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Lacuna
A boychild swathed in green, a distinct tree-shaped birthmark on his wrist. A girlchild enveloped in red, marked with the three lines of the desert winds. A boy bundled in white, the koi mark on his wrist as defined as his shock of red hair. And a boychild wrapped in black, a raven his mark to serve his fate.
~ ~ ~
Twenty-five years ago, the hand of fate marked four newborns and sent them to the four corners of the Great Kingdoms. They were schooled and trained as rulers of their lands in preparation for the Golden Eclipse ceremony: a festival to celebrate a thousand years of peace and prosperity since the Great War.
Crow, ruler of Northlands, a skilled swordsman and expert tactician, is as reclusive and stoic as the mountains that surround him.
Tancho has spent his life in strict discipline, governing the Westlands with a fair mind and gentle hand. Quiet and unassuming, yet lethal in combat, he is the embodiment of the waters he lives by.
Yet the same hand of fate unknowingly linked Tancho to Crow in ways they cannot comprehend. Ruled by the stars, the brother sun and the two sister moons above them, and marked by an alchemical sorcery as old as time, their destinies were never their own.
As the eclipse draws near and the festival begins, word comes of another threat. Invaders from unknown lands bring a war no one was prepared for, and Crow and Tancho must decide on which side of the battle line they stand.
In life or death, their destinies will see them joined either way.
~ ~ ~
Twenty-five years ago, the hand of fate marked four newborns and sent them to the four corners of the Great Kingdoms. They were schooled and trained as rulers of their lands in preparation for the Golden Eclipse ceremony: a festival to celebrate a thousand years of peace and prosperity since the Great War.
Crow, ruler of Northlands, a skilled swordsman and expert tactician, is as reclusive and stoic as the mountains that surround him.
Tancho has spent his life in strict discipline, governing the Westlands with a fair mind and gentle hand. Quiet and unassuming, yet lethal in combat, he is the embodiment of the waters he lives by.
Yet the same hand of fate unknowingly linked Tancho to Crow in ways they cannot comprehend. Ruled by the stars, the brother sun and the two sister moons above them, and marked by an alchemical sorcery as old as time, their destinies were never their own.
As the eclipse draws near and the festival begins, word comes of another threat. Invaders from unknown lands bring a war no one was prepared for, and Crow and Tancho must decide on which side of the battle line they stand.
In life or death, their destinies will see them joined either way.
366 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 23, 2020
417 people are currently reading
2442 people want to read
About the author
N.R. Walker
133 books5,279 followersAuthor also writes as A. Voyeur
N.R. Walker is an Australian author, who loves her genre of gay romance. She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it, but wouldn't have it any other way.
She is many things; a mother, a wife, a sister, a writer. She has pretty, pretty boys who she gives them life with words.
She likes it when they do dirty, dirty things...but likes it even more when they fall in love. She used to think having people in her head talking to her was weird, until one day she happened across other writers who told her it was normal.
She’s been writing ever since...
https://www.facebook.com/N.R.WalkerAu...
N.R. Walker is an Australian author, who loves her genre of gay romance. She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it, but wouldn't have it any other way.
She is many things; a mother, a wife, a sister, a writer. She has pretty, pretty boys who she gives them life with words.
She likes it when they do dirty, dirty things...but likes it even more when they fall in love. She used to think having people in her head talking to her was weird, until one day she happened across other writers who told her it was normal.
She’s been writing ever since...
https://www.facebook.com/N.R.WalkerAu...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 303 reviews
September 27, 2021
started skimming around the halfway mark as this slowly lost my interest.
i like the idea of the story, but i found the execution to be terribly lacking in many areas:
just an overall miss on all the aspects that matter. which is such a shame because i think the concept is interesting and this could have been a great story if it had been written better.
↠ 2 stars
i like the idea of the story, but i found the execution to be terribly lacking in many areas:
- non-existant worldbuilding regarding the eclipse, the different kingdoms and how the rulers were chosen, the birthmarks, the powers of the lacuna, the invaders, the magic, etc (basically everything). its presented as fact and the author assumes the reader to just accept it all without any sort of explanation, even when it doesnt make sense.
- poor characterisation as all of the characters could be exchanged for each other. there are no discerning differences other than the colour of their hair.
- the “romance” is forced because of the bond. although they say they would still choose each other, even without the bond, there is nothing to support that claim. its immediate lust, which is written very badly, and its all tell and no show. i honestly would never describe what the two MCs go through as romance.
just an overall miss on all the aspects that matter. which is such a shame because i think the concept is interesting and this could have been a great story if it had been written better.
↠ 2 stars
October 20, 2020
Well that was a cracker!
I absolutely adore fantasy, it's my first love and I'm always really happy to see more authors in the MM genre writing it and with Lacuna, Nic does an excellent job of not only creating a fully immersive world, but bedding a romance into the heart of the narrative.
The premise is simple, four kingdoms, four rulers, one rare event requiring them all to gather, then betrayal and threat from outside forces. But it's the way she then weaves the culture of her creation into the story which worked so well for me.
Crow, King of the Northlands, and Tancho, King of the Westlands, couldn't be more opposite if they tried. There are influences in their Kingdoms from our own cultures, the Northlands are icy and vaguely Scandinavia, the Westlands are all watery and heavily evocative of Japanese culture.
An unexpected event at the gathering of these four rulers forces Crow and Tancho together and theirs is a sort of "enemies" to lovers romance.
They were never actual enemies but there's animosity at first, which slowly because of circumstances, turns into mutual admiration and respect - and a possibly slightly unhealthy dose of jealousy which provides a lot of the humour in the story.
With a wonderful cast of supporting characters, this story races through a complicated, but never confusing, plot involving alchemy, astronomy, a wee bit of magic and a lot of collaboration and bravery.
While the main plot is resolved in this story, there is enough left that I think there could be more to come and I would very much love to read more. Crow and Tancho's relationship may have originally begun through forces outside their control, but it very much became one of mutual love and trust.
I also loved the other two rulers of the Eastern and Southern Kingdoms, both Elmwood and Samiel (the only Queen) were engaging characters with definite personalities and I'd be very happy to read more about them too.
Definitely one of my favourite books from Nic and I absolutely LOVE the cover!
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review
I absolutely adore fantasy, it's my first love and I'm always really happy to see more authors in the MM genre writing it and with Lacuna, Nic does an excellent job of not only creating a fully immersive world, but bedding a romance into the heart of the narrative.
The premise is simple, four kingdoms, four rulers, one rare event requiring them all to gather, then betrayal and threat from outside forces. But it's the way she then weaves the culture of her creation into the story which worked so well for me.
Crow, King of the Northlands, and Tancho, King of the Westlands, couldn't be more opposite if they tried. There are influences in their Kingdoms from our own cultures, the Northlands are icy and vaguely Scandinavia, the Westlands are all watery and heavily evocative of Japanese culture.
An unexpected event at the gathering of these four rulers forces Crow and Tancho together and theirs is a sort of "enemies" to lovers romance.
They were never actual enemies but there's animosity at first, which slowly because of circumstances, turns into mutual admiration and respect - and a possibly slightly unhealthy dose of jealousy which provides a lot of the humour in the story.
With a wonderful cast of supporting characters, this story races through a complicated, but never confusing, plot involving alchemy, astronomy, a wee bit of magic and a lot of collaboration and bravery.
While the main plot is resolved in this story, there is enough left that I think there could be more to come and I would very much love to read more. Crow and Tancho's relationship may have originally begun through forces outside their control, but it very much became one of mutual love and trust.
I also loved the other two rulers of the Eastern and Southern Kingdoms, both Elmwood and Samiel (the only Queen) were engaging characters with definite personalities and I'd be very happy to read more about them too.
