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The God Eaters
Imprisoned for 'inflammatory writings' by the totalitarian Theocracy, shy intellectual Ashleigh Trine figures his story's over. But when he meets Kieran Trevarde, a hard-hearted gunslinger with a dark magic lurking in his blood, Ash finds that necessity makes strange heroes... and love can change the world.
448 pages, Paperback
First published August 2, 2006
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8640 people want to read
About the author
Jesse Hajicek
13 books209 followersWritey Guy, Evil Overlord of Getting Stuff Done
Pseudonym: Jumping Jack Flash, Chartreuse
http://metanoia.studiowhippingboy.com/
http://riverside-hq.livejournal.com/
http://startyrian.deviantart.com/
Pseudonym: Jumping Jack Flash, Chartreuse
http://metanoia.studiowhippingboy.com/
http://riverside-hq.livejournal.com/
http://startyrian.deviantart.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 336 reviews
February 10, 2017
The God Eaters is a fantasy, an adventure and a romance that takes place in a totalitarian world that resembles the Old American West.
Kieran Trevarde is imprisoned in Churchrock for murder and Ashleigh Trine for rebellious activities against the government. Churchrock is a high security prison and laboratory for experimentation on those who have Talents. Kieran is a Ghoul Witch, with the ability to bring death upon others at will, and a stormcaller. Ashleigh is an empath. In this harsh and unforgiving environment, Kieran and Ashleigh struggle to survive, and eventually find love and hope for a better life.
The God Eaters is beautifully written, fast paced and magical. Ashleigh and Kieran are drawn to each other right from the beginning, yet mutual love and trust take time to develop. The infrequent love scenes are very tender and passionate. I devoured this book in two sittings and hope this very talented author plans to write more.
Read it for FREE.
Kieran Trevarde is imprisoned in Churchrock for murder and Ashleigh Trine for rebellious activities against the government. Churchrock is a high security prison and laboratory for experimentation on those who have Talents. Kieran is a Ghoul Witch, with the ability to bring death upon others at will, and a stormcaller. Ashleigh is an empath. In this harsh and unforgiving environment, Kieran and Ashleigh struggle to survive, and eventually find love and hope for a better life.
The God Eaters is beautifully written, fast paced and magical. Ashleigh and Kieran are drawn to each other right from the beginning, yet mutual love and trust take time to develop. The infrequent love scenes are very tender and passionate. I devoured this book in two sittings and hope this very talented author plans to write more.
Read it for FREE.
August 4, 2014
imperfect—but enthralling.
so, so gorgeous.
if you've ever wondered what it would be like to read about two men falling in love in a prison set in a world where magic exists alongside wild-west culture, this is your book.
highly recommended.
so, so gorgeous.
if you've ever wondered what it would be like to read about two men falling in love in a prison set in a world where magic exists alongside wild-west culture, this is your book.
highly recommended.
November 17, 2018
If I were a storyteller of old, I would gather my listeners close as we sat around the dancing flames of a campfire. Listen, I’d say. Let me tell you a story about two brave young men. Two young heroes willing to face the wrath of the Gods in order to change the course of history.
The God Eaters is a sweeping tale of epic proportions. Reading it, I imagined a bard was telling me the folklore of ancient tribes, clans, and early peoples. While the story is set in a mythical and magical Western backdrop, there are traces of a multitude of differing cultures and legends from the American Southwest, to Mexico, to Central America, to Europe, and beyond.
The story starts with tragedy, and introduces the reader to the harsh brutality of daily life in this dangerous world. The MCs, Ashleigh (Ash) Trine, a self-described “pale, skinny, freckled, redhead,” who wears glasses and has been accused of insurgent treasonous writing meets up with Kieran (Kai) Trevarde, a dangerous and dark killer for hire, former opium addict, and all around badass, when both are sent to prison. Part of the story takes place in prison, but this is not a typical prison story, and both men have been given greater tasks to complete, tasks bigger than surviving behind bars.
As with all good myths and legends, the two young men have also been given special gifts, special powers that make them unique, make them harbingers of change. They are destined to alter the world, but be warned that their journey is rife with pain, grief, sorrow, and death. There were times when I was reading the story that I wondered how much more suffering the author was going to inflict, but there is a sweet reward for those who persist, and this story rewards the reader with a satisfying HEA.
Like the story, the romance felt larger than life, and oh so very sweet. Theirs is a true love fated from the stars, destined for infinity. These MCs were two halves of one whole. Their love was grand.
Highly Recommend
*Read online here: https://www.fictionpress.com/s/261027... *
Author's Note: "If you enjoyed reading this novel for free, please consider buying the hilariously overpriced hardcopy! You can get it from any reputable online bookstore, or order it from your local bookseller; the ISBN is 1847288650 (ISBN13: 9781847288653)"
The God Eaters is a sweeping tale of epic proportions. Reading it, I imagined a bard was telling me the folklore of ancient tribes, clans, and early peoples. While the story is set in a mythical and magical Western backdrop, there are traces of a multitude of differing cultures and legends from the American Southwest, to Mexico, to Central America, to Europe, and beyond.
The story starts with tragedy, and introduces the reader to the harsh brutality of daily life in this dangerous world. The MCs, Ashleigh (Ash) Trine, a self-described “pale, skinny, freckled, redhead,” who wears glasses and has been accused of insurgent treasonous writing meets up with Kieran (Kai) Trevarde, a dangerous and dark killer for hire, former opium addict, and all around badass, when both are sent to prison. Part of the story takes place in prison, but this is not a typical prison story, and both men have been given greater tasks to complete, tasks bigger than surviving behind bars.
As with all good myths and legends, the two young men have also been given special gifts, special powers that make them unique, make them harbingers of change. They are destined to alter the world, but be warned that their journey is rife with pain, grief, sorrow, and death. There were times when I was reading the story that I wondered how much more suffering the author was going to inflict, but there is a sweet reward for those who persist, and this story rewards the reader with a satisfying HEA.
Like the story, the romance felt larger than life, and oh so very sweet. Theirs is a true love fated from the stars, destined for infinity. These MCs were two halves of one whole. Their love was grand.
Highly Recommend
*Read online here: https://www.fictionpress.com/s/261027... *
Author's Note: "If you enjoyed reading this novel for free, please consider buying the hilariously overpriced hardcopy! You can get it from any reputable online bookstore, or order it from your local bookseller; the ISBN is 1847288650 (ISBN13: 9781847288653)"
August 11, 2016
Right now I feel exactly the way I felt after finishing HP. You know, that "what will I do with my life now that this is over" kind of feeling ("It's called a book hangover, Nina!") that makes you want to curl up and cry, then die. That's why I'm writing this at half past midnight; I'll get it over with and try (and fail) to move on.
I'm also starting to get the feeling that words fail me and will keep failing me no matter how long I wait, so once more I will do what I did while reviewing HP and just babble on, hoping to get my point across.
THIS WAS EPIC.
(Okay, I think that was clear enough.)
I could virtually shove The Black Keys' entire Brothers album in this book and they'd fit together like lock and key - or two halves of a broken heart (and here we could go on tangents about how once a heart is broken it will never be whole again and consequently the jagged ends won't match), or whatever else fits perfectly. Like Ash and Kieran. *snicker*
That's proof of epicness.
The world building is insane. In a good sense. I'm not a fantasy person, but this particular world captured me completely - so much so that I dreamed about it at night. (I was a whore at Shou Shou's, and I honestly don't know what that says about me and don't think I want to. But then I also dreamed Doctor Who was cutting my hair, and I don't even watch Doctor Who.)
The land is described wonderfully and I could actually visualise it; the magic was more a science than a flimsy shiny toy and it was clever, plausible, evolving; the government was oppressive and violent and realistic in its cruelty; the people were prejudiced, singular, essentially kind and humane.
The action is non-stop and edge-of-your-seat - and it doesn't need to be fighting to get you all strung up and gnawing on your nails like it did for me. It's Ash and Kieran's story and it's all about them, despite following a much larger thread than just a romance, and this gives the reader enough time to get attached to them that I, personally, was hyperventilating for half the book in fear of what would happen next. And what happened next surprised me. Several times. I'm not the kind of person who always guesses what's going to happen next in a book or a movie (and I wouldn't want to be one), but it's pretty hard to really surprise me - and I don't know if this book actually had some shocking twists (though I'd bet on a yes) or if I was just astonishingly emotionally involved, but it succeeded.
And do not get me started on the romance.
How such a flawless, pure love managed to be born and grow in the rubble, hatred and destruction of this land is beyond me - yet at the same time I believe it, and it warms me, because I desperately want to believe we are capable of that kind of love. (There's a shameless romantic here, buried under a half ton of cynicism and sarcasm.)
Or on the characters. Their personality, their development, their originality, their relationships, their individuality, their perfect compatibility and the huge differences between them - I should probably just stop now, because this isn't going anywhere good.
It's just making less and less sense.
Let me just mention the writing - gorgeous, flawless, descriptive to just the right degree, intensely atmospheric and at times surprisingly humorous - and I'm done.
Bottom line: this book gave me everything I could have possibly wanted and more. I'm an impressed and emotional mess of awed feelings right now, and that, I promise, means that this one was a hell of a story.
I'm also starting to get the feeling that words fail me and will keep failing me no matter how long I wait, so once more I will do what I did while reviewing HP and just babble on, hoping to get my point across.
THIS WAS EPIC.
(Okay, I think that was clear enough.)
I could virtually shove The Black Keys' entire Brothers album in this book and they'd fit together like lock and key - or two halves of a broken heart (and here we could go on tangents about how once a heart is broken it will never be whole again and consequently the jagged ends won't match), or whatever else fits perfectly. Like Ash and Kieran. *snicker*
That's proof of epicness.
The world building is insane. In a good sense. I'm not a fantasy person, but this particular world captured me completely - so much so that I dreamed about it at night. (I was a whore at Shou Shou's, and I honestly don't know what that says about me and don't think I want to. But then I also dreamed Doctor Who was cutting my hair, and I don't even watch Doctor Who.)
