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Fool Without a Master: The Wallace Treager Story
Have you heard the tale of the love affair between the prince and the jester? Of course you haven’t, it was a secret.
I had been the keeper of many secrets throughout my life. A dizzying amount, in fact. They sure did take their toll on me.
My life has been quite something so I thought it was time for me to bare all, figuratively speaking. Get your head out of the gutter.
Inside is the story of that very jester, me. My name is Wallace Treager, I am pleased to make your acquaintance. I get the feeling we are going to become great friends.
Sit back and enjoy the ride of your life. Correction, my life.
Are you excited?
I had been the keeper of many secrets throughout my life. A dizzying amount, in fact. They sure did take their toll on me.
My life has been quite something so I thought it was time for me to bare all, figuratively speaking. Get your head out of the gutter.
Inside is the story of that very jester, me. My name is Wallace Treager, I am pleased to make your acquaintance. I get the feeling we are going to become great friends.
Sit back and enjoy the ride of your life. Correction, my life.
Are you excited?
237 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 10, 2022
17 people are currently reading
869 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
June 7, 2022
While at first the story seemed interesting and I enjoyed the first couple of chapters, I wasn’t enjoying it by the end. I was expecting more romance and while we did get a relationship between Wallace and the prince, it didn’t seem like it was the main storyline. I also didn’t think it was a great relationship because of such a big power difference between the two and they continually kept things from each other. I also didn’t really like the ending, which for me felt like most things were too easily resolved. But I still left with questions about other things relevant to Wallace’s life.
July 12, 2022
Disclaimer: Received an ARC in exchange of my honest review.
I truly fell in love with Wallace. He is such charming, witty and relatable (to me) character. Watching his growth and ability to be honest about the choices and regrets he made throughout the book was amazing. This is the first book I’ve read from this author and I’ll surely be checking out more from them. Their style of writing and seamless way tying together the present, past and future throughout the book created a very dynamic reading experience. Plus I loved that the book ended on a positive note.
Now, with that all being said, it did take a moment to properly get into the book. Only because I was expecting it to be MM romance, which I would not classify it as. Although the affair between Wallace and the prince, plus the consequences of that affair, played into Wallace’s overall character growth development. (Spoiler) I will also say, I wasn’t 100% sure what Wallace’s gift really played into the story and his character. I had assumed when it was first introduced, it would have played more of a role in the story. However, I did enjoy the second last chapter where he uses that gift. (End of spoiler)
Overall, this was really great and extremely worthwhile read. Especially if you love a well-developed character driven story!
I truly fell in love with Wallace. He is such charming, witty and relatable (to me) character. Watching his growth and ability to be honest about the choices and regrets he made throughout the book was amazing. This is the first book I’ve read from this author and I’ll surely be checking out more from them. Their style of writing and seamless way tying together the present, past and future throughout the book created a very dynamic reading experience. Plus I loved that the book ended on a positive note.
Now, with that all being said, it did take a moment to properly get into the book. Only because I was expecting it to be MM romance, which I would not classify it as. Although the affair between Wallace and the prince, plus the consequences of that affair, played into Wallace’s overall character growth development. (Spoiler) I will also say, I wasn’t 100% sure what Wallace’s gift really played into the story and his character. I had assumed when it was first introduced, it would have played more of a role in the story. However, I did enjoy the second last chapter where he uses that gift. (End of spoiler)
Overall, this was really great and extremely worthwhile read. Especially if you love a well-developed character driven story!
July 3, 2022
I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Unpaid promotion.
Release date : July 10th
This low fantasy novel was a little different to what I was expecting, but the writing is really good so the story flows easily and is enjoyable too.
Wallace is noticed for his comedy and taken to the Castle to be a performer. Once there he meets the Prince and a forbidden romance begins.
Wallace is a really likable character, he's very unique, and the story is told in his perspective, so it feels like we really get to know him.
I like the LGBT+ additions to the book, however I did think the M/M romance wasn't as central to the story as I thought it would be.
Overall the story is a good one for light fantasy fans and those who want to read more LGBT+ reads, but if you're expecting a steamy m/m romance this isn't that book. The romance here is more of a slow burn and isn't the main point of the story. But if you do like a slow burn romance then this could be a good one to try.
Thank you to the author for allowing me to read this early, and if you are interested the book description is below too.
Book Description
Have you heard the tale of the love affair between the prince and the jester? Of course you haven’t, it was a secret.
I had been the keeper of many secrets throughout my life. A dizzying amount, in fact. They sure did take their toll on me.
My life has been quite something so I thought it was time for me to bare all, figuratively speaking. Get your head out of the gutter.
Inside is the story of that very jester, me. My name is Wallace Treager, I am pleased to make your acquaintance. I get the feeling we are going to become great friends.
Sit back and enjoy the ride of your life. Correction, my life. Are you excited?
Release date : July 10th
This low fantasy novel was a little different to what I was expecting, but the writing is really good so the story flows easily and is enjoyable too.
Wallace is noticed for his comedy and taken to the Castle to be a performer. Once there he meets the Prince and a forbidden romance begins.
Wallace is a really likable character, he's very unique, and the story is told in his perspective, so it feels like we really get to know him.
I like the LGBT+ additions to the book, however I did think the M/M romance wasn't as central to the story as I thought it would be.
Overall the story is a good one for light fantasy fans and those who want to read more LGBT+ reads, but if you're expecting a steamy m/m romance this isn't that book. The romance here is more of a slow burn and isn't the main point of the story. But if you do like a slow burn romance then this could be a good one to try.
Thank you to the author for allowing me to read this early, and if you are interested the book description is below too.
Book Description
Have you heard the tale of the love affair between the prince and the jester? Of course you haven’t, it was a secret.
I had been the keeper of many secrets throughout my life. A dizzying amount, in fact. They sure did take their toll on me.
My life has been quite something so I thought it was time for me to bare all, figuratively speaking. Get your head out of the gutter.
Inside is the story of that very jester, me. My name is Wallace Treager, I am pleased to make your acquaintance. I get the feeling we are going to become great friends.
Sit back and enjoy the ride of your life. Correction, my life. Are you excited?
June 8, 2022
A delightful story for fans of the fantasy genre who are looking for something new, ‘Fool Without a Master’ blends the stylings of a fantasy world with characters and themes that feel relatable to a modern audience.
Written all throughout in an engaging, emotive, charming, and often times very amusing first-person diary, it is no surprise that one of the highlights of the story is it’s nuanced and vibrant title character. Wallace strikes a fine point between a jovial, fabulous, larger than life figure, and a complex, layered, flawed, imperfectly perfect human. In the crown of this novel, Wallace is no doubt the jewel.
Crowley especially excels in creating a narrative voice that thrums with emotion, and especially the physicality of emotion, that is impressive to see conveyed in a story that can so effectively switch between light hearted and deadly serious. ‘A Fool Without a Master’ portrays the rises and the downfall of its eponymous fool, against the backdrop of mounting political tension in its fictional kingdom, and tension closer to home.
The romance central to ‘A Fool Without a Master’ is an honest and uncompromising display of the difficulties of opening yourself up to another person’s love, and is earnest and sincere in its tenderness. It is beyond refreshing to see, not only LGBT+ romance in the fantasy genre, and not only LGBT+ romance amongst the central focus of the plot, but LGBT+ romance which is portrayed with the complexity, depth and compassion that is often reserved for romances between men and women in fiction.
The central romance, like so much of the story, is told gradually, and in a non-linear fashion. Wallace is telling his story on his own terms, which means the past, present and future are ever shifting, and you are gradually learning more along the way. His life, the people in it, and the world around him unfurl steadily, teasing you in to learn more.
‘A Fool Without a Master’ is a brilliant choice for anyone looking for a new story from an author with an innovative perspective on a popular genre, and I highly recommend!
Written all throughout in an engaging, emotive, charming, and often times very amusing first-person diary, it is no surprise that one of the highlights of the story is it’s nuanced and vibrant title character. Wallace strikes a fine point between a jovial, fabulous, larger than life figure, and a complex, layered, flawed, imperfectly perfect human. In the crown of this novel, Wallace is no doubt the jewel.
Crowley especially excels in creating a narrative voice that thrums with emotion, and especially the physicality of emotion, that is impressive to see conveyed in a story that can so effectively switch between light hearted and deadly serious. ‘A Fool Without a Master’ portrays the rises and the downfall of its eponymous fool, against the backdrop of mounting political tension in its fictional kingdom, and tension closer to home.
The romance central to ‘A Fool Without a Master’ is an honest and uncompromising display of the difficulties of opening yourself up to another person’s love, and is earnest and sincere in its tenderness. It is beyond refreshing to see, not only LGBT+ romance in the fantasy genre, and not only LGBT+ romance amongst the central focus of the plot, but LGBT+ romance which is portrayed with the complexity, depth and compassion that is often reserved for romances between men and women in fiction.
The central romance, like so much of the story, is told gradually, and in a non-linear fashion. Wallace is telling his story on his own terms, which means the past, present and future are ever shifting, and you are gradually learning more along the way. His life, the people in it, and the world around him unfurl steadily, teasing you in to learn more.
‘A Fool Without a Master’ is a brilliant choice for anyone looking for a new story from an author with an innovative perspective on a popular genre, and I highly recommend!
December 28, 2024
On one hand, I did enjoy myself. On the other, I can't help but notice the book's flaws.
The worldbuilding is lacking significantly. This world is an oversimplified version of the most typical Middle Ages-insipid setting you can think of. Which is not necessary a bad thing as it serves its purpose to not burden the reader with heavy systems. But the people who engage more critically will notice the logistic are... well, missing. I don't know how this kingdom operates, its people or frankly, how anything pracrical in the daily life works.
I would say to a certain extent this can be excused. The book is like the MC writes his autobiography and I liked that. I guess if I myself sit down to write the story of my life, I wouldn't go into details how the nearby store gets its goods. But anyway, I digress.
The overall mood of this was actually surprising sad. I didn't expect it going in (not mad about it) and was surprised, and - frankly - scared.
Also, it seems weird to me nothing of what Wallace had as identity crises as a jester and all the issues around that wasn't properly adressed,
The same can be said to Wallace and Kasper's relationship to an exte... there's a lot to unpack there and I wish they had deeper hearfelt conversation. I do like their romance but I needed something more there. I wanted Kasper to be there for Wallace more, to see what's going with him.
As for the only magical element here: Wallace's talent with painting. Frankly, I'm not sure what was the purpose of this. I don't see a follow up novel for this to be expaned on. It's not necessary an issue per se - and it was cool - but it just wasn't needed.
All in all, a good idea with flawed execution. It's a good book to just consume when you need to, without burdening yourself much. I'm conflicted how to rate it because it's almost perfect 3.5 stars. I'm not sure I want to round it up to 4 but 3 feels too low... *sigh* GR, you really need to add half stars but I know you won't because you're a joke.
The worldbuilding is lacking significantly. This world is an oversimplified version of the most typical Middle Ages-insipid setting you can think of. Which is not necessary a bad thing as it serves its purpose to not burden the reader with heavy systems. But the people who engage more critically will notice the logistic are... well, missing. I don't know how this kingdom operates, its people or frankly, how anything pracrical in the daily life works.
I would say to a certain extent this can be excused. The book is like the MC writes his autobiography and I liked that. I guess if I myself sit down to write the story of my life, I wouldn't go into details how the nearby store gets its goods. But anyway, I digress.
The overall mood of this was actually surprising sad. I didn't expect it going in (not mad about it) and was surprised, and - frankly - scared.
Also, it seems weird to me nothing of what Wallace had as identity crises as a jester and all the issues around that wasn't properly adressed,
The same can be said to Wallace and Kasper's relationship to an exte... there's a lot to unpack there and I wish they had deeper hearfelt conversation. I do like their romance but I needed something more there. I wanted Kasper to be there for Wallace more, to see what's going with him.
As for the only magical element here: Wallace's talent with painting. Frankly, I'm not sure what was the purpose of this. I don't see a follow up novel for this to be expaned on. It's not necessary an issue per se - and it was cool - but it just wasn't needed.
All in all, a good idea with flawed execution. It's a good book to just consume when you need to, without burdening yourself much. I'm conflicted how to rate it because it's almost perfect 3.5 stars. I'm not sure I want to round it up to 4 but 3 feels too low... *sigh* GR, you really need to add half stars but I know you won't because you're a joke.
June 26, 2022
I enjoyed reading this book despite it being different to what I typically go for. I felt the characters were all pretty fleshed out which I loved as it shows the author has put thought into all areas and not just introduced characters for the sake of advancing a single scene.
I really liked the way the book was written as Wallace telling his own story I felt you could see his personality coming through and the humour that he has, which made his character feel more real as he is a jester he should have some humour to him. But more than that his character felt real like someone you know in real life.
However as much as I loved the characters and character development I wish there was more world building and more storyline around the towns conflict. I felt like filling that out would've added to the story without taking away from Wallaces retelling and the internal conflict he was having. I also struggled a little with the time jumps sometimes it took me a while to realise that it had changed.
All in all I really enjoyed it and loved the characters.
Minor spoiler I but my favourite line was "you have mastered the act of controlling the way people perceive you" I think it was the perfect way to describe Wallace having been forced to always put on an act that he hide himself his true self in both sides of his life.
I really liked the way the book was written as Wallace telling his own story I felt you could see his personality coming through and the humour that he has, which made his character feel more real as he is a jester he should have some humour to him. But more than that his character felt real like someone you know in real life.
However as much as I loved the characters and character development I wish there was more world building and more storyline around the towns conflict. I felt like filling that out would've added to the story without taking away from Wallaces retelling and the internal conflict he was having. I also struggled a little with the time jumps sometimes it took me a while to realise that it had changed.
All in all I really enjoyed it and loved the characters.
Minor spoiler I but my favourite line was "you have mastered the act of controlling the way people perceive you" I think it was the perfect way to describe Wallace having been forced to always put on an act that he hide himself his true self in both sides of his life.
July 8, 2022
I was overcome with joy when I received the arc for this book and was so excited to engage with this tale – a love affair between the prince and his jester.
With the LGBT+ themes, the humour, and the charisma of the main character – Wallace Treager -it was a great read. While I have to say the dynamic between the two (the prince and Wallace) wasn’t overly healthy, the way in which this book communicates Wallace’s thoughts and impeccable personality was second to none.
The winning factor of this book had to be the title character. Wallace was engaging, amusing and out right charming, making the story flow easily and engaging for the reader.
Overall, my personal favourite aspect about this book was the underlying relatability for younger LGBT+ audiences. While not everyone will find their ‘prince’, the first-person narrative captures a man’s struggle in a world that restricts his creativity, his love, and his passions; but ultimately has a positive outlook on life, with hope and inner peace.
This was for me a character driven story – which at times did leave the romance feeling as a sub plot- that mirrored reality so nicely.
Thank you, Shelley Crowley, for this experience!
With the LGBT+ themes, the humour, and the charisma of the main character – Wallace Treager -it was a great read. While I have to say the dynamic between the two (the prince and Wallace) wasn’t overly healthy, the way in which this book communicates Wallace’s thoughts and impeccable personality was second to none.
The winning factor of this book had to be the title character. Wallace was engaging, amusing and out right charming, making the story flow easily and engaging for the reader.
Overall, my personal favourite aspect about this book was the underlying relatability for younger LGBT+ audiences. While not everyone will find their ‘prince’, the first-person narrative captures a man’s struggle in a world that restricts his creativity, his love, and his passions; but ultimately has a positive outlook on life, with hope and inner peace.
This was for me a character driven story – which at times did leave the romance feeling as a sub plot- that mirrored reality so nicely.
Thank you, Shelley Crowley, for this experience!
July 10, 2022
Absolutely couldn't put it down!
It has been a hot minute since I've been so excited for a book release. A while back, I just happened to come across a cute video advertising it on TikTok and I immediately went to pre-order it. After all, I love supporting fellow indie authors and this story was completely up my alley. What's not to love - a budding romance between a hot, blond prince and a wise-cracking, sassy jester? Sign me up!
Y'all. When I got the alert late last night that the ebook was downloaded onto my Kindle, I never pulled up that app so fast! I was actually annoyed with myself that I had to eventually put it down to get some sleep. I spent the rest of the afternoon today enjoying it and I can say that this story is excellent. It managed to keep me hooked to the end. Wallace is adorable and it was quite easy to love his character. I laughed at the jokes, shouted a few "okay, Wally!" when things would get a little ✨️spicy✨️, and I'm not afraid to say I cried during those heart-wrenching scenes. I won't spoil the story, of course, but the ending was so well done.
So, if you are on the fence and you're looking for a nice m/m read with great narration, give this tale a chance!
It has been a hot minute since I've been so excited for a book release. A while back, I just happened to come across a cute video advertising it on TikTok and I immediately went to pre-order it. After all, I love supporting fellow indie authors and this story was completely up my alley. What's not to love - a budding romance between a hot, blond prince and a wise-cracking, sassy jester? Sign me up!
Y'all. When I got the alert late last night that the ebook was downloaded onto my Kindle, I never pulled up that app so fast! I was actually annoyed with myself that I had to eventually put it down to get some sleep. I spent the rest of the afternoon today enjoying it and I can say that this story is excellent. It managed to keep me hooked to the end. Wallace is adorable and it was quite easy to love his character. I laughed at the jokes, shouted a few "okay, Wally!" when things would get a little ✨️spicy✨️, and I'm not afraid to say I cried during those heart-wrenching scenes. I won't spoil the story, of course, but the ending was so well done.
So, if you are on the fence and you're looking for a nice m/m read with great narration, give this tale a chance!
July 19, 2022
« Life lesson: get all the compliments in life as you possibly can. Collect them and hold them close, you never know where life will take you. There may become a time when fond memories are all that keep you going. »
I was really excited to read this book. I have wanted to read it before it came out, so once it was available I started to read it. I did have some expectations, but I mostly expected it to be fun. And it certainly was! It was entertaining and witty, but it managed to be more than that. It also talked about the pain of wanting to be with someone that you’re not supposed to be with, what it’s like to not fit in, having to make a difficult choice when you’re pulled between two directions.
It was easy to read, and yet I was never bored. I appreciated the way the story is addressed to the reader. It was a nice choice.
I also enjoyed that they showed acceptance towards a character who wasn’t always comfortable with physical touch. Their relationship was really beautiful. They respected each other’s boundaries and loved each part of their lover. They way the writer built the characters, with both flaws and strengths, it was really amazing to read.
« Kaspar had once compared me to a cat when he first noticed I was only comfortable with being touched when I was the one initiating it. I needed affection on my terms, and he learned how to be patient with me. »
All in all, this book will have a special place in my heart. There were happy moments and heartbreaking moments, and this book is definitely worthy of a reread. I’m just really glad that the writer wrote a happy ending instead of choosing a similar ending to the story of Achilles and Patroclus. For a moment I thought the writer was headed there, and I’m relieved that they didn’t. 🥰☺️
I was really excited to read this book. I have wanted to read it before it came out, so once it was available I started to read it. I did have some expectations, but I mostly expected it to be fun. And it certainly was! It was entertaining and witty, but it managed to be more than that. It also talked about the pain of wanting to be with someone that you’re not supposed to be with, what it’s like to not fit in, having to make a difficult choice when you’re pulled between two directions.
It was easy to read, and yet I was never bored. I appreciated the way the story is addressed to the reader. It was a nice choice.
I also enjoyed that they showed acceptance towards a character who wasn’t always comfortable with physical touch. Their relationship was really beautiful. They respected each other’s boundaries and loved each part of their lover. They way the writer built the characters, with both flaws and strengths, it was really amazing to read.
« Kaspar had once compared me to a cat when he first noticed I was only comfortable with being touched when I was the one initiating it. I needed affection on my terms, and he learned how to be patient with me. »
All in all, this book will have a special place in my heart. There were happy moments and heartbreaking moments, and this book is definitely worthy of a reread. I’m just really glad that the writer wrote a happy ending instead of choosing a similar ending to the story of Achilles and Patroclus. For a moment I thought the writer was headed there, and I’m relieved that they didn’t. 🥰☺️
July 10, 2022
I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The novel, Fool Without A Master: The Wallace Treager Story, was not what I expected. Even so, the author's writing is enjoyable; this story flows seamlessly.