Definitely one of my favourite books from Nic and I absolutely LOVE the cover!
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review
November 27, 2020
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Could've Been G.R.E.A.T*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
This book was quite interesting. In the beginning, I truly did not want to put the book down. I felt such an excitement. The concept was enjoyable and I liked the characters. However, while the book didn't turn bad per se, I lost a bit of... excitement about half way through simply because of That said, it was still really enjoyable and frankly the book was left in such a way that it could've been a series instead of standalone.
The book centers around Crow (25), king of Northlands, birthmark: a raven. Black flags and pennants for Northlands, and Tancho (25), king the Westlands, birthmark: a koi fish. White flags and pennants for Westlands. The two has never met, yet when they are summoned by the Elders, their lives - and that of the other rulers - are changed forever. Nothing is as what they have been taught growing up, and everything is answers that makes more questions. Overall, this was a good book that I wish was a series where we'd get to see a romance develop in each book instead of rushed in one where it became insta-love. I have to say I absolutely loved the possessiveness and jealously between Crow and Tancho. I just loved the animalistic side to it and I wanted WAY more of it.
Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (Adult) Fantasy Romance (M/M).
Series: - Standalone.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Favorite character? - Crow.
Would I read more by this author/or in this series? - Yes.
Would I recommend this book/series? - Yes actually, even though it has insta-love.
Will I read this again in the future? - Who knows.
Rating - 3.5 stars.
December 20, 2020
3.5 Stars
Told in dual POV, 3rd person, it’s a standalone novel. The story started off really good and I was enjoying it so much I thought it could have been a very good enemies-to-lovers story but it didn’t go there totally. I expected more romance, yes, it had some but not as much as I’d like. It’s almost angst-free, a bit slow and dragged at some places but has good worldbuilding. All in all, I had fun reading it and hope you like it as well!
Told in dual POV, 3rd person, it’s a standalone novel. The story started off really good and I was enjoying it so much I thought it could have been a very good enemies-to-lovers story but it didn’t go there totally. I expected more romance, yes, it had some but not as much as I’d like. It’s almost angst-free, a bit slow and dragged at some places but has good worldbuilding. All in all, I had fun reading it and hope you like it as well!
October 29, 2020
believe it or not this is my first N.R. Walker and it was pretty good. i'll go with 3.5 ⭐️.
the world building was pretty good and it's clear Walker did her research and folded it into the narrative. this reminded me a several different things but mostly The Fifth Element with the whole 4 corners/4 elements thing, plus nasty creatures that show up and ruin everything with their stench and general grossness.
i would forewarn anyone looking for a strong romance story to look elsewhere. this is a slowwwwwww burn with very little burn, imo. it's far more focused on the action/adventure plotline than the romance.
Crow and Tancho both annoyed me at various times. they are bound to each other by some arcane magic which is never really explained all that well and honestly, i was looking for more to come out of their bond when the BIG FINISH happened. i digress. at any rate, they're bonded against their will and for whatever reason this bond makes them both fractious and highly possessive of one another. in short, they are either making the rageface at each other or whomever touches the other. it was petty and it got old. eventually this bond evolves into a connection but was it the chicken or the egg? 🤷🏻♀️
what i enjoyed was the action/adventure storyline right up till the end when it in equal measures dragged through the big climatic scene then got confusing in the aftermath. is this book one of a series? because there are still a boatload of questions happening here. 👀
however, Lacuna did hold my attention and i did end up liking the main characters, maybe not as much as some of the secondary ones but still.
the world building was pretty good and it's clear Walker did her research and folded it into the narrative. this reminded me a several different things but mostly The Fifth Element with the whole 4 corners/4 elements thing, plus nasty creatures that show up and ruin everything with their stench and general grossness.
i would forewarn anyone looking for a strong romance story to look elsewhere. this is a slowwwwwww burn with very little burn, imo. it's far more focused on the action/adventure plotline than the romance.
Crow and Tancho both annoyed me at various times. they are bound to each other by some arcane magic which is never really explained all that well and honestly, i was looking for more to come out of their bond when the BIG FINISH happened. i digress. at any rate, they're bonded against their will and for whatever reason this bond makes them both fractious and highly possessive of one another. in short, they are either making the rageface at each other or whomever touches the other. it was petty and it got old. eventually this bond evolves into a connection but was it the chicken or the egg? 🤷🏻♀️
what i enjoyed was the action/adventure storyline right up till the end when it in equal measures dragged through the big climatic scene then got confusing in the aftermath. is this book one of a series? because there are still a boatload of questions happening here. 👀
however, Lacuna did hold my attention and i did end up liking the main characters, maybe not as much as some of the secondary ones but still.
Read
August 16, 2021DNF @ 30%
*yawns*
*yawns*
October 27, 2020
3,5 stars
Mixed feelings here, I’m afraid. I’ve read a good number of books by N.R.Walker and with very few exceptions have usually enjoyed her books. Not that this one would go anywhere near my ‘wasn’t for me’ shelf. But … (Please beware of rant ahead!)
What’s on the positive side:
.) Crow and Tancho are both likeable characters: Crow’s more the rough and gruff one while Tancho has a calm and chilled vibe going on. A pretty good match!
.) I do like the ‘forced bonds’ theme a lot, and together with the usual figuring out what it all means, we get the extra of a much larger mystery around it.
.) The author clearly put a lot of research into this – the meaningful names of the characters, star constellations and all. The notes at the beginning are really helpful, indeed!
.) The romance: The question whether it is romance when fate bonds you unwillingly to another person is a difficult one. I think N.R. Walker does a good enough job to convince us that there is more than the bond between Crow and Tancho, although that does play a huge part in it.
There is a good amount of well done UST, but I'd say this is pretty low steam. Imo it took too long for them to get together, with the plot overtaking the romance. And their first time together was a teeny bit disappointing, not only because it happened so late in the books, but under which circumstances.
(I also expected a lot more to happen after it apart from
What got to me:
.) The plot. I actually really enjoyed myself for quite a while, but then it got all very complex and complicated, and at the end I was left with more Why? and How?s than a 3 year old in the questioning stage.
I mean the author fully acknowledges this:
At 93%: “We have much to learn yet.”
At 93%: “There is so much we don’t know, be it fact or fiction.”
At 99% “There is a lot we don’t know yet”
But I wanted to know! This felt very much like book 1 in a series, but afaik this is a standalone. (If there should be more books in this universe, I do apologize!)
.) However, what really bugged me is this: there’s a lot of hoohaa made when it becomes clear that Crow and Tancho are bonded in some mysterious alchemical way, and plenty of hints are thrown how meaningful and important this is, and yet we never find out why, or indeed how, this is so or would throw spanners into the work of evil.
As far as I could detect their bond has no effect on anything but themselves. And yeah, it is fun to watch how they try to resist it, but somehow, I got the impression there was supposed to be way more behind it. Of course, I might simply be overthinking this!
.) And while the sparks between Crow and Tancho at the beginning when they are torn between resentment and attraction are entertaining, something about it felt a teeny bit overdone for my liking.
I had more issues concerning the elders, the time frame of events and other sparring details, On a complete tangent (and a very minor point), it did worry me that our heroes were mainly fed on fruit and bread. These are strapping lads after all who need something more substantial! 😉
All in all it seems that maybe the author tried to pack too much into this and left too much tangling in the end as a consequence.
Mixed feelings here, I’m afraid. I’ve read a good number of books by N.R.Walker and with very few exceptions have usually enjoyed her books. Not that this one would go anywhere near my ‘wasn’t for me’ shelf. But … (Please beware of rant ahead!)
What’s on the positive side:
.) Crow and Tancho are both likeable characters: Crow’s more the rough and gruff one while Tancho has a calm and chilled vibe going on. A pretty good match!
