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Neskaya
Every nine years, on the winter solstice, Prince Neskaya's people conduct a ritual called the Midvinterblot, sacrificing nine horses, nine bulls, nine hogs, and nine men in the hopes of the return of light and fertility. With crops failing for the third year in a row, the sacrifice to win back the gods' favor is especially important. But the gods are demanding more than the usual they demand the life of the king's only son, Neskaya.
Lars, Neskaya's best friend and secret lover, is willing to fight for the life of the man he loves, despite Neskaya's odd complacency. Lars has no choice but to seek supernatural aid to save him, and he'll have to somehow convince Neskaya to fight beside him against the entire hungry village if they are to have any chance to survive.
A Bittersweet Dreams It's an unfortunate love doesn't always conquer all. Regardless of its strength, sometimes fate intervenes, tragedy strikes, or forces conspire against it. These stories of romance do not offer a traditional happy ending, but the strong and enduring love will still touch your heart and maybe move you to tears.
Lars, Neskaya's best friend and secret lover, is willing to fight for the life of the man he loves, despite Neskaya's odd complacency. Lars has no choice but to seek supernatural aid to save him, and he'll have to somehow convince Neskaya to fight beside him against the entire hungry village if they are to have any chance to survive.
A Bittersweet Dreams It's an unfortunate love doesn't always conquer all. Regardless of its strength, sometimes fate intervenes, tragedy strikes, or forces conspire against it. These stories of romance do not offer a traditional happy ending, but the strong and enduring love will still touch your heart and maybe move you to tears.
80 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 29, 2010
4 people are currently reading
175 people want to read
About the author
Augusta Li
39 books124 followersGus's Books are available at Dreamspinner Press, Silver Publishing, , Yaoi Press, and Storm Moon Press.
Gus has much love for readers and book enthusiasts. Communication and friendship is encouraged!
Website: www.BooksByEonandGus.com
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 30, 2014
I know better than to read what I know will be a sad story from the get-go. It's a Dreamspinner Bittersweet Dream title but I read it anyway because the blurb so intrigued me. The writing is delicate, lilting, and I really felt the sort of primordial world the writer evoked. Neskaya is a very well-rounded character in his sort of melancholy beauty. But it was like a rollercoaster and sad at the end and I just wanted him saved so desperately. The writer made me want that for her creation which is a credit to her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2013
Lovely and bittersweet indeed. Narwhals, elves, and blood on snow... the ending leaves me bereft.
November 2, 2015
Beautiful writing. Quite enthralling. A bittersweet ending that felt right. A few minor editing errors and some unexplained almost insta-healing kept it from being a perfect five.
October 1, 2011
4 stars for plot/characters/bedroom scenes
3 stars for the romance and the end
I didn't read carefully enough. I had no idea that it would be a bittersweet ending. I had to give this book four stars because I believe that had I not been in the mood for an HEA (expected one dumb me) I would have loved the writing and the irony of saving only to lose.
The romance was not really there either, there was serious caring and affection but it was not allowed to really grow. Neskaya seemed to live with the crap end of the stick all through life and I only wanted him happy :-(
Make sure to read this when you're in the mood for a bit of a cry and the thought that life is unfair.
3 stars for the romance and the end
I didn't read carefully enough. I had no idea that it would be a bittersweet ending. I had to give this book four stars because I believe that had I not been in the mood for an HEA (expected one dumb me) I would have loved the writing and the irony of saving only to lose.
The romance was not really there either, there was serious caring and affection but it was not allowed to really grow. Neskaya seemed to live with the crap end of the stick all through life and I only wanted him happy :-(
Make sure to read this when you're in the mood for a bit of a cry and the thought that life is unfair.
June 13, 2016
Li has a way with words and imagery that I can't really describe. I was so drawn into the writing that the characters and dialogue played second. The intimacy of this story is strange, pulled between the frustration of Lars' passion, and Neskaya's indifference. It's hard to just accept the couple as they are. You get the urge to just reach out and shake them both. In the end they both have a fate that can't be altered. This a beautiful story about love, loss and sacrifice. A fitting end to a bitter love. Would def. recommend. Loved it.
October 16, 2012
Finally finished it! Beautiful story, interesting setting, but what a kick in the nuts at the end!
June 29, 2012
I would of liked a happy ending. This is a let down for me.
November 17, 2025
Neskaya by Augusta Li pulled me in with its haunting premise and evocative world-building. Li’s prose is delicate, lyrical, and immersive. She effortlessly conjures a stark, Nordic landscape where dark magic, bloodshed, and harsh culture blend into an atmosphere that’s as bleak as it is beautiful.
What struck me most was how well-crafted and complex Neskaya himself is. He’s not the kind of character you immediately warm to, there’s a distant melancholy about him, a kind of enigmatic grace that echoes the primordial world he inhabits. The relationship between Neskaya and Lars is raw, fraught with tension, and painfully intimate. It’s a strange dynamic, pulled between Lars’ passionate stubbornness and Neskaya’s cold indifference, leaving you wanting to shake them both just to understand what holds them together. The emotional depth here is understated but powerful, highlighting themes of love, sacrifice, and inevitable loss.
The battle scenes are impressively well-done, something that’s not easy to pull off, and the vivid descriptions of the harsh landscape add another layer of bleak beauty to the story. While some moments felt almost too quick, like the healing scenes that seemed to verge on instant, these minor flaws didn’t detract from my overall experience.
