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Those Who Break Chains #1
The Grace of Sorcerers
To be a warlock in this age is to trade in powers and promises and poisons, to bind demons and men to your will, to break them as you see fit...
Viveca Hua is the warlock of her era, and she has finally obtained her enemy’s greatest weapon—the demon Yves, an entity powerful beyond imagining... and far more alluring than any mortal woman.
But each ritual has a price. Yves has her own past, one brutally intertwined with the nemesis that killed Viveca’s mother. Her secrets will make or break the hunt.
Whatever the risk to her heart or her soul, Viveca is sure of one thing: she will have victory at any cost.
The Grace of Sorcerers is a lesbian urban fantasy of smoldering shapeshifters, brooding demons, and the bloodthirsty mages who engage their services in both vengeance and lust.
Viveca Hua is the warlock of her era, and she has finally obtained her enemy’s greatest weapon—the demon Yves, an entity powerful beyond imagining... and far more alluring than any mortal woman.
But each ritual has a price. Yves has her own past, one brutally intertwined with the nemesis that killed Viveca’s mother. Her secrets will make or break the hunt.
Whatever the risk to her heart or her soul, Viveca is sure of one thing: she will have victory at any cost.
The Grace of Sorcerers is a lesbian urban fantasy of smoldering shapeshifters, brooding demons, and the bloodthirsty mages who engage their services in both vengeance and lust.
218 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 16, 2022
67 people are currently reading
1479 people want to read
About the author
Maria Ying
11 books65 followersMaria Ying is both a fictional character and the joint pseudonym of Devi Lacroix and Benjanun Sriduangkaew, who have challenged themselves to write fiction with no speculative elements for once.
Devi Lacroix can be found at
Website: devilacroix.com
Twitter: twitter.com/DeviLacroix
Benjanun Sriduangkaew can be found at
Website: beekian.wordpress.com
Twitter: twitter.com/benjanun_s
Devi Lacroix can be found at
Website: devilacroix.com
Twitter: twitter.com/DeviLacroix
Benjanun Sriduangkaew can be found at
Website: beekian.wordpress.com
Twitter: twitter.com/benjanun_s
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
December 5, 2022
4/5 stars
Maria Ying is two different people. Well, technically three. First, she is the name of the author who is actually two people, Benjanun Sriduangkaew and Devi Lacroix. I am pretty familiar with Sriduangkaew, this was a first for me for Lacroix. Second, Maria Ying is also one of the side characters of The Grace of Sorcerers, a, in the author's own words, zoomer influencer who is the descendant of sirens. Or mermaids. Either way, for clarity's sake I will refer to the author from here on out as Ying and the character simply as Maria.
The Grace of Sorcerers is actually about four women. Viveca Hua, True Name Xinyu, daughter of Elizaveta Hua, and considered the most fearsome warlock of the age. Olesya Hua, True Name Xinlan, Viveca's older transgender sister, a killer of other mages, and afflicted with a disease that brings her closer to death every time she uses her magic. Dallas Seidel, True Name not pronounceable to humans, a weretiger trans woman currently both bound to and infatuated with Olesya. And Yves, an eldritch, shape-shifting demon woman contracted with Viveca--and who just might actually be the Babylonian goddess Tiamat.
All four of them are drawn together because of one woman: Cecilie Kristiansen. A thaumaturge responsible for the death of Viveca and Olesya's mother, imprisoning and torturing Yves, and for plaguing Olesya with her cursed disease. Slowly but surely, Cecilie gathers power and uses her bugs to create extra bodies and hosts for herself. She is after one thing: the downfall of the Huas and all they love.
This book was a damn good treat! Its prose was lush and descriptive, able to color the characters' emotions and mental thoughts and describe the actions scenes in detail. It is predominantly told through first person, through the eyes of our four leading ladies. However, this is also some third person parts following another character Fahriye Budak and a another brief first person account of another character who details the Huas' past and the information about magic. All in all, all the perspectives are tight and each feels varied and different. I think, personally, my favorite was Olesya's as she felt the most, for lack of a better word spunkiest. I also enjoyed Viveca's perspective because she was the main character. Nothing is left untouched in any of these perspectives. Each is filled for important plot progression and character development, very little if anything is just. Even the sex scenes, which were quite horny and inventive (I'll thank the Sridaungkaew half of Ying for that, knowing her other work), and their afterglow gave us insight into the characters' wants and needs (not just the sexual ones).
I love the magic portrayed here. Everything from feral shapeshifting, ensorcelled bullets and guns, sentient insects, glowing shields, elemental water, and even eldritch manipulation of shadows and darkness and summoning literal Hell, is all unique and described deliciously. Now, this isn't an urban fantasy with a complex magic system, and that's totally fine. There's no hierarchy or subsets of magic; there's just the warlocks, mages, and demons and the display of how powerful their abilities are the basic limits of their pacts. According to Lacroix, the True Names part of the magic system was inspired by A Wizard of Earthsea. I haven't yet read that book, but I am aware of its usage of names in its magic system. Fantasy does not always need a complex magic system. If if we get technical, I guess you would call this a soft magic system, but you needn't worry about that. That being said, I would've liked what a clearer definition of what a thaumaturge is. Cecilie is the only one to ever show up, but I don't what exactly makes her a thaumaturge. Warlocks are clearly defined (rather shown than told) as someone dealing with infernale magics, while mages and sorcerers just seems to be a general term for magic users. Other shapeshifting were-species do exist, but we can pretty much gather what they basically do. Viveca's displays of magic and Yves transformations were my favorite displays; so dark and violent! We don't see Olesya's too much because, well, her curse. But when we do it's quite interesting.
I think what The Grace of Sorcerers so great is, as I stated above, is that every scene moves the story forward while still tending to each character's arc. Viveca and Yves obviously had the most important arcs given their roles in the story and Yves' personal connection to Cecilie. You can feel Viveca's desire to better her magic and topple Cecilie. You can feel her rage that simmers underneath and feel the blaze of its heat at her apex. Yves, probably the most severely hurt by Cecilie, is a person (being?) of constant shifting rage and desire, the latter for Viveca and even Dallas given their past relationship. She's clearly still tormented by what Cecilie did to her and how guilty she feels for being connected to Olesya's curse. These more sullen feelings border Yves' love for Viveca and Dallas (no it's not quite polyamory) with barbs as sharp as her true form. She's not a conflicted character because of the actions she takes, she's conflicted because she doesn't know what to do. Olesya's own rage and her feeling helpless and weak are just as palpable. Like Yves, she hates her restraints, even though her restrains are different. Dallas feels helpless as well, because she feels like she can't do much for anymore she cares for. This is what I love about this cast: their strengths and vulnerability balance them. Some authors go too far one way and it feels unrealistic.
Now, I will say this, and this may be were other enjoyers of this book disagree with me: my biggest criticism of The Grace of Sorcerers is how much later we see Viveca and Yves' perspectives again after the first chapter. After the first chapter, we are treated to Olesya and Dallas' perspectives for a good time. Viveca and Yves are not absent from these perspectives. And, as I said before, there is still proper character development and plot progression going on. We still see how Olesya and Dallas, and others, react to Viveca and Yves and other things going on. But if Viveca and Yves are the main characters, why don't we see their perspectives again until about six (technically about five for Yves) chapters later? Don't take this the wrong way! I would say that all four of the characters have an equal amount of time for their perspectives, but I felt like I would've been better if we saw more Viveca and Yves in the beginning. I can't critique it too much because everything is still neatly done. It's a successful novella that does everything right. So, perhaps I am just nitpicking.
All in all, a damn good book. I can't wait for what's next.
Maria Ying is two different people. Well, technically three. First, she is the name of the author who is actually two people, Benjanun Sriduangkaew and Devi Lacroix. I am pretty familiar with Sriduangkaew, this was a first for me for Lacroix. Second, Maria Ying is also one of the side characters of The Grace of Sorcerers, a, in the author's own words, zoomer influencer who is the descendant of sirens. Or mermaids. Either way, for clarity's sake I will refer to the author from here on out as Ying and the character simply as Maria.
The Grace of Sorcerers is actually about four women. Viveca Hua, True Name Xinyu, daughter of Elizaveta Hua, and considered the most fearsome warlock of the age. Olesya Hua, True Name Xinlan, Viveca's older transgender sister, a killer of other mages, and afflicted with a disease that brings her closer to death every time she uses her magic. Dallas Seidel, True Name not pronounceable to humans, a weretiger trans woman currently both bound to and infatuated with Olesya. And Yves, an eldritch, shape-shifting demon woman contracted with Viveca--and who just might actually be the Babylonian goddess Tiamat.
All four of them are drawn together because of one woman: Cecilie Kristiansen. A thaumaturge responsible for the death of Viveca and Olesya's mother, imprisoning and torturing Yves, and for plaguing Olesya with her cursed disease. Slowly but surely, Cecilie gathers power and uses her bugs to create extra bodies and hosts for herself. She is after one thing: the downfall of the Huas and all they love.
This book was a damn good treat! Its prose was lush and descriptive, able to color the characters' emotions and mental thoughts and describe the actions scenes in detail. It is predominantly told through first person, through the eyes of our four leading ladies. However, this is also some third person parts following another character Fahriye Budak and a another brief first person account of another character who details the Huas' past and the information about magic. All in all, all the perspectives are tight and each feels varied and different. I think, personally, my favorite was Olesya's as she felt the most, for lack of a better word spunkiest. I also enjoyed Viveca's perspective because she was the main character. Nothing is left untouched in any of these perspectives. Each is filled for important plot progression and character development, very little if anything is just. Even the sex scenes, which were quite horny and inventive (I'll thank the Sridaungkaew half of Ying for that, knowing her other work), and their afterglow gave us insight into the characters' wants and needs (not just the sexual ones).
I love the magic portrayed here. Everything from feral shapeshifting, ensorcelled bullets and guns, sentient insects, glowing shields, elemental water, and even eldritch manipulation of shadows and darkness and summoning literal Hell, is all unique and described deliciously. Now, this isn't an urban fantasy with a complex magic system, and that's totally fine. There's no hierarchy or subsets of magic; there's just the warlocks, mages, and demons and the display of how powerful their abilities are the basic limits of their pacts. According to Lacroix, the True Names part of the magic system was inspired by A Wizard of Earthsea. I haven't yet read that book, but I am aware of its usage of names in its magic system. Fantasy does not always need a complex magic system. If if we get technical, I guess you would call this a soft magic system, but you needn't worry about that. That being said, I would've liked what a clearer definition of what a thaumaturge is. Cecilie is the only one to ever show up, but I don't what exactly makes her a thaumaturge. Warlocks are clearly defined (rather shown than told) as someone dealing with infernale magics, while mages and sorcerers just seems to be a general term for magic users. Other shapeshifting were-species do exist, but we can pretty much gather what they basically do. Viveca's displays of magic and Yves transformations were my favorite displays; so dark and violent! We don't see Olesya's too much because, well, her curse. But when we do it's quite interesting.
I think what The Grace of Sorcerers so great is, as I stated above, is that every scene moves the story forward while still tending to each character's arc. Viveca and Yves obviously had the most important arcs given their roles in the story and Yves' personal connection to Cecilie. You can feel Viveca's desire to better her magic and topple Cecilie. You can feel her rage that simmers underneath and feel the blaze of its heat at her apex. Yves, probably the most severely hurt by Cecilie, is a person (being?) of constant shifting rage and desire, the latter for Viveca and even Dallas given their past relationship. She's clearly still tormented by what Cecilie did to her and how guilty she feels for being connected to Olesya's curse. These more sullen feelings border Yves' love for Viveca and Dallas (no it's not quite polyamory) with barbs as sharp as her true form. She's not a conflicted character because of the actions she takes, she's conflicted because she doesn't know what to do. Olesya's own rage and her feeling helpless and weak are just as palpable. Like Yves, she hates her restraints, even though her restrains are different. Dallas feels helpless as well, because she feels like she can't do much for anymore she cares for. This is what I love about this cast: their strengths and vulnerability balance them. Some authors go too far one way and it feels unrealistic.
Now, I will say this, and this may be were other enjoyers of this book disagree with me: my biggest criticism of The Grace of Sorcerers is how much later we see Viveca and Yves' perspectives again after the first chapter. After the first chapter, we are treated to Olesya and Dallas' perspectives for a good time. Viveca and Yves are not absent from these perspectives. And, as I said before, there is still proper character development and plot progression going on. We still see how Olesya and Dallas, and others, react to Viveca and Yves and other things going on. But if Viveca and Yves are the main characters, why don't we see their perspectives again until about six (technically about five for Yves) chapters later? Don't take this the wrong way! I would say that all four of the characters have an equal amount of time for their perspectives, but I felt like I would've been better if we saw more Viveca and Yves in the beginning. I can't critique it too much because everything is still neatly done. It's a successful novella that does everything right. So, perhaps I am just nitpicking.
All in all, a damn good book. I can't wait for what's next.
July 2, 2022
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈ “𝐈 𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐰 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞; 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧.”
This book was an amazing AU fantasy from the previous two books (The Gunrunner and Her Hound & The Spy and Her Serpent). There's no characters here that I don't love, except for the antagonists, that I really can't decide if I like Yves, Dallas, Olesya, and Viveca more than the other because they're literally well-developed characters. I can't delve in too much with the plot as I might spoil something but in this AU, Yves is a demon, Dallas a weretiger, Olesya a sorceress, and Viveca a warlock. Personally, I think that you should read the first two books the authors have published in order to understand the personalities of the characters and I promise you, the authors have done well in writing a really good book. They just have this talent of immersing you into their world building.
Anyway, I'm really thankful to the person I came across social media who posted about The Gunrunner and Her Hound a year ago as it got me to where I am now (aka getting to know these characters and obsessing over them). With that, I'm definitely getting a physical copy for this one. And I'm also excited for the two upcoming books by the authors!
★★★★★/5
This book was an amazing AU fantasy from the previous two books (The Gunrunner and Her Hound & The Spy and Her Serpent). There's no characters here that I don't love, except for the antagonists, that I really can't decide if I like Yves, Dallas, Olesya, and Viveca more than the other because they're literally well-developed characters. I can't delve in too much with the plot as I might spoil something but in this AU, Yves is a demon, Dallas a weretiger, Olesya a sorceress, and Viveca a warlock. Personally, I think that you should read the first two books the authors have published in order to understand the personalities of the characters and I promise you, the authors have done well in writing a really good book. They just have this talent of immersing you into their world building.