The land is described wonderfully and I could actually visualise it; the magic was more a science than a flimsy shiny toy and it was clever, plausible, evolving; the government was oppressive and violent and realistic in its cruelty; the people were prejudiced, singular, essentially kind and humane.
The action is non-stop and edge-of-your-seat - and it doesn't need to be fighting to get you all strung up and gnawing on your nails like it did for me. It's Ash and Kieran's story and it's all about them, despite following a much larger thread than just a romance, and this gives the reader enough time to get attached to them that I, personally, was hyperventilating for half the book in fear of what would happen next. And what happened next surprised me. Several times. I'm not the kind of person who always guesses what's going to happen next in a book or a movie (and I wouldn't want to be one), but it's pretty hard to really surprise me - and I don't know if this book actually had some shocking twists (though I'd bet on a yes) or if I was just astonishingly emotionally involved, but it succeeded.
And do not get me started on the romance.
How such a flawless, pure love managed to be born and grow in the rubble, hatred and destruction of this land is beyond me - yet at the same time I believe it, and it warms me, because I desperately want to believe we are capable of that kind of love. (There's a shameless romantic here, buried under a half ton of cynicism and sarcasm.)
Or on the characters. Their personality, their development, their originality, their relationships, their individuality, their perfect compatibility and the huge differences between them - I should probably just stop now, because this isn't going anywhere good.
It's just making less and less sense.
Let me just mention the writing - gorgeous, flawless, descriptive to just the right degree, intensely atmospheric and at times surprisingly humorous - and I'm done.
Bottom line: this book gave me everything I could have possibly wanted and more. I'm an impressed and emotional mess of awed feelings right now, and that, I promise, means that this one was a hell of a story.
February 9, 2017
This book was lovely. And lovey. As in, like, lovey-dovey. Normally, that's kind of a turn-off for me, but it pretty much worked for this book. Because, in spite of all the many other theme and plot points and what have you, this story is about love.
A good GR friend of mine described it best, and I shall crappily paraphrase: if you want to read a book about two men falling in love in a prison set in a magical Wild West analog, then this is the book for you.
A good GR friend of mine described it best, and I shall crappily paraphrase: if you want to read a book about two men falling in love in a prison set in a magical Wild West analog, then this is the book for you.
February 23, 2013
One of the first m/m books I read, and I found it extraordinary. The fantasy aspect behind it is well done, and the romance is darkly believable. The ending was a bit neat for the story that came before it, and all but begs for a sequel, which, to date, hasn't happened yet. I have the paperback of this. Well worth the purchase.
August 14, 2012
I almost gave this book 1 star, but the last hundred pages picked up enough that I decided to bump up the score a little. Honestly, I'm kind of shocked that this book has such a high rating considering how poorly it's written, how little world building was involved, and how bland and uninspired the plot is.
To give a quick summary: Nineteen-year-old native Kieren Trevarde acts like he's a lot older than his years. His parents died when he was young, he grew up on the streets, battled addictions, and got swept into the world of crime. Ashleigh Trine is an intelligent eighteen-year-old who has gotten involved in a rebellion against the theocracy currently ruling his nation. Though they come from drastically different backgrounds, when they're both caught by police, they're thrown together in the same prison cell. Furthermore, the prison they've been brought to is one that has been specially constructed for persons with rogue Talents, a type of magical ability. Despite their confinement and the horrible circumstances they find themselves falling for each other. Now the only obstacle to their love is very place that brought them together.
The first 150 pages of this book were horrible. The only reason I kept reading was because I had bought it, and I couldn't bear to think that I'd just spent $10 for nothing. By far my biggest two issues about this book were the poor writing and the lack of background and world-building.
The God Eaters reads like it's fan fiction, throwing two characters together for no reason just so that they can unrealistically pine for one another in an angsty-teenager type of way. I'm assuming this is the author's first book for the writing is very amateurish. There were two instances in particular where the author actually used the wrong word - "substance" instead of "subsistence" and "font" instead of "fount". Not only were incorrect words used, but sentences didn't make grammatical sense. Like this one: "They wouldn't hear it even if they heard it." I read that three times before giving up trying to understand.
Bad writing aside, the plot and world-building were terrible. The God Eaters is set in a fantasy world. There's magic in the form of Talents. And there's an evil theocratic government that is trying to repress other gods and the people who follow these gods. It sounds like the basics for an awesome story. However, Hajicek gives us no more than a few lines to explain the motivation of the villains, who come across as stereotypical faceless evil figures that are bad for the sake of being bad. Furthermore, we learn almost nothing about the magic system that functions in this world even though our two main characters are imprisoned in part because of their magical ability. Lastly, the world seems to have an old west kind of feel to it with talk of train robberies, bank heists, gun-slinging and shootouts at bordellos. However, the reader is never given enough information about the history of this world to be able to tell whether or not we should imagine a technologically sophisticated society or one that's only just begun a scientific revolution.
More than anything though, I wanted history about our two main characters. Hajicek gives us a fly-by introduction to all the bad things that happened to Kieren in the prologue, and begins the story with his arrest. Thus, when Ash suddenly goes all fangirl on him, I have no idea why this guy is a likable character except that the author tells me so. But at least Hajicek gives us something about Kieren. Ash gets no background story at all. He has an aunt, he was a rebel, he wrote inflammatory papers. That's it. Never once do we get any sense of why he joined a rebellion. We never know what kinds of papers he writes or what motivates him at all. Furthermore, in the first 200 pages of the book, Ash is so cowardly and whiny that I couldn't believe he'd have the courage to even join a rebellion. This book would have gained so much if the author had just spent an extra 50 - 100 pages at the beginning fleshing out her characters, showing them in the worlds they inhabited before they were put in prison so that we could understand them better and understand their reactions to one another better. After all, prison does not seem the mostly likely place to find true love, particularly when the prison officials benefit from pitting people against one another. All in all, I had the worst time trying to figure out where and when the story was taking place, what the rules were of this universe, and how the characters were important in the scheme of the world.
Lastly, even though the book gets a lot better by the end, it leaves you with just as many questions as you started with. Ash, for instance, makes a deal with another character in exchange for help. However, he never holds up his side of the bargain, and there's never any mention of him planning to do so sometime in the future. He also just abandons his aunt to her fate, and never shows any intention of trying to find her again, even though she's the woman who raised him. It was as though the author just took a snapshot of these people's lives but never gave us any context. Personally, I think this could have been a three book series - the first book could have been about how these characters became they way are and how they got caught by the police, the second could have been The God Eaters, and the third could have been about tying up all the loose ends that were left.
On the positive side, if you're looking for very light reading, a cute and sappy m-m romance, and two generally likable characters, then this is the book for you.
To give a quick summary: Nineteen-year-old native Kieren Trevarde acts like he's a lot older than his years. His parents died when he was young, he grew up on the streets, battled addictions, and got swept into the world of crime. Ashleigh Trine is an intelligent eighteen-year-old who has gotten involved in a rebellion against the theocracy currently ruling his nation. Though they come from drastically different backgrounds, when they're both caught by police, they're thrown together in the same prison cell. Furthermore, the prison they've been brought to is one that has been specially constructed for persons with rogue Talents, a type of magical ability. Despite their confinement and the horrible circumstances they find themselves falling for each other. Now the only obstacle to their love is very place that brought them together.
The first 150 pages of this book were horrible. The only reason I kept reading was because I had bought it, and I couldn't bear to think that I'd just spent $10 for nothing. By far my biggest two issues about this book were the poor writing and the lack of background and world-building.
The God Eaters reads like it's fan fiction, throwing two characters together for no reason just so that they can unrealistically pine for one another in an angsty-teenager type of way. I'm assuming this is the author's first book for the writing is very amateurish. There were two instances in particular where the author actually used the wrong word - "substance" instead of "subsistence" and "font" instead of "fount". Not only were incorrect words used, but sentences didn't make grammatical sense. Like this one: "They wouldn't hear it even if they heard it." I read that three times before giving up trying to understand.
Bad writing aside, the plot and world-building were terrible. The God Eaters is set in a fantasy world. There's magic in the form of Talents. And there's an evil theocratic government that is trying to repress other gods and the people who follow these gods. It sounds like the basics for an awesome story. However, Hajicek gives us no more than a few lines to explain the motivation of the villains, who come across as stereotypical faceless evil figures that are bad for the sake of being bad. Furthermore, we learn almost nothing about the magic system that functions in this world even though our two main characters are imprisoned in part because of their magical ability. Lastly, the world seems to have an old west kind of feel to it with talk of train robberies, bank heists, gun-slinging and shootouts at bordellos. However, the reader is never given enough information about the history of this world to be able to tell whether or not we should imagine a technologically sophisticated society or one that's only just begun a scientific revolution.
More than anything though, I wanted history about our two main characters. Hajicek gives us a fly-by introduction to all the bad things that happened to Kieren in the prologue, and begins the story with his arrest. Thus, when Ash suddenly goes all fangirl on him, I have no idea why this guy is a likable character except that the author tells me so. But at least Hajicek gives us something about Kieren. Ash gets no background story at all. He has an aunt, he was a rebel, he wrote inflammatory papers. That's it. Never once do we get any sense of why he joined a rebellion. We never know what kinds of papers he writes or what motivates him at all. Furthermore, in the first 200 pages of the book, Ash is so cowardly and whiny that I couldn't believe he'd have the courage to even join a rebellion. This book would have gained so much if the author had just spent an extra 50 - 100 pages at the beginning fleshing out her characters, showing them in the worlds they inhabited before they were put in prison so that we could understand them better and understand their reactions to one another better. After all, prison does not seem the mostly likely place to find true love, particularly when the prison officials benefit from pitting people against one another. All in all, I had the worst time trying to figure out where and when the story was taking place, what the rules were of this universe, and how the characters were important in the scheme of the world.
Lastly, even though the book gets a lot better by the end, it leaves you with just as many questions as you started with. Ash, for instance, makes a deal with another character in exchange for help. However, he never holds up his side of the bargain, and there's never any mention of him planning to do so sometime in the future. He also just abandons his aunt to her fate, and never shows any intention of trying to find her again, even though she's the woman who raised him. It was as though the author just took a snapshot of these people's lives but never gave us any context. Personally, I think this could have been a three book series - the first book could have been about how these characters became they way are and how they got caught by the police, the second could have been The God Eaters, and the third could have been about tying up all the loose ends that were left.
On the positive side, if you're looking for very light reading, a cute and sappy m-m romance, and two generally likable characters, then this is the book for you.
August 6, 2016
4.5 Stars
Oh wow. …Just wow!
I loved this book!
I LOVED the magic and vivid alternative world building and the assassin and his tormented soul and the adventure and the friends-to-lovers thing plus the great writing and the romance and the fierce villains and the torture and then the great escapes and *breathe* heartache and the ruthless cunning and the action and fantastic dialog and the chemistry and passion and the trains and the dessert and cacti and the heat and the clever magic with mathematical threads that made no sense but I understood it anyway and …*breathe* the soul deep love and loyalty that makes a person ache like a …I don’t know what, you’ll just feel it so hard it hurts.
It made me feel so alive and so rewarded!
This author has a gift for storytelling, for writing, for setting a scene and creating characters that are utterly, perfectly, incredibly ...real! I don't know if it's because we spend so much time of this very lengthy book with these men suffering their torments, feeling their hunger and pain, their ...joy (which made me giddy) but I was so heavily invested in them. I'm not a real hearts and flowers kind of reader and it's rare that I feel this kind of deep connection and empathy with characters, but these guys? Oh boy, they whopped me one upside the head and stomped on my chest! They made me cry! And I do NOT cry dammit all ...
I think it's the writing that did it for me too. It's beautiful but not overly purple at all, infact nothing here was over the top. The sex is subtly sensual but so very satisfying. The way these men bring out the best in each other, the impossible strength and courage that love lends is evident through action and words ...
There's no telling how tough he really is. Steel under the meringue and cherries -- enough steel to arm a battalion.
Now it's not without flaws, it's a self-published work which makes me appreciate this talent immensely but there were a few things that might have been expanded upon. The reason for the industrial area's with rusty barrels of oil? What are/were they for? What industry? But never mind, it's trivial when looking at the scope of this story. It's also a tad slow at times but it never stands still. I enjoyed these times as much as I loved the adventure and action. Hell! Any time spent with these characters was awesome. I loved them!
You need to read this. It's clever, it's well written, it's FREE and it's just so so good.
Oh wow. …Just wow!
I loved this book!
I LOVED the magic and vivid alternative world building and the assassin and his tormented soul and the adventure and the friends-to-lovers thing plus the great writing and the romance and the fierce villains and the torture and then the great escapes and *breathe* heartache and the ruthless cunning and the action and fantastic dialog and the chemistry and passion and the trains and the dessert and cacti and the heat and the clever magic with mathematical threads that made no sense but I understood it anyway and …*breathe* the soul deep love and loyalty that makes a person ache like a …I don’t know what, you’ll just feel it so hard it hurts.
It made me feel so alive and so rewarded!
This author has a gift for storytelling, for writing, for setting a scene and creating characters that are utterly, perfectly, incredibly ...real! I don't know if it's because we spend so much time of this very lengthy book with these men suffering their torments, feeling their hunger and pain, their ...joy (which made me giddy) but I was so heavily invested in them. I'm not a real hearts and flowers kind of reader and it's rare that I feel this kind of deep connection and empathy with characters, but these guys? Oh boy, they whopped me one upside the head and stomped on my chest! They made me cry! And I do NOT cry dammit all ...
I think it's the writing that did it for me too. It's beautiful but not overly purple at all, infact nothing here was over the top. The sex is subtly sensual but so very satisfying. The way these men bring out the best in each other, the impossible strength and courage that love lends is evident through action and words ...
There's no telling how tough he really is. Steel under the meringue and cherries -- enough steel to arm a battalion.
Now it's not without flaws, it's a self-published work which makes me appreciate this talent immensely but there were a few things that might have been expanded upon. The reason for the industrial area's with rusty barrels of oil? What are/were they for? What industry? But never mind, it's trivial when looking at the scope of this story. It's also a tad slow at times but it never stands still. I enjoyed these times as much as I loved the adventure and action. Hell! Any time spent with these characters was awesome. I loved them!
You need to read this. It's clever, it's well written, it's FREE and it's just so so good.
August 10, 2015
4.5 stars
Seamless weaving of plot, characters, place, magic, pacing etc ................a great read.
The hints given by Hajicek are enough for me to imagine this Wild West world with it's magic and symbols etc. No need for excessive world building, which there isn't. I've seen enough Westerns to be able to imagine the desert, the people, the floods, the mountains.
Like in the old westerns the heros have to go on a heroic journey to test their mettle, their love and save the 'world' and I did so enjoy this journey. True love, with acts of self sacrifice, courage, redemption is the stuff us romantics need to survive and here we have it in spades. I really like how both Kieran and Ash where floundering on their own, each in his own way and how their love and steadfastness made them stronger, bigger, worthy.
a very enjoyable read with Maya, book chat here
Seamless weaving of plot, characters, place, magic, pacing etc ................a great read.
The hints given by Hajicek are enough for me to imagine this Wild West world with it's magic and symbols etc. No need for excessive world building, which there isn't. I've seen enough Westerns to be able to imagine the desert, the people, the floods, the mountains.
Like in the old westerns the heros have to go on a heroic journey to test their mettle, their love and save the 'world' and I did so enjoy this journey. True love, with acts of self sacrifice, courage, redemption is the stuff us romantics need to survive and here we have it in spades. I really like how both Kieran and Ash where floundering on their own, each in his own way and how their love and steadfastness made them stronger, bigger, worthy.
Kieran - copyright Jesse Hajicek
Ash - copyright Recovering Zombie
a very enjoyable read with Maya, book chat here
September 23, 2012
Rich, multi-layered and epic in scale. All my favorite things: societal boundaries, beliefs, emotional depth and engaging characterizations. The worldbuiling is extraordinary as are the range of people inhabiting it. Both Kieran and Ash undertake journeys and their character arcs are detailed and wide. An unlikely love affair that is tested and the barriers dissolved.
Favorite quote:
""He's -- he's pure, not in the sense of innocent, but in the sense of -- distilled, wholly himself. Pure iron, pure diamond, pure rage. There's nothing like him in the world, and never will be again after him, I think."--Ch. 27"
Favorite quote:
""He's -- he's pure, not in the sense of innocent, but in the sense of -- distilled, wholly himself. Pure iron, pure diamond, pure rage. There's nothing like him in the world, and never will be again after him, I think."--Ch. 27"
April 21, 2009
Wow.
I wasn't sure what to really expect with this one, but was intrigued enough by the reviews and especially by the excerpt I read. I'm glad I went for it.
The God Eaters is an adventure story with a strong "love never gives up." What I really enjoyed in this story was how centered and grounded I was through the whole thing. Hajicek knew his world and never fumbled with the details. An example I can share is Ashleigh's glasses. When he had them, he had them and occasionally they would get dirty or knocked off. When he didn't have them, he didn't have them and he had trouble seeing far away. When he got them back, they were with him. It's those kind of consistencies that make stories real for me and Hajicek was good enough to do it.
Both characters are awesome and just as realistic. They grow, they change, they harden, they soften, they learn. And they never give up, which was such a heartening thing to see when all the crap thrown at them is nearly over their heads.
Their romance is slow, beginning as cell mates, then allies, growing into friends, and then into lovers. It was a very natural process that I enjoyed watching. I wouldn't really classify this as a romance and yet their love is what really moves the book along. Perhaps I don't see it as a romance because it wasn't very romantic. It begins in a prison and doesn't get any nicer, but when they are struggling together and for each other, it's definitely love.
The mythological aspect to the story was imaginative and a lot of fun. I enjoy stories that explore that area and it was done with cleverness.
The writing was simple in places and eloquent in others, each using language to truly express the emotions the author needed the reader to see or feel. But it never got bogged down on itself, never tripped itself up, never became too boring or too decorative. It kept me glued to the pages even though I had so many other things to do. But it was very, very worth it.
I wasn't sure what to really expect with this one, but was intrigued enough by the reviews and especially by the excerpt I read. I'm glad I went for it.
The God Eaters is an adventure story with a strong "love never gives up." What I really enjoyed in this story was how centered and grounded I was through the whole thing. Hajicek knew his world and never fumbled with the details. An example I can share is Ashleigh's glasses. When he had them, he had them and occasionally they would get dirty or knocked off. When he didn't have them, he didn't have them and he had trouble seeing far away. When he got them back, they were with him. It's those kind of consistencies that make stories real for me and Hajicek was good enough to do it.
Both characters are awesome and just as realistic. They grow, they change, they harden, they soften, they learn. And they never give up, which was such a heartening thing to see when all the crap thrown at them is nearly over their heads.
Their romance is slow, beginning as cell mates, then allies, growing into friends, and then into lovers. It was a very natural process that I enjoyed watching. I wouldn't really classify this as a romance and yet their love is what really moves the book along. Perhaps I don't see it as a romance because it wasn't very romantic. It begins in a prison and doesn't get any nicer, but when they are struggling together and for each other, it's definitely love.
The mythological aspect to the story was imaginative and a lot of fun. I enjoy stories that explore that area and it was done with cleverness.
The writing was simple in places and eloquent in others, each using language to truly express the emotions the author needed the reader to see or feel. But it never got bogged down on itself, never tripped itself up, never became too boring or too decorative. It kept me glued to the pages even though I had so many other things to do. But it was very, very worth it.
April 12, 2015
Yet another free online fiction story that has blown me away.
In this novel, the two main characters meet each other on the penal train transporting them to their prison. Kieren is a dark brutal man, who, after surviving an agonizing childhood, has become a paid assassin, and is now paying for those crimes. Ash's crimes on the other hand, were those of intelligence, with his sharp, analytical mind aiding the underground rebellion and inciting treason. These two men, very different from each other do have one thing in common, though; both men have a Talent. And in reality, it is the Talent that has sent them to the most remote, secure prison ever devised; a prison that ensured that they would never be seen again.
Kieren, usually a remote and emotionless person, finds himself, for some inexplicable reason, protective of his very smart, yet physically weak cell-mate. In a prison where prisoners are rarely punished from attacking another, Kieren is all that stand between Ash and the rest of the inmates. Ash, in return, uses his shy and innocent appearance to learn all he can about the prison, the guards and the routines of prison life. By working together, they realize, they have a much better chance of escaping, and as they work, they also find themselves falling for the other.
This is a novel that seems to work on almost two levels - there is the basic relationship and actions of the two main characters, but there is also the background drama of gods warring over time. The god elements bring complexity to the novel, and these sections are, perhaps, a bit heavy at times. But it is the interaction between Ash and Kieren, as well as their growth and development as they struggle to survive, that make this story so good. I really enjoyed it and if you enjoy fantasy stories where gods, magic and psychic gifts meet, then you'll probably like this story too.
In this novel, the two main characters meet each other on the penal train transporting them to their prison. Kieren is a dark brutal man, who, after surviving an agonizing childhood, has become a paid assassin, and is now paying for those crimes. Ash's crimes on the other hand, were those of intelligence, with his sharp, analytical mind aiding the underground rebellion and inciting treason. These two men, very different from each other do have one thing in common, though; both men have a Talent. And in reality, it is the Talent that has sent them to the most remote, secure prison ever devised; a prison that ensured that they would never be seen again.
Kieren, usually a remote and emotionless person, finds himself, for some inexplicable reason, protective of his very smart, yet physically weak cell-mate. In a prison where prisoners are rarely punished from attacking another, Kieren is all that stand between Ash and the rest of the inmates. Ash, in return, uses his shy and innocent appearance to learn all he can about the prison, the guards and the routines of prison life. By working together, they realize, they have a much better chance of escaping, and as they work, they also find themselves falling for the other.
This is a novel that seems to work on almost two levels - there is the basic relationship and actions of the two main characters, but there is also the background drama of gods warring over time. The god elements bring complexity to the novel, and these sections are, perhaps, a bit heavy at times. But it is the interaction between Ash and Kieren, as well as their growth and development as they struggle to survive, that make this story so good. I really enjoyed it and if you enjoy fantasy stories where gods, magic and psychic gifts meet, then you'll probably like this story too.
November 25, 2015
Adored Kieran and Ash and their love story.
The battles they fought – not just the physical ones but the emotional – made their bond really special. When they met, Kieran (age 19) had already gone through a life time of hardship; he had steeled his heart against affection and love and had been surviving on pure stubbornness. Ash (age 18) was his complete opposite – frightened and vulnerable and kind and full of naïve hope. It was amazing how much they both grew, how strong their love made them, how each of them gave all he had to the other, unconditionally and generously.
Add to that excellent story telling and humor, interesting world building, and clever and surprising plot especially in the last quarter. Jesse Hajicek took me on a great journey.
BR with Sofia
- Aug 4, 2015. As always - enjoyed our chats very much:)
August 2, 2015
Wow!! Unbelievably wonderful. This is another of those stories that you can’t wait to pick up again after you’ve put it down. 5 stars from me for the scrumptious, almost edible writing, stunning ‘visuals’ and terrific world-building. Many thanks Shelley for the rec.
It tells the tale of Kieran Trevarde and Ashleigh Trine, or as they become better known to you and I, Kai and Ashes. Kai we meet when he’s a small boy and kills another youngster for bullying him – a tad over the top you may think – but he’s had it ‘up to here’ with other kids bullying him for who and what they think he is, and what his mum used to do…his mum died long ago and her dealers/pimps have put Kieran to work, and no, it’s not delivering newspapers!!
Some of this story is told in flashback, and it’s this way that we get to hear what Kieran’s been up to during his early teenage years. He became a sort of Clyde Barrow (of Bonnie & Clyde fame) type figure, on the run with his friend Shan, robbing mostly, and they’re eventually trapped and Shan is killed. Kieran is taken to the Churchrock facility and meets Ash for the first time.
Churchrock is a remote prison/laboratory situated in the desert run by the oppressive, regimented regime in power where Talents, people of special magical ability whether it be kinetic, pyrotechnic, empathetic (all of these abilities are banned in the world that is featured in this book) are experimented upon once they’re caught. The government has it’s own mages of the White Watch and in overall charge of this and other facilities is Watch Director Thelyan (remember that name, it will crop up fairly frequently and never in a nice way). Watch Director Thelyan is of course not at all who he seems, he has in fact gone through several re-incarnations and is a God, who has a tendency to ‘eat up’ other God’s powers so he’s pretty much the only God around nowadays with any power although others have survived, but he’s dismissed them as irrelevant…the silly man!!
Kieran and Ash are cell mates, Ash having been imprisoned for rebelling against the indoctrination of the government and I think also because they suspect his ‘talent’ could prove to be more powerful than he realises. Day after day, the men in this facility are subjected to experiments, their minds being gang raped by the shadowy figures of the White Watch to discover who knows what and whether they propose to do anything with that knowledge.
Kieran is a tall and gangly 19 year old murderer and Ash is a slight, red haired 18 year old who is far too trusting for his own good, but they form a friendship of sorts. One of Kieran’s abilities as a ghoul-witch is connected to the weather and he senses that a huge storm is coming, big enough to do some serious damage to Churchrock and may be even bad enough for people to escape in the confusion…and he does what little he can to ensure that it will happen. Kieran is subjected to lots of testing, one of the sessions leaving him half dead and when he’s taken back to the cell, he and Ash decide that they must escape before one of them does in fact die….and then there’s no time left, the storm is upon them. They deal with the guards and other prisoners who are jealous of their talents and escape….I’ll leave this one here and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
The writing in this fanfic story is wonderfully descriptive…you can almost see yourself in the desert/on the flatlands/in the floodwaters….wherever this story took you, it was superb. Yes, there were few places when the pace slowed but it soon picked up again, and you were left gobsmacked by the wonder of it all.
There’s no ‘in your face’ sex, it’s subtle and so beautifully written…the tenderness and the love that grows between Kai and Ashes is all encompassing, they’ll do anything for each other…even die!!
Some quotes - must have some quotes…..
Kieran reached up and tucked a strand of Ash’s hair back, watching his eyes. “The way you trust me, and how you act small and young, and you need me, and then I see the steel under that cream and sugar -- it’s confusing. And scary. And sexy as dammit all. I don’t know what to do about it.”
As he subsided into himself among whirling sparks and warm dizziness, he realised what he had done, and was horrified. Kieran drew back to look down at him, expression unreadable. “I’m sorry,” Ash whispered.
“It’s alright.”
“Are you…mad at me?”
Kieran suddenly grinned, chuckling low in his throat. “Mad? Because you’re so hot for me that you lost it just because I said your name? Hell no, I’m not mad.” He moved aside. “You might want to go clean up though.”
So much for fragile. I didn’t think he had it in him, not any of this, killing a man or dealing with a messy wound or climbing like that -- but he does have it, in spades. There’s no telling how tough he really is. Steel under the meringue and cherries -- enough steel to arm a battalion.
”I put my true name on it, so to speak. Here’s my initials and your fly-straight rune. Blood, spit and tears. Hairs in the string. It’s a piece of me now, or at least that’s the theory. But it’s also a bullet still. So it wants to go -- it wants to bury itself somewhere.” Judging it sufficiently dry, he knotted the string around it. He bent to put it around Kieran’s neck; when the bullet settled in the hollow of Kieran’s throat, the Iavian gave a small gasp of startlement. His green eyes went wide, and a flush spread across his cheeks bright enough to be visible under his dark pigmentation.
“It’s a compass,” he said wonderingly.
It tells the tale of Kieran Trevarde and Ashleigh Trine, or as they become better known to you and I, Kai and Ashes. Kai we meet when he’s a small boy and kills another youngster for bullying him – a tad over the top you may think – but he’s had it ‘up to here’ with other kids bullying him for who and what they think he is, and what his mum used to do…his mum died long ago and her dealers/pimps have put Kieran to work, and no, it’s not delivering newspapers!!
Some of this story is told in flashback, and it’s this way that we get to hear what Kieran’s been up to during his early teenage years. He became a sort of Clyde Barrow (of Bonnie & Clyde fame) type figure, on the run with his friend Shan, robbing mostly, and they’re eventually trapped and Shan is killed. Kieran is taken to the Churchrock facility and meets Ash for the first time.
Churchrock is a remote prison/laboratory situated in the desert run by the oppressive, regimented regime in power where Talents, people of special magical ability whether it be kinetic, pyrotechnic, empathetic (all of these abilities are banned in the world that is featured in this book) are experimented upon once they’re caught. The government has it’s own mages of the White Watch and in overall charge of this and other facilities is Watch Director Thelyan (remember that name, it will crop up fairly frequently and never in a nice way). Watch Director Thelyan is of course not at all who he seems, he has in fact gone through several re-incarnations and is a God, who has a tendency to ‘eat up’ other God’s powers so he’s pretty much the only God around nowadays with any power although others have survived, but he’s dismissed them as irrelevant…the silly man!!
Kieran and Ash are cell mates, Ash having been imprisoned for rebelling against the indoctrination of the government and I think also because they suspect his ‘talent’ could prove to be more powerful than he realises. Day after day, the men in this facility are subjected to experiments, their minds being gang raped by the shadowy figures of the White Watch to discover who knows what and whether they propose to do anything with that knowledge.
