubborn and he is patient. And he fully intends to get his man.
As the days go by, though, and Myron gets to know Tamsen-–and Tamsen gets to know Myron-–the two begin to find themselves not wanting to leave Tamsen’s country cottage. Back in the palace Myron will still be just a knight, and Tamsen a prince with princely duties, and it is unlikely they will ever be able to have anything other than an odd friendship. Well, not unless they are willing to bend a few rules.
Turns out both are very skilled at bending when necessary.
I’ve had a really good week, book wise. And compared to Jackdaw‘s angst, and True Brit‘s sweet tension, this book is a nice change of pace. This is fluff in the best sense of the word. It is light and sweet, yet it doesn’t short you on story or character depth. There is no sex in this book, and very little steam, but it is still incredibly romantic. I love these two characters and it was relaxing and fun to read about them.
It didn’t hurt that I absolutely adored the twist in this story. But, then again, I have always been a sucker for this–-even if I wasn’t always aware of it.
I would love a sequel to this book, and it would be nice to know more about these guys and this world, but even without that, this book was written well enough that I knew the whole was formed even if we only see the outlines. The magic isn’t overly complicated, but it does feel real, and the political structure is reasonable enough that what the characters end up doing makes sense. Knowing more would be nice, but it didn’t feel necessary, and I liked that it made the rest of the story better without making it the center of everything. That pride of place goes to Tamsen and Myron.
If you are looking for a fluffy, low-angst fantasy story, then this is a good bet. And I’m really starting to like what this author is writing in their stories. And look forward to checking out more of their work.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
As the days go by, though, and Myron gets to know Tamsen-–and Tamsen gets to know Myron-–the two begin to find themselves not wanting to leave Tamsen’s country cottage. Back in the palace Myron will still be just a knight, and Tamsen a prince with princely duties, and it is unlikely they will ever be able to have anything other than an odd friendship. Well, not unless they are willing to bend a few rules.
Turns out both are very skilled at bending when necessary.
I’ve had a really good week, book wise. And compared to Jackdaw‘s angst, and True Brit‘s sweet tension, this book is a nice change of pace. This is fluff in the best sense of the word. It is light and sweet, yet it doesn’t short you on story or character depth. There is no sex in this book, and very little steam, but it is still incredibly romantic. I love these two characters and it was relaxing and fun to read about them.
It didn’t hurt that I absolutely adored the twist in this story. But, then again, I have always been a sucker for this–-even if I wasn’t always aware of it.
I would love a sequel to this book, and it would be nice to know more about these guys and this world, but even without that, this book was written well enough that I knew the whole was formed even if we only see the outlines. The magic isn’t overly complicated, but it does feel real, and the political structure is reasonable enough that what the characters end up doing makes sense. Knowing more would be nice, but it didn’t feel necessary, and I liked that it made the rest of the story better without making it the center of everything. That pride of place goes to Tamsen and Myron.
If you are looking for a fluffy, low-angst fantasy story, then this is a good bet. And I’m really starting to like what this author is writing in their stories. And look forward to checking out more of their work.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
January 15, 2020
“The snow goose need not bathe to make itself white. Neither need you do anything but be yourself.” ~ Lao Tzu
Even in a fantasy world, people have certain ideas of appropriate behavior. Myron and Tamsen, of 'The Errant Prince' by Sasha L. Miller, are viewed for who they appear to be rather than who they are. Myron and Tamsen have cleverly found a way to overcome the roadblocks other people try to put in their paths; they've learned to shine in their own way and are determined to continue to do so together, with any luck.
One of Myron's strong points is that he never underestimates the challenges that lie before him. When he's assigned to bring back a prince who has forsaken his royalty, he approaches the task with eyes wide open. Myron doesn't assume that just because Tamsen is a prince he will behave like one, and this assumption proves to be correct. Instead of trying to use force, Myron takes his time and earns Tamsen's respect. Since Myron doesn't behave like the other soldiers who have come to drag the prince back home, Tamsen is more prone to listen to him. As their mutual respect grows, Myron and Tamsen learn that they have a lot more in common that they first thought. This forms another bond which helps move them from potential captor and prisoner to friendship and the possibility for more.
Tamsen runs away from his princely duties seeking a more simple life, away from the crushing expectations of his position and an ex-lover determined to marry him, not because of love, but for the prestige it will give him. Tamsen is much more capable than his brother, the king, presents him to be. Tamsen is tired of being told what he can and can't do and how he is supposed to feel. He's quite resourceful both in magic and in the daily tasks necessary for survival. Tamsen likes his solitude, but he is lonely. When Myron comes around, Tamsen thinks that he is like all of the other inept men his brother has sent to talk sense into him and bring Tamsen home; but soon realizes Myron is so much more. The night before they leave, it's obvious that their affection for each other is something they both want to explore further, but they also know when Tamsen is back at the castle, things will change drastically regardless of what he wants.
This is a sweet love story, told in a fairy-tale style, which adds interest, color, and magic to the mix. Tamsen and Myron are both strong, admirable characters whose affection is tangible. There isn't any huge conflict in the story, but there was enough political intrigue to hold my interest. If you like magic, princes, castles, court politics, pushing limits, and, of course, love, then you may enjoy reading this story.
NOTE: The first edition of this book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Even in a fantasy world, people have certain ideas of appropriate behavior. Myron and Tamsen, of 'The Errant Prince' by Sasha L. Miller, are viewed for who they appear to be rather than who they are. Myron and Tamsen have cleverly found a way to overcome the roadblocks other people try to put in their paths; they've learned to shine in their own way and are determined to continue to do so together, with any luck.
One of Myron's strong points is that he never underestimates the challenges that lie before him. When he's assigned to bring back a prince who has forsaken his royalty, he approaches the task with eyes wide open. Myron doesn't assume that just because Tamsen is a prince he will behave like one, and this assumption proves to be correct. Instead of trying to use force, Myron takes his time and earns Tamsen's respect. Since Myron doesn't behave like the other soldiers who have come to drag the prince back home, Tamsen is more prone to listen to him. As their mutual respect grows, Myron and Tamsen learn that they have a lot more in common that they first thought. This forms another bond which helps move them from potential captor and prisoner to friendship and the possibility for more.
Tamsen runs away from his princely duties seeking a more simple life, away from the crushing expectations of his position and an ex-lover determined to marry him, not because of love, but for the prestige it will give him. Tamsen is much more capable than his brother, the king, presents him to be. Tamsen is tired of being told what he can and can't do and how he is supposed to feel. He's quite resourceful both in magic and in the daily tasks necessary for survival. Tamsen likes his solitude, but he is lonely. When Myron comes around, Tamsen thinks that he is like all of the other inept men his brother has sent to talk sense into him and bring Tamsen home; but soon realizes Myron is so much more. The night before they leave, it's obvious that their affection for each other is something they both want to explore further, but they also know when Tamsen is back at the castle, things will change drastically regardless of what he wants.
This is a sweet love story, told in a fairy-tale style, which adds interest, color, and magic to the mix. Tamsen and Myron are both strong, admirable characters whose affection is tangible. There isn't any huge conflict in the story, but there was enough political intrigue to hold my interest. If you like magic, princes, castles, court politics, pushing limits, and, of course, love, then you may enjoy reading this story.
NOTE: The first edition of this book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
February 21, 2015
Let's see...
- A cheeky (magic-able) guardsman
- A wizarding (errant) prince
- A meddling (kingly) brother
plus some spelling lessons, the palace, a small cottage at the edge of the wood.
What can I say, I love this story. No extensive misunderstanding (I counted only one that really matter), witty banter and budding friendships of said guardsman and errant prince, loving siblings relationships despite the years of separation. The conflict was very minimal if nothing at all.
I wish Myron could solve the problems with his parents, that there's an answer to his ever present bounded chest. Some questions remained unanswered until the last pages though. I dunno if there'd be sequel to this story (wouldn't refuse if there's one - even only a short one!). For a king, Stirling was not a convincing one to me, he's lovely as a brother though - a bit of a meddler, but I loved his last (meddling) attempt. Rather predictable. Still lovely and sweet of him. ;-)
Lastly, you won't be privy to Tamsen and Myron's smut activities. They kept it behind the scene, waaay behind... *cackles*
In fact, you won't find anything besides kissing and petting between our young lovers.
- A cheeky (magic-able) guardsman
- A wizarding (errant) prince
- A meddling (kingly) brother
plus some spelling lessons, the palace, a small cottage at the edge of the wood.
What can I say, I love this story. No extensive misunderstanding (I counted only one that really matter), witty banter and budding friendships of said guardsman and errant prince, loving siblings relationships despite the years of separation. The conflict was very minimal if nothing at all.
I wish Myron could solve the problems with his parents, that there's an answer to his ever present bounded chest. Some questions remained unanswered until the last pages though. I dunno if there'd be sequel to this story (wouldn't refuse if there's one - even only a short one!). For a king, Stirling was not a convincing one to me, he's lovely as a brother though - a bit of a meddler, but I loved his last (meddling) attempt. Rather predictable. Still lovely and sweet of him. ;-)
Lastly, you won't be privy to Tamsen and Myron's smut activities. They kept it behind the scene, waaay behind... *cackles*
In fact, you won't find anything besides kissing and petting between our young lovers.
August 29, 2015
I absolutely loved it. As a trans person, I can vouch that the characterization of Myron is treated with respect and is not fetishized in any way - actually the fact that he's trans is treated as a non-issue, which is a breath of fresh air for a fantasy novel. The writing is snappy and the character dialog is witty. I liked almost all of the characters, even finding sympathy for Hartley, who I didn't like to begin with. The romance was cute, with just the right mix of sweetness and snark. Another win for Miller.
February 25, 2016
Prince Tamsen ran away from the palace seven years ago to escape duties, and commitments that he just didn't feel that he was able to take on. Now his brother, the king has sent out groups to look for him and return him to the palace. Other members of the kings guards have been unsuccessful in finding or convincing prince Tamsen to return so Myron has decided to take a different approach. Rather than forcing the issue maybe some persistence will eventually wear the prince down and he'll return just to be rid of him.
Tamsen turns out to not be the man Myron has been led to believe, but very much the opposite. The two men soon find that they enjoy each other’s company. Will they survive the return to the palace? Will they be able to continue and deepen their relationship despite their disparate social standing? Will Tamsen be forced into a relationship he doesn't want and a return to his royal duties?
Ms Miller has created an interesting tale of an unconventional relationship surrounded by magic and political intrigue that keeps her reader engaged from beginning to end.
Tamsen turns out to not be the man Myron has been led to believe, but very much the opposite. The two men soon find that they enjoy each other’s company. Will they survive the return to the palace? Will they be able to continue and deepen their relationship despite their disparate social standing? Will Tamsen be forced into a relationship he doesn't want and a return to his royal duties?
Ms Miller has created an interesting tale of an unconventional relationship surrounded by magic and political intrigue that keeps her reader engaged from beginning to end.
May 6, 2015
2.5
Maybe my mood was just off, but I never really got into this one.
I was interested in the 2 big mysteries, but once they were revealed I lost interest again.
Ended up skimming the last half.
Maybe my mood was just off, but I never really got into this one.
I was interested in the 2 big mysteries, but once they were revealed I lost interest again.
Ended up skimming the last half.
June 3, 2017
this was a cute story but it really suffered from the lack of plot or character development. happy to see some diversity in fantasy though!!!
March 7, 2017
I enjoyed reading this, I did. The relationship between Myron and Tam was entertaining to read about- their interactions were fun and sweet; they had a nice evolution (although it may have seemed a bit rushed, but I'd blame it on the story being so short).
However, the writing itself was too simple at times, and the strongest part it had was the characters, which were distinct and original- but kind of blurry anyways. It could have done with a bit more elaboration, that's for sure.
In order not to end on a bad note, I have to say how happy it made me to read this story when it came to the regard of gender and sexuality . But that aside, I was still quite glad about how it flowed within the story and it didn't mess with the plot, maybe taking up a bigger place than it was necessary. I think that it's good that it was introduced as something natural, not to make a circus of it. In my (admittedly limited) experience, it was handled with considerable tact.
To sum up, even though the writing is not the greatest I came across with, the story is still quite enjoyable- and the characters were quite a delight to read about!
However, the writing itself was too simple at times, and the strongest part it had was the characters, which were distinct and original- but kind of blurry anyways. It could have done with a bit more elaboration, that's for sure.
In order not to end on a bad note, I have to say how happy it made me to read this story when it came to the regard of gender and sexuality . But that aside, I was still quite glad about how it flowed within the story and it didn't mess with the plot, maybe taking up a bigger place than it was necessary. I think that it's good that it was introduced as something natural, not to make a circus of it. In my (admittedly limited) experience, it was handled with considerable tact.
To sum up, even though the writing is not the greatest I came across with, the story is still quite enjoyable- and the characters were quite a delight to read about!
June 23, 2018
It's not a bad book but I felt it too short, as if it lacked some more pages. Or more action on its pages, perhaps?
February 13, 2015
I loved this little novella. It’s a sweet, easy read with a couple of likable characters in a lovely fantasy setting. Myron is great – a soldier sent out to fetch home a spoilt brat of a prince, but what he finds when he finally tracks Tamsen down is definitely not what he’s expecting. Far from the pampered little princeling of rumour, Tamsen instead lives alone right out in the country in a small cottage with a large herb garden. The last thing he wants to do is leave his home and return to the city, but Myron is not like the other men who’ve been sent to track the prince down. Instead he’s calm, patient and willing to work in exchange for being taught new spells.
I loved how much Myron baffled Tamsen. He’s so easy going, he rarely gets upset and when he does it’s every bit as surprising as all the times he let stuff go. He’s so centered and sure of himself, despite all the problems he’s had with his parents and his woeful magical education. I loved his curiosity and the way he treats Tamsen as a person, not a prince, and how he goes after what he wants in such a patient, steady way without any pressure.
The story is split into two halves – the first is from Myron’s pov as he tracks Tamsen down and tries to convince him to go home, the second is all Tamsen as he tries to sort out his life. I really liked getting to see inside both their heads and how they viewed the other, though I would have liked more Myron time towards the end.
Mixing a bit of court politics in with love, status and personal identity as well as the high cost of family acceptance, this book is a real delight. There’s nothing explicit in it at all, beyond some kisses and flirting and a lot of blushing on Tamsen’s part. He might start off as starchy and rude, but by the end I loved him. He’s socially awkward but actually really sweet, and the way he approaches his relationship with Myron is adorable. I am jealous of his cottage and garden, though.
Short, sweet and lovely, I will definitely be reading this one again. If you like magic, love, a tiny bit of political machinations and a couple of characters who are perfect for each other, then you should enjoy this. The fact that it also included a trans character was pure icing on the cake. I’ll be looking out for more from this author.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
I loved how much Myron baffled Tamsen. He’s so easy going, he rarely gets upset and when he does it’s every bit as surprising as all the times he let stuff go. He’s so centered and sure of himself, despite all the problems he’s had with his parents and his woeful magical education. I loved his curiosity and the way he treats Tamsen as a person, not a prince, and how he goes after what he wants in such a patient, steady way without any pressure.
The story is split into two halves – the first is from Myron’s pov as he tracks Tamsen down and tries to convince him to go home, the second is all Tamsen as he tries to sort out his life. I really liked getting to see inside both their heads and how they viewed the other, though I would have liked more Myron time towards the end.
Mixing a bit of court politics in with love, status and personal identity as well as the high cost of family acceptance, this book is a real delight. There’s nothing explicit in it at all, beyond some kisses and flirting and a lot of blushing on Tamsen’s part. He might start off as starchy and rude, but by the end I loved him. He’s socially awkward but actually really sweet, and the way he approaches his relationship with Myron is adorable. I am jealous of his cottage and garden, though.
Short, sweet and lovely, I will definitely be reading this one again. If you like magic, love, a tiny bit of political machinations and a couple of characters who are perfect for each other, then you should enjoy this. The fact that it also included a trans character was pure icing on the cake. I’ll be looking out for more from this author.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
March 20, 2016
Ever since Prince Tamsen ran away from the palace seven years ago, he's been living the secluded life of a hermit, surrounded by his herbs and his books. Guardsman Myron has been charged to find him and bring him home. No others have managed to force him back to the palace, so Myron tries a different tact: patience.
Myron is an easily loveable character, easy-going and mischievous, and stubborn enough to outlast Tamsen. Tamsen, on the other hand, isn't what Myron was expecting at all. Despite acting like a brat at times, Tamsen relishes his simplistic lifestyle and isn't keen on being dragged away from it. The book spent the first half in Myron's POV, then the second half in Tamsen's. I'm never usually a fan of alternating POVs, but the rigidity and consistency of this actually served to improve the storytelling, for once!
This isn't a long book - only 40 000 words - but Sasha L. Miller still manages to weave a unique and realistic story within that. It deals with a whole range of issues, including personal identity and acceptance, court politics, a transexual character, and the romance weaved into all of it. Despite it being a romance, there's nothing explicit, making it a story that can reach a wider age range.
If you're looking for an in-depth character study, you won't find it here. Instead, this story is a sweet romance that doesn't focus on the unnecessary drama that so many other romances seem to - in particular, I'm referring to the grand 'misunderstanding' that always seems to appear in love stories these days. Myron and Tamsen actually communicated, like the grown adults they are! That's not to say that they didn't have their troubles along the way - rather, the author was more creative in creating drama that was realistic and interesting.
This story was like a breath of fresh air, staying away from the usual stereotypes of a romance story that I'm sick of seeing. It's not overly complicated, but consistently remains a cute romance throughout, and one that I would recommend to anyone!
Reviewed for A Drop of Romeo
Myron is an easily loveable character, easy-going and mischievous, and stubborn enough to outlast Tamsen. Tamsen, on the other hand, isn't what Myron was expecting at all. Despite acting like a brat at times, Tamsen relishes his simplistic lifestyle and isn't keen on being dragged away from it. The book spent the first half in Myron's POV, then the second half in Tamsen's. I'm never usually a fan of alternating POVs, but the rigidity and consistency of this actually served to improve the storytelling, for once!
This isn't a long book - only 40 000 words - but Sasha L. Miller still manages to weave a unique and realistic story within that. It deals with a whole range of issues, including personal identity and acceptance, court politics, a transexual character, and the romance weaved into all of it. Despite it being a romance, there's nothing explicit, making it a story that can reach a wider age range.
If you're looking for an in-depth character study, you won't find it here. Instead, this story is a sweet romance that doesn't focus on the unnecessary drama that so many other romances seem to - in particular, I'm referring to the grand 'misunderstanding' that always seems to appear in love stories these days. Myron and Tamsen actually communicated, like the grown adults they are! That's not to say that they didn't have their troubles along the way - rather, the author was more creative in creating drama that was realistic and interesting.
This story was like a breath of fresh air, staying away from the usual stereotypes of a romance story that I'm sick of seeing. It's not overly complicated, but consistently remains a cute romance throughout, and one that I would recommend to anyone!
Reviewed for A Drop of Romeo
October 25, 2015
Reviewed at The Blogger Girls.
