Release Day Review: Kestrel’s Talon (The Stonewatchers #1) by Bey Deckard #MMFantasy #Erotica

TITLE: Kestrel’s Talon 

SERIES:  The Stonewatchers #1

AUTHOR:  Bey Deckard

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 426 Pages

BLURB:

Novel (135,031 words)
Genre(s): Fantasy, Triad, LGBT/QUILTBAG

Following the Prentish/Nemarri war, Kes is rejected by his homeland under the guise of religious purity laws. Though he’s spared execution, the proud Nemarri’s fate is only marginally more merciful than death when he is sold into sexual slavery at a prosperous pleasure house.

Despite his stoic endurance, Kes knows he’s reaching his breaking point, but there is nothing he can do—there is no path to freedom in the Holy Prentish Empire, only a lifetime of humiliating servitude.

That is, until a beautiful young slave and his formidable master approach Kes in the marketplace and make an astonishing offer to take him home with them. The only problem: “home” is the accursed Horthmont Castle from the scare-stories of Kes’s childhood.

Thrown into a world of living myth, powerful magic, and ancient gods, Kes learns the secrets kept hidden by Horthmont’s thick blackstone walls. There he discovers something he thought he’d never know again: hope for the future.

Goodreads Link

REVIEW:

Fantastic erotic fantasy! As a lover of fantasy and m/m erotica, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The story begins when the master of the gorgeous redhead slave, Talon, purchases the pleasure slave, Kes, for him. Though Kes is drawn to Talon from first sight, he is wary about the situation. It’s unheard of for a slave to own another slave, but Talon is a rare beauty that he could never refuse. When Kes arrives at their castle, he begins to learn all the mysteries behind Talon and his master. Despite the arrangement being the closest thing to freedom he’d known since he was sold into slavery, Kes still yearns to be free. However, once he gets to know his new master’s, a new world opens up for him.

This book was a lot of fun. I loved the magical realm Bey Deckard creates, and I especially loved the characters. I sympathized with Kes’s desire for freedom even though it seemed like his new master had given him more than he could have dreamed of as a free man. Plus, Talon was so beautiful that every moment Kes spent with him was amazing and magical. I look forward to reading the next book  in this series, and I recommend Kestrel’s Talon to anyone who loves m/m high fantasy and m/m erotica.

RATING: I liked it!

DARK ARTS CATEGORIES: 

Dark M/M Fantasy, M/M Erotica, M/M Fantasy, Ménage, Slave

BUY LINKS: 

Amazon KU

Review: The Autumn Lands by J. Scott Coatsworth #GayScifi #MMRomance

TITLE:  The Autumn Lands

AUTHOR:  J. Scott Coatsworth

PUBLISHER:  Mischief Corner Books

LENGTH:  121 Pages

BLURB:

Jerrith is running. Kissed by an elf, he can’t remain in his hometown of Althos anymore. Not that he wanted to stay.

Caspian still hasn’t figured out why he kissed Jerrith, but he’s running too. Since he was exiled from the Autumn Lands, his past has been hazy, and his future uncertain.

But when a stray memory brings things into focus, the two decide to run toward something together. What they uncover will change how they see the world, and themselves, forever.

REVIEW:

The Autumn Lands begins with a kiss—one that leads to serious consequences for both Jerrith and Caspian. Jerrith is an average guy, but Caspian is and elf who has lost his wings. As Caspian’s memories start to come back, he realizes that Jerrith is his destiny and kissing him was what led to his downfall. Jerrith and Caspian set off to the Autumn lands to set things straight, but when they arrive there is a surprise waiting for them.

Though there was no sex in this book I loved the relationship between Jerrith and Caspian. They were meant to be together so everything just felt right for them. Though their journey was dangerous, they were both cast out by their people, so they had nothing to lose and everything to gain. I especially liked it when Caspian’s former lover comes into play, since Jerrith’s jealousy seemed to strengthen their relationship. Though the romance aspect was sweet, I think the most notable part of this book was the world building. In the beginning, the world appeared almost like a Middle Ages setting, but as they learn more about their circumstances, it becomes clear that they are on another planet. So the effect was that it started out seeming like fantasy, but by the end it was definitely Sci-fi. Though I loved the world the author created, I at times became a little overwhelmed. This may have been due to the fact that Caspian is remembering everything little by little and sharing it with Jerrith along the way. So the reader is learning about the universe along with the main characters. Despite having to back paddle a little to keep up, I understood enough about their situation that I thoroughly enjoyed the ending.

