Martin’s Reviews > The Forest King > Status Update

Darius dropped the king of the Volundi, destroyer of Rome’s hopes for Hibernia, unceremoniously onto his bed, then marched back to his own chamber, slamming the door behind him.

So... are we gonna mention the supernatural creature that just walked across the clearing?

WTF was that????

​“Please don’t waste your energy dreaming up revenges for my sake.” Darius kissed him. “You said that you wished to see the world. It is not all like that village in Gaul. I will tell you about my empire.” His voice was low and earnest. “I’ll tell you stories of all the places I’ve visited, both terrible and wondrous. As much as I can, in—in whatever time we have together."

Darius brushed his hair back. “We are so different, you and I. You dream of seeing the world, I dream of returning home and burying my feet in the soil so deeply I could take root.”

“You’re full of contradictions, Darius Lucilius. You come here all puffed up about honour and the strength of your general, then you apologize for his casualties. You say you love me, yet you can’t conceive of a future for us.”

It was mostly because, for a brief moment, Darius had felt like himself again—or a version of himself he thought he had forgotten. Not a captive. Not even a Roman soldier. Only Darius.