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Hieros
In a valley set between two mighty mountains lies a quiet village, full of peaceful people who hold the two mountains high as gods. When the gods' annual festival day arrives, brash young Jaith and his childhood friend Shoa are chosen for a mysterious ritual on which depends the success of the harvest and the very future of their village. To be chosen carries with it fame, honor, and induction into the deepest mysteries of the gods--mysteries that bring pleasure beyond anything Jaith or Shoa has ever known. But even the most pleasurable mysteries can shake, unsettle, and change. In the aftermath of the ritual, Jaith and Shoa's friendship may be damaged beyond the help of the gods--or each other.
Let the will of the gods be done … but let them be kind.
Let the will of the gods be done … but let them be kind.
46 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 29, 2010
About the author
Sunny Moraine
74 books245 followersSunny Moraine is—among many other things—the author of the novella Your Shadow Half Remains, published by Tor Nightfire. Their debut short fiction collection Singing With All My Skin and Bone was released in 2016 and their short stories have been published in Tor.com, Uncanny, Clarkesworld, Strange Horizons, Lightspeed, and Nightmare. An occasional podcaster/narrator/voice actor, they are the writer, producer, and lead actor of the serial horror drama podcast Gone, which wrapped up its first season in January 2018 and released a second season in 2022. For more info, please see their website at sunnymoraine.com.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 8, 2010
If you're in the mood for a magical, fairy-tale like fantasy, this story fits the bill. It takes place in a mystical valley between two moutains where villagers celebrate a festival once a year to bless the harvest.
When boyhood friends Shoa and Jaith are chosen they have no idea what they're in for. Once the ceremony is over and done with they need to find a way of dealing with what has happened, and I thught that development was as interesting as the idea of the ceremony itself.
When boyhood friends Shoa and Jaith are chosen they have no idea what they're in for. Once the ceremony is over and done with they need to find a way of dealing with what has happened, and I thught that development was as interesting as the idea of the ceremony itself.
September 9, 2010
A good m/m short story. I don't read this type of writing (commercial erotica) very often so I have little to compare to. This type of formulaic 'get to the sex already' story tends to lack everything but the most basic of character development and while I understand it fits a niche that many people appreciate, it's not my thing.
As a result of this, I felt the story didn't give me a lot to work with on the characterizations, which led me to not find the sex scene very engaging.
That being said, the characters were respected. I appreciated that they were not as objectified as erotica characters tend to be. The plot dealt with an interesting situation that brought up intriguing issues that I was pleased to see the author explore rather than ignore.
As a result of this, I felt the story didn't give me a lot to work with on the characterizations, which led me to not find the sex scene very engaging.
That being said, the characters were respected. I appreciated that they were not as objectified as erotica characters tend to be. The plot dealt with an interesting situation that brought up intriguing issues that I was pleased to see the author explore rather than ignore.
April 6, 2010
I liked this short (33 page) story. It has a very fluid and lyrical? style.
March 20, 2011
4.5 stars
This was a short story but it packed a lot into those pages. The writing was very fluid and lyrical in tone. I could feel the youth and vitality of Jaith and Shoa right away. The words created a picture in my head that was easy to imagine and follow along the path chosen for them by the gods. One to dominate and one to submit, at least for one night whether they know it or not. Whether they know they want it or not. After all ...
"This has all happened before. It has happened so many times. Each time your part struggles and denies it, and each time your part gives in. Waste not my time, child, though I have much of it at my disposal."
The ritual is well detailed and erotic. At times both boys are overwhelmed by the feelings and spirit of the mysteries unfolding. With roles reversed, becoming men to each other is even more unsettling. How do you move on from such an experience? What is expected of two boys that find so much in each other that has never before been considered?
Jaith and Shoa seek answers within themselves and within their understanding of the gods to reconcile the change in their lifelong friendship to forge a partnership only the gods can destroy.
This was a short story but it packed a lot into those pages. The writing was very fluid and lyrical in tone. I could feel the youth and vitality of Jaith and Shoa right away. The words created a picture in my head that was easy to imagine and follow along the path chosen for them by the gods. One to dominate and one to submit, at least for one night whether they know it or not. Whether they know they want it or not. After all ...
"This has all happened before. It has happened so many times. Each time your part struggles and denies it, and each time your part gives in. Waste not my time, child, though I have much of it at my disposal."
The ritual is well detailed and erotic. At times both boys are overwhelmed by the feelings and spirit of the mysteries unfolding. With roles reversed, becoming men to each other is even more unsettling. How do you move on from such an experience? What is expected of two boys that find so much in each other that has never before been considered?
Jaith and Shoa seek answers within themselves and within their understanding of the gods to reconcile the change in their lifelong friendship to forge a partnership only the gods can destroy.
January 29, 2011
The cover alone is a good enough reason to take a look and order it. But the content is just as delicious and enjoyable as those two shirtless broody guys, trust me.
What I still cannot get over is how this was 33 pages yet it was so complete and so good that it felt like a lot more than that. So much gets done and shown. And the story itself is very well-crafted and just incredibly hot. Which might not seem like a big deal but trust me. It is. I wish a lot more gay romance/erotic fiction was as thoughtfully done and awesomely executed as Hieros.
What I still cannot get over is how this was 33 pages yet it was so complete and so good that it felt like a lot more than that. So much gets done and shown. And the story itself is very well-crafted and just incredibly hot. Which might not seem like a big deal but trust me. It is. I wish a lot more gay romance/erotic fiction was as thoughtfully done and awesomely executed as Hieros.
December 23, 2010
Short story with childhood friends called upon to enact an ancient ritual (which, of course, turns out to be erotic).
Reminded me of The Mists of Avalon scene (go watch it :P) with Arthur and Morgaine getting it on during a fertility ritual. (hmm... should stop putting of reading the Marion Zimmer Bradley book the movie was based on...)
Reminded me of The Mists of Avalon scene (go watch it :P) with Arthur and Morgaine getting it on during a fertility ritual. (hmm... should stop putting of reading the Marion Zimmer Bradley book the movie was based on...)
April 1, 2013
2.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews