Gaven

Gaven #1

by J.C. Owens

When the Masarians attack Gaven's people, they are defeated and Gaven himself is taken captive. By a man claiming to be his father. It turns out his entire life has been a lie, and now his 'father' will give him into the hands of another man to indoctrinate and train him. Gaven vows he will never shame his people by giving into the Masarians' way of loving other men.

But Vlar, the legendary warrior to whom he has been given, has other plans. The blood-drinker is determined to have Gaven and to make him yield.

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse, dubious consent, male/male sexual practices, violence, voyeurism.

Genres: M M Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal, BDSM, Romance, Erotica, Military Fiction

86 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 4, 2009

About the author

Also known as J.C. McGuire.

J.C Owens lives in small town, rural Alberta and is a self confessed writing-a-holic. In the absence of help for this affliction…

I do indeed love to write and have now completed thirty published stories, along with over twenty books sitting idle in my computer, waiting… I love the genre of male/male stories and conflict in what a person thinks they want, versus what they truly need to become themselves. I think any writing that shows the beauty of men loving men is worthwhile.

I love to hear from my readers and always appreciate suggestions and comments for future books. Sharing a love of reading and good, hot sensuality between men is always a cause for celebration!

Reviews

[Julio Genao · Rating 1 out of 5]

hey, you know what would be hot?



the facerape of a 17yo with a broken arm, in the most overripe and repetitive language possible.

a true one-handed read!

unfortunately, the other hand isn't on my dick; it's holding up my middle finger.

[Elise ✘ a.k.a Ryder's Pet ✘ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Re-read: 07.09.2019
I don't regret re-read this one either. J.C. Owens makes interesting stories that holds your attention, with a nice plot line and awesome characters. Overall, it's short so it doesn't take long to read, it doesn't have insta-love, and it gives a build up for book two.

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*It Wasn't Bad*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

First read review:
The book centers around Gaven (17, almost 18), bastard son of the leader of Masarians. He didn't know this and only found out when he was taken back to the Masarian, however, Gaven refuses to believe it. On the journey to the capital for the people, he learns the he'll be Vlar's - the second in command of the Masarians - eraman, to be thought to love with another man and to become a warrior worthy of the Masarians. This is not what Gaven wants as he hates the man who killed the people he grew up with and he will not bow down easily.

Overall, the book wasn't actually that bad. I like the concept; it reminded me of Kristen Ashley's The Golden Dynasty book. Which is a good thing. I'm glad we have another book for the two to read as the story would've sucked if it had ended with this one. I liked Gaven as a character and though we didn't really got to know Vlar on a more personal level, I'm looking forward to doing so. I'm glad that I decided to read this one after all, even though I had previously shelved it as a ‘check won't read’ book. I'm on the road to read tons of J.C. Owens' books. I really like the authors writing and stories! On to the next one.

“Your name is Gaven. You are a bastard child, raised in sufferance by the grace of your lord within the fortress itself. Your mother was the laundress, who died but two years ago. You are almost eighteen, and proud of the fact that the lord actually granted you leave to train to be a guard. You have started late to the sword, but show some impressive natural skill which impressed your lord and made him take notice of you.”
I stared in shock at him, at his perfect knowledge of my life, of me.
“We have kept an eye on you, young Gaven. You are of more importance than you know. You are the son of my lord, the High Commander of the Masarian army.” His grin was tinged with malice. “You are half Masarian, Gaven, one of us.

Quotes From Book:

“Your mother was a seeress, Gaven. A very well known seeress in our lands. Although she was not Masarian, she chose to reside in our lands because there is a great respect for those talents there, a freedom to learn and grow. That has never been true of those who took her, Gaven. You know that. She was reviled, was she not?”
I was stunned into speechlessness. His words had the ring of truth about them. It was very obvious that he knew full well of my mother’s talents and yet seemed not at all afraid of them. Nor did he find such talents to be strange or a sign of evil as had everyone in the fortress. As her child, I had been reviled by the other children and many adults until it became obvious that I held no such abilities and seemed “normal.” Still, I had been viewed with suspicion. Most had made full sure that I understood the lowliness of my position and that I must ever be aware of gratitude that my lord had not seen my mother burned for her visions and for those times when she would just stare into space, as though her mind had left her body. Witch, they called her and much worse, and as issue of her body, I was cursed by the same blood.
The pain of those long ago times must have shone in my eyes, because Andar’s look softened to sympathy. “A child of a seeress would never have been treated like that in Masaria, Gaven. Never. And your birthright was much greater than that by your father’s blood.”