Years ago, Tamsen left his responsibilities as a prince by disappearing and no one’s been able to find the runaway prince since and that’s the way he likes it. But when Myron’s tasked with bringing the prince home, he takes a different approach and not only finds Tamsen but his patience in waiting Tamsen out gets under his skin. The problem is, Tamsen doesn’t want to return home because of the bad memories there but Myron won’t leave unless Tamsen’s with him. What’s the man to do when the very soldier sent to find him turns into something much more than he expected?
It’s stories like this that are my weakness. Runaway princes? Stubborn soldiers? Fantasy setting? *happy sigh* I just can’t help but love them! This one is no different but everything was just so much better because Tamsen was cranky and grumpy while Myron was cheerful and happy. I loved the contrasts between them but I also loved that while Tamsen was annoyed with Myron showing up, that didn’t stop him from wanting to help Myron develop his magical abilities. It was adorable and sweet and I just wanted more of them!!!
I’m going to be difficult here and say that I LOVED that Myron was trans and that it wasn’t harped on BUT, at the same time, I wanted to at least explore more of that aspect of it. It was great that it was accepted (by most) but I still wanted to see more of that element included in the story. As it was, there’s a mention of it here and there but not much else.
In the end, though, I enjoyed this one a lot. Ms. Miller has an easy and lulling writing style that always manages to capture my attention and make me want to keep reading. I really loved Tamsen and Myron, who are complete opposites, and really hope that there’s more to come of them one day!
Years ago, Tamsen left his responsibilities as a prince by disappearing and no one’s been able to find the runaway prince since and that’s the way he likes it. But when Myron’s tasked with bringing the prince home, he takes a different approach and not only finds Tamsen but his patience in waiting Tamsen out gets under his skin. The problem is, Tamsen doesn’t want to return home because of the bad memories there but Myron won’t leave unless Tamsen’s with him. What’s the man to do when the very soldier sent to find him turns into something much more than he expected?
It’s stories like this that are my weakness. Runaway princes? Stubborn soldiers? Fantasy setting? *happy sigh* I just can’t help but love them! This one is no different but everything was just so much better because Tamsen was cranky and grumpy while Myron was cheerful and happy. I loved the contrasts between them but I also loved that while Tamsen was annoyed with Myron showing up, that didn’t stop him from wanting to help Myron develop his magical abilities. It was adorable and sweet and I just wanted more of them!!!
I’m going to be difficult here and say that I LOVED that Myron was trans and that it wasn’t harped on BUT, at the same time, I wanted to at least explore more of that aspect of it. It was great that it was accepted (by most) but I still wanted to see more of that element included in the story. As it was, there’s a mention of it here and there but not much else.
In the end, though, I enjoyed this one a lot. Ms. Miller has an easy and lulling writing style that always manages to capture my attention and make me want to keep reading. I really loved Tamsen and Myron, who are complete opposites, and really hope that there’s more to come of them one day!
October 23, 2024
A charming little swords&sorcery-tinged romance featuring likeable characters that you want to squish together right from the first page. I would have liked to see more world-building though, which would have made the book a little longer and more fleshed-out. There were some interesting politics going on in the background -- all related to why Myron was sent to locate Prince Tamsen -- that tantalized without really following through.
Like most M/M romance fans, I suspect, I would have preferred to know going in that [not really a spoiler, but just in case...] . It's largely irrelevant; it's not a plot point in this book -- there's no Big Reveal or anything -- but for better or worse, anyone looking for their own personal preferences and formulae may feel either pleasantly or unpleasantly surprised.
This is the 2nd or 3rd time I've had the same experience with this publisher, Less Than Three Press, so now I've learned it's necessary to check their website directly for more information, rather than going by their books' descriptions on Amazon, Goodreads, or even NetGalley.
** I received a Review Copy of this book via NetGalley **
Like most M/M romance fans, I suspect, I would have preferred to know going in that [not really a spoiler, but just in case...] . It's largely irrelevant; it's not a plot point in this book -- there's no Big Reveal or anything -- but for better or worse, anyone looking for their own personal preferences and formulae may feel either pleasantly or unpleasantly surprised.
This is the 2nd or 3rd time I've had the same experience with this publisher, Less Than Three Press, so now I've learned it's necessary to check their website directly for more information, rather than going by their books' descriptions on Amazon, Goodreads, or even NetGalley.
** I received a Review Copy of this book via NetGalley **
March 2, 2015
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I wish I got paid to review books. If only. And yet, no. That's not actually a thing.
You know what? I really liked this! I wasn't sure starting out, since it seems like a small part of a much larger story and world, but it was complete enough for this short story. It's only about 40K words, so I would have loved more, but it wasn't necessary, you know?
Myron is actually the more mysterious of the two. He's got some secrets of his own (spoilers!) that have distanced him from his family. Tamsen is much easier to understand, even if we don't have all the details of his escape from royal life.
I really liked the addition of a trans character - Myron has binding on his chest, and there's a mention of how he told his parents that he was their son, not their daughter. It was more a passing conversation, and not really a big deal. I really enjoyed that.
But yes, I enjoyed. I don't want to say much more, cause I think you should just go read it yourself. 4 stars (would have been a 5 if it was a fuller story. Sadly, I felt like it was just a bit too short).
You know what? I really liked this! I wasn't sure starting out, since it seems like a small part of a much larger story and world, but it was complete enough for this short story. It's only about 40K words, so I would have loved more, but it wasn't necessary, you know?
Myron is actually the more mysterious of the two. He's got some secrets of his own (spoilers!) that have distanced him from his family. Tamsen is much easier to understand, even if we don't have all the details of his escape from royal life.
I really liked the addition of a trans character - Myron has binding on his chest, and there's a mention of how he told his parents that he was their son, not their daughter. It was more a passing conversation, and not really a big deal. I really enjoyed that.
But yes, I enjoyed. I don't want to say much more, cause I think you should just go read it yourself. 4 stars (would have been a 5 if it was a fuller story. Sadly, I felt like it was just a bit too short).
January 5, 2019
This book had a premise I liked and a good beginning but things were happening way too quickly. I found it hard to believe that someone who had avoided going home for seven years would just be like ‘oh well guess I gotta’ within days of meeting a stranger. They also fall for each other super quickly despite the initial antagonism. And the teasing comments were just way too forced the more they happened.
Want to read
November 7, 2014I'm actually really excited to read this one. :)
February 6, 2022
After the book had been gathering dust on my to-read list for around a year, I finally decided to give it a go.
Needless to say, this is one of those books you start with curiosity, then it turns out to be so bad it shifts into a guilty pleasure hate read, then you ask yourself if it's worth even that.
The narration is uninspired and crude, lacking subtlety, the dialogues are paced extremely awkwardly and miss the beats constantly, failing to flow naturally, and failing to make characters sound human. The way they talk feels wooden and forced and when you find out the protagonist is 20, it can be a bit of a shock, given how lacking and insubstantial his persona is. Myron, on top of that, is a moron. How he managed to track the Prince, how did he even get chosen to carry on this task in the first place is beyond me, given his absolute lack of critical thinking skills, and how he failed to ask the basic questions before going off on his mission. "Maybe I should have asked people who previously searched for the Prince for clues"... no shit! Perhaps he succeeded because said prince is just as stupid.
Then everything happens so fast. The prince that has been hiding for 7 years shows no signs of self-preservation in front of Myron. A day passes and he's already crushing on him and inviting him inside. The hostility and luck of trust are so half-assed it hurts. A few more days pass, and they already kiss and the same prince who was described as stubborn, suddenly changes his mind and goes "yep, time to visit brother".
Who knew, in order to bring him home all they had to do was send a pretty boy to seduce him with his absolutely insufferable, unwitty "teasing" that feels like the author painstakingly squeezed out of her brain, being dead-set on including those bits, but not having any idea on how to execute them properly.
Lack of any true conflict and strong emotions make everything feel flat, inconsequential and unimportant, too. The story is driven neither by the plot, nor the characters. Nothing feels impactful. There's no grand adventure, and there's no drama, and there's no charm in the mundanity.
Then there's the trans aspect of Myron's identity. It feels shallow and underdeveloped. Perhaps don't write about experiences that aren't your own, because it'll show. That's all there's to say about that.
I was going to finish this book just for the sake of nitpicking and analysis, to learn how *not* to write, but I think if I am to push though it, I'll have to take breaks to read something else in between, just to detox my brain and remind myself what actual quality writing looks like.
If it was a children's story - it'd be enough, it'd be good. But as it is, I don't even know who the target audience is supposed to be. The characters seem too old to appeal to children and teens, and too bland, naive and weightless to appeal to adults.
This book is definitely something. Not often do I come across stories that break my suspension of disbelief so hard I end up questioning every sentence, or stories that I feel the need to criticise so harshly, without giving them any slack. I don't have extra high standards when it comes to what I consume, but this... really ain't it.
Needless to say, this is one of those books you start with curiosity, then it turns out to be so bad it shifts into a guilty pleasure hate read, then you ask yourself if it's worth even that.
The narration is uninspired and crude, lacking subtlety, the dialogues are paced extremely awkwardly and miss the beats constantly, failing to flow naturally, and failing to make characters sound human. The way they talk feels wooden and forced and when you find out the protagonist is 20, it can be a bit of a shock, given how lacking and insubstantial his persona is. Myron, on top of that, is a moron. How he managed to track the Prince, how did he even get chosen to carry on this task in the first place is beyond me, given his absolute lack of critical thinking skills, and how he failed to ask the basic questions before going off on his mission. "Maybe I should have asked people who previously searched for the Prince for clues"... no shit! Perhaps he succeeded because said prince is just as stupid.
Then everything happens so fast. The prince that has been hiding for 7 years shows no signs of self-preservation in front of Myron. A day passes and he's already crushing on him and inviting him inside. The hostility and luck of trust are so half-assed it hurts. A few more days pass, and they already kiss and the same prince who was described as stubborn, suddenly changes his mind and goes "yep, time to visit brother".
Who knew, in order to bring him home all they had to do was send a pretty boy to seduce him with his absolutely insufferable, unwitty "teasing" that feels like the author painstakingly squeezed out of her brain, being dead-set on including those bits, but not having any idea on how to execute them properly.
Lack of any true conflict and strong emotions make everything feel flat, inconsequential and unimportant, too. The story is driven neither by the plot, nor the characters. Nothing feels impactful. There's no grand adventure, and there's no drama, and there's no charm in the mundanity.
Then there's the trans aspect of Myron's identity. It feels shallow and underdeveloped. Perhaps don't write about experiences that aren't your own, because it'll show. That's all there's to say about that.
I was going to finish this book just for the sake of nitpicking and analysis, to learn how *not* to write, but I think if I am to push though it, I'll have to take breaks to read something else in between, just to detox my brain and remind myself what actual quality writing looks like.
If it was a children's story - it'd be enough, it'd be good. But as it is, I don't even know who the target audience is supposed to be. The characters seem too old to appeal to children and teens, and too bland, naive and weightless to appeal to adults.
This book is definitely something. Not often do I come across stories that break my suspension of disbelief so hard I end up questioning every sentence, or stories that I feel the need to criticise so harshly, without giving them any slack. I don't have extra high standards when it comes to what I consume, but this... really ain't it.
October 6, 2019
Voti:
Librovora miki_tr 4,5
Librovora Gioneb 5
Visto che in maggio abbiamo dovuto preparare il Wrap Up in anticipo, in questo di giugno ci sono un paio di libri che ho finito in maggio. Questo è uno di quelli, che avevo sorteggiato per il mese scorso. Per coincidenza, si adatta perfettamente al tema LGBTQIA+ di questo mese! Questo libro, molto corto ma sicuramente soddisfacente, è uno di quelli che non posso fare a meno di definire “adorabile”. Nonostante la storia sia estremamente semplice in sé, l’ambientazione ed il sistema magico sono curati e potrebbero sostenere un libro più lungo. Inoltre i personaggi mi sono piaciuti molto, pur nel poco tempo in cui sono stata in loro compagnia. Ma soprattutto, ho shippato come una disperata la coppia protagonista. Mi hanno preso fin da subito, ed è un peccato che io non abbia letto questo libro in tempo per metterla come la mia ship preferita di maggio.
-Librovora miki_tr
Un racconto davvero bello e che si legge in pochissimo tempo per quanto è scorrevole. La cosa che mi ha colpito di più è che ha un’ambientazione fantasy dove il fatto che Myron sia transessuale non interessa a nessuno, al contrario di come poteva accadere in un'ambientazione basata sul medioevo. Mi è anche piaciuta la storia d’amore perché non c’è nessun momento di equivoco tra i due che porta problemi nella coppia; ma sono sorprendentemente molto sinceri tra loro.
-Librovora Gioneb
Librovora miki_tr 4,5
Librovora Gioneb 5
Visto che in maggio abbiamo dovuto preparare il Wrap Up in anticipo, in questo di giugno ci sono un paio di libri che ho finito in maggio. Questo è uno di quelli, che avevo sorteggiato per il mese scorso. Per coincidenza, si adatta perfettamente al tema LGBTQIA+ di questo mese! Questo libro, molto corto ma sicuramente soddisfacente, è uno di quelli che non posso fare a meno di definire “adorabile”. Nonostante la storia sia estremamente semplice in sé, l’ambientazione ed il sistema magico sono curati e potrebbero sostenere un libro più lungo. Inoltre i personaggi mi sono piaciuti molto, pur nel poco tempo in cui sono stata in loro compagnia. Ma soprattutto, ho shippato come una disperata la coppia protagonista. Mi hanno preso fin da subito, ed è un peccato che io non abbia letto questo libro in tempo per metterla come la mia ship preferita di maggio.
-Librovora miki_tr
Un racconto davvero bello e che si legge in pochissimo tempo per quanto è scorrevole. La cosa che mi ha colpito di più è che ha un’ambientazione fantasy dove il fatto che Myron sia transessuale non interessa a nessuno, al contrario di come poteva accadere in un'ambientazione basata sul medioevo. Mi è anche piaciuta la storia d’amore perché non c’è nessun momento di equivoco tra i due che porta problemi nella coppia; ma sono sorprendentemente molto sinceri tra loro.
-Librovora Gioneb
September 25, 2024
I really enjoyed my time with this book. It took me a bit longer to read than usual for something novella-length, but I was on vacation and the two big sections rather than standard chapter breaks might have slowed me down a bit.
