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The Ice King Chronicles #1
The Ice King's Consort
When a knock comes on the door one cold December night and a beautiful, but grim warrior offers a bag of elven gold in exchange for Pavel, a poor young man whose family is on the brink of disaster, his drunken father sells him away to the mysterious fae creatures of the Quendi forest. The Elves seem more ice than flesh and blood, and soon Pavel finds himself in a glittering, snow-filled world of fantasy, where the boundary between life and death is thinner than a breath and safety can be stolen away as quickly as a kiss.
Finding his way through court intrigue and the cold, haughty disregard of the Elven Ice King, Pavel soon faces an impossible challenge and has to use all his charm, his wit, his skill and even a little fairy magic to find out why the king wants him and what he expects Pavel to do.
Unforgettable characters, a battle with ogres and other fae creatures, a fairy's flute, a wizard's spell and a series of insane bargains--will Pavel survive in this realm long enough to find his happily ever after? The Ice King's Consort explores a fantasy world that delves into the magic of a winter's fairy tale to craft a timeless love story that seems modern and new.
Finding his way through court intrigue and the cold, haughty disregard of the Elven Ice King, Pavel soon faces an impossible challenge and has to use all his charm, his wit, his skill and even a little fairy magic to find out why the king wants him and what he expects Pavel to do.
Unforgettable characters, a battle with ogres and other fae creatures, a fairy's flute, a wizard's spell and a series of insane bargains--will Pavel survive in this realm long enough to find his happily ever after? The Ice King's Consort explores a fantasy world that delves into the magic of a winter's fairy tale to craft a timeless love story that seems modern and new.
101 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 25, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
March 5, 2021
Полнейший бардак.
Writing a book about a country you don’t know? ASK. A. NATIVE.
Here is "Ask An Expert" link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group... . There is a "Regional Experts" thread. Please, use it.
I have no idea which century we are in, and it’s ok, plenty of books start out a little vague, especially fantasies. But being a Russian native I am so confused, my head is spinning. 17th, 18th, (literally the last year of) 19th, 20th, 21st???? Wait, wait, 22nd? Ugh! So many historical pointers - golden kopeks; St. Petersburg; the tsar; a boy from a dirt poor Sibirian village wearing frigging shoes with laces; metric & Imperial systems (wt-actual-f?) - that's just in the first 10% and they all point at the wrong time periods. And then, closer to the end, the author literally blindsided me with the Nutcracker “that was popular a few years back”.
But all of this is moot point, because there were never ever any elves of any kind or sort in the Russian mythology, including gay elves. Not to mention that in remote locations/villages Russians and Russian church as a rule do not tolerate anything but straight in the strictest way possible, yet Pavel acts like marrying a man is a common day occurrence. Pavel doesn’t even bat an eye, telling the Elven King that marriage comes first, sex second.
Come to think of it, how old is Pavel? 60% in the guy says something about "when I was 19..." That's it. He could be 55 for all I know.
Besides butchered Russian time line, culture and customs for the sake of the exotic location, I found the characters flat, the plot simplistic and the editing mediocre.
1 star is the best I can do here.
This book was read for a challenge.
Writing a book about a country you don’t know? ASK. A. NATIVE.
Here is "Ask An Expert" link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group... . There is a "Regional Experts" thread. Please, use it.
I have no idea which century we are in, and it’s ok, plenty of books start out a little vague, especially fantasies. But being a Russian native I am so confused, my head is spinning. 17th, 18th, (literally the last year of) 19th, 20th, 21st???? Wait, wait, 22nd? Ugh! So many historical pointers - golden kopeks; St. Petersburg; the tsar; a boy from a dirt poor Sibirian village wearing frigging shoes with laces; metric & Imperial systems (wt-actual-f?) - that's just in the first 10% and they all point at the wrong time periods. And then, closer to the end, the author literally blindsided me with the Nutcracker “that was popular a few years back”.
But all of this is moot point, because there were never ever any elves of any kind or sort in the Russian mythology, including gay elves. Not to mention that in remote locations/villages Russians and Russian church as a rule do not tolerate anything but straight in the strictest way possible, yet Pavel acts like marrying a man is a common day occurrence. Pavel doesn’t even bat an eye, telling the Elven King that marriage comes first, sex second.
Come to think of it, how old is Pavel? 60% in the guy says something about "when I was 19..." That's it. He could be 55 for all I know.
Besides butchered Russian time line, culture and customs for the sake of the exotic location, I found the characters flat, the plot simplistic and the editing mediocre.
1 star is the best I can do here.
This book was read for a challenge.
March 14, 2021
**grm**
This book was strange, until 70% I didn't know who the real love interest would be, and when I finally was starting to warm to the idea of Pavel being with King Tarrack, then the author decided to make him be with Lord Juul. This story could have been really good, but in the end the characters felt immature and the plot confusing. Many things weren't explained as well as they could have been, for example for many pages I thought that Pavel had been sexually abused by his father, and only later I understood that luckily that hadn't really happend since he had stopped him, but since this theme could be a trigger to some people, the author should have added a trigger warning at the start of the book.
There was also a scene that probably some people will consider cheating, since Pavel and the King needed to share a kiss(also if was all a show for their enemies), but I didn't mind that scene at all. I'm curious about the next book of this series, Tarrack wasn't a bad man, but I really want to see the cold King fall hard and finally understand what it means to be in love.
3 stars for all these reasons.
This book was strange, until 70% I didn't know who the real love interest would be, and when I finally was starting to warm to the idea of Pavel being with King Tarrack, then the author decided to make him be with Lord Juul. This story could have been really good, but in the end the characters felt immature and the plot confusing. Many things weren't explained as well as they could have been, for example for many pages I thought that Pavel had been sexually abused by his father, and only later I understood that luckily that hadn't really happend since he had stopped him, but since this theme could be a trigger to some people, the author should have added a trigger warning at the start of the book.
There was also a scene that probably some people will consider cheating, since Pavel and the King needed to share a kiss(also if was all a show for their enemies), but I didn't mind that scene at all. I'm curious about the next book of this series, Tarrack wasn't a bad man, but I really want to see the cold King fall hard and finally understand what it means to be in love.
3 stars for all these reasons.
