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challenging
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you've followed me for any length of time, you know that I'm a huge fan of Maya Kern skirts. See them here (non-affiliate link). What started with a couple of beautiful journals has cascaded into a closet full of the most beautiful, comfortable, deepest pocketed skirts in the world. But we're not here to talk about that.
What we're here to discuss is Maya Kern's novel, which I had never read before. Previously released in 2021, this is the author's new revised edition. I can't speak to the original, but I will tell you that the novel is now in two volumes and this first one weighs in at a hefty 537 pages in the hardcover edition. If your sole criteria for a book is being able to bludgeon a man to death, then this is the book for you! Full disclosure: I read this in digital. I abuse my wrists enough with crafts and online gaming, I learned a long time ago (I'm looking at you, Sanderson!) that I can't wrangle 12 lb books anymore.
Fortunately, this is not the only thing this book has going for it. It also has politics, intrigue, a political marriage, mystery, battles, dragons, magic, science, a bisexual disaster triad, and enough hot sex scenes to satisfy... just about everyone, I would think, in just about any combination. The happily-ever-after doesn't happen in this book but is clearly in the works.
Honestly, the only beef I have is that in the first 50 pages or so, I found myself wishing there had been an editor with a machete involved. The language in those pages is overly ornate to my taste, and gets in the way of the story's progress. However, the author eventually settles into her tale, and the word choice becomes much less intrusive. It was worth a bit of initial struggle to get to the meat of the story.
Truly, I'm poking a bit of fun at the sex scenes here, but there is some meat to this bone. There are some heavy familial expectations, and of course the main dilemma of: can someone truly love you if they're stuck with you? Can you ever be sure if there's no choice? It feels like being stuck closeted in a very small town and dating the one other queer person simply because that's your only option.
This has a real possibility of being the next big self-publishing to viral to trad pubbed series, folks. If you wanted to get in on Legends & Lattes or Dungeon Crawler Carl at the beginning so you could say you were a 'real' fan, then pick this one up. On the other hand, if you're just looking for a super-horny polyamorous tale of shape-shifting dragons, then you should also pick this one up.
Note: Review originally published at https://waitingforfairies.com/blog/bl...
Note: Review originally published at https://waitingforfairies.com/blog/bl...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Violence, War