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Gaven #2
Gaven: The Bonding
Genre: LGBT Fantasy
Gaven learns that being Vlar's pupil in all things is a mixture of pain and pleasure. He hates his Finnarian teacher...doesn't he? Yet his body betrays him time and again, especially when he experiences the sexual ecstasy of a Finnarian bite and the giving of his own blood. There seems to be so much more in their relationship than either of them can understand, so Vlar calls in his father, a Finnarian prince. What he tells them shakes Gaven to his core and he fears he cannot possibly live up to what Vlar wishes of him. Then when they seem to be on the edge of truly discovering each other, a shadow from Gaven's past comes to shatter it all to pieces.
Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Male/male sexual practices, strong violence, voyeurism.
Gaven learns that being Vlar's pupil in all things is a mixture of pain and pleasure. He hates his Finnarian teacher...doesn't he? Yet his body betrays him time and again, especially when he experiences the sexual ecstasy of a Finnarian bite and the giving of his own blood. There seems to be so much more in their relationship than either of them can understand, so Vlar calls in his father, a Finnarian prince. What he tells them shakes Gaven to his core and he fears he cannot possibly live up to what Vlar wishes of him. Then when they seem to be on the edge of truly discovering each other, a shadow from Gaven's past comes to shatter it all to pieces.
Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Male/male sexual practices, strong violence, voyeurism.
235 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 17, 2010
58 people are currently reading
908 people want to read
About the author
J.C. Owens
31 books613 followersAlso 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!
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!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
September 10, 2019
Re-read: 11.09.2019
It's not as "bad" as I remember it, but it still falls on the "alright" category. That being said, I'm glad we get to see Gaven and Vlar getting closer, but I'm sadden that it feel like it jumps from confusion to loving one another. What about the in between?
First read review:
We're back with Gaven (18?), bastard son of the warlord and nephew to the king of Masarians and his eraman Vlar, the second in command of the Masarians. In this book we get to know Vlar in a more personal level, though not much as his kind is quite... secretive. Gaven is being trained in both bed and fighting skills, and trying to balance that with trying to belong and not feel for Vlar, he's struggling. Overall, the book had too much sex and too little bonding. It didn't live up the first book and this one is the least liked of me of author so far.
Quotes From Book:
Other Characters:
→ Gareth, the High Commander of the Masarian army; Vlar's warlord and Gaven's father. His brother, Sarin, the king of Masaria.
→ Andar, doctor (?) and Gareth, the warlord's love; bonded.
→ 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. Ice and Ink are brothers. Peace and Worry are together, same with Teaser and Weasel.
→ Shayla, a female wolf in a wolf pack that is Vlar's pack.
→ Carnon, the leader of a bandit 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% book one. Most of the got killed by wolves, also book one.
→ Philas, Gaven's tutor in teaching in reading and writing as a noble’s son.
→ Sadan, a Finnarian prince (?) and Vlar's father. He's bonded to a Draconian named Graitaan.
Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (Adult) FantasyRomance (M/M).
Series: - Series, Book Two.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Favorite character? - Gaven.
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Yes.
Would I recommend this book/series? -Sure, I liked book one.
Will I read this again in the future? - No.
Rating - 2.5 stars.
It's not as "bad" as I remember it, but it still falls on the "alright" category. That being said, I'm glad we get to see Gaven and Vlar getting closer, but I'm sadden that it feel like it jumps from confusion to loving one another. What about the in between?
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*It Was Alright*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
First read review:
We're back with Gaven (18?), bastard son of the warlord and nephew to the king of Masarians and his eraman Vlar, the second in command of the Masarians. In this book we get to know Vlar in a more personal level, though not much as his kind is quite... secretive. Gaven is being trained in both bed and fighting skills, and trying to balance that with trying to belong and not feel for Vlar, he's struggling. Overall, the book had too much sex and too little bonding. It didn't live up the first book and this one is the least liked of me of author so far.
Quotes From Book:
Other Characters:
→ Gareth, the High Commander of the Masarian army; Vlar's warlord and Gaven's father. His brother, Sarin, the king of Masaria.
→ Andar, doctor (?) and Gareth, the warlord's love; bonded.
→ 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. Ice and Ink are brothers. Peace and Worry are together, same with Teaser and Weasel.
→ Shayla, a female wolf in a wolf pack that is Vlar's pack.
→ Carnon, the leader of a bandit 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% book one. Most of the got killed by wolves, also book one.
→ Philas, Gaven's tutor in teaching in reading and writing as a noble’s son.
→ Sadan, a Finnarian prince (?) and Vlar's father. He's bonded to a Draconian named Graitaan.
Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (Adult) Fantasy
Series: - Series, Book Two.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Favorite character? - Gaven.
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Yes.
Would I recommend this book/series? -Sure, I liked book one.
Will I read this again in the future? - No.
Rating - 2.5 stars.
January 4, 2021
3.5-3.75 Stars
Told in single POV, it’s the second installment in the "Gaven" series and has to be read in order, and as the series continues this one is the last of Vlar & Gaven’s story. It’s enemies-to-lovers, fast-paced, and low on angst. I liked it a bit better than book 1 and mostly enjoyed the tension and intimacy between the MCs. All in all, I had a good time reading it and hope you enjoy it as well!
Told in single POV, it’s the second installment in the "Gaven" series and has to be read in order, and as the series continues this one is the last of Vlar & Gaven’s story. It’s enemies-to-lovers, fast-paced, and low on angst. I liked it a bit better than book 1 and mostly enjoyed the tension and intimacy between the MCs. All in all, I had a good time reading it and hope you enjoy it as well!
February 3, 2014
JC Owens has succeeded keeping me locked to the reader with his telling of how Gaven finds his place within the Masarian’s and in Vlar´s heart, the Finnarian teacher who at first he hates…
The road he follows isn’t easy and he has much to learn in a world that is violent but also very very sensual.
Vlar ...
One of the scenes I love...
The wolves...
The road he follows isn’t easy and he has much to learn in a world that is violent but also very very sensual.
Vlar ...
One of the scenes I love...
The wolves...
August 18, 2010
Oh...I am so torn on how to rate this. I am going to go with 3.5 rounded up to 4.
On the one hand, the first 3/4 of the book was great. I enjoyed it and I love Gaven. I can understand his issues and I like his internal monologues.
However, the last 1/4 of the book just seemed to completely change the atmosphere of the entire book. Personality changes occur that are so out of character that it's hard to reconcile them. We get no good explanation for the changes of heart that occur.
Additionally, Vlar has a change of attitude that is disconcerting. I suppose it's understandable but it was jarring and unexpected for him to go from casual indifference and somewhat harsh treatment of Gaven to treating him like a treasured prize.
All in all, I really, really like the way JC Owens writes but the ending of this one seemed to try to tie everything up in a happily ever after ribbon too quickly and in such a way I found it hard to reconcile the beginning with the end.
On the one hand, the first 3/4 of the book was great. I enjoyed it and I love Gaven. I can understand his issues and I like his internal monologues.
However, the last 1/4 of the book just seemed to completely change the atmosphere of the entire book. Personality changes occur that are so out of character that it's hard to reconcile them. We get no good explanation for the changes of heart that occur.
Additionally, Vlar has a change of attitude that is disconcerting. I suppose it's understandable but it was jarring and unexpected for him to go from casual indifference and somewhat harsh treatment of Gaven to treating him like a treasured prize.