April 7, 2021
This book had a very ambitious plot for how long it was, and it showed.
There was way too much going on (orcs, half brother trying to stage coup, dark elves, love story, being fairy, magical powers, ???) and nothing got any attention in detail.
There was no world building for the elves in general. Pavel thought a lot about how he didn't understand the elven society rules, but they were also never clarified or expanded on. They talked about bargains a lot, but those also didn't seem to have many rules. Pavel kept redoing them constantly and it left me very confused.
All of the characters acted like immature brats, even the kings.
The romance was pretty much absent until 70%, at which point it took a sharp left turn. It was instalove (I will ignore the love potion since that turns out to not do anything anyway) and there was never any build for it. There was also no further development of their relationship.
Minor confusion points:
1. how old is Pavel? Older than 19 at least. This missing detail bothers me for some reason.
2. Why were there so many allusions to his father molesting him? This seems unnecessary since it doesn't actually happen and serves no purpose. I dislike traumatic backstories as character color, and this falls into that category.
3. The setting was very confusing to me. Is this Russia but with magic? What the heck time period is this then? The Nutcracker exists, but so do fae. And the tsar. It would have been better to simply allude to being in Russia and left all the weird (unnecessary) details out that have definitive time stamps to them.
Overall...meh. Mostly only finished it because it was short.
There was way too much going on (orcs, half brother trying to stage coup, dark elves, love story, being fairy, magical powers, ???) and nothing got any attention in detail.
There was no world building for the elves in general. Pavel thought a lot about how he didn't understand the elven society rules, but they were also never clarified or expanded on. They talked about bargains a lot, but those also didn't seem to have many rules. Pavel kept redoing them constantly and it left me very confused.
All of the characters acted like immature brats, even the kings.
The romance was pretty much absent until 70%, at which point it took a sharp left turn. It was instalove (I will ignore the love potion since that turns out to not do anything anyway) and there was never any build for it. There was also no further development of their relationship.
Minor confusion points:
1. how old is Pavel? Older than 19 at least. This missing detail bothers me for some reason.
2. Why were there so many allusions to his father molesting him? This seems unnecessary since it doesn't actually happen and serves no purpose. I dislike traumatic backstories as character color, and this falls into that category.
3. The setting was very confusing to me. Is this Russia but with magic? What the heck time period is this then? The Nutcracker exists, but so do fae. And the tsar. It would have been better to simply allude to being in Russia and left all the weird (unnecessary) details out that have definitive time stamps to them.
Overall...meh. Mostly only finished it because it was short.
June 19, 2021
It was actually good. I read so many bad reviews I really thought I might've picked a bad book. But apart from the ending (meeting the Dark Elf king part) it was really good. I loved the idea of the dark elves here- that they were called so because they lived in the dark instead of because they practiced dark magic.
I loved Pavel. He was bought off his rapist of a father in the middle of the freezing night for a bag of gold coins and taken into the fearful elf territory by a cold as hell ice elf warrior and the first thing he does when he sees the king is talk back. That took some real guts.
I loved Pavel. He was bought off his rapist of a father in the middle of the freezing night for a bag of gold coins and taken into the fearful elf territory by a cold as hell ice elf warrior and the first thing he does when he sees the king is talk back. That took some real guts.
dnf
June 19, 2022The prose and interpretation of pagan mythology/ folklore were not for me.
March 5, 2021
Shannon West has done it again! Only this author can bring on enough heat with these sexy Elves that they could melt all the ice around them.
My favorite excerpt:
He pulled me closer and kissed me again, a slower kiss this time and less urgent but still dangerously captivating. It succeeded in invading every inch of me, staking claim to everything I was and everything I had to offer—even the parts of me I tried to hold back. There was no use in even trying to hide from him though. He had totally seduced me at the first touch of his lips to mine. Even before that if I were honest.
This was a sexy hot M/M Fantasy book - exactly as I expected! Cannot wait to read more from this brilliant author!
My favorite excerpt:
He pulled me closer and kissed me again, a slower kiss this time and less urgent but still dangerously captivating. It succeeded in invading every inch of me, staking claim to everything I was and everything I had to offer—even the parts of me I tried to hold back. There was no use in even trying to hide from him though. He had totally seduced me at the first touch of his lips to mine. Even before that if I were honest.
This was a sexy hot M/M Fantasy book - exactly as I expected! Cannot wait to read more from this brilliant author!
February 25, 2021
Massive ice poles stood menacingly between Pavel's village and Quindi land. The Quindi elves were feared, protagonists of many horror tales, yet Pavel has often found himself looking beyond the icey guardians, equal parts fascinated and scared of the unknown frozen world. But, Pavel would never have even dreamed of actually stepping into Elven territory, or that his own father would simply sell him to a Quindi warrior for a purse of golden coins. And just like that, Pavel's life became an adventurous journey and I absolutely loved it!
At the beginning of the story Pavel was an almost jaded soul, lonely and unhappy, exhausted and just going through the motions of working and taking care of his home, father and brother. But, as the story progressed I got to see there was so much more to him. Terrified, of course, but snapping and hissing, snarky and irreverent, inventive and brave. He stood up for himself even when his life was in danger, showing strength of character, resilience and courage.
That's all the spoilers I'm going to give away, because I think every reader should enjoy this magical story step by step, beyond excited to see what happens next. Because the author wrote it brilliantly, often changing the cards on the table, in a way that each page meant new surprises and conjectures. Told only from Pavel's point of view, I never knew what the other characters thought and I definitely never had an inkling of how things would work out for Pavel.
It was totally awesome, just like stepping into an amazingly depicted cold, frozen world, surrounded by sexy Legolas-es (I actually envy Pavel a bit lol). It was sweet, grab-you-by-the-feels, hilarious, delightful, a few times a bit saddening and angering, suspenseful, magical, sexy, engaging and surprising.
I'd recommend to get it as soon as possible, it's absolutely a must read!
At the beginning of the story Pavel was an almost jaded soul, lonely and unhappy, exhausted and just going through the motions of working and taking care of his home, father and brother. But, as the story progressed I got to see there was so much more to him. Terrified, of course, but snapping and hissing, snarky and irreverent, inventive and brave. He stood up for himself even when his life was in danger, showing strength of character, resilience and courage.
