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Sage and King
Zaya expected to be the irresponsible youngest prince his whole life. But when his two older siblings are killed by an unidentified magician, he finds himself crowned king of Lushrain—the end of his liberty as he knows it. As part of his training, he’s sent to Heartwood for a month, the house of the sages high in the mountains. There, to his shock, the sages tell him he must learn about magic—which is illegal to practice, but has nonetheless been among Heartwood’s secret studies for centuries.
They assign Col as his tutor, a charming young sage with unusually strong powers. Zaya abhors and distrusts magic, and Col absolutely doesn’t want the job of attempting to change the king’s mind. But in their lessons and debates, they grow closer and begin envisioning a future in which a sage and a king might make a harmonious couple.
But the assassin still roams, seeking to hurt Zaya, and the budding love affair may be crushed by the secrets that Heartwood—and Col—have kept about this killer.
They assign Col as his tutor, a charming young sage with unusually strong powers. Zaya abhors and distrusts magic, and Col absolutely doesn’t want the job of attempting to change the king’s mind. But in their lessons and debates, they grow closer and begin envisioning a future in which a sage and a king might make a harmonious couple.
But the assassin still roams, seeking to hurt Zaya, and the budding love affair may be crushed by the secrets that Heartwood—and Col—have kept about this killer.
206 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 18, 2021
10 people are currently reading
570 people want to read
About the author
Molly Ringle
16 books407 followers[Aug. 2022 note: I'm going dormant on Goodreads and moving over to Storygraph. Find me there! I'm under username mollyringle and would love to connect.]
Bio: Molly Ringle was one of the quiet, weird kids in school, and is now one of the quiet, weird writers of the world. She/her, demi, bi.
Bio: Molly Ringle was one of the quiet, weird kids in school, and is now one of the quiet, weird writers of the world. She/her, demi, bi.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
August 8, 2024
3.5 Stars
A solid fantasy as I enjoyed this more than Lava Red Feather Blue.
The blurb tells you everything you need to know. Due to the tragic murder of the majority of the royal family, the newly crowned ruler Zaya, is thrust into a role he never thought was a possibility. One of his duties is to traditionally visit the venerated place of Heartwood which houses all the knowledge of the realm. There he learns that illegal magic is embraced where they take in those gifted to train them to hone their skills.
Though Zaya balks at first, he’s more openminded to this “new’ paradigm. It definitely does not hurt that he is educated through the patient tutelage of the powerful sage Col, making him realize that the fear of magic is basically unfounded.
This was a pretty sedate MM romance that is sweet with some sexy as Zaya and Col get to know each other and develop feelings. There is a sinister storyline running parallel showcasing Zaya’s mad older brother Orzei who is biding his time to make a move for the crown.
Overall, Ringle succeeds in immersing the reader in this fantasy alternate universe, providing a well thought out plant based magical system and giving Zaya and Col a solid HEA.
A solid fantasy as I enjoyed this more than Lava Red Feather Blue.
The blurb tells you everything you need to know. Due to the tragic murder of the majority of the royal family, the newly crowned ruler Zaya, is thrust into a role he never thought was a possibility. One of his duties is to traditionally visit the venerated place of Heartwood which houses all the knowledge of the realm. There he learns that illegal magic is embraced where they take in those gifted to train them to hone their skills.
Though Zaya balks at first, he’s more openminded to this “new’ paradigm. It definitely does not hurt that he is educated through the patient tutelage of the powerful sage Col, making him realize that the fear of magic is basically unfounded.
This was a pretty sedate MM romance that is sweet with some sexy as Zaya and Col get to know each other and develop feelings. There is a sinister storyline running parallel showcasing Zaya’s mad older brother Orzei who is biding his time to make a move for the crown.
Overall, Ringle succeeds in immersing the reader in this fantasy alternate universe, providing a well thought out plant based magical system and giving Zaya and Col a solid HEA.
September 29, 2021
Per the author, this story was inspired by Merthur from BBC’s Merlin, so as someone who’s been a fan of the show for years I had to pick this up. It was a quick, enjoyable read that definitely made me want to check out more by Molly Ringle, because her writing is fantastic. I loved both Zaya and Col as narrators, and watching them fall in love was **chef’s kiss**. My favorite element of the entire book was by far the plant-based magic system, which was really unique and woven masterfully into the story for our heroes and villains alike. My only complaint: I wish this book was longer! There was definitely enough material to make it a full-length novel, or even a series…or maybe that’s just me wishing for more Zaya/Col adventures. All in all I really liked it, and would definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a short but sweet M/M Fantasy Romance!
Thank you to Central Avenue Publishing via Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Thank you to Central Avenue Publishing via Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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November 2, 2021[Content warnings for the book: death, grief, drowning, murder, moderate body horror (body parts turning into plants), mention of rape]
This is a novella (though ultimately almost novel length) I wrote in a blaze of inspiration from fall 2019 to spring 2020. Its original inspiration was the Merthur (Merlin/Arthur) relationship from BBC Merlin, but with all kinds of details changed. This is not Arthuriana, but a fictional country with magic, nowhere in Earth geography as we know it. (It's not Eidolonia either; it's yet a DIFFERENT fictional country.) Shelve under "high fantasy" and "m/m romance." Or "ugh-I've-read-fanfic-better-than-this" if you are the snarky shelf-labeler type.
Read the first few chapters here!: https://mollyringle.com/sage-and-king...
This is a novella (though ultimately almost novel length) I wrote in a blaze of inspiration from fall 2019 to spring 2020. Its original inspiration was the Merthur (Merlin/Arthur) relationship from BBC Merlin, but with all kinds of details changed. This is not Arthuriana, but a fictional country with magic, nowhere in Earth geography as we know it. (It's not Eidolonia either; it's yet a DIFFERENT fictional country.) Shelve under "high fantasy" and "m/m romance." Or "ugh-I've-read-fanfic-better-than-this" if you are the snarky shelf-labeler type.
Read the first few chapters here!: https://mollyringle.com/sage-and-king...
May 14, 2021
↠ 3.5 stars
When an unforeseen tragedy results in the death of his two older siblings, Zaya finds himself elevated from irresponsible young prince, to next in line for the throne. As part of a time-honored tradition between the kingdoms heirs and the sages that dwell in the mountains, he must travel to the Heartwood for a month to train. Upon his arrival, Zaya is astonished to learn that the sages are actually magicians, practicing in a kingdom where it has long been forbidden. Being the successor to the throne, he is tasked with learning the true history and the responsibility that comes with safeguarding that information. The sages assign him a tutor, Col, a talented sage unusually gifted with magic. Col is one of the few sages who knows that the deaths of Zaya’s siblings was actually regicide at the hands of a brother long believed to be dead. Between the lectures and personal escapades, the two grow closer, unveiling secrets determined to stay buried and an assassin still at large.
Hearing that Sage and King was inspired by BBC Merlin made me even more excited to dive into this fantasy romance. By just the first chapter, with the introduction of a plant-based magic system and a complicated murder plot, I was even more intrigued. Ringle has created a world that is completely submersive, with well-thought-out characters that move the plot toward its ultimate goal. While this is a book that is heavier on the side of romance, there is definitely enough going on in the background that keeps it grounded, while bringing something to the table for just about any fantasy reader. For me, the unknown assassin part of the plot was by far the most interesting. Complex sibling relationships never fail to hold my attention, and the one between Orzei and Zaya did exactly that. Though at times it was overshadowed by the main relationship conflict, there was enough of an exposition to satisfy me by the end. What few complaints I have about this are mostly related to the length of the novel. I really thought it should have been longer than it actually was in order to draw out the conflict and sharpen the development of the romantic relationship between Zaya and Col. It resulted in a bit of a pacing issue towards the final quarter of the story that would have likely been fixed had the book gone on for a little bit longer. Though that’s not to say that the ending was not to my liking. Besides that, this really is a wholesome sweet romance that is sure to make anyone looking to read more LGBTQ+ fantasy satisfied. The vibe is absolutely on par with what the author was going for in having BBC Merlin as the source of inspiration for the novel. Something that will certainly gratify readers reading for that aspect.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review
Trigger warnings: drowning, murder, death
When an unforeseen tragedy results in the death of his two older siblings, Zaya finds himself elevated from irresponsible young prince, to next in line for the throne. As part of a time-honored tradition between the kingdoms heirs and the sages that dwell in the mountains, he must travel to the Heartwood for a month to train. Upon his arrival, Zaya is astonished to learn that the sages are actually magicians, practicing in a kingdom where it has long been forbidden. Being the successor to the throne, he is tasked with learning the true history and the responsibility that comes with safeguarding that information. The sages assign him a tutor, Col, a talented sage unusually gifted with magic. Col is one of the few sages who knows that the deaths of Zaya’s siblings was actually regicide at the hands of a brother long believed to be dead. Between the lectures and personal escapades, the two grow closer, unveiling secrets determined to stay buried and an assassin still at large.
Hearing that Sage and King was inspired by BBC Merlin made me even more excited to dive into this fantasy romance. By just the first chapter, with the introduction of a plant-based magic system and a complicated murder plot, I was even more intrigued. Ringle has created a world that is completely submersive, with well-thought-out characters that move the plot toward its ultimate goal. While this is a book that is heavier on the side of romance, there is definitely enough going on in the background that keeps it grounded, while bringing something to the table for just about any fantasy reader. For me, the unknown assassin part of the plot was by far the most interesting. Complex sibling relationships never fail to hold my attention, and the one between Orzei and Zaya did exactly that. Though at times it was overshadowed by the main relationship conflict, there was enough of an exposition to satisfy me by the end. What few complaints I have about this are mostly related to the length of the novel. I really thought it should have been longer than it actually was in order to draw out the conflict and sharpen the development of the romantic relationship between Zaya and Col. It resulted in a bit of a pacing issue towards the final quarter of the story that would have likely been fixed had the book gone on for a little bit longer. Though that’s not to say that the ending was not to my liking. Besides that, this really is a wholesome sweet romance that is sure to make anyone looking to read more LGBTQ+ fantasy satisfied. The vibe is absolutely on par with what the author was going for in having BBC Merlin as the source of inspiration for the novel. Something that will certainly gratify readers reading for that aspect.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review
Trigger warnings: drowning, murder, death
April 26, 2021
After prince Zaya's older siblings are killed by a magician, he has to deal with an unexpected accession to the throne, and the end of many of the freedoms that he has enjoyed as the irresponsible youngest prince. Part of his training sees him sent to Heartwood — home of the wise sages — only to learn that the sages are magic folk in a kingdom where magic has long been illegal to practise. Col, a young sage, is assigned to be his tutor as he learns the history and abilities of sages, and before long romance blooms between the two men.
As someone who often struggles to get into fantasy, I'll start by saying that this was very easy to read. The world building was really nicely done, with great descriptions making it very accessible. I devoured the first half of the book in a fairly short time, where the reader learns along with Zaya about the secrets of the sages and the lore of magic in this world. The fact that magic comes from plants was a really nice touch — with the magical properties of many different plants, both fictional and real-world based species, explored nicely. (The magic of real-world plants was based on traditional medicine and witchcraft practices, which helped make the fantasy world feel familiar).
While set in a fantasy world, this book is more of a romance. Unfortunately, this is where the book started to fall a little flat for me. The chemistry between Zaya and Col never really built for me — it was a case of being told rather than shown any reasoning. The issue of being told and not shown was also apparent in some other character work in the book too. Sadly this was mostly just a case of slightly inelegant writing.
The author has said that this book was inspired by BBC's Merlin, and although I've never watched a single episode of the show, it did feel strongly at times that this was just a fanfic with the names switched out. I have nothing against fanfic being turned into original stories (and I know I've read a few excellent published novels that have started out life that way!), however this one did lack the feeling of originality — or more importantly, characterisation for readers that aren't viewing these characters as familiar figures from a TV show — that is needed to make that jump into an original piece of work. The romance story in particular felt at times that it had never developed past the fanfic stage.
There were some great ideas in the story and I'd love to explore other narratives within the world that was built so well. It's a decent effort, but sadly lacked the polish to make me really love it.
As someone who often struggles to get into fantasy, I'll start by saying that this was very easy to read. The world building was really nicely done, with great descriptions making it very accessible. I devoured the first half of the book in a fairly short time, where the reader learns along with Zaya about the secrets of the sages and the lore of magic in this world. The fact that magic comes from plants was a really nice touch — with the magical properties of many different plants, both fictional and real-world based species, explored nicely. (The magic of real-world plants was based on traditional medicine and witchcraft practices, which helped make the fantasy world feel familiar).
While set in a fantasy world, this book is more of a romance. Unfortunately, this is where the book started to fall a little flat for me. The chemistry between Zaya and Col never really built for me — it was a case of being told rather than shown any reasoning. The issue of being told and not shown was also apparent in some other character work in the book too. Sadly this was mostly just a case of slightly inelegant writing.
The author has said that this book was inspired by BBC's Merlin, and although I've never watched a single episode of the show, it did feel strongly at times that this was just a fanfic with the names switched out. I have nothing against fanfic being turned into original stories (and I know I've read a few excellent published novels that have started out life that way!), however this one did lack the feeling of originality — or more importantly, characterisation for readers that aren't viewing these characters as familiar figures from a TV show — that is needed to make that jump into an original piece of work. The romance story in particular felt at times that it had never developed past the fanfic stage.
There were some great ideas in the story and I'd love to explore other narratives within the world that was built so well. It's a decent effort, but sadly lacked the polish to make me really love it.
May 27, 2021
Copy received from the publisher Central Avenue Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
A charming MM romantic fantasy with all the feels.
'After twenty-eight years of assuming the succession would never reach him, that he could forever be the rapscallion prince who shirked as many responsibilities as possible, spent half his nights at the theatre, and caused minor scandals in the newspapers,' Zaya suddenly finds himself with the crown landing with a crash upon his head.
'Gods help the nation of Lushrain.' - That's what everyone seems to think, including Zaya himself. And no one is more afraid than him that he'll screw things up - royally.
"There's good you could do for this land with your young fresh thoughts."
"My thoughts are chaos. I'd probably start a civil war by complete accident."
And yet, our prince is determined to give it his best shot, even if that means the end of his liberty as he knows it or, even worse, learn about magic. Illegal to practice and forbidden in his kingdom, it seems to have been a closely guarded secret not only of the sages but also of his royal forefathers.
To study and understand it, Zaya needs to spend a month at Heartwood, the house of the sages high in the mountains. And despite distrusting and abhorring magic, Zaya is assigned a tutor and needs to get comfortable around it. The only good thing about the whole affair is the tutor himself - Col, a charming young sage with unusually strong powers who doesn't hesitate to let Zaya know he doesn't want the job.
Now don't get me wrong, the two are instantly attracted to each other, but the gulf between them is as wide as it gets. And yet, what starts as an uneasy mutually beneficial understanding slowly evolves into something more. Lessons and debates, lead to stolen looks and daring touches, as well as occasional fights involving 'flinging sticks at each other with all the mirth and irresponsibility of ten-year-olds.' And before any of them realise, they're already falling in love.
A King and Sage couldn't possibly have a future together! And yet... What if? And why not?
This is something both Col and Zaya agree upon.
But an assassin roams, seeking to hurt Zaya, and the budding love affair may be crushed by the secrets that Heartwood—and Col—have kept about this killer.
Beautifully written and fast flowing, Sage and King is an adorable MM romantic fantasy with all the feels. The setting is wonderful, the plot solid and intriguing, the magic superb and the characters to absolutely root for! And don't even let me get started on the romance! Sweetness on a page!!
I found myself smiling every other page at the adorable cuteness between Zaya and Cal. And then that end!!! My heart!! So sweet and endearing!! It can't get better than that.
Sage and King is a charming, fun and light read that's practically unputdownable.
I finished it in one sitting, absolutely loved it and highly recommend it to any and all LGBTQ romantic fantasy fans out there.
Find this review and more on my book review and cover art blog The Magic Book Corner
A charming MM romantic fantasy with all the feels.
'After twenty-eight years of assuming the succession would never reach him, that he could forever be the rapscallion prince who shirked as many responsibilities as possible, spent half his nights at the theatre, and caused minor scandals in the newspapers,' Zaya suddenly finds himself with the crown landing with a crash upon his head.
'Gods help the nation of Lushrain.' - That's what everyone seems to think, including Zaya himself. And no one is more afraid than him that he'll screw things up - royally.
"There's good you could do for this land with your young fresh thoughts."
"My thoughts are chaos. I'd probably start a civil war by complete accident."
And yet, our prince is determined to give it his best shot, even if that means the end of his liberty as he knows it or, even worse, learn about magic. Illegal to practice and forbidden in his kingdom, it seems to have been a closely guarded secret not only of the sages but also of his royal forefathers.
To study and understand it, Zaya needs to spend a month at Heartwood, the house of the sages high in the mountains. And despite distrusting and abhorring magic, Zaya is assigned a tutor and needs to get comfortable around it. The only good thing about the whole affair is the tutor himself - Col, a charming young sage with unusually strong powers who doesn't hesitate to let Zaya know he doesn't want the job.
Now don't get me wrong, the two are instantly attracted to each other, but the gulf between them is as wide as it gets. And yet, what starts as an uneasy mutually beneficial understanding slowly evolves into something more. Lessons and debates, lead to stolen looks and daring touches, as well as occasional fights involving 'flinging sticks at each other with all the mirth and irresponsibility of ten-year-olds.' And before any of them realise, they're already falling in love.
A King and Sage couldn't possibly have a future together! And yet... What if? And why not?
This is something both Col and Zaya agree upon.
But an assassin roams, seeking to hurt Zaya, and the budding love affair may be crushed by the secrets that Heartwood—and Col—have kept about this killer.
Beautifully written and fast flowing, Sage and King is an adorable MM romantic fantasy with all the feels. The setting is wonderful, the plot solid and intriguing, the magic superb and the characters to absolutely root for! And don't even let me get started on the romance! Sweetness on a page!!
I found myself smiling every other page at the adorable cuteness between Zaya and Cal. And then that end!!! My heart!! So sweet and endearing!! It can't get better than that.
Sage and King is a charming, fun and light read that's practically unputdownable.
I finished it in one sitting, absolutely loved it and highly recommend it to any and all LGBTQ romantic fantasy fans out there.
Find this review and more on my book review and cover art blog The Magic Book Corner
April 5, 2021
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review!
In this book, Molly Ringle presents a beautifully crafted fantasy world with lovable protagonists, good world-building, and delightfully casually queer characters.
I have previously complimented Ringle's writing style and the natural flow of background information throughout the book, and I have to praise this book for having the same quality. I often find fantasy books a bit tedious with the abundance of details, and I even get mixed up with character names at times, but I never once had this issue with Sage and King or Lava Red Feather Blue. As a non-native English speaker, I truly appreciate books that don't give me terse paragraphs or overly complicated descriptions to wade through. Sage and King manages to build up a beautiful world, and teach about its history and its characters while maintaining a lovely, flowing writing style. At no point did the information presented feel out of place/confusing, and we also see more of the main characters' shift in dynamic while learning about this magical world. The writing style is often the first thing I make note of when reading, and we all know that easy reading is damn hard writing so I must applaud Molly Ringle for delivering on that front.
Sage and King is (by the author's description) a book inspired by Merthur but is not Arthurian. Despite the book drawing inspiration from Merthur, and presenting a dynamic similar to the well-loved Arthur/Merlin, the main characters of the book are their own people with their own traits and personalities. I found Zaya endearing and thoughtful, and felt for him even when he made misguided decisions out of anger. The baseline for Zaya's character is a kindness that shines even when he's put in bad situations and I found myself thinking that this is probably what "chivalrous" actually means. This trait gives his and Col's dynamic an even more interesting spin due to the events of the books, and the information that we as readers are privy to -but Zaya is not (watch me try to word this well without spoiling anything). I enjoyed the budding relationship between Col and Zaya, and the underlying tension that came with Col's chapters while Zaya remained oblivious. Overall, I enjoyed these characters together and I enjoyed their relationships with other characters in the book. In fact, I really wanted to see more of Zaya and Del's friendship!
Another point to bring up is the characters' age. Zaya and Col are both in their mid/late twenties, and I honestly adore having queer characters my own age in a fantasy setting. Oftentimes queer novels are either set up with far younger characters in coming-of-age stories, or with older character destined for trauma and tragedy. Therefore it was lovely to have queer main characters in their mid/late twenties in a novel combining fantasy and romance.
Furthermore -and yes this needed its own paragraph- I also really loved all the talk about plant magic. I pride myself on knowing a lot about plants due to my heritage, so it was particularly fun to see what type of magic each plant got assigned and how it was used by Col and the other magicians. I would honestly read a novella just about Col living his every day life in this world. No plot required.
A final thought is that this book doesn't waste any time on homophobia within its fantasy world. In fact, Sage and King features a bisexual MC, a gay MC, and casual mentions of queer relationships and nonbinary people -which is a refreshing, welcome change from fantasy books that still use homophobia to push the plot. Overall, the book is a fun, light read and a lovely escape from reality for a few hours. The plot is well set up and easy to follow and the world-building is fantastic.
I highly recommend that you buy this book if you're looking for something well written, romantic, and has lovely high fantasy elements.
In this book, Molly Ringle presents a beautifully crafted fantasy world with lovable protagonists, good world-building, and delightfully casually queer characters.
I have previously complimented Ringle's writing style and the natural flow of background information throughout the book, and I have to praise this book for having the same quality. I often find fantasy books a bit tedious with the abundance of details, and I even get mixed up with character names at times, but I never once had this issue with Sage and King or Lava Red Feather Blue. As a non-native English speaker, I truly appreciate books that don't give me terse paragraphs or overly complicated descriptions to wade through. Sage and King manages to build up a beautiful world, and teach about its history and its characters while maintaining a lovely, flowing writing style. At no point did the information presented feel out of place/confusing, and we also see more of the main characters' shift in dynamic while learning about this magical world. The writing style is often the first thing I make note of when reading, and we all know that easy reading is damn hard writing so I must applaud Molly Ringle for delivering on that front.
Sage and King is (by the author's description) a book inspired by Merthur but is not Arthurian. Despite the book drawing inspiration from Merthur, and presenting a dynamic similar to the well-loved Arthur/Merlin, the main characters of the book are their own people with their own traits and personalities. I found Zaya endearing and thoughtful, and felt for him even when he made misguided decisions out of anger. The baseline for Zaya's character is a kindness that shines even when he's put in bad situations and I found myself thinking that this is probably what "chivalrous" actually means. This trait gives his and Col's dynamic an even more interesting spin due to the events of the books, and the information that we as readers are privy to -but Zaya is not (watch me try to word this well without spoiling anything). I enjoyed the budding relationship between Col and Zaya, and the underlying tension that came with Col's chapters while Zaya remained oblivious. Overall, I enjoyed these characters together and I enjoyed their relationships with other characters in the book. In fact, I really wanted to see more of Zaya and Del's friendship!
Another point to bring up is the characters' age. Zaya and Col are both in their mid/late twenties, and I honestly adore having queer characters my own age in a fantasy setting. Oftentimes queer novels are either set up with far younger characters in coming-of-age stories, or with older character destined for trauma and tragedy. Therefore it was lovely to have queer main characters in their mid/late twenties in a novel combining fantasy and romance.
Furthermore -and yes this needed its own paragraph- I also really loved all the talk about plant magic. I pride myself on knowing a lot about plants due to my heritage, so it was particularly fun to see what type of magic each plant got assigned and how it was used by Col and the other magicians. I would honestly read a novella just about Col living his every day life in this world. No plot required.
A final thought is that this book doesn't waste any time on homophobia within its fantasy world. In fact, Sage and King features a bisexual MC, a gay MC, and casual mentions of queer relationships and nonbinary people -which is a refreshing, welcome change from fantasy books that still use homophobia to push the plot. Overall, the book is a fun, light read and a lovely escape from reality for a few hours. The plot is well set up and easy to follow and the world-building is fantastic.
I highly recommend that you buy this book if you're looking for something well written, romantic, and has lovely high fantasy elements.
March 29, 2021
I received an ARC from Netgalley and Central Avenue Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
I have the biggest grin right now. And my heart is still fluttering.
Molly Ringle has a gift when it comes to writing novels that feel like one of the fairy tales we all loved and read when we were children, masterfully weaving that timeless, magical and all-encompassing atmosphere with mature themes, a lovely romance, high-stakes and life-or-death situations.
I loved her previous novel "Lava Red Feather Blue" with my whole heart, so when I saw "Sage and King" on Netgalley... I've never requested a book faster. I'm so glad I got to read and review it in advance. Like it's predecessor, I know I'll be thinking about it for weeks on end.
The plot revolves around Zaya, whose life is upended when he is inherits the throne of a fantastical kingdom where magic exists and is severely frowned upon, where strict laws limit magicians's lives, and Col, a young sage with great magical powers and that has been chosen to guide Zaya through his first weeks of reign.
The plot is fairly straight-forward, but it captures the reader's attention from the start. Ringle blends sweet and soft moments between the two MCs with conversations about morals and prejudices, tough decisions and life-alterning secrets, complicated familial relationships and divided loyalties.
I loved both Zaya and Col so much. They're both young and artless in some, different, ways, but they're also nice and decent, and yes, wise, both desperate and eager to make the right choices when their life-plans get upended. Together, they were sweet and soft and made my heart ache for all the best reasons.
When this book comes out in May, go and buy it. If you're looking for a story with a magical, timeless atmosphere, a romance that will leave you sighing and starry-eyed, this is the novel for you.
I have the biggest grin right now. And my heart is still fluttering.
Molly Ringle has a gift when it comes to writing novels that feel like one of the fairy tales we all loved and read when we were children, masterfully weaving that timeless, magical and all-encompassing atmosphere with mature themes, a lovely romance, high-stakes and life-or-death situations.
I loved her previous novel "Lava Red Feather Blue" with my whole heart, so when I saw "Sage and King" on Netgalley... I've never requested a book faster. I'm so glad I got to read and review it in advance. Like it's predecessor, I know I'll be thinking about it for weeks on end.
The plot revolves around Zaya, whose life is upended when he is inherits the throne of a fantastical kingdom where magic exists and is severely frowned upon, where strict laws limit magicians's lives, and Col, a young sage with great magical powers and that has been chosen to guide Zaya through his first weeks of reign.
The plot is fairly straight-forward, but it captures the reader's attention from the start. Ringle blends sweet and soft moments between the two MCs with conversations about morals and prejudices, tough decisions and life-alterning secrets, complicated familial relationships and divided loyalties.
I loved both Zaya and Col so much. They're both young and artless in some, different, ways, but they're also nice and decent, and yes, wise, both desperate and eager to make the right choices when their life-plans get upended. Together, they were sweet and soft and made my heart ache for all the best reasons.
When this book comes out in May, go and buy it. If you're looking for a story with a magical, timeless atmosphere, a romance that will leave you sighing and starry-eyed, this is the novel for you.
May 26, 2021
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Sage and King was one of those books that I actually took my time digesting. In it, you will meet Zaya. Due to an untimely death, for most of his family, he now finds himself becoming King. It was honestly never on his mind or a desire of his to become the man in charge. So when he gets the chance to fulfill a time-honored tradition between the kingdoms heirs and the sages.. well, he's hesitant to do so.
Luckily for him, he winds up meeting Col while visiting Heartwood. Together, they were extremely cute and I liked that they were getting closer and closer to one another. However, the history behind magic wasn't that appealing to me. But I get why Zaya needed to learn all of this.
There are hints of a betrayal in the synopsis and I get why the secrets were kept hidden. Truly, I do.. but I was kind of bored while reading this. The romance was good and the drama was okay. As for the villain and the 10 millisecond fight.. they were a bit predictable. I was sort of expecting more action with this than I got.
In the end, it was an okay book with a cute couple to ship.
Sage and King was one of those books that I actually took my time digesting. In it, you will meet Zaya. Due to an untimely death, for most of his family, he now finds himself becoming King. It was honestly never on his mind or a desire of his to become the man in charge. So when he gets the chance to fulfill a time-honored tradition between the kingdoms heirs and the sages.. well, he's hesitant to do so.
Luckily for him, he winds up meeting Col while visiting Heartwood. Together, they were extremely cute and I liked that they were getting closer and closer to one another. However, the history behind magic wasn't that appealing to me. But I get why Zaya needed to learn all of this.
There are hints of a betrayal in the synopsis and I get why the secrets were kept hidden. Truly, I do.. but I was kind of bored while reading this. The romance was good and the drama was okay. As for the villain and the 10 millisecond fight.. they were a bit predictable. I was sort of expecting more action with this than I got.
In the end, it was an okay book with a cute couple to ship.
November 20, 2021
Ringle has done it again! Sage and King is a thoroughly enchanting fantasy that made me laugh and cry happy tears.
This book is loosely Merthur story. I am not familiar with Arthurian legends so can't comment on the parallels however I can testify that this book is an absolute joy to read even if you aren't a Merthur stan.
This book is my favourite kind of romance, filled with a yearning, slow-burn romance but also has a little bit of spice ;)
I genuinely think Ringle's work gets better with every book that she writes!
This book is loosely Merthur story. I am not familiar with Arthurian legends so can't comment on the parallels however I can testify that this book is an absolute joy to read even if you aren't a Merthur stan.
This book is my favourite kind of romance, filled with a yearning, slow-burn romance but also has a little bit of spice ;)
I genuinely think Ringle's work gets better with every book that she writes!
May 20, 2021
This might be the first fantasy romance novel where not only did I not want to gouge out the eyes of the protagonists at any point in the proceedings, I was actively rooting for their happiness because I respected every single one of their decisions.
Prince Zaya, third in line to the throne of Lushrain, spends his days being the frivolous young man about town, devoted to the theater and a mainstay of the newspapers' gossip pages. When his older sister the Queen and his older brother, her heir, are killed in a freak landslide, Zaya is suddenly thrust into power, a position that he neither welcomes nor enjoys. As part of his initiation to the throne, he's brought to the mountainside retreat of Heartwood, where he discovers an awful secret: magic, long outlawed in his nation, has been secretly thriving, cultivated here by the sages and advisors relied on by generations of monarchs.
Col may be one of the most powerful sages Heartwood has ever trained, but his relatively sheltered upbringing amidst them does nothing to prepare him for the glamour or intensity of the young king. Tasked with gradually introducing magic to Zaya, and hopefully earning his confidence and trust, he doesn't expect their initial attraction to grow into something more profound. But he's keeping a terrible secret from Zaya that could not only destroy their relationship but also the very stability of their kingdom.
This is literally the first time I've read a romance that deals with all of these topics where the protagonists are not also infuriatingly for-the-dramz. The obstacles between Zaya and Col are never of their own manufacture: even the misunderstandings are entirely reasonable to the outside eye. They're both mature, intelligent adults whose unique positions necessitate secret-keeping, but whose impulses towards trust and honesty are commendable without being foolish. While their attraction is instant, they fall in love gradually then all at once, with a sweetness and sexiness that reminds me of my own dearest love. This was, by far, the best fantasy romance I've ever read, with an intriguing plant-based magic system and a keen eye both for politics and for racial and sexual diversity.
Sage And King by Molly Ringle was published May 18 2021 by Central Avenue Publishing and is available from all good booksellers.
Prince Zaya, third in line to the throne of Lushrain, spends his days being the frivolous young man about town, devoted to the theater and a mainstay of the newspapers' gossip pages. When his older sister the Queen and his older brother, her heir, are killed in a freak landslide, Zaya is suddenly thrust into power, a position that he neither welcomes nor enjoys. As part of his initiation to the throne, he's brought to the mountainside retreat of Heartwood, where he discovers an awful secret: magic, long outlawed in his nation, has been secretly thriving, cultivated here by the sages and advisors relied on by generations of monarchs.
Col may be one of the most powerful sages Heartwood has ever trained, but his relatively sheltered upbringing amidst them does nothing to prepare him for the glamour or intensity of the young king. Tasked with gradually introducing magic to Zaya, and hopefully earning his confidence and trust, he doesn't expect their initial attraction to grow into something more profound. But he's keeping a terrible secret from Zaya that could not only destroy their relationship but also the very stability of their kingdom.
This is literally the first time I've read a romance that deals with all of these topics where the protagonists are not also infuriatingly for-the-dramz. The obstacles between Zaya and Col are never of their own manufacture: even the misunderstandings are entirely reasonable to the outside eye. They're both mature, intelligent adults whose unique positions necessitate secret-keeping, but whose impulses towards trust and honesty are commendable without being foolish. While their attraction is instant, they fall in love gradually then all at once, with a sweetness and sexiness that reminds me of my own dearest love. This was, by far, the best fantasy romance I've ever read, with an intriguing plant-based magic system and a keen eye both for politics and for racial and sexual diversity.
Sage And King by Molly Ringle was published May 18 2021 by Central Avenue Publishing and is available from all good booksellers.
July 12, 2021
Sage and King may be short for its genre, but it's a perfect little package. The magic filled action is full of tension and drama, the romance swoon-worthy, and the characters so well drawn, I truly felt like I knew them and understood why they did what they did. I very much enjoyed the elegantly twisted Cain and Able retelling, the faint echos of Hogwarts, and will forever have the image of the magician rotted from the inside by his own magic in my head. But enough with the spoilers, let me just finish by saying that Ms Ringle does romance so well, you completely forget what gender the lovers are. Love is just simply love in her stories, and I love that.
September 20, 2024
Half of this book was just them mutually pining. I expected more tension. There was some sort of a political plot. But when you scrap out the mutual pining there wasn't really much room left to properly work out a plot in the remaining pages.
November 11, 2024
(2nd read) I love when I reread something and all the emotions still hit as hard.
-
First things first, I absolutely love Molly Ringle's books! I was so excited to get a chance to read this one early. Sage and King was loosely inspired by King Arthur and Merlin, which, if I hadn't already been desperate to read it, would have convinced me to pick it up. The story is set in a magical world, in the country of Lushrain. I really love the way Molly Ringle creates new worlds. I loved Eidolonia in Lava Red Feather Blue, and I love Lushrain.
In Lushrain, magic is forbidden, but the crowning of a new king means that there's the chance to change the rules. We meet Zaya, the irresponsible young prince who is unexpectedly crowned king, Col, his tutor, a young sage with strong magical powers, and Orzei, the villain of the story, a character who is both mysterious and interesting. Zaya and Col need to work together to navigate politics, magic, and the threat of Orzei, but secrets and lies threaten to get in the way of their budding relationship.
Something I love about Molly Ringle's books is that queer people get to just exist. The main characters are queer, but there are also side characters that are queer as well, and it's done so casually. These characters get to exist and live and love and as a queer person that's something that's just really nice to see.
I adore Zaya and Col. I really like the 'I don't know if I like you yet but damn you're attractive' trope. (Is that a trope? I don't know but I like it). I really enjoyed seeing them get to know each other, and the slow growth of understanding and acceptance between them. Also the flirting. The flirting!! This is definitely a pairing that will be living in my mind for a long time, I can tell. But as well as the romance, I also really liked the friendships, especially the one between Col and Trivin.
And then there's Heartwood, home of the sages. Oh my goodness. This place is magical. The descriptions are so vivid. Also, I want to visit the Heartwood library because it sounds wonderful. I really love the system of magic as well. The way that it works through plants is so unique, and really clever.
I adored this book. It's definitely going on my reread list. When everything goes down, oh my heart. I was on tenterhooks because I cared so much about the characters. I admit, I cried a little, and I don't usually get *that* emotional over books.
Please read this book when it comes out, I need people to talk to about it!
-
First things first, I absolutely love Molly Ringle's books! I was so excited to get a chance to read this one early. Sage and King was loosely inspired by King Arthur and Merlin, which, if I hadn't already been desperate to read it, would have convinced me to pick it up. The story is set in a magical world, in the country of Lushrain. I really love the way Molly Ringle creates new worlds. I loved Eidolonia in Lava Red Feather Blue, and I love Lushrain.
In Lushrain, magic is forbidden, but the crowning of a new king means that there's the chance to change the rules. We meet Zaya, the irresponsible young prince who is unexpectedly crowned king, Col, his tutor, a young sage with strong magical powers, and Orzei, the villain of the story, a character who is both mysterious and interesting. Zaya and Col need to work together to navigate politics, magic, and the threat of Orzei, but secrets and lies threaten to get in the way of their budding relationship.
Something I love about Molly Ringle's books is that queer people get to just exist. The main characters are queer, but there are also side characters that are queer as well, and it's done so casually. These characters get to exist and live and love and as a queer person that's something that's just really nice to see.
I adore Zaya and Col. I really like the 'I don't know if I like you yet but damn you're attractive' trope. (Is that a trope? I don't know but I like it). I really enjoyed seeing them get to know each other, and the slow growth of understanding and acceptance between them. Also the flirting. The flirting!! This is definitely a pairing that will be living in my mind for a long time, I can tell. But as well as the romance, I also really liked the friendships, especially the one between Col and Trivin.
And then there's Heartwood, home of the sages. Oh my goodness. This place is magical. The descriptions are so vivid. Also, I want to visit the Heartwood library because it sounds wonderful. I really love the system of magic as well. The way that it works through plants is so unique, and really clever.
I adored this book. It's definitely going on my reread list. When everything goes down, oh my heart. I was on tenterhooks because I cared so much about the characters. I admit, I cried a little, and I don't usually get *that* emotional over books.
Please read this book when it comes out, I need people to talk to about it!
April 7, 2021
This book was apparently inspired by the relationship between Arthur and Merlin on the BBC television show. I will be blunt and say I don't usually read MM romance but I thought the synopsis sounded interesting so dove in.
Zaya is what many would consider to be a play boy Prince and as third in line to the throne lives his life his way. When his sister and brother are murdered poor Zaya is suddenly no longer the "spare" but the actual King ! Unknown to Zaya magic is widely practiced albeit secretly in his kingdom and he's about to get a crash course from his new advisor Col.
This was incredibly easy to read and the time just sped past. I found both main characters to be very likeable although it's obvious that Col is not as worldly wise or experienced as Zaya. However Col didn't feel weak in any way just perhaps a little overwhelmed by his feelings at times. There isn't an awful lot here about the villain although his motivations are explained and yes he's done heinous crimes but I did feel a small amount of sympathy for the situation. The magic in play here was absolutely fabulous and I really enjoyed what the author came up with. This is a romance so do expect something a little stronger than mere hand holding and kissing ! Yes I thoroughly enjoyed this and would definitely read more from this new to me author.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
Zaya is what many would consider to be a play boy Prince and as third in line to the throne lives his life his way. When his sister and brother are murdered poor Zaya is suddenly no longer the "spare" but the actual King ! Unknown to Zaya magic is widely practiced albeit secretly in his kingdom and he's about to get a crash course from his new advisor Col.
This was incredibly easy to read and the time just sped past. I found both main characters to be very likeable although it's obvious that Col is not as worldly wise or experienced as Zaya. However Col didn't feel weak in any way just perhaps a little overwhelmed by his feelings at times. There isn't an awful lot here about the villain although his motivations are explained and yes he's done heinous crimes but I did feel a small amount of sympathy for the situation. The magic in play here was absolutely fabulous and I really enjoyed what the author came up with. This is a romance so do expect something a little stronger than mere hand holding and kissing ! Yes I thoroughly enjoyed this and would definitely read more from this new to me author.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
October 29, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and Central Avenue Publishing for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is a queer story about a King who didn't expect to ever sit on the throne learning hidden and forbidden things about the society of highly renowned academics that have been in service of the Crown for ages. He doesn't trust them, has bad experiences with their secret and would much rather be in a theater than ruling the country. However, he can't seem to keep hating the sage who tells him all these secrets.
I had fun reading this story; it was short, funny and sweet, which helped a reading slump I was in immensely. The worldbuilding was exquisite, well-explained with a thought-through magic system and vibrant history. The Characters motivations were clear and logical, the presentation and dialogue funny and detailed. I spent time laughing and smiling.
The Descriptions were detailed and made my mouth water and my heart soar. I really would like to visit Lushrain someday! I especially loved the side characters, there were some really interesting ones. I thought they were all fleshed-out and multidimensional. I also desperately want the love story of the princess of the nieghboring country and her bow wielding girlfriend.
The relationship between the love interests felt organic, though a little rushed. The length of this novella was detrimental in this point, as the romance felt less enemies-to-lovers and more I'm-fucking-terrified-to-instalove. I just wish there had been a couple more scenes in between. This book could've easily been novel-length, the material and plotlines were there. I also thought the description of the sex scenes felt a bit out of place, as the rest of the novel could have easily been YA. (Also this is mlm and written by a woman, which is not necessarily bad, but we've seen a lot of this lately, and it makes detailed sex scenes a bit iffy. But please refer to mlm reviewers on this, if you can.)
That being said, I can say that I can recommend this book overall, particularly to readers looking for a quick, light read to get them out of a slump.
This review will appear on my instagram tomorrow evening.
This book is a queer story about a King who didn't expect to ever sit on the throne learning hidden and forbidden things about the society of highly renowned academics that have been in service of the Crown for ages. He doesn't trust them, has bad experiences with their secret and would much rather be in a theater than ruling the country. However, he can't seem to keep hating the sage who tells him all these secrets.
