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The Elder Man
Uncovering and divulging an outlandish conspiracy will put a hard bump into any journalist’s career, and Armin can only blame himself when he’s dispatched from Frankfurt’s skyscrapers into the depths of rural France on the unglamorous job of writing about a cobbing workshop.
Natural building is messy, dirty, and sweaty work, but it has its consolations. For example, Van, the greying but undeniably hot master cobber teaching the workshop. Sure, the man is a hopeless tree-hugger, with embarrassing notions about ancient folklore and religions, but he’s still worth a week-long fling, right?
When Van is revealed in all his majesty and power as a long forgotten forest god, however, the week-long fling might well become entangled with eternity, on the edge between life, death, madness, and immortality.
#gayromance
Natural building is messy, dirty, and sweaty work, but it has its consolations. For example, Van, the greying but undeniably hot master cobber teaching the workshop. Sure, the man is a hopeless tree-hugger, with embarrassing notions about ancient folklore and religions, but he’s still worth a week-long fling, right?
When Van is revealed in all his majesty and power as a long forgotten forest god, however, the week-long fling might well become entangled with eternity, on the edge between life, death, madness, and immortality.
#gayromance
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 2020
1 person is currently reading
23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 29, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
This story begins with a confusing prologue that claims it could also be an epilogue. And I think I might have liked it better in the end than the beginning. But that’s also my personal preference. The book is really a delight with intense descriptions of Van, Armin, and Allie who take most of the turns narrating. I had never heard of cob houses before opening this book, but I feel a bit inspired about it now. The green living, green building descriptions were really tight and engaging, especially through Armin’s skeptical eyes. He’s attracted to Van, and yet he’s challenging him on his constant conservation. It’s a nice give-and-take and the tension continues to climb. Armin notices the bas-relief details within Van’s personal space—a repeating pattern of The Horned One, or The Elder Man, a primeval god of the earth and seasons. Van uses Armin’s inquiries to share some of the legends of the Elder Man and bolster his reasons for sustainable living. Armin’s curiosity isn’t relieved, it’s piqued, and it leads to some dirty sexytimes. Think: that pottery scene in Ghost, not porn.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
This story begins with a confusing prologue that claims it could also be an epilogue. And I think I might have liked it better in the end than the beginning. But that’s also my personal preference. The book is really a delight with intense descriptions of Van, Armin, and Allie who take most of the turns narrating. I had never heard of cob houses before opening this book, but I feel a bit inspired about it now. The green living, green building descriptions were really tight and engaging, especially through Armin’s skeptical eyes. He’s attracted to Van, and yet he’s challenging him on his constant conservation. It’s a nice give-and-take and the tension continues to climb. Armin notices the bas-relief details within Van’s personal space—a repeating pattern of The Horned One, or The Elder Man, a primeval god of the earth and seasons. Van uses Armin’s inquiries to share some of the legends of the Elder Man and bolster his reasons for sustainable living. Armin’s curiosity isn’t relieved, it’s piqued, and it leads to some dirty sexytimes. Think: that pottery scene in Ghost, not porn.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
April 17, 2020
This is my first book by this Author. I can guarantee, I will be reading more of her work. Van is a teacher of sorts. He owns a vast property where he shows people how to build from natural materials. Armin is a young man who is at a crossroads in his life. His week in nature will give him a new appreciation for all things around him. This story just captivated and intrigued me. This Author just gives you a setting that is so beautiful and wondrous you can almost feel the sun. I could almost feel the clay and twigs under my bare feet. It's a place I want to go. All the characters were interesting and relatable. This story gives you something to think about. It's deep without being dark. It is informative and fun. I truly appreciate the way Katherine Wyvern weaves a story together. I HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!!!!!!
April 15, 2020
With the world as chaotic and troubling as it is right now, this book was a nice, soothing break. It is as much a meditation on life as a romance - which I find refreshing, as the characters are vibrantly real and fascinating, and Van's perspectives so simple and yet profound. Though I confess I am not about to decamp for his lifestyle, he has a lot of points you can ponder regardless.
The romance is part of an organic whole in a way that fits perfectly with the themes. If you want something a little bit different, with gorgeous imagery and unique characters, and without contrived high drama, this is for you.
The romance is part of an organic whole in a way that fits perfectly with the themes. If you want something a little bit different, with gorgeous imagery and unique characters, and without contrived high drama, this is for you.
April 19, 2020
If you want a feel-good read, that’s the right choice for you. The setting, a place in Dordogne, is so vividly described that you get the feeling of being present there, surrounded by sentinel trees, fragrant herbs, dragonflies zooming around the garden - and the element of magic is subtly interwoven into all this. Also, the characters are hugely likable, including minor ones, especially Jade the hound :) And I can’t but mention the scene of painting skin with wet clay - it’s sooo erotic and beautiful!
April 15, 2020
Fuck, that was beautiful.
July 14, 2021
This has been on my to read pile for a long time - I love folk stories around the Green Man and I figured this would be right up my street.
I'm so glad I finally got around to reading it, it's everything I hoped for and more. But it's insane that this book only has 12 ratings, it deserves to be read and reread and read again! It's beautiful and bizarre and enchanting and just wonderful and I WISH Le Grand Sureau was a real place. A group of people gathering in one place for different reasons, listening, learning, reconnecting - with clay as the glue and the Elder as their totem. It's gentle and witty and it has heart. The French setting is perfect and the vibrant characters and sparkling discussions between them will stay with me a long, long time.
“Wherever you look, there was always a god of the forest, the earth, the water… a god of low places, valleys, sources, meadows. His trees were always small trees. Healing trees. The willow, the elder, the rowan. Not a sky god. Not a war god. He was also, as often as not, a god of agriculture and fertility. And death and healing, even resurrection. Fall, winter, and spring, the seasons. Nature again. It was easy in the old days to believe in such a divinity. And it was wise to pay tribute to him. Forests, fields, death, rebirth, the cycles and forces of nature were rather more … central.”
I'm so glad I finally got around to reading it, it's everything I hoped for and more. But it's insane that this book only has 12 ratings, it deserves to be read and reread and read again! It's beautiful and bizarre and enchanting and just wonderful and I WISH Le Grand Sureau was a real place. A group of people gathering in one place for different reasons, listening, learning, reconnecting - with clay as the glue and the Elder as their totem. It's gentle and witty and it has heart. The French setting is perfect and the vibrant characters and sparkling discussions between them will stay with me a long, long time.
“Wherever you look, there was always a god of the forest, the earth, the water… a god of low places, valleys, sources, meadows. His trees were always small trees. Healing trees. The willow, the elder, the rowan. Not a sky god. Not a war god. He was also, as often as not, a god of agriculture and fertility. And death and healing, even resurrection. Fall, winter, and spring, the seasons. Nature again. It was easy in the old days to believe in such a divinity. And it was wise to pay tribute to him. Forests, fields, death, rebirth, the cycles and forces of nature were rather more … central.”
June 15, 2020
I loved it. This is such a beautiful story full of love, life and magic. Every character in this book is so real and several get their own POV, but the main characters are Armin and Van and this is their story. I enjoyed following their relationship develop, the intimate scenes they shared were captivating. I loved the writing and how well author was able to intertwine a hint of magic in every chapter until the most amazing twist in the end. Highly recommend this story to readers who enjoy heartwarming story with a tiny bit of magic and lots of love.
March 10, 2021
A magical, beautifully written book.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews