Review: The Quartz Key by Lianne Burwell

Genre: Fantasy
Elements: magic, soulmates, gods

Rating:

• Characters - 5 - From the beginning, the characters are interesting and unique, and they only get better over the course of the story.
• Setting - 5 - The basic setting seems your traditional middle eastern setting at first, but it quickly becomes so much more, and the author adds so many details that it's something very unique and special.
• Plot - 4 - An intriguing plot, though it starts out a bit cliched. It grows into itself and eventually becomes something very different from anything I've read.
• Genre Elements - 5 - Great details. Both the world details, the distinctness of villain, and the avatar aspects to the story. Each lends something to the overall story and makes it that much more intriguing.
• Voice - 4 - The two main characters are very unique, though there's a bit of muddiness at first, and some of the early secondary characters are a little difficult to tell apart.
• Romance Elements - 4 - The boys' story is slow and believable, and definitely never easy, though some of the situations they are thrown into are a bit cliched.
• Overall - 4.5 - Definitely a great story, and well worth a read for Fantasy lovers.

Basic story -
The love story of a slave and a prince, and tale of a kingdom at war.

My thoughts -
This one really snuck up on me. Though it seems cliched at first, it grew on me very quickly. Particularly Judas, who is not your typical slave-who-does-not-wish-to-be. Each has their own worries, and despite everything, the two characters begin to grow together. And then everything falls apart. Though the story appears to take a few cliched turns, each trope is taken and molded by Burwell to make it a far more unique part of a rather intriguing whole. Rarely did I feel bored or confused by what was going on. And when I was confused, quite often it was followed by curiosity about how she would manage to right things again for her two characters. The ending is quite satisfying, and more than lives up to the premise of her story.

To me, Judas is the true center of this piece. While Namir is interesting, he is fairly typical of his sort--at least without Judas, or the events that follow Judas's arrival at their castle. Judas, on the other hand, is special from the start. Marked as different even by his own people, and gotten rid of for just that reason. More importantly, he seems to be touched by destiny, though what that destiny is, even he is uncertain. At least, until he and Namir begin to grow close.

Their flight from the castle to save Namir's people is what really sets the plot in motion, and it is this that changes both boys for good. Through it they become something more than what they were before. Both apart and together.

Though this did not get my highest rating, I will say that I enjoyed it very much. I hope some day to find more by this author, as I found it well worth the time it took to read. Though it's quite long, the length of the story only made it that much better, as it just gave me that much more to enjoy.

Warnings -
Violence and near-rape, several assassination attempts of various sorts. Lots of anguish, both mental and physical. But nothing too horrific, and certainly nothing lasting.

Overall Recommendation -
Definitely worth a read for any fantasy lover. I highly recommend it.

Link to the story - The Quartz Key (Author's site)
Author Link - Lianne Burwell (on Goodreads)
If you liked this story, try -

• The Fall of the Dragon King by MomsDarkSecret (Fiction Press) (read my review here)
• The Dream of a Thousand Nights by Shira Anthony (Goodreads) (read my review here)
• The Adorned by John Tristan (Goodreads) (read my review here)
• The Prince's Boy by Cecilia Tan (Publisher's site) (read my review here)
• The Ennik Series by Kim Fielding (Goodreads) (read my review here)

Review: The Violet and the Tom by Eve Ocotillo

Genre: Historical, Roman
Elements: BDSM, slavery
Rating:

• Characters - 5 - Each character is unique and real, distinct from each other.
• Setting - 5 - Roman Europe is a fairly unique historical setting, especially as an AU history, where the Empire never fell. Excellent choices.
• Plot - 5 - Though the summary leads you to believe it will be one sort of story, it ends up being something quite different all together.
• Genre Elements - 5 - Both the historical period and the BDSM aspects are very well explored.
• Voice - 5 - Both of the main characters are very distinct in voice, and easily told apart.
• Romance Elements - 5 - The romance here is almost frustrating with how slow it builds, but once it's there, it's undeniable.
• Overall - 5 - One of my all-time favorite stories.

Basic story -
Sylvan is given to a young lord who doesn't want him. What follows is a long period of adjustment for both as they try to adjust to their new life together.

My thoughts -
This story is lovely and rich, and once I'd finished it, I didn't want to leave the world it is set in. The AU Roman setting was intriguing, as I don't read a lot of Roman History romances. I'm sure others exist out there, possibly even with Romance elements, but the AU aspect of it makes this one a little more unique. Really, the alternate history is minor in comparison to the flow of the romance between Sylvan and his owner Nyall.