.) I do like the ‘forced bonds’ theme a lot, and together with the usual figuring out what it all means, we get the extra of a much larger mystery around it.
.) The author clearly put a lot of research into this – the meaningful names of the characters, star constellations and all. The notes at the beginning are really helpful, indeed!
.) The romance: The question whether it is romance when fate bonds you unwillingly to another person is a difficult one. I think N.R. Walker does a good enough job to convince us that there is more than the bond between Crow and Tancho, although that does play a huge part in it.
There is a good amount of well done UST, but I'd say this is pretty low steam. Imo it took too long for them to get together, with the plot overtaking the romance. And their first time together was a teeny bit disappointing, not only because it happened so late in the books, but under which circumstances.
(I also expected a lot more to happen after it apart from
What got to me:
.) The plot. I actually really enjoyed myself for quite a while, but then it got all very complex and complicated, and at the end I was left with more Why? and How?s than a 3 year old in the questioning stage.
I mean the author fully acknowledges this:
At 93%: “We have much to learn yet.”
At 93%: “There is so much we don’t know, be it fact or fiction.”
At 99% “There is a lot we don’t know yet”
But I wanted to know! This felt very much like book 1 in a series, but afaik this is a standalone. (If there should be more books in this universe, I do apologize!)
.) However, what really bugged me is this: there’s a lot of hoohaa made when it becomes clear that Crow and Tancho are bonded in some mysterious alchemical way, and plenty of hints are thrown how meaningful and important this is, and yet we never find out why, or indeed how, this is so or would throw spanners into the work of evil.
As far as I could detect their bond has no effect on anything but themselves. And yeah, it is fun to watch how they try to resist it, but somehow, I got the impression there was supposed to be way more behind it. Of course, I might simply be overthinking this!
.) And while the sparks between Crow and Tancho at the beginning when they are torn between resentment and attraction are entertaining, something about it felt a teeny bit overdone for my liking.
I had more issues concerning the elders, the time frame of events and other sparring details, On a complete tangent (and a very minor point), it did worry me that our heroes were mainly fed on fruit and bread. These are strapping lads after all who need something more substantial! 😉
All in all it seems that maybe the author tried to pack too much into this and left too much tangling in the end as a consequence.
May 24, 2024
~3.5~
I somehow missed this book when it came out but decided to give it a go after reading The Men From Echo Creek, which was a big win for me.
Needless to say (but I'll say it anyway), Lacuna is nothing like The Men From Echo Creek. It is a fast-paced fantasy (think kingdoms and magic) with a romantic sidestory.
The plot is as entertaining as it is confusing. I don't think even Walker could explain all the twists and turns, and she's the one who wrote the book. I stopped trying to make it make sense and just hung on for the ride.
The romance focuses on two kings - Crow from the Northlands and Tancho from the Westlands - who are bound together by prophecy which will be fulfilled during an upcoming eclipse when the two moons cross the path of the sun.
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, opposites-attract, slow burn.
Truth be told, the chemistry between the MCs felt forced, and I was far more interested in the secondary characters and the adventure/mystery.
I somehow missed this book when it came out but decided to give it a go after reading The Men From Echo Creek, which was a big win for me.
Needless to say (but I'll say it anyway), Lacuna is nothing like The Men From Echo Creek. It is a fast-paced fantasy (think kingdoms and magic) with a romantic sidestory.
The plot is as entertaining as it is confusing. I don't think even Walker could explain all the twists and turns, and she's the one who wrote the book. I stopped trying to make it make sense and just hung on for the ride.
The romance focuses on two kings - Crow from the Northlands and Tancho from the Westlands - who are bound together by prophecy which will be fulfilled during an upcoming eclipse when the two moons cross the path of the sun.
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, opposites-attract, slow burn.
Truth be told, the chemistry between the MCs felt forced, and I was far more interested in the secondary characters and the adventure/mystery.
October 26, 2020
2.5
There are so many books from N.R. Walker I love and I enjoy reading fantasy, so there I had no doubt that I have to get Lacuna – but now that I read it I must say it was a difficult start.
Don't know why she decided to have the glossary at the very beginning. I was a bit overwhelmed by all those names and their meaning, by chemical mixtures and spells. Didn't know which one I have to remember later or if all the details are only nice to know and I get it all while reading anyway. Guess for me a glossary is best placed at the back of a book.
Then starting the story I was surprised by the sincerity of the telling. Don't know when I last read fantasy that nearly breathed destiny between every line and didn't lighten the mood with a bit of humor. That luckily changed later but it was the first sign that I was going to have some trouble reading this book and the next came right away when the world creation felt like an experimental setting on a drawing board, more fabricated than real, made to see how the characters deal with that setup. So I waited for the romance to start and didn't mind much that also there it was much destiny, fate and astronomical compulsion but what I minded was their reaction to the forced connection. I didn't understand the sudden rude rejection and the short-tempered provocations. It was like the author wanted to see what happens if she adds some enemy2lovers into the mix of her field study. That hot and cold changed late but eventually there was the romance I was looking for but the bumpy start took its toll and I never really warmed to the world of Lacuna.
The adventure part of the story though was okay and in big parts quite enjoyable. I can't even complain about the villain and the twist to add a sci-fi element into a fantasy story was interesting but in the end there were too many questions open.
So what I loved best is the cover and Soko.
There are so many books from N.R. Walker I love and I enjoy reading fantasy, so there I had no doubt that I have to get Lacuna – but now that I read it I must say it was a difficult start.
Don't know why she decided to have the glossary at the very beginning. I was a bit overwhelmed by all those names and their meaning, by chemical mixtures and spells. Didn't know which one I have to remember later or if all the details are only nice to know and I get it all while reading anyway. Guess for me a glossary is best placed at the back of a book.
Then starting the story I was surprised by the sincerity of the telling. Don't know when I last read fantasy that nearly breathed destiny between every line and didn't lighten the mood with a bit of humor. That luckily changed later but it was the first sign that I was going to have some trouble reading this book and the next came right away when the world creation felt like an experimental setting on a drawing board, more fabricated than real, made to see how the characters deal with that setup. So I waited for the romance to start and didn't mind much that also there it was much destiny, fate and astronomical compulsion but what I minded was their reaction to the forced connection. I didn't understand the sudden rude rejection and the short-tempered provocations. It was like the author wanted to see what happens if she adds some enemy2lovers into the mix of her field study. That hot and cold changed late but eventually there was the romance I was looking for but the bumpy start took its toll and I never really warmed to the world of Lacuna.
The adventure part of the story though was okay and in big parts quite enjoyable. I can't even complain about the villain and the twist to add a sci-fi element into a fantasy story was interesting but in the end there were too many questions open.
So what I loved best is the cover and Soko.
November 4, 2020
First things first: WHY DID THE BOOK HAVE TO ENNDDDD??? *wails*
I've always loved fantasy;especially when its done right and boy did N.R. Walker write the heck out of this story! It gripped me from the beginning and did not let go until it was ready to do so.
It had solid world building, fantastic characters, proper villains and such a slow burn romance that when the two protagonists finally got it on, I was ecstatic .
Let me tell you this,I enjoyed every single aspect of the story and if there was anything I would've changed, it would've been to make the book longer and shed even more light on the fascinating history of the world they lived in; especially what the Elders' Consul got up to.
But yeah , that's just me being the greedy reader that I am. Enjoy fantasy done right? GO GET THIS.
I've always loved fantasy;especially when its done right and boy did N.R. Walker write the heck out of this story! It gripped me from the beginning and did not let go until it was ready to do so.
It had solid world building, fantastic characters, proper villains and such a slow burn romance that when the two protagonists finally got it on, I was ecstatic .
Let me tell you this,I enjoyed every single aspect of the story and if there was anything I would've changed, it would've been to make the book longer and shed even more light on the fascinating history of the world they lived in; especially what the Elders' Consul got up to.
But yeah , that's just me being the greedy reader that I am. Enjoy fantasy done right? GO GET THIS.
March 22, 2021
I don’t know if I’m the only one, but sometimes I read a book that I don’t like at first and then, at some point, it kinda starts growing on me? This is one of those. Not good. Not bad. Just somewhere in-between.
October 21, 2020
I received a free copy of this title to read and review for Wicked Reads
4 Stars
Lacuna is an intriguing MM fantasy standalone from NR Walker.
The monarchs of four directional kingdoms are summoned to the center of their land for a celestial event that only happens every thousand years. Each destined ruler was marked with the element from their kingdom at birth, signifying they were to lead.
A unique setup within a fantasy realm, placing all the key players in direct contact with one another within the first few chapters. Evil is afoot, something far more important than a celestial celebration. All four rulers are a week's horse ride away from their kingdoms, leery of one another after decades of education within their time of peace, because long ago the kingdoms were at war with one another.
Told in dual narration, Crow in the Northlands, with his blackbird mark, and Tancho in the Westlands, with his koi mark. The marks of their birth burning in communication with them, the urgency increasing the closer they get to the center. Is it the proximity to the eclipse or something else?
The pages flew by for me in the beginning, as I was immersed in a new fantasy realm, curious to see how Crow and Tancho would be drawn together. Then the angsty deliciousness hit. A gift or a curse? Crow and Tancho were tied together in a way that was somewhat comical because of the frustration and discomfort they were both experiencing.
As a lover of slow-burn, the tension between the pair was entertaining, their banter and issues kept the pages turning. The bro energy was high with their personal sidekicks, adding a humorous bent as their nearest and dearest found delight in taunting their betters.
I won't dive deeply into the world building, the complexity of the fantasy plot, or the magic mechanics, simply because that is something that unfolds as the story itself.
While I was entertained in the beginning third, where I was annoyed when I had other things I had to do when all I wanted to do is sit down and read, there was a wall I hit after that.
The redundancy wall.
While this is common in this genre, I'm not sure I understand why it exists. It's the SSDD syndrome. Where the story stalls, the characters go adventuring. As a lover of fantasy novels, shows, video games, and movies, I understand this for what it is. The lull before the storm where we wait for something to happen, anything to happen, gathering small crumbs of information.
At some point, the cast of characters begin a wash-repeat series of pretty much the same events for days on end, all of it written on the page, not necessarily in detail though. If the journey is seven days, we go through the same series of baths and meals and sleeps seven times. They travel from the center to the other four directions, which means we experience similar scenes in the West, North, East, and South.
This phenomenon slows the pacing, becomes redundant with the same inane actions. Interest wanes. While there are humorous or emotional moments tucked in during these dry moments, the pacing is jarring.
Lacuna started in a steady pace upward, stalled to a crawl in the middle for more than half of the novel. The climax was rapid, to where if you accidentally skipped a page it would be over. I just wish the pacing would have been leveled out throughout the novel, because the climax happened so quickly there wasn't enough time for this reader to truly digest what was happening, enough time to feel any emotions for the characters.
Do I recommend Lacuna? Absolutely, especially to fantasy fans. Honestly, I think this would be a good novel for those who have never read MM before. The connection between Crow and Tancho was written in a way that was beyond organic, the slow-building tension realistic, with the heat level on the lower side into fade-to-black territory. It would be a good starting place for a new reader to dip their toes into the MM genre, where they would no doubt be swimming into the deep end in no time.
4 Stars
Lacuna is an intriguing MM fantasy standalone from NR Walker.
The monarchs of four directional kingdoms are summoned to the center of their land for a celestial event that only happens every thousand years. Each destined ruler was marked with the element from their kingdom at birth, signifying they were to lead.
A unique setup within a fantasy realm, placing all the key players in direct contact with one another within the first few chapters. Evil is afoot, something far more important than a celestial celebration. All four rulers are a week's horse ride away from their kingdoms, leery of one another after decades of education within their time of peace, because long ago the kingdoms were at war with one another.
Told in dual narration, Crow in the Northlands, with his blackbird mark, and Tancho in the Westlands, with his koi mark. The marks of their birth burning in communication with them, the urgency increasing the closer they get to the center. Is it the proximity to the eclipse or something else?
The pages flew by for me in the beginning, as I was immersed in a new fantasy realm, curious to see how Crow and Tancho would be drawn together. Then the angsty deliciousness hit. A gift or a curse? Crow and Tancho were tied together in a way that was somewhat comical because of the frustration and discomfort they were both experiencing.
As a lover of slow-burn, the tension between the pair was entertaining, their banter and issues kept the pages turning. The bro energy was high with their personal sidekicks, adding a humorous bent as their nearest and dearest found delight in taunting their betters.
I won't dive deeply into the world building, the complexity of the fantasy plot, or the magic mechanics, simply because that is something that unfolds as the story itself.
While I was entertained in the beginning third, where I was annoyed when I had other things I had to do when all I wanted to do is sit down and read, there was a wall I hit after that.
The redundancy wall.
While this is common in this genre, I'm not sure I understand why it exists. It's the SSDD syndrome. Where the story stalls, the characters go adventuring. As a lover of fantasy novels, shows, video games, and movies, I understand this for what it is. The lull before the storm where we wait for something to happen, anything to happen, gathering small crumbs of information.
At some point, the cast of characters begin a wash-repeat series of pretty much the same events for days on end, all of it written on the page, not necessarily in detail though. If the journey is seven days, we go through the same series of baths and meals and sleeps seven times. They travel from the center to the other four directions, which means we experience similar scenes in the West, North, East, and South.
This phenomenon slows the pacing, becomes redundant with the same inane actions. Interest wanes. While there are humorous or emotional moments tucked in during these dry moments, the pacing is jarring.
Lacuna started in a steady pace upward, stalled to a crawl in the middle for more than half of the novel. The climax was rapid, to where if you accidentally skipped a page it would be over. I just wish the pacing would have been leveled out throughout the novel, because the climax happened so quickly there wasn't enough time for this reader to truly digest what was happening, enough time to feel any emotions for the characters.
Do I recommend Lacuna? Absolutely, especially to fantasy fans. Honestly, I think this would be a good novel for those who have never read MM before. The connection between Crow and Tancho was written in a way that was beyond organic, the slow-building tension realistic, with the heat level on the lower side into fade-to-black territory. It would be a good starting place for a new reader to dip their toes into the MM genre, where they would no doubt be swimming into the deep end in no time.
February 8, 2025
This book was weird, I honestly don’t understand what NR Walker was trying to do. It had so many random elements, and the world-building didn’t make much sense. The romance felt like an afterthought, and the ominous ending was extremely anticlimactic.
The 3 stars are mainly because I really liked Nick Russo’s voice.
The 3 stars are mainly because I really liked Nick Russo’s voice.
December 15, 2024
Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.
Crow was lost in the blush on Tancho’s cheeks, his kiss-swollen lips. “You are a thief of breath and reason.”
3.3 stars
This book reminded me of how much I enjoy fantasy and the audio was really well done. The overall vibe and world was magical and immersive, and I really loved the characters. They were very distinct yet made sense together. Unfortunately it lost me when the main plot kicked in — outside of the mysterious bond between Crow and Tancho — and it didn’t hold my attention. I kept zoning out and had to rewind the audio. I don’t really know why. I don’t think it was terrible, just a touch boring. I have been and am currently in a pretty big reading slump so that might by why.
Plus points for a really stunning cover.