This is a cozy fantasy romance in a queer normative magical world, which I appreciate more and more when I find it in books. I really liked that all the domesticity in the first half was all in service of something, not just set dressing. I think the dual perspective division of the story was a clever thing and executed very well.
While I do see how this could have been longer and more detailed, I really had a nice time with what the author chose to show the reader of this world. I was satisfied with the story as is, though an epilogue would have been lovely, too. I've only read a couple of things from this author so far, but will continue to peruse their back catalogue of titles.
This is a cozy fantasy romance in a queer normative magical world, which I appreciate more and more when I find it in books. I really liked that all the domesticity in the first half was all in service of something, not just set dressing. I think the dual perspective division of the story was a clever thing and executed very well.
While I do see how this could have been longer and more detailed, I really had a nice time with what the author chose to show the reader of this world. I was satisfied with the story as is, though an epilogue would have been lovely, too. I've only read a couple of things from this author so far, but will continue to peruse their back catalogue of titles.
January 17, 2019
This book in one sentence: Myron is a soldier with mediocre magical skills, sent to track down a missing prince, but when he finds Tamsen, Myron realizes that the Prince is a formidable wizard and Myron's stubbornness might be the only key to win.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Steaminess: 🌶️1/2
My recommendation: This was a very cute fantasy romance novella. At 40k words, it's somewhere between a short story and a novel. The dynamic between the two characters is well done, and it's fun to watch their relationship develop. I especially appreciate that whilst Myron is trans, his gender identity wasn't a central element of the story, it was just one among many aspects of a well-rounded character. If this story was ever expanded into a longer novel, I would definitely read it.
Tropes: Enemies-to-lovers, HEA
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Steaminess: 🌶️1/2
My recommendation: This was a very cute fantasy romance novella. At 40k words, it's somewhere between a short story and a novel. The dynamic between the two characters is well done, and it's fun to watch their relationship develop. I especially appreciate that whilst Myron is trans, his gender identity wasn't a central element of the story, it was just one among many aspects of a well-rounded character. If this story was ever expanded into a longer novel, I would definitely read it.
Tropes: Enemies-to-lovers, HEA
March 8, 2019
I really enjoyed this gentle story of a guardsman and a prince.
Myron has been tasked with finding the missing Prince Tamsen, but who he finds isn't what he was expecting.
Tamsen isn't a spoiled Prince who cannot look after himself, after 7 years away from the Palace he has a quiet cottage he has made into a home and is content. But Myron has to do more than just find the Prince he has to persuade him to go back to the Royal courts.
The building relationship with the two men was beautifully described and Sasha Miller has the ability to just weave you into the spell of her stories. l really enjoyed this and was glad there was a happy resolution to it all.
Myron has been tasked with finding the missing Prince Tamsen, but who he finds isn't what he was expecting.
Tamsen isn't a spoiled Prince who cannot look after himself, after 7 years away from the Palace he has a quiet cottage he has made into a home and is content. But Myron has to do more than just find the Prince he has to persuade him to go back to the Royal courts.
The building relationship with the two men was beautifully described and Sasha Miller has the ability to just weave you into the spell of her stories. l really enjoyed this and was glad there was a happy resolution to it all.
January 4, 2018
Es ágil y entretenido, con personajes LGTB (cosa que me sorprendió gratamente, no recordaba bien la sinopsis) que son memorables y adorables.
El mayor problema que tiene es que es demasiado corto y directo. se siente demasiado como un fanfic. El mundo y personajes secundarios está desdibujado para centrarse totalmente en la historia de amor, que al ser el centro de atención, está muy bien llevada y no se convierte en amor verdadero a primera vista, sino algo más natural.
Para la historia que es lo disfruté un montón.
El mayor problema que tiene es que es demasiado corto y directo. se siente demasiado como un fanfic. El mundo y personajes secundarios está desdibujado para centrarse totalmente en la historia de amor, que al ser el centro de atención, está muy bien llevada y no se convierte en amor verdadero a primera vista, sino algo más natural.
Para la historia que es lo disfruté un montón.
February 12, 2017
A trans character in a fantasy story! This was wonderfully well done. I always hope that fantasy worlds would treat LGBT individuals better than reality has/does, and this world certainly manages to do that.
I thoroughly enjoyed the world-building, especially how magic works here, and the wonderful sweetness of the romance.
I thoroughly enjoyed the world-building, especially how magic works here, and the wonderful sweetness of the romance.
October 25, 2020
Content warnings: None
A delightful little mlm romance. The plot isn't terribly deep, but it's a short story so that's not a mark against it. I don't think this story should have been longer, but I am left wishing there were more stories with these characters. They're so engaging, that I would love to spend more time with them.
A delightful little mlm romance. The plot isn't terribly deep, but it's a short story so that's not a mark against it. I don't think this story should have been longer, but I am left wishing there were more stories with these characters. They're so engaging, that I would love to spend more time with them.
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