All in all, I really, really like the way JC Owens writes but the ending of this one seemed to try to tie everything up in a happily ever after ribbon too quickly and in such a way I found it hard to reconcile the beginning with the end.
December 11, 2014
Gaven's story picks up at the second book and Gaven finally arrives at the Masarian capital. One of the things I love about this book is Masarian society and how it's based on camaraderie and bonds among the warriors. The emotional and sexual bonds created between the warriors are the very reason their army and society is so strong and feared by other nations, therefore such bonds are deeply treasured and encouraged. Isn't such society just wonderful?
In this book, Gaven is finally getting comfortable in his own skin. It's heart-breaking how little he thinks of himself and it's beautiful how others slowly help him see his own worth and value. His Eight companions were definitely one of the stories delights for me as they helped him in a way Vlar never did. In my opinion, Vlar didn very little for Gaven. The romance between him and Gaven is definitely stronger than the first book but I still can't figure out why Gaven fell for him. I wanted Gaven to end up with someone like Ice or Ink not Vlar. It's true that Vlar is a beautiful magical being but during most of the story he is only hurting Gaven by his actions and his lack of communication. He alternates between being passionate and being cold, living poor Gaven completely in shadows. The first time I read this book, I was extremely mad at him. He simply left many of my expectations unfulfilled. When I skimmed through this book for a second time, his behavior made much more sense to me, considering I knew what was troubling him and what was going on in his mind but still it wasn't enough to make me care for him. I get why he fell for Gaven but again I don't get why Gaven fell for him. The real emotional support was always provided by Gaven's eight companions. With a sudden revelation, reader is supposed to accept the sudden changes in Vlar's behavior because the plot demands it. There simply wasn't enough meaningful interaction between Gaven and Vlar. So when it comes to romance, the story isn't that strong. Vlar simply didn't impress me and I cared little for him and his relationship with Gaven.
Despite this weakness, I still really enjoyed Gaven's story because I cared for HIM and I wanted him to be happy. My most favorite part of the story was near the end when Gaven's relationship with his father reached the final stage. To tell you the truth, all I cared about while reading this story was THIS relationship. The climax of the story really satisfied me and I can't even begin to describe how happy I was when
At the end, I really enjoyed Gaven series as one of my very first M/M romance novels, not because of the romance but because of the beautiful familial bonds that bloom among people strange to each other and the camaraderie that exists among the Masarian warriors.
In this book, Gaven is finally getting comfortable in his own skin. It's heart-breaking how little he thinks of himself and it's beautiful how others slowly help him see his own worth and value. His Eight companions were definitely one of the stories delights for me as they helped him in a way Vlar never did. In my opinion, Vlar didn very little for Gaven. The romance between him and Gaven is definitely stronger than the first book but I still can't figure out why Gaven fell for him. I wanted Gaven to end up with someone like Ice or Ink not Vlar. It's true that Vlar is a beautiful magical being but during most of the story he is only hurting Gaven by his actions and his lack of communication. He alternates between being passionate and being cold, living poor Gaven completely in shadows. The first time I read this book, I was extremely mad at him. He simply left many of my expectations unfulfilled. When I skimmed through this book for a second time, his behavior made much more sense to me, considering I knew what was troubling him and what was going on in his mind but still it wasn't enough to make me care for him. I get why he fell for Gaven but again I don't get why Gaven fell for him. The real emotional support was always provided by Gaven's eight companions. With a sudden revelation, reader is supposed to accept the sudden changes in Vlar's behavior because the plot demands it. There simply wasn't enough meaningful interaction between Gaven and Vlar. So when it comes to romance, the story isn't that strong. Vlar simply didn't impress me and I cared little for him and his relationship with Gaven.
Despite this weakness, I still really enjoyed Gaven's story because I cared for HIM and I wanted him to be happy. My most favorite part of the story was near the end when Gaven's relationship with his father reached the final stage. To tell you the truth, all I cared about while reading this story was THIS relationship. The climax of the story really satisfied me and I can't even begin to describe how happy I was when
At the end, I really enjoyed Gaven series as one of my very first M/M romance novels, not because of the romance but because of the beautiful familial bonds that bloom among people strange to each other and the camaraderie that exists among the Masarian warriors.
August 28, 2016
3.5 Before I move on to my thoughts, I need to get this off my chest first: HOT, ahhh, so HOT, and HOT. Like baby brother of Bloodraven HOT. Ungh.
Owens is like a great fanfic writer: you can tell that she's totally into her own pairing, and she nails those hot 'n heady dynamics. But she's not so much into plotting a decent fantasy story, nor is she into using beta readers apparently. And sadly, because this is not fanfic, the MCs were not fleshed-out in advance, and Owens fails to do so. Other than that, so many missed opportunities to provide the MCs with interesting dilemmas and lift the plot from its predictable patterns, yet another forced bonding on top of the forced bonding in the first book that allows the writer to avoid actually having to work to make her MCs accept and love each other, repetitive wording, inconsistent characters, that dreaded descend into sap in the final chapters, no, no, no.
But....those sex scenes. Like I said, Blooraven-ish, repetitive, hypnotic power-fucking with vampire teeth instead of a giant green peen as unique selling point, and with only a teeny weeny hint of dub con, because the "little one" soon becomes insatiable (and jcf, I comforted myself with the thought that it could've been "oh, little one" instead, but Owens really doesn't go easy on the MC's pet name, does she?). And really, this sort of thing can gloss over much of my disappointment. Mmmyeah...
No, wait. Ugh. I feel that this writer could be so good with a lot of TLC from betas and from aiming higher herself. But looking at the reviews for her other works, she seems more interested in pushing out one lazily-plotted book after another at warpspeed. My loss.
Owens is like a great fanfic writer: you can tell that she's totally into her own pairing, and she nails those hot 'n heady dynamics. But she's not so much into plotting a decent fantasy story, nor is she into using beta readers apparently. And sadly, because this is not fanfic, the MCs were not fleshed-out in advance, and Owens fails to do so. Other than that, so many missed opportunities to provide the MCs with interesting dilemmas and lift the plot from its predictable patterns, yet another forced bonding on top of the forced bonding in the first book that allows the writer to avoid actually having to work to make her MCs accept and love each other, repetitive wording, inconsistent characters, that dreaded descend into sap in the final chapters, no, no, no.
But....those sex scenes. Like I said, Blooraven-ish, repetitive, hypnotic power-fucking with vampire teeth instead of a giant green peen as unique selling point, and with only a teeny weeny hint of dub con, because the "little one" soon becomes insatiable (and jcf, I comforted myself with the thought that it could've been "oh, little one" instead, but Owens really doesn't go easy on the MC's pet name, does she?). And really, this sort of thing can gloss over much of my disappointment. Mmmyeah...
No, wait. Ugh. I feel that this writer could be so good with a lot of TLC from betas and from aiming higher herself. But looking at the reviews for her other works, she seems more interested in pushing out one lazily-plotted book after another at warpspeed. My loss.
September 13, 2010
3.5 stars
Gaven 2: The Bonding is a successful sequel to JC Owen’s intriguing new world. The first book introduced Gaven, set up his sexual relationship with Vlar and now that relationship becomes more complicated with a final happy ending in the sequel. The story is decent but once again what really shines is Owen’s solid writing, gift for description, and ability to incorporate violence and angst while still feeling like an easy, absorbing read. You can read this one on its own or go back and read the first if you’re a stickler for series but there’s enough background you can pick it up alone.