When the main character, Wallace, is noticed for his comedy show, he goes to the castle, where the palace recruits him as a performer. There Wallace meets the Prince; soon after, a romance ensues between both characters.
Wallace is friendly and unique. Wallace guides the audience through the story, so the audience is privy to Wallace's every thought and action.
In this book, I enjoyed the romance between both characters, yet the relationship between them was not the main focus of the story as I believed it would be.
This novel is enjoyable for whimsical fantasy fans, but I would not recommend it to readers who want a more dynamic relationship between the main characters.
The novel, Fool Without A Master: The Wallace Treager Story, was not what I expected. Even so, the author's writing is enjoyable; this story flows seamlessly.
When the main character, Wallace, is noticed for his comedy show, he goes to the castle, where the palace recruits him as a performer. There Wallace meets the Prince; soon after, a romance ensues between both characters.
Wallace is friendly and unique. Wallace guides the audience through the story, so the audience is privy to Wallace's every thought and action.
In this book, I enjoyed the romance between both characters, yet the relationship between them was not the main focus of the story as I believed it would be.
This novel is enjoyable for whimsical fantasy fans, but I would not recommend it to readers who want a more dynamic relationship between the main characters.
July 1, 2022
*i received this book as an arc in return for an honest review
This book is just… wow. To be honest the concept scared me at first as I was not certain I would enjoy it, but having finished moments ago I can certainly say I did. It was gripping from start to finish with the perfect blend of a beautiful and honest romance with a gripping plot. I thought the pace was brilliant, with quite a fast read. The chapters weren’t too long that you lost interest and I felt all the storylines wrapped up nicely. There were a couple of plot twists along the way that never fail to surprise and I truly recommend this book for anyone looking for a good new read!
This book is just… wow. To be honest the concept scared me at first as I was not certain I would enjoy it, but having finished moments ago I can certainly say I did. It was gripping from start to finish with the perfect blend of a beautiful and honest romance with a gripping plot. I thought the pace was brilliant, with quite a fast read. The chapters weren’t too long that you lost interest and I felt all the storylines wrapped up nicely. There were a couple of plot twists along the way that never fail to surprise and I truly recommend this book for anyone looking for a good new read!
July 21, 2022
I didn’t expect this book to impact me the way that it did. I went into it expecting a nice little romance between a prince and a court jester. I knew there would be some moments of self reflection and finding your place in the world, but I didn’t expect this. I was blown away. Wallace Treager is real to me. I truly believe he was the one who told me his story and Crowley merely translated it for him. Wallace is such a complex character and the way he tells his story just adds another layer to him. It really made everything feel that much more real for him to be telling this story years ahead from where most of it takes place. In that way, this book reminded me a lot of The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss which is one of my favorite fantasy books. I think I just love character driven stories and getting to spend so much time with one character’s thoughts/life. Like I said, Wallace feels real and his struggles, both with himself and with others, feel like they truly happened to someone living. I cried so much reading this, but I’m okay with it. I really did love this book and I hope more people read it. Also, the ending was very satisfying which I appreciated!!
June 11, 2022
This was such a great read I had to do it all in one day because I just had to finish it or I wouldn't be able to sleep. Wallace just connects with you that you feel exactly what he was going through as you followed his life with him. Very evenly paced, not action packed at all but it doesn't take your attention away from the lack of it either. I just adored Wallace as a character and how he connected with other characters. Honestly worth a read, especially if you enjoy LGBT+ romance. This is definitely a story I could reread at any point and still enjoy.
July 14, 2022
3.5
This just had a weird vibe. First the power dynamic was way off and I didn’t like the „dirty little secret vibe“ going on. And Kaspar had no personality at all except being the prince.
But the writing intrigued me and I still enjoyed reading it.
This just had a weird vibe. First the power dynamic was way off and I didn’t like the „dirty little secret vibe“ going on. And Kaspar had no personality at all except being the prince.
But the writing intrigued me and I still enjoyed reading it.
June 11, 2022
Okay, wow. What a beautiful little tale. This was a delightful read and a very accessible low fantasy story you can really get sucked into.
The story follows Wallace Treager, a very anxious, neurotic jester, as he juggles his romance with the prince and his own personal struggles (see what I did there?)
I’ve seen some readers say that the romance isn’t the central point of the story. I agree but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. This is most definitely a character driven story - which I love. It is about Wallace and Kaspar’s relationship, but it’s more about how that relationship affects Wallace’s life.
There are questions left unanswered by the end of the story but it feels fitting with Wallace’s character. He is a bit of an enigma, even to himself.
Overall, this is heart-warming and heart-breaking story in equal measure. Great for fans of LGBT+ romance with a sprinkling of something fresh and new.
The story follows Wallace Treager, a very anxious, neurotic jester, as he juggles his romance with the prince and his own personal struggles (see what I did there?)
I’ve seen some readers say that the romance isn’t the central point of the story. I agree but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. This is most definitely a character driven story - which I love. It is about Wallace and Kaspar’s relationship, but it’s more about how that relationship affects Wallace’s life.
There are questions left unanswered by the end of the story but it feels fitting with Wallace’s character. He is a bit of an enigma, even to himself.
Overall, this is heart-warming and heart-breaking story in equal measure. Great for fans of LGBT+ romance with a sprinkling of something fresh and new.
July 13, 2022
I was offered an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book was outside my normal genre of choice, but having read Ms.Crowley's vampire series, I had faith that the writing would be great. I was not disappointed. This is the story of Wallace. An orphan raised in a poor small town, he stands out because of his comedy. But Wallace is always unsure of himself, as are most kids his age. He loves dressing in dresses and putting on skits and comedy shows, so much so that he ends up performing for the King and is offered the job of Court Jester. He lives in the castle and falls for the Prince, who in turn falls for him. But he is bannished from the castle when it is time for the Prince to marry.This is Wallace's story of heartbreak, hardship, friendship and figuring out who he is. Shelley Crowley has a knack for character development and Wallace is a great character. I was sucked into the story right away and never lost interest. This story makes you think about those difficult times in our lives, when we were awkward and weren't really sure who we were. A great light read of LBGT+ fantasy, sure to make your heart hurt and smile. Highly recommend!
June 5, 2022
What an interesting way of writing this book, soon as I started reading it I was hooked. I warmed to Wallace and his journey through life, his ups and downs and his romance with the prince. Their secret meetings together and bond they had made you wish it all worked out for them.
The writers style is not action-packed and but it doesn't feel slow, either. Its more of a style where the reader is drawn into the characters' development and the lifestyle of the world where they live. You get absorbed by Wallace's thoughts and eccentricities. You really do feel like you're there with him as he guides you through his life.
Its not heavy with the fantasy aspect, if that is what you are looking for.
A great escapism read with some hard moments. Would definitely recommend this book
4.5/5 stars
The writers style is not action-packed and but it doesn't feel slow, either. Its more of a style where the reader is drawn into the characters' development and the lifestyle of the world where they live. You get absorbed by Wallace's thoughts and eccentricities. You really do feel like you're there with him as he guides you through his life.
Its not heavy with the fantasy aspect, if that is what you are looking for.
A great escapism read with some hard moments. Would definitely recommend this book
4.5/5 stars
November 17, 2022
Cute and funny, I didn't love it but I still enjoyed it and I think it was super entertaining!
(More like a 3.5 but rounded up!)
(More like a 3.5 but rounded up!)
June 30, 2022
(Possible spoilers?) I was sent this book by the author for an honest review!
I really enjoyed this book overall! I will say if you are looking for a heavy M/M romance then this probably isn't the book for you. It is a VERY slow burn when it comes to the 'relationship' and they aren't many scenes included in terms of the romance. It felt more like a secondary plot than the main one, but I still loved it!
It took me a while (nearly 25% of the book) to actually start enjoying it. Up to that point I wasn't really sure what the point of the book was or if it was going anywhere. But after that I found the pacing was done quite well, the author really gave you enough time and detail to really care for each character involved.
Wallace as a character I loved. The expression of gender(or lack of) shown through the clothes and the paintings was done really well and i loved reading about his story. He was also written in a very real and relatable way. He was shown as being a good person but not a perfect one, often putting his own feelings and emotions above anything else but I loved the growth he experienced through reliving his regrets.
It was the perfect book for someone who isn't into heavy fantasy but likes to be taken to a different world. The descriptions of the places and the characters were done beautifully and I found myself really caring about the characters and what would happen by the end. A really enjoyable read and I would definitely recommend!
(Also the cover is beautiful and to the author, if youre reading this, let's talk about that ending because I was SCARED after that cliffhanger) 😂
I really enjoyed this book overall! I will say if you are looking for a heavy M/M romance then this probably isn't the book for you. It is a VERY slow burn when it comes to the 'relationship' and they aren't many scenes included in terms of the romance. It felt more like a secondary plot than the main one, but I still loved it!
It took me a while (nearly 25% of the book) to actually start enjoying it. Up to that point I wasn't really sure what the point of the book was or if it was going anywhere. But after that I found the pacing was done quite well, the author really gave you enough time and detail to really care for each character involved.
Wallace as a character I loved. The expression of gender(or lack of) shown through the clothes and the paintings was done really well and i loved reading about his story. He was also written in a very real and relatable way. He was shown as being a good person but not a perfect one, often putting his own feelings and emotions above anything else but I loved the growth he experienced through reliving his regrets.
It was the perfect book for someone who isn't into heavy fantasy but likes to be taken to a different world. The descriptions of the places and the characters were done beautifully and I found myself really caring about the characters and what would happen by the end. A really enjoyable read and I would definitely recommend!
(Also the cover is beautiful and to the author, if youre reading this, let's talk about that ending because I was SCARED after that cliffhanger) 😂
July 17, 2025
To me, this was a 2 star book with 4 star ideas.
I've spent many hours and thousands of words working through my thoughts on it; first drafts of my review pushed 1.5-2k words, and that was after extensive pruning. I worried more brevity would make my critiques too vague to be of use to my fellow readers, or—and perhaps this is an overly cautious concern—harsh and dismissive towards the author. Shelley Crowley has publicly stated this story was an experiment in structure in an unfamiliar, which I respect and appreciate. In the unlikely event that Crowley read the review, the last thing I wanted was for it to feel like a punishment for going outside of one's comfort zone.
The result was an unwieldy essay of a review. Despite those concerns, I'm choosing to drastically revise it. Yes, this is the short version. Perhaps I'll revisit the thoughts I've cut in a proper blog entry someday, but I worry that writing additional posts about it will begin to resemble an ongoing vendetta.
I'll begin with a recurring complaint: I was intrigued by the characters and themes, but neither were given enough time and depth to be explored in a way that would do them justice. The ideas in this story could have filled a duology of books, each twice this one's length. As a standalone that spans so much of a character's life and relationships, it needed to really focus its priorities and allow them more room to breathe. The story we have is full of potential, but feels like less than the sum of its parts.
The setting was too inconsistent to be generically Medieval European and lacked enough description to suggest an alternative; I never knew how to imagine the attire and dwellings of the supporting cast, or what cultural expectations and views there were beyond the assumed authority of the king. The presence of magic was only barely discussed or explored, and could have been removed entirely without serious revisions.
While the description of the book leads with the romance, I feel that more needed to be done to show us the chemistry between Wallace and the prince, and to invest us in such a risky affair. We're given flashbacks to their youth together and brief, sparse scenes of them meeting in the present. Neither presented to me a relationship built to last, let alone one worth fighting for. Much of the plot's focus is also given to Wallace's family and the political climate of the kingdom. When neither the romance, the familial themes, nor the political unrest are explored in a satisfying way, it feels like they're all distracting from each other.
The darker tone of the second half wasn't unwelcome, but needed more time to fester and build. Now and then it seemed like themes of power imbalances, classism, and consent were being flirted with, but none were truly explored. Had it been a lighter, cozier romance, I'd not have expected or necessarily desired it to. However, the increasingly dark tone and explicitly political subplots made a closer examination of the challenging themes it raised appropriate, if not expected.
The ending lowered my rating of the entire book. It felt dismissive of the most promising aspects of the story and I'm left frustrated by every interpretation of it. If the ending was meant to a bittersweet HEA, it feels like a betrayal of the story's themes and conflicts. If it's meant to be bleak, and our narrator should be read as unreliable or misguided, not enough was done in the rest of the book to support it. I can't explain more without devolving into spoilers, and the wordcount the surrounding context would require, so I'll leave it at that.
I've spent many hours and thousands of words working through my thoughts on it; first drafts of my review pushed 1.5-2k words, and that was after extensive pruning. I worried more brevity would make my critiques too vague to be of use to my fellow readers, or—and perhaps this is an overly cautious concern—harsh and dismissive towards the author. Shelley Crowley has publicly stated this story was an experiment in structure in an unfamiliar, which I respect and appreciate. In the unlikely event that Crowley read the review, the last thing I wanted was for it to feel like a punishment for going outside of one's comfort zone.
The result was an unwieldy essay of a review. Despite those concerns, I'm choosing to drastically revise it. Yes, this is the short version. Perhaps I'll revisit the thoughts I've cut in a proper blog entry someday, but I worry that writing additional posts about it will begin to resemble an ongoing vendetta.
I'll begin with a recurring complaint: I was intrigued by the characters and themes, but neither were given enough time and depth to be explored in a way that would do them justice. The ideas in this story could have filled a duology of books, each twice this one's length. As a standalone that spans so much of a character's life and relationships, it needed to really focus its priorities and allow them more room to breathe. The story we have is full of potential, but feels like less than the sum of its parts.
The setting was too inconsistent to be generically Medieval European and lacked enough description to suggest an alternative; I never knew how to imagine the attire and dwellings of the supporting cast, or what cultural expectations and views there were beyond the assumed authority of the king. The presence of magic was only barely discussed or explored, and could have been removed entirely without serious revisions.
While the description of the book leads with the romance, I feel that more needed to be done to show us the chemistry between Wallace and the prince, and to invest us in such a risky affair. We're given flashbacks to their youth together and brief, sparse scenes of them meeting in the present. Neither presented to me a relationship built to last, let alone one worth fighting for. Much of the plot's focus is also given to Wallace's family and the political climate of the kingdom. When neither the romance, the familial themes, nor the political unrest are explored in a satisfying way, it feels like they're all distracting from each other.
The darker tone of the second half wasn't unwelcome, but needed more time to fester and build. Now and then it seemed like themes of power imbalances, classism, and consent were being flirted with, but none were truly explored. Had it been a lighter, cozier romance, I'd not have expected or necessarily desired it to. However, the increasingly dark tone and explicitly political subplots made a closer examination of the challenging themes it raised appropriate, if not expected.
The ending lowered my rating of the entire book. It felt dismissive of the most promising aspects of the story and I'm left frustrated by every interpretation of it. If the ending was meant to a bittersweet HEA, it feels like a betrayal of the story's themes and conflicts. If it's meant to be bleak, and our narrator should be read as unreliable or misguided, not enough was done in the rest of the book to support it. I can't explain more without devolving into spoilers, and the wordcount the surrounding context would require, so I'll leave it at that.
September 10, 2022
3.5
It was different from what i expected.
I kinda let myself be fooled (pun intended) to believe that this is "just" a fun queer fantasy with Arthur x Merlin vibes. But boy was i wrong.
It does have a cute romance but that´s just one of the main themes.
I am conflicted how i feel about this.
One the one hand; sweet, tragic, magical, action-packed. I LOVED the style of the narration, the "story of my life" kinda vibes. Wallace was an intriguing and entertaining MC. His ups and downs felt real and moved me in some parts (the whole tragedy at the end....). It also hit u right in u feelings, when he, in the present, talked about the ways he regrets or thinks about the actions of his past self.
I also thought the little bit of fantasy elements in this one were cool. And like i said, the romance was sweet, and dramatic to say the least. I believed them to be in love.
The end was a rollercoaster of emotions i was so on board with. It had more or less exactly what i wanted from an end after reading most of the story.
On the other hand, i would have liked the fantasy elements to be more developed. It did have it´s symbolism (i think, i am no artist) but they were in the grand scheme of things a little inconsequential.
The drama had me bamboozled. Didn´t know it would happen and than it ESCALATED quickly. Wouldnt say it wasnt built up well but the whole thing was sometimes kind of in the background bc our MC wasn´t necessarily directly involved and more indirectly thru his friend. Idk if that makes sense, i mean HE WAS there but also not quite. Maybe because he wasn´t necessarily a victim of the catalyst for the reason the people did what they did. It still hit HARD tho.
The romance, well...again cute shit BUT i did think the power impalace was a little jarring. Wallace was powerless in regards of his choices. He had to be okey with what he was given, more or less. And because he felt the way he did towards the prince, he would have less of a choice. The prince wasn´t bad, he was in some ways kind of powerless too i guess, but i think he did not consider HOW shit Wallace felt in their arrangement.
Delphine was also a character i wish i had seen more of. She was a catalyst but nothing much more.
And boy THAT ONE character did get away a little too easy for me...
I feel like i nit-pick more than the book deserves given that i overall liked it still. SO i would still rec it for some autobiographical adventure with knights, jesters and a little bittersweet romance.
It was different from what i expected.
I kinda let myself be fooled (pun intended) to believe that this is "just" a fun queer fantasy with Arthur x Merlin vibes. But boy was i wrong.
It does have a cute romance but that´s just one of the main themes.
I am conflicted how i feel about this.
One the one hand; sweet, tragic, magical, action-packed. I LOVED the style of the narration, the "story of my life" kinda vibes. Wallace was an intriguing and entertaining MC. His ups and downs felt real and moved me in some parts (the whole tragedy at the end....). It also hit u right in u feelings, when he, in the present, talked about the ways he regrets or thinks about the actions of his past self.
I also thought the little bit of fantasy elements in this one were cool. And like i said, the romance was sweet, and dramatic to say the least. I believed them to be in love.
The end was a rollercoaster of emotions i was so on board with. It had more or less exactly what i wanted from an end after reading most of the story.
On the other hand, i would have liked the fantasy elements to be more developed. It did have it´s symbolism (i think, i am no artist) but they were in the grand scheme of things a little inconsequential.
The drama had me bamboozled. Didn´t know it would happen and than it ESCALATED quickly. Wouldnt say it wasnt built up well but the whole thing was sometimes kind of in the background bc our MC wasn´t necessarily directly involved and more indirectly thru his friend. Idk if that makes sense, i mean HE WAS there but also not quite. Maybe because he wasn´t necessarily a victim of the catalyst for the reason the people did what they did. It still hit HARD tho.
The romance, well...again cute shit BUT i did think the power impalace was a little jarring. Wallace was powerless in regards of his choices. He had to be okey with what he was given, more or less. And because he felt the way he did towards the prince, he would have less of a choice. The prince wasn´t bad, he was in some ways kind of powerless too i guess, but i think he did not consider HOW shit Wallace felt in their arrangement.
Delphine was also a character i wish i had seen more of. She was a catalyst but nothing much more.
And boy THAT ONE character did get away a little too easy for me...
I feel like i nit-pick more than the book deserves given that i overall liked it still. SO i would still rec it for some autobiographical adventure with knights, jesters and a little bittersweet romance.
April 10, 2023
This review will be blunt.
I did not want to DNF but knew it was heading towards that the second I opened it.
This book needed professional typesetting. It looked like it was written on a fanfiction site then pasted into book doc without any adjustments to spacing, paragraph indents, etc.
Even so I worked to get through it. That did not work. I lost my line multiple times, found myself skimming, and often had to reread parts (that I didn't skim) cause it wasn't sticking.
About the actual content:
I only read three chapters so this is my impression of the writing in the first three chapters and cannot be definitively said about the rest of the book.
Characters:
The characters were a step above cardboard cutouts. Did they have their own agency? I don't know. The book is told from first person and he doesn't do a good job of portraying his friend and his lover. His descriptions of them are quite shallow.
Pacing:
The pacing was a nightmare.
Within the three chapters I read
Prose:
It just was. There was nothing wrong with it, but nothing special as I can't remember a single thing that was said.
