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Desert Ice
Standing under the hot sun in the slave market, Wyl thought his fate couldn’t get worse. He’d been betrayed by his family, exiled, and sentenced to slavery in the desert lands where he doesn’t know the language or the customs. Yet, as he faces the scrutiny of an interested buyer, Wyl realizes he was wrong. With an exchange of coins, he went from life as a warrior and a prince to that of a pleasure slave.
Lysander finds the stench of the slave-trading city almost unbearable. He longs for the quiet shelter of his home. Yet, Steed’s Hold is under siege, and he has come to the city to find a warrior willing to fight for the cost of his freedom. However, Lysander does not expect to find the handsome northerner or the new desires he sparks inside of Lysander. He also does not expect the terrible stipulation attached to the man’s sale, which would demand a heavy price for them both.
Lysander is a mage more used to commanding earth, metal, and wood than people. How is he to be master of a slave, and the slave’s desire, when Lysander hasn’t fully mastered his own?
Lysander finds the stench of the slave-trading city almost unbearable. He longs for the quiet shelter of his home. Yet, Steed’s Hold is under siege, and he has come to the city to find a warrior willing to fight for the cost of his freedom. However, Lysander does not expect to find the handsome northerner or the new desires he sparks inside of Lysander. He also does not expect the terrible stipulation attached to the man’s sale, which would demand a heavy price for them both.
Lysander is a mage more used to commanding earth, metal, and wood than people. How is he to be master of a slave, and the slave’s desire, when Lysander hasn’t fully mastered his own?
531 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 30, 2017
32 people are currently reading
709 people want to read
About the author
Rose Maefair
2 books41 followersRose Maefair writes humorous, heart-thumping romances fueled almost entirely by coffee and questionable life choices. A long-time gamer and fall enthusiast, she can often be found curled up in Southern Indiana with her two cats, plotting new adventures for her characters. When she’s not writing, she hangs out with friends or surprises everyone with karaoke skills that are, frankly, better than expected.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
June 3, 2018
Holy marshmallow! What did I just read!?! This is an INCREDIBLE read. I can’t even tell how much I LOVE this book. 😍😍😍
First of all, the cover doesn’t do the book any justice. Yes, the models are very sexy and it’s a beautiful cover. But looking from that, you might think it’s a contemporary romance. Well, it’s not. It’s about a gentle and naive mage and a hard and uncontrollable warrior slave. I love EVERYTHING about this book. ❤️❤️❤️ The world setting, the characters, the storyline and the banter, did I say about the banters? They are hilarious! 😂😂😂
Wyl is the son of a King who was betrayed by his own family and sent to the desert slave market to be sold to the highest bidder. The fair haired northern man neither has the knowledge nor the language of the desert he has been sent to. He’s been hurt, broken, betrayed and stripped away from everything he once knew.
Lysander is a thrice branded mage and currently, his ancestral Hold is laid siege by his enemies. So he came to the slave city of Tandir to buy a warrior slave and ask him to fight for his home in exchange for warrior’s freedom. He had a plan, buy a slave, ask him to fight for his home and set him free. And things went downhill when he met the green eyed, blonde haired Wyl in the slave market. He couldn’t leave the slave behind because he doesn’t want anyone else to purchase Wyl but the special condition of Wyl’s sale is he is to be “root bound” to anyone who purchases him.
This book has everything. Humor, love, angst, conflicts, betrayal, misunderstanding, realization and ultimately a very beautiful HEA. The banter between Lysander and Wyl while they travelled back to Lysander’s Hold was hilarious. 😂😂😂 I laughed my head off reading the conversation between two men who doesn’t speak each other’s language. And the romance, ohhhhh the romance! The emotions and feelings between Wyl and Lysander kept me on edge all the time. It just keeps pushing me to wanting more.
“You own me completely, Lysander. Not because of some cursed spell or some ring, but because you have my heart. There’s nothing I would not do for you, my beautiful, gentle haseid. I am truly your bindi.”
Omg! How beautiful those words are!!! 😍😍😍 Given that this is Rose Maefair’s debut book, I’m quite surprised this is very good. This actually becomes one of my favorites of all time. I love, loveeee, loveeeeeeee this!!!!!!! Definitely a reread for me. And special thanks to Lyn for she’s the reason I discovered this book. Love you gal! 😘
Well deserved 5 happy heartfelt stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
First of all, the cover doesn’t do the book any justice. Yes, the models are very sexy and it’s a beautiful cover. But looking from that, you might think it’s a contemporary romance. Well, it’s not. It’s about a gentle and naive mage and a hard and uncontrollable warrior slave. I love EVERYTHING about this book. ❤️❤️❤️ The world setting, the characters, the storyline and the banter, did I say about the banters? They are hilarious! 😂😂😂
Wyl is the son of a King who was betrayed by his own family and sent to the desert slave market to be sold to the highest bidder. The fair haired northern man neither has the knowledge nor the language of the desert he has been sent to. He’s been hurt, broken, betrayed and stripped away from everything he once knew.
Lysander is a thrice branded mage and currently, his ancestral Hold is laid siege by his enemies. So he came to the slave city of Tandir to buy a warrior slave and ask him to fight for his home in exchange for warrior’s freedom. He had a plan, buy a slave, ask him to fight for his home and set him free. And things went downhill when he met the green eyed, blonde haired Wyl in the slave market. He couldn’t leave the slave behind because he doesn’t want anyone else to purchase Wyl but the special condition of Wyl’s sale is he is to be “root bound” to anyone who purchases him.
This book has everything. Humor, love, angst, conflicts, betrayal, misunderstanding, realization and ultimately a very beautiful HEA. The banter between Lysander and Wyl while they travelled back to Lysander’s Hold was hilarious. 😂😂😂 I laughed my head off reading the conversation between two men who doesn’t speak each other’s language. And the romance, ohhhhh the romance! The emotions and feelings between Wyl and Lysander kept me on edge all the time. It just keeps pushing me to wanting more.
“You own me completely, Lysander. Not because of some cursed spell or some ring, but because you have my heart. There’s nothing I would not do for you, my beautiful, gentle haseid. I am truly your bindi.”
Omg! How beautiful those words are!!! 😍😍😍 Given that this is Rose Maefair’s debut book, I’m quite surprised this is very good. This actually becomes one of my favorites of all time. I love, loveeee, loveeeeeeee this!!!!!!! Definitely a reread for me. And special thanks to Lyn for she’s the reason I discovered this book. Love you gal! 😘
Well deserved 5 happy heartfelt stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 27, 2018
I lost count on how many times I added and removed this book from my TBR. I should never have removed it. Shame on me!
OMG! This book had me laughing my ass off!!
Lysander is a mage whose home is under siege. He is looking to buy a warrior at a slave auction. In exchange for fighting to save his home, he will offer the warrior/slave freedom. Wylham is a prince who has been betrayed by his friends and family. He is disowned and sold into slavery. Lysander buys Wylham, but there is a condition to the sale. Lysander has to bind Wylham to him by magic even though he really doesn’t want to. Wylham thinks he is being bought as a pleasure slave. Neither speaks the other’s language, and they have a long travel to get to Lysander’s home. How these two get along with the language barrier during their travels is truly hilarious. They work through misunderstandings and really get to know each other.
There were some intense fighting scenes that had me cringing and biting my nails and there were tender moments that had me tearing up. While this book is more story than sex, there are some explicit sexy times (none of that FTB crap). This book was funny, heartwarming, and adventurous.
I would have liked an epilogue and the declaration of love to happen sooner, but at the end of it all, really enjoyed this book. Even the minor editing issues didn’t bother me. I still found the writing to be beautiful.
Bravo to Rose Maefair on this debut novel. I am waiting for more. :-)
OMG! This book had me laughing my ass off!!
Lysander is a mage whose home is under siege. He is looking to buy a warrior at a slave auction. In exchange for fighting to save his home, he will offer the warrior/slave freedom. Wylham is a prince who has been betrayed by his friends and family. He is disowned and sold into slavery. Lysander buys Wylham, but there is a condition to the sale. Lysander has to bind Wylham to him by magic even though he really doesn’t want to. Wylham thinks he is being bought as a pleasure slave. Neither speaks the other’s language, and they have a long travel to get to Lysander’s home. How these two get along with the language barrier during their travels is truly hilarious. They work through misunderstandings and really get to know each other.
There were some intense fighting scenes that had me cringing and biting my nails and there were tender moments that had me tearing up. While this book is more story than sex, there are some explicit sexy times (none of that FTB crap). This book was funny, heartwarming, and adventurous.
I would have liked an epilogue and the declaration of love to happen sooner, but at the end of it all, really enjoyed this book. Even the minor editing issues didn’t bother me. I still found the writing to be beautiful.
Bravo to Rose Maefair on this debut novel. I am waiting for more. :-)
January 13, 2019
Re-read January 2019
Still wonderful....
--------------------
4.25 stars
What a wonderful story this was. Mostly relationship centered with lots of character growth and a sweet romance.
Lysander is a mage, a hard element mage. He can control things like metal, stone and sand. He has traveled a long way to find a warrior. The reason he needs a warrior is because the Hold he lives in is under siege. Lysander is planning on buying a warrior slave and promise him freedom if he fights for his cause.
When Lysander finds the perfect man he wasn’t expecting the terms of the contract. The sellar only sells slaves who will be root-bound to their new owner.
Wylham is the son of a king, destined for a great future, until he was betrayed by his father’s new wife. Now he is sold as a slave. He doesn’t speak the language of the place he is in, and he despises his new master, who has bound Wyl to him with magic. Now Wyl can’t harm his new master, can't leave, and can’t find sexual completion by himself either. This because he is sold as a pleasure slave.
Lysander and Wyl have to travel a long way through the desert to get to Lysander’s home, but they don’t speak each other’s language. Wyl is convinced Lysander is pure evil and will make him into a real pleasure slave any minute now. Lysander is disgusted with himself for having bound another man to him. Even though he knew that if he didn’t bind Wyl, someone else would have.
But somewhere along the way Wyl is slowly finding out that Lysander is a sweet man, and not the villain he thought he was. But Wyl has treated Lysander terribly and hurt him emotionally. Can Lysander ever forgive him..?
There was one part of this book when I seriously thought I would have to DNF, but I was so happy I read on. Very very nice hurt/comfort parts.
This had a lovely slow burn and the relationship ended up being very sweet and full of feels.
Lovely slave romance set in a different world from ours.
Still wonderful....
--------------------
4.25 stars
What a wonderful story this was. Mostly relationship centered with lots of character growth and a sweet romance.
Lysander is a mage, a hard element mage. He can control things like metal, stone and sand. He has traveled a long way to find a warrior. The reason he needs a warrior is because the Hold he lives in is under siege. Lysander is planning on buying a warrior slave and promise him freedom if he fights for his cause.
When Lysander finds the perfect man he wasn’t expecting the terms of the contract. The sellar only sells slaves who will be root-bound to their new owner.
Wylham is the son of a king, destined for a great future, until he was betrayed by his father’s new wife. Now he is sold as a slave. He doesn’t speak the language of the place he is in, and he despises his new master, who has bound Wyl to him with magic. Now Wyl can’t harm his new master, can't leave, and can’t find sexual completion by himself either. This because he is sold as a pleasure slave.
Lysander and Wyl have to travel a long way through the desert to get to Lysander’s home, but they don’t speak each other’s language. Wyl is convinced Lysander is pure evil and will make him into a real pleasure slave any minute now. Lysander is disgusted with himself for having bound another man to him. Even though he knew that if he didn’t bind Wyl, someone else would have.
But somewhere along the way Wyl is slowly finding out that Lysander is a sweet man, and not the villain he thought he was. But Wyl has treated Lysander terribly and hurt him emotionally. Can Lysander ever forgive him..?
There was one part of this book when I seriously thought I would have to DNF, but I was so happy I read on. Very very nice hurt/comfort parts.
This had a lovely slow burn and the relationship ended up being very sweet and full of feels.
Lovely slave romance set in a different world from ours.
April 12, 2017
Have you ever seen The English Patient? This reminds me SO MUCH of that movie minus the tragic ending. The whole first half of the book is basically bathing, miscommunication and desert. I almost waved the proverbial white flag numerous times. It took me forever to get through it, but it does pick up around the 60% mark and I ended up liking it overall.
The thing I like best about slavefic is sweet slave boys and Wyl is so not a sweet slave boy. If anything there is a role-reversal and I have a hard time making that switch. Wyl's a Northerner who's been disowned by his family and put up on the auction block in the South. I never really understood what he did that was so unforgiveable, but perhaps I skimmed over that part. At any rate, Lysander buys him because he needs a warrior to help protect his homeland and because he's attracted to him. It's also a somewhat altruistic move on his part since he knows in all likelihood were Wyl to be bought by another he'd face a future as a pleasure slave which would break his warrior's soul. However, he can't communicate any of his altruism because of the language barrier.
Wyl is kind of a jerkface asshat towards Lysander which culminates when he decides to turn the tables on him, a move that creates a rift between the two that he has to work to make overcome.
Both are attracted to the other and there is some sex content but not an overabundance of it. UST and longing are the name of the game in this "slavefic". Once the communication barrier dissolves it was easier for me to invest in their story and sink into the romance of it. There is a sweet HEA between them and I liked the evolution of their relationship from bindi/haseid to equal partners even though that's not what I initially bargained for.
There are some intriguing secondary characters that played pivotal roles, good worldbuilding with part of a language, clever usage of magic and some adventure towards the end which helped the tempo. I wish there had been more adventure throughout the narrative. I tend to lose focus in AUs or fantasies without adventure.
My problems were an excessive amount of minutiae that didn't advance the plot, sedate pacing, an excessive use of exclamation points and two characters that I liked but didn't love. However, for a debut novel I see promise in Maefair's writing and wouldn't be opposed to reading more of her works in the future.
I wouldn't recommend this to slavefic fans.
A review copy was provided.
The thing I like best about slavefic is sweet slave boys and Wyl is so not a sweet slave boy. If anything there is a role-reversal and I have a hard time making that switch. Wyl's a Northerner who's been disowned by his family and put up on the auction block in the South. I never really understood what he did that was so unforgiveable, but perhaps I skimmed over that part. At any rate, Lysander buys him because he needs a warrior to help protect his homeland and because he's attracted to him. It's also a somewhat altruistic move on his part since he knows in all likelihood were Wyl to be bought by another he'd face a future as a pleasure slave which would break his warrior's soul. However, he can't communicate any of his altruism because of the language barrier.
Wyl is kind of a jerkface asshat towards Lysander which culminates when he decides to turn the tables on him, a move that creates a rift between the two that he has to work to make overcome.
Both are attracted to the other and there is some sex content but not an overabundance of it. UST and longing are the name of the game in this "slavefic". Once the communication barrier dissolves it was easier for me to invest in their story and sink into the romance of it. There is a sweet HEA between them and I liked the evolution of their relationship from bindi/haseid to equal partners even though that's not what I initially bargained for.
There are some intriguing secondary characters that played pivotal roles, good worldbuilding with part of a language, clever usage of magic and some adventure towards the end which helped the tempo. I wish there had been more adventure throughout the narrative. I tend to lose focus in AUs or fantasies without adventure.
My problems were an excessive amount of minutiae that didn't advance the plot, sedate pacing, an excessive use of exclamation points and two characters that I liked but didn't love. However, for a debut novel I see promise in Maefair's writing and wouldn't be opposed to reading more of her works in the future.
I wouldn't recommend this to slavefic fans.
A review copy was provided.
March 24, 2023
This was extremely enjoyable and an almost 5 ⭐️ read and at the same time one of the most frustrating books I’ve read in a while. I’ve always enjoyed slave/master books , even in my “MF time” (real slave/master dynamics not the kink one lol) and I had to fight with myself , to adjust my view and accommodate this new and reversed master/slave dynamics we have here. Lysander is a shy , quiet and powerful mage . He needs a warrior to help him keep his family’s enemies away . Wyl is a prince from another region and ..let’s just say he wasn’t meant to be a slave (Oh, what an understatement!). He’s angry, proud, bratty and bossy-my fascination as well as my nightmare the entire book. Lysander is sweet and a bit naive , add to this the guilt he feels for enslaving Wyl and the language barrier (for half a book they don’t understand each other until suddenly in 2 weeks Wyl becomes fluent 🙄) and we have a fascinating and beautifully slow burn and relationship building. I confess, there were moments where I wanted to strangle Wyl..He was reckless and immature, constantly putting himself and Lysander in danger (even though his musings were so entertaining sometimes). And he was so mean to Lysander . And I think one of the reasons I only gave it 4 stars is that he kept being harsh and unfair to Lysander for almost the entire book. Towards the end when he finds out the truth, that he misjudged and mistreated Lysander he has a 180 change of tune and he (and the book) becomes a sap-fest melodrama .What bothered me is that he didn’t come to this conclusion on his own, he couldn’t appreciate what Lysander did for him, how Lysander cared for him , on his own. I wanted him to try to understand Lysander too without knowing why Lysander bound him. To see a more gradual change in him. Yeah, ok , he mellowed a bit when Lysander checked out emotionally but why wouldn’t I think that could be because he doesn’t like to be told no? A little thing that bugged me , for instance,is that he prohibited Lysander to call him Wyl, saying that only the ppl close to him call him that, that this was important and significant and yet he freely and easily gave permission to almost everybody to call him Wyl except Lysander. Another reason I took away one star is the way the author used Lysander’s magic. We see him using it doing some tricks in the beginning of the book and some small insignificant use of it throughout the book when in reality Lysander was extremely powerful. I mean he could actually do ANYTHING with it and yet the battle scenes at the end were too long, clumsy and unnecessary. I mostly skipped them, to be honest. The side characters were..there? I mean , I didn’t care for them. The book became suddenly very…contemporary and domestic . We have the usual contemporary MM formula: the ex wife turned an ally, the family/friends warning the other MC not to hurt their brother/son/friend. Boring and eye-rolling. I didn’t like the last part of the book, I didn’t even liked THEM in that environment. Up until they got to Lysander’s home the book was absolutely enthralling . Lysander and Wyl’s relationship, their journey was so interesting to watch. A fantastic read !
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2017
4.5 Stars
I've hidden my unrelated LID rant so that my review is what is focused on:
Thankfully, this WAS a good book. It really was. It was long, which I appreciate and it held my interest well into the night when I should have been sleeping. Both of the MC's are likable and the character building as well as world building is pretty strong. The language barrier creates a believable conflict and the journey they take is compelling. I marked it down a bit because long battle scenes bore me to tears no matter how good of a writer you are. I don't need 20 pages of a warrior fighting the bad guys but I know I'm in the minority here.
So now that I've ranted about LID and their atrocious marketing, if you passed this one over for the same reasons I usually do, at least there is one honest review now to help you decide if it's worth the risk.
I'd say to Rose Maefair....submit your next book to Dreamspinner or NineStar press, both equally well edited but much, much better at promotion, IMO. You deserve better marketing.
I've hidden my unrelated LID rant so that my review is what is focused on:
Thankfully, this WAS a good book. It really was. It was long, which I appreciate and it held my interest well into the night when I should have been sleeping. Both of the MC's are likable and the character building as well as world building is pretty strong. The language barrier creates a believable conflict and the journey they take is compelling. I marked it down a bit because long battle scenes bore me to tears no matter how good of a writer you are. I don't need 20 pages of a warrior fighting the bad guys but I know I'm in the minority here.
So now that I've ranted about LID and their atrocious marketing, if you passed this one over for the same reasons I usually do, at least there is one honest review now to help you decide if it's worth the risk.
I'd say to Rose Maefair....submit your next book to Dreamspinner or NineStar press, both equally well edited but much, much better at promotion, IMO. You deserve better marketing.
May 1, 2019
3.5 Stars
Thank you, so much, Christelle for this book! I'm glad I finally got to read it ❤️
Thank you, so much, Christelle for this book! I'm glad I finally got to read it ❤️
June 2, 2018
***** This is an exquisitely written adventure/romance of two men in a Sci-Fi universe.
The relationship between a powerful,
"thrice-bonded Mage", Lysander,
and a "First Born rightful Prince to the Seadragon Fief", Wylham/Wyl, is told here. Warrior Wyl was betrayed and taken to Tandir to be sold into slavery.
Magical Lysander, wants a fighter, to help his brother and warriors to defend their home.
There is a condition on the sale of Wyl, but Lysander knows he is who he needs.
Their language barrier causes many problems, until that is remedied at the desert Oasis, by Gese.
This is a "root-bound" bond and Wyl doesn't know the rules at first and trouble ensues. A barter is formed and Wyl will help defend Steed's Hold, Lysander's family home.
There is a fierce battle with the Viper soldiers, strange animals, unusual places, and interesting relationships. Our men have deep passion, and eventually sexy times. The first coupling is not rape, but IS a first time for Lysander.
We get to see the pure joy of these men and the sweet forgiveness, the tender loving, and more.
VERY worthwhile, unique, and just marvelous. I would never guessed that this is Rose Maefair's first novel.
Beautiful in it's writing; you will be surprised. It's a bit long, but moves flawlessly, and is riveting.
Highly recommended. ENJOY !
======
Merged review:
***** This is an exquisitely written adventure/romance of two men in a Sci-Fi universe.
The relationship between a powerful,
"thrice-bonded Mage", Lysander,
and a "First Born rightful Prince to the Seadragon Fief", Wylham/Wyl, is told here. Warrior Wyl was betrayed and taken to Tandir to be sold into slavery.
Magical Lysander, wants a fighter, to help his brother and warriors to defend their home.
There is a condition on the sale of Wyl, but Lysander knows he is who he needs.
Their language barrier causes many problems, until that is remedied at the desert Oasis, by Gese.
This is a "root-bound" bond and Wyl doesn't know the rules at first and trouble ensues. A barter is formed and Wyl will help defend Steed's Hold, Lysander's family home.
There is a fierce battle with the Viper soldiers, strange animals, unusual places, and interesting relationships. Our men have deep passion, and eventually sexy times. The first coupling is not rape, but IS a first time for Lysander.
We get to see the pure joy of these men and the sweet forgiveness, the tender loving, and more.
VERY worthwhile, unique, and just marvelous. I would never guessed that this is Rose Maefair's first novel.
Beautiful in it's writing; you will be surprised. It's a bit long, but moves flawlessly, and is riveting.
Highly recommended. ENJOY !
===========
The relationship between a powerful,
"thrice-bonded Mage", Lysander,
and a "First Born rightful Prince to the Seadragon Fief", Wylham/Wyl, is told here. Warrior Wyl was betrayed and taken to Tandir to be sold into slavery.
Magical Lysander, wants a fighter, to help his brother and warriors to defend their home.
There is a condition on the sale of Wyl, but Lysander knows he is who he needs.
Their language barrier causes many problems, until that is remedied at the desert Oasis, by Gese.
This is a "root-bound" bond and Wyl doesn't know the rules at first and trouble ensues. A barter is formed and Wyl will help defend Steed's Hold, Lysander's family home.
There is a fierce battle with the Viper soldiers, strange animals, unusual places, and interesting relationships. Our men have deep passion, and eventually sexy times. The first coupling is not rape, but IS a first time for Lysander.
We get to see the pure joy of these men and the sweet forgiveness, the tender loving, and more.
VERY worthwhile, unique, and just marvelous. I would never guessed that this is Rose Maefair's first novel.
Beautiful in it's writing; you will be surprised. It's a bit long, but moves flawlessly, and is riveting.
Highly recommended. ENJOY !
======
Merged review:
***** This is an exquisitely written adventure/romance of two men in a Sci-Fi universe.
The relationship between a powerful,
"thrice-bonded Mage", Lysander,
and a "First Born rightful Prince to the Seadragon Fief", Wylham/Wyl, is told here. Warrior Wyl was betrayed and taken to Tandir to be sold into slavery.
Magical Lysander, wants a fighter, to help his brother and warriors to defend their home.
There is a condition on the sale of Wyl, but Lysander knows he is who he needs.
Their language barrier causes many problems, until that is remedied at the desert Oasis, by Gese.
This is a "root-bound" bond and Wyl doesn't know the rules at first and trouble ensues. A barter is formed and Wyl will help defend Steed's Hold, Lysander's family home.
There is a fierce battle with the Viper soldiers, strange animals, unusual places, and interesting relationships. Our men have deep passion, and eventually sexy times. The first coupling is not rape, but IS a first time for Lysander.
We get to see the pure joy of these men and the sweet forgiveness, the tender loving, and more.
VERY worthwhile, unique, and just marvelous. I would never guessed that this is Rose Maefair's first novel.
Beautiful in it's writing; you will be surprised. It's a bit long, but moves flawlessly, and is riveting.
Highly recommended. ENJOY !
===========
February 18, 2017
What a fine find! A fantasy story with slavery theme that focused on character and relationship development, and I must applaud the author for writing this difficult theme brilliantly and reasonably. 65% of this book was about two mentally strong and honorable MCs going on a journey to Lysander's home with just a few of side characters thrown in, the rest was the promised action, complete with magical showdown, and blooming romance. And HEA, of course.
This book was already long, but I think it'd be great if the last 35% was longer, because the events in those last few chapters did feel a bit hurried. I'd also like to read a future story where Tandir (the largest slave-trading city) and Wyl's ex-family in the North are destroyed.
This book was already long, but I think it'd be great if the last 35% was longer, because the events in those last few chapters did feel a bit hurried. I'd also like to read a future story where Tandir (the largest slave-trading city) and Wyl's ex-family in the North are destroyed.
December 3, 2017
This was an okay read for me. I liked it, but didn't love it.
November 9, 2017
Thanks to the ever brilliant Shin for this rec.
So I really enjoyed this. It had everything going for it, enemies to lovers, slaves and magic.
Wlyham, a southern prince is disowned by his family and sold as a slave, Lysander, a mage, buys him because he needs a warrior to help fight for his hold. Wlyham, being the prince that he is , is entitled and very stubborn to manage but then again he's a slave who resents his ordeal.
I liked Lysander, he was was so sweet. Wlyham was a bit off putting at first especially when Lysander was trying to be helpful.
I had hoped we would see Wlyham's family come crawling back for forgiveness after all his suffering, a little groveling at least. All in all, I really enjoyed it.
So I really enjoyed this. It had everything going for it, enemies to lovers, slaves and magic.
Wlyham, a southern prince is disowned by his family and sold as a slave, Lysander, a mage, buys him because he needs a warrior to help fight for his hold. Wlyham, being the prince that he is , is entitled and very stubborn to manage but then again he's a slave who resents his ordeal.
I liked Lysander, he was was so sweet. Wlyham was a bit off putting at first especially when Lysander was trying to be helpful.
I had hoped we would see Wlyham's family come crawling back for forgiveness after all his suffering, a little groveling at least. All in all, I really enjoyed it.
January 9, 2018
4.25 stars
I really, really ended up enjoying this one. What a journey we go on through these almost 500 pages. To see Wyl and Lysander get from where they are at the beginning to where they are at the end was such a fun journey to take, and their connection was instant, even though Wyl had every reason to hate Lysander at first.
And the language barrier does not help these two at all. Even once Wyl starts to learn, and then basically fully learns Lysander's language, these two aren't the best at communicating.
But this book really showed the power of language - while also highlighting the power of gestures, facial expression, etc - because while these two, at first, could communicate the most basic of things - like having to wash or drink something, what have you - they couldn't communicate their feelings, their thoughts easily at all.
But thankfully Wyl is a fast learner and when these two have to make an emergency stop at an oasis, Wyl meets another Northerner like himself and gets taught as much of Lysander's language as he can be taught in the week or so they're there. Then he continues to pick up more along the way until these two are able to communicate.
But still, even language isn't everything, because it took forever for these two to TALK to each other, damn it. And even when they did finally talk, it wasn't nearly enough. For me, at least. I wanted them to talk out their issues, to talk about both their POV's from what happened their first time together - which was not a good first time - to tell each other everything about each other.
But really, mostly what happens is that Wyl asks for forgiveness (which will make sense when you read this) and Lysander gives it. I mean they talk briefly afterward, but it still wasn't enough for me.
Part of the reason I'm giving this four stars, my frustration with their non-communication.
Also, Lysander is such a sweet, kind guy and I loved him, but I understand where Wyl comes from throughout this, and why he reacts the way he does to things. He was fucking enslaved, ffs, and I feel like while yes, Lysander never wanted to enslave Wyl and he always tried to treat him with the utmost kindness, he still bought Wyl from a slave market to become his solider, and with the language barrier he was never able to explain the things that happened that Wyl misinterpreted as Lysander being worse than he was.
So I feel like even Wyl didn't give himself much forgiveness when shit was cleared up (not by Lysander by the way. UGh.) and put a lot of blame on himself - and while he definitely did not act his best, and he did use Lysander in their first time together - you have to cut him some slack, imo, because he was freaking enslaved, seen as an object, not a person, to be used, and he had just learned why Lysander had purchased him and thought he was being used for his body, just not in the way he had thought.
He was, imo, trying to punish, and give Lysander the kind of pain Wyl was experiencing, he was trying to get back his power, and he made it impersonal and rushed and cold. And I felt bad for Lysander, I did, but I also felt he should have been more understanding.
It seemed like he expected them to be like a couple, and he was saddened and disappointed when it wasn't treated that way, and then he couldn't trust Wyl anymore and I felt kinda like...huh? As good as your intentions are, this man you PURCHASED is still enslaved, he barely knows your language so you guys can't communicate well...cut him some slack? But nah, Lysander was hurt so Wyl was shut out, basically.
And while I get it - no one likes basically being used (well, unless that's a kink of yours, but in general, I mean) by their sexual partner, so I get his sadness - I also think he shouldn't have shut Wyl out as badly as he did.
It all bothered me, so yeah, points off for that.
But anyway, aside from all THAT drama, I really enjoyed this. And I did love these two together overall - their devotion and love for each other by the end was super sweet and wonderful. The action at the end was riveting and page-turning and I had to know what happened next.
And Lysander was a badass mage - but also an adorable sweetheart (most of the time) - and Wyl was a badass warrior with a heart of gold underneath his tough exterior.
Also, this world apparently had two moons?? (Like in Angel in season 2 when they go to Lorne's alternate universe planet, although in that it is two suns). So cool though!
Overall a very enjoyable, fun ride through the desert. Definitely recommend :D
I really, really ended up enjoying this one. What a journey we go on through these almost 500 pages. To see Wyl and Lysander get from where they are at the beginning to where they are at the end was such a fun journey to take, and their connection was instant, even though Wyl had every reason to hate Lysander at first.
And the language barrier does not help these two at all. Even once Wyl starts to learn, and then basically fully learns Lysander's language, these two aren't the best at communicating.
But this book really showed the power of language - while also highlighting the power of gestures, facial expression, etc - because while these two, at first, could communicate the most basic of things - like having to wash or drink something, what have you - they couldn't communicate their feelings, their thoughts easily at all.
But thankfully Wyl is a fast learner and when these two have to make an emergency stop at an oasis, Wyl meets another Northerner like himself and gets taught as much of Lysander's language as he can be taught in the week or so they're there. Then he continues to pick up more along the way until these two are able to communicate.
But still, even language isn't everything, because it took forever for these two to TALK to each other, damn it. And even when they did finally talk, it wasn't nearly enough. For me, at least. I wanted them to talk out their issues, to talk about both their POV's from what happened their first time together - which was not a good first time - to tell each other everything about each other.
But really, mostly what happens is that Wyl asks for forgiveness (which will make sense when you read this) and Lysander gives it. I mean they talk briefly afterward, but it still wasn't enough for me.
Part of the reason I'm giving this four stars, my frustration with their non-communication.
Also, Lysander is such a sweet, kind guy and I loved him, but I understand where Wyl comes from throughout this, and why he reacts the way he does to things. He was fucking enslaved, ffs, and I feel like while yes, Lysander never wanted to enslave Wyl and he always tried to treat him with the utmost kindness, he still bought Wyl from a slave market to become his solider, and with the language barrier he was never able to explain the things that happened that Wyl misinterpreted as Lysander being worse than he was.
So I feel like even Wyl didn't give himself much forgiveness when shit was cleared up (not by Lysander by the way. UGh.) and put a lot of blame on himself - and while he definitely did not act his best, and he did use Lysander in their first time together - you have to cut him some slack, imo, because he was freaking enslaved, seen as an object, not a person, to be used, and he had just learned why Lysander had purchased him and thought he was being used for his body, just not in the way he had thought.
He was, imo, trying to punish, and give Lysander the kind of pain Wyl was experiencing, he was trying to get back his power, and he made it impersonal and rushed and cold. And I felt bad for Lysander, I did, but I also felt he should have been more understanding.
It seemed like he expected them to be like a couple, and he was saddened and disappointed when it wasn't treated that way, and then he couldn't trust Wyl anymore and I felt kinda like...huh? As good as your intentions are, this man you PURCHASED is still enslaved, he barely knows your language so you guys can't communicate well...cut him some slack? But nah, Lysander was hurt so Wyl was shut out, basically.
And while I get it - no one likes basically being used (well, unless that's a kink of yours, but in general, I mean) by their sexual partner, so I get his sadness - I also think he shouldn't have shut Wyl out as badly as he did.
It all bothered me, so yeah, points off for that.
But anyway, aside from all THAT drama, I really enjoyed this. And I did love these two together overall - their devotion and love for each other by the end was super sweet and wonderful. The action at the end was riveting and page-turning and I had to know what happened next.
And Lysander was a badass mage - but also an adorable sweetheart (most of the time) - and Wyl was a badass warrior with a heart of gold underneath his tough exterior.
Also, this world apparently had two moons?? (Like in Angel in season 2 when they go to Lorne's alternate universe planet, although in that it is two suns). So cool though!
Overall a very enjoyable, fun ride through the desert. Definitely recommend :D
March 21, 2023
This was going to be 4 stars until the last third, which brought it down to 3 stars but this was still a very enjoyable story! The majority of the story (the first 70%) is a wilderness-survival/MCs-travel-together plot where the MCs spend 24/7 together and their developing romance is a beautiful slow burn. This means the story is very much character-driven instead of plot-driven, which is exactly the type of fantasy romance that I enjoy. Unfortunately, the final third changed the focus to action-heavy fantasy stuff and included a ton of new side characters, which I didn't like.
My favorite aspect was the two MCs and their dynamic. I'm not usually a fan of master-slave romances but this one had the kind of premise that I love. Lysander is a quiet but powerful mage whose home and family are being threatened by an invading army. He gets the admirable (but naïve) idea to travel to their world's central slave market city to buy a warrior slave who will hopefully fight for them. He has zero experience dealing with slaves, he has no knowledge of master-slave customs and he has no idea how to deal with an alpha male like Wyl. Complicating matters is that Wyl is a proud, arrogant Prince from a nearby kingdom who became a slave after being betrayed and disowned by his family. Wyl has zero experience being a slave, he's full of rage at what's happened and he has no patience for the little mage guy who has decided to buy him while not having a clue what he's doing. Making things even worse is that Wyl doesn't speak a word of Lysander's language for the first 50% of the story. So even though the dreaded miscommunication trope is the main source of conflict for the majority of the story, it actually worked perfectly here. These two guys have completely opposite personalities, they come from very different cultures and are both new to the master-slave dynamic that neither wants to be part of but ended up in regardless. Every step of their new relationship is filled with misunderstandings and high emotion and there's nothing the guys can do to properly resolve things because they can't discuss these complex issues with each other due to the language barrier. This worked really well to add continuous conflict to the story while allowing the focus to remain between Lysander and Wyl.
What I also loved was that Lysander considers Wyl his equal right from the start. But asides from the technical details, Lysander considers Wyl a component, tough warrior and he treats him like an equal from day one. Since Wyl comes into the story full of resentment and anger, he takes advantage of Lysander's quiet nature and awkwardness about the situation to have the upper hand as much as possible. What results is a dynamic between a master and slave where the slave is often ordering the master around and the master is pleading with the slave to obey him because he doesn't want the slave getting in trouble with the authorities.
But what was even better was that the author slowly introduces readers to Lysander's incredible magical powers and once readers realize how immensely powerful he is, he and Wyl end up being on a level playing field in all ways. Wyl is the tactician and he has the brute strength while Lysander has the relevant cultural knowledge, language skills and magical abilities to compliment Wyl's combat skills. There are only a handful of situations where they're in danger but I loved each one because of how well they worked as a team and how it was clear that they needed each other. The pacing of how the author revealed Lysander's magical skills was also really well done. I loved that we learn small bits and pieces of Lysander's abilities and they're always introduced when they're needed instead of being info dumped. That was great!
The worldbuilding was also very enjoyable. I hate info dumping in fantasy worlds and I get bored if the author spends more time talking about their world than telling story and this was a perfect example of how to do it right. Wyl is from the coast and we don't learn much about his culture but we don't need to. The entire story takes place in Lysander's desert country and I loved how readers get to experience what life in the desert is like. You can tell the author did tons of research into desert-dwelling cultures and how they survive in such harsh conditions. In particular, I loved how the inclusion of Sato (Lysander's 'camel' creature) teaches readers how vital these animals are to human survival in the desert. In addition, there was lots of opportunity for hurt/comfort and conflict due to Wyl not being familiar with life in the desert and his pride and inability to communicate properly with Lysander resulting in some difficult situations for him.
Now onto the negatives. One minor point that annoyed me a bit is that the author got tired of Wyl not speaking Lysander's language at the halfway mark. That was disappointing. Another minor annoyance is that the book is a bit too long for the scope of the story. As much as I loved Lysander and Wyl's adventures in the desert, some of the scenes were repetitive and pointless so I think about 50 pages could have been trimmed from the story with no problem.
But most disappointing was what happened in the final 30% when Lysander and Wyl finally got back to Lysander's home. A small annoyance was that the writing style slightly changed and suddenly, characters were acting like swooning, scandalized maidens all the time. They're constantly gasping, crying out and shouting dramatically etc. Lysander had acted like this from time to time but it wasn't frequent and it fit his quiet, naïve personality. But it became annoying when it was happening constantly in the final third. There was also a bit of a cartoony vibe happening in this section where the male MCs (not including Lysander) often roared and way too many characters were saying 'huh' constantly. But that's a minor issue because everything else in the final 30% annoyed me even more.
Suddenly, the quiet routine that the author had maintained for so long gets interrupted by the presence of half a dozen new characters. These characters are all very loud, very argumentative and it changed the tone of the story. But another problem was that the author shifts the focus to the battle against the invaders and having the MCs interact a lot with those other side characters. The battle stuff bored me but I also didn't like the side characters because I didn't know them well enough. They had been referenced by Lysander from time to time but 70% of the story involved Lysander and Wyl hanging out together so I hated hating these other characters suddenly taking up space in the story.
But the heavy fantasy-action focus in this section also resulted in me realizing that the author had made a big mistep while plotting. It becomes clear very quickly that Lysander and his sister (who also has magical powers) are way too overpowered for the story to make sense. This huge plothole meant that I wasn't invested in the battles in the final third.
Lastly, I found the ending unsatisfying. Not only do we get no resolution to Wyl's family issues (the family who had betrayed and disowned him) but worst of all, Wyl remains a slave at the end of the story. The whole premise of the story was about exploring the master-slave dynamic between the MCs with issues like free will and consent being topics that were often explored.
Overall, I wish some sections of the story had been done differently, especially the final third. That being said, I really enjoyed Lysander and Wyl's relationship and the way the author approached fantasy romance in this story. Unfortunately, this is the author's only book and because it was published in 2017, I don't know if we'll see more from them but I still highly recommend this one if you enjoy slow paced character-driven romantic fantasies.
My favorite aspect was the two MCs and their dynamic. I'm not usually a fan of master-slave romances but this one had the kind of premise that I love. Lysander is a quiet but powerful mage whose home and family are being threatened by an invading army. He gets the admirable (but naïve) idea to travel to their world's central slave market city to buy a warrior slave who will hopefully fight for them. He has zero experience dealing with slaves, he has no knowledge of master-slave customs and he has no idea how to deal with an alpha male like Wyl. Complicating matters is that Wyl is a proud, arrogant Prince from a nearby kingdom who became a slave after being betrayed and disowned by his family. Wyl has zero experience being a slave, he's full of rage at what's happened and he has no patience for the little mage guy who has decided to buy him while not having a clue what he's doing. Making things even worse is that Wyl doesn't speak a word of Lysander's language for the first 50% of the story. So even though the dreaded miscommunication trope is the main source of conflict for the majority of the story, it actually worked perfectly here. These two guys have completely opposite personalities, they come from very different cultures and are both new to the master-slave dynamic that neither wants to be part of but ended up in regardless. Every step of their new relationship is filled with misunderstandings and high emotion and there's nothing the guys can do to properly resolve things because they can't discuss these complex issues with each other due to the language barrier. This worked really well to add continuous conflict to the story while allowing the focus to remain between Lysander and Wyl.
What I also loved was that Lysander considers Wyl his equal right from the start. But asides from the technical details, Lysander considers Wyl a component, tough warrior and he treats him like an equal from day one. Since Wyl comes into the story full of resentment and anger, he takes advantage of Lysander's quiet nature and awkwardness about the situation to have the upper hand as much as possible. What results is a dynamic between a master and slave where the slave is often ordering the master around and the master is pleading with the slave to obey him because he doesn't want the slave getting in trouble with the authorities.