The story starts where the previous book left off, after Gaven and Vlar were sexually united. Vlar is now Gaven’s teacher both in military training and sexually. Gaven must submit to whatever Vlar wants but the relationship is almost mechanic. It’s merely a formality that all soldiers go through and it doesn’t mean anything special. Except Gaven wants more from Vlar and he’s starting to fall for the taciturn older man. Gaven is confused whether he should give up trying to understand Vlar or push for a more meaningful relationship. Just when Gaven may have figured things out, an old enemy threatens Gaven’s newfound happiness.
The strength of the novel is once again in Owen’s writing. She’s a gifted writer with a flare for description and angst. Gaven is the first person narrator once again and he has some considerable angst through the story. He struggles with Vlar’s hot/cold behavior. Gaven deeply craves someone to love him, want him, and to validate his life so Vlar’s dismissive attitude is hurtful. Gaven spends a lot of time internally musing about what he wants, why he can’t have it, if he’ll ever be happy and so on. Some of this could get old and whiney but the writing keeps the pace quick and doesn’t dwell too much to annoy the reader.
The characters are once again intriguing, though they change gradually over the course of the story. Unfortunately with Gaven as the narrator, the various personalities and actions are all filtered through Gaven’s heavily biased view. Thus Vlar seems to make wild changes and swings from extremely hurtful actions towards Gaven to very loving. Gaven is still pretty immature and thus he doesn’t see motivations and reasons beyond the surface. So to really enjoy the story, you have to accept and furthermore like Gaven, even for all his flaws. Personally I really liked him despite everything and thus was satisfied to see him get a happy ending.
Some things I didn’t appreciate are the repeated violence scenes. From the stag kill to the later abuse, there is a lot of violence in the story. The easy hand to this helps negate some of the negative reaction and a lot of the later violence happens off page. The world building remains pretty sparse and ultimately I never truly bought into the connection between Gaven and Vlar. They’re an interesting couple and the obvious choice for romance but I found the connection between Vlar’s father and his dragon lover to be more appealing.
Overall this is a good solid sequel. The writing is the real draw and the characters and fantasy story are entertaining and absorbing; definitely an engaging story to pass the time and worth reading. As much as I like Gaven, I’m ok if there are no more stories featuring him and would rather delve into something else new and interesting. If you haven’t read either books, I’d recommend them.
Gaven 2: The Bonding is a successful sequel to JC Owen’s intriguing new world. The first book introduced Gaven, set up his sexual relationship with Vlar and now that relationship becomes more complicated with a final happy ending in the sequel. The story is decent but once again what really shines is Owen’s solid writing, gift for description, and ability to incorporate violence and angst while still feeling like an easy, absorbing read. You can read this one on its own or go back and read the first if you’re a stickler for series but there’s enough background you can pick it up alone.
The story starts where the previous book left off, after Gaven and Vlar were sexually united. Vlar is now Gaven’s teacher both in military training and sexually. Gaven must submit to whatever Vlar wants but the relationship is almost mechanic. It’s merely a formality that all soldiers go through and it doesn’t mean anything special. Except Gaven wants more from Vlar and he’s starting to fall for the taciturn older man. Gaven is confused whether he should give up trying to understand Vlar or push for a more meaningful relationship. Just when Gaven may have figured things out, an old enemy threatens Gaven’s newfound happiness.
The strength of the novel is once again in Owen’s writing. She’s a gifted writer with a flare for description and angst. Gaven is the first person narrator once again and he has some considerable angst through the story. He struggles with Vlar’s hot/cold behavior. Gaven deeply craves someone to love him, want him, and to validate his life so Vlar’s dismissive attitude is hurtful. Gaven spends a lot of time internally musing about what he wants, why he can’t have it, if he’ll ever be happy and so on. Some of this could get old and whiney but the writing keeps the pace quick and doesn’t dwell too much to annoy the reader.
The characters are once again intriguing, though they change gradually over the course of the story. Unfortunately with Gaven as the narrator, the various personalities and actions are all filtered through Gaven’s heavily biased view. Thus Vlar seems to make wild changes and swings from extremely hurtful actions towards Gaven to very loving. Gaven is still pretty immature and thus he doesn’t see motivations and reasons beyond the surface. So to really enjoy the story, you have to accept and furthermore like Gaven, even for all his flaws. Personally I really liked him despite everything and thus was satisfied to see him get a happy ending.
Some things I didn’t appreciate are the repeated violence scenes. From the stag kill to the later abuse, there is a lot of violence in the story. The easy hand to this helps negate some of the negative reaction and a lot of the later violence happens off page. The world building remains pretty sparse and ultimately I never truly bought into the connection between Gaven and Vlar. They’re an interesting couple and the obvious choice for romance but I found the connection between Vlar’s father and his dragon lover to be more appealing.
Overall this is a good solid sequel. The writing is the real draw and the characters and fantasy story are entertaining and absorbing; definitely an engaging story to pass the time and worth reading. As much as I like Gaven, I’m ok if there are no more stories featuring him and would rather delve into something else new and interesting. If you haven’t read either books, I’d recommend them.
December 4, 2013
I LOVED the universe J.C. Owens created for this little book. 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 some real reservations about this book and its predecessor.
First off, the two "Gaven" books really should have been one longer book. Given the cost of each book, especially so. I'd expect installments to be less expensive. "Gaven" was just too short - it read more like Part I and this book like Part II. So for twice the price of a single book, I got one book.
The second problem I had with both of these books 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 to me. I'd rather the entire story have been told in modern language than the mishmash of both.
So, bearing in mind these flaws, I'm only giving this a 3 star (since 3.5 isn't an option).
First off, the two "Gaven" books really should have been one longer book. Given the cost of each book, especially so. I'd expect installments to be less expensive. "Gaven" was just too short - it read more like Part I and this book like Part II. So for twice the price of a single book, I got one book.
The second problem I had with both of these books 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 to me. I'd rather the entire story have been told in modern language than the mishmash of both.
So, bearing in mind these flaws, I'm only giving this a 3 star (since 3.5 isn't an option).
February 10, 2017
Rating is for both Parts 1 and 2. Both cruel hero Vlar and critical father Gareth's love for Gaven was conditional. They were both asshats until Vlar's father determined that heroine Gaven was his son's bloodmate.
Gaven was emotionally needy due to a lifetime of neglect and losing his childhood friend. I really wanted Gaven to leave Vlar for Ink. Ink understood Gaven and was emotionally available. Also, he was a better trainer and mentor than Vlar.
Don't recommend this book for hurt/comfort and romance. The Emperor's Wolf is a better book and has great relationship development.
Gaven was emotionally needy due to a lifetime of neglect and losing his childhood friend. I really wanted Gaven to leave Vlar for Ink. Ink understood Gaven and was emotionally available. Also, he was a better trainer and mentor than Vlar.
Don't recommend this book for hurt/comfort and romance. The Emperor's Wolf is a better book and has great relationship development.
December 4, 2013
As much as liked the first book, I did not care much for the most part of this one.
All the little things added up to two stars that I (unfortunately) have to take off. 3 stars.
All the little things added up to two stars that I (unfortunately) have to take off. 3 stars.
December 4, 2013
2.5 stars
I found myself less aggravated with The Bonding than I was with Gaven. This was mainly due to the fact that for at least the first half of the book, I didn't have that much trouble visualizing Gaven as a young man. I liked the humor. I thought that the author did a fairly decent portrayal of a young man with a difficult childhood, low self-esteem, and a yearning for love and acceptance that he did not get as a boy. And the sex scenes were pretty hot. The author's writing style was also readable, and if it weren't for my personal preference not to read a character like Gaven, who I was informed is a twink, I might have rated this a star higher.
