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An Intimate History of the Greater Kingdom #1
Lovers and Beloveds
A trapped immortal planning escape...
A prince who is the key...
And a secret, seductive history, captured in a magic book...
Just turned 18, Prince Temmin Antremont has finally joined his father's court, only to walk straight into a power struggle between the secular and the sacred. The twin gods of love and sex call Temmin to serve in the Lovers' Temple for two years, a call made even more tempting by the seductive twins who embody the gods.
Prophecy suggests that Temmin's entrance into the Temple spells the kingdom's end, and the King will stop at nothing to prevent it. But the king's own advisor, a strange immortal called Teacher, comes to Temmin's aid. Why? And does the kingdom's fate really hinge on one young man's decision?
Lovers and Beloveds is the first book in the acclaimed Victorianesque fantasy series An Intimate History of the Greater Kingdom, which continues with Son in Sorrow.
A prince who is the key...
And a secret, seductive history, captured in a magic book...
Just turned 18, Prince Temmin Antremont has finally joined his father's court, only to walk straight into a power struggle between the secular and the sacred. The twin gods of love and sex call Temmin to serve in the Lovers' Temple for two years, a call made even more tempting by the seductive twins who embody the gods.
Prophecy suggests that Temmin's entrance into the Temple spells the kingdom's end, and the King will stop at nothing to prevent it. But the king's own advisor, a strange immortal called Teacher, comes to Temmin's aid. Why? And does the kingdom's fate really hinge on one young man's decision?
Lovers and Beloveds is the first book in the acclaimed Victorianesque fantasy series An Intimate History of the Greater Kingdom, which continues with Son in Sorrow.
422 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 10, 2010
20 people are currently reading
534 people want to read
About the author
MeiLin Miranda
28 books93 followersMeiLin Miranda is the pen name of Lynn Siprelle. As MeiLin Miranda, she wrote literary fantasy and science fiction set in Victorian worlds. Her love of all things 19th century (except for the pesky parts like cholera, child labor, slavery and no rights for women) consumed her since childhood, when she fell in a stack of Louisa May Alcott books and never got up.
MeiLin wrote nonfiction for thirty years, in radio, television, print, and the web. She always wanted to write fiction, but figured she had time. She discovered she didn't when a series of unfortunate events resulted in a cardiac arrest complete with a near-death experience.
In December, 2014, MeiLin suffered a massive stroke; she was expected to die, as more than 90% of those struck by similar strokes do. Instead, thanks to an experimental treatment (the CLEAR-III study), she survived, though dramatically altered. Her recovery has been nothing short of spectacular, and still continues. She hopes to return to writing at some point, though it will be under her real name.
MeiLin lives in a 130-year-old house in Portland, Oregon with a husband, two daughters, a black cat, a little dog, and far, far too much yarn.
MeiLin wrote nonfiction for thirty years, in radio, television, print, and the web. She always wanted to write fiction, but figured she had time. She discovered she didn't when a series of unfortunate events resulted in a cardiac arrest complete with a near-death experience.
In December, 2014, MeiLin suffered a massive stroke; she was expected to die, as more than 90% of those struck by similar strokes do. Instead, thanks to an experimental treatment (the CLEAR-III study), she survived, though dramatically altered. Her recovery has been nothing short of spectacular, and still continues. She hopes to return to writing at some point, though it will be under her real name.
MeiLin lives in a 130-year-old house in Portland, Oregon with a husband, two daughters, a black cat, a little dog, and far, far too much yarn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
January 14, 2011
Lovers and Beloveds is the coming of age story of Temmin, next in line for the throne of Tremont, intertwined with tales from a Magic Book called An Intimate History of The Greater Kingdom (which gave the series its name).
This book was first serialized online, and when I started reading that version, I could never get past the first chapters because Temmin annoyed the heck out of me. Not that he's a very annoying character, but because he's a very typical spoiled male teenager, and I just don't have patience for that.
However, friends who read it raved about it and the premise of the story always seemed like my cup of tea, so when I was given a digital copy of the rewritten book, I decided to give it another try.
I loved it. I didn't love it until somewhere halfway when I suddenly realized it was 6 o'clock in the morning and I couldn't put it down, so instead I just read on. It's the kind of story for which the appreciation sort of sneeks upon you.
I thought Temmin was incredibly spoiled and blind and stupid and ignorant and insensitive at first. And I didn't feel like he redeemed himself for a long time, because he kept on being ignorant and walking after his dick. If not for the magical awesomeness that was Warin and Emmae's tale (the story that's told inside the story) I would have quit reading again I think. I just couldn't sympathise.
But then the good in Temmin slowly started to shine through, and suddenly I found myself crying with him when the twins revealed their past. Disliking his father also really helped in siding with Temmin.
And it dawned on me that the unlikeable Temmin actually shows off the biggest strength of Meilin Miranda; she writes very believable young adults, with all their doubts and rashness.
Even in this magical setting, with a very different (but boy is it interesting!) belief system, and the Royal upbringing of the characters, Temmin, Sedra and Ellika seem like people you can meet around the corner. And while I didn't always like what they did, or agreed with their way of thinking, I found myself rooting for them all.
I especially loved Sedra, and I really hope she and her mental prowess get a spot in the spotlight at some point in future books.
I did expect there to be more Intimate Tales, and was admittedly a little disappointed that this book focused on only one historical couple. I'm assuming the next 2 books will tell more (which is awesome!!!), but that probably won't fill my hunger. I was expecting to end up with the full history of the Kingdom, but alas, I don't think that will be the case.
Emmae's and Warin's tale was beautiful though, and I loved how Temmin was shown both point of views. There aren't black and whites when it comes to history, only grays, and I think that was portrayed very well.
What can I say? I'm hungry for more. More Temmin, more Sedra, more Twins and definitely more Intimate History.
I really, really, really wish book 2 was out already.
Highly recommended.
This book was first serialized online, and when I started reading that version, I could never get past the first chapters because Temmin annoyed the heck out of me. Not that he's a very annoying character, but because he's a very typical spoiled male teenager, and I just don't have patience for that.
However, friends who read it raved about it and the premise of the story always seemed like my cup of tea, so when I was given a digital copy of the rewritten book, I decided to give it another try.
I loved it. I didn't love it until somewhere halfway when I suddenly realized it was 6 o'clock in the morning and I couldn't put it down, so instead I just read on. It's the kind of story for which the appreciation sort of sneeks upon you.
I thought Temmin was incredibly spoiled and blind and stupid and ignorant and insensitive at first. And I didn't feel like he redeemed himself for a long time, because he kept on being ignorant and walking after his dick. If not for the magical awesomeness that was Warin and Emmae's tale (the story that's told inside the story) I would have quit reading again I think. I just couldn't sympathise.
But then the good in Temmin slowly started to shine through, and suddenly I found myself crying with him when the twins revealed their past. Disliking his father also really helped in siding with Temmin.
And it dawned on me that the unlikeable Temmin actually shows off the biggest strength of Meilin Miranda; she writes very believable young adults, with all their doubts and rashness.
Even in this magical setting, with a very different (but boy is it interesting!) belief system, and the Royal upbringing of the characters, Temmin, Sedra and Ellika seem like people you can meet around the corner. And while I didn't always like what they did, or agreed with their way of thinking, I found myself rooting for them all.
I especially loved Sedra, and I really hope she and her mental prowess get a spot in the spotlight at some point in future books.
I did expect there to be more Intimate Tales, and was admittedly a little disappointed that this book focused on only one historical couple. I'm assuming the next 2 books will tell more (which is awesome!!!), but that probably won't fill my hunger. I was expecting to end up with the full history of the Kingdom, but alas, I don't think that will be the case.
Emmae's and Warin's tale was beautiful though, and I loved how Temmin was shown both point of views. There aren't black and whites when it comes to history, only grays, and I think that was portrayed very well.
