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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
Loved the setting and set-up, hated the romance plot, which felt very redolent of slash fanfiction power dynamics. It was going so well to begin with - our narrator has been sent to Bukhara to try and extract two comrades (the historical Connolly and Stoddart) from prison; while in disguise as an Uzbek holy man, he meets up with an undisguised Russian officer who has been sent by the tsar on a mission of his own to the emir of Bukhara, and feels the pangs of attraction almost immediately - and then suddenly our narrator decides that the only way to get the Russian officer - who is, obnoxiously and prominently, missing a letter from his surname; Meade calls him "Yakolev," the Russian surname is "Yakovlev" - to help him save the British officers is to offer him "my body." You can almost hear the porn music starting up. There were plenty of political reasons and arguments that the narrator could have made to get Yakovlev (I absolutely refuse to say "Yakolev") to help with the emir, and that in turn would have allowed a more organic spark of physical attraction/interest, in my opinion. Obviously this is all opinion and what did not work for me may work for others, etc. etc.
I think generally I probably had too many expectations for this one, though. The Great Game is a wonderful setting and particularly for MM romance, but this seems to be basically the only book that has used it, which in turn means that it's no surprise that it isn't precisely what I, personally, had envisioned for a romance novel in this setting.
I think generally I probably had too many expectations for this one, though. The Great Game is a wonderful setting and particularly for MM romance, but this seems to be basically the only book that has used it, which in turn means that it's no surprise that it isn't precisely what I, personally, had envisioned for a romance novel in this setting.
I really enjoy historical stories, and especially appreciate a setting and period that are not the usual British Regency. (Nothing against Regencies, mind you, but this was refreshing.) The characters are interesting - two less-than-perfect spies, one Irish, one Russian, who meet and are attracted to one another on a road through the desert, somewhere in the region of Afghanistan. When they arrive at their destination, they find that their business in Bukhara will pit each of them against a mentally unstable Emir, who has a tendency to throw captives into a foul prison pit on a whim.
I appreciated the realistic maneuvring of the MCs with their failures as well as successes. The romance is slow, the disagreements plausible. I missed a little intensity in both the arguments and the tenderness - a bit more depth and time spent on those moments (like Gabriel's emotions when he learned a hard truth and changed boats) would have been welcome. The romance felt a little uneven, and I'd have liked to be more pulled into the emotional component of it. The love scenes are well done and the level of description was close to perfect, and the author manages a plausible HEA in a time when that was hard for two men to come by.
I appreciated the realistic maneuvring of the MCs with their failures as well as successes. The romance is slow, the disagreements plausible. I missed a little intensity in both the arguments and the tenderness - a bit more depth and time spent on those moments (like Gabriel's emotions when he learned a hard truth and changed boats) would have been welcome. The romance felt a little uneven, and I'd have liked to be more pulled into the emotional component of it. The love scenes are well done and the level of description was close to perfect, and the author manages a plausible HEA in a time when that was hard for two men to come by.
This book was provided by Signal Boost Promotions and read on behalf of Thorns & Ink.
This is a superb and beautiful story. Oh, the research into this. Simply perfect. This is my first encounter with Ms. Meade’s work and I am a new fan. Her command of storytelling should be lauded. I could smell the cherry blossom honey and the desert wind. There is no place like the sand box (I have been there.) This story brought memories of the first time I heard the call to prayer in Doha. It was so beautiful. I hadn’t thought about that in years. The descriptions of the food alone where inspiring. I could feel the weariness of the travel. The soft Irish brogue and a heavy Russian accent played in my head supremely well. I could hear them so clearly. This is the way historical fiction should be. There is something to be said about being given enough physical characteristics to create the leading men of one’s dreams.
Without calling out the plot, I want to address something I rarely see done so well. Valentin shows signs of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Ms. Meade handles this so fucking well. As someone with PTSD, I am extraordinarily sensitive to how it is portrayed. She portrays the fear, panic, and heartache (of the caregiver) with such humility and understanding. For that alone, I want to thank her.