The slavery is fairly true to Roman times, with a bit of sexual training added to the idea. And when you mix in the BDSM aspects, it's quite fascinating, and something that very much appeals to me. In particular the way the BDSM aspects are the big secret in this story. Especially how the young Lord prefers it. I'll keep that aspect to myself for the readers out there to discover, but trust me, it's a lovely twist on the usual Master/servant story.

Sylvan and Nyall's story as they come together is real and frustrating and beautiful. You feel Sylvan's confusion and upset as Nyall ignores him. And once Nyall starts to accept him, it's so perfect. All you want is for them to come together and be happy with each other, regardless of everything else around them.

The BDSM aspects are perfect. Never once do you get the feeling that either is being coerced or forced into what they do together. Even those moments of hesitance are shown to be a person trying to decide if they want to continue, and not someone unwilling even to try. I highly recommend this one as an interesting primer on BDSM lifestyle.

A very inspiring story, and one I'll go back to often, I think.

Warnings -
Strong BDSM aspects, as well as institutionalized slavery. Also some Romanized aspects of violence, and abuse of slaves.

Overall Recommendation -
Very highly recommended for those interested in BDSM, and for those who like a Roman setting.

Link to the story - The Violet and the Tom (on Fiction Press)
Author Link - Eve Ocotillo (on Goodreads)
If you liked this story, try -

• Slavebreakers by Maculategiraffe (free online) (read my review here)
• Under Contract by Helen Saito  (Goodreads Page) (read my review here)
• Dolls and Seesaws by Menswear (AO3 - unfinished story)
• The Adorned by John Tristan (Goodreads) (read my review here)
• The Quartz Key by Lianne Burwell (Online link) (read my review here)

Review: Stasis/Flux/Equipose by Kim Fielding

Genre: Fantasy, Dystopia (though it also feels like it's only a few notches away from steampunk to me)
Elements: slavery, magic

Rating:

• Characters - 4 - There is a good variety of characters, but most of the story focuses on a very small central cast, specifically the two main characters. They're interesting characters, but it felt like they all could be so much more.
• Setting - 5 - Brilliant world, very different from our own, with a lot of great detail, and many different lands.
• Plot - 5 - Incredibly unique and rich, and I was never sure where it would go next. Excellently written.
• Genre Elements - 5 - The magic is subtle to the world, but integral, and she does an excellent job reminding us that Miner is still classified as a slave, regardless of how Ennik feels about him.
• Voice - 5 - All very incredibly unique and diverse. Especially in the second book, where she deals with a whole new culture with a completely different language.
• Romance Elements - 5 - They are subtle, but they're there, and you truly feel for Ennik and Miner, and want them to succeed.
• Overall - 5 - A high recommendation here. Well worth reading.

Basic story -
Ennik is the second son of the leader of his land, but he has never felt part of the system. The only thing that has ever stuck in his memory is the day he was taken down to see the prisoners in stasis.

My thoughts -
This was the first m/m I actually bought myself, and it was entirely worth it. I can honestly say I've never read anything like it. It's truly unique in the best definition of the word. The idea of the magic, especially as used to keep people in stasis for generations, is quite different.

The world seems to be set in some far-distant dystopian future set in and around San Francisco, or a place in a fantasy world that is very similar to San Francisco. Fielding has done an excellent job of using details from her home city and her travels to give this world far more detail. The Praesidium is one of the most prosperous city states in the land because of its port, which connects them to a greater world than other city states are able to access. In the second book, they travel across the ocean, and visit this world's version of China. Each land is quite unique, and well-detailed, Feilding's sense of detail making them as real as our own world.

Ennik and Miner are fascinating characters. Ennik's journey from lesser son to his own person feels real. From his discovery and rescue of Miner, to learning magic, to their flight from home, each event gives his journey more realism. And Miner's backstory is fascinating and horrifying. Never once does he forget what he was before and what he is during the process of the entire story. I would have loved more details about the other characters, but truly, Ennik and Miner are the center of the story.

Over all, I loved this series. Every moment is fascinating, and it just keeps you reading and rooting for them over the entire series.

Warnings -
Slavery, abuse. Minor, but still there. The slavery is rather significant.

Overall Recommendation -
I recommend this to anyone who enjoys slow love stories and magic. It's a fascinating world, and you will easily fall for Ennik and Miner.
Link to the story - The Ennik series (at Goodreads)
Author Link - Kim Fielding (at Goodreads)
If you liked this story, try -

• The Adorned by John Tristan (Goodreads) (read my review here)
• Under Contract by Helen Saito  (Goodreads Page) (read my review here)
• Slavebreakers by Maculategiraffe (free online) (read my review here)
• Dolls and Seesaws by Menswear (AO3 - unfinished story)
• Undesirable by Velvet Mace (LJ)