Anyway, I'm really thankful to the person I came across social media who posted about The Gunrunner and Her Hound a year ago as it got me to where I am now (aka getting to know these characters and obsessing over them). With that, I'm definitely getting a physical copy for this one. And I'm also excited for the two upcoming books by the authors!
★★★★★/5
May 19, 2023
lesbians!
April 28, 2023
[ 3.5 rounded up ]
my third book my this author and once again the prose is amazing, that’s no surprise. it works especially well here considering it’s a fantasy setting and all great fantasy books have some hella good prose (or at least, they should).
my issue here is that unlike the previous two books, the romances didn’t quite grip me as much. like i feel as though we skipped the bonding parts and suddenly people were pledging love and forever loyalty to one another and it’s like damn i know they say we (lesbians) move fast but HOW DID WE GET HERE!? i ended up liking the relationship between yves and dallas the most, honestly.
on the opposite end, i really enjoyed seeing the relationship between the sisters. aside from being blood related and all, i genuinely felt the love and devotion to one another. i love them <3
i enjoyed the elements of magic and such. learning bits about the history especially. the flashbacks and the chapter where it was just going through the hua line were my favourite’s by far!! the prose shone the most here (can you tell i’m obsessed with this author’s prose)
although i’m not exactly passionate about this one, i can’t wait to read the others so it seems like the book did what it needed to do: get me hooked onto the series!
my third book my this author and once again the prose is amazing, that’s no surprise. it works especially well here considering it’s a fantasy setting and all great fantasy books have some hella good prose (or at least, they should).
my issue here is that unlike the previous two books, the romances didn’t quite grip me as much. like i feel as though we skipped the bonding parts and suddenly people were pledging love and forever loyalty to one another and it’s like damn i know they say we (lesbians) move fast but HOW DID WE GET HERE!? i ended up liking the relationship between yves and dallas the most, honestly.
on the opposite end, i really enjoyed seeing the relationship between the sisters. aside from being blood related and all, i genuinely felt the love and devotion to one another. i love them <3
i enjoyed the elements of magic and such. learning bits about the history especially. the flashbacks and the chapter where it was just going through the hua line were my favourite’s by far!! the prose shone the most here (can you tell i’m obsessed with this author’s prose)
although i’m not exactly passionate about this one, i can’t wait to read the others so it seems like the book did what it needed to do: get me hooked onto the series!
July 14, 2022
The Grace of Sorcerers is a sort of Urban Fantasy Alternate Universe of the authors' previous two books. I say "a sort" as while we meet Viveca, Olesya, Yves, Dallas, Fahriye (and others again) they're not exactly the same characters we have met before. And not just because Dallas is a tiger now.
If you like Urban Fantasy where many creatures co-exist you won't be disappointed. Dallas is as I mentioned a weretiger now (and I am delighted by how much the authors leaned into her felinity), Viveca is a warlock and Yves is a demon. There are also sirens, vampires and a lot of bugs. Yes a lot of bugs.
As always the cast is full of lesbians and their intertwined relationships. In a traditional lesbian fashion you can run into your ex who's dating your girlfriend's sister. It's once again a book full of butches and femmes who really enjoy each other (and wearing each other lol).
I was surprised to be that into the lore of the story but that one chapter about the Hua family was one of my favourite part and if I'm not mistaken I can't wait to read book 2
If you like Urban Fantasy where many creatures co-exist you won't be disappointed. Dallas is as I mentioned a weretiger now (and I am delighted by how much the authors leaned into her felinity), Viveca is a warlock and Yves is a demon. There are also sirens, vampires and a lot of bugs. Yes a lot of bugs.
As always the cast is full of lesbians and their intertwined relationships. In a traditional lesbian fashion you can run into your ex who's dating your girlfriend's sister. It's once again a book full of butches and femmes who really enjoy each other (and wearing each other lol).
I was surprised to be that into the lore of the story but that one chapter about the Hua family was one of my favourite part and if I'm not mistaken I can't wait to read book 2
June 21, 2022
I just finished Grace of Sorcerers and it was the most amazing lovely book. It was so emotional and perfect and I feel like I’ve FELT SO MUCH. The storylines all tied together really nicely. The flow of the book was like poetry. I really enjoyed this book!!
October 10, 2022
demon gf when?
September 8, 2022
Really really good, and shorter than I expected it to be because it is very easy to get caught up in the story.
October 29, 2023
the lesbian love square thing going on was taking out
December 17, 2023
I read The Gunrunner and Her Hound and liked it a lot. It was a little rough around the edges in some ways, but I am a sucker for strong, dominant ice queen women and big, muscled herbos. So when I learnt that there was an AU (alternative universe) where these characters were in a fantasy setting, I had to read it.
🧙♀️ I critique that also applies to Gunrunner and Her Hound: the summaries are not great. In gunrunner, it neglects to mention the third person of the FFF relationship even once. However, I thought that wasn't too bad. This? This was too much. The Grace of Sorcerers only mentions Viveca and Yves, but the story is equally about Olesya and Dallas. Fahriye is relegated to being more of a side character. This annoyed me a little, because I thought that I wouldn't need to have read The Spy and Her Serpent to read this book. I kept wondering if I was missing essential information about Olesya. But I didn't want to pause and start her book in the middle of this one. So yeah, the summaries annoy me a little.
🧙♀️ The first half of this book is full of long "thought monologues" where the characters are pondering each other or events, but not really interacting. It's also full of interludes/flashbacks, some of which drag on and overstay their welcome (. These long exposition dumps were incredibly boring to me.
🧙♀️ The plot with Cecilie is MUCH more fleshed out in this one. Which I do like... but it felt like it came at the cost of character interaction and actualy romance. Honestly, there isn't much romance is this.
Yes, the characters are romantically involved. Yes, there are sex scenes (pretty great ones at that). However, two characters meet, you swap to an entirely different/third pov, then when you come back to the other pov. The characters are already in love.
I felt very cheated. As mainly a romance reader, I enjoy that romantic journey. I want to see the feelings develop. I wanna be there to see their dynamic on page.
This story felt more like fantasy book with romance, rather than a fantasy romance, if that distinction makes sense.
Maybe because we've already seen the romance in Gunrunner? I don't know, but I was disappointed.
In that vein, I also dislike that Chang'er plays so small a role. She's on of Olesyas lovers. In fact, they have a very close relationship. As close as her and Dallas? I think??? It's hard to tell because the characters a rarely on page together and rarely interact (that we get to see). Just another "yeah, they love each other, but you don't need to see that" thing.
Plus Fahriye
🧙♀️ Yves felt very different. Almost like a completely new character. She was so serious and stoic in this, which felt markedly different from her character in Gunrunner. In that one she was... well, not completely a herbo or golden retriever. But she felt younger. Happier. More lighthearted.
🧙♀️ The last 25% and especially the epilogue was a genuine 5/5 stars. Simply because it gave me exactly what I'd been yearning for. Plenty of character interaction on page, where you get to see a dynamic evolve and change. It's not really romantic, more of a friendship. But it was still refreshing because I had felt so cheated by missing so many steps in the other relationships ""built"" in the book.
Despite the good ending, I can't deny that I was utterly bored for a large part of the book. So I think I'm settling on 3 stars.
🧙♀️ I critique that also applies to Gunrunner and Her Hound: the summaries are not great. In gunrunner, it neglects to mention the third person of the FFF relationship even once. However, I thought that wasn't too bad. This? This was too much. The Grace of Sorcerers only mentions Viveca and Yves, but the story is equally about Olesya and Dallas. Fahriye is relegated to being more of a side character. This annoyed me a little, because I thought that I wouldn't need to have read The Spy and Her Serpent to read this book. I kept wondering if I was missing essential information about Olesya. But I didn't want to pause and start her book in the middle of this one. So yeah, the summaries annoy me a little.
🧙♀️ The first half of this book is full of long "thought monologues" where the characters are pondering each other or events, but not really interacting. It's also full of interludes/flashbacks, some of which drag on and overstay their welcome (. These long exposition dumps were incredibly boring to me.
🧙♀️ The plot with Cecilie is MUCH more fleshed out in this one. Which I do like... but it felt like it came at the cost of character interaction and actualy romance. Honestly, there isn't much romance is this.
Yes, the characters are romantically involved. Yes, there are sex scenes (pretty great ones at that). However, two characters meet, you swap to an entirely different/third pov, then when you come back to the other pov. The characters are already in love.
I felt very cheated. As mainly a romance reader, I enjoy that romantic journey. I want to see the feelings develop. I wanna be there to see their dynamic on page.
This story felt more like fantasy book with romance, rather than a fantasy romance, if that distinction makes sense.
Maybe because we've already seen the romance in Gunrunner? I don't know, but I was disappointed.
In that vein, I also dislike that Chang'er plays so small a role. She's on of Olesyas lovers. In fact, they have a very close relationship. As close as her and Dallas? I think??? It's hard to tell because the characters a rarely on page together and rarely interact (that we get to see). Just another "yeah, they love each other, but you don't need to see that" thing.
Plus Fahriye
🧙♀️ Yves felt very different. Almost like a completely new character. She was so serious and stoic in this, which felt markedly different from her character in Gunrunner. In that one she was... well, not completely a herbo or golden retriever. But she felt younger. Happier. More lighthearted.
🧙♀️ The last 25% and especially the epilogue was a genuine 5/5 stars. Simply because it gave me exactly what I'd been yearning for. Plenty of character interaction on page, where you get to see a dynamic evolve and change. It's not really romantic, more of a friendship. But it was still refreshing because I had felt so cheated by missing so many steps in the other relationships ""built"" in the book.
Despite the good ending, I can't deny that I was utterly bored for a large part of the book. So I think I'm settling on 3 stars.
January 8, 2024
This was my first experience with either of the coauthors behind Maria Ying, respectively Benjanun Sriduangkaew and Devi Lacroix, and it leaves me looking forward to reading more of both their works.