Gabriel and Valentin. How I ached for them. The weariness of their professions weighed heavy as I was reading. I wanted so many things for them as I travelled with them. I wanted them to have peace. I wanted them to have happiness. I wanted them to love.
Love, peace, and solace. Any warrior knows that when the battles are done, those are the only things left. She captured it so well. Gabriel, with his Irish sensibilities did not fall in love. There was none of that for him. Lust yes, but there was no immediacy in love for him. Valentin, he was in love at first kiss. With all the passion that a Russian can bring, he wanted Gabriel beyond lust. He let him know this too. He set to the task of wooing him. Offering all of the things any battle weary soldier would want.
After the battles are fought and the wars are done, it is time to go home.
This is a superb and beautiful story. Oh, the research into this. Simply perfect. This is my first encounter with Ms. Meade’s work and I am a new fan. Her command of storytelling should be lauded. I could smell the cherry blossom honey and the desert wind. There is no place like the sand box (I have been there.) This story brought memories of the first time I heard the call to prayer in Doha. It was so beautiful. I hadn’t thought about that in years. The descriptions of the food alone where inspiring. I could feel the weariness of the travel. The soft Irish brogue and a heavy Russian accent played in my head supremely well. I could hear them so clearly. This is the way historical fiction should be. There is something to be said about being given enough physical characteristics to create the leading men of one’s dreams.
Without calling out the plot, I want to address something I rarely see done so well. Valentin shows signs of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Ms. Meade handles this so fucking well. As someone with PTSD, I am extraordinarily sensitive to how it is portrayed. She portrays the fear, panic, and heartache (of the caregiver) with such humility and understanding. For that alone, I want to thank her.
Gabriel and Valentin. How I ached for them. The weariness of their professions weighed heavy as I was reading. I wanted so many things for them as I travelled with them. I wanted them to have peace. I wanted them to have happiness. I wanted them to love.
Love, peace, and solace. Any warrior knows that when the battles are done, those are the only things left. She captured it so well. Gabriel, with his Irish sensibilities did not fall in love. There was none of that for him. Lust yes, but there was no immediacy in love for him. Valentin, he was in love at first kiss. With all the passion that a Russian can bring, he wanted Gabriel beyond lust. He let him know this too. He set to the task of wooing him. Offering all of the things any battle weary soldier would want.
After the battles are fought and the wars are done, it is time to go home.
Historical romance is nothing new or revolutionary; in fact it is one of the most popular subgenres under the romance umbrella. What is new and exciting is when an author takes a period of history not often used as the backdrop to their story. This is the case with Tournament of Shadows, a blend of romance, espionage and peril set during The Great Game of the 18th Century.
Full review here: http://www.imwithgeek.com/books/between-the-sheets-tournament-of-shadows-by-sa-meade
Full review here: http://www.imwithgeek.com/books/between-the-sheets-tournament-of-shadows-by-sa-meade
I went looking for Tournament of Shadows because I met S. A. Meade at an Author Thing a couple of months ago. Published in 2014, this ticks all my ‘historical detail’ boxes. Set in the mid-nineteenth century in what is now Uzbekistan, it follows two minor characters in the Great Game played between world powers during that period. It has gay romance, political intrigue and journeying through locations I knew nothing about and had to research. A definite re-read.
Really enjoyed this. The characters, romance, and smut are all excellent, and I really appreciate the different historical setting. Sure, it's Victorian, but I'm pretty sure I've never run across another M/M romance primarily set in Uzbekistan. Definitely recommend.
It's so refreshing to find an author who's willing to tackle unusual historical periods. The Great Game! Spies, Afghanistan, the Great Powers in the first cold war...excellent. This book has really good local colour and detail, the author knows her stuff and it's vividly conveyed, including some of the horrors of the regime and the sense of disgust both spies feel at their work. And the rather Harry Palmer quality of the espionage, which suggests quite how much of it is poorly executed admin, is very interestingly done. I found the romance a bit oddly paced at points, including the falling out on the barge. I think the author could have trusted that with a bit more development time; I'd have been very happy to spend even more time dodging danger and resisting attraction in the East.