What can I say? I'm hungry for more. More Temmin, more Sedra, more Twins and definitely more Intimate History.
I really, really, really wish book 2 was out already.
Highly recommended.
July 23, 2014
I will add some fast scattered comments for now and have more later and a full FBC review in a week or so which I will c/p here.
The J. Carey comparisons are apt - I would say the aptest of several books claiming such; Lovers and Beloveds is somewhat more explicit but in the same tasteful vein as there and it posits a world where Gods' embodiments - including the erotic one in dual male/female manifestation - play an important role in society.
The novel starts slow and a bit on the raw side but it picks up considerably after a while; it ultimately depends on the character of Temmin and while he becomes quite interesting by the end of the novel, readers have to put up with a lot of silliness and even dullness before; not a bad prince as they go, but still spoiled and naive which makes for the worst combination sometimes.
Also the emotional distance of 3rd person narration works against the book to some extent - one huge reason the Kushiel books are so good (still my #1 fantasy of all time) is the immediacy of first person narration and i do not get why authors are afraid to use it in books like this where the extra pov's are superfluous and could be worked around; i saw recent books using 1srt person combined with 3rd person snippeting and that also would be better imho
The secondary story that Temmin sees in the magic book of the subtitle (Intimate...) is cliched and predictable, so a bit overlong as a subthread but it works as a morality tale/history lesson and I guess it may play a role in later world building expansion.
The writing is excellent and helps smooth some of the issues mentioned above, while the world building is pretty good, a little bit sketchy but not with great flaws, just incomplete and I expect continuing volumes to expand it. The characters develop and show a lot of nuance after a while, so I urge everyone to give this book a little time to develop from its somewhat raw beginning
All in all the series has extremely great promise so I am very interested in the sequel, while Lovers and Beloveds (A+) is one of the best indies (more or less debut as the book has been expanded a lot from its first edition) I've read this year. If you are a fan of Jacqueline Carey I would definitely urge you to try this one and as mentioned give it a bit to settle down and of course I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in beautifully written fantasy of intrigue and eroticism and who is not afraid of some explicitness.
The J. Carey comparisons are apt - I would say the aptest of several books claiming such; Lovers and Beloveds is somewhat more explicit but in the same tasteful vein as there and it posits a world where Gods' embodiments - including the erotic one in dual male/female manifestation - play an important role in society.
The novel starts slow and a bit on the raw side but it picks up considerably after a while; it ultimately depends on the character of Temmin and while he becomes quite interesting by the end of the novel, readers have to put up with a lot of silliness and even dullness before; not a bad prince as they go, but still spoiled and naive which makes for the worst combination sometimes.
Also the emotional distance of 3rd person narration works against the book to some extent - one huge reason the Kushiel books are so good (still my #1 fantasy of all time) is the immediacy of first person narration and i do not get why authors are afraid to use it in books like this where the extra pov's are superfluous and could be worked around; i saw recent books using 1srt person combined with 3rd person snippeting and that also would be better imho
The secondary story that Temmin sees in the magic book of the subtitle (Intimate...) is cliched and predictable, so a bit overlong as a subthread but it works as a morality tale/history lesson and I guess it may play a role in later world building expansion.
The writing is excellent and helps smooth some of the issues mentioned above, while the world building is pretty good, a little bit sketchy but not with great flaws, just incomplete and I expect continuing volumes to expand it. The characters develop and show a lot of nuance after a while, so I urge everyone to give this book a little time to develop from its somewhat raw beginning
All in all the series has extremely great promise so I am very interested in the sequel, while Lovers and Beloveds (A+) is one of the best indies (more or less debut as the book has been expanded a lot from its first edition) I've read this year. If you are a fan of Jacqueline Carey I would definitely urge you to try this one and as mentioned give it a bit to settle down and of course I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in beautifully written fantasy of intrigue and eroticism and who is not afraid of some explicitness.
December 28, 2010
A while back an email popped up in my inbox requesting I read Lovers and Beloveds for review. I did my usual routine of checking the book out, looking at it's reviews, reading the back page copy, and bits and pieces of text. It looked good. My initial impression was steampunk erotic fantasy. It sounded right up my alley.
Then another interesting factoid hit my radar; it was groupfunded, a major plus. If that term means nothing to you, prepare to learn. Groupfunding is a technique where you get a bunch of people to give you money to pay for you to do your project. Call it modern day patronage. On a practical level that means this book was good enough, in the bits and pieces released by the author, to get total strangers to give her money to hire an editor, artist, etc. While total money generated is not a definitive ruler for a book's quality, I've waded through a lot of self-published fiction that no one in their right mind would buy, let alone decide to patronize. I was thrilled to get into this book.
It turns out my initial impressions of Lovers and Beloveds was off, but not in a bad way. It is a coming of age tale wrapped around a story of sexual domination (a story within the story writing technique is used to good effect in this book) exploring how the one story furthers the other. It's a tale of a young man preparing for his eventual kinghood and the paths he may take to get there.
It is set in a fantasy land with an 1890's-1910ish technology level. But the technology is just in the background. To call it steampunk would be similar to calling Sherlock Holmes steampunk, sure it's the right era, but to do so misses the point of steampunk.
It is erotica: coming of age, realpolitik, intelligently crafted with layers and story lines beyond the sex, and wrapped up in the sexual politics of what it means to be a man or a woman erotica. As such, if you don't happen to enjoy reading explicit sex or sexual violence, just put the book down and head for the next one on your list. Assuming such reading does not bother you, go get a copy, you'll be well rewarded.
Lovers and Beloveds uses erotic sex as a vehicle to explore the paths of power and the relationships of dominance and privilege. All things a boy needs to learn to become a man who will be a king. The sex is well written, very hot, and it's easy to see why the main character, Temmin, finds himself aroused and dismayed by that arousal when seeing the main character of the inner story raped.
I think calling this book fantasy might be a bit misleading. There is magic in this world, but it's use is minimal. My guess is that in later books in the series it will become important, (perhaps there will be a magical coming of age in the next book?) but for the opening book it's just sort of there. Really, this reads more like historical fiction than fantasy. Take out the few brief magic bits, and this could very easily be set in a fictionalized 1890's Colonial India or Hong Kong.
Temmin reads as a genuine young man. He's spoiled but trying to be a good person. He can be self-absorbed and whiny, but he's an eighteen-year-old who just had his world turned upside down. He's earned his whininess, and there's something wrong with a person who isn't self absorbed when his entire reality shifts. Basically, the fact that he is annoying on occasion is entirely in character and should the annoying bits be removed, he wouldn't read true.
The writing is tight. Scenes flow from one to the next with no major issues. If there were grammar errors, I didn't notice them. Dialog and voice may not be exceptional, but they were more than competent and worked with the characters. I never found myself thinking, "There's no way Temmin (or any other character) would say that!" There are bits where as a reader I found myself wondering why we were meeting certain characters and plot lines, but the quality of the rest of the story and knowing this is book one of a series makes me think they are the seeds of future plot points. The story within the story may have been a bit longer than strictly necessary, but that's my own personal taste (I tend to skim epic battle scenes), and for all I know in the next book the bits I thought were long may be vitally important.
I look forward to seeing how Temmin will mature into his future.
Then another interesting factoid hit my radar; it was groupfunded, a major plus. If that term means nothing to you, prepare to learn. Groupfunding is a technique where you get a bunch of people to give you money to pay for you to do your project. Call it modern day patronage. On a practical level that means this book was good enough, in the bits and pieces released by the author, to get total strangers to give her money to hire an editor, artist, etc. While total money generated is not a definitive ruler for a book's quality, I've waded through a lot of self-published fiction that no one in their right mind would buy, let alone decide to patronize. I was thrilled to get into this book.
It turns out my initial impressions of Lovers and Beloveds was off, but not in a bad way. It is a coming of age tale wrapped around a story of sexual domination (a story within the story writing technique is used to good effect in this book) exploring how the one story furthers the other. It's a tale of a young man preparing for his eventual kinghood and the paths he may take to get there.
It is set in a fantasy land with an 1890's-1910ish technology level. But the technology is just in the background. To call it steampunk would be similar to calling Sherlock Holmes steampunk, sure it's the right era, but to do so misses the point of steampunk.
It is erotica: coming of age, realpolitik, intelligently crafted with layers and story lines beyond the sex, and wrapped up in the sexual politics of what it means to be a man or a woman erotica. As such, if you don't happen to enjoy reading explicit sex or sexual violence, just put the book down and head for the next one on your list. Assuming such reading does not bother you, go get a copy, you'll be well rewarded.
Lovers and Beloveds uses erotic sex as a vehicle to explore the paths of power and the relationships of dominance and privilege. All things a boy needs to learn to become a man who will be a king. The sex is well written, very hot, and it's easy to see why the main character, Temmin, finds himself aroused and dismayed by that arousal when seeing the main character of the inner story raped.
I think calling this book fantasy might be a bit misleading. There is magic in this world, but it's use is minimal. My guess is that in later books in the series it will become important, (perhaps there will be a magical coming of age in the next book?) but for the opening book it's just sort of there. Really, this reads more like historical fiction than fantasy. Take out the few brief magic bits, and this could very easily be set in a fictionalized 1890's Colonial India or Hong Kong.
Temmin reads as a genuine young man. He's spoiled but trying to be a good person. He can be self-absorbed and whiny, but he's an eighteen-year-old who just had his world turned upside down. He's earned his whininess, and there's something wrong with a person who isn't self absorbed when his entire reality shifts. Basically, the fact that he is annoying on occasion is entirely in character and should the annoying bits be removed, he wouldn't read true.
The writing is tight. Scenes flow from one to the next with no major issues. If there were grammar errors, I didn't notice them. Dialog and voice may not be exceptional, but they were more than competent and worked with the characters. I never found myself thinking, "There's no way Temmin (or any other character) would say that!" There are bits where as a reader I found myself wondering why we were meeting certain characters and plot lines, but the quality of the rest of the story and knowing this is book one of a series makes me think they are the seeds of future plot points. The story within the story may have been a bit longer than strictly necessary, but that's my own personal taste (I tend to skim epic battle scenes), and for all I know in the next book the bits I thought were long may be vitally important.
I look forward to seeing how Temmin will mature into his future.
May 20, 2011
“If the women were so important, why aren’t they in the histories?” -Prince Temmin
If George R. R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series captures the gritty realism of medieval history, Lovers and Beloveds reveals the intimate and personal dynamics of power in aristocracies. It weaves together a rich multi-layered story that explores how sex and power shape history and individual destiny—sharing a perspective that’s beyond the “men, swords, and thrones” (capital H) history that’s often seen in fantasy.
It follows Temmin coming of age as he gains a fuller understanding of the responsibilities that he holds with his privilege. He learns about intimacy and dominance from court servants, religious figures, and an ancestor’s curse. What is coercion, trust, and consent? How would he rule differently from previous rulers?
The prose is lush and beautiful, which perfectly reflects the aristocratic steampunk world that Temmin lives in. The setting is fascinating and could be described as a fusion of Victorian England with Classical Greece. The narrative draws you in quickly and immerses you in life in the royal court. The characters of various classes are fleshed out with interactions that are full of wit and colour. Since sex is an important theme in the work, it’s heavy on the erotica, but it’s woven well into the plot and setting that none of it feels excessive. Also, it doesn’t hurt to have plenty of fetish fuel to go around.
Since most of the conflict revolves around Temmin’s personal development, it does follow a spoiled royal heir for over 400 pages, which understandably may not be for everyone. But I found him to be so well characterized and endearing that none of that mattered to me. I find it refreshing to see characters that are such a clear product of their upbringing and personal history. Regarding the world-building, there are some words mentioned that’s only explained in a glossary, but it’s a minor nitpick that wouldn’t affect your enjoyment of this book.
This is an intelligent, insightful, and beautiful fantasy novel. I highly recommend Lovers and Beloveds. The term “fantasy erotica” can’t describe the depth of this work. Even if you don’t think this subgenre is for you, I urge you to read the sample anyway and see if it draws you in. I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Note: a free review copy was provided by the author
If George R. R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series captures the gritty realism of medieval history, Lovers and Beloveds reveals the intimate and personal dynamics of power in aristocracies. It weaves together a rich multi-layered story that explores how sex and power shape history and individual destiny—sharing a perspective that’s beyond the “men, swords, and thrones” (capital H) history that’s often seen in fantasy.
It follows Temmin coming of age as he gains a fuller understanding of the responsibilities that he holds with his privilege. He learns about intimacy and dominance from court servants, religious figures, and an ancestor’s curse. What is coercion, trust, and consent? How would he rule differently from previous rulers?
The prose is lush and beautiful, which perfectly reflects the aristocratic steampunk world that Temmin lives in. The setting is fascinating and could be described as a fusion of Victorian England with Classical Greece. The narrative draws you in quickly and immerses you in life in the royal court. The characters of various classes are fleshed out with interactions that are full of wit and colour. Since sex is an important theme in the work, it’s heavy on the erotica, but it’s woven well into the plot and setting that none of it feels excessive. Also, it doesn’t hurt to have plenty of fetish fuel to go around.
Since most of the conflict revolves around Temmin’s personal development, it does follow a spoiled royal heir for over 400 pages, which understandably may not be for everyone. But I found him to be so well characterized and endearing that none of that mattered to me. I find it refreshing to see characters that are such a clear product of their upbringing and personal history. Regarding the world-building, there are some words mentioned that’s only explained in a glossary, but it’s a minor nitpick that wouldn’t affect your enjoyment of this book.
This is an intelligent, insightful, and beautiful fantasy novel. I highly recommend Lovers and Beloveds. The term “fantasy erotica” can’t describe the depth of this work. Even if you don’t think this subgenre is for you, I urge you to read the sample anyway and see if it draws you in. I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Note: a free review copy was provided by the author
September 29, 2010
Prophecies, magic, curses and Gods — Lovers and Beloveds has all the trappings of a strong coming-of-age fantasy novel. It offers an impressive depth and breadth in terms of world-building, mixing hints of Victorian aristocracy with Ancient Greek religion to create a compelling, evocative setting. But most of all it offers an intimate view into the daily lives of those who have shaped and will shape the Kingdom of Tremont, intertwining the history of Temmin’s ancestors with his current experiences at court.
This dual narrative — jumping between present times and Temmin’s ancestors – is part of what makes the story so addictive. Lovers and Beloveds is in part a character study of Temmin and his formal training as Heir, but there is a larger story at play, too, which only becomes evident through the parallels between Temmin’s behaviour and his ancestor’s mistakes. Much of this revolves around religious, moral and sexual themes, in which Temmin is largely innocent and ignorant — and while the sex is often explicit and occasionally non-consensual, it is handled gracefully and is crucial to the plot.
But what is perhaps most striking is that both setting and cast have received equal care and attention; the Prince and his companions are as vivid in my mind as the city itself. Temmin is a believable teenager, awkward, petulant, trying hard to do what is right but often distracted by what is tempting. The strong bench of supporting characters are also well-developed, with histories of their own. My personal favourite is Teacher, a dark mysterious figure bound by magic to obey the King’s commands.
Perhaps my only nitpick is that the beginning is a little slow, but certainly history buffs would enjoy the scene-setting, and as soon as Prince Temmin arrives in the royal capital, the novel becomes highly engrossing.
In sum, the story is highly polished and delightfully told — if you love history and strong characters, and aren’t afraid of sex, then this is a book for you.
This dual narrative — jumping between present times and Temmin’s ancestors – is part of what makes the story so addictive. Lovers and Beloveds is in part a character study of Temmin and his formal training as Heir, but there is a larger story at play, too, which only becomes evident through the parallels between Temmin’s behaviour and his ancestor’s mistakes. Much of this revolves around religious, moral and sexual themes, in which Temmin is largely innocent and ignorant — and while the sex is often explicit and occasionally non-consensual, it is handled gracefully and is crucial to the plot.
But what is perhaps most striking is that both setting and cast have received equal care and attention; the Prince and his companions are as vivid in my mind as the city itself. Temmin is a believable teenager, awkward, petulant, trying hard to do what is right but often distracted by what is tempting. The strong bench of supporting characters are also well-developed, with histories of their own. My personal favourite is Teacher, a dark mysterious figure bound by magic to obey the King’s commands.
Perhaps my only nitpick is that the beginning is a little slow, but certainly history buffs would enjoy the scene-setting, and as soon as Prince Temmin arrives in the royal capital, the novel becomes highly engrossing.
In sum, the story is highly polished and delightfully told — if you love history and strong characters, and aren’t afraid of sex, then this is a book for you.
May 21, 2012
As a disclaimer, I read Lovers and Beloveds because I know the author through a different context. I've also recently read the first two "Fifty Shades" novels. I won't repeat what other reviewers have said about the story line. Instead, I will focus on what this is: A coming of age story set in a mildly fantasy mythos that would be targeted to teens, except that most teens probably won't be allowed to read it due to the explicit (and excellent) sex scenes. I say mildly fantasy because it deviates from our own reality in only small ways. People are people, and act like people. They have desires and emotions that we will recognize, and act in ways that we can understand. The fact that there's a little magic in the story doesn't detract from it.
The sex is far from gratuitous; it is central to the story as Prince Temmin is 18, and his mind is an 18 year-olds. While the same story could be told without the explicitness, it would be weaker overall.
The contrast with Fifty Shades of Grey and its sequels is striking. Lovers and Beloveds is a gripping story with well developed and understandable characters. The Fifty Shades books are excellent pornography, but the characters are not as believable as the fantasy characters in MeiLin Miranda's works. Appreciate the irony.
The sex is far from gratuitous; it is central to the story as Prince Temmin is 18, and his mind is an 18 year-olds. While the same story could be told without the explicitness, it would be weaker overall.
The contrast with Fifty Shades of Grey and its sequels is striking. Lovers and Beloveds is a gripping story with well developed and understandable characters. The Fifty Shades books are excellent pornography, but the characters are not as believable as the fantasy characters in MeiLin Miranda's works. Appreciate the irony.
November 3, 2010
There is really no proper way to describe this short of "Fantastic". Sincerely. This is easily my most favorite erotic novel now. And believe me, I've read quite a few of them. I'll admit that I was really wary of the story when I read the description - the description just honestly sounded a little dry. I promise, though, it really isn't.
It's available in tons of formats in different places. Here, you can pick it up for Kindle as well as a paperback book. The price difference is huge between the two, and really, the e-book format is easy enough to read. I read it in Kindle format, and it was extremely easy to read - nothing wrong with the formatting. However, since I finished the book, I actually want to purchase the print edition just to collect - it was honestly that amazing. I'm dying for book two.
The story is a bit soft on the sex but huge on the plot. It's basically like reading a "normal" book - except the entire point of the book happens to focus on sex and a sexual universe. A lot of the sexual action would be considered "bisexual" since the main character likes both men and women, and most characters in the novel seem to be sexually open as well.
The plot is pretty easy to describe without the seeming use of politics that the description gives: Basically, we follow a young boy (an Heir to the King) who just turned 18 and is now doing his official studies to be King. His mother has sheltered him, and he's also, surprisingly, a virgin - which is unheard of in the land. The boy meets some of the "sex gods" of the land and wants to be with them instantly - it turns out, the only way for them to be his first time is for him to pledge into the religion. The King is against the religion. This leads to some "thwarts" of getting the Prince devirginized. Also, the book's studies take him back in time to learn about his ancestors which is where most of the sexual action takes place.
While the plot doesn't sound amazing, I promise, it is. It's the universe that makes it so great. The friends the Prince makes/has, the betrayals, the slight politics behind it all, and following the Prince from an immature little boy to where he matures throughout the book to act more like a man. The sex is hot and usually includes two (or more) characters which is always a treat. One of my favorite scenes? The "ceremony" of their sex holiday is a holiday where the Gods personify two people and the two people have sex in public while others stand in a circle and watch - and it's considered a blessing to be in the circle. From there, everyone goes off in their own ways to "bliss" others. It's just an amazing ideal. Along with that, there's magic curses that cause uncontrollable sexual desires - it's just all-around an amazing story.
Would I recommend it? Yes, Yes, YES! The ebook costs less than a cup of coffee - this book (which took me over 7 hours to read, so it's easily worth the time) is well-written, captivating, light on the sex, but amazingly heavy on a gorgeous, sexual atmosphere, and just downright perfect. I'm dying for the next book. Dying. If you pick any book to introduce you the Kindle (or erotic literature), make it this one. Just download the Sample and see if you get hooked. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
It's available in tons of formats in different places. Here, you can pick it up for Kindle as well as a paperback book. The price difference is huge between the two, and really, the e-book format is easy enough to read. I read it in Kindle format, and it was extremely easy to read - nothing wrong with the formatting. However, since I finished the book, I actually want to purchase the print edition just to collect - it was honestly that amazing. I'm dying for book two.
The story is a bit soft on the sex but huge on the plot. It's basically like reading a "normal" book - except the entire point of the book happens to focus on sex and a sexual universe. A lot of the sexual action would be considered "bisexual" since the main character likes both men and women, and most characters in the novel seem to be sexually open as well.
The plot is pretty easy to describe without the seeming use of politics that the description gives: Basically, we follow a young boy (an Heir to the King) who just turned 18 and is now doing his official studies to be King. His mother has sheltered him, and he's also, surprisingly, a virgin - which is unheard of in the land. The boy meets some of the "sex gods" of the land and wants to be with them instantly - it turns out, the only way for them to be his first time is for him to pledge into the religion. The King is against the religion. This leads to some "thwarts" of getting the Prince devirginized. Also, the book's studies take him back in time to learn about his ancestors which is where most of the sexual action takes place.
While the plot doesn't sound amazing, I promise, it is. It's the universe that makes it so great. The friends the Prince makes/has, the betrayals, the slight politics behind it all, and following the Prince from an immature little boy to where he matures throughout the book to act more like a man. The sex is hot and usually includes two (or more) characters which is always a treat. One of my favorite scenes? The "ceremony" of their sex holiday is a holiday where the Gods personify two people and the two people have sex in public while others stand in a circle and watch - and it's considered a blessing to be in the circle. From there, everyone goes off in their own ways to "bliss" others. It's just an amazing ideal. Along with that, there's magic curses that cause uncontrollable sexual desires - it's just all-around an amazing story.
Would I recommend it? Yes, Yes, YES! The ebook costs less than a cup of coffee - this book (which took me over 7 hours to read, so it's easily worth the time) is well-written, captivating, light on the sex, but amazingly heavy on a gorgeous, sexual atmosphere, and just downright perfect. I'm dying for the next book. Dying. If you pick any book to introduce you the Kindle (or erotic literature), make it this one. Just download the Sample and see if you get hooked. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
May 23, 2011
Let me rave and rave and rave about this book... It's 4am and I just finished reading. It's an amazing and rich and wonderful story, so vivid that I practically could see it in front of my eyes.