It's a pity for both the author and me that I have this compulsion to finish reading books I find aggravating or to continue with a series although I have a feeling I won't enjoy it as much. C'est la vie.
As I mentioned, I find this author to be readable, which helped me to partially enjoy the story. Unfortunately, there were several problems with this book that made me feel a bit snarky in my comments.
Problem #1: Twinks or Seme/Uke coupling
From Wikipedia:
Sorry. Hated it. I hated how this turned Gaven into an emasculated, child-like, unrealistic young man. The emphasis on his youth didn't help. Honest to God, I spent nearly the whole book envisioning him as a 15 year old. How old is Gaven, anyway? I think early 20's? Was this simile to a child really necessary?
This kind of coupling between the main characters would have been irritating enough for me, but when I noticed that nearly all the couples in this world was of the same variety (BIG, MASCULINE MAN and a smaller, effeminate one), it was beyond ridiculous.
Which led to my second (well, third) problem:
Problem #2: Scant Attention to World-building
It looks as if Gaven was the only one born of a woman because THERE ARE NO WOMEN. There are no m/f couples. There is only a short mention of Gareth's affair with Gaven's mother. All of the couples mentioned are m/m. Although it's fantasy, it's still unrealistic, and I couldn't buy it. With the lack of women came also the lack of other children and young people. Gaven is constantly thinking about his youth and his inability to feel like one of the Masarians. Where did all the other young men Gaven's age go? He can't be the only young warrior in his father's army, can he?
There was mention of the Finnarians and Draconians serving humans. Why? Why would these powerful pseudo-vampires and pseudo-dragons serve under humans instead of treating them as prey?
But to be honest, I wasn't as bothered by problem #2 as I was by:
Problem #3: Internal Monologue
Where was the editor? Did the editor not realize that Gaven barely spoke 3 words for 1/4 of the book? That he still barely speaks for the rest of the book as well? The author failed to balance the internal POV thoughts of Gaven and the external actions of the story. I would guesstimate that 3/4 of the book was of Gaven's thoughts. He nodded. He smiled. He frowned. He cast his eyes to the ground. He barely opened his mouth. Yes, Gaven was shy. Yes, Gaven felt out of place. Yes, Gaven felt like he couldn't speak in front of his father or Vlar. Yes, I felt cheated of a proper show vs. tell opportunity. Too many of certain conversations or actions were summarized through Gaven and his thoughts rather than shown through Gaven and his actions.
This book was in Gaven's first person POV, and I thought that that really detracted from the story because 1) as a female reader, it made it even easier for me to feel as if I was reading the thoughts of a young woman rather than a young man 2) Gaven's thoughts were tiresomely angsty (Why would anyone love me? Will I find someone to love me? Does Vlar feel anything for me? I want to find someone to love me.) and 3) I felt that this 1st person POV made it easier for the author to forget that Gaven should have actual interactions rather than constantly go off to a hidden corner, and think and think:
"At feast on that particular night, I was withdrawn and introspective, my thoughts far from food and companionship."
Me: "Gaven, you've been that way the entire first half of the book."
Finally, unrealistic sex scenes. At least they were hot.
I found myself less aggravated with The Bonding than I was with Gaven. This was mainly due to the fact that for at least the first half of the book, I didn't have that much trouble visualizing Gaven as a young man. I liked the humor. I thought that the author did a fairly decent portrayal of a young man with a difficult childhood, low self-esteem, and a yearning for love and acceptance that he did not get as a boy. And the sex scenes were pretty hot. The author's writing style was also readable, and if it weren't for my personal preference not to read a character like Gaven, who I was informed is a twink, I might have rated this a star higher.
It's a pity for both the author and me that I have this compulsion to finish reading books I find aggravating or to continue with a series although I have a feeling I won't enjoy it as much. C'est la vie.
As I mentioned, I find this author to be readable, which helped me to partially enjoy the story. Unfortunately, there were several problems with this book that made me feel a bit snarky in my comments.
Problem #1: Twinks or Seme/Uke coupling
From Wikipedia:
The seme is often depicted as the stereotypical male of anime and manga culture: restrained, physically powerful, and/or protective. The seme is generally older and taller,[39] with a stronger chin, shorter hair, smaller eyes, and a more stereotypically masculine, even "macho",[40] demeanour than the uke. The seme usually pursues the uke, hence the name. The uke usually has softer, androgynous, feminine features with bigger eyes and a smaller build, and is often physically weaker than the seme.
Sorry. Hated it. I hated how this turned Gaven into an emasculated, child-like, unrealistic young man. The emphasis on his youth didn't help. Honest to God, I spent nearly the whole book envisioning him as a 15 year old. How old is Gaven, anyway? I think early 20's? Was this simile to a child really necessary?
"He pulled out, and my tears came faster. I felt cold and empty without his strength within my body, but then he picked me up, cradled me like a child against his chest."There were a couple of comparisons of Gaven as a bride or something feminine like that. Hated it. It was about halfway into the book when my mental slide into visualizing Gaven as a young woman began. It started reading less like a m/m romance and more like a m/f one, especially when I was reading sentences like this:
"I unclenched my fists in a conscious effort to relax and not turn on Vlar with my frustrations. Although why I was bothering...After all, this was his fault. I was not quite sure of the particular details, but I knew it was damn well his fault somehow."Wasn't this particular train of thought the stereotypical providence of women regarding men? Why was this young man sounding exactly like a stereotypical woman??!! Granted, it was funny but it also left me so frustrated. And finally, maybe I'm being too narrow-minded but I cannot imagine a young man not feeling shame at being cuddled and carried out of a room by his father: "I felt no shame as he carried me from the room."
This kind of coupling between the main characters would have been irritating enough for me, but when I noticed that nearly all the couples in this world was of the same variety (BIG, MASCULINE MAN and a smaller, effeminate one), it was beyond ridiculous.
Which led to my second (well, third) problem:
Problem #2: Scant Attention to World-building
It looks as if Gaven was the only one born of a woman because THERE ARE NO WOMEN. There are no m/f couples. There is only a short mention of Gareth's affair with Gaven's mother. All of the couples mentioned are m/m. Although it's fantasy, it's still unrealistic, and I couldn't buy it. With the lack of women came also the lack of other children and young people. Gaven is constantly thinking about his youth and his inability to feel like one of the Masarians. Where did all the other young men Gaven's age go? He can't be the only young warrior in his father's army, can he?
There was mention of the Finnarians and Draconians serving humans. Why? Why would these powerful pseudo-vampires and pseudo-dragons serve under humans instead of treating them as prey?
But to be honest, I wasn't as bothered by problem #2 as I was by:
Problem #3: Internal Monologue
Where was the editor? Did the editor not realize that Gaven barely spoke 3 words for 1/4 of the book? That he still barely speaks for the rest of the book as well? The author failed to balance the internal POV thoughts of Gaven and the external actions of the story. I would guesstimate that 3/4 of the book was of Gaven's thoughts. He nodded. He smiled. He frowned. He cast his eyes to the ground. He barely opened his mouth. Yes, Gaven was shy. Yes, Gaven felt out of place. Yes, Gaven felt like he couldn't speak in front of his father or Vlar. Yes, I felt cheated of a proper show vs. tell opportunity. Too many of certain conversations or actions were summarized through Gaven and his thoughts rather than shown through Gaven and his actions.
This book was in Gaven's first person POV, and I thought that that really detracted from the story because 1) as a female reader, it made it even easier for me to feel as if I was reading the thoughts of a young woman rather than a young man 2) Gaven's thoughts were tiresomely angsty (Why would anyone love me? Will I find someone to love me? Does Vlar feel anything for me? I want to find someone to love me.) and 3) I felt that this 1st person POV made it easier for the author to forget that Gaven should have actual interactions rather than constantly go off to a hidden corner, and think and think:
"At feast on that particular night, I was withdrawn and introspective, my thoughts far from food and companionship."
Me: "Gaven, you've been that way the entire first half of the book."
Finally, unrealistic sex scenes. At least they were hot.
June 26, 2024
First and Foremost!!!!
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Ok, proceed with caution from here.
The story picks right up where it left off at. Gaven had just been initiated as Vlar's eramai and he his eramon, so the story picks up amidst the two sparring and you can infer that training, in all aspects, has been going pretty well. It would appear that Gaven has gotten adjusted to it for the most part and is embracing their lifestyle.
The author chose to include Vlar having sex with someone else too! Not only did he have sex with someone else, but the author made sure that Gaven stumbled upon them in the act so he could witness it too.
Was not a fan of this. Nope, not at all.
And to add insult to injury....even though Vlar knows that Gaven saw him with this other man (because amidst the scene, they actually lock eyes and Vlar makes a face to reflect the utter pleasure he's receiving from this other man)
But they never even talk about it. Vlar never mentions it to him, he never discusses it with Vlar. It's just something that happened I guess. Then the author has the audacity to go on and have them be like the rarest kind of bonded mates and they'll never sleep with anyone else but each other because they wouldn't find pleasure in it.....umm wouldn't that have prevented Vlar from sleeping with this other man and enjoying it so much in the first place? I mean if they're these rare mates and were already sleeping with each other, you'd think that bond would have already activated.
Any way, I found the ending very abrupt. Not to mention, Gaven was separated from Vlar at like the 55% mark and even though he's reunited with him around the 72% mark, Vlar continued to be in a coma until like the last 5% of the book. So we have to go through seeing Gaven be abducted, sexually abused, and beaten...then NEVER see him share any intimacy with his "lover" again to help heal those wounds (both for us and him) because once Vlar awakens, he wants to wait until after their bonding ceremony to be intimate again (it's never explained why he feels this way) and the book abruptly stops when he walks up to Vlar at the actual ceremony. It really just felt like the author was no longer passionate about this particular storyline and wanted to wrap it up as quickly as possible. Ultimately, it felt unfinished and I felt like there were some parts of the story that we never received closure on.
So yeah, first book made the series seem interesting. Second book, for the most part, crashed and burned. Would not recommend.
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Ok, proceed with caution from here.
The story picks right up where it left off at. Gaven had just been initiated as Vlar's eramai and he his eramon, so the story picks up amidst the two sparring and you can infer that training, in all aspects, has been going pretty well. It would appear that Gaven has gotten adjusted to it for the most part and is embracing their lifestyle.
The author chose to include Vlar having sex with someone else too! Not only did he have sex with someone else, but the author made sure that Gaven stumbled upon them in the act so he could witness it too.
"I could only stand there, eyes glued to my eramon, taking in the erotic scene."
..."I was more than familiar with that sound, but watching the act from afar gave me chills. I turned and fled, embarrassment and something else knotting in my chest."
..."So far, since becoming his eramai, there had not been a single night when I had been able to sleep alone, and at this time, I could not bear the Finnarian touching me."
Was not a fan of this. Nope, not at all.
And to add insult to injury....even though Vlar knows that Gaven saw him with this other man (because amidst the scene, they actually lock eyes and Vlar makes a face to reflect the utter pleasure he's receiving from this other man)
But they never even talk about it. Vlar never mentions it to him, he never discusses it with Vlar. It's just something that happened I guess. Then the author has the audacity to go on and have them be like the rarest kind of bonded mates and they'll never sleep with anyone else but each other because they wouldn't find pleasure in it.....umm wouldn't that have prevented Vlar from sleeping with this other man and enjoying it so much in the first place? I mean if they're these rare mates and were already sleeping with each other, you'd think that bond would have already activated.
Any way, I found the ending very abrupt. Not to mention, Gaven was separated from Vlar at like the 55% mark and even though he's reunited with him around the 72% mark, Vlar continued to be in a coma until like the last 5% of the book. So we have to go through seeing Gaven be abducted, sexually abused, and beaten...then NEVER see him share any intimacy with his "lover" again to help heal those wounds (both for us and him) because once Vlar awakens, he wants to wait until after their bonding ceremony to be intimate again (it's never explained why he feels this way) and the book abruptly stops when he walks up to Vlar at the actual ceremony. It really just felt like the author was no longer passionate about this particular storyline and wanted to wrap it up as quickly as possible. Ultimately, it felt unfinished and I felt like there were some parts of the story that we never received closure on.
So yeah, first book made the series seem interesting. Second book, for the most part, crashed and burned. Would not recommend.
April 15, 2020
Well, beyond the fact that one of the MCs, Vlar, had been with another man after he and the other MC, Gaven, had already been together, it was an enjoyable read. It wasn't even considered cheating because they weren't really together, it was more a Teacher/student relationship to begin with. It was just that the Gaven was sad and that made me sad.
The rest was pretty good. I enjoyed the eight and the wolves and even Gaven's father after it was all said and done. I honestly wished there was an epilogue though, because I feel a little cheated that we didn't get a glimpse after the bonding ceremony.
The rest was pretty good. I enjoyed the eight and the wolves and even Gaven's father after it was all said and done. I honestly wished there was an epilogue though, because I feel a little cheated that we didn't get a glimpse after the bonding ceremony.
May 18, 2019
3.8 Stars
August 13, 2011
When I read the first book, I had a few questions that were left unanswered regarding Vlar's nature and what Gaven felt for his mentor. In this book a lot more is explained. I liked the world building, but the focus was on Gaven and Vlar's relationship.
Gaven is growing up from boy to man, he is learning to fight and to love, but he still feels a bit estranged and very much alone. Because of his upbringing far from the Masarians, it seems to him that he will never fit between these fierce and proud warriors. The warriors closer to him try to make him feel that he belongs, but he is his worst enemy, he sees himself as weak and unworthy of praise and love.
His relationship with his mentor Vlar becomes deeper in unusual ways. Gaven realizes he is falling in love with Vlar, but he also thinks it's just a crush over this strong and fascinating man, who is something more than human. At the same time, Vlar shows he is affected by their relationship.
In this book Vlar's character - even if we don't get his point of view - is more developed, because we also see his moments of weakness and uncertainty. I have to say though that Vlar's father, Sadan, and his misterious lover Graitaan steal the scene, so I'm glad to know there's a sequel about them.
This book is as dark as the previous one, because the world where the characters live is violent and Gaven has to endure a series of gruesome misadventures in this book too, and even if it's clear what Gaven and Vlar feel for each is becoming deeper, their encounters are still pretty intense. There is a good romance part, but it's not a series I'd recommend to everyone because of his darker theme.
Gaven is growing up from boy to man, he is learning to fight and to love, but he still feels a bit estranged and very much alone. Because of his upbringing far from the Masarians, it seems to him that he will never fit between these fierce and proud warriors. The warriors closer to him try to make him feel that he belongs, but he is his worst enemy, he sees himself as weak and unworthy of praise and love.
