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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
adventurous
lighthearted
A fun adventure/romance set in a fantasy version of Ancient Greece, (there's not magic or anything, it's just a made-up world heavily based on Ancient Greece). I picked it up because I was able to get it for free and someone online compared it to KJ Charles's "Think of England". It's a very apt comparison - serious, wounded war veteran; prickly, artistic foreigner; terrible house-party; political intrigue . Sutcliff's "The Eagle of the Ninth" is another good comparison and on her website Demas does cite that as a childhood favourite.
"Sword Dance" is surprisingly sweet and light, despite both of the protagonists having pretty grim back stories, and its action moves along at a brisk pace. I don't often say this, but it could actually have done with an extra chapter. It ends on the promise of a happy-ever-after when I wanted to see that for myself.
"Sword Dance" is surprisingly sweet and light, despite both of the protagonists having pretty grim back stories, and its action moves along at a brisk pace. I don't often say this, but it could actually have done with an extra chapter. It ends on the promise of a happy-ever-after when I wanted to see that for myself.
lighthearted
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture
emotional
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A.J. Demas creates magic with this world she's created. This is the third book I've read set in this world and every time there's wonderfully intriguing characters to root for and fall in love with. Damiskos and Varazda were no exception.
This fully realised fictional world is stellar, each country unique and distinct even though this story only takes place in one of them. There's political intrigue, students of philosophy, a permanently injured former soldier and a mystery of a sword dancing eunuch in the midst of a house party at a cliffside summer villa. Glorious!
The romance here takes it's time as we follow along the layers of this story but it's oh so perfect and worth it. There's pain, there's trauma, fearlessness, hope, love. In turns funny, sad, heavy and light, Sword Dance is a beautifully balanced story and I can't wait for more.
This fully realised fictional world is stellar, each country unique and distinct even though this story only takes place in one of them. There's political intrigue, students of philosophy, a permanently injured former soldier and a mystery of a sword dancing eunuch in the midst of a house party at a cliffside summer villa. Glorious!
The romance here takes it's time as we follow along the layers of this story but it's oh so perfect and worth it. There's pain, there's trauma, fearlessness, hope, love. In turns funny, sad, heavy and light, Sword Dance is a beautifully balanced story and I can't wait for more.
This didn’t work for me. I can’t decide whether I’ve read too much Greek history lately to buy the alt-history, or if my current reading made it suffer by comparison, or if it’s off the standard of the other books of hers I read. Main complaint: it’s modern times playing dress up. I do remember that bugging me in Boukos, but it feels more conspicuous here. There are ways to do alt-history and even comment on social issues in 2020 without just throwing a tunic on a contemporary book. I didn’t feel immersed in the world, and unfortunately, the influences were distracting. I wanted to like it but it just didn’t click.
Did you ever read a book too quickly because you liked the characters so much and wanted to be sure that nothing terrible happened to them? That was my experience with Sword Dance. I immediately fell in love with both Damiskos and Varazda, and rushed through their story anxiously. I wanted someone to appreciate Damiskos' good heart and ability to lead despite his physical limitations, and I wanted someone to see Varazda as more than a eunuch and (former) slave. I knew they would have a HFN but was worried about at what cost. Fortunately, although the story is exciting and spiced with adventure, danger and fighting (oh those swords!), neither MC ends up in mortal peril, although Damiskos does almost get his heart broken several times (primarily because he underestimates his appeal).
Long winded way of saying that A.J. Demas is quickly (after only 3 books) proving herself to be one of my favorite new authors, with a serious but light touch, a unique alternate ancient history world, and greatly appealing characters (including some serious bad-ass women). Not at all surprised that she comes highly recommended by [a:KJ Charles|19401099|KJ Charles|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], and I would also put her up there with another favorite new author, [a:Ursula Vernon|36276|Ursula Vernon|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1271095776p2/36276.jpg]/[a:T. Kingfisher|7367300|T. Kingfisher|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1547408383p2/7367300.jpg]. Can't wait for #2 in the series to continue to explore Dami and Varazda's separate pasts and their future together.
Long winded way of saying that A.J. Demas is quickly (after only 3 books) proving herself to be one of my favorite new authors, with a serious but light touch, a unique alternate ancient history world, and greatly appealing characters (including some serious bad-ass women). Not at all surprised that she comes highly recommended by [a:KJ Charles|19401099|KJ Charles|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], and I would also put her up there with another favorite new author, [a:Ursula Vernon|36276|Ursula Vernon|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1271095776p2/36276.jpg]/[a:T. Kingfisher|7367300|T. Kingfisher|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1547408383p2/7367300.jpg]. Can't wait for #2 in the series to continue to explore Dami and Varazda's separate pasts and their future together.
This was quite enjoyable: an alternate history setting, good characters, and an intriguing set of problems to solve. There's engaging handicapped rep and fem male rep, as well as great women characters and just terrible (great!) bad guys. It is a m/m romance, but it's so much more than that, too. Recommended!
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved this! It's sweet and romantic and funny, not to mention incredibly satisfying. Can't wait for the next in the series!