What makes the book a genuine treat is its efficiency in both establishing and expanding on the relationships at its core, romantic or not (in fact one of its most touching, if least dynamic, relationships is the bond between its two lead sisters). This efficiency does leave some of the relationships lacking in the sort of mid-development scenes of growing connection that are often vital to creating a feeling of romantic believability, but the authors' skill in articulating the characters' emotions is more than able to make up for it; the relationships all around feel both believable and emotionally compelling, even when, say, dealt with wholly in the past-tense, and that itself is notable for a book as short as it is, juggling as many perspectives and relationships.
The pace on the whole is breathless, moving from point to point with zero wasted time or space, but it never leaves the book feeling cramped or underdeveloped. Every scene serves an immediate purpose to establishing or developing the plot, even as there are still moments of rest and relative ease to break up the ever-building tension, and while I would certainly have loved a few scenes more there is an art to so effectively condensing a story to its essentials.
The novel's world is intriguing in a general way, a good example of fantasy that is not overly burdened with in-depth explanations and mechanical particularities, especially of anything outside of immediate scope and relevance to the novel. The magic, in its uncertainty, is made more threatening by far because we lack any sense of its hard limits while being very aware, from the start, of the potential scope of its power. What does get description feels especially evocative, exactly because of that general willingness to leave things mysterious to the reader, without shying away from the wonder or scale of it. Even in something as basic as its portrayal of its mage society, one of open and rampant ambition and politicking in the name of personal power and knowledge, more is effectively done by implication, scene-setting, character perspective and brief comments, than by any more common and "in-depth" attempts at explanation that hinge on unnecessary specificities.
All told, the novel concludes extremely well, and while a part of me wishes it had allowed itself to be even just a bit longer, lightly wishing for slightly more of a good thing is never a bad "problem" for a novel to have, especially when its emotions are already quite able to fully land.
(A final note, but the book's inclusion of a trans woman as one of its major characters, without extended comment or qualification in any way (and as part of its lesbian milieu in particular), was extremely refreshing given a genre fiction space where our presence is routinely either minimized or given an uncomfortable sort of exoticizing focus.)
What makes the book a genuine treat is its efficiency in both establishing and expanding on the relationships at its core, romantic or not (in fact one of its most touching, if least dynamic, relationships is the bond between its two lead sisters). This efficiency does leave some of the relationships lacking in the sort of mid-development scenes of growing connection that are often vital to creating a feeling of romantic believability, but the authors' skill in articulating the characters' emotions is more than able to make up for it; the relationships all around feel both believable and emotionally compelling, even when, say, dealt with wholly in the past-tense, and that itself is notable for a book as short as it is, juggling as many perspectives and relationships.
The pace on the whole is breathless, moving from point to point with zero wasted time or space, but it never leaves the book feeling cramped or underdeveloped. Every scene serves an immediate purpose to establishing or developing the plot, even as there are still moments of rest and relative ease to break up the ever-building tension, and while I would certainly have loved a few scenes more there is an art to so effectively condensing a story to its essentials.
The novel's world is intriguing in a general way, a good example of fantasy that is not overly burdened with in-depth explanations and mechanical particularities, especially of anything outside of immediate scope and relevance to the novel. The magic, in its uncertainty, is made more threatening by far because we lack any sense of its hard limits while being very aware, from the start, of the potential scope of its power. What does get description feels especially evocative, exactly because of that general willingness to leave things mysterious to the reader, without shying away from the wonder or scale of it. Even in something as basic as its portrayal of its mage society, one of open and rampant ambition and politicking in the name of personal power and knowledge, more is effectively done by implication, scene-setting, character perspective and brief comments, than by any more common and "in-depth" attempts at explanation that hinge on unnecessary specificities.
All told, the novel concludes extremely well, and while a part of me wishes it had allowed itself to be even just a bit longer, lightly wishing for slightly more of a good thing is never a bad "problem" for a novel to have, especially when its emotions are already quite able to fully land.
(A final note, but the book's inclusion of a trans woman as one of its major characters, without extended comment or qualification in any way (and as part of its lesbian milieu in particular), was extremely refreshing given a genre fiction space where our presence is routinely either minimized or given an uncomfortable sort of exoticizing focus.)
February 26, 2024
The best of what queer fantasy could be
When a lot of people think of LGBT stories they tend to think of it as being just romantic and erotic. This story breaks that stereotype. This is a amazing story with dark themes, urban fantasy, and a unique and interesting play on mythology and magic. This story is one that I recommend anyone who wants to read more queer romance. As someone who loves urban fantasy I loved how organic the world was and how Maria Ying was able make it all come to life. The villain in this novel was very threatening and her power was very OP so I can't wait and see what the much stronger villains in the later novel are capable of. I love the two sisters and how their two relationships were both different, not just in the magical creatures they chose as partners but in their dynamic and couple personalities. Very happy to have read this wonderful novel and can't wait to check out the others.
When a lot of people think of LGBT stories they tend to think of it as being just romantic and erotic. This story breaks that stereotype. This is a amazing story with dark themes, urban fantasy, and a unique and interesting play on mythology and magic. This story is one that I recommend anyone who wants to read more queer romance. As someone who loves urban fantasy I loved how organic the world was and how Maria Ying was able make it all come to life. The villain in this novel was very threatening and her power was very OP so I can't wait and see what the much stronger villains in the later novel are capable of. I love the two sisters and how their two relationships were both different, not just in the magical creatures they chose as partners but in their dynamic and couple personalities. Very happy to have read this wonderful novel and can't wait to check out the others.
July 21, 2024
4/5
The Grace of Sorcerers is the first novel in Those Who Break Chain, a supernatural series which follows the Hua sisters as they track down the mysterious force that killed their mother.
But make no mistake, the Hua sisters, as in Those Who Bear Arms, are not the underdogs. In this universe (AU), Viveca Hua is the warlock of her age, and her sister Olesya the mage killer.
While the synopsis chooses to highlight Viveca and her demon Yves, Olesya is just as much of a protagonist—and so is her lover, the tiger shape-shifter Dallas.
These four women's complicated web of relationships make up the heart of the novel, spinning a tale of intrigue, love, and redemption which wounds its way to the heartfelt conclusion.
I continue to appreciate Benjanun Sriduangkew’s characteristic fast-paced romance, full of high octane desire, even in a full length novel, and as always, she pairs exceedingly well with her collaborator, Devi Lacroix.
The Grace of Sorcerers is the first novel in Those Who Break Chain, a supernatural series which follows the Hua sisters as they track down the mysterious force that killed their mother.
But make no mistake, the Hua sisters, as in Those Who Bear Arms, are not the underdogs. In this universe (AU), Viveca Hua is the warlock of her age, and her sister Olesya the mage killer.
While the synopsis chooses to highlight Viveca and her demon Yves, Olesya is just as much of a protagonist—and so is her lover, the tiger shape-shifter Dallas.
These four women's complicated web of relationships make up the heart of the novel, spinning a tale of intrigue, love, and redemption which wounds its way to the heartfelt conclusion.
I continue to appreciate Benjanun Sriduangkew’s characteristic fast-paced romance, full of high octane desire, even in a full length novel, and as always, she pairs exceedingly well with her collaborator, Devi Lacroix.
February 6, 2025
This was so good. This book has EVERYTHING I could possibly want. MURDEROUS MAGES. PACTS WITH DEMONS. LESBIANS. NOT A SINGLE NAMED MAN IN THE ENTIRE NOVEL. GROTESQUE BUG MAGIC. SEX MAGIC.
TRULY what more can you ask for. The only downside was Dallas, whom I hate entirely. She redeemed herself towards the end but I hate her still. And Chang'er could have had a little more screentime - she felt almost incidental, even though I think I was meant to really believe in her relationship with Olesya. ANYWAY. NONE OF THAT MATTERS. THIS BOOK WAS GRIPPING. I wasn't expecting sex scenes - but what I got was SO WILDLY SATISFYING (sex. magic.) I almost don't want to go back to the empty calorie monster romances I've been tearing through. Sex with the demon Yves was so weird and cool. YVES IS SO WEIRD AND COOL. I'm so glad I can keep going with this series.
TRULY what more can you ask for. The only downside was Dallas, whom I hate entirely. She redeemed herself towards the end but I hate her still. And Chang'er could have had a little more screentime - she felt almost incidental, even though I think I was meant to really believe in her relationship with Olesya. ANYWAY. NONE OF THAT MATTERS. THIS BOOK WAS GRIPPING. I wasn't expecting sex scenes - but what I got was SO WILDLY SATISFYING (sex. magic.) I almost don't want to go back to the empty calorie monster romances I've been tearing through. Sex with the demon Yves was so weird and cool. YVES IS SO WEIRD AND COOL. I'm so glad I can keep going with this series.
September 7, 2023
this book was crazy. I definitely preferred it’s contemporary sister series, but paranormal romance is so camp I eat it up every time the drama is insane. there were parts of this that trudged along super slowly, but the language the authors use makes my heart soar every time they are such artists I got to a point where I just started highlighting new words I’d never heard before bc they were so interesting to me. around the 75% mark I had to force myself to just finish the book and I told myself I wouldn’t read any sequels bc it was just too slow for me but then I finished the epilogue and I remembered what I loved about these characters. the grace of sorcerers tells a story of power and time and family and the manger faces of love. the magic was pretty cool too. 4 stars.