Kieran is a tall and gangly 19 year old murderer and Ash is a slight, red haired 18 year old who is far too trusting for his own good, but they form a friendship of sorts. One of Kieran’s abilities as a ghoul-witch is connected to the weather and he senses that a huge storm is coming, big enough to do some serious damage to Churchrock and may be even bad enough for people to escape in the confusion…and he does what little he can to ensure that it will happen. Kieran is subjected to lots of testing, one of the sessions leaving him half dead and when he’s taken back to the cell, he and Ash decide that they must escape before one of them does in fact die….and then there’s no time left, the storm is upon them. They deal with the guards and other prisoners who are jealous of their talents and escape….I’ll leave this one here and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
The writing in this fanfic story is wonderfully descriptive…you can almost see yourself in the desert/on the flatlands/in the floodwaters….wherever this story took you, it was superb. Yes, there were few places when the pace slowed but it soon picked up again, and you were left gobsmacked by the wonder of it all.
There’s no ‘in your face’ sex, it’s subtle and so beautifully written…the tenderness and the love that grows between Kai and Ashes is all encompassing, they’ll do anything for each other…even die!!
Some quotes - must have some quotes…..
Kieran reached up and tucked a strand of Ash’s hair back, watching his eyes. “The way you trust me, and how you act small and young, and you need me, and then I see the steel under that cream and sugar -- it’s confusing. And scary. And sexy as dammit all. I don’t know what to do about it.”
As he subsided into himself among whirling sparks and warm dizziness, he realised what he had done, and was horrified. Kieran drew back to look down at him, expression unreadable. “I’m sorry,” Ash whispered.
“It’s alright.”
“Are you…mad at me?”
Kieran suddenly grinned, chuckling low in his throat. “Mad? Because you’re so hot for me that you lost it just because I said your name? Hell no, I’m not mad.” He moved aside. “You might want to go clean up though.”
So much for fragile. I didn’t think he had it in him, not any of this, killing a man or dealing with a messy wound or climbing like that -- but he does have it, in spades. There’s no telling how tough he really is. Steel under the meringue and cherries -- enough steel to arm a battalion.
”I put my true name on it, so to speak. Here’s my initials and your fly-straight rune. Blood, spit and tears. Hairs in the string. It’s a piece of me now, or at least that’s the theory. But it’s also a bullet still. So it wants to go -- it wants to bury itself somewhere.” Judging it sufficiently dry, he knotted the string around it. He bent to put it around Kieran’s neck; when the bullet settled in the hollow of Kieran’s throat, the Iavian gave a small gasp of startlement. His green eyes went wide, and a flush spread across his cheeks bright enough to be visible under his dark pigmentation.
“It’s a compass,” he said wonderingly.
August 24, 2024
This year two books have shown me the absolute truth behind the saying "never judge a book by its cover."
The first is Empire of the Vampire.
And the second is The God Eaters by Jesse Hajicek, whose cover is, obviously, humble in comparison, but whose quality is just fkin outstanding!
Not only is this story exciting as all hell and astounding in scope and depth, but the writing itself is breathtaking and I'm seriously a bit speechless by how large a margin this book outshines most of the books I've read to date.
It definitely slides into my TOP TEN FAVES of all time because it is magnificent and THE absolute perfect pairing for an appetite like mine!
(Bear with me...I always have food and drink on the brain... I KNOW it says "eaters", but wine notes make more sense. Moving on.)
The God Eaters is a very well-executed fantasy novel, with full-bodied character and narrative notes of smoke and spice which add to its complexity and philosophical breadth, while delivering on a finish that is both warm and velvety with a touch of caramel sweetness. (vintage 2006)
Also full points/stars for immersive world-building and a phenomenal magic system, expressed in some of the most gorgeous language I have ever had the pleasure of reading in my lifetime.
FK I died every time. The whole book is a love song to language. Get you a lover who can wax poetically about your real face in the light of day.
I just wish there was more of this because I could read this book forever and not GAF. I have not tried anything else by this author but I might sample a bit more...after I get over this hangover.
The first is Empire of the Vampire.
And the second is The God Eaters by Jesse Hajicek, whose cover is, obviously, humble in comparison, but whose quality is just fkin outstanding!
Not only is this story exciting as all hell and astounding in scope and depth, but the writing itself is breathtaking and I'm seriously a bit speechless by how large a margin this book outshines most of the books I've read to date.
It definitely slides into my TOP TEN FAVES of all time because it is magnificent and THE absolute perfect pairing for an appetite like mine!
(Bear with me...I always have food and drink on the brain... I KNOW it says "eaters", but wine notes make more sense. Moving on.)
The God Eaters is a very well-executed fantasy novel, with full-bodied character and narrative notes of smoke and spice which add to its complexity and philosophical breadth, while delivering on a finish that is both warm and velvety with a touch of caramel sweetness. (vintage 2006)
Also full points/stars for immersive world-building and a phenomenal magic system, expressed in some of the most gorgeous language I have ever had the pleasure of reading in my lifetime.
"He watched Trevarde instead; the way the sun gilded his skin and struck poison-green sparks from his eyes, the way a dusty breath of hot wind lifted strands of his hair and twined them into the glyphs of an alien language."
FK I died every time. The whole book is a love song to language. Get you a lover who can wax poetically about your real face in the light of day.
I just wish there was more of this because I could read this book forever and not GAF. I have not tried anything else by this author but I might sample a bit more...after I get over this hangover.
October 29, 2012
Excellent m/m fantasy romance novel that has the extra awesome bonus for being available free to read online.
At over 177k words, The God Eaters tells an amazing and enthralling story set in an alternative world where magic abilities exist, and a totalitarian government has tight control over who is allowed to have these abilities. Kieran and Ash are two young men who meet while they are being sent to prison for their crimes--robbery and murder for Kieran, and distributing rebellious propaganda for Ash. Both have talents, and they find that the prison isn’t just a place to contain criminals, but is a government testing ground for magical abilities. Surviving prison life and the torturous tests is made only easier by the slow growing relationship between them, a relationship that incites them to plan an escape from the inescapable mountain they’re locked in.
This is a long book, but totally captivating. The world-building and characterization is rich and vivid, and the character and relationship development is riveting. I was totally enveloped in Kieran and Ash’s fight for freedom and for their desperate, heart-aching love for each other. (I totally cried at one point like a baby too.) Even with that weepy interlude, the ending is thoroughly satisfying.
Excellent excellent book, and highly recommended for anyone looking for an m/m fantasy read. Definitely one of the best fantasy books I’ve read in the genre.
At over 177k words, The God Eaters tells an amazing and enthralling story set in an alternative world where magic abilities exist, and a totalitarian government has tight control over who is allowed to have these abilities. Kieran and Ash are two young men who meet while they are being sent to prison for their crimes--robbery and murder for Kieran, and distributing rebellious propaganda for Ash. Both have talents, and they find that the prison isn’t just a place to contain criminals, but is a government testing ground for magical abilities. Surviving prison life and the torturous tests is made only easier by the slow growing relationship between them, a relationship that incites them to plan an escape from the inescapable mountain they’re locked in.
This is a long book, but totally captivating. The world-building and characterization is rich and vivid, and the character and relationship development is riveting. I was totally enveloped in Kieran and Ash’s fight for freedom and for their desperate, heart-aching love for each other. (I totally cried at one point like a baby too.) Even with that weepy interlude, the ending is thoroughly satisfying.
Excellent excellent book, and highly recommended for anyone looking for an m/m fantasy read. Definitely one of the best fantasy books I’ve read in the genre.
January 2, 2011
It’s like reading Stephen King, if Stephen King wrote m/m fantasy-romance-action/adventure.
The God Eaters is vivid and loaded with terrific imagery. The author has a real talent for setting scenes, making the reader see the surroundings, hear the little critters in the scrub. The world is introduced organically, through the eyes of the characters, it's not force-fed to the reader, and you never once feel like you're a very unfortunate, very bored fly on the wall at the Council of Elrond. Though the world itself is rather Earth-like in its scenery and occupants, Earth rules don't apply here.
Like all good fantasy novels, it’s better the second time around, when you understand all the references and recognize all the players. The author is very good at poking at some interesting insights into human nature without being preachy about it.
What I liked: I quite liked following Ash and Kieran through this pseudo-western, and I loved watching their characters change and grow as the plot intensified. It's got really good pacing, believable pacing—there are no idiotic pauses for sex in the middle of a crisis here—with the action unfurling alongside the character development and exposition. There are unpredictable twists, which carry the story forward constantly, leaving you wondering at two-o'clock in the morning whether you really have to get up at six for your morning run before schlepping kids off to school, or if you could maybe hit one more chapter and sleep 'til seven.
Naturally, for me, the bottom line is all about the characters, and I absolutely fell for these guys. Ashleigh is an inherent smartass, who cannot seem to keep his mouth shut—to save his own life or anybody else’s—and a lot of times can’t get out of his own way. His snark had me snorting at some really inappropriate times. Kieran is the tough-snarly-guy-with-a-very-deeply-hidden-squishy-center, which pushes my buttons dead-center. There is one point in the story, where Kieran is protecting an unconscious Ash and is approached by some people who most likely mean no good:
…Kieran took his gun out from the back of his waistband and stuck it in the front. “Pretend I’m a bear,” he said. “Ignore me and I won’t have to kill you.”
Did I mention the author has a gift for dialogue?
These guys go through hell, and then go through an even worse hell, and then get dragged into the mother of all hells, and I hung on every word. From a prison that isn't really a prison but has much more sinister applications, to an escape to a desert wilderness, to confrontations with old enemies and then more confrontations with new and much more terrible enemies, the story kept me involved, and the characters kept me caring. Ash might get on your nerves after a while (he did mine), but give him a chance. He gets better. And then Kieran might get on your nerves, because omg, boys are so dumb! Then again, boys are dumb, so there you go.
Nitpicks: The world wasn't as rounded as I thought it could have been. There are trains but no mass communication system, which seemed a little off to me, and was never put into a context that explained it. Now, the thing is, this is a fantasy novel, it's not this world, so it's quite possible that another Earth-like world would come up with trains, but not phones and computers, so I have to give the author the benefit of the doubt. It's just that I am from this world, and being from this world, stuff like that made me wonder about things other than the story itself.