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Fantasy
Romance
Swords and sorcery
Action and adventure
Royalty
Traveling by horse
Size difference
Fated soulmates
Enemies to lovers
Slow burn
Mysteriously bonded
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Graphic violence
Injured side character
Death of court members (off page)
Graphic details of dead horses (killed off page)
On-page battle and murder of bad guys
Explicit sexual content
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, dual
Genre: Fantasy, romance
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
Main characters’ age: 25 and 25
Series: Standalone
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 356
Happy ending: Yes
“He looked right at me. I’ve never seen eyes like his. And his mouth. The audacity of him to have lips like that.” Soko smiled behind his goblet. “The audacity.”
“We have an old saying in the Northlands,” he said, his voice warm and gruff. “We wander lost until our heart finds a home.” Tancho smiled into Crow’s neck. “My heart feels at home with you.”
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...
Crow was lost in the blush on Tancho’s cheeks, his kiss-swollen lips. “You are a thief of breath and reason.”
3.3 stars
This book reminded me of how much I enjoy fantasy and the audio was really well done. The overall vibe and world was magical and immersive, and I really loved the characters. They were very distinct yet made sense together. Unfortunately it lost me when the main plot kicked in — outside of the mysterious bond between Crow and Tancho — and it didn’t hold my attention. I kept zoning out and had to rewind the audio. I don’t really know why. I don’t think it was terrible, just a touch boring. I have been and am currently in a pretty big reading slump so that might by why.
Plus points for a really stunning cover.
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Fantasy
Romance
Swords and sorcery
Action and adventure
Royalty
Traveling by horse
Size difference
Fated soulmates
Enemies to lovers
Slow burn
Mysteriously bonded
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Graphic violence
Injured side character
Death of court members (off page)
Graphic details of dead horses (killed off page)
On-page battle and murder of bad guys
Explicit sexual content
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, dual
Genre: Fantasy, romance
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
Main characters’ age: 25 and 25
Series: Standalone
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 356
Happy ending: Yes
“He looked right at me. I’ve never seen eyes like his. And his mouth. The audacity of him to have lips like that.” Soko smiled behind his goblet. “The audacity.”
“We have an old saying in the Northlands,” he said, his voice warm and gruff. “We wander lost until our heart finds a home.” Tancho smiled into Crow’s neck. “My heart feels at home with you.”
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...
October 29, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.75 stars
Are you looking for an epic high fantasy? Look no further than this book. Walker includes all the elements that make up an all-encompassing, fully fleshed out world. The world building here is intricate and dedicated, with twist and turns even I didn’t see coming. There’s a lot to love and explore here, but it’s best enjoyed reading it yourself, so I’m going to do my best to walk the fine line of not giving spoilers.
The characters in this novel are some of the best written I’ve read in a while. Not only Crow and Tancho, as they are the MCs and it’s told through their third person POVs, but all the secondary characters as well. Crow and Tancho have people in their lives that they are close to, protectors and friends, mentors and loyal subjects. Some have more prominent roles than others, but every character is necessary and vital to the story.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
4.75 stars
Are you looking for an epic high fantasy? Look no further than this book. Walker includes all the elements that make up an all-encompassing, fully fleshed out world. The world building here is intricate and dedicated, with twist and turns even I didn’t see coming. There’s a lot to love and explore here, but it’s best enjoyed reading it yourself, so I’m going to do my best to walk the fine line of not giving spoilers.
The characters in this novel are some of the best written I’ve read in a while. Not only Crow and Tancho, as they are the MCs and it’s told through their third person POVs, but all the secondary characters as well. Crow and Tancho have people in their lives that they are close to, protectors and friends, mentors and loyal subjects. Some have more prominent roles than others, but every character is necessary and vital to the story.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
July 20, 2023
Reread/Relisten July 2023
I’d say the rating is the same. Thought it would change but I think the same thoughts apply to my first read. The beginning was good but the ending felt rushed.
I will say though Nick J Russo did a great job narrating.
3 solid stars May 2021
The beginning was very entertaining but the middle kinda was slow and then the ending felt rushed like there was good bones for a second story.
I could see this continuing to be either a series or just a couple books after this.
I did enjoy Crow and Tancho, though they did get a little annoying I liked how their relationship progressed haha and their guards, that was entertaining.
I’d say the rating is the same. Thought it would change but I think the same thoughts apply to my first read. The beginning was good but the ending felt rushed.
I will say though Nick J Russo did a great job narrating.
3 solid stars May 2021
The beginning was very entertaining but the middle kinda was slow and then the ending felt rushed like there was good bones for a second story.
I could see this continuing to be either a series or just a couple books after this.
I did enjoy Crow and Tancho, though they did get a little annoying I liked how their relationship progressed haha and their guards, that was entertaining.
August 15, 2023
Lacuna is a standalone fantasy but I really, REALLY, hope to return to this world. I need more of Crow and Tancho, it's as simple as that!
Their world is split into four, with one ruler for each quarter. To ensure no fighting, there is a central command (if you like) but obviously, not everything can be good in paradise. I loved how each quarter was so different and how the people embodied their element. Crow and Tancho, without doubt, are my favourites and that is completely as it should be.
When they find out what their birthmark bond is actually about, I thought it was fantastic. They wanted to kill each other most of the time and their verbal battles, childishness and general poutiness were spot on. After all, how would you feel being tied to someone you didn't know, even if you did find them attractive?
The world-building is perfect and the pacing is second-to-none. There is plenty of action going on in Crow and Tancho's world and therefore, it makes sense, that they would have no time to explore their growing bond. When they do, however, they make up for lost time. 😉 There is also a brilliant cast of supporting characters, from best friends to the other king and queen. They all have their own foibles and interests but pull together perfectly.
I adore MM and Fantasy so, for me, this was the perfect blend of both. An amazing story set in a fantastic world with an outstanding storyline and wonderful characters. What more could you ask for? Absolutely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Oct 23, 2020
Their world is split into four, with one ruler for each quarter. To ensure no fighting, there is a central command (if you like) but obviously, not everything can be good in paradise. I loved how each quarter was so different and how the people embodied their element. Crow and Tancho, without doubt, are my favourites and that is completely as it should be.
When they find out what their birthmark bond is actually about, I thought it was fantastic. They wanted to kill each other most of the time and their verbal battles, childishness and general poutiness were spot on. After all, how would you feel being tied to someone you didn't know, even if you did find them attractive?
The world-building is perfect and the pacing is second-to-none. There is plenty of action going on in Crow and Tancho's world and therefore, it makes sense, that they would have no time to explore their growing bond. When they do, however, they make up for lost time. 😉 There is also a brilliant cast of supporting characters, from best friends to the other king and queen. They all have their own foibles and interests but pull together perfectly.
I adore MM and Fantasy so, for me, this was the perfect blend of both. An amazing story set in a fantastic world with an outstanding storyline and wonderful characters. What more could you ask for? Absolutely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Oct 23, 2020
October 22, 2020
OMG! For someone who's rarely read fantasy, I cannot put this book down! Hands down Nic Walker's variety genres are something I'm going to wait to read in the future!
Crazy about The Untamed on Netflix, Lacuna brought me to another adventure with Crow and Tancho and the whole gang!
I don't want to bother you with a retelling the story, you need to experience it first hand with them.
Just hoping that kind of 'door' exist in real life so we don't need to fly to go everywhere lol.
I enjoyed the banter, the fight, the bonding between Tancho and Crow.
This is the kind of book that a fantasy lover will treasure for a long time, and a movie material too!
Buy the book!
Crazy about The Untamed on Netflix, Lacuna brought me to another adventure with Crow and Tancho and the whole gang!
I don't want to bother you with a retelling the story, you need to experience it first hand with them.
Just hoping that kind of 'door' exist in real life so we don't need to fly to go everywhere lol.