We are told what to think and feel. For some reason people find his pranks funny, but we're not told of a single thing that was actually amusing. I'm pretty sure people would be rather upset if the son of the innkeeper kept messing with them while they were trying to eat... Or maybe that's just me.
I did not want to DNF but knew it was heading towards that the second I opened it.
This book needed professional typesetting. It looked like it was written on a fanfiction site then pasted into book doc without any adjustments to spacing, paragraph indents, etc.
Even so I worked to get through it. That did not work. I lost my line multiple times, found myself skimming, and often had to reread parts (that I didn't skim) cause it wasn't sticking.
About the actual content:
I only read three chapters so this is my impression of the writing in the first three chapters and cannot be definitively said about the rest of the book.
Characters:
The characters were a step above cardboard cutouts. Did they have their own agency? I don't know. The book is told from first person and he doesn't do a good job of portraying his friend and his lover. His descriptions of them are quite shallow.
Pacing:
The pacing was a nightmare.
Within the three chapters I read
Prose:
It just was. There was nothing wrong with it, but nothing special as I can't remember a single thing that was said.
We are told what to think and feel. For some reason people find his pranks funny, but we're not told of a single thing that was actually amusing. I'm pretty sure people would be rather upset if the son of the innkeeper kept messing with them while they were trying to eat... Or maybe that's just me.
June 11, 2022
Perhaps in the grand scheme of things, I am not extraordinary. I am just a person, like everyone else; despite my best efforts to contort myself into something more unique.
Disclaimer: I've received an e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.
When I first read the synopsis: love affair between a jester and a prince, I was really excited. After reading the book, I would say, the romance is not the main point of the book. It's more character driven, and it follows the life of the main character - Wallace Treager, who made it to a court jester, only to loose it all because of his love affair with the prince.
We follow his life after, and one thing that's refreshing about the book is that Wallace is not some chosen hero. He's just a man trying to live his life, which is a bit difficult when you're in love with a prince.
But even though the book was about Wallace's life, I still felt like by the end of the book there were some things unanswered, and I would like to
After constantly thinking about it, I decided to get this book a 3* rating. I didn't enjoy the first chapter at all, it was an info dump, and the whole chapter is written in telling not showing style, so I was worried I wouldn't finish the book.
I also didn't fully understand
If you're looking for a historical lgbt book that's a bit different, I can definitely recommend this one. Even though it wasn't 5* for me, there are still things I liked about it.
Disclaimer: I've received an e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.
When I first read the synopsis: love affair between a jester and a prince, I was really excited. After reading the book, I would say, the romance is not the main point of the book. It's more character driven, and it follows the life of the main character - Wallace Treager, who made it to a court jester, only to loose it all because of his love affair with the prince.
We follow his life after, and one thing that's refreshing about the book is that Wallace is not some chosen hero. He's just a man trying to live his life, which is a bit difficult when you're in love with a prince.
But even though the book was about Wallace's life, I still felt like by the end of the book there were some things unanswered, and I would like to
After constantly thinking about it, I decided to get this book a 3* rating. I didn't enjoy the first chapter at all, it was an info dump, and the whole chapter is written in telling not showing style, so I was worried I wouldn't finish the book.
I also didn't fully understand
If you're looking for a historical lgbt book that's a bit different, I can definitely recommend this one. Even though it wasn't 5* for me, there are still things I liked about it.
February 2, 2024
2,5 but the ending was so disappointing I'm rounding it down.
there are 3 main reasons why i decided to pick up this book. i wanted to use my everand free trial to discover new indie authors, i'm kinda in a reading slump so i needed something cozy and light, and i just have a thing for jester characters. and at first it seemed perfect: it was well written, the jester narrator/protagonist was witty and likeable, and the hinted light magic system looked promising. so, what went wrong?
remember the "cozy" vibe that I said I was looking for? well, that's not exactly what I got, but that itself is fine, the plot was still ok (if a bit basic). but as the stakes were rising, serious and tragic things happened and relationships were put to a test... the protagonist just stayed the same, no lessons learned, no reflections, no character development, nothing. even when a VERY traumatic thing happened he just pretty much ignored it and it changed nothing in his views on the world and... um... people in power (trying to avoid spoilers). and the magic felt as if it was there just to label this book as fantasy - we were reminded from time to time that it existed, but that's it. also, the main romantic relationship was super problematic and it wasn't addressed, like, at all.
but honestly it still might have been enjoyable enough to receive 3 stars... if not for the ending. more precisely, the epilogue. excuse me? what was that? it undermined the significance of everything that had happened even more and... just... why???
there are 3 main reasons why i decided to pick up this book. i wanted to use my everand free trial to discover new indie authors, i'm kinda in a reading slump so i needed something cozy and light, and i just have a thing for jester characters. and at first it seemed perfect: it was well written, the jester narrator/protagonist was witty and likeable, and the hinted light magic system looked promising. so, what went wrong?
remember the "cozy" vibe that I said I was looking for? well, that's not exactly what I got, but that itself is fine, the plot was still ok (if a bit basic). but as the stakes were rising, serious and tragic things happened and relationships were put to a test... the protagonist just stayed the same, no lessons learned, no reflections, no character development, nothing. even when a VERY traumatic thing happened he just pretty much ignored it and it changed nothing in his views on the world and... um... people in power (trying to avoid spoilers). and the magic felt as if it was there just to label this book as fantasy - we were reminded from time to time that it existed, but that's it. also, the main romantic relationship was super problematic and it wasn't addressed, like, at all.
but honestly it still might have been enjoyable enough to receive 3 stars... if not for the ending. more precisely, the epilogue. excuse me? what was that? it undermined the significance of everything that had happened even more and... just... why???
April 26, 2024
My other good reads account was locked out. So re-adding my old reviews onto my new account!
Everyone will fall in love with Wallace!
Disclaimer: Received an ARC in exchange of my honest review.
I truly fell in love with Wallace. He is such charming, witty and relatable (to me) character. Watching his growth and ability to be honest about the choices and regrets he had\made throughout the book was amazing. This is the first book I’ve read from this author and I’ll surely be checking out more from them. Their style of writing and seamless way tying together the present, past and future throughout the book created a very dynamic reading experience. Plus I loved that the book ended on a positive note.
Now, with that all being said, it did take a moment to properly get into the book. Only because I was expecting it to be MM romance, which I would not classify it as. Although the affair between Wallace and the prince, plus the consequences of that affair, played into Wallace’s overall character growth/development. (Spoiler) I will also say, I wasn’t 100% sure what Wallace’s gift really played into the story and his character. I had assumed when it was first introduced, it would have played more of a role in the story. However, I did enjoy the second last chapter where he uses that gift. (End of spoiler)
Overall, this was really great and extremely worthwhile read. Especially if you love a well-developed character driven story!
Everyone will fall in love with Wallace!
Disclaimer: Received an ARC in exchange of my honest review.
I truly fell in love with Wallace. He is such charming, witty and relatable (to me) character. Watching his growth and ability to be honest about the choices and regrets he had\made throughout the book was amazing. This is the first book I’ve read from this author and I’ll surely be checking out more from them. Their style of writing and seamless way tying together the present, past and future throughout the book created a very dynamic reading experience. Plus I loved that the book ended on a positive note.
Now, with that all being said, it did take a moment to properly get into the book. Only because I was expecting it to be MM romance, which I would not classify it as. Although the affair between Wallace and the prince, plus the consequences of that affair, played into Wallace’s overall character growth/development. (Spoiler) I will also say, I wasn’t 100% sure what Wallace’s gift really played into the story and his character. I had assumed when it was first introduced, it would have played more of a role in the story. However, I did enjoy the second last chapter where he uses that gift. (End of spoiler)
Overall, this was really great and extremely worthwhile read. Especially if you love a well-developed character driven story!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2022
The style of this novel was really captivating, I found it really engaging and easy to get sucked into when I should have been doing other things!
Wallace was very loveable and I really connected with him; he’s not a hero or a perfect character, but rather someone who is just trying to live their life.
The author has a great writing style and I really enjoyed most of the story. I think that the memoir-style, character driven story was really interesting, although definitely not what I had been expecting. I did think there’d be more of the fantasy element, I think the ‘abilities’ would have been really interesting to explore further. And, while love is definitely a focal point in Wallace’s telling of his life story, I started reading with the expectation of more romance and less tragedy/politics (not in a bad way, but not what I was expecting).
I really enjoyed this until the epilogue.
While this wasn’t a five star read for me personally, I do think it’s a great story and I enjoyed reading it.
(ARC Review - I received a free copy of this book from the author)
Wallace was very loveable and I really connected with him; he’s not a hero or a perfect character, but rather someone who is just trying to live their life.
The author has a great writing style and I really enjoyed most of the story. I think that the memoir-style, character driven story was really interesting, although definitely not what I had been expecting. I did think there’d be more of the fantasy element, I think the ‘abilities’ would have been really interesting to explore further. And, while love is definitely a focal point in Wallace’s telling of his life story, I started reading with the expectation of more romance and less tragedy/politics (not in a bad way, but not what I was expecting).
I really enjoyed this until the epilogue.
While this wasn’t a five star read for me personally, I do think it’s a great story and I enjoyed reading it.
(ARC Review - I received a free copy of this book from the author)
September 30, 2023
This is the story of Wallace Treager’s life as told by the man himself. Written in an almost memoir format the book shifts from Wallace telling the recent past to him explaining the present. There are bits of context added in as Wallace writes memories associated with the recent past. Its a little hard to explain.
There is a touch of magic, though not anything truly amazing. Simple magic that is only mentioned once every few chapters, don’t expect it to have a major role to play in the story itself.
This was a pretty good book. In my humble opinion there being three different ‘times’ for lack of better word was a little jarring but not enough for it to be an issue.
I like that the *spice* part of the romance just fades to black because im not a big spice reader and i feel it fits with Wallace’s character. Why would he write about his own sexual experiences in great detail when he is trying to convey something more important?
Anyways, yeah. Good book, easy to read. I found no major flaws with the story. The physical book does have narrow margins so you may have to pry it open to catch a few words here and there but it gives it character.
Would I read other books by this author ✅
Would I recommend it to others ✅
4/5 (8/10) would recommend.
There is a touch of magic, though not anything truly amazing. Simple magic that is only mentioned once every few chapters, don’t expect it to have a major role to play in the story itself.
This was a pretty good book. In my humble opinion there being three different ‘times’ for lack of better word was a little jarring but not enough for it to be an issue.
I like that the *spice* part of the romance just fades to black because im not a big spice reader and i feel it fits with Wallace’s character. Why would he write about his own sexual experiences in great detail when he is trying to convey something more important?
Anyways, yeah. Good book, easy to read. I found no major flaws with the story. The physical book does have narrow margins so you may have to pry it open to catch a few words here and there but it gives it character.
Would I read other books by this author ✅
Would I recommend it to others ✅
4/5 (8/10) would recommend.
August 31, 2022
"I had always thought I felt alive on stage performing, that those would be the moments that paved my life, but I had been wrong. It is this moment right here that I hold onto with trembling fists, clinging to the heady mix of desperation and passion and terror coursing through my soul. It was this moment, in Kaspar's arms, when I finally felt like I truly belonged."
This book reads like really good fanfiction. By which I mean it's an easy read that you just want to power through to find out how it's all going to end. The first person narrative that actively addresses the reader (which I was initially a little sceptical of) really helps you to get into Wallace's head, and understand the reasoning behind some of the questionable choices that he makes. Wallace is a flawed character, by which I mean he's a character with flaws. He makes mistakes, and those mistakes somehow make him feel all the more real. The characters are what really make this otherwise quite simple story, and the character of Wallace is what makes it special.
This book reads like really good fanfiction. By which I mean it's an easy read that you just want to power through to find out how it's all going to end. The first person narrative that actively addresses the reader (which I was initially a little sceptical of) really helps you to get into Wallace's head, and understand the reasoning behind some of the questionable choices that he makes. Wallace is a flawed character, by which I mean he's a character with flaws. He makes mistakes, and those mistakes somehow make him feel all the more real. The characters are what really make this otherwise quite simple story, and the character of Wallace is what makes it special.
September 1, 2025
" But I lived and I loved and I really do not wish to end up as a rotting corpse with no name, buried in an unmarked grave by whoever is unfortunate enough to find me here when my time is up "
Gosh… this book made me cry like a baby. Wallace, my boy, you deserved this ending so much, but you also deserved so much more, despite all your imperfections that make you an imperfect character, yet so human. You have your Kaspar now, because he told you he wasn’t letting you go, didn’t he? So breathe.
And Mirabelle lives through you now too, so live for her, and live for yourself.
Shelly if you read this, thank you for Wallace. Thank you for this book.
Gosh… this book made me cry like a baby. Wallace, my boy, you deserved this ending so much, but you also deserved so much more, despite all your imperfections that make you an imperfect character, yet so human. You have your Kaspar now, because he told you he wasn’t letting you go, didn’t he? So breathe.
And Mirabelle lives through you now too, so live for her, and live for yourself.
Shelly if you read this, thank you for Wallace. Thank you for this book.
November 17, 2022
The first half was a delight, carried along by its strength of writing and characters. The second half really faltered for me as characters made odd choices, plot points failed to pay off, and the ending was ultimately unsatisfactory and uncritical. I really am disappointed because the first half was a strong 4/5, but the ending failed to justify the story and seemingly supported the villainous/unjust monarchy.
Tentatively recommended if you want a low-fantasy mm romance, but beware a lackluster ending.
Tentatively recommended if you want a low-fantasy mm romance, but beware a lackluster ending.
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