The Eighth Key

by Laura Weyr

The magic is gone...or is it?

Lucian is a jaded flirt and professional bard who knows all the old songs about sorcery. When he meets Corwin, a shy mage who can still use magic despite the Drought, Lucian finds his desire growing with each passing day—not just for answers, but for Corwin himself.

Sparks fly as they find themselves passionately entangled in adventure and each other. But learning the true origin of the Drought and the Key to ending it comes at a price that their bond may not survive...

Genres: Fantasy, M M Romance

255 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 15, 2021

Reviews

[Kaje Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a world where magic has suddenly disappeared, Lucian, a young traveling bard lost in the forest, is rescued by a young man who has the lingering remnants of magical ability. Corwin is beautiful and awkward and mysterious. Why that young man is so interested in a simple songsmith is a different question. Why is he digging through Lucian's pack in the dead of night?

This has an interesting magical worldbuilding, a sweet first-time romance for Corwin, and a satisfying resolution (although it has a tiny dive into "what next?" at the end.) Fairly low-angst (despite moments of significant danger) with likeable characters, though seen only from Lucian's POV. I did like that Lucian had a period of being less than perfect, and that there was no cliched evil overlord character, but mostly people doing their best in an uncertain landscape.

[Georgie-who-is-Sarah-Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Competent writing, some imaginative details (magical hair was a nice touch!), but an increasing focus on world-building (at the expense of relationships) reduced my enjoyment.

[The Book Suite · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to begin by talking about the characters. Honestly, they’re just incredibly likable and they have an amazing dynamic between them. Lucian and Corwin meet for the first time and grow close relatively quickly, but they have such great chemistry that that quickness just makes sense. I got invested in their stories pretty much right away, and I loved seeing their development, both individually and in regard to each other, over the course of the book.

Though Lucian and Corwin were definitely my favorites, the side characters shouldn’t be discounted. Admittedly, they didn’t have much “screen time,” but I still liked them. I especially liked Rina, Corwin’s mother figure, and I wish we got to see more of her.

I enjoyed the plot just as much as the people, though. At first, I didn’t know where the story was going, since there was an element of mystery to certain aspects of the plot. But the reveals ended up being amazing, and they were perfectly timed. As I said before, I couldn’t put the book down, I was just that immersed in the story.

Obviously, I won’t give anything away, but I was happy that the ending created the possibility of a sequel. I really hope I get to return to this world at some point in the future and find out what happens to these characters, next.

Of course, I can’t end this review without mentioning the magic system! It was the crux of the plot in this book, and I really loved Weyr’s take on it. Plus, the background and history of magic were explained with great detail, but without any info-dumping; it just came up naturally in conversations between characters and at important plot points.

All things considered, I definitely recommend taking the time to read this one! It has everything you could ask for in an epic fantasy story, from a compelling magic system to great characters with an incredible romance between them. So, if you’re looking for an exciting, new take on this genre, this is definitely the book for you!

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

3 stars

Books with magic will always interest me and I have a weakness for new-to-me authors and this book checked both of those boxes. I was intrigued with this book when it started, as we see Corwin being one of the only mages to have magic after the Drought. It does make him vulnerable at times, as humans have been suffering since the Drought and they demand things of Corwin that he is unable to produce. Lucian is captivated with Corwin from their first meeting for many reasons. He’s intrigued that Corwin has magic and he’s intrigued by Corwin in general. The men then stay together on their journey and Lucian knows that there is more to their meeting than chance and he’s determined to find out what that is.

Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.

[Joe Cosentino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laura Weyr creates an original and imaginative fantasy world where Lucien and Corwin meet, share their mystical powers, fall in love, and discover self-worth. With a minimalistic plot, The Eighth Key’s descriptive settings, realistic character development, and impressive writing style weave a captivating fantasy romance story.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked The Eighth Key. It is, in some ways, a standard fantasy: a pair of adventurers, a world in peril, magic and artefacts, mages and bards. But, in many ways that matter, it’s not like many other fantasy books: it has queer characters, characters of color, non-binary characters. And, most importantly, it doesn’t have a lot of things. Many authors use fiction to unpack their own trauma or, unfortunately, use queer and POC trauma as drama and plot instead of writing an actual book. Weyr does not. She takes the Schitt’s Creek approach: what if we lived in a world where people can be who they are, unapologetically, without losing their place in the world and their families? It’s a beautiful thing to read. Weyr does it so seamlessly that I almost forgot to mention it.
The Eighth Key is the story of a bard, Lucian, a well-traveled and independent man with no ties to anyone or anywhere who likes it that way and Corwin, a fairly naïve but not incompetent mage who reveals something to Lucian that he never would have guessed about himself in a lifetime. I liked their characters, though at times, certain aspects of their personalities fell a little flat, but that could well be chalked up to personal preference. Every reader has their preferences. Overall, I’d like to see the personalities of and the relationship between the main characters fleshed out a little more. Their romance is a bit of a whirlwind and aided substantially by magic. Weyr takes some steps to address this, but I wonder how their relationship will hold up going forward. I think Weyr has the skill and wherewithal to bring them where they need to be, though.
The book sets itself up nicely for a sequel and the prospect of (spoilers) exploring beyond the Source and the Void sounds like it would make for a good fantasy series. It is a truly interesting concept that I would love to see explored more. If The Eight Key has a sequel, I will tune in for sure.

[Mstay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magical

This book was fun and enjoyable as we follow their journey. Even though it was a book about bringing magic back, the pages were filled with daily magic with these two.

[Lynn P · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very good debut

This was a very original story with good character development. The possibility exists for a second story with the MC’s but the book is complete as is. HEA

[Anne Barwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the world building in this story, with its twists and turns, magic and mages. I liked the mystery behind who Lucian really is, and how he and Corwin complement each other in more ways than one. The characters pulled me in, and I thought the plot was an interesting take and weaving in of several genre tropes.

[Booker Thibeaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book.

The world-building is clear, concise, deeply interesting and depicted through the lens of the narrating character's profession. Everything here is just so thoughtful and makes sense.

I read a review that described the plot as minimalist, and I would agree- it has a strong, intimate focus on the two romantic leads. Both of which are stunningly written characters in beautiful contrast. The mystery had me gnashing my teeth to continue. The love scenes were incredible, realistic, (well, besides the magic!) and consensual. I felt good reading this book. I liked being in this world. I will certainly read it again.

[Myriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a wonderful book. I loved it so much! The mirroring theme throughout the book was right up my alley too - since my Libra self is a total sucker for balance.

I’ll admit I skimmed through a lot of the sex scenes since I’m not 100% comfortable with that sort of thing. However! I can say this is the first time I’ve read something where the sex scenes were actually relevant to the story.

If I could give the book 10 stars, I would.

[Miesha Wilson Headen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Very original and sexy.

[Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I picked it up by chance and am so glad that I did. We definitely need more queer fantasy out there!