But what was even better was that the author slowly introduces readers to Lysander's incredible magical powers and once readers realize how immensely powerful he is, he and Wyl end up being on a level playing field in all ways. Wyl is the tactician and he has the brute strength while Lysander has the relevant cultural knowledge, language skills and magical abilities to compliment Wyl's combat skills. There are only a handful of situations where they're in danger but I loved each one because of how well they worked as a team and how it was clear that they needed each other. The pacing of how the author revealed Lysander's magical skills was also really well done. I loved that we learn small bits and pieces of Lysander's abilities and they're always introduced when they're needed instead of being info dumped. That was great!
The worldbuilding was also very enjoyable. I hate info dumping in fantasy worlds and I get bored if the author spends more time talking about their world than telling story and this was a perfect example of how to do it right. Wyl is from the coast and we don't learn much about his culture but we don't need to. The entire story takes place in Lysander's desert country and I loved how readers get to experience what life in the desert is like. You can tell the author did tons of research into desert-dwelling cultures and how they survive in such harsh conditions. In particular, I loved how the inclusion of Sato (Lysander's 'camel' creature) teaches readers how vital these animals are to human survival in the desert. In addition, there was lots of opportunity for hurt/comfort and conflict due to Wyl not being familiar with life in the desert and his pride and inability to communicate properly with Lysander resulting in some difficult situations for him.
Now onto the negatives. One minor point that annoyed me a bit is that the author got tired of Wyl not speaking Lysander's language at the halfway mark. That was disappointing. Another minor annoyance is that the book is a bit too long for the scope of the story. As much as I loved Lysander and Wyl's adventures in the desert, some of the scenes were repetitive and pointless so I think about 50 pages could have been trimmed from the story with no problem.
But most disappointing was what happened in the final 30% when Lysander and Wyl finally got back to Lysander's home. A small annoyance was that the writing style slightly changed and suddenly, characters were acting like swooning, scandalized maidens all the time. They're constantly gasping, crying out and shouting dramatically etc. Lysander had acted like this from time to time but it wasn't frequent and it fit his quiet, naïve personality. But it became annoying when it was happening constantly in the final third. There was also a bit of a cartoony vibe happening in this section where the male MCs (not including Lysander) often roared and way too many characters were saying 'huh' constantly. But that's a minor issue because everything else in the final 30% annoyed me even more.
Suddenly, the quiet routine that the author had maintained for so long gets interrupted by the presence of half a dozen new characters. These characters are all very loud, very argumentative and it changed the tone of the story. But another problem was that the author shifts the focus to the battle against the invaders and having the MCs interact a lot with those other side characters. The battle stuff bored me but I also didn't like the side characters because I didn't know them well enough. They had been referenced by Lysander from time to time but 70% of the story involved Lysander and Wyl hanging out together so I hated hating these other characters suddenly taking up space in the story.
But the heavy fantasy-action focus in this section also resulted in me realizing that the author had made a big mistep while plotting. It becomes clear very quickly that Lysander and his sister (who also has magical powers) are way too overpowered for the story to make sense. This huge plothole meant that I wasn't invested in the battles in the final third.
Lastly, I found the ending unsatisfying. Not only do we get no resolution to Wyl's family issues (the family who had betrayed and disowned him) but worst of all, Wyl remains a slave at the end of the story. The whole premise of the story was about exploring the master-slave dynamic between the MCs with issues like free will and consent being topics that were often explored.
Overall, I wish some sections of the story had been done differently, especially the final third. That being said, I really enjoyed Lysander and Wyl's relationship and the way the author approached fantasy romance in this story. Unfortunately, this is the author's only book and because it was published in 2017, I don't know if we'll see more from them but I still highly recommend this one if you enjoy slow paced character-driven romantic fantasies.
December 3, 2022
I've been on a bit of a roller coaster with this book; excited when I first heard about it because it sounded so up my alley, then crushed when it wasn't available anywhere, then excited again when one day it suddenly popped up for sale again. So now that I've finally gotten to buy and read it I can safely say that my gut feeling was right: this book was definitely my cup of tea.
The relationship between Wyl, who is exiled and sold as a slave far away from his home, and Lysander, who is looking for a warrior to help keep his home safe, goes through many twists and turns as they deal with magical bonds, mistrust, misunderstandings, communication barriers, and complicated feelings for each other. I always enjoy stories with fish out of water situations and language difficulties, and this story delivered nicely in that aspect.
The book has both more slowly paced and more action-filled parts, and despite the length I never felt like the book was moving too slow. But the characters often spend some time reflecting on the events that happened while we were in the other MCs POV, and while those moments bring some nice insight into their thoughts it also stalls the momentum of the story sometimes, and could have been done more sparingly. However, I really liked the writing overall. The world-building was rich without being overwhelming and the main focus of the book is on Wyl and Lysander and their relationship with each other. I really enjoyed the character and relationship development throughout the story, and how the power balance (and imbalance) between them kept changing in different ways.
A really nice fantasy romance that I was happy I could finally get my hands on!
The relationship between Wyl, who is exiled and sold as a slave far away from his home, and Lysander, who is looking for a warrior to help keep his home safe, goes through many twists and turns as they deal with magical bonds, mistrust, misunderstandings, communication barriers, and complicated feelings for each other. I always enjoy stories with fish out of water situations and language difficulties, and this story delivered nicely in that aspect.
The book has both more slowly paced and more action-filled parts, and despite the length I never felt like the book was moving too slow. But the characters often spend some time reflecting on the events that happened while we were in the other MCs POV, and while those moments bring some nice insight into their thoughts it also stalls the momentum of the story sometimes, and could have been done more sparingly. However, I really liked the writing overall. The world-building was rich without being overwhelming and the main focus of the book is on Wyl and Lysander and their relationship with each other. I really enjoyed the character and relationship development throughout the story, and how the power balance (and imbalance) between them kept changing in different ways.
A really nice fantasy romance that I was happy I could finally get my hands on!
February 24, 2017
2.5
54 раза. Я специально посчитала. Лисандер за эту книгу умудрился покраснеть аж 54 (пятьдесят четыре) чертовых раза! Волнуюсь, как бы не переплюнул на этом поприще героиню "Пятидесяти оттенков".
Трепетность, совестливость, доброта, гуманность, стеснительность, склонность к самобичеванию, всепрощению и самопожертвованию... насколько эти качества могут быть выражены у мужчины, живущего в рабовладельческую эпоху? Не сильно, скорее всего. У Лисандера же они с самого начала переходят все границы. Он готов ежеминутно возлагать на себя вину за что угодно, включая все беды мира. Он регулярно просит прощения у спасенного им раба, Уила, и общается с ним не приказами, а мольбами. Он считает своей обязанностью самолично вымыть Уила, накормить первым и отдать тому на ночь свою постель, оставшись спать на полу. Он ухаживает за ним во время болезни, раздевает, обтирает, поит. И, наконец, он решает, что раз Уил не может иметь личной жизни, то и у него самого ее тоже быть не должно.
Это не живой человек, которому можно сочувствовать, это какой-то ангел во плоти, впервые спустившийся на грешную землю.
Про Уила же можно сказать, что он чересчур упертый и, видимо, не слишком сообразительный, раз не дает себе труд задуматься и проанализировать свою ситуацию и поведение окружающих. Этакий солдафон. Но выучить за несколько дней чужой язык на уровне носителя это да, такое ему, конечно, по силам. Почему нет?
Жаль, но не срослось. Сюжет казался многообещающим, но ни один из персонажей не вызвал симпатии.
54 раза. Я специально посчитала. Лисандер за эту книгу умудрился покраснеть аж 54 (пятьдесят четыре) чертовых раза! Волнуюсь, как бы не переплюнул на этом поприще героиню "Пятидесяти оттенков".
Трепетность, совестливость, доброта, гуманность, стеснительность, склонность к самобичеванию, всепрощению и самопожертвованию... насколько эти качества могут быть выражены у мужчины, живущего в рабовладельческую эпоху? Не сильно, скорее всего. У Лисандера же они с самого начала переходят все границы. Он готов ежеминутно возлагать на себя вину за что угодно, включая все беды мира. Он регулярно просит прощения у спасенного им раба, Уила, и общается с ним не приказами, а мольбами. Он считает своей обязанностью самолично вымыть Уила, накормить первым и отдать тому на ночь свою постель, оставшись спать на полу. Он ухаживает за ним во время болезни, раздевает, обтирает, поит. И, наконец, он решает, что раз Уил не может иметь личной жизни, то и у него самого ее тоже быть не должно.
Это не живой человек, которому можно сочувствовать, это какой-то ангел во плоти, впервые спустившийся на грешную землю.
Про Уила же можно сказать, что он чересчур упертый и, видимо, не слишком сообразительный, раз не дает себе труд задуматься и проанализировать свою ситуацию и поведение окружающих. Этакий солдафон. Но выучить за несколько дней чужой язык на уровне носителя это да, такое ему, конечно, по силам. Почему нет?
Жаль, но не срослось. Сюжет казался многообещающим, но ни один из персонажей не вызвал симпатии.
April 14, 2018
3.9 Stars
Okay, this one was hard to rate. Parts of it reminded me of Captive Prince and other parts would make me think of the Free Men series. Add in a touch of Avatar (the cartoon)...and yeah, lots of similarities.
But that said I was still very much engrossed in the story. I loved the beginning with the language barrier making things difficult to explain; I loved how that created a lot of tension, misconceptions and amped up the frustration. I very much wanted to see how Lysander would work to stay true to his initial plan and to see how Wyl would react when he realized that the "owner" he had built up in his head, who he had made wrong assumptions about and acted horribly toward...well, wasn't that man at all.
Great drama, great character growth (Wyl) & great world-building as well. Another new-to-me author that I'd be happy to read from again.
Okay, this one was hard to rate. Parts of it reminded me of Captive Prince and other parts would make me think of the Free Men series. Add in a touch of Avatar (the cartoon)...and yeah, lots of similarities.
But that said I was still very much engrossed in the story. I loved the beginning with the language barrier making things difficult to explain; I loved how that created a lot of tension, misconceptions and amped up the frustration. I very much wanted to see how Lysander would work to stay true to his initial plan and to see how Wyl would react when he realized that the "owner" he had built up in his head, who he had made wrong assumptions about and acted horribly toward...well, wasn't that man at all.
Great drama, great character growth (Wyl) & great world-building as well. Another new-to-me author that I'd be happy to read from again.