I enjoyed the banter, the fight, the bonding between Tancho and Crow.
This is the kind of book that a fantasy lover will treasure for a long time, and a movie material too!
Buy the book!
October 26, 2020
N.R. Walker to me is one of the best MM writers out there, I still re-read a lot of her books and she has written a lot of my favorite characters, so it is with a heavy heart that I have to say this didn't totally work for me.
When I started reading it I was totally invested in it, the worldbuilding was awesome as hell, the details that she described, the history in wich was based the story of the book, the whole fate and purpose of the marks, the meanings and mechanism were AWESOME!! But as you can see, those are the frame of the book, I had a problem with the filling stuff.
Why?
1) It felt a lot like Cronin's Key, the fact that they were meant for each other, that they couldn't get far away without feeling pain. It was repetitive and it wasn't written in a way that made go: fuck Cronin this is better! Hell no.
2) It dragged, a lot, while they were finding the books and the doors and the secrets. I started to get distracted with other things like my phone and that's not a good sign.
3) I still don't understand/feel the romance part, their destinies made it for Crow and Tancho to have to be near, to be attracted to each other and jealous as hell, but they always fought, made each other irritated and then... suddenly by magic, they decided they liked each other. Didn't feel it. 😫❤
4) They kept being interrupted when they were getting their freak on and I'm sorry but I'm not a teenager, I don't need to read and giggle about blue balls, you could just skip that or just show a little bit of flirting and leave it at that, not cut it short. Not fun.
5) They went from one place to the other a lot, it was tiring and distracting, like 40% of the book is spent in them going from one place to the other, looking for books and talking to people who had no answers. I dunno, it made me bored.
STILL!!! I must repeat: the worldbuilding is AWESOME!!! If she comes with another book in this world I won't doubt to read it, it's just that the way she developed things didn't work for me. But I still love her, I still think she's one of the best and I'm still a fan.
Love you N.R. Walker! ❤🥰
When I started reading it I was totally invested in it, the worldbuilding was awesome as hell, the details that she described, the history in wich was based the story of the book, the whole fate and purpose of the marks, the meanings and mechanism were AWESOME!! But as you can see, those are the frame of the book, I had a problem with the filling stuff.
Why?
1) It felt a lot like Cronin's Key, the fact that they were meant for each other, that they couldn't get far away without feeling pain. It was repetitive and it wasn't written in a way that made go: fuck Cronin this is better! Hell no.
2) It dragged, a lot, while they were finding the books and the doors and the secrets. I started to get distracted with other things like my phone and that's not a good sign.
3) I still don't understand/feel the romance part, their destinies made it for Crow and Tancho to have to be near, to be attracted to each other and jealous as hell, but they always fought, made each other irritated and then... suddenly by magic, they decided they liked each other. Didn't feel it. 😫❤
4) They kept being interrupted when they were getting their freak on and I'm sorry but I'm not a teenager, I don't need to read and giggle about blue balls, you could just skip that or just show a little bit of flirting and leave it at that, not cut it short. Not fun.
5) They went from one place to the other a lot, it was tiring and distracting, like 40% of the book is spent in them going from one place to the other, looking for books and talking to people who had no answers. I dunno, it made me bored.
STILL!!! I must repeat: the worldbuilding is AWESOME!!! If she comes with another book in this world I won't doubt to read it, it's just that the way she developed things didn't work for me. But I still love her, I still think she's one of the best and I'm still a fan.
Love you N.R. Walker! ❤🥰
July 12, 2021
4.5 stars
I received an ARC from the author through Author's Direct and this is my honest review.
I was absolutely entranced with this story. I love fantasy and PNR and ever since Cronin's Key, I wanted more of it from her.
What I Loved:
1. The Characters:
Tancho: The King of the Westland, with beautiful long red hair. He was delicate but powerful and has been intrigued with Crow since he saw him as a young lad. #Enthralled
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Crow: The King of the Northlands, a mountain man through and through who was swept off his feet by the pretty Tancho. He was power and grumpiness and strength, but Tancho softened his edges little by little. #BestPartOfMe
2. The Plot:
The four kings of the land were summoned to the same place for the eclipse. they had a job today, but fate had other ideas. Tancho and Crow are two pieces of a puzzle, they were complete together, and they ae the key to a peaceful existence for everyone. #WrittenInTheStars
3. The Romance:
At first, these two men don't like each other, but deep down they are intrigued with the other and can feel that there is something there...something important. Slowly but surely, they become closer and discover the other's qualities and secrets. they discover that are #MeantToBe
4. Steam-o-meter: Medium steam but with loads of UST!! #CanYouFeelItToo
5. Angst-o-meter: Lowish angst, mostly due to their fate and what they should do to save everyone. #StrongerTogether
6. The HEA:
There's a twist, which is sweetly and sexily overcome. These men are in it for the #LongHaul
7. The audiobook:
Nick Russo is one of my fave narrators and he did an excellent job with this book. He nailed everything... the emotions, the voices and the tones... all except the British accent. it took a while for me to get used to him using it because it didn't really sound right. #AlmostPerfect
I received an ARC from the author through Author's Direct and this is my honest review.
I was absolutely entranced with this story. I love fantasy and PNR and ever since Cronin's Key, I wanted more of it from her.
What I Loved:
1. The Characters:
Tancho: The King of the Westland, with beautiful long red hair. He was delicate but powerful and has been intrigued with Crow since he saw him as a young lad. #Enthralled
[image error]
Crow: The King of the Northlands, a mountain man through and through who was swept off his feet by the pretty Tancho. He was power and grumpiness and strength, but Tancho softened his edges little by little. #BestPartOfMe
2. The Plot:
The four kings of the land were summoned to the same place for the eclipse. they had a job today, but fate had other ideas. Tancho and Crow are two pieces of a puzzle, they were complete together, and they ae the key to a peaceful existence for everyone. #WrittenInTheStars
3. The Romance:
At first, these two men don't like each other, but deep down they are intrigued with the other and can feel that there is something there...something important. Slowly but surely, they become closer and discover the other's qualities and secrets. they discover that are #MeantToBe
4. Steam-o-meter: Medium steam but with loads of UST!! #CanYouFeelItToo
5. Angst-o-meter: Lowish angst, mostly due to their fate and what they should do to save everyone. #StrongerTogether
6. The HEA:
There's a twist, which is sweetly and sexily overcome. These men are in it for the #LongHaul
7. The audiobook:
Nick Russo is one of my fave narrators and he did an excellent job with this book. He nailed everything... the emotions, the voices and the tones... all except the British accent. it took a while for me to get used to him using it because it didn't really sound right. #AlmostPerfect
November 15, 2020
I’m lost for words. Simply amazing
![Profile Image for julia ☆ [owls reads].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1636739475i%2F5520447._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
January 22, 2021
3 stars.
*
Lacuna had a pretty interesting beginning. The world-building was unlike anything I'd read before and Walker did a wonderful job at setting up the different kingdoms and the history around the Eclipse.
The characters were also pretty intriguing. Each represented different ideals and perspectives related to their own kingdoms and alliances. I did wish Samiel and Elmwood had been more fleshed out, though? I know this was Crow and Tancho's story, but that felt a little bit like a disservice to the other characters.
I did like that this was sort of a Soulmarks AU lol Walker gave it a unique spin and I enjoyed how it related to the Eclipse and the history of this world. The romance was a bit of a miss for me, though? Some scenes that dealt with their feelings for each other felt very abrupt and rushed to me.
The plot was fun to read for the most part, but towards the end it became rather predictable. I didn't like the direction the story took and some of the decisions made in regard to that didn't quite work for me. I ended up feeling disconnected from what was going on. I did like the open ending very much, though, and thought it was a great fit for the story.