Neskaya is definitely not a story that ends with a neat bow. Its bittersweet conclusion is heart-wrenching yet fitting, reminding me of the truth that sometimes love isn’t enough to rewrite fate. This is a dark, brooding tale that leans heavily into the cruel edges of a Nordic-inspired fantasy world, rich with magic, ancient gods, and sacrifice.
If you’re a reader who appreciates character-driven stories, lyrical writing, and a romance that’s more about the raw edges of connection than tidy happily-ever-afters, Neskaya should be on your radar. Augusta Li’s storytelling lingers long after the last page, haunting in the best way possible.
Highly recommended.
What struck me most was how well-crafted and complex Neskaya himself is. He’s not the kind of character you immediately warm to, there’s a distant melancholy about him, a kind of enigmatic grace that echoes the primordial world he inhabits. The relationship between Neskaya and Lars is raw, fraught with tension, and painfully intimate. It’s a strange dynamic, pulled between Lars’ passionate stubbornness and Neskaya’s cold indifference, leaving you wanting to shake them both just to understand what holds them together. The emotional depth here is understated but powerful, highlighting themes of love, sacrifice, and inevitable loss.
The battle scenes are impressively well-done, something that’s not easy to pull off, and the vivid descriptions of the harsh landscape add another layer of bleak beauty to the story. While some moments felt almost too quick, like the healing scenes that seemed to verge on instant, these minor flaws didn’t detract from my overall experience.
Neskaya is definitely not a story that ends with a neat bow. Its bittersweet conclusion is heart-wrenching yet fitting, reminding me of the truth that sometimes love isn’t enough to rewrite fate. This is a dark, brooding tale that leans heavily into the cruel edges of a Nordic-inspired fantasy world, rich with magic, ancient gods, and sacrifice.
If you’re a reader who appreciates character-driven stories, lyrical writing, and a romance that’s more about the raw edges of connection than tidy happily-ever-afters, Neskaya should be on your radar. Augusta Li’s storytelling lingers long after the last page, haunting in the best way possible.
Highly recommended.
February 24, 2012
A bittersweet tale of love, dark magic, and bloodshed in a harsh, Nordic culture. It was definitely a promising premise, and I'm a big fan of non-traditional (i.e.: not HEA) endings in my romance.
The battle scenes were well written (a hard thing to do!). Li also does a great job of painting the bleak landscape, and uses it adeptly as the backdrop for this cruel love story. It's a satisfyingly dark and brooding story.
It was hard for me to relate to the characters, though. They seems a bit flat, with Lars as the stubborn, "strong" one and Neskaya as the pretty, "exotic" one. By the end of the story, I still felt like I didn't quite understand what Neskaya saw in Lars, except that he was a good warrior.
I could definitely see Li's yaoi background in the plot and love scenes, and part of me thinks this would have made a better manga than prose novel. It would have made a damn hot manga to be sure!
All in all, though, an enjoyable read if you like historical fantasy with a harsh edge to it.
The battle scenes were well written (a hard thing to do!). Li also does a great job of painting the bleak landscape, and uses it adeptly as the backdrop for this cruel love story. It's a satisfyingly dark and brooding story.
It was hard for me to relate to the characters, though. They seems a bit flat, with Lars as the stubborn, "strong" one and Neskaya as the pretty, "exotic" one. By the end of the story, I still felt like I didn't quite understand what Neskaya saw in Lars, except that he was a good warrior.
I could definitely see Li's yaoi background in the plot and love scenes, and part of me thinks this would have made a better manga than prose novel. It would have made a damn hot manga to be sure!
All in all, though, an enjoyable read if you like historical fantasy with a harsh edge to it.
October 9, 2012
This is one of the most amazing stories Gus has ever written. I can't believe I never filled in my review. Gus builds a beautiful, stark world in Neskaya and populates it with hauntingly engaging characters. I know some people have complained about Neskaya's demeanor. To me, he's not meant to be completely accessible to the reader- that way you can really understand how the rest of the village feels about him. There's a truth that resonates through this story that reminds me of some of Gaiman's use of classic faerie tales and legends to weave a new tapestry.
October 23, 2016
A Fascinating Tale
This was filled with otherworldly goodness...old gods, witchcraft, soldiers, horses, and sacrifices. While the ending was sad, it spoke truthful of how life can go at times. Neskaya is a fascinating tale of love and I am definitely going to keep my eyes peeled for more by August Li. I only wish that this was longer, though it certainly had plenty of plot, action, and a satisfying conclusion. Four stars!
This was filled with otherworldly goodness...old gods, witchcraft, soldiers, horses, and sacrifices. While the ending was sad, it spoke truthful of how life can go at times. Neskaya is a fascinating tale of love and I am definitely going to keep my eyes peeled for more by August Li. I only wish that this was longer, though it certainly had plenty of plot, action, and a satisfying conclusion. Four stars!
February 15, 2012
Lars and Neskaya are elite warriors of their people, and secret lovers. When the king decides that Neskaya must be sacrificed to preserve the town's crop yield, Lars must find a way to save his best friend. This novella was well-written, creative and so, so moving. I couldn't put my Kindle down. From the beginning, you really, really, really feel for these characters. Highly recommended!
February 5, 2012
One star less because of the ending. I should've known this was part of the Bittersweet Memories series though. The cover deceived me.
Other than that, the story was engaging :)
Other than that, the story was engaging :)
October 21, 2013
Review to follow.
July 31, 2011
Beautiful story. One to dream over.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews