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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
I expected it to be more depressing and surprisingly it wasn't. A very nice book.
Several people I know adore this, and I'm happy for them, but it's not for me.
The characters were fairly one sided (in particular the hero was utterly self effacing yet overtly 'a good man' leaping to give beggars the shirt off his back) the world building formulaic, the plot too straight forward, and the prose workmanlike. I was bored nearly immediately and never recovered.
Also, both heroes parents are dead. Of course they are.
The characters were fairly one sided (in particular the hero was utterly self effacing yet overtly 'a good man' leaping to give beggars the shirt off his back) the world building formulaic, the plot too straight forward, and the prose workmanlike. I was bored nearly immediately and never recovered.
Also, both heroes parents are dead. Of course they are.
Reading this book was like meeting an old friend for the first time. It felt comforting and familiar, like I'd loved it for years and knew every beat by heart. And even better than the fantasy books of my childhood I could legitimately feel this kind of nostalgia for, in this story gay people exist and sex is a part of life.
3.75 Stars
This was a nice fairy tale. It's the story of Brute a "hunchback of Notre Dame/Shrek" type character who is ugly and kinda of scart looking, but has a heart of gold and is honorable to a fault.
THe people in his town treat him badly, he has a crappy job esenstially working as a beast of burden at construction sites. One day while the prince of the the kingdom Brute lives in is visiting the site of a bridge in construction, he falls and Brute saves his life. The prince rewards him by offering him work at the palace.
Brute's life changes forever after that. Not only is he working in THE PALACE he is working among people who are kind to him, he has a comfortable living situation and he's secure...Only thing is The Job. He is in charge of caring for a sole prisioner. Gray Leynham. People call Gray a "traitor" he has these visions that scare people and he is just wasting away in a cell.
Brute of course sees beyond the dirt and the shackles...He shows Gray kindness, shares his meals with him, helps him be more comfortable and slowly that companionship turns into love. They give each other something neither of them have had before. Unconditional, devoted love.
Still Gray is a prisoner and Brute cannot sit there and let the love of his life be in a prison forever, so he comes up with a plan to free them both.
Like I said I likes this fairy tale and it has a nice happy ending. Brute was not exactly a unique character but he was well done. I loved the secondary characters as well. I had a few issues with the way some things developed and I felt it dragged a bit in some parts.
Overall it was a good story. I liked it.
This was a nice fairy tale. It's the story of Brute a "hunchback of Notre Dame/Shrek" type character who is ugly and kinda of scart looking, but has a heart of gold and is honorable to a fault.
THe people in his town treat him badly, he has a crappy job esenstially working as a beast of burden at construction sites. One day while the prince of the the kingdom Brute lives in is visiting the site of a bridge in construction, he falls and Brute saves his life. The prince rewards him by offering him work at the palace.
Brute's life changes forever after that. Not only is he working in THE PALACE he is working among people who are kind to him, he has a comfortable living situation and he's secure...Only thing is The Job. He is in charge of caring for a sole prisioner. Gray Leynham. People call Gray a "traitor" he has these visions that scare people and he is just wasting away in a cell.
Brute of course sees beyond the dirt and the shackles...He shows Gray kindness, shares his meals with him, helps him be more comfortable and slowly that companionship turns into love. They give each other something neither of them have had before. Unconditional, devoted love.
Still Gray is a prisoner and Brute cannot sit there and let the love of his life be in a prison forever, so he comes up with a plan to free them both.
Like I said I likes this fairy tale and it has a nice happy ending. Brute was not exactly a unique character but he was well done. I loved the secondary characters as well. I had a few issues with the way some things developed and I felt it dragged a bit in some parts.
Overall it was a good story. I liked it.
I have a new favourite MM author :)
Just lately I have been discovering a vast amount of quality MM fiction and this one is right up there with the best of them. Kim Fielding is a polished author, with the ability to wrench that emotion right out of you, leaving you drained but somehow feeling uplifted as well.
If you have read any of her other books, Brute might surprise you with its sweet gentle nature, considering the title, I was surprised. The character of Brute was one of the most genuinely nice people I've ever read, and my initial reservations when reading about a relationship between a jailor and a prisoner didn't come about. The sex is mostly closed door, so this might be a good recommendation for those who want to try a gay story but aren't sure about the sex scenes, and the worldbuilding is good so fans of fantasy as well as romance will be pleased.
All in all a very good read, highly recommended.
Just lately I have been discovering a vast amount of quality MM fiction and this one is right up there with the best of them. Kim Fielding is a polished author, with the ability to wrench that emotion right out of you, leaving you drained but somehow feeling uplifted as well.
If you have read any of her other books, Brute might surprise you with its sweet gentle nature, considering the title, I was surprised. The character of Brute was one of the most genuinely nice people I've ever read, and my initial reservations when reading about a relationship between a jailor and a prisoner didn't come about. The sex is mostly closed door, so this might be a good recommendation for those who want to try a gay story but aren't sure about the sex scenes, and the worldbuilding is good so fans of fantasy as well as romance will be pleased.
All in all a very good read, highly recommended.
This was very enjoyable read. The writing is truly wonderful and I was able to lost myself in the book and forget about everything around me. The story isn't exactly very unique, but it has wonderful main character and lovely elements here and there. Due to circumstances of characters' arcs, the story could've easily turn grim and heavy, but it wasn't. Mostly thanks to the presence of an wonderful kind-hearted big softie( the protagonist) the book turned out full of hope and light.
P. S. I wish the cover were prettier. I can't look at this one without scowling.
P. S. I wish the cover were prettier. I can't look at this one without scowling.