October 28, 2022
This book answers the question of 'what would consensual sex be like with a formless horror from the void?' The answer? Very, very steamy. This book is for all you monsterfuckers out there. Aside from that I rather enjoyed the book. The four protagonists work well together, two of them are trans, and they're all lesbians. There was potential for a polycule to happen but alas, it didn't, It's kind of understandable, though, since two of the four are sisters. (No, they weren't the ones who had attraction to each other. Their respective partners did.) I really don't have much else to say about the book. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and would definitely recommend it to others. There's a sequel on the way, and I already preordered it. Content warning, though. Bugs. Lots of bugs. 5 stars
July 23, 2023
One of the best urban fantasy books I've read
There is little about this book that is not worthy of praise. The action is slick, the magic is imaginative and the sex is doubly so, being at times eldritch and tender all at once. Most of all it overflows with love between women, and whether that love is romantic, familial, sisterly, or even fraught and violent, it outlines the contours of a rich, full, and deep relationship. Ultimately, it's lesbians summoning demons to fuck and kill, done perfectly - what more could you want?
There is little about this book that is not worthy of praise. The action is slick, the magic is imaginative and the sex is doubly so, being at times eldritch and tender all at once. Most of all it overflows with love between women, and whether that love is romantic, familial, sisterly, or even fraught and violent, it outlines the contours of a rich, full, and deep relationship. Ultimately, it's lesbians summoning demons to fuck and kill, done perfectly - what more could you want?
October 17, 2023
Giving this one a premature rating because it deserves more praise and attention. Spectacular, mesmerizing writing; a fantastical and enticing world; four excellent characters, all clever and confident, and all struggling with their own pain, their own goals.
This book is everything.
I DNF'd @40% because my brain is a frustrating bastard, but mark my words, I will be returning. I would read anything by Maria Ying.
This book is everything.
I DNF'd @40% because my brain is a frustrating bastard, but mark my words, I will be returning. I would read anything by Maria Ying.
April 16, 2024
Grace of Sorcerers is a cinematic, fast paced novella; urban fantasy in the style of the Nasuverse/Fate franchise but without the misogyny that makes Nasu's work unpalatable. Instead, Grace of Sorcerers takes Nasu's confident world building and rule-of-cool storytelling, combines it with absolutely gorgeous prose, and uses it to tell a thrilling trans and lesbian tale of the blood feuds and vendettas and romances between powerful sorcerers, warlocks, demons, and monsters.
dnf
November 23, 2022Nov 2022, 5%: the writing was quite self-conscious or overworked from the beginning? I couldn't get into the narrative, I was so conscious this was something someone had written (which duh, but if something is well written the actual words disappear for me and it's just flowing in my head, if that makes sense).
October 8, 2023
A dynamite urban fantasy that feels like high fantasy set in a queernormative world with sizzling lesbian romantic chemistry and big bad magicks. Of particular note: you could almost miss that multiple characters are trans because it’s all perfectly integrated and while there are subtle themes, it’s really not the point of the book. I auto-bought the rest of the series after a few chapters.
December 30, 2024
This is conceptually right up my alley - queer fantasy with revenge and worldbuilding. However, it turns out that hot women being powerful and hooking up with each other gets old quickly when you’re not given enough to make you care about the characters or root for their relationships. Technically not bad, and clearly beloved by others, but frankly very disappointing for me. 2.5/5
January 5, 2023
This book is incredibly fun and pulpy! Lesbian warlocks. Weretigers. Demons. Ancient lineages and promises to fulfill. There are almost no men in the book. The action is fun, and the twists and turns are well foreshadowed. Excited to read the new book
June 11, 2023
4.25
La escritura esta muy bonita y la relación entre cada personaje que sale me gusto mucho, termine enamorada de todas las parejas que se forman, además todo es tan magicamente grotesco que wow, verdaderamente sorprendida
Olesya e Yves son mis favoritas <3 les amo
La escritura esta muy bonita y la relación entre cada personaje que sale me gusto mucho, termine enamorada de todas las parejas que se forman, además todo es tan magicamente grotesco que wow, verdaderamente sorprendida
Olesya e Yves son mis favoritas <3 les amo
August 13, 2023
hello! finally an f/f ebook to rival all of the delectable trashy m/m ones. I've been waiting for something like this for a long long time, that's both fucked up and indulgent and fun. there are a lot of characters and everyone's a lesbian and hot and powerful and I am very pleased.
February 7, 2024
Mediocre. Not even the sex scenes made this book interesting even though they included sex between a shapeshifting tiger and a woman mage, and between a server's and a shapeshifting demon who can create additional organs on herself or her partner at will.
June 24, 2024
dnf. I started reading the 2nd book before this and I think it just messed me up I just CANNOT for the life of me get into this book. It makes no sense to me but I'm going to continue reading the 2nd book and see if I can get back into this one
July 13, 2024
This book surprised me in a good way. It's raw and sharp, but still beautifully written. The magic system is rich and fascinating and dark. The characters are complex and not always "good" but always relatable. I've already purchased the rest of the series so I can read more!
June 10, 2025
stars subject to change, really don’t know how i feel about this one— definitely don’t like it as much as everyone else seems to
i was set on not reading the rest of the series but i really liked the epilogue (best part of the book, don’t know how to feel about that)
i was set on not reading the rest of the series but i really liked the epilogue (best part of the book, don’t know how to feel about that)
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