June 24, 2018
3.5 stars
There was a lot to like about this book...especially the excellent world building, the clever story, and the main characters' development. Nice prose and fairly well edited. What I didn't care for was the miscommunication and melodrama. I also had issues with the constant rehashing of certain scenes. What on earth was the purpose in that, and why didn't the editor catch it? The pacing was off... dragged in the slave trade city and crossing the desert, flew by in the Hold. Not enough time with Lysander's family to really get to know them, let alone to make that newly forged family bond seem believable. I didn't care for the focus on the sex either. Too much. And the language barrier wore thin.
Still, I basically liked it, recommend it, but don't know if I'd read another book by this author.
There was a lot to like about this book...especially the excellent world building, the clever story, and the main characters' development. Nice prose and fairly well edited. What I didn't care for was the miscommunication and melodrama. I also had issues with the constant rehashing of certain scenes. What on earth was the purpose in that, and why didn't the editor catch it? The pacing was off... dragged in the slave trade city and crossing the desert, flew by in the Hold. Not enough time with Lysander's family to really get to know them, let alone to make that newly forged family bond seem believable. I didn't care for the focus on the sex either. Too much. And the language barrier wore thin.
Still, I basically liked it, recommend it, but don't know if I'd read another book by this author.
January 15, 2023
Holy fuck this was good.
…why was this so good?!
This fantasy stand-alone is seriously flying under the radar.
…why was this so good?!
This fantasy stand-alone is seriously flying under the radar.
February 7, 2017
Outstanding
When betrayals from his friends and family combine to land him in the south lands as a slave, Wyl is purchased by a Magi of uncommon kindness and skill. Language barriers and misunderstandings nearly destroy a fragile peace between them when Wyl turns the tables on his master. True understanding finally soothes huts and brings together two men who were meant to be. This an HEA with nice (though not steamy) MM sex. The story was excellently told, a well crafted tale of a stranger finding his love and fate in a new land.
When betrayals from his friends and family combine to land him in the south lands as a slave, Wyl is purchased by a Magi of uncommon kindness and skill. Language barriers and misunderstandings nearly destroy a fragile peace between them when Wyl turns the tables on his master. True understanding finally soothes huts and brings together two men who were meant to be. This an HEA with nice (though not steamy) MM sex. The story was excellently told, a well crafted tale of a stranger finding his love and fate in a new land.
October 23, 2017
Enticing male/male romance fantasy pairing a mage and warrior slave in a story of magical sexual binding wrapped up in fear and falling
I found this to be an enticing and at times a bit heated fantasy story of a desert mage who purchases a northern warrior as pleasure slave. The magical bond between them complicated their efforts to work as master and slave, warrior and mage, and a couple fearing and falling for each other.
A nice combination of light fantasy fare with a bit of explicit man-on-man sizzle.
4.5 stars
I found this to be an enticing and at times a bit heated fantasy story of a desert mage who purchases a northern warrior as pleasure slave. The magical bond between them complicated their efforts to work as master and slave, warrior and mage, and a couple fearing and falling for each other.
A nice combination of light fantasy fare with a bit of explicit man-on-man sizzle.
4.5 stars
December 2, 2017
Excellent book, long journey for this couple full of mistrust and misunderstandings. I was glad that Wyl found love and a true family and Lysander found a true mate who loved him for his gentle and caring self. This was my first book by this author and I’m looking forward to reading more of her books. 😌
May 7, 2017
VERY enjoyable!
March 2, 2017
**Grammar**
Wylham was a prince, he was the leader of his father's army, and was respected. He had plenty of lovers, not only women but also men, and sometimes he was the one on the bottom, but every thing he did was his decision and he was free. At least until his step-mother became pregnant and using lies had convinced his father to disown him and sell him into slavery. His father had not only abandoned him, but he had sold him to be a pleasure slave. This had been his destiny, until he had met the magi.
Lysander is a magi, he controls the hard elements. He is strong, but he needs help. His family's Hold is under attack, from the Vipers, their oldest enemies, and also if his twin sister, a magi of the light elements, and his brother, a warrior, are strong, they still are under siege and dont know how to win the war.
Lysader knows that they need a warrior, someone who will help his oldest brother to lead the army, and will help him during his recovery from a recent injury. For days Lysander searched the slave markets for a suitable man for the job, but no one attracted his attention. Until he met Wyl.
The northman is fierce and also if chained he is proud and doesn't submit. What Lysander needs to do to make him his slave, breaks his heart but he doesn't have any choice. The slave will be root bonded to him. He will not be able to run away and he will not be able to seek pleasure without Lysander. The magi doesn't want to do the ritual, he never had a slave and he doesn't like slavery, but if he doesnt take the man someone else will, and maybe that person will really use Wyl as nothing more than a pleasure slave and not like a warrior.
The first time they meet, Wyl can't stop himself from hating the magi and what he is doing to him. He doesn't understand that Lysander is doing the ritual bcs he must and not bcs he wants. The fact that he doesn't understand the magi's language isn't helping with the misunderstanding. Every time Lysander does something nice for him or buys him nice clothes, Wyl gets angry bcs he thinks the other man is trying to get his trust only to betray him later, maybe making him serve his guests as a pleasure slave. Wyl was betrayed by his family and he doesnt have the strenght to believe a man he just met.
Lysander wants to be the best master for Wyl, he wants the other man to be happy and trust him, to understand that he just wanted someone to fight with him in exchange of his freedom and that this awful bonding wasn't his idea. But the other man is wounded in his soul and can't understand his words.
Things seems to get better when they are finally able to talk thanks to another slave that translates for them, but in the end nothing really changes. Wyl is still angry and wants revenge for what happened to him and if he cant get it on his father and mother in-law, he will get it on Lysander. Wyl asks for a bargain, he will help Lysander and in exchange Lysander will help him with his "release".
Lysander accepts and that same night they have sex together.
The magi had never been with another man before Wyl, and his only sexual experience had been with his fiancee. That woman is still waiting for him, but Lysander knows that he can't be with her anymore. His slave can find release only with him and he needs to be with him, and if he does he needs to leave the woman he thought he loved. Lysander was naive and kind and reading his thoughts we understand that he didn't really love his future wife, but that they both had agreed on the wedding, bcs the woman wanted to get a better social status and cared for him, while Lysander thought that no one else would love him, and maybe he would be alone.
When Wyl asks, or to better say demands, Lysander to pleasure him, the magi doesnt think twice about the offer, bcs he would be lying to himself if he said that he wasn't attracted to the other man. He wants to be with Wyl, and he thinks that maybe the other man wants him too, but later that same night after they have had sex and Lysander asks Wyl to stay with him in the same bed for the night, the warrior ignores him and leaves the room. Lysander then understands that he was wrong, that Wyl doesn't care about him, but he is a man of honor and he will continue pleasuring Wyl, just the next time he will not put his heart in it.
Wyl wanted to be rough and use Lysander, but in the end he had been kind and gentle, preparing him and waiting before going all the way. But everytime he was with him, touching his body and his eyes catched a glimpse of the binding ring on his finger, he got madder. In the end he had been the only one receiving pleasure, he had been cold and distant with Lysander and also if he hadn't hurt him phisically he had hurt his feelings.
Wyl can't forget about Lysander's face and of how his shy smile had fallen from his lips, when he had refused to stay with him. He had been a dick, seeking only his pleasure, being a selfish lover to someone that had never been with another man.
In the next days, he doesnt see Lysander, bcs the man giving hospitality to them, ordered Wyl to leave Lysander alone. Wyl doesn't have any other choice than follow the order or be left in the desert storm.
When he and Lysander finally meet again, is the day they need to continue their jorney towards the Hold, and Wyl understands that something is changed btw them and not in a good way.
Lysander is silent and cold, and Wyl is starting to believe that maybe he hurt him the night they were together, but he doesnt think that he hurt his feelings. When he tries to touch Lysander, he is proven right, by the fact that the magi is scared of him. From that moment Wyl decides to never touch the magi again, and tries to resist his needs, bcs deep inside his heart he knows that he is starting to care about Lysander, maybe he already cared too much the night they were together.
Lysander is trying all he can to be cold to Wyl, he is willing his body to not react to his touch or his presence, and until now this is working, but if Wyl wants to use him he will not fight him. Wyl thinks that he is scared of him bcs he hurt him their fist time together, but is not like that. He just doesn't want to fall in love with the man and be rejected again, bcs that is what hurt him, the rejection he gave him and the selfishness with which Wyl only had cared about his release.
Days pass and during their jorney things start to change again. Is hard to resist the pull of their hearts and the feelings that also if buried are trying to surface again.
They are almost near the Hold when they get attacked by the Vipers. Wyl fights, Lysander uses his magic and in the end they win.
Few days later, they are back at the Hold and Lysander has to explain to his siblings and his fiancee why he is breaking the betrothal and why he has a slave with him.
They argue, Lysander's siblings understand that something is wrong btw Wyl and their brother and when they find out that Wyl used him, Lysander's twin sister gets so mad to almost kill Wyl.
Only her wife is able to stop her and later Wyl will explain to her, that he was sorry and that he had acted like that bcs he hadnt known the real story behind his root binding.
Wyl know knows that Lysander was only kind and sweet to him and he needs to ask the magi forgivness, and in doing so he needs to get his trust.
To make this shorter....
In the end Lysander and Wyl talk and finally clear their misunderstandings and Wyl tells the magi about how he ended in the slave markets.
Lysander tells him that also if he doesnt have his real family anymore, he will find another family in him and his siblings and the people of the Hold.
Few days later they are attacked by the Vipers. In the battle some people die and some get badly hurt. One of them is Lysander's brother, while trying to stop his sister from succumbing to the rage of her powers. Lysander and his sister fall in a deep magi's sleep, caused by the eccessive use of their powers, but is thanks to them if the Hold is still standing.
Thanks to Wyl's fighting skills and his plan, and with the help of Bynaia(Lysander's former fiancee), a smart woman with hidden fighting skills, they will be able to lure the remaining enemies back to the Hold, where Wyl and Lysander, with their men, will destroy them and win this battle.
They have won and now they need to be healed.
Wyl almost died during the battle and only Lysander's magic was able to save him from the men who were ready to kill him. Now he needs to heal, like many other warriors and Lysander's siblings.
Lysander is feeling guilty, bcs he thinks the Viper were able to get in the Hold thanks to a crack in the walls he hadn't seen, and for this reason he almost lost the man he loves. The man he had bought to fight with him and then free, but that in the end had been root bonded to him for all his life and he had almost lost.