It's a story of coming of age and personal development, of love and duty and fairy-tales and understanding what you truly want. It touched me, and I can not wait to read what's next. I hope Meilin Miranda will be noticed and contracted for many more books to come.
It's a story of coming of age and personal development, of love and duty and fairy-tales and understanding what you truly want. It touched me, and I can not wait to read what's next. I hope Meilin Miranda will be noticed and contracted for many more books to come.
November 23, 2010
Temmin has grown up sheltered from the world, living a blissful life in the idyllic countryside at Whithorse Estates with his mother and his faithful servant. But all good things must come to an end; Tremmin is heir to the Tremontine throne, and must move to the Keep to learn his father's ways and prepare himself for his inevitable future. It is at the Keep where Temmin begins to question who he is and who he will become. Is he a ruthless ruler, like his father, who will stop at nothing to get what -and who- he wants? Or is he a caring man who will make thoughtful choices and begin to harness some of the long-forgotten magic of the kingdom? Helping him on his journey of self- discovery is Teacher, a mentor to the royal family who has hundreds of years of experience under his belt, and has long since given up on any heir displaying magical ability. Slowly, Temmin finds himself pulled in two directions. He must decide whether to follow his father's footsteps and become the man his father expects, or if he should let himself be drawn into the seductive ways of the temple of enlightenment. He's discovering that his future truly isn't preordained, and that he alone is responsible for his choices.
Beautifully written and edited, MeiLin Miranda has created a rich fantasy world where magic still exists for the rare few, and sex is a cherished and godly endeavor. Although I do enjoy many types of fantasy, I have to admit I'm not a huge fan of fantasy with heavy erotic content, as a rule. That being said, the details and the flow of this story were superb. With fluid writing and nicely-developed characters, the story shines through. Sex becomes an integral part of the conflict of the story; the struggle of power- longing and restraint, duty and desire.
The author cleverly uses a legend from the Tremont family history to mirror Temmin's own sexual awakening. Teacher uses this story in pieces as part of the teaching process, and the author uses this story to mirror Tremmin's own emotions, and help move his journey along. Vividly drawn details show this fantasy world to be a land on the verge of exciting, and unalterable, change. The relationships between the characters are complex and intricately woven, and they pull you right along with Temmin.
If you are a fan of well-written fantasy stories with a strong sexual element, then this book comes strongly recommended. Some may find the erotic details a little too much, but the fluid and intriguing story makes it worth the read.
4.5 /5 stars @ MotherLode blog
Beautifully written and edited, MeiLin Miranda has created a rich fantasy world where magic still exists for the rare few, and sex is a cherished and godly endeavor. Although I do enjoy many types of fantasy, I have to admit I'm not a huge fan of fantasy with heavy erotic content, as a rule. That being said, the details and the flow of this story were superb. With fluid writing and nicely-developed characters, the story shines through. Sex becomes an integral part of the conflict of the story; the struggle of power- longing and restraint, duty and desire.
The author cleverly uses a legend from the Tremont family history to mirror Temmin's own sexual awakening. Teacher uses this story in pieces as part of the teaching process, and the author uses this story to mirror Tremmin's own emotions, and help move his journey along. Vividly drawn details show this fantasy world to be a land on the verge of exciting, and unalterable, change. The relationships between the characters are complex and intricately woven, and they pull you right along with Temmin.
If you are a fan of well-written fantasy stories with a strong sexual element, then this book comes strongly recommended. Some may find the erotic details a little too much, but the fluid and intriguing story makes it worth the read.
4.5 /5 stars @ MotherLode blog
July 19, 2012
At the moment I don't really know how to respond to this book, since I sampled it. The sample on Nook was 200 pages and through all those pages I didn't feel pulled into the world. The writing was inconsistent and often times not that great, which bothered me far more than I thought it would. I've learned if I'm going to try to read indie books I'm going to have to lower my standards a bit.
The premise of this book is still interesting to me, but I felt like it dragged on and continually picked up other directions to throw into the plot. After the 200 page sample I pretty much knew where it was going and it was kind of boring. I was hoping it would be more erotic after so many pages.
The characters weren't terrible. I liked the Obbys, but Temmin seemed kind of underdeveloped. He's naive and innocent, which apparently shocks everyone, but it doesn't seem like there's much more to him. The other characters seem kind of "meh" as well. There's some interesting, creative parts, but not enough to keep me interested.
Everything about the book seemed like it needed more time to be developed, edited and shortened. I like Shakespeare's quote, "Brevity is the soul of wit." I think that's a standard to live up to. A story told in six words can have more impact than a story in 400 pages; it depends on what the story needs.
My interest in this book came from people saying how it was so great the fans pushed for it to be finished and supported it. All I read about it made it sound like something I'd like to read. I don't know if it gets incredibly better in the second half of the book, but for the time being I'm putting on the back shelf. I'm pretty sure I could at least finish it if I bought it. It's not that I have no interest or dislike it, it's just that I want to read something else for the time being.
The premise of this book is still interesting to me, but I felt like it dragged on and continually picked up other directions to throw into the plot. After the 200 page sample I pretty much knew where it was going and it was kind of boring. I was hoping it would be more erotic after so many pages.
The characters weren't terrible. I liked the Obbys, but Temmin seemed kind of underdeveloped. He's naive and innocent, which apparently shocks everyone, but it doesn't seem like there's much more to him. The other characters seem kind of "meh" as well. There's some interesting, creative parts, but not enough to keep me interested.
Everything about the book seemed like it needed more time to be developed, edited and shortened. I like Shakespeare's quote, "Brevity is the soul of wit." I think that's a standard to live up to. A story told in six words can have more impact than a story in 400 pages; it depends on what the story needs.
My interest in this book came from people saying how it was so great the fans pushed for it to be finished and supported it. All I read about it made it sound like something I'd like to read. I don't know if it gets incredibly better in the second half of the book, but for the time being I'm putting on the back shelf. I'm pretty sure I could at least finish it if I bought it. It's not that I have no interest or dislike it, it's just that I want to read something else for the time being.
March 28, 2014
Lovers and Beloveds is amazing. It reminds me of Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel Series but at the same time, it is unique in it's own right. I instantly fell in love with the world the author created. There actually were two stories being told, one from the present and one from the past and they came together perfectly. I bought this book a while ago and it caught my attention because of the reviews. In so many words, they all practically said the same thing "buy this book".....Now I will say the same "BUY THIS BOOK"...... Fantasy, magic books, curses, Gods, court intrigue, etc........ I could go on forever but I hope you get the point..........
February 3, 2015
I guess I would describe this book as Fantasy Erotica. I didn't really know what to expect from this book and the first chapter did have me worried that I wouldn't enjoy it. As it turns out, this was a very complex story full of politics, intrigue, religion and lust and I was pleasantly surprised to find that I was really enjoying the story. Be prepared for quite a bit of erotica in a number of different forms, as nothiing is taboo in this book.
November 9, 2010
This is an awesome story set in a fascinatingly different but very real feeling world. I can't wait for the next book to come out!
December 26, 2011
LOVERS AND BELOVEDS is one of my favorite recent reads. Vivid characters, lyrical prose, crisp narrative, a beautifully detailed and richly ornamented world ... I can't wait for the next one!
September 16, 2012
Cross-posted from Papyrus Independent Author Reviews. (http://papyrus.calebblake.net/2012/09/15/lovers-and-beloveds-by-meilin-miranda/)
Temmin is the heir to the throne of Tremont, about to turn 18 and enter into manhood, and is still a virgin. That last detail might not seem so important - just a small item which might lead to an entertaining coming-of-age dalliance in an otherwise straightforward fantasy novel filled with kings and queens, intrigue and violence. However, in "Lovers and Beloveds", Temmin's virginity is key to the story.