The last is my own pet-peeve, but there was a lot of 'the pale boy said', and 'the northerner turned', and 'the taller man did whatever', which really bugs me. Bugs me, and not people in general, so I can't really count it, but still.
None of those little yes-I'm-way-too-picky things took away from my enjoyment of this book. And none of them will take away my enjoyment during a second (or third or fourth) read, either.
The elephant in the room: Sex. Definitely sex. Nothing graphic, no harsh descriptions or vocabulary to make one wince. Tastefully done, if a touch purple. It was sweet and romantic, and definitely erotic. No annoying fade-to-black, but no twangy porno bass riff playing in the back of your head either.
Worth the $21.60? Yes. Absolutely. I finished it and then went back to the beginning to start it again and savor it . Definitely money well-spent for me, and the fact that it was long and involved only makes it better. I would have paid more.
The God Eaters is vivid and loaded with terrific imagery. The author has a real talent for setting scenes, making the reader see the surroundings, hear the little critters in the scrub. The world is introduced organically, through the eyes of the characters, it's not force-fed to the reader, and you never once feel like you're a very unfortunate, very bored fly on the wall at the Council of Elrond. Though the world itself is rather Earth-like in its scenery and occupants, Earth rules don't apply here.
Like all good fantasy novels, it’s better the second time around, when you understand all the references and recognize all the players. The author is very good at poking at some interesting insights into human nature without being preachy about it.
What I liked: I quite liked following Ash and Kieran through this pseudo-western, and I loved watching their characters change and grow as the plot intensified. It's got really good pacing, believable pacing—there are no idiotic pauses for sex in the middle of a crisis here—with the action unfurling alongside the character development and exposition. There are unpredictable twists, which carry the story forward constantly, leaving you wondering at two-o'clock in the morning whether you really have to get up at six for your morning run before schlepping kids off to school, or if you could maybe hit one more chapter and sleep 'til seven.
Naturally, for me, the bottom line is all about the characters, and I absolutely fell for these guys. Ashleigh is an inherent smartass, who cannot seem to keep his mouth shut—to save his own life or anybody else’s—and a lot of times can’t get out of his own way. His snark had me snorting at some really inappropriate times. Kieran is the tough-snarly-guy-with-a-very-deeply-hidden-squishy-center, which pushes my buttons dead-center. There is one point in the story, where Kieran is protecting an unconscious Ash and is approached by some people who most likely mean no good:
…Kieran took his gun out from the back of his waistband and stuck it in the front. “Pretend I’m a bear,” he said. “Ignore me and I won’t have to kill you.”
Did I mention the author has a gift for dialogue?
These guys go through hell, and then go through an even worse hell, and then get dragged into the mother of all hells, and I hung on every word. From a prison that isn't really a prison but has much more sinister applications, to an escape to a desert wilderness, to confrontations with old enemies and then more confrontations with new and much more terrible enemies, the story kept me involved, and the characters kept me caring. Ash might get on your nerves after a while (he did mine), but give him a chance. He gets better. And then Kieran might get on your nerves, because omg, boys are so dumb! Then again, boys are dumb, so there you go.
Nitpicks: The world wasn't as rounded as I thought it could have been. There are trains but no mass communication system, which seemed a little off to me, and was never put into a context that explained it. Now, the thing is, this is a fantasy novel, it's not this world, so it's quite possible that another Earth-like world would come up with trains, but not phones and computers, so I have to give the author the benefit of the doubt. It's just that I am from this world, and being from this world, stuff like that made me wonder about things other than the story itself.
The last is my own pet-peeve, but there was a lot of 'the pale boy said', and 'the northerner turned', and 'the taller man did whatever', which really bugs me. Bugs me, and not people in general, so I can't really count it, but still.
None of those little yes-I'm-way-too-picky things took away from my enjoyment of this book. And none of them will take away my enjoyment during a second (or third or fourth) read, either.
The elephant in the room: Sex. Definitely sex. Nothing graphic, no harsh descriptions or vocabulary to make one wince. Tastefully done, if a touch purple. It was sweet and romantic, and definitely erotic. No annoying fade-to-black, but no twangy porno bass riff playing in the back of your head either.
Worth the $21.60? Yes. Absolutely. I finished it and then went back to the beginning to start it again and savor it . Definitely money well-spent for me, and the fact that it was long and involved only makes it better. I would have paid more.
February 23, 2021
This is a helluva competent and satisfying anti-collonial, queer fantasy! The universe and magic is well defined but never over-explained, and the overall themes are recognizable but appear wholly new and fresh here. It's almost like an American western alternative history. Even though life is tough and complicated and people do cruel things, it is mostly off screen and it gets dealt with. Kieran and Ash, our main protagonists, are people you genuinely wish the best for. They grow and learn and let others around them grow, too.
Why Jesse Hajicek is not more published in the genre is entirely unfair. You can read his book for free (!) on his LJ here and also support him if you want: https://gomichan.livejournal.com/2740...?
Why Jesse Hajicek is not more published in the genre is entirely unfair. You can read his book for free (!) on his LJ here and also support him if you want: https://gomichan.livejournal.com/2740...?
October 2, 2020
I used to read and love Hajicek's fanfiction, and I have had his LiveJournal with a master list of original works bookmarked for years, but I just didn't make time to read any of the works there until recently. Hey, at least quarantine and lockdown are good for some things!
This book was... everything I expected. Hella gay, obviously; dark, but with enough hope and triumph to get me through; magical, with an edge and worldbuilding that is more than it seems. It's a harrowing sort of story - a large chunk of it takes place in a prison where prisoners are subjected to cruel experiments, and rape is both a major part of Kieran's backstory and a recurring threat. Hajicek's commitment to writing gay action heroes does not mean that his characters have it easy - quite the opposite, in fact. It's handled well, though, in that a major crux of the book is Kieran realizing that he's coped with the awful things in his life by becoming a terrible person, and maybe he doesn't want to be that person anymore.
I think that's really the overarching theme - the world may make it easier to be monstrous, but the option to be better is always there, and worth taking if you can.
The worldbuilding was the biggest surprise to me. I had sort of automatically mapped it onto the American West, but as the story progressed it became clear, through tiny nuggets of casually-referenced information, that while that might be the aesthetic inspiration, the world itself was something more unique. Worldbuilding wasn't a huge focus of the book - the story takes place in a relatively limited geographical area - but Hajicek managed to convey enough that I got a sense of wider political/cultural events happening just offscreen, and it definitely feels like there are more stories to be explored here, should he ever decide to do so.
I think it is fair to say that the romantic relationship between Kieran and Ash does sort of feel like fanfic, in that they're clearly placed in the story to fall in love and that their romance is basically the point of the book - I just don't think that's a bad thing. I mean, in addition to many works of fanfiction, that describes the entire romance genre. So yeah - there's very rarely a serious concern about them being separated, and yeah, they're physically attracted to each other from the start, but hey! That's fun for a lot of readers, and frankly they're a lot healthier for each other than a lot of mainstream romance protagonists. Also, you know, a little melodramatic pining really hits the spot sometimes. (And frankly, there are so few m/m romances written by ACTUAL gay men, relative to those written by women, that I think Hajicek is more than entitled to write it however he wants.)
So, TL;DR: It's good, it's gay, and it's free! What are you waiting for?
This book was... everything I expected. Hella gay, obviously; dark, but with enough hope and triumph to get me through; magical, with an edge and worldbuilding that is more than it seems. It's a harrowing sort of story - a large chunk of it takes place in a prison where prisoners are subjected to cruel experiments, and rape is both a major part of Kieran's backstory and a recurring threat. Hajicek's commitment to writing gay action heroes does not mean that his characters have it easy - quite the opposite, in fact. It's handled well, though, in that a major crux of the book is Kieran realizing that he's coped with the awful things in his life by becoming a terrible person, and maybe he doesn't want to be that person anymore.
I think that's really the overarching theme - the world may make it easier to be monstrous, but the option to be better is always there, and worth taking if you can.
The worldbuilding was the biggest surprise to me. I had sort of automatically mapped it onto the American West, but as the story progressed it became clear, through tiny nuggets of casually-referenced information, that while that might be the aesthetic inspiration, the world itself was something more unique. Worldbuilding wasn't a huge focus of the book - the story takes place in a relatively limited geographical area - but Hajicek managed to convey enough that I got a sense of wider political/cultural events happening just offscreen, and it definitely feels like there are more stories to be explored here, should he ever decide to do so.
I think it is fair to say that the romantic relationship between Kieran and Ash does sort of feel like fanfic, in that they're clearly placed in the story to fall in love and that their romance is basically the point of the book - I just don't think that's a bad thing. I mean, in addition to many works of fanfiction, that describes the entire romance genre. So yeah - there's very rarely a serious concern about them being separated, and yeah, they're physically attracted to each other from the start, but hey! That's fun for a lot of readers, and frankly they're a lot healthier for each other than a lot of mainstream romance protagonists. Also, you know, a little melodramatic pining really hits the spot sometimes. (And frankly, there are so few m/m romances written by ACTUAL gay men, relative to those written by women, that I think Hajicek is more than entitled to write it however he wants.)
So, TL;DR: It's good, it's gay, and it's free! What are you waiting for?
May 7, 2020
Best accidental buy ever? Maybe. This book is right up there with some of the better small press/independent/self-published books I’ve read, and that’s saying something because I rarely try books in this category, and it’s even rarer for me to like a book in this category. Plus, I don’t usually try books by authors I’d never heard of before. So this book had a lot of things going against it from the moment I started reading, but despite (or in spite of) these roadblocks, it impressed me.
It impressed me most with its adventures, mythology, and descriptive scenes of desert life. Very interesting to see an author weaving in various Native American history and mythology (from the Southwestern region?) in a Wild West type narrative and adding his own flair to it. What starts out as a story about government conspiracy, secret magic agendas, and a prison break turns into a chase and many shoot-outs across the desert that eventually become a last-stand showdown between the forces of good and evil. Must admit I did not see that last one coming. This book is full of surprises.
The writing is concise and reveals just enough to move the adventure along without revealing too much. Things are explained gradually as they come up, but not too much that they get in the way of the story. Once the prison escape happens though, things escalate quickly. There’s a lot of dark humor in the writing. I didn’t expect much comedic relief in the face of peril, but somehow it works for this story.
Characterization of the two main characters are well written. Both have various depths and challenges they must overcome on the journey to defeat evil (and save the world). Both guys seem real and sympathetic; Keiran with his harsh upbringing and even harsher current existence, and Ash with his relentless optimism and buoyant personality that carry both of them through tough times. The evil forces at play are also well written. Cruel, malevolent, smart and manipulative, but not without purpose. They aren’t gratuitous in their wrath or when doling out punishment. I like that there’s purpose to the evil forces and that they aren’t just evil for the sake of being evil. Too many evil things in books these days are violently destructive and amped up without purpose, and it can be tiring to read about it over and over again.
That said, this book does have a few things that might bother some people, like grammatical and structural issues, but that’s to be expected of small press/independent/self-published books. With the help of an editor, the story could become tighter and the writing even more impressive. As it is though, it’s pretty good and I enjoyed it a lot.
* * * * *
UPDATE: May 2020
I liked this book so much I had to get it in dead tree edition. It took several years to track down a copy, but I finally found one for a few dollars at a used bookstore--remember these from the Before Time? Oh the memories. Anyhow, the book itself is still in mint condition which means its previous owner probably never even gave it a try. Too bad for them because the story inside is quite something and in a league of its own.
* * * * *
Cross-posted at https://covers2covers.wordpress.com/2...
It impressed me most with its adventures, mythology, and descriptive scenes of desert life. Very interesting to see an author weaving in various Native American history and mythology (from the Southwestern region?) in a Wild West type narrative and adding his own flair to it. What starts out as a story about government conspiracy, secret magic agendas, and a prison break turns into a chase and many shoot-outs across the desert that eventually become a last-stand showdown between the forces of good and evil. Must admit I did not see that last one coming. This book is full of surprises.
The writing is concise and reveals just enough to move the adventure along without revealing too much. Things are explained gradually as they come up, but not too much that they get in the way of the story. Once the prison escape happens though, things escalate quickly. There’s a lot of dark humor in the writing. I didn’t expect much comedic relief in the face of peril, but somehow it works for this story.
Characterization of the two main characters are well written. Both have various depths and challenges they must overcome on the journey to defeat evil (and save the world). Both guys seem real and sympathetic; Keiran with his harsh upbringing and even harsher current existence, and Ash with his relentless optimism and buoyant personality that carry both of them through tough times. The evil forces at play are also well written. Cruel, malevolent, smart and manipulative, but not without purpose. They aren’t gratuitous in their wrath or when doling out punishment. I like that there’s purpose to the evil forces and that they aren’t just evil for the sake of being evil. Too many evil things in books these days are violently destructive and amped up without purpose, and it can be tiring to read about it over and over again.
That said, this book does have a few things that might bother some people, like grammatical and structural issues, but that’s to be expected of small press/independent/self-published books. With the help of an editor, the story could become tighter and the writing even more impressive. As it is though, it’s pretty good and I enjoyed it a lot.
* * * * *
UPDATE: May 2020
I liked this book so much I had to get it in dead tree edition. It took several years to track down a copy, but I finally found one for a few dollars at a used bookstore--remember these from the Before Time? Oh the memories. Anyhow, the book itself is still in mint condition which means its previous owner probably never even gave it a try. Too bad for them because the story inside is quite something and in a league of its own.
* * * * *
Cross-posted at https://covers2covers.wordpress.com/2...
January 31, 2025
fitzloved is everywhere for those with the eyes to see
November 14, 2020
This was one of the first queer romance books I ever read, possibly the very first, how I got a hold of it I have no idea. But it lived in my head as this shining beacon of perfect MM fantasy, although I have only vague impressions about what it's actually about, no details, no clear idea about why I loved it so much. So I reread it, because why not. This has been an insane year and I've been burying myself in fiction because being a health care worker in a pandemic SUCKS and I've been needing an escape from reality. And like, it holds up. It's a really long book, but so beautifully done. It's about two boys finding each other in hopeless circumstances and it's really them against the world. The world building is great, the commentary on colonialism and fascist theocracy remains relevant, the romance is reluctant and sweet. This was a nice place to get lost in for awhile. Again.
August 16, 2013
I don't feel up to a long review after reading this straight through in less than 24 hours. It's an amazing trip in every sense. I think Ash might be one of my favorite characters in fiction--except of course for Kieran.
It's hard to believe that just last night they were both in prison--so much happens in the book, and in a crazily small amount of time, and yet the story, the style, is so compelling, you feel you've traveled every step with them--endured the horrible prison eggs, walked miles in wet boots, scavenged for edibles in the desert--living through everything from dirty, tangled hair and sunburns to magical attacks by gods in their dreamscapes. You literally feel physically exhausted by the end, and yet it's the most hopeful kind of fatigue.
Bottom line: Unforgettable.
It's hard to believe that just last night they were both in prison--so much happens in the book, and in a crazily small amount of time, and yet the story, the style, is so compelling, you feel you've traveled every step with them--endured the horrible prison eggs, walked miles in wet boots, scavenged for edibles in the desert--living through everything from dirty, tangled hair and sunburns to magical attacks by gods in their dreamscapes. You literally feel physically exhausted by the end, and yet it's the most hopeful kind of fatigue.
Bottom line: Unforgettable.
August 15, 2015
He was pillowed on Ash's lap. Above him, Ash's face was pale as dust, eyes black-circled as if he'd been punched twice. Dirty-haired, sunburned, tear-tracked, hollow-cheeked; beautiful, precious.
I should have read this a long time ago, it's just the kind of book I love, epic fantasy with a really slow build romance and a fair bit of angst. It reminded me a lot of Carole Cummings books. Loved it and want more!
I should have read this a long time ago, it's just the kind of book I love, epic fantasy with a really slow build romance and a fair bit of angst. It reminded me a lot of Carole Cummings books. Loved it and want more!
April 12, 2011
I did not expect to like this book. But I'd read some of Jesse Hajicek's other work--under Jumping Jack Flash--on FictionPress.com and was persuaded. He often qualifies his m/m stories as slash, although on his site, he gives a "now-traditional yaoi warning" for this novel. This is hardly yaoi; it's far more sophisticated.
God Eaters is a hefty epic into which you can sink your teeth. It's AU, although that world echoes the basic structure of a developed, urban East and a wild, wooly West of the US frontier period. The plot is complicated, depends on magic and the role of gods over the course of history. Most of the characters are dimensional (particularly the two protagonists). Neither lead is perfect; both are believable in their natures and how they develop; I came to care deeply for both of them as they came to care for one another tenderly, elementally.
The story starts in prison, which, along with the western flavour, was not something I considered a recommendation. But it's very well done ... didn't bore or frustrate me in the least. The tale then turns into two lads on the lam and concludes with a larger-than-life magical confrontation of immortals. If there was a weakness in the plotting, it was in this final phase; the elements were set up along the way, but they still felt overwhelming and at times convenient, when nothing previous had really felt out of place.
Yes, the writing could have used an editor. Every now and again, a metaphor or simile jarred. But more often than not, he manages to turn these devices to their poetic advantage, and they do enlarge the experience. The writing style is lyrical--definitely not of an urban gritty flavour--and he is consistent within his style. Overall, the pacing was very good; the events and the relationship unfold in a comfortable way. The dialogue is particularly good. There's a fair bit of description, of the sort I usually gloss over, but in this book, I didn't. POV is third-person and is shared between more than the two leads.
The sex. It's there. It's not frequent, nor is it hugely explicit. But neither would I call it tame. It certainly is tasteful. This, however, is far more about the emotional growth of a bond rather than the sexual expression of it.
I was sorry to see the book end, despite it was a satisfying ending. I wanted it to keep going. There's set-up for a sequel--there are promises to be kept and new identities to fulfill. I'd love to see Hajicek run with this. Maybe he plans to, although I'm afraid, given he seems to have abandoned other stories, that he won't. I'd give a lot to be proven wrong.
So why five instead of four stars? Where so many formulaic stories begin to blur within days of reading, these characters and this world and the entire ambiance will stick with me for a long time. Any writer who can do that for me, regardless of flaws that could have been tidied in editing, gets my deep respect. Hajicek tells a very good story, and I give that tons more priority.
Frankly, every writer can benefit from editing; that the m/m genre doesn't receive the attention of mainstream publishing, with it's more careful attention to polishing, means most m/m offerings, whether self-published or managed through indie publishers, are just a bit rough around the edges. I can cope. I encourage you to as well, because this compelling epic is well worth it.
God Eaters is a hefty epic into which you can sink your teeth. It's AU, although that world echoes the basic structure of a developed, urban East and a wild, wooly West of the US frontier period. The plot is complicated, depends on magic and the role of gods over the course of history. Most of the characters are dimensional (particularly the two protagonists). Neither lead is perfect; both are believable in their natures and how they develop; I came to care deeply for both of them as they came to care for one another tenderly, elementally.
The story starts in prison, which, along with the western flavour, was not something I considered a recommendation. But it's very well done ... didn't bore or frustrate me in the least. The tale then turns into two lads on the lam and concludes with a larger-than-life magical confrontation of immortals. If there was a weakness in the plotting, it was in this final phase; the elements were set up along the way, but they still felt overwhelming and at times convenient, when nothing previous had really felt out of place.
Yes, the writing could have used an editor. Every now and again, a metaphor or simile jarred. But more often than not, he manages to turn these devices to their poetic advantage, and they do enlarge the experience. The writing style is lyrical--definitely not of an urban gritty flavour--and he is consistent within his style. Overall, the pacing was very good; the events and the relationship unfold in a comfortable way. The dialogue is particularly good. There's a fair bit of description, of the sort I usually gloss over, but in this book, I didn't. POV is third-person and is shared between more than the two leads.
