Review: The Book of Myth by Qui

Genre: Fantasy
Elements: BDSM, threesomes, harem, naga, djinn, incubus, faeries, dragon, satyr, kitsune, demon

Rating:

• Characters - 3 - The characters here are cute, but really, they are only devices for the smut in each chapter, so they are molded by what the author needs to make that smut work. Cute, but not characters that stand on their own.
• Setting - 4 - Good for the type of story this is, but not overly detailed either.
• Plot - 3 - While not quite PWP, it definitely comes close.
• Genre Elements - 5 - This is where the story excels. Not only does the author have one fantasy creature to decide the details for, but practically one per chapter, and manages to give us insight into each beautifully. And on top of that, finds a way to twist that difference into smut each and every chapter.
• Voice - 3 - The voices get a bit muddy at times, but mostly because there's not a lot of thought past how to get to the smut.
• Romance Elements - 3 - There is an element of romance here between the two main characters, but it's minimal as they spend most of the story apart from one another.
• Overall - 3.5 - Cute and fun, especially for a free online read.

Basic story -

In a far away kingdom, there is a dangerous book that has drawn many to their doom. This is one such tale; of a young prince waiting for an ambassador to arrive, and finding a book to pass the time.

My thoughts -
A cute story with very little plot, and at least one chapter most smut-readers will find enjoyable, depending on their kink. Most of the well-known kinks are represented at one point. The characters are really secondary to the story, which is just about using the most kinks possible inherent in mythical creatures. It's fun and mostly light, and a fun way to pass a few hours.

The flow of the story is random so as to cover all the kinks it does, but each chapter works fairly well on its own, if you don't care for the larger story. Despite the randomness, there is an overall plot, if you read through the entire thing, and it is shockingly sweet for a smut piece like this one.

This one's definitely for anime/manga fans, as the ideas in it represent that sort of take on smut and romance. Also, several of the creatures involved are the Japanese or Oriental versions of these myths.

The best reason to read this aside from smut and variety is that it's free to read online. It's fairly well edited, though there are a few errors here and there, as there are on most Fiction Press or AO3 stories.

Overall, I enjoyed reading it, but I probably won't be looking for more from this author, as I tend to prefer more realistic worlds, even in my fantasy.

Warnings -
Dub-con, but only in the lightest of senses. Most of the smut is pretty consensual, really. A bit of bestiality, so stay away if that bothers you, but even that is minor.

Overall Recommendation -
Cute. Not for those who don't appreciate yaoi, as this is basically yaoi in text form, rather than as a manga. But fun to read for all the different creatures she writes about. 

Link to the story - Book of Myth (on Fiction Press)
Author Link - Qui (on Fiction Press)
If you liked this story, try -

• The Dream of a Thousand Nights by Shira Anthony (Goodreads) (read my review here)
• The Fairest in the Land by LuccaAce (FictionPress - unfinished story)  
• Cinder by Marie Sexton (Goodreads Page) (read my review here)
• Fireflies by Ally Blue (on Goodreads) (read my review here)
• The Mist Behind and the Light Before by Cathalin (AO3)

Review: Dream of a Thousand Nights by Shira Anthony

Genre: Fantasy
Elements: Jinn, magic

Rating:

• Characters - 4 - A good selection, though I would have liked a few more female characters. I was pleased the one main female character at least had a good role in the story.
• Setting - 5 - Excellent setting. I would have loved to spend more time in this world.
• Plot - 3 - Needed a lot of work. It's fairly cliched, and there's a rather large gap. I think we either didn't need to see their first meeting except in flashbacks, or I would have liked to have seen a lot more of the intervening time.
• Genre Elements - 5 - A fabulous take on the Jinn mythos. I loved the rules regarding them and how their society works. Very nicely done.
• Voice - 4 - Quite good. Few difficulties determining who's speaking.
• Romance Elements - 4 - Sweet romance, though as I said, it felt a bit saggy in the middle, and I would have preferred a more consistent flow to their romance, instead of the choppiness we got.
• Overall - 4 - A good story with a few flaws, but overall quite enjoyable.

Basic story -
Neriah, crown prince, manages to escape an assassination attempt with the help of a Jinn. Many years later, when their paths cross again, the memories the Jinn took from him of their one night together, begin to complicate his attempt to regain his place in the kingdom.

My thoughts -
I enjoyed this. It is flawed, but in a good-writing way that just suggests it needed a different flow to make it work better. The characters are interesting, though there's only one major female character, which is a problem on its own. The two main characters are interesting, but their romance was problematic. All in all, I would read this again, but I do wish that a few of the flaws weren't there.

I have a fondness for folklore and fable, so I love anything that touches on those themes, and Jinn are one that I've not seen done much, and would love to read more. Obviously Anthony has a fondness for them as well, as she gives the Jinn society a great deal of detail that works very well with what we all know from tales like Aladdin and other tales of Jinn out there, while still being very distinctly hers. I would have loved more detail on their society and the rules they have on serving humans. Tamir is an interesting character, and I would have loved to read more about him before this or others like him.

Really, for me the biggest flaw in this story is the jump in time from the prologue to the main part of the story. I understand why it was there--she wanted us to see them together for their one night--but I think it would have worked better as a flashback from Tamir, and then later from Neriah's point of view. Either that, or I would have loved to see some of the time they lived between that moment and when they met up again. Got some of those characters around them fleshed out a good deal more.

So given that my biggest complaint about this is that I want more, I'd say it's definitely a good buy. I may have to see what else Anthony has written, because she definitely has a great grasp on middle eastern culture and folklore.

Warnings -
Slavery in a very mild sense, threat of rape, and unequal society. Nothing huge, but they are there, so if you are especially sensitive to those aspects, to be cautious.

Overall Recommendation -
Definitely worth a read, especially if you like middle eastern folklore.


Link to the story - Dream of a Thousand Nights (on Goodreads)
Author Link - Shira Anthony (on Goodreads)
If you liked this story, try -

•  Brendan and the Beast by Czarina Kodora (AO3) (read my review here)
• The Mist Behind and the Light Before by Cathalin (AO3)
• Soulless by T Baggins (on Goodreads) (read my review here)
• The Quartz Key by Lianne Burwell (Online link) (read my review here) 
• The Fall of the Dragon King by MomsDarkSecret (Fiction Press) (read my review here)