Welcome to Tremont, a kingdom with nobility (the haves) and peasants (the have-nots) and a full compliment of gods and goddesses - including Nerr and Neya, the Lovers. And this is where our hero comes in. After meeting Allis, the "Embodiment" of Neya, Temmin is quite obviously besotted and sets upon a path to become a supplicant at the Lovers' temple. Actually, that pretty much wraps up the plot of this story. However, what I'm not doing justice to is the work the author has done to create an interesting society where sexuality is largely embraced and even worshipped in all its forms.
So let's discuss the sexuality in "Lovers and Beloveds". It's unavoidable in this case as the majority of the text either deals with sex scenes, discussing sex or thinking about sex. Firstly, only those "of age" need apply to read this book. Secondly, if you don't like explicit sex scenes, you will not like this book. Thirdly, if you are fairly narrow in your interpretation of what acceptable sexuality should be in literature, you will not like this book. However, if you like explicit sex scenes between men and women, and men and men, and women and women, trios, groups and even displays of public sex on religious holidays, there might be something in this book for you. Let me rephrase that - buy this book, you'll probably love it.
I'm not personally motivated to read a book with a "by the numbers" exploration of every facet of sexuality imaginable (which I have to say this book felt a little like at times). So it was going to be difficult for this story to make a lasting favourable impression on me. So was there anything here I liked? Luckily, there was.
I actually liked the way sexuality was integrated into the society and religion of Tremont. Even if the cynic in me thinks of it as a convenient device to legitimise a sextravaganza, I have to admit that it was very clever all the same. It even had me imagining what my own society might be like if sexuality was embraced in the same way. Additionally, I quite liked the characters in the book. Temmin himself was quite dim in many ways, but remained lovable throughout. It was hard to think ill of him learning about his future responsibilities as king while also trying to learn about himself and what kind of man he wanted to be. He's also surrounded by some interesting characters: the enigmatic Teacher, the loyal Jenks, even his obstructive father, Harsin. They all added colour and flavour to the story.
Some of the problems I had with the novel included the teaching of Temmin via a magical storybook. Through this device, We follow the narration of a piece of early Tremontine history. I think this magical book is going to be an undercurrent for the series, but I'm not entirely sure how the story of a woman cursed with the unyielding desire to have sex with any man who wants her forms any part of an education for Temmin. To me, the book merely fulfils the author's need to tell a saucy tale within a saucy tale. Less problematic was the fact that there are some mysteries that don't get revealed by the end of the first book. Why is it important for Temmin not to know that Jenks is actually Colonel Jenks - will he ever find out? What is the real story behind the Teacher and the Traveler Queen? And are we going to get more intrigue and story in the next volume, or are we going to spend the whole book trapped inside Temmin's sexual awakening?
Unfortunately for me, although I'd love to know the answer to some of those questions as there really are some intriguing elements to "Lovers and Beloveds", I just don't think I have the stamina for another multi-sexual Karma Sutra. I applaud the work that has gone into it and I know the sophistication of its telling will find an appreciative audience. If you feel like you could be the target audience, there really is no need to wait.
Temmin is the heir to the throne of Tremont, about to turn 18 and enter into manhood, and is still a virgin. That last detail might not seem so important - just a small item which might lead to an entertaining coming-of-age dalliance in an otherwise straightforward fantasy novel filled with kings and queens, intrigue and violence. However, in "Lovers and Beloveds", Temmin's virginity is key to the story.
Welcome to Tremont, a kingdom with nobility (the haves) and peasants (the have-nots) and a full compliment of gods and goddesses - including Nerr and Neya, the Lovers. And this is where our hero comes in. After meeting Allis, the "Embodiment" of Neya, Temmin is quite obviously besotted and sets upon a path to become a supplicant at the Lovers' temple. Actually, that pretty much wraps up the plot of this story. However, what I'm not doing justice to is the work the author has done to create an interesting society where sexuality is largely embraced and even worshipped in all its forms.
So let's discuss the sexuality in "Lovers and Beloveds". It's unavoidable in this case as the majority of the text either deals with sex scenes, discussing sex or thinking about sex. Firstly, only those "of age" need apply to read this book. Secondly, if you don't like explicit sex scenes, you will not like this book. Thirdly, if you are fairly narrow in your interpretation of what acceptable sexuality should be in literature, you will not like this book. However, if you like explicit sex scenes between men and women, and men and men, and women and women, trios, groups and even displays of public sex on religious holidays, there might be something in this book for you. Let me rephrase that - buy this book, you'll probably love it.
I'm not personally motivated to read a book with a "by the numbers" exploration of every facet of sexuality imaginable (which I have to say this book felt a little like at times). So it was going to be difficult for this story to make a lasting favourable impression on me. So was there anything here I liked? Luckily, there was.
I actually liked the way sexuality was integrated into the society and religion of Tremont. Even if the cynic in me thinks of it as a convenient device to legitimise a sextravaganza, I have to admit that it was very clever all the same. It even had me imagining what my own society might be like if sexuality was embraced in the same way. Additionally, I quite liked the characters in the book. Temmin himself was quite dim in many ways, but remained lovable throughout. It was hard to think ill of him learning about his future responsibilities as king while also trying to learn about himself and what kind of man he wanted to be. He's also surrounded by some interesting characters: the enigmatic Teacher, the loyal Jenks, even his obstructive father, Harsin. They all added colour and flavour to the story.
Some of the problems I had with the novel included the teaching of Temmin via a magical storybook. Through this device, We follow the narration of a piece of early Tremontine history. I think this magical book is going to be an undercurrent for the series, but I'm not entirely sure how the story of a woman cursed with the unyielding desire to have sex with any man who wants her forms any part of an education for Temmin. To me, the book merely fulfils the author's need to tell a saucy tale within a saucy tale. Less problematic was the fact that there are some mysteries that don't get revealed by the end of the first book. Why is it important for Temmin not to know that Jenks is actually Colonel Jenks - will he ever find out? What is the real story behind the Teacher and the Traveler Queen? And are we going to get more intrigue and story in the next volume, or are we going to spend the whole book trapped inside Temmin's sexual awakening?
Unfortunately for me, although I'd love to know the answer to some of those questions as there really are some intriguing elements to "Lovers and Beloveds", I just don't think I have the stamina for another multi-sexual Karma Sutra. I applaud the work that has gone into it and I know the sophistication of its telling will find an appreciative audience. If you feel like you could be the target audience, there really is no need to wait.
February 28, 2012
It turns out that this author, recommended by friend Bonnie, is someone I have met from our circle of friends. I just didn't know her pseudonym. This has no effect on my review. This is one of those rare books woven with complexities, great writing, competent world-building, and a story line that leaves me wanting to read more, though this first in a series did have a completed story. I didn't realize it when I bought it, but it is also explicit, with very well-written sex scenes.
I hesitate to call it supernatural erotica, however, simply because much erotica I've come across is either a vehicle for the sex scenes, or a wolfed or vamped up Harlequin. This is the kind that is great writing in which, rather than pan to the fireplace, the writer gives us the sex scenes...and considering this is a story with major characters being the Embodiments of the gods of Love and Desire, those scenes are very integral to the story.
A young prince comes of age after a sheltered childhood. He must find his own way, irrespective of the pressures of his father the King, his mother the Queen, or even his notions of duty. This dilemma of choosing a spiritual path despite machinations of his family reminds me quite a bit of the story of the Buddha leaving home...though this is quite a different spiritual path.
Without the erotic scenes, this would still be a 4-star book, among the best of the fantasy books I have read. With the scenes, this enters another realm, making this a really unique book, and one I will read again. With these scenes, not only does this book require you to retire to the bedroom (frequently), it makes you think about how sweet and natural this is in this world MeiLyn Miranda has created, and how difficult it is to find that unstained attitude in the real world. MeiLyn's wisdom of experience regarding the human psyche shines through every chapter.