I had fun reading this story; it was short, funny and sweet, which helped a reading slump I was in immensely. The worldbuilding was exquisite, well-explained with a thought-through magic system and vibrant history. The Characters motivations were clear and logical, the presentation and dialogue funny and detailed. I spent time laughing and smiling.
The Descriptions were detailed and made my mouth water and my heart soar. I really would like to visit Lushrain someday! I especially loved the side characters, there were some really interesting ones. I thought they were all fleshed-out and multidimensional. I also desperately want the love story of the princess of the nieghboring country and her bow wielding girlfriend.
The relationship between the love interests felt organic, though a little rushed. The length of this novella was detrimental in this point, as the romance felt less enemies-to-lovers and more I'm-fucking-terrified-to-instalove. I just wish there had been a couple more scenes in between. This book could've easily been novel-length, the material and plotlines were there. I also thought the description of the sex scenes felt a bit out of place, as the rest of the novel could have easily been YA. (Also this is mlm and written by a woman, which is not necessarily bad, but we've seen a lot of this lately, and it makes detailed sex scenes a bit iffy. But please refer to mlm reviewers on this, if you can.)
That being said, I can say that I can recommend this book overall, particularly to readers looking for a quick, light read to get them out of a slump.
This review will appear on my instagram tomorrow evening.
May 19, 2021
Molly Ringle does it again with this enchanting story, that is very reminiscent of BBC’s Merlin.
All our fangirl/boy dreams come true in this magical story. With the added benefit of likeable characters and fabulous backstory.
I also found myself rooting for the villain through most of the story. Which just shows Molly’s ability to make the characters come to life, and connect with the reader.
Definitely a must read for all the fantasy lovers out there.
All our fangirl/boy dreams come true in this magical story. With the added benefit of likeable characters and fabulous backstory.
I also found myself rooting for the villain through most of the story. Which just shows Molly’s ability to make the characters come to life, and connect with the reader.
Definitely a must read for all the fantasy lovers out there.
January 2, 2024
This was a good time! Some of the plot and world-building elements were under-developed, but I enjoyed the relationship between the titular characters and the direction the story took. It definitely felt reminiscent of Merlin fanfic, though the details differ.
TW: death of loved ones, fratricide, mention of past rape, mind/body control, disfigurement and disablement, violence, body horror, drowning
⭐2023 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge⭐
45. A book that started out as fan fiction
--
Me, upon reading the synopsis: this sounds like it could be a Merlin fic
The author's review: "Its original inspiration was the Merthur (Merlin/Arthur) relationship from BBC Merlin..."
Me: omg
TW: death of loved ones, fratricide, mention of past rape, mind/body control, disfigurement and disablement, violence, body horror, drowning
⭐2023 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge⭐
45. A book that started out as fan fiction
--
Me, upon reading the synopsis: this sounds like it could be a Merlin fic
The author's review: "Its original inspiration was the Merthur (Merlin/Arthur) relationship from BBC Merlin..."
Me: omg
May 23, 2021
Such a delightful tale! Ringle tells us that the book is inspired by the BBC's "Merlin", which makes me want to watch it all the more. The story is a lovely M/M romance set in a fantasy world where magic exists, but is hidden from view because of both law and cultural fear. The protagonists have to work within and then try to break out of these constraints to find their destiny. I especially loved the banter and dialog, a perfect blend of romance and sass. Highly recommended!
April 15, 2022
✦This is my second foray into one of Molly Ringle's fantasy worlds and my thanks go to Central Avenue publishing for allowing me the reading pleasure by graciously sending me Sage and King for review. The following opinions are my own.✦
In this novel we follow a few POV's, the main one being Zaya's, the reluctant king of Lushrain, forced into the job when his two older siblings are killed by an unknown magician. Among his new duties as king is a month-long trip to Heartwood; the house of sages high in the mountains. Unbeknownst to him, every monarch is brought to Heartwood, not just to learn the histories of the land or other scholarly things as one might be led to believe, but to learn about magic and how it works- the only problem is that magic is illegal to practice in their kingdom but Zaya's ability to learn to accept magic as an important and necessary part of life may mean the difference between life and death for the newly crowned monarch and all the people he cares about.
One of my favorite elements of this story was definitely the setting. We do spend some time in Eylos in both the beginning and the end of the book but the majority of the story is set at Heartwood, a castle that is essentially a school for magicians- or a place for the most gifted magicians to hone their craft in a space that is safe to do so- set high in the mountains, far from the prying eyes of people living in the villages and any stragglers that might stumble across it in their travels. The grounds consist of miles and miles of forest, outdoor garden kitchens, and fruit trees of every variety which are all surrounded by a tall, fortified and thorny fence for both privacy and safety. This amazing place is the backdrop to the magical story being told and the fascinating characters being introduced.
One of the first people that Zaya meets upon arrival at Heartwood is Col. Col is the most gifted magician at Heartwood and has been tapped to replace the palace magician thats been working beside Zaya's family for years. Zaya and Col have an instant connection when they meet and this connection grows over the short time Zaya is in residence. It was lovely watching the two of them form a bond and eventually become intimate. In the only other book of Ringle's that I've read I found the intimate scenes between the two main characters to be a bit awkward and clunky- I'm happy to say that I saw a huge improvement in that area in this story. I did find some of the dialogue during these scenes to be a bit cheesy but overall I enjoyed their interactions enough that I could easily look past that minor detail.
As far as plot goes it was pretty predictable. As the reader you have information that Zaya doesn't, specifically that the magician who killed his two older siblings resulting in his becoming king was his much older and very powerful brother, Orzei, who had been thrown out of the palace when Zaya was young once he started using his magic to hurt people and was thought to be dead all these years. This is information you learn in the second chapter so I don't consider it a spoiler. Based on the set-up of the plot it's pretty easy to see where the story is going to go and what the conflict will be. Luckily for me I'm a character-driven reader and don't read most books for plot. I will say that even though my assumptions were correct about where the story would lead there were definitely some things I didn't see coming and enjoyed quite a bit. Ringle made some bold choices at the end that I felt really elevated the story.
This is a relatively short book but it packs quite a bit into it's limited pages. If you enjoy fantasy books because of the escapism element it offers and the love of character growth and relationships then I think you'll like this book quite a bit. As with her previous novel, Ringle's characters are all over the LGBTQIA+ spectrum which I always appreciate. In her worlds, that I've read from so far, this is just a normal and accepted thing, as it should be. I really appreciate that the relationship and intimacy choices chosen by the people in this story aren't the focal point- it's just a fact of the world.
I definitely recommend this one.
In this novel we follow a few POV's, the main one being Zaya's, the reluctant king of Lushrain, forced into the job when his two older siblings are killed by an unknown magician. Among his new duties as king is a month-long trip to Heartwood; the house of sages high in the mountains. Unbeknownst to him, every monarch is brought to Heartwood, not just to learn the histories of the land or other scholarly things as one might be led to believe, but to learn about magic and how it works- the only problem is that magic is illegal to practice in their kingdom but Zaya's ability to learn to accept magic as an important and necessary part of life may mean the difference between life and death for the newly crowned monarch and all the people he cares about.
One of my favorite elements of this story was definitely the setting. We do spend some time in Eylos in both the beginning and the end of the book but the majority of the story is set at Heartwood, a castle that is essentially a school for magicians- or a place for the most gifted magicians to hone their craft in a space that is safe to do so- set high in the mountains, far from the prying eyes of people living in the villages and any stragglers that might stumble across it in their travels. The grounds consist of miles and miles of forest, outdoor garden kitchens, and fruit trees of every variety which are all surrounded by a tall, fortified and thorny fence for both privacy and safety. This amazing place is the backdrop to the magical story being told and the fascinating characters being introduced.
One of the first people that Zaya meets upon arrival at Heartwood is Col. Col is the most gifted magician at Heartwood and has been tapped to replace the palace magician thats been working beside Zaya's family for years. Zaya and Col have an instant connection when they meet and this connection grows over the short time Zaya is in residence. It was lovely watching the two of them form a bond and eventually become intimate. In the only other book of Ringle's that I've read I found the intimate scenes between the two main characters to be a bit awkward and clunky- I'm happy to say that I saw a huge improvement in that area in this story. I did find some of the dialogue during these scenes to be a bit cheesy but overall I enjoyed their interactions enough that I could easily look past that minor detail.