This is the first thing I’ve read from J. Scott Coatsworth, but I look forward to reading more. I recommend this book to anyone who likes M/M Sci-fi, Adventure, Dark Fantasy, and Sweet M/M Romance.

RATING: I liked it!

DARK ARTS CATEGORIES:

Dark M/M Fantasy, Dark M/M Romance, Hate Crime

BUY LINKS: 

Mischief Corner Books | Amazon | ARe

Bookstrand | iBooks | Kobo

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Scott has been writing since elementary school, when he and won a University of Arizona writing contest in 4th grade for his first sci fi story (with illustrations!). He finished his first novel in his mid twenties, but after seeing it rejected by ten publishers, he gave up on writing for a while.

Over the ensuing years, he came back to it periodically, but it never stuck. Then one day, he was complaining to Mark, his husband, early last year about how he had been derailed yet again by the death of a family member, and Mark said to him “the only one stopping you from writing is you.”

Since then, Scott has gone back to writing in a big way, finishing more than a dozen short stories – some new, some that he had started years before – and seeing his first sale. He’s embarking on a new trilogy, and also runs the Queer Sci Fi (http://www.queerscifi.com) site, a support group for writers of gay sci fi, fantasy, and supernatural fiction.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 

Review: Snowmancer (Godsbane Prince #1) by Olivia Helling

TITLE: Snowmancer

SERIES: Godsbane Prince

AUTHOR: Olivia Helling

PUBLISHER: M/M Romance Group

LENGTH: 147 Pages

BLURB:

A partner he could trust. That’s what Prince Heir Ilyas wanted most in the world. Instead, he spent his days alone defending his future throne from his younger brothers and reaping the rewards of their estates. But when he receives his latest conquest, a slave named Jem, he’s abducted to the far reaches of a frozen wasteland to be sacrificed to Jem’s backwater god.

Someone who would see him. The one thing Jem knows he can never have. Instead, Jem walks the world searching for the sacrifice that will save the people who fear and shun him — the beautiful and proud Ilyas. Capturing Ilyas might have been simple, but keeping him safe for his god is another matter.

Trapped in their struggle and tight quarters, they’re both haunted by the whisper in each other of the warmth they dared not dream for. But nothing can stop the Dark God from coming. Nothing short of death. Can one kill the other? Or will they both be destroyed?

DARK ARTS ELEMENTS:

Captive, Dark M/M Fantasy

REVIEW:

Snowmancer was an entertaining and moving dark fantasy read. The story begins when Prince Ilyas is captured and brought to a neighboring kingdom, which is in a barren frozen wasteland. Since Ilyas has grown up with every luxury imaginable, he has a hard time believing that all that they have to feed him is hard, stale bread. Though he is upset with his circumstances, Ilyas becomes entranced with his captor, Jem. The more he learns about Jem, the more he forgets about his own discomforts. Over time, Jem seems to change something fundamental in Ilyas. Even though the Dark God is an ever present danger, Ilyas struggles to prevail for reasons far bigger than the preservation of his life.

I loved the world building in this book and I especially enjoyed the change in Ilyas’s character. Ilyas starts off as a prince who is arrogant and used to having his way. He has trouble recognizing the suffering and hunger of the people around him and only realizes their suffering when it is pointed out to him. However, as the book progresses and Ilyas starts to fall for Jem, Ilyas becomes less self-centered. There is finally someone in the world that he cares for more than himself. I think that change was what really drew me in. I went from wishing bad things on Ilyas to rooting for him. Though I loved the dark world the author creates, I was a little thrown off by the magical aspects and especially the magic used in the end. Even though this threw me for a loop, it didn’t take away from the story in any way. I recommend Snowmancer to anyone who loves M/M dark fantasy, M/M Slave themes, & M/M Romance.

RATING: I liked it!

BUY LINKS: 

Amazon

M/M Romance Group