*
Series: Standalone.
POV: Told from Crow and Tancho's POVs.
Content Warnings:
Instalove:
Steam: Few steamy scenes.
Love Triangle:
Cliffhanger: No.
HEA:
*
Who wears the mark bears the crown.
Lacuna had a pretty interesting beginning. The world-building was unlike anything I'd read before and Walker did a wonderful job at setting up the different kingdoms and the history around the Eclipse.
The characters were also pretty intriguing. Each represented different ideals and perspectives related to their own kingdoms and alliances. I did wish Samiel and Elmwood had been more fleshed out, though? I know this was Crow and Tancho's story, but that felt a little bit like a disservice to the other characters.
I did like that this was sort of a Soulmarks AU lol Walker gave it a unique spin and I enjoyed how it related to the Eclipse and the history of this world. The romance was a bit of a miss for me, though? Some scenes that dealt with their feelings for each other felt very abrupt and rushed to me.
The plot was fun to read for the most part, but towards the end it became rather predictable. I didn't like the direction the story took and some of the decisions made in regard to that didn't quite work for me. I ended up feeling disconnected from what was going on. I did like the open ending very much, though, and thought it was a great fit for the story.
*
Series: Standalone.
POV: Told from Crow and Tancho's POVs.
Content Warnings:
Instalove:
Steam: Few steamy scenes.
Love Triangle:
Cliffhanger: No.
HEA:
March 3, 2021
I'm tempted to keep the paperback copy of this book that I bought because I really do like the cover, but its purpose would be entirely ornamental. This was not actually a hard book to finish and I tore through it in a couple of days, but I would never read it again because easy read =/= enjoyable read in this case. At all. I still felt almost bad hitting the one star rating because I don't actually loathe the book the way I do some of my other one star reads, but I couldn't justify anything higher. It would have felt insulting to the books I've previously rate two stars that had far more to speak of in terms of redeeming qualities.
The premise is very promising and in some ways that's part of the problem. This book is billed as an enemies to lovers story (my jam!), but it's not. Like at all. The lacuna fires up the main couples' tempers (supposedly this is a big change for them, but considering they're both shallowly characterized to the point of being so nearly indistinguishable that I frequently forgot which point of view I was reading and everything kicks off so fast that I have no idea what they were like before the bond anyway, it feels like a moot point) and they have a bit of "Grrr! I want to fight you!" posturing at almost entirely random intervals in between thinking about how much they like each other and find each other attractive, but at no point are they at cross purposes--they are explicitly allies for the whole story! And they want to fight anyone who breathes the same air as their love interest anyway, so the fighting doesn't even stand out as being particularly personal! And it pretty much gets dropped like a hot potato with no real explanation later anyway!
The lack of conflict is actually a problem that extends far beyond the story's main characters. Everyone is just in agreement all the time and whole scenes are spent on everyone nodding very agreeably about the right thing to do (which is...nice, I guess, but it's not interesting). Unless you're evil in which case you're the most evil and don't expect complexity from anybody's motivations here because it doesn't exist. The good guys are incorruptibly good and the bad guys are irredeemably bad and nobody particularly struggles with determining what the right thing to do is except in a very shallow way that never has any meaningful consequences. To be fair, there are a handful of characters (though that feels like a generous term) who I have trouble labeling as "good" or "evil"...because I'm still genuinely not sure what they actually did or didn't do or what their motivations for either actually were. I'm not even sure what the point of them was except to be, I guess, a red herring? Unless they weren't? Is this questioning the whole point there? Were they just meant to be inscrutable in the most boring, forgettable way imaginable?
The plot drove me absolutely up the wall! I want to personally apologize to every book I've criticized with "I really liked it, but the pacing was a little off" because they all come up smelling like roses in comparison. It wasn't even necessarily that the pacing was too fast or too slow (although both were the case at different points--it felt like the author didn't know what part of the plot to prioritize). It was that it was all strangely circular and it felt like we were either constantly backtracking or taking a roundabout way to get from point A to point C when B was right there. It just got very frustrating. It didn't help that the stakes alternated between getting dropped/forgotten about, being easily resolved, changing completely, and being blown out of proportion until I couldn't fathom why anyone would possibly care what was happening. The villain's "plan" felt like nonsense and made less sense the more it was featured, the heroes' priorities felt all out of whack, there were plenty of big dramatic moments where it felt like there should be meaningful danger to the characters that were immediately undercut, plenty of other big moments where it felt like the characters should have been accomplishing something meaningful only for it to be irrelevant to the point that entire scenes could have been cut out and nothing would have been missed, and plot holes large enough to march an army through. At the end of it, I was still scratching my head over how the characters were meant to have dealt with ONE OF THE EARLIEST OBSTACLES INTRODUCED IN THE STORY because it had been such a big deal and had driven so much of the decision-making and then the characters seemed to suddenly stop caring without a clear explanation.
It was honestly kind of a baffling and bizarre reading experience for such a basic plot.
And on a nitpicky technical note...there were a lot...of ellipses...and I found their...constant usage...very...distracting.
I've heard nothing but good things about Walker's contemporary romance fiction. Contemporary romance isn't typically my bag (there are exceptions), so I haven't read any of it myself, but that reputation was a selling point here. Especially for a romantic fantasy novel (very much my bag) about two kings forced together by circumstances beyond their control (the bag is filled with goodies) who develop from enemies to lovers while facing down a threat greater than themselves (I'm there with bells on). I wish this wasn't my first impression of Walker because it wasn't a good one. With how much she struggled to juggle the plot, I wonder if it would have been better if she'd just focused in on the relationship development and written a romance with vague fantasy trappings, but the relationship didn't feel particularly deep or developed or earned here either, so there's really just nothing. What a shame.
The premise is very promising and in some ways that's part of the problem. This book is billed as an enemies to lovers story (my jam!), but it's not. Like at all. The lacuna fires up the main couples' tempers (supposedly this is a big change for them, but considering they're both shallowly characterized to the point of being so nearly indistinguishable that I frequently forgot which point of view I was reading and everything kicks off so fast that I have no idea what they were like before the bond anyway, it feels like a moot point) and they have a bit of "Grrr! I want to fight you!" posturing at almost entirely random intervals in between thinking about how much they like each other and find each other attractive, but at no point are they at cross purposes--they are explicitly allies for the whole story! And they want to fight anyone who breathes the same air as their love interest anyway, so the fighting doesn't even stand out as being particularly personal! And it pretty much gets dropped like a hot potato with no real explanation later anyway!
The lack of conflict is actually a problem that extends far beyond the story's main characters. Everyone is just in agreement all the time and whole scenes are spent on everyone nodding very agreeably about the right thing to do (which is...nice, I guess, but it's not interesting). Unless you're evil in which case you're the most evil and don't expect complexity from anybody's motivations here because it doesn't exist. The good guys are incorruptibly good and the bad guys are irredeemably bad and nobody particularly struggles with determining what the right thing to do is except in a very shallow way that never has any meaningful consequences. To be fair, there are a handful of characters (though that feels like a generous term) who I have trouble labeling as "good" or "evil"...because I'm still genuinely not sure what they actually did or didn't do or what their motivations for either actually were. I'm not even sure what the point of them was except to be, I guess, a red herring? Unless they weren't? Is this questioning the whole point there? Were they just meant to be inscrutable in the most boring, forgettable way imaginable?
The plot drove me absolutely up the wall! I want to personally apologize to every book I've criticized with "I really liked it, but the pacing was a little off" because they all come up smelling like roses in comparison. It wasn't even necessarily that the pacing was too fast or too slow (although both were the case at different points--it felt like the author didn't know what part of the plot to prioritize). It was that it was all strangely circular and it felt like we were either constantly backtracking or taking a roundabout way to get from point A to point C when B was right there. It just got very frustrating. It didn't help that the stakes alternated between getting dropped/forgotten about, being easily resolved, changing completely, and being blown out of proportion until I couldn't fathom why anyone would possibly care what was happening. The villain's "plan" felt like nonsense and made less sense the more it was featured, the heroes' priorities felt all out of whack, there were plenty of big dramatic moments where it felt like there should be meaningful danger to the characters that were immediately undercut, plenty of other big moments where it felt like the characters should have been accomplishing something meaningful only for it to be irrelevant to the point that entire scenes could have been cut out and nothing would have been missed, and plot holes large enough to march an army through. At the end of it, I was still scratching my head over how the characters were meant to have dealt with ONE OF THE EARLIEST OBSTACLES INTRODUCED IN THE STORY because it had been such a big deal and had driven so much of the decision-making and then the characters seemed to suddenly stop caring without a clear explanation.
It was honestly kind of a baffling and bizarre reading experience for such a basic plot.
And on a nitpicky technical note...there were a lot...of ellipses...and I found their...constant usage...very...distracting.
I've heard nothing but good things about Walker's contemporary romance fiction. Contemporary romance isn't typically my bag (there are exceptions), so I haven't read any of it myself, but that reputation was a selling point here. Especially for a romantic fantasy novel (very much my bag) about two kings forced together by circumstances beyond their control (the bag is filled with goodies) who develop from enemies to lovers while facing down a threat greater than themselves (I'm there with bells on). I wish this wasn't my first impression of Walker because it wasn't a good one. With how much she struggled to juggle the plot, I wonder if it would have been better if she'd just focused in on the relationship development and written a romance with vague fantasy trappings, but the relationship didn't feel particularly deep or developed or earned here either, so there's really just nothing. What a shame.
April 19, 2024
This was a wonderful little find. I don't know who the person on the cover is, since both male main characters have long hair.
Its def fantasy lite, but actuallys cares for having world building and lore. Romantacy is a genre I struggle with, and I get told "maybe you just dont like romance." Ill think "maybe I do?", but books like this remind me that, nah, theres just so much bad romantacy that people get way to overhyped about.
Dear writers of gay romances,
For the love of the Gods, please warm me up before getting into smut. 😭😭😭😭 Im listening to these on audio, and LEMME TELL YOU, NOT GREAT ON THE BLUETOOTH SPEAKERS!
Just a lil heads up please.
kthnxbye
Its def fantasy lite, but actuallys cares for having world building and lore. Romantacy is a genre I struggle with, and I get told "maybe you just dont like romance." Ill think "maybe I do?", but books like this remind me that, nah, theres just so much bad romantacy that people get way to overhyped about.
Dear writers of gay romances,
For the love of the Gods, please warm me up before getting into smut. 😭😭😭😭 Im listening to these on audio, and LEMME TELL YOU, NOT GREAT ON THE BLUETOOTH SPEAKERS!
Just a lil heads up please.
kthnxbye
Want to read
October 21, 2020*me, tossing books onto my tbr pile* so yeah this is why I think I'd be a great pitcher for your team because I'm good at throwing things really far and making sure no one touches them *tbr mountain wobbles ominously*
November 2, 2020
this cover is stunning
November 3, 2020
3.5 stars.
Not a bad book by any means but I'm just bored. I liked the beginning well enough but its a very long and slow book!
Not a bad book by any means but I'm just bored. I liked the beginning well enough but its a very long and slow book!
October 23, 2020
Check out our full post for LACUNA on Wicked Reads.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Erica – ☆☆☆☆
Lacuna is an intriguing MM fantasy standalone from N.R. Walker.
The monarchs of four directional kingdoms are summoned to the center of their land for a celestial event that only happens every thousand years. Each destined ruler was marked with the element from their kingdom at birth, signifying they were to lead.
A unique setup within a fantasy realm, placing all the key players in direct contact with one another within the first few chapters. Evil is afoot, something far more important than a celestial celebration. All four rulers are a week's horse ride away from their kingdoms, leery of one another after decades of education within their time of peace, because long ago the kingdoms were at war with one another.
Told in dual narration, Crow in the Northlands, with his blackbird mark, and Tancho in the Westlands, with his koi mark. The marks of their birth burning in communication with them, the urgency increasing the closer they get to the center. Is it the proximity to the eclipse or something else?
The pages flew by for me in the beginning, as I was immersed in a new fantasy realm, curious to see how Crow and Tancho would be drawn together. Then the angsty deliciousness hit. A gift or a curse? Crow and Tancho were tied together in a way that was somewhat comical because of the frustration and discomfort they were both experiencing.
As a lover of slow-burn, the tension between the pair was entertaining, their banter and issues kept the pages turning. The bro energy was high with their personal sidekicks, adding a humorous bent as their nearest and dearest found delight in taunting their betters.
I won't dive deeply into the world building, the complexity of the fantasy plot, or the magic mechanics, simply because that is something that unfolds as the story itself.
While I was entertained in the beginning third, where I was annoyed when I had other things I had to do when all I wanted to do is sit down and read, there was a wall I hit after that.
The redundancy wall.
While this is common in this genre, I'm not sure I understand why it exists. It's the SSDD syndrome. Where the story stalls, the characters go adventuring. As a lover of fantasy novels, shows, video games, and movies, I understand this for what it is. The lull before the storm where we wait for something to happen, anything to happen, gathering small crumbs of information.
At some point, the cast of characters begin a wash-repeat series of pretty much the same events for days on end, all of it written on the page, not necessarily in detail though. If the journey is seven days, we go through the same series of baths and meals and sleeps seven times. They travel from the center to the other four directions, which means we experience similar scenes in the West, North, East, and South.
This phenomenon slows the pacing, becomes redundant with the same inane actions. Interest wanes. While there are humorous or emotional moments tucked in during these dry moments, the pacing is jarring.
Lacuna started in a steady pace upward, stalled to a crawl in the middle for more than half of the novel. The climax was rapid, to where if you accidentally skipped a page it would be over. I just wish the pacing would have been leveled out throughout the novel, because the climax happened so quickly there wasn't enough time for this reader to truly digest what was happening, enough time to feel any emotions for the characters.
Do I recommend Lacuna? Absolutely, especially to fantasy fans. Honestly, I think this would be a good novel for those who have never read MM before. The connection between Crow and Tancho was written in a way that was beyond organic, the slow-building tension realistic, with the heat level on the lower side into fade-to-black territory. It would be a good starting place for a new reader to dip their toes into the MM genre, where they would no doubt be swimming into the deep end in no time.
Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
dnf
October 14, 2024I think that after a certain amount of books read, from the same author that doesn’t try to do anything new, it just keeps getting tiresome. DNF@15%
November 11, 2021
A sort of enemies to lovers, two kings bonded against their will, a mysterious enemy, an eclipse that will reveal everything! I loved it so much!! Crow and Tancho were magnificent with their banter, how much they wanted to kill each other while at the same time they wanted to kiss each other. Yep, the bond made them feel the feels they both felt but tried to challenge and avoid, unsuccessfully. It was hilarious! Very entertaining, very hot, and so very sweet. I found myself saying "awww" out loud more than once. My heart was full of emotions, and anguish because I was scared for every single character's life!! Yeah, all of them because the side characters were very present, very important and perfectly written; you end up loving all of them, truly!
Loved the world building, the magic, the history, and I loved those two dumb kings who had to stay close because of the bond and weren't afraid of admire each other's butts when the other wasn't looking. I respect that!
Loved the world building, the magic, the history, and I loved those two dumb kings who had to stay close because of the bond and weren't afraid of admire each other's butts when the other wasn't looking. I respect that!
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