As far as plot goes it was pretty predictable. As the reader you have information that Zaya doesn't, specifically that the magician who killed his two older siblings resulting in his becoming king was his much older and very powerful brother, Orzei, who had been thrown out of the palace when Zaya was young once he started using his magic to hurt people and was thought to be dead all these years. This is information you learn in the second chapter so I don't consider it a spoiler. Based on the set-up of the plot it's pretty easy to see where the story is going to go and what the conflict will be. Luckily for me I'm a character-driven reader and don't read most books for plot. I will say that even though my assumptions were correct about where the story would lead there were definitely some things I didn't see coming and enjoyed quite a bit. Ringle made some bold choices at the end that I felt really elevated the story.
This is a relatively short book but it packs quite a bit into it's limited pages. If you enjoy fantasy books because of the escapism element it offers and the love of character growth and relationships then I think you'll like this book quite a bit. As with her previous novel, Ringle's characters are all over the LGBTQIA+ spectrum which I always appreciate. In her worlds, that I've read from so far, this is just a normal and accepted thing, as it should be. I really appreciate that the relationship and intimacy choices chosen by the people in this story aren't the focal point- it's just a fact of the world.
I definitely recommend this one.
May 17, 2021
Laying out a plot, developing characters, and captivating your readers all in 206 pages is a tough ask, but Molly Ringle pulls it off.
At 28, Zaya never expected to be king, so to also learn that magic is alive and well despite laws forbidding it, becomes overwhelming. However, this doesn't stop him from doing the best he can throughout the novel. The more time he spends with Col, the more he understands the magicians' plight and he resolves to help. His character arc was remarkable. His acceptance of magic wasn't rushed, despite the romantic subplot, and its particularly challenged when he has to face the fact that magicians aren't all good or all bad. It's a constant journey to better himself that ends with him being a stronger character for it.
Col was also a delightful character. Measured but deeply passionate about the magicians' cause, he challenges Zaya at every turn while the two grow closer. Unlike Zaya, his character didn't have a profound arc, which I appreciated because of the book's shorter length.
A note on their romance. In this world, there is no homophobia and that was refreshing. Col is bisexual, with a preference for men whereas Zaya is gay, and neither is ever challenged for what it is. I rarely come across books like that even though fantasy worlds are ultimately at the hands of their makers, so do not need to include homophobia. I commend Ringle for taking this route, and hope to see more of it.
Finally, the villain. I really enjoyed Orzei as the antagonist because of his attitude. He's convinced he's doing it for the better, yet doesn't hesitate to be exceedingly violent in how he deals with obstacles that come in his way. He's by no means pleasant, or even charming, but he does have a lasting impact on the story.
My only complaint is the book was too short, I would definitely read more of Cole and Zaya!
CW: violence, body horror (parts turning into plants), and mentions of rape.
At 28, Zaya never expected to be king, so to also learn that magic is alive and well despite laws forbidding it, becomes overwhelming. However, this doesn't stop him from doing the best he can throughout the novel. The more time he spends with Col, the more he understands the magicians' plight and he resolves to help. His character arc was remarkable. His acceptance of magic wasn't rushed, despite the romantic subplot, and its particularly challenged when he has to face the fact that magicians aren't all good or all bad. It's a constant journey to better himself that ends with him being a stronger character for it.
Col was also a delightful character. Measured but deeply passionate about the magicians' cause, he challenges Zaya at every turn while the two grow closer. Unlike Zaya, his character didn't have a profound arc, which I appreciated because of the book's shorter length.
A note on their romance. In this world, there is no homophobia and that was refreshing. Col is bisexual, with a preference for men whereas Zaya is gay, and neither is ever challenged for what it is. I rarely come across books like that even though fantasy worlds are ultimately at the hands of their makers, so do not need to include homophobia. I commend Ringle for taking this route, and hope to see more of it.
Finally, the villain. I really enjoyed Orzei as the antagonist because of his attitude. He's convinced he's doing it for the better, yet doesn't hesitate to be exceedingly violent in how he deals with obstacles that come in his way. He's by no means pleasant, or even charming, but he does have a lasting impact on the story.
My only complaint is the book was too short, I would definitely read more of Cole and Zaya!
CW: violence, body horror (parts turning into plants), and mentions of rape.
May 10, 2021
I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
This would have been a five star rating, but my one gripe was with how the romance felt a little rushed. I was expecting something more like the slow, built up development to love of Lava Red Feather Blue, so I was a little disappointed that we moved forward so quickly in this one (and yes, I do recognize that this was a much shorter story than LRFB, but still. I enjoy my slow burn, well developed love stories).
But apart from that, this was a grand story and I loved Zaya and Col both so much. I liked Zaya and how he was never meant to be king, how that made him a better ruler than anyone who was expecting it ever could be. I liked how open-minded he was, how he's going to bring change to the land, not only for magicians and sages, but for all people. I liked the little insights into how he cared about people, how he liked the arts, how he's going to make this place better. I adored Col and how he just wanted to live a quiet life, and how he fell for a king instead. I loved how he wanted to help Zaya make things better, how he was the most powerful sage. I really loved these two and their stolen moments in Heartwood, how they fell for one another, how they fought for one another.
Orzei was an interesting villain, and I almost wanted more from him, more interactions between him and Zaya and Col. I wanted a little more action in this story, especially since we built up this crazy, violent villain. But the ending was pretty grand, and I liked that final fight, how Col was willing to expose himself to save people, how Zaya wasn't afraid to let people know he loved Col. I loved them.
I really enjoyed the magic system in this story, the way different plants could give magicians and sages different abilities. I liked how powerful Col was, how he helped Zaya see the truth of magic. I love how these two found a way to be together, how they won't have to hide, how they'll bring change to their land, and educate their people to be better. This was just a really grand story, and I loved it <3
This would have been a five star rating, but my one gripe was with how the romance felt a little rushed. I was expecting something more like the slow, built up development to love of Lava Red Feather Blue, so I was a little disappointed that we moved forward so quickly in this one (and yes, I do recognize that this was a much shorter story than LRFB, but still. I enjoy my slow burn, well developed love stories).
But apart from that, this was a grand story and I loved Zaya and Col both so much. I liked Zaya and how he was never meant to be king, how that made him a better ruler than anyone who was expecting it ever could be. I liked how open-minded he was, how he's going to bring change to the land, not only for magicians and sages, but for all people. I liked the little insights into how he cared about people, how he liked the arts, how he's going to make this place better. I adored Col and how he just wanted to live a quiet life, and how he fell for a king instead. I loved how he wanted to help Zaya make things better, how he was the most powerful sage. I really loved these two and their stolen moments in Heartwood, how they fell for one another, how they fought for one another.
Orzei was an interesting villain, and I almost wanted more from him, more interactions between him and Zaya and Col. I wanted a little more action in this story, especially since we built up this crazy, violent villain. But the ending was pretty grand, and I liked that final fight, how Col was willing to expose himself to save people, how Zaya wasn't afraid to let people know he loved Col. I loved them.
I really enjoyed the magic system in this story, the way different plants could give magicians and sages different abilities. I liked how powerful Col was, how he helped Zaya see the truth of magic. I love how these two found a way to be together, how they won't have to hide, how they'll bring change to their land, and educate their people to be better. This was just a really grand story, and I loved it <3
May 4, 2021
Sage and King by Molly Ringle: With no responsibilities and free to indulge in late night socialising and the theatre, Zaya enjoys being the youngest Prince. But when his older siblings fall victim to an attack, Zaya is the sole surviving member of the Royal family, thrusting him into the position of King.
Years ago, Zaya’s brother was cursed with magic and died tragically. As a result, Zaya firmly supports his Kingdom’s magic ban. However, unknown Zaya, Hartwood secretly trains sages in magic. When Zaya visits Hartwood, Col, a powerful and talented sage, is assigned as his tutor. The council’s hope is that an attraction will develop between the two young men, helping to change the King’s perspective on magic.
Meanwhile, the killer makes threatening demands. The council knows who the deadly individual is, but order Col to keep it a secret from the King.
Mild spoilers ahead:
It is great to read a fantasy-based M/M romance involving the main protagonist. The continued growth of LGBT+ novels is definitely both welcome and needed.
The romance in this novel is in some ways rushed. It doesn’t take long to go from tentative kissing to sexual experiences.
I also feel Zaya was very easily swayed from dead set against magic to accepting it. This ease in which he is swayed from one point of view to another follows him through the novel.
On the other hand, the magic system was well thought out, including pros and cons. It also covers different Kingdoms having different perspectives and even touches on how religion impacts beliefs.
Although much of the plot is easy to foresee, Sage and King does flow across the pages. If you are looking for twists and turns with complicated plot lines you will likely be disappointed. However, if you want an easy to read royal romance with magic, this could be the perfect novel for you. Release date: 18th May 2021.
3.5/5 🌟
Thank you to Netgalley, Central Avenue Publishing and Molly Ringle for the opportunity to read Sage and King in exchange for my impartial review. All opinions stated above are my own.
Years ago, Zaya’s brother was cursed with magic and died tragically. As a result, Zaya firmly supports his Kingdom’s magic ban. However, unknown Zaya, Hartwood secretly trains sages in magic. When Zaya visits Hartwood, Col, a powerful and talented sage, is assigned as his tutor. The council’s hope is that an attraction will develop between the two young men, helping to change the King’s perspective on magic.
Meanwhile, the killer makes threatening demands. The council knows who the deadly individual is, but order Col to keep it a secret from the King.
Mild spoilers ahead:
It is great to read a fantasy-based M/M romance involving the main protagonist. The continued growth of LGBT+ novels is definitely both welcome and needed.
The romance in this novel is in some ways rushed. It doesn’t take long to go from tentative kissing to sexual experiences.
I also feel Zaya was very easily swayed from dead set against magic to accepting it. This ease in which he is swayed from one point of view to another follows him through the novel.
On the other hand, the magic system was well thought out, including pros and cons. It also covers different Kingdoms having different perspectives and even touches on how religion impacts beliefs.
Although much of the plot is easy to foresee, Sage and King does flow across the pages. If you are looking for twists and turns with complicated plot lines you will likely be disappointed. However, if you want an easy to read royal romance with magic, this could be the perfect novel for you. Release date: 18th May 2021.
3.5/5 🌟
Thank you to Netgalley, Central Avenue Publishing and Molly Ringle for the opportunity to read Sage and King in exchange for my impartial review. All opinions stated above are my own.
May 11, 2021
First, I didn't realize this was slightly longer than a novella, but slightly shorter than a novel. For the length, I felt the plot and relationship between Zaya and Col was as developed as it could be. The plot was super interesting with the magic, how it was wielded, who the enemy was, and how it progressed. The relationship between Zaya and Col progressed quickly, but it had enough swoon-worthy moments and angst to evoke emotions.
I will admit I would have loved a longer book that delved into much more information of how their world worked. But honestly, it's so nice to read a high fantasy that's just long enough, just thrilling enough, and just romantic enough to hit the mark over the course of an afternoon.
I really liked the writing. It flowed SO well. There were parts that were a bit over-detailed, but I know that's part of the high fantasy genre I don't usually read. But I really enjoy Molly's writing and I will continue to read whatever comes next (and yes, I plan on reading her older works).
May 17, 2021
This was such a beautiful story. It had an amazingly crafted romance that was only aided by the intricate magic system and the deadly plot underpinning it all. This novel was able to convey so much in just 200 pages and I was enthralled the entire way through.
My only issue was that it could have been more developed if another 100 pages had been added. This is not a massive issue, but I was so enthralled by the narrative that I just wanted so much more development. It wasn’t lacking in any sense, I just think another 100 pages could have elevated the story further.
Overall though, it was a gorgeous LGBTQ+ fantasy romance that I thoroughly enjoyed. I will definitely be on the lookout for more of Molly Ringle’s novels.
My only issue was that it could have been more developed if another 100 pages had been added. This is not a massive issue, but I was so enthralled by the narrative that I just wanted so much more development. It wasn’t lacking in any sense, I just think another 100 pages could have elevated the story further.
Overall though, it was a gorgeous LGBTQ+ fantasy romance that I thoroughly enjoyed. I will definitely be on the lookout for more of Molly Ringle’s novels.
May 25, 2021
A delightful tale that takes you into the world of magic, secrets, deceit, relationships and royalty. Can a sage and a reluctant king have a long-term relationship in a world that has gone upside down for both of them? The story has all the ingredients of an adult fairytale. Molly Ringle has once again created some amazing world-building with her great use of language. The detailed use of plants for magic, good and evil, is fascinating. I was kept on my toes to see if there would be a happy ever after - or not. An enjoyable read from an accomplished writer.
March 27, 2021
This was a lovely, fluffy LGBT fantasy. I’m not a big fantasy reader, but I really enjoyed the sweet and steamy love story of Zaya and Col. It was a super easy read and I thought the world building was very good, it was sort of medieval-esque with magic thrown in. Since finishing the book I’ve seen the author state that she was inspired by the BBC series Merlin which I haven’t seen but that was pretty much the aesthetic I imagined just from reading it. I thought the characters were likeable, the drama was predictable but still worked well, and overall I did enjoy this book.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for letting me read an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for letting me read an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 9, 2021
This is a short story, or at least it felt short, there was too much energy and good chemistry between the characters.
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Molly Ringle creates lovable characters that one cannot help but be found of them. Col and Zaya are incredible and the story around is excellent but it was very short, I would have liked to read more about them, I guess I still haven't gotten over Feather Blue, Lava Red ... which was very excellent and I deeply enjoyed.
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A continent with kingdoms that coexist in different ways with magic and nature around him, a young prince who must see his world as new when he learns of the death of his family, a young wizard who is divided between love and loyalty to the order that welcomed him, and a assasin with out-of-control powers threatening them.
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It was short but very well compensated for how the characters meet quickly and the plot goes straight towards a fluid ending.
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Beautifully written Sage and King, it is a Lgbt fantasy that brings the magic and properties of nature alongside love regardless of gender.
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Thanks to Central Avenue Publishing and Netgalley for give me this beautiful book in exchange for my honest opinion, I really enjoyed reading it
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Molly Ringle creates lovable characters that one cannot help but be found of them. Col and Zaya are incredible and the story around is excellent but it was very short, I would have liked to read more about them, I guess I still haven't gotten over Feather Blue, Lava Red ... which was very excellent and I deeply enjoyed.
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A continent with kingdoms that coexist in different ways with magic and nature around him, a young prince who must see his world as new when he learns of the death of his family, a young wizard who is divided between love and loyalty to the order that welcomed him, and a assasin with out-of-control powers threatening them.
.
It was short but very well compensated for how the characters meet quickly and the plot goes straight towards a fluid ending.
.
Beautifully written Sage and King, it is a Lgbt fantasy that brings the magic and properties of nature alongside love regardless of gender.
.
Thanks to Central Avenue Publishing and Netgalley for give me this beautiful book in exchange for my honest opinion, I really enjoyed reading it
October 4, 2021
The romance/plot ratio was too plot-heavy for my taste and for a novella-length story so the relationship felt a bit underdeveloped in the first half, but a good angsty and dramatic ending made it up to me in the end.
May 9, 2021
Heavily inspired by BBC's Merlin, this story takes the classic prince and pauper dynamic and makes it gay. Be ready for fluff and a happy ever after!
Okay, so not strictly a pauper. But Col is a sage (a magician) in a country where those abilities are kept a secret. Zaya is the youngest prince of the royal family, a bit of a rogue, who had to grow up fast when his family is murdered by... Well, you'll just have to read it to find out!
From the synopsis I was hoping for some antagonistic banter between the two, forced to work together. Instead, it's more like instalove and just as I was hoping to get some tension between them, it was kissing and declarations of love. In short, this is a fluffy story, a quick read, and I felt the whole thing was over before it really got going.
It's perfect if you want fluff and just enough angsty drama to make it interesting but not keep you up at night. I did shed a year at the end though, so it gets the stamp of emotional approval ❣️
Thanks to netgalley and Central Avenue Publishing for this ARC.
Okay, so not strictly a pauper. But Col is a sage (a magician) in a country where those abilities are kept a secret. Zaya is the youngest prince of the royal family, a bit of a rogue, who had to grow up fast when his family is murdered by... Well, you'll just have to read it to find out!
From the synopsis I was hoping for some antagonistic banter between the two, forced to work together. Instead, it's more like instalove and just as I was hoping to get some tension between them, it was kissing and declarations of love. In short, this is a fluffy story, a quick read, and I felt the whole thing was over before it really got going.
It's perfect if you want fluff and just enough angsty drama to make it interesting but not keep you up at night. I did shed a year at the end though, so it gets the stamp of emotional approval ❣️
Thanks to netgalley and Central Avenue Publishing for this ARC.
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