That's all the spoilers I'm going to give away, because I think every reader should enjoy this magical story step by step, beyond excited to see what happens next. Because the author wrote it brilliantly, often changing the cards on the table, in a way that each page meant new surprises and conjectures. Told only from Pavel's point of view, I never knew what the other characters thought and I definitely never had an inkling of how things would work out for Pavel.
It was totally awesome, just like stepping into an amazingly depicted cold, frozen world, surrounded by sexy Legolas-es (I actually envy Pavel a bit lol). It was sweet, grab-you-by-the-feels, hilarious, delightful, a few times a bit saddening and angering, suspenseful, magical, sexy, engaging and surprising.
I'd recommend to get it as soon as possible, it's absolutely a must read!
February 26, 2021
A complex story but incredible rewarding. A debt is owed and how the Ice King goes about to achieve it is slightly rude and mind blowing. A well paced story and fantastic if yet flawed characters that will tug on your heartstrings. An interesting plot and I really enjoyed the secrecy surrounding Pavel's heritage and skills. A massive twist i didn't anticipate and the fallout was glorious. I really look forward to more from this world and it's inhabitants.
February 21, 2021
Bargains
Hmmm, maybe I should move to a forested area and look for ice poles. Quendi elves are scary but super sexy and what’s life without a little danger? I can’t say much without spoiling anything but I will share how much I loved this story. It has action, mystery, magic, and everyone is so much more than what you think. Pavel especially is fierce and amazing and he played a tune on my heart that I’ll forever remember and my love for this book is freely given.
Hmmm, maybe I should move to a forested area and look for ice poles. Quendi elves are scary but super sexy and what’s life without a little danger? I can’t say much without spoiling anything but I will share how much I loved this story. It has action, mystery, magic, and everyone is so much more than what you think. Pavel especially is fierce and amazing and he played a tune on my heart that I’ll forever remember and my love for this book is freely given.
August 21, 2021
3.5 Shannon is one of my favorite authors, this story tho didn t quite do it for me. It took to much to set up this world and it was at the expense of the relationships and romance. I was half way through and it wasn t clear to me who the main couple was supposed to be, when feelings finally caught on the book was almost at the end. I liked the set up, the relationship between the King and Juul was great and full of trust, it s easy to like all of these men but the story lacked character and main couple developed. Now that the world built is laid out hopefully the next book will concentrate more on the relationship and romance aspect.
March 24, 2021
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Judging by the length of this text, I rather expected a novella than a full-blown novel, but to my surprise—and relief—the sweep and depth of the story made for a satisfying read, even if it was a short one; I finished the book in one go.
The story is set in Russia, or to be more precise, in a small Siberian village somewhere near the Bering Sea. Pavel, a handsome young man, is living with his father and his younger brother close to the Quendi realm—the Quendi are notoriously beautiful but fickle and cold-hearted elves who guard their borders with ferocious and deathly determination. Pavel’s living conditions are very poor. He’s an apprentice to the local blacksmith and has to handle the everyday chores because his father, after the boy’s mother’s death, has taken to drinking. One day Lord Juul, a Quendi warrior, appears on the steps of their disheveled house and offers a purse of gold coins to buy Pavel. Before the young man can protest, his father has accepted, and Pavel is swept away on the warrior’s stag and abducted into the depths of the Quendi forest.
When they reach the Quendi’s royal ice palace, Pavel learns that he is meant to be wed to the young king. This seems astonishing as the monarch doesn’t seem to be overwhelmed with joy by this prospect. Yet Pavel doesn’t have much choice, even though he tries (and succeeds) in renegotiating the original bargain, claiming that he is able to wield magical powers. Indeed, his grandmother has taught him how to heal with herbs and how to play the panpipe he has inherited from her. Soon he finds out that although his claim was but a ploy to save his life and physical integrity, he does have magical powers—in the elven realm they seem to get stronger every day. Then he finds out why he has been abducted and destined to become the king’s consort: there’s a honor debt the king has to pay to another elven people, and Pavel is the bargain chip in that debt. Now he must find ways to escape this deathly trap. That he is slowly falling in love with his abductor Lord Juul—and the latter falling in love with him, too—doesn’t make things easier…
Snow-laden landscapes, frosty winds, ice poles, deep forests, legendary creatures such as elves, faeries, and ogres as well as the odd bit of magic—all the ingredients are there to make me happy, setting-wise. And Shannon West didn’t disappoint me. She powerfully built an improbable but authentic and credible world, then wove these ingredients together into a wonderful, exotic winter tale. The writing is straightforward, clear, and precise, so that I could feel the winter settle around me while I was reading, yet she cleverly uses that tone I fondly remember from good fairy tales. The characters are well created and described. Pavel is a really endearing young man, strong of will, outspoken and brave even when things look hopeless. He has a bright and warm-hearted soul, and despite his clumsiness, he manages not only to melt down his promised king’s initial cold-heartedness and disdain, but also to win Lord Juul’s respect and love. Their romance is cute and gets rather steamy toward the middle of the book; it is a perfect example of how the opposites-attract trope can work wonders when skilfully used.
Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed the read; this was exactly what I needed in these troubled times. Battles without too much violence, misunderstandings, schemes that seemingly go wrong before leading to a Satisfying Happily Ever After… a short read, but one that left a genuine smile and a rosy shine on my face.
Judging by the length of this text, I rather expected a novella than a full-blown novel, but to my surprise—and relief—the sweep and depth of the story made for a satisfying read, even if it was a short one; I finished the book in one go.
The story is set in Russia, or to be more precise, in a small Siberian village somewhere near the Bering Sea. Pavel, a handsome young man, is living with his father and his younger brother close to the Quendi realm—the Quendi are notoriously beautiful but fickle and cold-hearted elves who guard their borders with ferocious and deathly determination. Pavel’s living conditions are very poor. He’s an apprentice to the local blacksmith and has to handle the everyday chores because his father, after the boy’s mother’s death, has taken to drinking. One day Lord Juul, a Quendi warrior, appears on the steps of their disheveled house and offers a purse of gold coins to buy Pavel. Before the young man can protest, his father has accepted, and Pavel is swept away on the warrior’s stag and abducted into the depths of the Quendi forest.
When they reach the Quendi’s royal ice palace, Pavel learns that he is meant to be wed to the young king. This seems astonishing as the monarch doesn’t seem to be overwhelmed with joy by this prospect. Yet Pavel doesn’t have much choice, even though he tries (and succeeds) in renegotiating the original bargain, claiming that he is able to wield magical powers. Indeed, his grandmother has taught him how to heal with herbs and how to play the panpipe he has inherited from her. Soon he finds out that although his claim was but a ploy to save his life and physical integrity, he does have magical powers—in the elven realm they seem to get stronger every day. Then he finds out why he has been abducted and destined to become the king’s consort: there’s a honor debt the king has to pay to another elven people, and Pavel is the bargain chip in that debt. Now he must find ways to escape this deathly trap. That he is slowly falling in love with his abductor Lord Juul—and the latter falling in love with him, too—doesn’t make things easier…
Snow-laden landscapes, frosty winds, ice poles, deep forests, legendary creatures such as elves, faeries, and ogres as well as the odd bit of magic—all the ingredients are there to make me happy, setting-wise. And Shannon West didn’t disappoint me. She powerfully built an improbable but authentic and credible world, then wove these ingredients together into a wonderful, exotic winter tale. The writing is straightforward, clear, and precise, so that I could feel the winter settle around me while I was reading, yet she cleverly uses that tone I fondly remember from good fairy tales. The characters are well created and described. Pavel is a really endearing young man, strong of will, outspoken and brave even when things look hopeless. He has a bright and warm-hearted soul, and despite his clumsiness, he manages not only to melt down his promised king’s initial cold-heartedness and disdain, but also to win Lord Juul’s respect and love. Their romance is cute and gets rather steamy toward the middle of the book; it is a perfect example of how the opposites-attract trope can work wonders when skilfully used.
Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed the read; this was exactly what I needed in these troubled times. Battles without too much violence, misunderstandings, schemes that seemingly go wrong before leading to a Satisfying Happily Ever After… a short read, but one that left a genuine smile and a rosy shine on my face.
March 26, 2021
Oh the potential
First of all - don’t judge the book by the cover. It’s not the best, but the book is better than it leads you to believe. I liked Pavel, I liked the world building. However, it IS lacking in some aspects. For example - the relationship between Juul and Pavel. There really isn’t much there. You would then assume it’s not a romance book, but a book with some romance into it right ? Well, no. I mean there is a good amount of build up to the actual moment of, to the climax and the conflict, but it doesn’t quite happen. It build and builds, and right when you think this is it - nothing happens. The end felt rushed too, like it got there too soon and the author didn’t quite know what to do with it. In spite of all that, I enjoyed the book. I would like to read the next one, so there you go.
First of all - don’t judge the book by the cover. It’s not the best, but the book is better than it leads you to believe. I liked Pavel, I liked the world building. However, it IS lacking in some aspects. For example - the relationship between Juul and Pavel. There really isn’t much there. You would then assume it’s not a romance book, but a book with some romance into it right ? Well, no. I mean there is a good amount of build up to the actual moment of, to the climax and the conflict, but it doesn’t quite happen. It build and builds, and right when you think this is it - nothing happens. The end felt rushed too, like it got there too soon and the author didn’t quite know what to do with it. In spite of all that, I enjoyed the book. I would like to read the next one, so there you go.
April 29, 2021
I liked certain things, but overall it was ok
I don’t know that I particularly liked Pavel. He was very intelligent, especially for a Russian peasant, and yet, he found the Elven honor to be incomprehensible - though it was not so different from human mores. We put a greater value on compassion, but it’s not like we don’t hold honor and integrity to be virtues as well.
I also wasn’t too keen on the fact that Tarrak gave Juul his blessing to cuckold him from the beginning. It all turned out ok in the end, but...
What I did love about this book was that Pavel was able to gain the respect of the Quendi through his own strength and ability. He respected himself and that led the Quendi to recognize the value that he, intrinsically, had.
I don’t know that I particularly liked Pavel. He was very intelligent, especially for a Russian peasant, and yet, he found the Elven honor to be incomprehensible - though it was not so different from human mores. We put a greater value on compassion, but it’s not like we don’t hold honor and integrity to be virtues as well.
I also wasn’t too keen on the fact that Tarrak gave Juul his blessing to cuckold him from the beginning. It all turned out ok in the end, but...
What I did love about this book was that Pavel was able to gain the respect of the Quendi through his own strength and ability. He respected himself and that led the Quendi to recognize the value that he, intrinsically, had.
March 2, 2021
Chillingly delightful story!
Pavel’s journey from timid mortal man to finding his inner strength is so inspiring. There’s not much I can say without giving away too much of the story. The Quendi are a cold race defined by their honor and the bargains they make. Pavel is definitely the odd man in their world. I especially appreciated the twists in the story and look forward to the next book with anticipation.
Pavel’s journey from timid mortal man to finding his inner strength is so inspiring. There’s not much I can say without giving away too much of the story. The Quendi are a cold race defined by their honor and the bargains they make. Pavel is definitely the odd man in their world. I especially appreciated the twists in the story and look forward to the next book with anticipation.
May 4, 2021
3 Stars ⭐⭐⭐
Not much to this story. Not bad but not great.
Elves, Fairies, Ogres...oh Yes!
A human is taken to the Ice King to be his consort. Unfortunately, one of the lords is much more appealing !
Not much to this story. Not bad but not great.
Elves, Fairies, Ogres...oh Yes!
A human is taken to the Ice King to be his consort. Unfortunately, one of the lords is much more appealing !
February 26, 2021
I read this book in one night, I was hurting the next day at work but totally worth it. I couldn't put it down, I was so hooked. Pavel might have been a "victim" but not once did he act like it. He schemed to outmaneuvere his capturers every chance he got, fear was not going to stop him. The twists kept you guessing which way Ms Shannon was taking the story but not once making you feel lost or fustrated. I kept telling myself just the next page to know what happens and then the next page .... until I finished it, lol. Those claws sunk deep since the beginning and never let go. So much action, schemes, twists, and surprises with a great love story. I want the next one already!!
February 26, 2021
The story had potential, but all the MCs were being kind of immature and the whole thing just didn't click with me.
All in all a rather amateur effort.
All in all a rather amateur effort.
February 27, 2021
Enjoyed reading this book. Loved the characters, Juul and Ravel--even King Tarrack. I could almost hear the panpipes that Pavel played in my head. The book was full of magic, mystery and an unique love story. Definitely recommend reading it.
April 1, 2021
For a romance novel, there was a severe lack of development of the relationship. The world building wasn't bad though.
Summary: Poor village boy gets picked as the consort for the Elven king for nefarious reasons.
Summary: Poor village boy gets picked as the consort for the Elven king for nefarious reasons.
March 8, 2021
I found the ending not very moving. I'm glad it was short. The first quarter of the book was confusing for no reason. The elves and their customs should be explained to the reader but they aren't really. HEA book but I can't even say it's worth it. 2.5/5
March 31, 2021
Really fun mm read
This book is ultimately a romance story but very different than most. I really enjoyed this book which reminded me of old Russian folk tales. Not much sex but lots of adventure and all in all a terrific read.
This book is ultimately a romance story but very different than most. I really enjoyed this book which reminded me of old Russian folk tales. Not much sex but lots of adventure and all in all a terrific read.
Read
April 28, 2021At least the disappointment was over quite quickly, seeing as this is a very short book.
I had high(ish) hopes for this one but unfortunately, there were just too many problems. However, I think that M'rella and a little poriferan already covered many really good points in their reviews so I really recommend you to check them out as well.
Much of the basic world building and storyline reads like a cheap and loveless copy of Naomi Novik's Spinning Silver (or one thrid of it anyway) with some bits of S. J. Maas' A Court of Thorns and Roses thrown in - just make it gay. I know there are only so many "basic plots" that get retold over and over. Unfortunately, this version lacked any creativity and love for details. The added parts seemed glued on randomly and didn't really add depth or colour to the story in my opinion.
My biggest problem was that everything stays so vague:
- Pavel has a backstory of abuse and neglect but I am not sure that it ever really influences the story or his actions. He also doesn't really seem to fear anything like that happening to his brother now that he's left which I found really hard to believe.
- How old is Pavel? He speaks and behaves like a teen but must be older as he has a memory of himself at 19 with his grandmother who died a while back. Also, if he were in his mid-twenties wouldn't he have been able to leave his father and possibly take his brother with him?
- The place and time of this are really vague and random: sometime and somewhere in Russia after 1892 when The Nutcracker made waves - not that Pavel had seen it. His mother was a very religious christian but somehow Pavel didn't inherit the whole "being attracted to the same gender is a sin" outlook. He doesn't struggle with it, question it or anything. Even though mob's lynching people they perceive to be "witches", Pavel kissed a boy in his teenage years and just rolled with it. Also, Pavel and his neighbours may not have electricity or any other modern technology (he works for a blacksmith and has to chop firewood and such) but he and his neighbours have widely accepted the SI units to measure the distance to the weird "ice poles" that separate the village from the land of the elves. It really threw me off and I should have taken it as a sign. *sigh*
- I second a little poriferan's observation that this book would have been much better if it had been more focused. I think that the whole romance aspect fell very short and was quite confusing. There were some cute beats but overall the chaos of the surrounding plot (breaking a siege!, waiting for guests who shall remain unnamed!, revealing the backstory of why the king needs a consort at all!, ...) left hardly any room for them to have any impact.
Apart from the vagueness, I would have really loved for this to be more show and less tell. Almost all worldbuilding and characterbuilding of Pavel is done through explanatory info-dumps "my grandmother told me this about the elves", "my grandmother taught me how to do spells", "this is what I learned from stories". Conveniently, Pavel remembers these things just before he and the readers need to know them.
While I liked that Pavel did not just roll over and accept the fate his new husband would have him fulfill, Pavel's solution basically amounts to shouting about it all being unfair, shouting some more while forgetting what he was mad about and making plans with holes so big the ice palace would fit through. So yeah, I didn't really have any hopes for him and had a hard time believing the ending.
I had high(ish) hopes for this one but unfortunately, there were just too many problems. However, I think that M'rella and a little poriferan already covered many really good points in their reviews so I really recommend you to check them out as well.
Much of the basic world building and storyline reads like a cheap and loveless copy of Naomi Novik's Spinning Silver (or one thrid of it anyway) with some bits of S. J. Maas' A Court of Thorns and Roses thrown in - just make it gay. I know there are only so many "basic plots" that get retold over and over. Unfortunately, this version lacked any creativity and love for details. The added parts seemed glued on randomly and didn't really add depth or colour to the story in my opinion.
My biggest problem was that everything stays so vague:
- Pavel has a backstory of abuse and neglect but I am not sure that it ever really influences the story or his actions. He also doesn't really seem to fear anything like that happening to his brother now that he's left which I found really hard to believe.
- How old is Pavel? He speaks and behaves like a teen but must be older as he has a memory of himself at 19 with his grandmother who died a while back. Also, if he were in his mid-twenties wouldn't he have been able to leave his father and possibly take his brother with him?
- The place and time of this are really vague and random: sometime and somewhere in Russia after 1892 when The Nutcracker made waves - not that Pavel had seen it. His mother was a very religious christian but somehow Pavel didn't inherit the whole "being attracted to the same gender is a sin" outlook. He doesn't struggle with it, question it or anything. Even though mob's lynching people they perceive to be "witches", Pavel kissed a boy in his teenage years and just rolled with it. Also, Pavel and his neighbours may not have electricity or any other modern technology (he works for a blacksmith and has to chop firewood and such) but he and his neighbours have widely accepted the SI units to measure the distance to the weird "ice poles" that separate the village from the land of the elves. It really threw me off and I should have taken it as a sign. *sigh*
- I second a little poriferan's observation that this book would have been much better if it had been more focused. I think that the whole romance aspect fell very short and was quite confusing. There were some cute beats but overall the chaos of the surrounding plot (breaking a siege!, waiting for guests who shall remain unnamed!, revealing the backstory of why the king needs a consort at all!, ...) left hardly any room for them to have any impact.
Apart from the vagueness, I would have really loved for this to be more show and less tell. Almost all worldbuilding and characterbuilding of Pavel is done through explanatory info-dumps "my grandmother told me this about the elves", "my grandmother taught me how to do spells", "this is what I learned from stories". Conveniently, Pavel remembers these things just before he and the readers need to know them.
While I liked that Pavel did not just roll over and accept the fate his new husband would have him fulfill, Pavel's solution basically amounts to shouting about it all being unfair, shouting some more while forgetting what he was mad about and making plans with holes so big the ice palace would fit through. So yeah, I didn't really have any hopes for him and had a hard time believing the ending.
October 18, 2021
Rating (All ratings use a Scale of 1-5) = 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3 for an interesting resolution.
Blurb = 3
My Genre Scale = 4
Odds if not your genre = 2
Development of: =
*World = 4
*Characters = 2
*Plot = 2.5
What stood out = Biolet the Elk
Mood Type / Appeal to those looking for = Ambitious brain candy, fantasy style with some unique aspects
Warnings = Veiled references to past drunken inappropriate behavior of father
HFN/HEA = Yes
Series Notes = 1st of 2 as of Oct. 2021
*Reading on? Nope
*Reading back to back? N/A
*Can be easily read without the previous? N/A
Rating Notes = (SubPlots, thoughts, etc... )
My biggest problem is I found all 3 primary characters distasteful. That with their complicated relationships made it hard to root for them to couple or believe more than it was just unfounded insta-love. The characters somewhat redeemed themselves to round up to 3 stars, but I was still left with the overall feeling they were cruel, selfish, and at times stupid.
***************
I am way off my usual rate of reading over the last 11+ years. Real life has hit hard this year. Most recently with the death of my mother, and I had just been getting back into the swing of things. More upheaval appears to be on the horizon, but it has as much potential to be good as bad. I have no idea what that means for the rate of my reading and reviewing, but we will see...
***************
Below is my philosophy on reviewing!
***************
1. I try to take into account and note common pet peeves often bemoaned by others.
2. "Brain candy' does not necessarily carry a negative connotation. (What is brain candy? Publishing industry 's version of pop music - Typically: formulaic, from a prolific author published often and quickly (like monthly), things escalate fast, and are often solved easily etc..) It has its uses: to pass time when tired, on the beach, etc... The problem comes when "brain candy" is unexpected or even disguised.
3. Blurb rating purpose:
Like many readers, I do not like to think I'm reading one kind of story; just to end up with another. But...I also don't think a book should be docked stars for being as stated. If I don't like stories about "_________", and I choose to read it; I shouldn't give it 2 stars based JUST on my preferences. Unless... it wasn't clear in the blurb.
4. Other Factors that effect my perspective when reviewing:
Since 2009, I have exclusively read m/m. My 1st was in 2007. I am a Kindle diehard, and I never do audio for m/m. I read at least 100+ books a year - with an average length of 220± pages; but the total number of books is usually much higher. My Goodreads lifetime rating (at the start of 2021) was a 3.64 average for 1527 books. Which considering, one should be better at picking out books the more one reads, I feel is an accurate average. I have over 795 reviews within the m/m genre here on Goodreads.
Blurb = 3
My Genre Scale = 4
Odds if not your genre = 2
Development of: =
*World = 4
*Characters = 2
*Plot = 2.5
What stood out = Biolet the Elk
Mood Type / Appeal to those looking for = Ambitious brain candy, fantasy style with some unique aspects
Warnings = Veiled references to past drunken inappropriate behavior of father
HFN/HEA = Yes
Series Notes = 1st of 2 as of Oct. 2021
*Reading on? Nope
*Reading back to back? N/A
*Can be easily read without the previous? N/A
Rating Notes = (SubPlots, thoughts, etc... )
My biggest problem is I found all 3 primary characters distasteful. That with their complicated relationships made it hard to root for them to couple or believe more than it was just unfounded insta-love. The characters somewhat redeemed themselves to round up to 3 stars, but I was still left with the overall feeling they were cruel, selfish, and at times stupid.
***************
I am way off my usual rate of reading over the last 11+ years. Real life has hit hard this year. Most recently with the death of my mother, and I had just been getting back into the swing of things. More upheaval appears to be on the horizon, but it has as much potential to be good as bad. I have no idea what that means for the rate of my reading and reviewing, but we will see...
***************
Below is my philosophy on reviewing!
***************
1. I try to take into account and note common pet peeves often bemoaned by others.
2. "Brain candy' does not necessarily carry a negative connotation. (What is brain candy? Publishing industry 's version of pop music - Typically: formulaic, from a prolific author published often and quickly (like monthly), things escalate fast, and are often solved easily etc..) It has its uses: to pass time when tired, on the beach, etc... The problem comes when "brain candy" is unexpected or even disguised.
3. Blurb rating purpose:
Like many readers, I do not like to think I'm reading one kind of story; just to end up with another. But...I also don't think a book should be docked stars for being as stated. If I don't like stories about "_________", and I choose to read it; I shouldn't give it 2 stars based JUST on my preferences. Unless... it wasn't clear in the blurb.
4. Other Factors that effect my perspective when reviewing:
Since 2009, I have exclusively read m/m. My 1st was in 2007. I am a Kindle diehard, and I never do audio for m/m. I read at least 100+ books a year - with an average length of 220± pages; but the total number of books is usually much higher. My Goodreads lifetime rating (at the start of 2021) was a 3.64 average for 1527 books. Which considering, one should be better at picking out books the more one reads, I feel is an accurate average. I have over 795 reviews within the m/m genre here on Goodreads.
March 22, 2021
I have promised myself to write a lot more reviews.
So.
Hmm
Well.
I did enjoy this, at least mostly. I think I will break it down into parts:
Part 1: plot
It did have a plot, AND it was a pretty good one, too! Nice worldbuilding, if a bit scant on detail, at least the details we got were impactful. And did I mention the plot? I LIKED the plot. It also ended without any serious cliffhangers AND left plenty of room for a wealth of potential sequels. Nice.
Part 2: character development.
There was none.
Well, there was a MAIN character, and the story is entirely first person POV which was the MC's POV. So - he's pretty, and he yells a lot, and he's...pretty. Hmm.
Actually, I do him a disservice. His character was perfectly adequate, really. He's understandable, mostly likeable, a bit unreasonable at times, but MOSTLY he rang true as a character, so with a few quibbles, that was okay.
There were a lot of other people in the book. four of them were moderately or importantly vital to the plot. Two of them were related to the MC and two of them weren't. There were large numbers of other characters of a completely anonymous nature, and also some monsters.
Oh wait. There was also a reindeer, who had a reasonable amount of character.
By the way, the MC was male and this is advertised as m/m fantasy. You could pluck out the MC and replace him with a her, and not change the story one iota, which I found...annoying.
Part 3: literary quality.
Er. Well it isn't BAD. I have certainly seen a whole lot worse. Serviceable? No that's really not fair. the literary quality of the writing itself was actually a bit above average.
So - well I gave it four stars, because really, I DID rather like the story (the plot) and the MC WAS in fact sympathetic, so overall I enjoyed it well enough and would not positively reject a sequel...but
spoilers coming, a bit
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
If you are going to base an entire plot point on the MC trying to save both his own life and that of his beloved sibling (presumably) it might not be a bad idea to flesh out this totally cardboard sibling at least a LITTLE. How old is he? Does he play games? Does he even SPEAK??
Put a little more work into it, please. All those elven soldiers, servants, lords and ladies...give them LIVES. They deserve better than plot devices.
So.
Hmm
Well.
I did enjoy this, at least mostly. I think I will break it down into parts:
Part 1: plot
It did have a plot, AND it was a pretty good one, too! Nice worldbuilding, if a bit scant on detail, at least the details we got were impactful. And did I mention the plot? I LIKED the plot. It also ended without any serious cliffhangers AND left plenty of room for a wealth of potential sequels. Nice.
Part 2: character development.
There was none.
Well, there was a MAIN character, and the story is entirely first person POV which was the MC's POV. So - he's pretty, and he yells a lot, and he's...pretty. Hmm.
Actually, I do him a disservice. His character was perfectly adequate, really. He's understandable, mostly likeable, a bit unreasonable at times, but MOSTLY he rang true as a character, so with a few quibbles, that was okay.
There were a lot of other people in the book. four of them were moderately or importantly vital to the plot. Two of them were related to the MC and two of them weren't. There were large numbers of other characters of a completely anonymous nature, and also some monsters.
Oh wait. There was also a reindeer, who had a reasonable amount of character.
By the way, the MC was male and this is advertised as m/m fantasy. You could pluck out the MC and replace him with a her, and not change the story one iota, which I found...annoying.
Part 3: literary quality.
Er. Well it isn't BAD. I have certainly seen a whole lot worse. Serviceable? No that's really not fair. the literary quality of the writing itself was actually a bit above average.
So - well I gave it four stars, because really, I DID rather like the story (the plot) and the MC WAS in fact sympathetic, so overall I enjoyed it well enough and would not positively reject a sequel...but
spoilers coming, a bit
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
If you are going to base an entire plot point on the MC trying to save both his own life and that of his beloved sibling (presumably) it might not be a bad idea to flesh out this totally cardboard sibling at least a LITTLE. How old is he? Does he play games? Does he even SPEAK??
Put a little more work into it, please. All those elven soldiers, servants, lords and ladies...give them LIVES. They deserve better than plot devices.
April 13, 2021
*major plot spoilers*
I never write reviews but I'm just trying to work out for myself why this just really didn't work for me... I think if it was longer I wouldn't have finished it.
I mean I'm reading for the romance, and I especially felt that lacking. It was way too insta-love... and not even love really at that? I never saw much chemistry between the love interests. I mean in the end it was literally, oh he hates him, cut to getting married. Uh? Honestly even expected a threesome at some point. (Weirdly, I liked the king's character the most, I felt like he was kinda eccentric and had some depth to him.)
I get that it was really short but a lot of the plot is just like completely glossed over, leaving a lot of plot holes. Like what the hell is happening with Pavel's younger brother...? The poor kid. And the whole war thing didn't make sense...? I kept thinking interesting plot twists would happen but nothing did (Idk, the king's brother working together with the dark elves or something). Also I'm trying to remember if there was a single female character other than the alluded-to mothers... All the kings/lords are interested in guys, but are they just gay or is this more common in the world? Idk, it's not explained.
I was obviously drawn to this for the fantasy element but it was mostly 'wow beautiful hot elves' uhh. I guess I wanted more details about the magic and the rules of magic, it was all kind of vague and used in a deus ex machina way. And there was a very interesting thing with Pavel being quarter fae or whatever but nothing exciting really came from it. Lots of detail given to the ice poles and how they seem to separate the two worlds but the magic around them is never explained.
The first half was better because there was some interesting world-building, but then the second half fell flat with a useless plot and zero romance... Just meh.
I never write reviews but I'm just trying to work out for myself why this just really didn't work for me... I think if it was longer I wouldn't have finished it.
I mean I'm reading for the romance, and I especially felt that lacking. It was way too insta-love... and not even love really at that? I never saw much chemistry between the love interests. I mean in the end it was literally, oh he hates him, cut to getting married. Uh? Honestly even expected a threesome at some point. (Weirdly, I liked the king's character the most, I felt like he was kinda eccentric and had some depth to him.)
I get that it was really short but a lot of the plot is just like completely glossed over, leaving a lot of plot holes. Like what the hell is happening with Pavel's younger brother...? The poor kid. And the whole war thing didn't make sense...? I kept thinking interesting plot twists would happen but nothing did (Idk, the king's brother working together with the dark elves or something). Also I'm trying to remember if there was a single female character other than the alluded-to mothers... All the kings/lords are interested in guys, but are they just gay or is this more common in the world? Idk, it's not explained.
I was obviously drawn to this for the fantasy element but it was mostly 'wow beautiful hot elves' uhh. I guess I wanted more details about the magic and the rules of magic, it was all kind of vague and used in a deus ex machina way. And there was a very interesting thing with Pavel being quarter fae or whatever but nothing exciting really came from it. Lots of detail given to the ice poles and how they seem to separate the two worlds but the magic around them is never explained.