UPDATE: Read this a second time, and it is just as great the second time around.
I hesitate to call it supernatural erotica, however, simply because much erotica I've come across is either a vehicle for the sex scenes, or a wolfed or vamped up Harlequin. This is the kind that is great writing in which, rather than pan to the fireplace, the writer gives us the sex scenes...and considering this is a story with major characters being the Embodiments of the gods of Love and Desire, those scenes are very integral to the story.
A young prince comes of age after a sheltered childhood. He must find his own way, irrespective of the pressures of his father the King, his mother the Queen, or even his notions of duty. This dilemma of choosing a spiritual path despite machinations of his family reminds me quite a bit of the story of the Buddha leaving home...though this is quite a different spiritual path.
Without the erotic scenes, this would still be a 4-star book, among the best of the fantasy books I have read. With the scenes, this enters another realm, making this a really unique book, and one I will read again. With these scenes, not only does this book require you to retire to the bedroom (frequently), it makes you think about how sweet and natural this is in this world MeiLyn Miranda has created, and how difficult it is to find that unstained attitude in the real world. MeiLyn's wisdom of experience regarding the human psyche shines through every chapter.
UPDATE: Read this a second time, and it is just as great the second time around.
January 5, 2012
I bought this book because it was recommended over at LiveJournal for something similar to the Kushiel series by Jacqueline Carey. I fully admit: when it opened up with the main character, Prince Temmin, drunkingly assaulting a girl, I closed it and didn't touch it for months - it actually made me feel queasy. However, since I recently got a new e-reader, I loaded this up and decided to give it another go.
This is a study of sexual nature, with a fantastical background. One of the biggest themes was consent, both in Temmin's frame story and the history of Princess Edmerka, who was enchanted by a traveler queen to lust and sexually respond to anyone who wanted her. Temmin starts off as a spoiled brat; however, he slowly grows throughout the book and becomes someone trustworthy and respectful. His journey to manhood is explored through encounters with various people in the book, culminating in
I thought that there were some interesting ideas in here, but I thought the world-building was a little flimsy - I never really got an understanding about what Temmin's surroundings and country were like. Also, I kind of scratched my head at how specific the lover deities were with regards to Temmin's virginity status; if he had done the "real thing" before the big ceremony at the end, they would've killed him and the twins, but everything else he had done (oral, etc) was acceptable? Hmmm. However, it's worth the $5 on Amazon, Smashwords, etc if you want a fun, smutty read. The author has a sequel in the works, and I'm interested in seeing if she'll elaborate more on the surrounding world.
This is a study of sexual nature, with a fantastical background. One of the biggest themes was consent, both in Temmin's frame story and the history of Princess Edmerka, who was enchanted by a traveler queen to lust and sexually respond to anyone who wanted her. Temmin starts off as a spoiled brat; however, he slowly grows throughout the book and becomes someone trustworthy and respectful. His journey to manhood is explored through encounters with various people in the book, culminating in
I thought that there were some interesting ideas in here, but I thought the world-building was a little flimsy - I never really got an understanding about what Temmin's surroundings and country were like. Also, I kind of scratched my head at how specific the lover deities were with regards to Temmin's virginity status; if he had done the "real thing" before the big ceremony at the end, they would've killed him and the twins, but everything else he had done (oral, etc) was acceptable? Hmmm. However, it's worth the $5 on Amazon, Smashwords, etc if you want a fun, smutty read. The author has a sequel in the works, and I'm interested in seeing if she'll elaborate more on the surrounding world.
September 28, 2011
Firstly, comparisons to Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel series are cosmetic at best--there's sex, gods, erotic rituals and prophecies--but at least Lovers and Beloveds doesn't read like bad fanfiction (unlike a certain author whom for the life of me seems to be incredibly popular in the paranormal romance genre in spite of having blatantly ripped off Anne Bishop and Laurell K. Hamilton). MeiLin Miranda has actually crafted a well-thought out fantasy of love, lust and politics with a hint of steampunk and magic. The good thing is it's an engaging read. The bad thing--it's obviously a series which leaves one unnaturally hanging at the end.
It took me a little while to warm up to Prince Temmin, the hero. Sheltered and somewhat spoiled, he's thrust into court intrigue like a deer in the headlights. He'd far rather remain in the country with his horses and their grooms, but he's destined to be King.
It took me a little while to warm up to Prince Temmin, the hero. Sheltered and somewhat spoiled, he's thrust into court intrigue like a deer in the headlights. He'd far rather remain in the country with his horses and their grooms, but he's destined to be King.
February 17, 2012
I read this off and on since 2007 as a web serial, but I could never seem to catch up. So imagine my surprise 5 years later when the author is running a kickstarter campaign for book two. This story is so much more cohesive than the web serial I remember reading back then. I'm blown away by the amazing world building and it's one of my favorite parts of the novel. The main character, Temmin, is a bit annoying and naive, but I'm interested in seeing him become a great king. The author did some considerable editing from the original web serial and it is a much better story. This story is definitely not safe for work, but it's not all about the sex, there's much more to it.
January 5, 2012
Wow. The first word that came to my mind reading this book (and merely a few pages in) was "courageous." The author isn't afraid to tackle the taboo, and it's obvious she's not going for cheap thrills, either. I found the themes thoughtful, the world detailed and well-illustrated, and the characters delightfully flawed (and often descriptively so). If you're a bit prudish or close-minded, this isn't the book for you -- if you're not, it's a great example of honest, "don't skip the good bits" storytelling.
July 5, 2012
I think I'd give this book 3.5 stars, really. It was good, but not exceptional. I also thought it was a stand-alone, but clearly it is not.
I enjoyed the world building and the characters, but I didn't feel drawn in the way I'd expected. Still, if you like fantasy with a strong erotic element, this is the book for you.
I enjoyed the world building and the characters, but I didn't feel drawn in the way I'd expected. Still, if you like fantasy with a strong erotic element, this is the book for you.
October 30, 2010
A stunning trip into a rich fantasy world, where bits of various cultures co-exist, magic abounds, eroticism has power, and empires are won and lost.
January 10, 2011
Love it! A well-realized fantasy world. Can't wait to read the next book.
April 24, 2023
I finished reading this on my plane flight to visit home! Need to sit down at a time when I can have the computer to myself for a bit before I can write a review...
September 28, 2012
Unusual book, I really liked it. Can't wait to read more!
June 15, 2013
Really tried to stay with this, but this is clearly not a story for me.
April 18, 2023
I took my time with this book because once in a great while do you get the joy of recognizing writing that is joyful and full of reckless abandon. I didn’t know the authors personal story before starting, but that added another layer to this adventure.
This is a thoughtful, unique and captive fantasy erotic fiction that was entirely unexpected and I loved reading. Even the appendix was fun to read!
This is part of a trilogy so don’t expect it to wrap up at the end. I can’t wait to start the next leg of this passion yolo writing journey. Thank you, MeiLin.
This is a thoughtful, unique and captive fantasy erotic fiction that was entirely unexpected and I loved reading. Even the appendix was fun to read!
This is part of a trilogy so don’t expect it to wrap up at the end. I can’t wait to start the next leg of this passion yolo writing journey. Thank you, MeiLin.
May 14, 2021
I am blown away, genuinely. This was a magical experience *cough hehe*
December 28, 2021
This absolutely sounds like the start to some terrible porn, right? Just turned eighteen, virgin prince, sexy twins, I honestly don't know why I initially picked this up other than I figured I could use a read that required less brainpower. Then Temmin himself was the worst, the story he was learning from Teacher was gross, and I just couldn't. I DNFed halfway through. But something about this book kept niggling me, and the ebook was free at the time, so I tried again.