The sex. It's there. It's not frequent, nor is it hugely explicit. But neither would I call it tame. It certainly is tasteful. This, however, is far more about the emotional growth of a bond rather than the sexual expression of it.
I was sorry to see the book end, despite it was a satisfying ending. I wanted it to keep going. There's set-up for a sequel--there are promises to be kept and new identities to fulfill. I'd love to see Hajicek run with this. Maybe he plans to, although I'm afraid, given he seems to have abandoned other stories, that he won't. I'd give a lot to be proven wrong.
So why five instead of four stars? Where so many formulaic stories begin to blur within days of reading, these characters and this world and the entire ambiance will stick with me for a long time. Any writer who can do that for me, regardless of flaws that could have been tidied in editing, gets my deep respect. Hajicek tells a very good story, and I give that tons more priority.
Frankly, every writer can benefit from editing; that the m/m genre doesn't receive the attention of mainstream publishing, with it's more careful attention to polishing, means most m/m offerings, whether self-published or managed through indie publishers, are just a bit rough around the edges. I can cope. I encourage you to as well, because this compelling epic is well worth it.
September 24, 2013
2.5 stars
Funny, how the reviews so far can't agree on much about this free adventure story. Some applaud the excellent world-building, others find it severely lacking. Some like that it is angst-free and without fluff, others call it sappy. I ended up not hating it, but also not really loving it.
The book opens with a dire description of an abused boy's childhood that quickly drew me in. I liked the idea of the world, its history and magic system. The two or three love scenes were sweet. However, I've got a long list of things that I thought were missing in order to make it a decent read:
- I expect rich world-building when reading fantasy. But here? No plotting arch enemy, no side stories and very few relevant secondary characters, instead we solely follow Ash and Keiran's struggles.
- Also vital to any fantasy story IMO: a sense of impending doom that lets you care for the characters at every turn of the story and makes you devour the book. I couldn't find it here.
- Telling, but not showing: although we're told over and over that Keiran is a real meany, he's nothing but kind to Ash and not much worse to anyone else (that's also one of my latest peeves in m/m in general).
- Sometimes the language didn't seem appropriate for the "Wild West" setting (sexy, moronic, getting laid...) and it drew me out of the story when it happened.
- The book offers no great romance although it wants to tell you differently. It's all pretty standard fare. There is also no UST (unresolved sexual tension) although both MCs are confined to a prison cell for quite some time. So, I wasn't really sold on the attraction between Ash and Kieran.
- Keiran lacks a unique voice and the dialogue in general isn't very inspired.
- The writing was very clumsy in parts; especially the way Ash talks about his feelings or Keiran's qualities made me cringe; also, how the author provides background information is very heavy-handed:
"I know that, Shou-Shou. I was there."Nonetheless, I enjoyed the book at times and here are some of my favorite quotes:
"I'm just explaining. You were down in it. This is what it looked like from outside."
"Okay. Go on."
Shan raised himself on one elbow to look down into Kieran's face. "You like wrecking way too much. One of these days, babe, you're gonna wreck the world."
"Not the part you're standing on," Kieran said, but for once Shan didn't smile." --
Seeing Ash like this made Kieran want to tear down the world and stomp on the wreckage. --
They looked at each other for a time. Kieran saw his own understanding mirrored in the sky-blue of Shan's stare. This was it. Well, they were highway robbers; they'd never expected to live forever. If it wasn't the cops, it would've been Kinter's gang, out to prove that nobody was allowed to quit. So he'd die before he turned twenty; he'd never figured to live even this long. When Shan seized him by his shirt front and kissed him hard, he knew what it meant.
"I love you," he said, and realized it was a lie.
"Cover me," Shan replied, and shifted his weight."--
Oh, I forgot to mention the awful cover. But I guess that's kind of obvious.
July 29, 2020
This book was amazing! It will be hard to do it justice in this review. I heard about this book from T.J. Klune when he wrote an article about it for Tor.com. Unfortunately it is $40 +shipping on Amazon, and the author hasn't written much else. But if you are interested you can get the ebook on lulu.com or read it for free on LiveJournal.
The world of The God Eaters reminds me a bit of Stephen King's The Dark Tower. Its a dusty, gritty cross between the Old West and fantasy, with a lot of magic. It also reminds me of TJ's own Withered + Sere. Its painful and rough and sometimes tragic with extremely damaged characters. In some ways, Lucas is like Keiran, and I would not be surprised if TJ was inspired by this book to some extent when he wrote Withered + Sere.
This is mostly a story of survival for Keiran and Ash. And although its view doesnt move beyond them, that doesnt mean the scope of the story is not large. Their actions will decide the fate of the world. Both Keiran and Ash are incredible and do incredible things. The romance is so well balanced with the fantasy elements that I cant say which is the primary genre. They are each other's main motive for everything. They are each others reason for breathing. But they do so many incredible things. Despite how damaged they are, especially Keiran, their love is so beautiful and eternal!
This is really a must read for fantasy and romance fans alike! I would like a hard copy but $40 +shipping on Amazon! No thanks.
Trigger warnings for violence, imprisonment, and mental torture, mentions of rape, child abuse, and prostitution. There is one mild consensual sex scene. I would say this book would be ok for mature teens.
The world of The God Eaters reminds me a bit of Stephen King's The Dark Tower. Its a dusty, gritty cross between the Old West and fantasy, with a lot of magic. It also reminds me of TJ's own Withered + Sere. Its painful and rough and sometimes tragic with extremely damaged characters. In some ways, Lucas is like Keiran, and I would not be surprised if TJ was inspired by this book to some extent when he wrote Withered + Sere.
This is mostly a story of survival for Keiran and Ash. And although its view doesnt move beyond them, that doesnt mean the scope of the story is not large. Their actions will decide the fate of the world. Both Keiran and Ash are incredible and do incredible things. The romance is so well balanced with the fantasy elements that I cant say which is the primary genre. They are each other's main motive for everything. They are each others reason for breathing. But they do so many incredible things. Despite how damaged they are, especially Keiran, their love is so beautiful and eternal!
This is really a must read for fantasy and romance fans alike! I would like a hard copy but $40 +shipping on Amazon! No thanks.
Trigger warnings for violence, imprisonment, and mental torture, mentions of rape, child abuse, and prostitution. There is one mild consensual sex scene. I would say this book would be ok for mature teens.
March 13, 2009
I like to sell others on this book by describing it as the only romance I've ever liked. Then I casually slip in the additional facts that it's a fantasy/western, violent, bloody, and sometimes disturbing. The only things that keep this from being a five-star review are the author's first novel syndrome that occasionally rears its head in regards to pacing, and the need for an editor to tighten up some occasionally sloppy prose. Overall, though, it's an inventive world with a gritty feel, populated with well-developed characters.
My only gripe about this is the fact that it is a romance and the details of an Old West that could have been—had conquering nations wielded magic as well as guns and disease—are often glossed over in favor of the relationship. The relationship, however, is developed quite well on the whole. Kieran suffers a bit from a too-hasty attraction granting his history, but Ashleigh's slow build from pampered pet to self-assured powerhouse is realistic and magnificently done.
The tl;dr review: really good book that could have been a great book if the author had a little more experience. Highly recommended.
My only gripe about this is the fact that it is a romance and the details of an Old West that could have been—had conquering nations wielded magic as well as guns and disease—are often glossed over in favor of the relationship. The relationship, however, is developed quite well on the whole. Kieran suffers a bit from a too-hasty attraction granting his history, but Ashleigh's slow build from pampered pet to self-assured powerhouse is realistic and magnificently done.
The tl;dr review: really good book that could have been a great book if the author had a little more experience. Highly recommended.
October 23, 2015
This book was really great. I would have given it 5 stars, but it kind of dragged a little in the middle, so 4 stars it is.
Ash and Kieran were very lovable and I loved the character growth in the story. Ash went from this shy scared-of-anything kid to a self-confident and, let’s not forget, powerful young man! And Kieran was so cynical in the beginning of the story and he was so sweet at the end. Ash and Kieran found out they were so much better when together.
I loved the first part when they are imprisoned together best. The middle was a bit confusing at times and some things could have been left out, it was a bit boring. But the ending was goooooood. I loved the (magical) bond formed between them. They were so badass when they were using their magic to fight! Loved it.
There were not a lot of sex scenes, but that was okay (no fade to black scenes). I would have been fine with a little more sex and a bit more details, but hey, cannot have everything. ;)
Ash and Kieran were very lovable and I loved the character growth in the story. Ash went from this shy scared-of-anything kid to a self-confident and, let’s not forget, powerful young man! And Kieran was so cynical in the beginning of the story and he was so sweet at the end. Ash and Kieran found out they were so much better when together.
I loved the first part when they are imprisoned together best. The middle was a bit confusing at times and some things could have been left out, it was a bit boring. But the ending was goooooood. I loved the (magical) bond formed between them. They were so badass when they were using their magic to fight! Loved it.
There were not a lot of sex scenes, but that was okay (no fade to black scenes). I would have been fine with a little more sex and a bit more details, but hey, cannot have everything. ;)
January 7, 2013
I didn't expect much from this novel, but read it since Nancy gave it high marks. This's an example of my cynicism against self-published books. But, this novel turned out to be a maturely crafted work of fiction. It felt like I was reading a mainstream epic fantasy, the main difference being that it was not made into a trilogy by corporate dollar-mongers.
The main problem with the novel is being left with lots of loose ends, there not being a sequel that I can find. I want to travel this world in more depth and find out what can happen when the God of a theocracy is defeated. It could have real-world consequences.
Note to self: Be skeptical, avoid cynicism.
The main problem with the novel is being left with lots of loose ends, there not being a sequel that I can find. I want to travel this world in more depth and find out what can happen when the God of a theocracy is defeated. It could have real-world consequences.
Note to self: Be skeptical, avoid cynicism.
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