“We are warriors, Gaven. We often spend our whole lives amongst other men. It is not so strange then that we pick our closest companions, our lovers, from those around us. We have not time to court women or spend time being their husbands. Often marriages are made for the begetting of children and, once those children are born, the man and woman may well never see each other again. Ours is a very military society, and we are surrounded by other very warlike people; we are never at peace long enough to raise families. Yet we are but people, Gaven. We need love, we need caring in our lives, and it is totally accepted that men can love men with great intensity, even onto a lifetime. This is not strange to us, and indeed it is encouraged and expected. When a boy comes to the army, he is given to an eraman, an older warrior who will introduce the boy into being a man and lover, and also be his trainer and mentor as to the arts of war. It is considered an honor, and a ceremony is held when the boy is taken as lover. It is the beginning of his new life, a symbolic giving of himself to his mentor in all things.” He paused then, gave a small smile that made me look at him more closely. He turned his head and met my eyes squarely. “I am your father’s lover, Gaven. Have been for many years. We are bonded, which means a true commitment as great as any marriage.”

“He is Finnarian.” My blank look brought a small chuckle from him. “Finnarians live far to the north. They are great mages and powerful warriors. He became friends with your father’s father and has been part of the family ever since.”
“My father’s father…he is not that old,” I said disbelievingly.
“They do not seem to age, Gaven. He still looks the same as the day he arrived, apparently. He has been a great trainer of men and he is an experienced eraman, which is why your father has given him this task: to see you brought to the pinnacle of what you can be. Many vie for this honor; few are accepted.”
“It is no bloody honor,” I growled under my breath, then paused. “His teeth—” I faltered, fear rising even from the very words.
“Finnarians eat raw meat and blood gives them strength. It is not uncommon for men to offer themselves to them for that purpose, to give them blood. It is said to be a very sexual experience, a pleasure beyond words.”
My jaw sagged. “He would not do that…to me…would he?” Shuddering at the mere thought, I swallowed hard, feeling sick.
“Only if you wished it, Gaven,” Andar’s tone was soothing and I slowly got my breathing back under control.
“I cannot do this thing, Andar, I cannot. I am not one of you. Why can I not just train to fight? Why this…?” I could not even finish.
He put a comforting hand on my shoulder. I did not flinch away, too sunk in despairing thought to move.
“It is not as bad as you think, Gaven. You fear what you do not understand. It will work out in the end. You will see.”

Teaser spoke up from beside me, his voice deep and strong.
“We bring this candidate to the ceremony of Claiming, that he might be brought into adulthood and learn his place within our ranks. Per his family’s wishes, he will be given to Vlar, prince of the blood, that he might be shown the way of the sword, and experience the bonding of men, the true strength of the Masarian military. May he emerge from this to become part of our brethren.”
The King nodded to him. “The candidate’s name?”
“He is Gaven, son of Gareth; second son of the royal line of Masaria; nephew to you, Sarin, king of Masaria.
Sarin smiled at me. “I acknowledge his blood as mine and stand here to witness this Claiming.”

Other Characters:
→ Andar, doctor (?) and Gareth, the warlord's love; bonded.
→ Gareth, the High Commander of the Masarian army; Vlar's warlord and Gaven's father. His brother, Sarin, the king of Masaria.
→ Micael, the boy who Gaven cared deeply for before the Masarians killed him in the beginning of the book. We never meet him as he is dead when the book starts.
→ Teaser, a captain of the Masarian. One of eight who watched Gaven before he ran away and was to receive 20 lashes each, but Gaven took the punishment on himself instead. Weasel, Fish, Worry, Peace, Ice, Moss and Ink the other seven.
→ Shayla, a female wolf in a wolf pack that is Vlar's family?
→ Carnon, the leader of a savage (?) group. Tarhan, Carnon, Sarl and Anlas, all part of Carnon's group. Gaven was sexually abuse (fingers) by some of the men in the group at 46%. Most of the got killed by wolves.

My arm went through his, and I drew myself to him with the strength of terror.
A powerful arm wrapped around me and pulled me against his body, and I did not protest for long moments, still breathing great panicked gasps of air.
It took some time for me to become aware of the huge hardness pressing against my thigh, and when I did understand, my eyes shot to his, disbelieving.
He grinned openly, no longer hiding his show of sharp teeth. “You are mine, Gaven, given to me by your father. I will teach you what it means to be a Masarian warrior. Both in the bed and on the field and practice yard.”

Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (Adult) Fantasy Romance (M/M).
Series: - Series, Book One.
Love triangle? - No.
Cheating? - No.
HEA? - No.
Favorite character? - Gaven.
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Yes.
Would I recommend this book/series? -Sure.
Will I read this again in the future? - Probably not, but who knows.
Rating - 3 stars.

[Nazanin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Prince of The Blood & His Little One Stars

Told in single POV, 1st person, it’s the first installment in the "Gaven" series and it’s a bit cliffy. Before I started reading the story, I read the blurb and it sounded something dark. But in reality, it wasn’t really one, yeah it has dark elements but I don’t count it as one. It didn’t satisfy me as a BDSM. Actually Gaven & Vlar weren’t with each other till the ending but as you can see it’s a short story so it was acceptable. Another thing is I would love to hear Vlar’s thought but I didn’t get it! Still, with all these issues I enjoyed reading it and would like to continue the series. I liked both characters. It was low on angst (but to me it was angst-free). And I should say in the world-building part, the author didn’t do a good job. Actually I think this book is a prequel to the series! Overall, I still liked it and hope you enjoy it as well!

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite liked this story and the overall theme of soldiers taking male lovers in a socially accepted way (which seemed heavily derived from Greek history).

Gaven is a boy who is raised by a tribe leader, believing himself to be a bastard son to a low-class mother. Of course, he is not. He is the son of an enemy warlord who conquers the stronghold and rescues his son, in order to integrate him into the Masarian society where he needs to be bonded to a male lover who will teach him physcial love... and fighting.

Of course, the one to claim poor confused Gaven isn't just anybody, but powerful and magically gifted Vlar, a high ranking soldier (who also isn't human, which freaked me out a bit). And Gaven being raised in a hetero-normative society doesn't exactly embrace the new lifestyle willingly.

The storytelling is pretty good, I love a text that feels fluent and artful. I also liked the concept of bonding soldiers (f you like that concept too, I recommend Sacrati by Kate Sherwood which has a very similar world-building).

Gaven is a sweet and understandably confused guy, a very likable hero, but Vlad I couldn't really thaw up for. I'm sure there will be a closer look at him and his people in the next book(s), but right now, it feels like Gaven is forced into a sexual relationship with Count Dracula.



4 stars!

[Argona · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this short story. I have to point out that as others have already mentioned, Gaven 1 is not a complete story and can not stand alone. As a separate novel, the story ends abruptly and there is not much development when it comes to romance. Gaven 1 is simply a great intense beginning to a great fantasy story.

Gaven is a kind gentle soul who has been mistreated all his life. His life crumbles again and again during this story and he is hurt, confused and lost. Add identity crisis to the mess. Let's just say that my heart hurt for him. I really wanted him to be happy and feel good about himself. I really wanted him to find his family. What he goes through is intense and heart-breaking and there isn't much satisfaction in this first book. (I want to mention that my most favorite scene was where Gaven walked in on his father and Andar!XD Loved it!)

His father really annoyed me. He just expects Gaven to get over himself and accept his new life. Thank god for book 2 or I would have been extremely pissed. Also I couldn't relate much to Vlar. He didn't really connect with Gaven and he wasn't really trying to begin with. The romance is hardly there and everything actually falls into pieces in the second book. Gaven 1 is not a complete story at all. The story really picks up in second book and I recommend reading that one as well before judging the entire series. I think Gaven 1 and 2 should have been released as one single novel instead of 2 and the result would have been amazing.

[Linn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I want my 3.65 quid back/ 5

the book was on a track to be a (pretty weak) 3 star read until it pissed me the fuck off. not gaven catching his dad fucking and then staying to watch (gross) but then the love interest coming out of the woodworks and being like okay I guess its time for a handjob, even though we never exchanged more than 2 sentences while you watch your dad fuck. like wdym. AND THEN IT GETS EVEN WORSE. time skip to Vlar and Gaven having their mating ceremony and his uncle being in the fucking room and watching ???? eugh.

also special writer jail for using 'my essence' instead of 'cum' and any word other than dick to describe one. like if you wanna write erotica at least do it properly, and don't be afraid of the word cock and dick, my god.

[Isa K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this book, but I feel like it would be unfair to give it less than 3 stars because most of the issues I had with it come from my personal preferences. From an objective standard it was very well done in terms of pace and story. I don't like fantasy, especially high fantasy, but this was a reading challenge so fantasy it had to be.

The book is well written, although sometimes OVER written. Yes, I know in fantasy prose has a certain style, but when it gets to the point where the sentences feel like they have been turned inside out to make them sound more sophisticated it's too much. Plus there are several places where an unnecessarily archaic word is used incorrectly. I like old, weird words too man, but a person cannot rise to his feet with 'alacrity' while 'contempt in every line of his body' because alacrity means CHEERFUL

I suppose my big problem with this book is that I like my M/M to be MAN/MAN ... not MAN/BOY. The childlike and weak personality of the MC creeped me out, but for people who like more firm dom - sub relationship dynamics I'm sure this is not an issue.

All and all it was not for me, but if you like high fantasy and mentor/student sex dynamics you will probably enjoy this book quite a bit.

[Ami · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the writing is good but I just can't shake the feeling that the romance is not strong enough. There are too many questions in Gaven's mind, that I cannot believe that in the end, he will just accept his "fate". It just doesn't make any sense to me.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of those books that's either 4 stars or 2 stars, depending on the mood.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reasonably good though slightly pompous writing, poor plotting throughout book 1 and 2. My expectations these days are not that high, so maybe that's why this book was a pleasant surprise. The plot followed an all too predictable road, but the promising developments between the MCs were addictive and hit a ton of my guilty pleasure buttons.

I do think Owens could've used a better beta (or maybe just any beta?) to chafe some cheese off her writing and pick up on character inconsistencies. I hate that urge to drive from the passenger's seat, and here there were so many moments that made me itch to suggest adjustments in the sideline. Anyway, what it all boils down to is that I liked the gentle force of the captive/captor trope, and Vlar was a hot lover: calm, insistent, experienced, strong, and shrouded in danger and mystery. So...here I come, Vlar. Book 2, I mean.

[Shadow Jubilee · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars

I really expected to like this better because these days I'm interested in dub-con. Alas, I ended up feeling a bit frustrated with it but these are probably based more on my own preferences than the book itself.

I liked the premise, and I thought that the fantasy was setting up to be rather interesting. However, the world-building was minimal. I thought that the society of the Masarians was set up to suit the story, that when looked at from the outside, didn't really hold up. Once again, if the world-building had been expanded upon, the society might have been more believable to me.

I liked what I could see if Gaven's confusion and conflicts. Almost, just almost, I could taste his low self-esteem due to his background of being rather despised by the town he had grown up in. I'd have loved more delving into this with language that touched my heart and brought tears to my eyes in sympathy. I did not get it here, much to my disappointment, but I liked what I could see of it. In particular, I liked seeing how this led to Gaven being more inclined to accept the comfort that his enaman offered.

I liked how the author showed that Gaven was a "closeted" gay who had in fact loved the best friend who had been killed before the story began. This made Gaven's eventually capitulation to gay sex more believable. Unfortunately, I also had a problem with this because this "best friend" didn't make sense. If Gaven had been that despised, where did this best friend fit in? Given that he had been killed off before the story began, this best friend, like the Masarian society, seemed to have been created to fit the story rather than the other way around.

Aside from these little differences I had with other parts of the book, my main problem had to do with the characterization of Gaven himself. To be honest, I've only been exposed to exactly ONE yaoi anime/manga, Okane ga nai, and Gaven was EXACTLY like the submissive boy there. More so, he was so emasculated that I had a hard time seeing this as a m/m romance, especially in the beginning. It seemed so m/f, so starkly in the beginning of the book when Gaven is afraid of sitting down on a nice chair because of his war-grime. That was a WTF moment for me. Also, he is, apparently, his very masculine, warlike father's heir as a war leader but because of how the author had so effectively emasculated and weakened Gaven in my mind, I simply could not see Gaven in that light - and due to his low self-esteem, neither could he. Well, that was helpful, I'm sure.

I also disagreed with how Gaven acquired the "loyalty" of some of his father's men. It was not very believable and had me rolling my eyes. The scene where this happened was weakened by that moment, I felt.

And finally, I thought that the 1st person POV was a poor choice, especially as a female reader. I heard a "female" voice in Gaven, which didn't help to convince me that I was reading m/m - at least until the sex organs came out.

Despite the problems I had with this book, I do dislike discontinuing a series, especially if it does not feel like a stand-alone book. This book was also readable as long as I ignored the things that bothered me. I will be continuing on to book 2 - for now.

Editing to add for my own reminder: The scene with him watching his father having sex with his lover? I was like, ick. Although I can understand that Gaven doesn't see his father as dear old Dad, it still squicked me out. Although him being jerked off by Vlar with the potential of being caught by his father was a rather interesting scene to add.

[Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★☆ rounded up to ★★★★

This was an interesting and well portrayed concept that was, unfortunately too short for true satisfaction…so many elements of this story were left undeveloped…I know it's a series but I got the distinct impression that this short story had been artificially truncated and should have been marketed as a full-length novel rather than a series of short stories.