And I was wrong. I was completely wrong. Every problem I had with it is the point of the story and this book is brilliant.
This is in a lot of ways a treatise on power and consent dressed up as a fantasy novel, and it's amazing. Yes, Temmin is the worst because he's been raised to believe completely in the patriarchy with no consideration for the people beneath him, and he has the potential and needs to learn to be better than that. Yes, the story of Warin and Emmae is gross because it's supposed to be and we see the difference shaping between Temmin and men like his father when they find it erotic and he finds it increasingly horrifying. From the beginning the book asks if people of lower social standing (usually, but not always women) can really give consent freely in a world where they are often punished for saying no when they don't want sex and punished for saying yes when they do, and the answer is very clearly that within this system, they can't. They just can't.
When Nerr gets the Heir indeed. What is waiting in a world where the heir to the throne understands how power colors and often hurts interpersonal relationships, whether on the micro scale of two people or the macro scale of an entire kingdom?
Which isn't to say that the characters in this story are just mouthpieces for the author. They are very much people with varied personalities inhabiting a world with complicated social forces acting on them. Temmin is an ass, but it's lovely watching him grow up over the course of the book. Sedra is clearly better cut out to succeed their father, but women can't rule in their own right. Ellika is a bit of fluff, but what else is she allowed to be and do? Ansella, for all that she appears to be overprotecting her son, has a point and it's probably only because of her intervention that he has this potential to see that women are people, too. And Harsin, for all that he's sometimes the worst, shows how even the most powerful people in the system become trapped by it as he has to justify terrible action after terrible action as king to maintain stability. Allis and Issak, far from being the one-dimensional spank bank material they could have been, are intelligent, compassionate people with their own problems, opinions, and skeletons in the closet.
The Lovers temple, decried as it is for being an up-jumped whorehouse, holds the key to a more balanced and compassionate world, which is why it's both laughed off as unimportant and feared for what it could do if they manage to secure Temmin as a Supplicant.
I love it. I love it so much. And it breaks my heart to know that we may never get a conclusion.
And I was wrong. I was completely wrong. Every problem I had with it is the point of the story and this book is brilliant.
This is in a lot of ways a treatise on power and consent dressed up as a fantasy novel, and it's amazing. Yes, Temmin is the worst because he's been raised to believe completely in the patriarchy with no consideration for the people beneath him, and he has the potential and needs to learn to be better than that. Yes, the story of Warin and Emmae is gross because it's supposed to be and we see the difference shaping between Temmin and men like his father when they find it erotic and he finds it increasingly horrifying. From the beginning the book asks if people of lower social standing (usually, but not always women) can really give consent freely in a world where they are often punished for saying no when they don't want sex and punished for saying yes when they do, and the answer is very clearly that within this system, they can't. They just can't.
When Nerr gets the Heir indeed. What is waiting in a world where the heir to the throne understands how power colors and often hurts interpersonal relationships, whether on the micro scale of two people or the macro scale of an entire kingdom?
Which isn't to say that the characters in this story are just mouthpieces for the author. They are very much people with varied personalities inhabiting a world with complicated social forces acting on them. Temmin is an ass, but it's lovely watching him grow up over the course of the book. Sedra is clearly better cut out to succeed their father, but women can't rule in their own right. Ellika is a bit of fluff, but what else is she allowed to be and do? Ansella, for all that she appears to be overprotecting her son, has a point and it's probably only because of her intervention that he has this potential to see that women are people, too. And Harsin, for all that he's sometimes the worst, shows how even the most powerful people in the system become trapped by it as he has to justify terrible action after terrible action as king to maintain stability. Allis and Issak, far from being the one-dimensional spank bank material they could have been, are intelligent, compassionate people with their own problems, opinions, and skeletons in the closet.
The Lovers temple, decried as it is for being an up-jumped whorehouse, holds the key to a more balanced and compassionate world, which is why it's both laughed off as unimportant and feared for what it could do if they manage to secure Temmin as a Supplicant.
I love it. I love it so much. And it breaks my heart to know that we may never get a conclusion.
November 13, 2015
If you are looking for a delightful romp through a complex fantasy world you will enjoy this book. What first drew me to this book was it's description which was reminiscent of Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel Series. However I soon discovered that although it has some similarities, they are very different in many more ways.
MeiLin Miranda's storytelling is very multi-faceted in what it presents which is a mix of political intrigue, a different kind of love story and a coming of age story. The main character is Temmin and through him we are slowly introduced to the world of Lovers and Beloveds. In the first part of this story we are privy to his first steps into adulthood, however he still maintains the naivety of childhood. Temmin's naivety and child-like composure at first makes many of the characters and some of the story very flat but as he grows so does our awareness of the characters and the world around him. I love the subtlety of the story's progression but at the same time it isn't slow either. The constant trials that face Temmin in the form of his family, his mentor, his kingdom, and his heart keep this book in constant motion with a spectacular ending.
The romance and eroticism of this story is extremely well written. What makes this especially unique and fantastic is that the differences between love, intimacy, and sex are very well gone over but it is not sex scene after sex scene. Through the Lovers Temple Temmin learns the differences and finds several things he didn't expect to find. One of the big things I really appreciate in good sex scenes is the use of language which when done right really makes the scene that much better. MeiLin Miranda walked the fine line and managed to neither be crude nor overly prudish. Another thing I enjoyed was the fact that there was something in the sex scenes throughout the story for everyone regardless of your sexual orientation. That in and of itself is a great feat for any author, and as I mentioned earlier MeiLin Miranda went a step further with her great use of language.
All together this book is an exciting look into things we all go through in one way or another, be it intrigue, love, sex, intimacy, and the road to maturity. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy with eroticism thrown in. Due to the uniqueness of MeiLin Miranda's approach to love, intimacy, and sex as well as the enjoyable fantasy world I happily give this book a four. I received this book originally from the author in ebook format but I enjoyed this story so much that I am picking up the paperback version and looking forward to the next book in this series.
Read more reviews at http://flyingofftheshelves.blogspot.c...
MeiLin Miranda's storytelling is very multi-faceted in what it presents which is a mix of political intrigue, a different kind of love story and a coming of age story. The main character is Temmin and through him we are slowly introduced to the world of Lovers and Beloveds. In the first part of this story we are privy to his first steps into adulthood, however he still maintains the naivety of childhood. Temmin's naivety and child-like composure at first makes many of the characters and some of the story very flat but as he grows so does our awareness of the characters and the world around him. I love the subtlety of the story's progression but at the same time it isn't slow either. The constant trials that face Temmin in the form of his family, his mentor, his kingdom, and his heart keep this book in constant motion with a spectacular ending.
The romance and eroticism of this story is extremely well written. What makes this especially unique and fantastic is that the differences between love, intimacy, and sex are very well gone over but it is not sex scene after sex scene. Through the Lovers Temple Temmin learns the differences and finds several things he didn't expect to find. One of the big things I really appreciate in good sex scenes is the use of language which when done right really makes the scene that much better. MeiLin Miranda walked the fine line and managed to neither be crude nor overly prudish. Another thing I enjoyed was the fact that there was something in the sex scenes throughout the story for everyone regardless of your sexual orientation. That in and of itself is a great feat for any author, and as I mentioned earlier MeiLin Miranda went a step further with her great use of language.
All together this book is an exciting look into things we all go through in one way or another, be it intrigue, love, sex, intimacy, and the road to maturity. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy with eroticism thrown in. Due to the uniqueness of MeiLin Miranda's approach to love, intimacy, and sex as well as the enjoyable fantasy world I happily give this book a four. I received this book originally from the author in ebook format but I enjoyed this story so much that I am picking up the paperback version and looking forward to the next book in this series.
Read more reviews at http://flyingofftheshelves.blogspot.c...
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