His relationship with his mentor Vlar becomes deeper in unusual ways. Gaven realizes he is falling in love with Vlar, but he also thinks it's just a crush over this strong and fascinating man, who is something more than human. At the same time, Vlar shows he is affected by their relationship.
In this book Vlar's character - even if we don't get his point of view - is more developed, because we also see his moments of weakness and uncertainty. I have to say though that Vlar's father, Sadan, and his misterious lover Graitaan steal the scene, so I'm glad to know there's a sequel about them.
This book is as dark as the previous one, because the world where the characters live is violent and Gaven has to endure a series of gruesome misadventures in this book too, and even if it's clear what Gaven and Vlar feel for each is becoming deeper, their encounters are still pretty intense. There is a good romance part, but it's not a series I'd recommend to everyone because of his darker theme.
November 30, 2021
Re-read 11/2021:
Same as last re-read. It started out well enough, but then I started noticing stuff that annoyed me, like the narration having this epic feel in one sentence and then sounding very contemporary in the next, or Gaven's character being all over the place. Idk, I think I'm done with re-reading this one, I don't think I'll ever capture the feeling I had when I've read it for the first time.
Re-read 02/2019:
This is part 2 of Gaven. Same thing - it's either a 2 stars or a 4 stars book, depending on the mood. This time brain's started noticing all the little annoying details that prevented me from enjoying it as much as I did on the first read.
Same as last re-read. It started out well enough, but then I started noticing stuff that annoyed me, like the narration having this epic feel in one sentence and then sounding very contemporary in the next, or Gaven's character being all over the place. Idk, I think I'm done with re-reading this one, I don't think I'll ever capture the feeling I had when I've read it for the first time.
Re-read 02/2019:
This is part 2 of Gaven. Same thing - it's either a 2 stars or a 4 stars book, depending on the mood. This time brain's started noticing all the little annoying details that prevented me from enjoying it as much as I did on the first read.
March 22, 2015
*Re-read March 2015
Re-read 6/12/14 for the MM Romance Group's Re-romancing the Faves Challenge. I think I loved Vlar more this time around. I didn't like him much in the first book, but in this one, once you figure out why he's acting the way he is towards Gaven, you can't help but love him, of course him being strong and completely sexy helps too. Still hate that abrupt ending though.
Originally read 1/22/14- 4.5 stars. My only reason for not giving it the full 5 stars was the somewhat abrupt ending. Would have been nice to see the bonding ceremony and of course the hot sex with Vlar afterwards!
Re-read 6/12/14 for the MM Romance Group's Re-romancing the Faves Challenge. I think I loved Vlar more this time around. I didn't like him much in the first book, but in this one, once you figure out why he's acting the way he is towards Gaven, you can't help but love him, of course him being strong and completely sexy helps too. Still hate that abrupt ending though.
Originally read 1/22/14- 4.5 stars. My only reason for not giving it the full 5 stars was the somewhat abrupt ending. Would have been nice to see the bonding ceremony and of course the hot sex with Vlar afterwards!
March 2, 2016
I really loved the first book because Gaven is such an incredibly appealing character. And he still is in this book, too. Actually, almost everyone in these books is great: Sadan is fascinating, the Eight are wonderful, so is Andar, even Gareth is interesting. It's Vlar that I couldn't like at all. There is nothing likeable about him. Well, he is good looking and good in bed. Not enough! He actually treated Gaven quite shitty before finding out about their bond and then he suddenly became loving and considerate. This kind of conditional lovr really makes me question if he loved Gaven or just the idea of bloodmate.
July 24, 2020
This book completes what should have been (in my opinion) one full-sized novel. This should NOT be read without first reading Gaven. I loved the setting. I'm not a big fan of fantasy novels, but it really worked for this one. And I loved that m/m relationships were the norm, in fact they were expected. I loved all the secondary characters and would love to read more in this world.
November 3, 2016
It's a little disconcerting that the 2 main characters have extremely different personalities from what they started out as... It would not have been so weird had the author given us a bit more on their motivations to change like this...It's like you know there will be change and you want the change, me as a reader am expecting it but the reasons for the change, the conviction is just weak...I wanted more interaction between Gaven and Vlar, they should've talked to each other more rather than have their own inner dialogs and reassuring dialogs with supporting characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2015
This sequel isn't as intense as the first. You can connect to more of the characters because they become more "human" in Gaven's eyes. He gets to know them and care for them. He finally starts to understand why some things are the way they are, they aren't simply to torment him;) You learn much more of all the characters. Vlar actually melts a little and you see more of him. Gaven goes through something horrible traumatic and he grows and finds his own strength from it. I do think some of the transition from "this sucks" to "I love him" on Gaven's part was a bit abrupt. Good story:)
September 2, 2022
Overall book rating: 3.8
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 3
Also enjoyed this one.
We got a little more about Vlar and who and what he is.
I got a little bit irritated with Gaven's long bout of
low self-esteem for a moment or two but both
he and I bounced out of that. Happy to report.
I enjoyed this series because I get bored if I
read to many "normal" day to day stuff.
This is refreshing and different and sometimes
a little weird.
Just what I needed.
I enjoyed watching Gaven grow. Form bonds.
Join the rest of the world so to speak.
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 3
Also enjoyed this one.
We got a little more about Vlar and who and what he is.
I got a little bit irritated with Gaven's long bout of
low self-esteem for a moment or two but both
he and I bounced out of that. Happy to report.
I enjoyed this series because I get bored if I
read to many "normal" day to day stuff.
This is refreshing and different and sometimes
a little weird.
Just what I needed.
I enjoyed watching Gaven grow. Form bonds.
Join the rest of the world so to speak.
April 22, 2011
Excellent sequel, the writing was easy to follow and captivating. The world building was solid and the story itself an interesting mixture of violence, gritty sex, revenge and light sweetness.
Gaven, though still very young and insecure, greatly matured as the story progressed.
Vlar is the typical hot and cold alpha male, who by the end is head over heels in love with his "mate".
Gaven, though still very young and insecure, greatly matured as the story progressed.
Vlar is the typical hot and cold alpha male, who by the end is head over heels in love with his "mate".
June 12, 2015
I love this series ... it pushes my boundaries but I'm able to stay on the right side of freaked out because of the sci-fi/fantasy aspect ... Owens has created a vivid world where I become immersed in the characters & their lives ... I'll definitely continue this series & would highly recommend it to lovers of erotic sci-fi with a sadistic twist.
April 29, 2017
Gaven was much less whiny in this second book of the series, so I liked it better, but there still wasn't enough interaction between the two MCs. They love each other desperately, but why? How can we know, when so much of the book is about the times when they're apart?
June 4, 2016
Okay m/m fantasy read..
'Vlar stood outside, in pouring rain, utterly naked. His face was turned upward, his arms spread, palms up as though to praise a deity, his body arched back slightly.'
'Vlar stood outside, in pouring rain, utterly naked. His face was turned upward, his arms spread, palms up as though to praise a deity, his body arched back slightly.'
September 26, 2014
Слишком много страдальчества и эстрогена :(
May 17, 2015
Very sexy and sweet story, with a nice bit of angst thrown in for good measure. Vlar and Gaven are such a cute couple. Straight on to the third book!
May 27, 2014
Talk about a let down. I was so excited for this but by the end of it, I just wanted to get it over with! I have made a list of everything that made me turn from liking this book to being downright sick of it (in no particular order).
1. This whole misconceived notion of rape. It happened vaguely in the first story (and I mentioned it in my review) but it was worse here. Yet again, Gaven ended up in a situation where he was penetrated by fingers (unwanted, mind you). And then daddy dearest comes to the rescue and Gaven's all like 'yay you came just in time, nothing happened, perfect timing, blah blah happily ever after now that you love me'. Um... no, sorry Gaven, something did happen. That something is called rape. I don't care if it's 'just' with the fingers, that's rape!! I absolutely despise how the author has treated this - it is merely a weak plot device to make you feel relief that Gaven wasn't actually raped - oh, he was only fingered, happy times. NO. By law, that's rape. Mentally, that's rape! What about the emotional fallout from that? And from his whole week of torture that was delightfully skipped over in favour of going into the 'not-quite'- rape scene. Which leads me to my second point:
2. This whole story was way too short. It was as if the author couldn't be bothered filling out the story, so just jumped from scene to scene to what she wanted to write. The months that Gaven and Vlar have together where Gaven suddenly doesn't mind the new country and even Vlar himself so much? Boring, let's just do a time jump. The part where Gaven actually grows as a character? Nah, let's just go from him being spineless to one event making him feel absolutely invincible with no more character development on that. The part where Gaven and Vlar actually fall in love? Oh heck no, why would any readers want to read about that pshhhh. There was way too much skipping over - this story needs to be developed and filled out soooo much more.
3. Vlar. Was he mute? I get that his entire race isn't very open, but come in. I'm pretty sure he never directly said a word until about 20%, and had a proper kind-of conversation at around 40% - can someone pretty please go through and see how much he actually speaks? Because it isn't much. Probably his longest monologue before the uncharacteristic info dumps at the end was during sex. Nice one, pal. I would've liked a bit more of an explanation on his absolute dick-ish-ness for the about 60% of the book please thanks. Vlar shows the slightest hint of actually having a heart (and a brain) and Gaven goes crazy over it.
4. Gaven. What are you even, Gaven? I've already spoken about his ridiculous personality 180 but before that, he was the biggest pity party on earth. Honestly, his mopey-ness and bitter attitude reminded me of Ana from 50 Shades plus Bella Swan, and that is NOT A GOOD THING. Everything was about Gaven, waa waa waa, 'I have no friends and no one likes me', 'I'm so alone', 'why won't anyone be NICE to me', all this while surrounded by a HUGE bunch of people who love him and actually show it (the father's bonded dude, the Eight, the king). I do love me some angst but this was just too much.
5. One time, I read this pretty great m/m book and was halfway through it when I was like 'wait, hold on, where are all the women?'. Then I remembered that this was a fantasy world and the author had actually said that there was only one gender, which was more similar to male, so there were no females. But that was not the case here. In this entire novel, I'm pretty sure there was only one women mentioned and that was only ever indirectly - Gaven's mother. Plus, she was called a liar (what was the story behind that anyway) so at this point, Owens is seeming a bit female-hating at the moment. I get that the Masarians accept m/m relationships, but that doesn't mean that some people prefer a woman to a man. Someone? ANYONE?! Or maybe just one woman!! It was actually so frustrating by the end of it and it really got my inner-feminist riled up (loljks, my inner-feminist is a bit of an outer-feminist).
6. I feel like the next rational development in this story is the creation of HIV/AIDS. After all, what else logically could happen after Vlar has sex with Gaven ON TOP OF A DEAD DEER USING THE DEAD DEERS BLOOD. Was this not utterly disturbing to anyone else? Did this not scream of how HIV actually came about? Screw that theory about having sex with monkeys, I think we've got a good theory going here with the deer blood.
7. The dynamics of Gaven and Vlar's relationship are messed up (if I haven't already made that clear). Gaven is like a lonely, abused puppy who's gonna fall in love with the first person that shows it affection (Ice actually says this, but with a plant metaphor). To puppies everywhere, I'm sorry I compared Gaven to you, he's way too miserable to be likened to an adorable mini-dog. Vlar 100% has all the power in the relationship, which is pretty sickening and overly obvious. He's way older, way more powerful in every way, and Gaven god-worships him. Vlar's 180 degree personality change makes this even weirder.
Um okay. So don't get me wrong, I did finish the book. A lot of these things were small niggles that I could put aside for the sake of a good trashy m/m read, but by the end of it, it all added up (snowball style). By the time I finished the book, my fingers were itching to get out this review. I apologise for the length and commend anyone who reaches the end!
1. This whole misconceived notion of rape. It happened vaguely in the first story (and I mentioned it in my review) but it was worse here. Yet again, Gaven ended up in a situation where he was penetrated by fingers (unwanted, mind you). And then daddy dearest comes to the rescue and Gaven's all like 'yay you came just in time, nothing happened, perfect timing, blah blah happily ever after now that you love me'. Um... no, sorry Gaven, something did happen. That something is called rape. I don't care if it's 'just' with the fingers, that's rape!! I absolutely despise how the author has treated this - it is merely a weak plot device to make you feel relief that Gaven wasn't actually raped - oh, he was only fingered, happy times. NO. By law, that's rape. Mentally, that's rape! What about the emotional fallout from that? And from his whole week of torture that was delightfully skipped over in favour of going into the 'not-quite'- rape scene. Which leads me to my second point:
2. This whole story was way too short. It was as if the author couldn't be bothered filling out the story, so just jumped from scene to scene to what she wanted to write. The months that Gaven and Vlar have together where Gaven suddenly doesn't mind the new country and even Vlar himself so much? Boring, let's just do a time jump. The part where Gaven actually grows as a character? Nah, let's just go from him being spineless to one event making him feel absolutely invincible with no more character development on that. The part where Gaven and Vlar actually fall in love? Oh heck no, why would any readers want to read about that pshhhh. There was way too much skipping over - this story needs to be developed and filled out soooo much more.
3. Vlar. Was he mute? I get that his entire race isn't very open, but come in. I'm pretty sure he never directly said a word until about 20%, and had a proper kind-of conversation at around 40% - can someone pretty please go through and see how much he actually speaks? Because it isn't much. Probably his longest monologue before the uncharacteristic info dumps at the end was during sex. Nice one, pal. I would've liked a bit more of an explanation on his absolute dick-ish-ness for the about 60% of the book please thanks. Vlar shows the slightest hint of actually having a heart (and a brain) and Gaven goes crazy over it.
4. Gaven. What are you even, Gaven? I've already spoken about his ridiculous personality 180 but before that, he was the biggest pity party on earth. Honestly, his mopey-ness and bitter attitude reminded me of Ana from 50 Shades plus Bella Swan, and that is NOT A GOOD THING. Everything was about Gaven, waa waa waa, 'I have no friends and no one likes me', 'I'm so alone', 'why won't anyone be NICE to me', all this while surrounded by a HUGE bunch of people who love him and actually show it (the father's bonded dude, the Eight, the king). I do love me some angst but this was just too much.
5. One time, I read this pretty great m/m book and was halfway through it when I was like 'wait, hold on, where are all the women?'. Then I remembered that this was a fantasy world and the author had actually said that there was only one gender, which was more similar to male, so there were no females. But that was not the case here. In this entire novel, I'm pretty sure there was only one women mentioned and that was only ever indirectly - Gaven's mother. Plus, she was called a liar (what was the story behind that anyway) so at this point, Owens is seeming a bit female-hating at the moment. I get that the Masarians accept m/m relationships, but that doesn't mean that some people prefer a woman to a man. Someone? ANYONE?! Or maybe just one woman!! It was actually so frustrating by the end of it and it really got my inner-feminist riled up (loljks, my inner-feminist is a bit of an outer-feminist).
6. I feel like the next rational development in this story is the creation of HIV/AIDS. After all, what else logically could happen after Vlar has sex with Gaven ON TOP OF A DEAD DEER USING THE DEAD DEERS BLOOD. Was this not utterly disturbing to anyone else? Did this not scream of how HIV actually came about? Screw that theory about having sex with monkeys, I think we've got a good theory going here with the deer blood.
7. The dynamics of Gaven and Vlar's relationship are messed up (if I haven't already made that clear). Gaven is like a lonely, abused puppy who's gonna fall in love with the first person that shows it affection (Ice actually says this, but with a plant metaphor). To puppies everywhere, I'm sorry I compared Gaven to you, he's way too miserable to be likened to an adorable mini-dog. Vlar 100% has all the power in the relationship, which is pretty sickening and overly obvious. He's way older, way more powerful in every way, and Gaven god-worships him. Vlar's 180 degree personality change makes this even weirder.
Um okay. So don't get me wrong, I did finish the book. A lot of these things were small niggles that I could put aside for the sake of a good trashy m/m read, but by the end of it, it all added up (snowball style). By the time I finished the book, my fingers were itching to get out this review. I apologise for the length and commend anyone who reaches the end!
April 12, 2014
I liked this story well enough. But the funny thing is I think I liked the potential of this story better than its actuality. The feisty character I was introduced to in Gaven, who fought against the changes thrust upon him seemed to have disappeared completely in this story. Maybe it’s just because I waited too long in between reading these two stories that things felt a little discombobulated to me, but I just felt like Gaven gave in way to easily to things and it made this story way to simple in the end. With that being said I do like Gaven and Vlar together.
Gaven and Vlar have settled into the structure of their new relationship. Gaven still doesn’t understand everything his new reality expects of him, but at least he’s beginning to find his place. His skills in combat are developing and while he’s happy for that his feelings for his teacher are a little more mixed. Gaven can’t wrap his head around why the hatred he should be feeling for Vlar doesn’t seem to be there anymore. In fact accidentally seeing Vlar taking another man stirs up feelings almost like jealousy. Something strange begins to happen between them though after one wild night together leads to Vlar taking Gaven’s blood. It certainly changes the dynamic of their relationship forever.
Again I repeat, I really do like Gaven and Vlar as a couple. I just wanted to see Gaven struggle against things a little more I guess. I was hoping that this story would see Gaven resistant to much of the things this new world had to teach him and yet through Vlar’s tutelage slowly be taken over. Which I guess is kinda what happened just without us getting to see him really resisting. Not to mention the action plot points of this story are really random and seemingly thrust in at the last second and that always bugs me a bit.
I find I really like Vlar in all of this. He’s a little dicky at times, but I wish I’d gotten to know more about him. I liked his reaction to what was changing between himself and Gaven. I liked that it disrupted his internal equilibrium in such a way he was, for once in his life, more than a little unsure. Getting to meet his father was fun too. Granted I wish we’d gotten to see his father’s mate. The hints there were really tantalizing.
Now this is why I hate my creative brain. I would have loved to have seen this story taken further from the point it ended at. I feel like I need a third act. I need to see Gaven learning to exist in Vlar’s world, back home with the other Finnarians. I wanted something greater to have occurred within these two stories since my understanding of the third book is that it doesn’t center around Gaven and Vlar at all.
I will say that I really did like Gaven’s father’s reaction to his kidnapping. But I felt like it came out of left field. Ultimately I think that’s what I missed throughout this novel, the motivations behind why people changed. There was no careful build up to anything within this story. One minute Gaven and Vlar are at odds, the next Gaven’s can’t think of anything else. One minute Gaven’s safe in the castle the next he’s kidnapped One minute Gaven’s father hates him and thinks he’s scum beneath his shoe and the next he could make a case of father of the year.
I did really enjoy Gaven’s connection to Vlar and what that connection allowed him to do in the end. I just wanted to have felt like it was developed and nurtured. They were so sweet together once they figured out what was going on. I just wanted to see something real developing between them before one bite changed the name of the game.
Side point -- I do love the Eight!!!
So much potential here and all of my critique may make it sound like I didn’t enjoy this story. That’s not true. I did enjoy what I was reading. I was just left wishing for more. I liked the pieces, many of the elements, I just didn’t feel like the whole jelled as awesomely as I would have liked. I’d give it 3.5 stars overall, enough to keep me coming back and reading the third book in the series though. :D
Gaven and Vlar have settled into the structure of their new relationship. Gaven still doesn’t understand everything his new reality expects of him, but at least he’s beginning to find his place. His skills in combat are developing and while he’s happy for that his feelings for his teacher are a little more mixed. Gaven can’t wrap his head around why the hatred he should be feeling for Vlar doesn’t seem to be there anymore. In fact accidentally seeing Vlar taking another man stirs up feelings almost like jealousy. Something strange begins to happen between them though after one wild night together leads to Vlar taking Gaven’s blood. It certainly changes the dynamic of their relationship forever.
Again I repeat, I really do like Gaven and Vlar as a couple. I just wanted to see Gaven struggle against things a little more I guess. I was hoping that this story would see Gaven resistant to much of the things this new world had to teach him and yet through Vlar’s tutelage slowly be taken over. Which I guess is kinda what happened just without us getting to see him really resisting. Not to mention the action plot points of this story are really random and seemingly thrust in at the last second and that always bugs me a bit.
I find I really like Vlar in all of this. He’s a little dicky at times, but I wish I’d gotten to know more about him. I liked his reaction to what was changing between himself and Gaven. I liked that it disrupted his internal equilibrium in such a way he was, for once in his life, more than a little unsure. Getting to meet his father was fun too. Granted I wish we’d gotten to see his father’s mate. The hints there were really tantalizing.
Now this is why I hate my creative brain. I would have loved to have seen this story taken further from the point it ended at. I feel like I need a third act. I need to see Gaven learning to exist in Vlar’s world, back home with the other Finnarians. I wanted something greater to have occurred within these two stories since my understanding of the third book is that it doesn’t center around Gaven and Vlar at all.
I will say that I really did like Gaven’s father’s reaction to his kidnapping. But I felt like it came out of left field. Ultimately I think that’s what I missed throughout this novel, the motivations behind why people changed. There was no careful build up to anything within this story. One minute Gaven and Vlar are at odds, the next Gaven’s can’t think of anything else. One minute Gaven’s safe in the castle the next he’s kidnapped One minute Gaven’s father hates him and thinks he’s scum beneath his shoe and the next he could make a case of father of the year.
I did really enjoy Gaven’s connection to Vlar and what that connection allowed him to do in the end. I just wanted to have felt like it was developed and nurtured. They were so sweet together once they figured out what was going on. I just wanted to see something real developing between them before one bite changed the name of the game.
Side point -- I do love the Eight!!!
So much potential here and all of my critique may make it sound like I didn’t enjoy this story. That’s not true. I did enjoy what I was reading. I was just left wishing for more. I liked the pieces, many of the elements, I just didn’t feel like the whole jelled as awesomely as I would have liked. I’d give it 3.5 stars overall, enough to keep me coming back and reading the third book in the series though. :D
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