Gaven was a complex character who wasn't fully developed either…I spent most of my time whilst reading this book 'wanting' to immerse myself in the world and characters and being unable to because there wasn't enough depth to the story to allow me to fully sink into the fantasy being created. I'll continue to the next book in the series but if I'm left as dissatisfied by part 2 as I was by part 1, I'll not waste my money…I resent being forced to pay for additional books to get the full story…each book in a series should operate as a stand-alone title, not as a chapter in long book…it makes me grumpy when I'm forced to pay full price for only a fraction of the story.

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I didn’t know there was a sequel out there I would be so pissed right now. This book is really just an introduction to a world and a crazy convoluted messed up situation. It does end at an understandable place in Gaven’s journey, but really it’s just the start of his story.

Gaven’s had his world turned upside down and smashed all to pieces in a few minutes of destruction. The Masarians have long been the enemy of his people and now they have destroyed everyone that Gaven’s ever known in their attack on his lord’s castle. For some strange reason though they left Gavin alive after their attack after killing every other person in the castle. Now they’re telling him that his father isn’t the unknown soldier who died when he was young but is actually the leader of the Masarian army. On top of that his father plans to give him to his right hand man to train and teach him their ways, no matter what it is that Gaven wants.

Talk about having everything you know spun on its ear. Poor Gaven’s essentially been told that everything he’s ever believed has been wrong and then just expected to get over it. God I felt for the boy as he struggled with everything in his current situation. I’m glad he fought to bury his friend, to escape, to remain himself even if things didn’t go his way at all. He stepped up in a situation that was awful no matter which way it was spun.

I feel like I’ve been teased right now. I’m just starting to get to know Gaven and the book’s over. I’m still not sure I like Vlar, the man Gaven’s been given to. I certainly don’t understand everything about him that makes him different since he isn’t Masarian. Though I do enjoy the wolves. I can see the potential between Vlar and Gaven, but despite the ceremony happening to bond them together I am not with them one hundred percent yet. There isn’t a lot of romance to this story so much as it’s about Gaven starting to adjust to this new world and culture.

On the flip side I really did enjoy the writer’s style. There were a lot of really great qualities to it and the world was set up in a really lovely way. I got a lot of information in a short period of time, but I never felt like I was being beat over the head with it. It blended smoothly into the story and I definitely wanted more.

Oh and Gaven’s father is an ass. I felt that just needed to be said. Pull your head out of your ass dude, your son’s kinda awesome. He didn’t lay down and roll over and become some whiny ass do whatever you say asswipe. He’s got some backbone. You should be proud of that.

I definitely will be reading the next book because now I’m uber curious about how this is going to all work out. I am cheering for Gaven to find his equilibrium and hopefully find some true love in the mix as well.

[SheReadsALot · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this story. We are introduced to a hurt Gaven who has been raised as a peasant almost and finds out he is more than that. He was destined for than just the pittance his lord gave him. He learns his entire life was a lie at the tender age of seventeen. He finds out the tribe/group/Masarians, the enemies he was told to despise is actually his people.

And get this, he's the son of their warlord, Gareth! Vlar, the second in command who scares Gaven also wants to...mate with him too, become his lover, master, teacher. But Gaven has been raised that man/man love was wrong and can not wrap his head around it. He fights what his father's soldiers tell him and almost gets raped because of his folly. We (the readers) get some paranormal aspects to this story as well as a few different genre elements which made for a solid read.

But...

Here's one of my pet peeves that I found in the story...

Gaven has blues eyes. It's one of the main identifiers for him since his daddy, Gareth has blue eyes too. The author establishes this from the get go. Then somewhere in the book the father's eyes change to being green and then it's back to blue later on in the story.

Sigh.

It's a pet peeve of mine because it makes me feel the author forgets characteristics of their own characters.

But I'm getting sidetracked - I enjoyed the fantastical, historical edge J.C. Owen created. I liked the world the author introduced me too. i will read the next books in this series because I am intrigued with Vlar and want to know more about his kind...and Gaven too.

[Shira Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

LOVED the universe J.C. Owens created for this little book, but overall, the narrative left me cold. The entire concept, that a boy/man who had been raised in an enemy land, never knowing who his true people were, was wonderful. The idea that, in a warrior society, men have lasting, sexual and loving relationships was fabulous. The concept of an older/wise male training a younger one made for a terrific plot line, as well. That said, I had a hard time with this book and its sequel.

First, the two books really should have been one longer book. Given the cost of this book, especially so. I'd expect installments to be less expensive. "Gaven" was just too short - it read more like Part I and the sequel, Part II. And of course, I did buy the sequel.