Wyl tries to tell him that this is not his fault and that he knows that Lysander's intentions were good and that he is not a monster, but a good person with a big heart.
Finally they confess their feelings.
------------------------------------------------
{"My haseid, you are the kindest, gentlest, and most honorable man I have ever known.You saved me from a slave markets. You cared for me, clothed me, and despite the way I.. how I used you..your heart was big enough to forgive me and more important let me love you."}
{"Love?"}
{"Yes, love."... I love you."}
{"I love you too,"...I love you more than I knew I was capable of loving another."}
-------------------------------------------------
{"I love you,"...."You own me completely, Lysander. Not because of some cursed spell or some ring, but because you have my heart. There's nothing I would not do for you, my beautiful, gentle haseid. I am truly your bindi"}
{"I am a poor haseid, for I find my will is often that of my magnificent bind's,"...."Yet, as poor a haseid as I am, I try, for there is nothing I would not give you. There is nothing I would not do to see you well. I love you, Wyl. As long as I am alive, and beyond, I will always love you."}
-------------------------------------------------
They make love and finally Lysander is able to understand what is really like to be one with the personyou love.
Wyl is not selfish like he was their first time, this time he is the lover he had always wanted him to be. Wyl can't believe his Fate, and how he was able to find love and finally be happy again.
I liked the book, but there were some things that annoyed me. Like the fact that Wyl will always depend for his release on Lysander. I don't mind the fact that Wyl will only be able to be with Lysander in that way, bcs they are in love and is normal in my opinion to only seek one person when u love them, but the thing that I didn't like was the fact that all the time he has to come, Lysander needs to grant him permission with his words...Idk.....felt strange and not sexy at all.
Sometimes I wanted to slap Wyl, mostly when he acted like a jerk towards Lysander. The magi was only good to him and also if I can understand why Wyl hated him in the first weeks they spent together, I really couldn't understand why he didn't try to make the other man explain himself using the slave translating for them. For a person who claimed to be able to read others, he wasn't able to prevent his family from betraying him and he didn't uderstand that Lysander was just in need of an ally.
There were some other things that I wanted to know, like for example, Will our Northman try to get his throne back? If I was him I would try to get revenge on the dicks who betrayed me and sold me to a miserable fate.
Said this there were also some scenes that made me happy, like the one where Lysander forged a bracelet to wear as a reminder of his binding to Wyl or when they finally made love.
The story had a good potential and maybe some people will love it, but for me is a 3.5 stars.
I will gladly read other books from this author, and maybe I will find some 5 stars btw them...who knows.
Wylham was a prince, he was the leader of his father's army, and was respected. He had plenty of lovers, not only women but also men, and sometimes he was the one on the bottom, but every thing he did was his decision and he was free. At least until his step-mother became pregnant and using lies had convinced his father to disown him and sell him into slavery. His father had not only abandoned him, but he had sold him to be a pleasure slave. This had been his destiny, until he had met the magi.
Lysander is a magi, he controls the hard elements. He is strong, but he needs help. His family's Hold is under attack, from the Vipers, their oldest enemies, and also if his twin sister, a magi of the light elements, and his brother, a warrior, are strong, they still are under siege and dont know how to win the war.
Lysader knows that they need a warrior, someone who will help his oldest brother to lead the army, and will help him during his recovery from a recent injury. For days Lysander searched the slave markets for a suitable man for the job, but no one attracted his attention. Until he met Wyl.
The northman is fierce and also if chained he is proud and doesn't submit. What Lysander needs to do to make him his slave, breaks his heart but he doesn't have any choice. The slave will be root bonded to him. He will not be able to run away and he will not be able to seek pleasure without Lysander. The magi doesn't want to do the ritual, he never had a slave and he doesn't like slavery, but if he doesnt take the man someone else will, and maybe that person will really use Wyl as nothing more than a pleasure slave and not like a warrior.
The first time they meet, Wyl can't stop himself from hating the magi and what he is doing to him. He doesn't understand that Lysander is doing the ritual bcs he must and not bcs he wants. The fact that he doesn't understand the magi's language isn't helping with the misunderstanding. Every time Lysander does something nice for him or buys him nice clothes, Wyl gets angry bcs he thinks the other man is trying to get his trust only to betray him later, maybe making him serve his guests as a pleasure slave. Wyl was betrayed by his family and he doesnt have the strenght to believe a man he just met.
Lysander wants to be the best master for Wyl, he wants the other man to be happy and trust him, to understand that he just wanted someone to fight with him in exchange of his freedom and that this awful bonding wasn't his idea. But the other man is wounded in his soul and can't understand his words.
Things seems to get better when they are finally able to talk thanks to another slave that translates for them, but in the end nothing really changes. Wyl is still angry and wants revenge for what happened to him and if he cant get it on his father and mother in-law, he will get it on Lysander. Wyl asks for a bargain, he will help Lysander and in exchange Lysander will help him with his "release".
Lysander accepts and that same night they have sex together.
The magi had never been with another man before Wyl, and his only sexual experience had been with his fiancee. That woman is still waiting for him, but Lysander knows that he can't be with her anymore. His slave can find release only with him and he needs to be with him, and if he does he needs to leave the woman he thought he loved. Lysander was naive and kind and reading his thoughts we understand that he didn't really love his future wife, but that they both had agreed on the wedding, bcs the woman wanted to get a better social status and cared for him, while Lysander thought that no one else would love him, and maybe he would be alone.
When Wyl asks, or to better say demands, Lysander to pleasure him, the magi doesnt think twice about the offer, bcs he would be lying to himself if he said that he wasn't attracted to the other man. He wants to be with Wyl, and he thinks that maybe the other man wants him too, but later that same night after they have had sex and Lysander asks Wyl to stay with him in the same bed for the night, the warrior ignores him and leaves the room. Lysander then understands that he was wrong, that Wyl doesn't care about him, but he is a man of honor and he will continue pleasuring Wyl, just the next time he will not put his heart in it.
Wyl wanted to be rough and use Lysander, but in the end he had been kind and gentle, preparing him and waiting before going all the way. But everytime he was with him, touching his body and his eyes catched a glimpse of the binding ring on his finger, he got madder. In the end he had been the only one receiving pleasure, he had been cold and distant with Lysander and also if he hadn't hurt him phisically he had hurt his feelings.
Wyl can't forget about Lysander's face and of how his shy smile had fallen from his lips, when he had refused to stay with him. He had been a dick, seeking only his pleasure, being a selfish lover to someone that had never been with another man.
In the next days, he doesnt see Lysander, bcs the man giving hospitality to them, ordered Wyl to leave Lysander alone. Wyl doesn't have any other choice than follow the order or be left in the desert storm.
When he and Lysander finally meet again, is the day they need to continue their jorney towards the Hold, and Wyl understands that something is changed btw them and not in a good way.
Lysander is silent and cold, and Wyl is starting to believe that maybe he hurt him the night they were together, but he doesnt think that he hurt his feelings. When he tries to touch Lysander, he is proven right, by the fact that the magi is scared of him. From that moment Wyl decides to never touch the magi again, and tries to resist his needs, bcs deep inside his heart he knows that he is starting to care about Lysander, maybe he already cared too much the night they were together.
Lysander is trying all he can to be cold to Wyl, he is willing his body to not react to his touch or his presence, and until now this is working, but if Wyl wants to use him he will not fight him. Wyl thinks that he is scared of him bcs he hurt him their fist time together, but is not like that. He just doesn't want to fall in love with the man and be rejected again, bcs that is what hurt him, the rejection he gave him and the selfishness with which Wyl only had cared about his release.
Days pass and during their jorney things start to change again. Is hard to resist the pull of their hearts and the feelings that also if buried are trying to surface again.
They are almost near the Hold when they get attacked by the Vipers. Wyl fights, Lysander uses his magic and in the end they win.
Few days later, they are back at the Hold and Lysander has to explain to his siblings and his fiancee why he is breaking the betrothal and why he has a slave with him.
They argue, Lysander's siblings understand that something is wrong btw Wyl and their brother and when they find out that Wyl used him, Lysander's twin sister gets so mad to almost kill Wyl.
Only her wife is able to stop her and later Wyl will explain to her, that he was sorry and that he had acted like that bcs he hadnt known the real story behind his root binding.
Wyl know knows that Lysander was only kind and sweet to him and he needs to ask the magi forgivness, and in doing so he needs to get his trust.
To make this shorter....
In the end Lysander and Wyl talk and finally clear their misunderstandings and Wyl tells the magi about how he ended in the slave markets.
Lysander tells him that also if he doesnt have his real family anymore, he will find another family in him and his siblings and the people of the Hold.
Few days later they are attacked by the Vipers. In the battle some people die and some get badly hurt. One of them is Lysander's brother, while trying to stop his sister from succumbing to the rage of her powers. Lysander and his sister fall in a deep magi's sleep, caused by the eccessive use of their powers, but is thanks to them if the Hold is still standing.
Thanks to Wyl's fighting skills and his plan, and with the help of Bynaia(Lysander's former fiancee), a smart woman with hidden fighting skills, they will be able to lure the remaining enemies back to the Hold, where Wyl and Lysander, with their men, will destroy them and win this battle.
They have won and now they need to be healed.
Wyl almost died during the battle and only Lysander's magic was able to save him from the men who were ready to kill him. Now he needs to heal, like many other warriors and Lysander's siblings.
Lysander is feeling guilty, bcs he thinks the Viper were able to get in the Hold thanks to a crack in the walls he hadn't seen, and for this reason he almost lost the man he loves. The man he had bought to fight with him and then free, but that in the end had been root bonded to him for all his life and he had almost lost.
Wyl tries to tell him that this is not his fault and that he knows that Lysander's intentions were good and that he is not a monster, but a good person with a big heart.
Finally they confess their feelings.
------------------------------------------------
{"My haseid, you are the kindest, gentlest, and most honorable man I have ever known.You saved me from a slave markets. You cared for me, clothed me, and despite the way I.. how I used you..your heart was big enough to forgive me and more important let me love you."}
{"Love?"}
{"Yes, love."... I love you."}
{"I love you too,"...I love you more than I knew I was capable of loving another."}
-------------------------------------------------
{"I love you,"...."You own me completely, Lysander. Not because of some cursed spell or some ring, but because you have my heart. There's nothing I would not do for you, my beautiful, gentle haseid. I am truly your bindi"}
{"I am a poor haseid, for I find my will is often that of my magnificent bind's,"...."Yet, as poor a haseid as I am, I try, for there is nothing I would not give you. There is nothing I would not do to see you well. I love you, Wyl. As long as I am alive, and beyond, I will always love you."}
-------------------------------------------------
They make love and finally Lysander is able to understand what is really like to be one with the personyou love.
