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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
Dasher is well known among his friends for the crush he has on Eirick, the King of Frost. When they are both in the palace for Eirik's son's wedding, there is no escaping. Dasher is determined to give Eirick the love he has for him and he doesn't care what Eirik thinks about it. There is humor, heat, and cold in this story that will leave you so satisfied.
4.5 Stars
This was a sweet conclusion to this series. Eirik and Dasher were cute dancing around each other. There danger stalking them all was a good twist as well. I loved seeing everyone happy at the end of this series. All the reindeer have their happily ever afters and everything ties up with Jack and Rudy's wedding.
This was a sweet conclusion to this series. Eirik and Dasher were cute dancing around each other. There danger stalking them all was a good twist as well. I loved seeing everyone happy at the end of this series. All the reindeer have their happily ever afters and everything ties up with Jack and Rudy's wedding.
The final book in this Christmas series and it is a sweet way to end it. Dasher sees the pain that the Frost King, Eirik tries to hide, with Dasher using every trick to get close and eventually the pair find love.
All these characters were great and the story rounded out the overarching storyline, it is lovely to finish the series on a high by visiting them again. A series most worth reading over the holiday season.
All these characters were great and the story rounded out the overarching storyline, it is lovely to finish the series on a high by visiting them again. A series most worth reading over the holiday season.
I've been reading this series for the few years (I read the first one, "Mending Noel," in 2014). I all of them I've read around Christmas time, which makes sense of course since they are holiday novellas. I enjoy them. This is another pleasant story in a series of pleasant romances.
"The King's Courage" is a sort of December/May romance, but when the characters are more or less immortal (they can be killed, but they won't die of old age), age is sort of... less of an issue I guess. And there are some funny moments between one of the main characters and his son who is about the same age as the other main character. This is one of those stories with a whole lot of gay men without any decent female characters and, at least that I can remember, no lesbians to speak of which always annoys me a little. Yeah, I know it's a gay romance but how many gay men do you know that don't know any lesbians or bisexual/pan ladies? Because I don't know any (that's because they know me, I guess, but still). But I still enjoy the stories overall.
Look, I doubt this is going to win any literary awards but if you just want something to make you smile and enjoy a few steamy moments--this is a good choice.
"The King's Courage" is a sort of December/May romance, but when the characters are more or less immortal (they can be killed, but they won't die of old age), age is sort of... less of an issue I guess. And there are some funny moments between one of the main characters and his son who is about the same age as the other main character. This is one of those stories with a whole lot of gay men without any decent female characters and, at least that I can remember, no lesbians to speak of which always annoys me a little. Yeah, I know it's a gay romance but how many gay men do you know that don't know any lesbians or bisexual/pan ladies? Because I don't know any (that's because they know me, I guess, but still). But I still enjoy the stories overall.
Look, I doubt this is going to win any literary awards but if you just want something to make you smile and enjoy a few steamy moments--this is a good choice.
3.5 Stars
This may be blatant instalove but pair this with Cochet’s tendency for hardcore fluff with a good dose of sexy and one can’t really begrudge the King of Frost getting a second chance at love with an elf who too, deserves another shot at being happy. Cheers!
This may be blatant instalove but pair this with Cochet’s tendency for hardcore fluff with a good dose of sexy and one can’t really begrudge the King of Frost getting a second chance at love with an elf who too, deserves another shot at being happy. Cheers!
I've enjoyed this series for the holidays. I'm so glad that Eirik and Dasher finally got their story. I loved it. They were so sweet together. I have loved this world and I'm sad to see it go.
Typical of the series
Sweet with a touch of danger, Courage and the King was a fitting end to the series. I was glad the king found a new love and Dasher made peace with his past love.
Sweet with a touch of danger, Courage and the King was a fitting end to the series. I was glad the king found a new love and Dasher made peace with his past love.
Book – The King's Courage (North Pole City Tales #6)
Author – Charlie Cochet
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages – 77
Cover – Gorgeous!
POV – 3rd, dual person
Would I read it again – Yes!!
Genre – LGBT, Holiday, Fantasy, MM, Romance, Elves
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
Well, what can I say? I've been waiting for this book since last Christmas and now that it's finally here it didn't just live up to my expectations, it surpassed them.
With every story in the North Pole City Tales series, there's a warmth and a sweetness behind the romances that just makes me love each book more than the last. As the final book in the series, The King's Courage is my ultimate favourite, unsurpassed by the others. It's beautiful, heartbreaking, and quite scandalous when it wants to be. It's everything I could have ever wanted from this story and more.
I can't say too much about the plot, because it would ruin the surprise, but I'll admit that I was crying before the book even reached the halfway mark, and again after that. There was so much emotion and story told in such few pages that it shouldn't have been possible to feel as connected to the story and the characters as deeply as I did. But the genius of this series is that each book has a link to the next, so we've known Dasher and the King since book one, even if their parts were small. We know them, we know their stories – or, at least, part of their stories – and there's less need for long explorations of who they are or their backgrounds.
Dasher was a bright, lovely character who reminded me of Vixen, a little. Both had been hurt and put on a mask to hide that hurt for too long. Eirik, the King, was a broken, lonely man until Dasher came along. Seeing them together, their chemistry is so brilliantly written, and I love how they become playful and open with each other. Yet it still manages to be gradual and gentle between them. There's heat – Holy Christmas, is there heat! – with the snowball fight and the whispers on the wind showing just how naughty they can be, but there's also tenderness and uncertainty, fear and doubt. In fact, it's probably the hottest, most scandalous book of the series, what with that beautiful moment of a father-son bonding conversation being sealed by Jack's parting words about that desk drawer!
Overall, I love it. From the world building, characterisation and plotting of the series, nothing has changed – it's just as brilliant as when I read the first book. Only, this time, I felt like I was returning to my favourite Christmas holiday spot, meeting old friends and celebrating their good fortune with them. The King's Courage might be the last in the series, but it's a perfect round up of all the stories, of the sweetness and spice, and a perfect ending for a perfect series. Charlie Cochet has surpassed themselves with this one.
I've just seen that the series will be compiled into a paperback, so guess what I'm getting for Christmas? Because this series is a re-read every single Christmas and there's no way I don't want a paperback where I can binge read from one to the other without even moving!
~
Favourite Quotes
“Eirik narrowed his eyes. “Why the blasted holly would you choose to sit in silence when faced with such merriment? You’re a Christmas elf. Frivolity and cheer are in your nature.”
“That’s true,” Dasher agreed, his smile warm. “It’s also in my nature to want to share such merriment with one I hold dear.”
Eirik scoffed. “Well, then, I suggest you go find him.”
“I already have.””
“Eirik let out a huff, but his eyes were alight with amusement. “What am I to do with you, Dasher Rein Dear?”
Love me.”
Author – Charlie Cochet
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages – 77
Cover – Gorgeous!
POV – 3rd, dual person
Would I read it again – Yes!!
Genre – LGBT, Holiday, Fantasy, MM, Romance, Elves
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
Well, what can I say? I've been waiting for this book since last Christmas and now that it's finally here it didn't just live up to my expectations, it surpassed them.
With every story in the North Pole City Tales series, there's a warmth and a sweetness behind the romances that just makes me love each book more than the last. As the final book in the series, The King's Courage is my ultimate favourite, unsurpassed by the others. It's beautiful, heartbreaking, and quite scandalous when it wants to be. It's everything I could have ever wanted from this story and more.
I can't say too much about the plot, because it would ruin the surprise, but I'll admit that I was crying before the book even reached the halfway mark, and again after that. There was so much emotion and story told in such few pages that it shouldn't have been possible to feel as connected to the story and the characters as deeply as I did. But the genius of this series is that each book has a link to the next, so we've known Dasher and the King since book one, even if their parts were small. We know them, we know their stories – or, at least, part of their stories – and there's less need for long explorations of who they are or their backgrounds.
Dasher was a bright, lovely character who reminded me of Vixen, a little. Both had been hurt and put on a mask to hide that hurt for too long. Eirik, the King, was a broken, lonely man until Dasher came along. Seeing them together, their chemistry is so brilliantly written, and I love how they become playful and open with each other. Yet it still manages to be gradual and gentle between them. There's heat – Holy Christmas, is there heat! – with the snowball fight and the whispers on the wind showing just how naughty they can be, but there's also tenderness and uncertainty, fear and doubt. In fact, it's probably the hottest, most scandalous book of the series, what with that beautiful moment of a father-son bonding conversation being sealed by Jack's parting words about that desk drawer!
Overall, I love it. From the world building, characterisation and plotting of the series, nothing has changed – it's just as brilliant as when I read the first book. Only, this time, I felt like I was returning to my favourite Christmas holiday spot, meeting old friends and celebrating their good fortune with them. The King's Courage might be the last in the series, but it's a perfect round up of all the stories, of the sweetness and spice, and a perfect ending for a perfect series. Charlie Cochet has surpassed themselves with this one.
I've just seen that the series will be compiled into a paperback, so guess what I'm getting for Christmas? Because this series is a re-read every single Christmas and there's no way I don't want a paperback where I can binge read from one to the other without even moving!
~
Favourite Quotes
“Eirik narrowed his eyes. “Why the blasted holly would you choose to sit in silence when faced with such merriment? You’re a Christmas elf. Frivolity and cheer are in your nature.”
“That’s true,” Dasher agreed, his smile warm. “It’s also in my nature to want to share such merriment with one I hold dear.”
Eirik scoffed. “Well, then, I suggest you go find him.”
“I already have.””
“Eirik let out a huff, but his eyes were alight with amusement. “What am I to do with you, Dasher Rein Dear?”
Love me.”
Best of the series
The last book of the North Pole City Tales was the best one of the series.
I thoroughly enjoyed Dasher and Eirik’s story. It was heartbreaking and so full of hope and love. I enjoyed reading about the King of Frost.
Charlie’s writing was just as much fun in this one but there was a poignancy to it as well.
What a fantastic way to end the holiday season!
The last book of the North Pole City Tales was the best one of the series.
I thoroughly enjoyed Dasher and Eirik’s story. It was heartbreaking and so full of hope and love. I enjoyed reading about the King of Frost.
Charlie’s writing was just as much fun in this one but there was a poignancy to it as well.
What a fantastic way to end the holiday season!