But the main problem I had was the narrative. Told in first person from Gaven's POV, it mixed more archaic language (not quite thee and thou fare, but close, mind you) with modern expressions that were just jarring/distracting to me. I'd rather the entire story have been told in modern language than the mishmash of both. And I SO wanted to love the books - the characters were so wonderfully sexy and the sex scenes were very hot. But it just fell short...hence the three-star rating instead of a 4 or better.

[Lori¸¸¸.•*❀Ɍɛɑɗs̱LɪƙɛIʈs̱H̱ɛɍJɔɓ 유❤유 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this should have been 0.5 in the series because 86 pages isn't really a whole book when it is just an introduction. That being said I still liked it. Gaven was a sweet guy that grew up in a backward society where he was treated cruelly by everyone but one person (and his mother.) Then everyone he knew was killed and he's being told that he was the other leader's kid. So, it was a huge culture shock in such a short period, but his father basically said, "suck it up, buttercup" and gave him no time to reconcile even with others telling the father to give him some time.

Vlar was kind of a dick in the beginning but then he evened out some and was sort of alright. I guess we'll see how that goes in the next book.

Gaven did show some honor when he took some of the punishment from the warriors he got into trouble so that showed a lot of his character. I hope that's a persistent theme as well.

[Shanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The pacing felt off in this book. Some things took forever to happen and others speed on by. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason to this and many important things that needed to be expanded upon weren't. I did think that the world and characters were interesting but a little more detail would've been nice. We spent a lot of time with Gaven wallowing in self pity and not really getting more development of the character beyond that. I think this book had a lot of potential but it just wasn't fleshed out. Over all though I did like the characters and the world as little we saw of it. Hopefully things will be expanded upon as the series continues. :)

[Chappy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Gaven finds out that he's not who he thought he was. It's a hard truth for him to accept, but it becomes undeniable. He must learn about his new people and he must learn to trust Vlar. Not an easy task.
I want more please...

[Kevin Orth · Rating 5 out of 5]

When start the first in a series, I anticipate there will be a lot of character development that will get played out in later volumes. That is definitely the case with this book. At the same time there is enough action, depth to the story, and back story to keep me reading and wanting more. I can definitely recommend this book, especially in light of having started the next volume and finding it all the more interesting having this base.

Also, the plot and story line are very unique and speak to some historical facts that I've not found in any other m/m romance novel.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're in the mood for a short military-esque M/M teaser with a pinch of nonconsensual smexin then Gaven might be for you. I'm going to read the sequel shortly; you almost have to with this book's cliffhanger ending.

[Jo * Smut-Dickted * · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one. Great world, great story, great characters. I loved Gaven - still boy enough to be vulnerable and unsure but man enough so you can see what he's going to turn into.

[Marsha Spence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed Gaven and Vlar and the whole storyline. I thought it was imaginative and well written.

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet and a lot of teasing in this warrior/apprentice tale. Too darn short!

[Taintedskyee (Books Books&More Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really need to give some time before I write anything about this book.I am overwhelmed right now..SIGH.....Long deep content but still craving more of Gaven and Vlar.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will post my review at the end of The series!

But enjoying it a lot!!

[Kassa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautifully written paranormal story focuses on the emotional journey of a young man coming of age during a violent and turbulent time. While the tale has tremendous potential, the story ultimately failed to deliver on the world building and romance aspects. It does deliver in the characterization of the main narrator, Gaven, and does so wonderfully with a depth of emotion rarely found. Perhaps the author is setting this novella to be one of a series as the ending is barely a happy for now. However, this story is incredibly rich and enjoyable to read for the journey Gaven takes.

Gaven wakes to find his people slaughtered around him and taken prisoner by the violent Masarians. However, once back at their camp he is told that his life was a lie and the leader of the invading army is his real father. Disturbed and confused, Gaven is plunged into an emotional whirlwind as he is told that he will not only train with the Masarian army but he is to participate in their practice of sex between soldiers. To train and facilitate his education, both military and sexually, is a legendary warrior said to drink blood for strength.

Told in first person from Gaven’s perspective, his emotional journey is the main focus of the story. Gaven struggles with the abrupt change in his life and the overwhelming new information being given to him almost constantly. His way of life is completely changed as each new revelation shows his previous life to be full of lies. Often confused and lost, Gaven doesn’t know what to believe and seeks the only solace he can find in his anger and rage. Everything he knew is now gone and he is expected to immediately comply and accept his new fate. When he strikes out and attempts to escape, dire consequences occur and Gaven is forced to reevaluate his choices, reconciling his past with his present.

Gaven is a strong narrator, a 17 year old boy coming of age as he deals with his sexuality and the new life he has been given. Unfortunately beyond Gaven’s distinctive and sympathetic voice, the story is rather empty of any other weight. The supporting characters are only thinly developed and often kept mysterious and even tempered. None of the cast outside of Gaven show any range of emotion and behave very predictably. The pseudo romance of Gaven and Vlar is weak as Vlar is simply a teacher, participating in a ritual known to the Masarians and requires no further emotional connection. There is no evidence that Vlar and Gaven will have a relationship beyond the sexual training Gaven will be subjected to as Vlar has trained numerous other men.

Aside from the weak characterization of everyone other than Gaven, the world building is incomplete. There are very few details and setting offered, leaving the atmosphere to resemble an ancient army from mythology rather than a new and exciting fantasy setting. The concept of warriors bonding amongst themselves also seems lifted from historical and mythological themes and thus the book lacks that original spark and ingenuity. That’s not to say the story isn’t entertaining and enjoyable to read, it is. The violence, rigid conditions, and above all human emotions of Gaven drive the story and give a fast paced, engaging tale of a young man’s difficult journey.

Overall, I enjoyed reading the story but felt it didn’t live up to the premise. The strength of the story is in the evocative and beautiful language, wonderful writing, and strong lead character. Perhaps this will turn into a series where each new story adds more depth and interest. I’d love to hear Vlar’s story and how his vampire-esque people define him and his past. There is so much potential within the story that it is disappointing to have been relegated to a truncated novella but I’ll definitely pick up the author again. The oft-ignored journey of a 17 year old in a violent world is unique and riveting, even with its faults. I easily recommend the book.

[ᗰ.ᑕ. ❄️ O͎L͎D͎E͎R͎ ͎&͎ ͎W͎I͎S͎E͎R͎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this novella when I was new to m/m romance. It still remains a favorite after 3 reads.
(2018, 2019, 2022).


𝐀𐓣 𝐌𝐌 𝐅α𐓣𝗍α𝗌𝗒 𝐑ⱺꭑα𐓣𝖼𝖾

𝕿һᥱ s𝗍᥆rᥡ s𝗍ᥲr𝗍s right after a battle has just ended. Gaven is the only survivor, lying broken and bleeding on the ground. His life was spared because his bright blue eyes were recognized, the same as his father’s—the warlord of the Masarian army. The people who just won the battle are the ones he was raised to hate.

𝕿һᥱ ⍴ᥱ᥆⍴ᥣᥱ 𝗍һᥲ𝗍 𝕲ᥲ᥎ᥱᥒ ᥕᥲs rᥲіsᥱძ ᥕі𝗍һ, are a backwards, narrow-minded, superstitious group. They treated Gaven and his mother badly because she was a seeress. To them, that made her an evil witch. As a result, Gaven grew up believing he's nothing and struggled to survive. After his mother dies, he has no one to love or care for him.

𝕿һіs іs 𝕲ᥲ᥎іᥒ's s𝗍᥆rᥡ. A 17-year-old who learns that he's half-Masarian; what he grew up believing was a lie. As he's forced to accept people who are very different from what he's known, he struggles to find his place among the Masarian warriors. He's also looking for love, for some who'll treat him special.

𝕸ᥡ 𝖿ᥲ᥎᥆rі𝗍ᥱ ⍴ᥲr𝗍, was when Gaven escaped during a battle and learned a tough, painful lesson. He took the blame for the men who didn't watch him. It made my heart go out to him, as it did many times. He acts like a typical young man, often making rash choices out of anger. As the story goes on, especially in book 2, we see him mature.

It turns out Gaven's father, Gareth, is a cold-hearted jerk! 😠 Thankfully, Andar, Gareth's mate, helps Gaven many times. He's the father-figure Gaven needed.

𝕴𝗍 ᥱᥒძs ᥕі𝗍һ ᥲ ᥴᥣᥲіmіᥒg ᥴᥱrᥱm᥆ᥒᥡ. Gaven is given into Vlar's care to be trained both in the bed and on the field and practice yard. Vlar is a Finnarian—great mages who are powerful, near immortal warriors. They eat raw meat; the blood gives them strength. Their teeth grow longer to drink blood, like a vampire.

The sex scenes are very
(This is more so in book 2.)

✦ Gaven said he's too old for the ceremony, that boys go through it. During the ceremony the boys have sex with their trainers.
❓ My question is, if Gaven is too old at 17, how young are these boys?! (15 or 16? 😳)

A Big Dislike: Little to no physical descriptions.

Writing Error: Gareth's eyes are blue, but they're once described as green. Vlar is the one with green eyes.