Wyl is not selfish like he was their first time, this time he is the lover he had always wanted him to be. Wyl can't believe his Fate, and how he was able to find love and finally be happy again.
I liked the book, but there were some things that annoyed me. Like the fact that Wyl will always depend for his release on Lysander. I don't mind the fact that Wyl will only be able to be with Lysander in that way, bcs they are in love and is normal in my opinion to only seek one person when u love them, but the thing that I didn't like was the fact that all the time he has to come, Lysander needs to grant him permission with his words...Idk.....felt strange and not sexy at all.
Sometimes I wanted to slap Wyl, mostly when he acted like a jerk towards Lysander. The magi was only good to him and also if I can understand why Wyl hated him in the first weeks they spent together, I really couldn't understand why he didn't try to make the other man explain himself using the slave translating for them. For a person who claimed to be able to read others, he wasn't able to prevent his family from betraying him and he didn't uderstand that Lysander was just in need of an ally.
There were some other things that I wanted to know, like for example, Will our Northman try to get his throne back? If I was him I would try to get revenge on the dicks who betrayed me and sold me to a miserable fate.
Said this there were also some scenes that made me happy, like the one where Lysander forged a bracelet to wear as a reminder of his binding to Wyl or when they finally made love.
The story had a good potential and maybe some people will love it, but for me is a 3.5 stars.
I will gladly read other books from this author, and maybe I will find some 5 stars btw them...who knows.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2017
*2,5 STARS
I found the premise for this book quite interesting, and I was glad, for once to see a slave story that had an original reason for the slavery. I also like the fact that both MCs are strong men who can hold their own. My favorite thing in this book was the unique interaction between the master and the slave, their reverse dynamics were really what kept me reading.
Unfortunately, there were things that made me not enjoy this book as much as I could have. The pacing was not very good. For me, the beginning felt really long. Their stay in the city was unnecessarily detailed. Their journey through the desert was way too long. Then, there was one thing that I strongly dislike in any book: when the MCs don’t speak the same language, making them unable to communicate with each other. I can’t stand it when that happens, and here, it took like a third of the book for them to begin to understand each other. Also, the speed with which Wyl learnt the language was unrealistic, to say the least. He was fluent in, like, 2 weeks. Really?
So, back to the pacing, the purpose of their journey was to get to the Hold so they could save it from its enemies. But everything that happened since they arrived felt rushed. The interactions with Lysander’s family, the fighting, etc., I would have preferred to spend more time there instead of the amount of time they spent in the city and the desert. Just an opinion.
I found the premise for this book quite interesting, and I was glad, for once to see a slave story that had an original reason for the slavery. I also like the fact that both MCs are strong men who can hold their own. My favorite thing in this book was the unique interaction between the master and the slave, their reverse dynamics were really what kept me reading.
Unfortunately, there were things that made me not enjoy this book as much as I could have. The pacing was not very good. For me, the beginning felt really long. Their stay in the city was unnecessarily detailed. Their journey through the desert was way too long. Then, there was one thing that I strongly dislike in any book: when the MCs don’t speak the same language, making them unable to communicate with each other. I can’t stand it when that happens, and here, it took like a third of the book for them to begin to understand each other. Also, the speed with which Wyl learnt the language was unrealistic, to say the least. He was fluent in, like, 2 weeks. Really?
So, back to the pacing, the purpose of their journey was to get to the Hold so they could save it from its enemies. But everything that happened since they arrived felt rushed. The interactions with Lysander’s family, the fighting, etc., I would have preferred to spend more time there instead of the amount of time they spent in the city and the desert. Just an opinion.
February 8, 2021
Reread 2/7/21. This was just as good as the first time I read it!
Amazing book! This one made it to my favorites shelf, so y'all know it's a good book! Wyl and Lysander are two men from two completely different cultures and regions, but when they cross each others paths, both their lives are forever changed. This sort of had a Captive Prince vibe to it, that I always enjoy. Highborn Wyl is sold into slavery by his father and conniving stepmother to a land of deserts far south. He gets bought by Lysander on his third day at the slave markets. Lysander, unknown to Wyl, is a very sweet mage just trying to save his home from invaders and who just happens to be looking for a warrior to help him. There are stipulations to Wyl's sale that Lysander must do to buy (save) him. At first, Wyl hates Lysander for buying him, and because of the language barrier between them, things don't start off too good. Things do take a turn for the good after some revelations and comprises, and they both find what they didn't know they needed. This story had amazing world building, details galore and awesome characters that brought this story to life. I wouldn't complain if there was ever a sequel either! I highly recommend this one to any who enjoyed Captive Prince or those who enjoy the enemies-to-lovers genre!
Amazing book! This one made it to my favorites shelf, so y'all know it's a good book! Wyl and Lysander are two men from two completely different cultures and regions, but when they cross each others paths, both their lives are forever changed. This sort of had a Captive Prince vibe to it, that I always enjoy. Highborn Wyl is sold into slavery by his father and conniving stepmother to a land of deserts far south. He gets bought by Lysander on his third day at the slave markets. Lysander, unknown to Wyl, is a very sweet mage just trying to save his home from invaders and who just happens to be looking for a warrior to help him. There are stipulations to Wyl's sale that Lysander must do to buy (save) him. At first, Wyl hates Lysander for buying him, and because of the language barrier between them, things don't start off too good. Things do take a turn for the good after some revelations and comprises, and they both find what they didn't know they needed. This story had amazing world building, details galore and awesome characters that brought this story to life. I wouldn't complain if there was ever a sequel either! I highly recommend this one to any who enjoyed Captive Prince or those who enjoy the enemies-to-lovers genre!
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November 26, 2017
The first few pages of this book did not wow me, but then the story took off and got me hooked. The two main character's relationship is the drive of the story, and it is an exciting pairing of very different personalities. I also liked how the author had them not understanding each other's language, and it really made the story special. The language difficulty between the main characters was very well written by the author and made an interesting read. The ending of the book sadly did not hold my interest all the way, which is why I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
December 21, 2022
The beginning was rough. The ending not my jam. Damn that main middle section of the book. Made me cry and go through all of the emotions.
Recommend as a captive/captor romance with solid plot and characters.
Recommend as a captive/captor romance with solid plot and characters.
February 23, 2017
Чтобы защитить своих людей, Лисандер решается на отчаянный шаг – он находит воина среди рабов на продажу. Вот только объяснить этому рабу, зачем он ему нужен, Лисандер толком не может – воин не говорит на его языке. Еще больше запутывает ситуацию то, что при покупке Лисандер связывает Уила (раба) необратимым заклинанием, которое обычно применяют к рабам, предназначенным для удовлетворения плотских утех. Мало того, что Уил не может причинить своему хозяину физический вред, так он и кончить теперь может только по его указке. Очень унизительная ситуация для гордого воина, который и без того оказался в непростом положении.
Несмотря на свою длину книга не изобилует персонажами и экшном. Первые 65% главные герои добираются через пустыню до дома Лисандера, общаясь между собой словами «да», «нет», «хорошо» и парой ругательств. Но скучно мне не было ни секунды.
К минусам можно отнести постельные сцены, они откровенно так себе, но я быстро закрыла глаза на этот факт т.к. мне очень понравился Лисандер. Он такой добрый, бескорыстный и всепрощающий, что первый раз в слэйв фикшн мне хотелось настучать по башке не хозяину, а его рабу.
В общем, не без изъянов, но очень увлекательно. Я бы с удовольствием почитала про другую пару в этом же мире.
Несмотря на свою длину книга не изобилует персонажами и экшном. Первые 65% главные герои добираются через пустыню до дома Лисандера, общаясь между собой словами «да», «нет», «хорошо» и парой ругательств. Но скучно мне не было ни секунды.
К минусам можно отнести постельные сцены, они откровенно так себе, но я быстро закрыла глаза на этот факт т.к. мне очень понравился Лисандер. Он такой добрый, бескорыстный и всепрощающий, что первый раз в слэйв фикшн мне хотелось настучать по башке не хозяину, а его рабу.
В общем, не без изъянов, но очень увлекательно. Я бы с удовольствием почитала про другую пару в этом же мире.
September 27, 2019
I went into this book with very high expectations, which is obviously always a bit unfair on a book. And while it didn't blow me away quite as much as I'd hoped, I still very much enjoyed it.
Desert Ice had a lot of aspects that I really love in my books; the setting, the situation in which Wyl and Lysander found themselves, the language barrier, enemies to lovers - man, I am a sucker for that! I really liked the desert aspect, it felt exotic and unusual.
There were moments - and not only moments but really long passages as well - that were incredibly well written and made me fall in love with this book so hard that I even considered giving it 5 stars. So why "only" 4?
First of all, the beginning of the book was a bit bumpy; I feel like Rose Maefair found her flow only at around 10% in.
Also, I really had an issue with the author's habit of using lots and lots of exclamation marks as well as quotation marks in her descriptions (eg. Lysander's "honorary" guards stepped closer as he prepared to... ). That's lazy writing. Either use italics, which is a more elegant solution; or find a better word.
Lastly and maybe most importantly; Wyl's constant threats and exclamations of indignation felt over the top. Sometimes, less is more. It made everything feel very dramatic, and not in a good way.
All in all, though, this was a very enjoyable read. I would definitely read the sequel that is supposedly planned.
Desert Ice had a lot of aspects that I really love in my books; the setting, the situation in which Wyl and Lysander found themselves, the language barrier, enemies to lovers - man, I am a sucker for that! I really liked the desert aspect, it felt exotic and unusual.
There were moments - and not only moments but really long passages as well - that were incredibly well written and made me fall in love with this book so hard that I even considered giving it 5 stars. So why "only" 4?
First of all, the beginning of the book was a bit bumpy; I feel like Rose Maefair found her flow only at around 10% in.
Also, I really had an issue with the author's habit of using lots and lots of exclamation marks as well as quotation marks in her descriptions (eg. Lysander's "honorary" guards stepped closer as he prepared to... ). That's lazy writing. Either use italics, which is a more elegant solution; or find a better word.
Lastly and maybe most importantly; Wyl's constant threats and exclamations of indignation felt over the top. Sometimes, less is more. It made everything feel very dramatic, and not in a good way.
All in all, though, this was a very enjoyable read. I would definitely read the sequel that is supposedly planned.
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