The first half was better because there was some interesting world-building, but then the second half fell flat with a useless plot and zero romance... Just meh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2021
Meh
I don’t require mystery or mental puzzles in my reading - a straight forward plot is great so long as it’s done right. BUT IF an author is going to get into word puzzles and bargaining with stated rules (no lies, clearly outlined requirements, etc) as are common in fae and some elf stories - then they better do a good job of it. This author failed. The bargains were dumb (full of straight up lies) and a little logic could have gotten the characters on the desired path without bargains to begin with. I think Pável was supposed to be a smart human that got himself out of trouble through his cunning bargains and some magic; however the bargains (as stated) were dumb, the elves didn’t really negotiate or push back, and they all just came out looking incompetent.
The only reason I kept reading after some of the dumb bargains was because the love interest was not obvious. That part of the story did not follow the most usual path for this genre and I was curious how that would play out. I think the author was trying to maintain that uncertainty as long as she could. Though it kept me reading, I think it was a disservice to the book in the end. I didn’t feel that there was any connection between Pável and the love interest. The author could have achieved the that same mystery and still built a connection by adding some uncertainty and guilt from Pável’s POV as to how he was feeling about whom and that would have presented feelings and attraction to build on later without necessarily spotlighting who’d he’d end up with.
I’m really not sure I’ll read the sequel :/
I don’t require mystery or mental puzzles in my reading - a straight forward plot is great so long as it’s done right. BUT IF an author is going to get into word puzzles and bargaining with stated rules (no lies, clearly outlined requirements, etc) as are common in fae and some elf stories - then they better do a good job of it. This author failed. The bargains were dumb (full of straight up lies) and a little logic could have gotten the characters on the desired path without bargains to begin with. I think Pável was supposed to be a smart human that got himself out of trouble through his cunning bargains and some magic; however the bargains (as stated) were dumb, the elves didn’t really negotiate or push back, and they all just came out looking incompetent.
The only reason I kept reading after some of the dumb bargains was because the love interest was not obvious. That part of the story did not follow the most usual path for this genre and I was curious how that would play out. I think the author was trying to maintain that uncertainty as long as she could. Though it kept me reading, I think it was a disservice to the book in the end. I didn’t feel that there was any connection between Pável and the love interest. The author could have achieved the that same mystery and still built a connection by adding some uncertainty and guilt from Pável’s POV as to how he was feeling about whom and that would have presented feelings and attraction to build on later without necessarily spotlighting who’d he’d end up with.
I’m really not sure I’ll read the sequel :/
March 14, 2021
Juul is your typical frosty elf lord that is both beautiful and aloof, infuriating and yet fascinating. Pavel is a young man doing his best to survive and care for his younger brother and useless drunk of a father. Juul appears at the young man's home one cold winter night and Pavel soon finds himself a mere token in a bargain struck by Juul and his father. The wretched man is offered gold in exchange for his son and without a second thought accepts. Pavel is taken to the Quendi Elf's forest where he learns exactly what his father has sold him for: as a consort to the Quendi King Tarrak.
This book is short, and in the end actually quite sweet. The back and forth between Pavel and Juul is delightful and I admit I may have giggled more than a few times. Pavel turns out to be quite a force to be reckoned with and ends up being his own savior. As for the romance, despite only being together a short time, the love did not feel rushed to me.
Fantasy | Elves | Faeries | Magic | Ogres | LGBT | Romance | Enemies-To-Lovers
“An incursion?” He turned his head sharply. “Yes. A foray. An aggression.” “Oh. Like a raid?” “Of course, like a raid. Did you not understand the term ‘incursion,’ or have you found another way to annoy me by questioning every word out of my mouth?"
This book is short, and in the end actually quite sweet. The back and forth between Pavel and Juul is delightful and I admit I may have giggled more than a few times. Pavel turns out to be quite a force to be reckoned with and ends up being his own savior. As for the romance, despite only being together a short time, the love did not feel rushed to me.
Fantasy | Elves | Faeries | Magic | Ogres | LGBT | Romance | Enemies-To-Lovers
February 22, 2024
I liked Pavel, Juul and the Quendl king's story.
Patel sure was wicked smart, beautiful inside and out, and gifted magically as it turned out. He really should have had a clue since his grandmother had to have magic to make healing potions as well as perform acts that were more than a little supernatural for her village.
As his magic was enhanced by his being on Quendl land, everything worked in his favor, and he eventually went back for his younger brother back at his old village. This storyline was compelling and quite interesting, though the main characters turned out to be an unorthodox triad, temporarily, which gave the plot a real twist. Four and a half brilliant stars.
Patel sure was wicked smart, beautiful inside and out, and gifted magically as it turned out. He really should have had a clue since his grandmother had to have magic to make healing potions as well as perform acts that were more than a little supernatural for her village.
As his magic was enhanced by his being on Quendl land, everything worked in his favor, and he eventually went back for his younger brother back at his old village. This storyline was compelling and quite interesting, though the main characters turned out to be an unorthodox triad, temporarily, which gave the plot a real twist. Four and a half brilliant stars.
April 4, 2021
good characters but just needs more worj.
I widly enjoyed the characters and I do think from the begining of the book the character pavel was suppose to be set up with Lord Juul after Lord Juul boner poking Pavel. I will defently look for more books by this cause i enjoyed the story. But my main critics and the reason it has three is thar one the author should built on the conflict between the two elven kingdoms and two is the author should done more world building which is quite ironic but anyways
I widly enjoyed the characters and I do think from the begining of the book the character pavel was suppose to be set up with Lord Juul after Lord Juul boner poking Pavel. I will defently look for more books by this cause i enjoyed the story. But my main critics and the reason it has three is thar one the author should built on the conflict between the two elven kingdoms and two is the author should done more world building which is quite ironic but anyways
March 30, 2021
No (spoilers)
What was this? I am already not a fan of any form of non con. So, the fact that they bought this guy and then planned to take him to bed like it was his right was too much. I was fervently happy he was already met 19 and not a child but also confused as to how they are able to make that bargain with his father since he is an adult. Then to learn he was supposed to be wed and then handed over as a sacrifice was just too much.
What was this? I am already not a fan of any form of non con. So, the fact that they bought this guy and then planned to take him to bed like it was his right was too much. I was fervently happy he was already met 19 and not a child but also confused as to how they are able to make that bargain with his father since he is an adult. Then to learn he was supposed to be wed and then handed over as a sacrifice was just too much.
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