[Lilli *slowest reader ever* · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a romance story don’t read this. I knew from the start not to expect much of a love story in this and although I definitely prefer my m/m books with a strong romantic plot this worked amazingly well for me. It is, quite simply, a great story of a youth’s coming into his own when ripped from all he had known and thrown into a whole new life and culture, shocking revelations and challenges included.

The story kept me on the edge of my seat because I couldn’t wait to read what would happen next and how Gaven would act, react and handle the things thrown at him. I loved his character very much. He was amazing in his bravery and determination whereas his fears, desperation and loneliness came across as very real and pulled at my heartstrings. Gaven is a very complex character with serious issues due to his former upbringing that made it very hard for him to adapt to his new surroundings. It was a joy to read about his inner conflicts and the choices he made.

Although the other characters fell a bit short, in parts probably due to the first person pov narration, they still had a strong impact on the story and helped develop a strong atmospheric background to the plot. As to Vlar, the other MC, he was a very intriguing character and while the story gave enough glimpses for me to get a vague idea of his personality and motives there were still a mystery or two surrounding him in regards to his abilities and the very nature of his being. I’m glad there’s the second book which hopefully reveals more about him.

The focus of the story clearly was on Gaven and his personal growth, not so much on the world building. Personally it didn’t bother me because I was so fascinated by Gaven’s tale, and the bits and pieces revealed during the progress of the story were enough to give me a good impression of this intriguing ‘verse.

The end was very good. Hopeful, uplifting and a satisfying closure to a great story imo. But I wasn’t exactly sure if it weren’t a bit too uplifting to still be in sync with the overall tone of the story. It’s hard to explain. I loved it and it left me with a happy smile on my face but it also caught me a teensy bit by surprise.

[Tam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Medieval fantasy is really not my thing, so why do I seem to own so many (that sit in my TBR file forever)? Gaven is captured by the invading army that destroyed his keep. Seems that Gaven was not who he thought but is the son of the commander of the invading army. In their culture young recruits are given to an older solder for "training" (if you know what I mean). Seems he's to be given to Vlar (some kind of blood drinking creature). Gaven is freaked as being gay was baaaad in his culture and he really can't accept that he's one of the "enemy". His father's lover convinces them to give him some time and tries to explain things to him but Gaven still can't accept it (especially the butt secks part) so first chance he gets he runs. Vlar finds him and rescues him from baddies but when his father goes to punish the guards he takes their punishment. He's nearly whipped to death but the soldiers take him in and help him because they respect him for doing it. After he recovers and they get home he is officially given to Vlar and has his "first time". Then .... the end. What? How can you end it? Took me forever to get into it and then when I do .... nothing. What's the deal with the wolves and Vlar and will Gaven's father ever forgive him for running? Will he come to crave the butt secks? Sigh. The whole relationship storyline started on the last page more or less. So despite my lack of interest in these type of fantasy stories I would get a sequel because I want to have my questions answered. Which I'm not sure I applaud as good marketing or pisses me off that you suck me in and know I'll have to buy the next book now. It wasn't very long and I would have loved more explanation of things, the differences between Gaven's old people and new, how he came to be with them, etc. Some stuff was alluded too but not very clearly. While not to my taste I liked it enough to want to know more.

I believe since I wrote this review (and forgot to post it way back in the day) there is a sequel, I think. I haven't read it yet anyway.

[Purplegirl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. From the blurb and the sample, it seemed like it would be a good read. Unfortunately, there were some things that didn't sit well with me.

Pros
- I did like the explanation of why the Masarian soldiers had male partners but, obviously, they strayed from that premise because Gaven was born.

- I think the author did a good job of expressing Gaven's uneasy feelings of his sexual preference for men.

- I liked Ander, at least he explained things to Gaven and the reader.

Cons
- The book felt like it was part 2 of a series. The fact that a previous friendship was important in Gaven's life made me feel like there needed to be more flashbacks. Also, there needed to be more back story about his father. Everything just seemed glossed over. Character development was lacking. I know it was a short book but it could have been better.

- Where did the paranormal element come from? It just seemed out of place.

- Vlar was not my favorite person. I had an issue with Gaven not being told what Vlar was supposed to be to him, so Vlar's and Gaven's interactions, in the beginning, made me totally understand Gaven's confusion. I was frustrated along with Gaven.

-I was more interested in the 8 soldiers that watched over Gaven than any of the other people in the book.

Overall, I couldn't just give it one star but it was definitely just an OK book. As I was reading, I was thinking of different ways and turns that the story could have been taken. It felt like too complex of a world to be in a short story. I am debating on reading the 2nd book to see if it is better. Maybe if a prequel came out I would read that.