Title: Brute
Author: Kim Fielding
Genre: m/m fantasy romance
Print length: 270 pages
Publication date: December 3, 2012
Rating: Four Stars
Blurb: Brute leads a lonely life in a world where magic is commonplace. He is seven and a half feet of ugly, and of disreputable descent. No one, including Brute, expects him to be more than a laborer. But heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and when he is maimed while rescuing a prince, Brute’s life changes abruptly. He is summoned to serve at the palace in Tellomer as a guard for a single prisoner. It sounds easy but turns out to be the challenge of his life.
Rumors say the prisoner, Gray Leynham, is a witch and a traitor. What is certain is that he has spent years in misery: blind, chained, and rendered nearly mute by an extreme stutter. And he dreams of people’s deaths—dreams that come true.
As Brute becomes accustomed to palace life and gets to know Gray, he discovers his own worth, first as a friend and a man and then as a lover. But Brute also learns heroes sometimes face difficult choices and that doing what is right can bring danger of its own.
Review:
This was just a fun read. I hold fairy tale-like books to a different standard than ordinary fiction. For one, an extensive imagination on the writer's part is a requirement. Many similar novels will blatantly steal from familiar fairy tales, as if they could possibly improve on the legends. This story felt original in its entirety. The main character was endearing, the fantasy world well drawn. It felt a little too long at one point; perhaps there was too much filler. None the less, I enjoyed it immensely. So much that I refuse to take it apart just to point out small imperfections. As a whole, I would recommend it without hesitation.
Buy it from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Brute-ebook/dp/B00AH8SZL6/ref=cm_cr-mr-img
More titles by Kim Fielding:
Title: Stasis
Author: Kim Fielding
Genre: m/m science fiction/fantasy
Print length: 224 pages
Publication date: December 15, 2009
Overall reviewer rating: Four and a Half Stars
Blurb: Praesidium is the most prosperous city-state in the world, due not only to its location at the mouth of a great bay, but also to its strict laws, stringently enforced. Ordinary criminals become bond-slaves, but the Wizard places traitors in Stasis, a dreamless frozen state.
Ennek is the Chief's younger son. He has grown up without much of a purpose, a man who cannot fulfill his true desires and who skates on the edge of the law. But he is also haunted by the plight of one man, a prisoner for whom Stasis appears to be a truly horrible fate. If Ennek is to save that prisoner, he must explore Praesidium's deepest secrets as well as his own.
More titles by Kim Fielding:
Title: Stasis
Author: Kim Fielding
Genre: m/m science fiction/fantasy
Print length: 224 pages
Publication date: December 15, 2009
Overall reviewer rating: Four and a Half Stars
Blurb: Praesidium is the most prosperous city-state in the world, due not only to its location at the mouth of a great bay, but also to its strict laws, stringently enforced. Ordinary criminals become bond-slaves, but the Wizard places traitors in Stasis, a dreamless frozen state.
Ennek is the Chief's younger son. He has grown up without much of a purpose, a man who cannot fulfill his true desires and who skates on the edge of the law. But he is also haunted by the plight of one man, a prisoner for whom Stasis appears to be a truly horrible fate. If Ennek is to save that prisoner, he must explore Praesidium's deepest secrets as well as his own.
Review by Editing_Gal:
Kim Fielding's novel works on so many levels: emotional, intellectual, and humanitarian. It's a touching male/male love story, as well as an account of self-discovery and reclaiming of personal power.
The main character is the ruler's youngest son, who has neither much direction nor ambition in life. He ends up seeing a prisoner in Stasis -- a magical suspended animation used as punishment for traitors -- and over time develops a desire to release the man.
The society in which the reluctant hero and the released prisoner/slave find themselves is an interesting and effective mix. It blends aspects of past societies with those of the future, and involves some pure fantasy as well. In other hands, this mix could have been messy and ineffective. But Ms. Fielding has done very believable and inspiring things with the setting, plot, and characters.
To say that the plot touches on government control, class oppression, and justice may sound dry, but those threads are so deftly woven into the narrative that they are insightful and moving rather than pedantic or heavy-handed.
The story flows well and is beautifully written. I honestly can't recommend it highly enough. I came to care about the characters, and I hope the author considers a sequel.
The main character is the ruler's youngest son, who has neither much direction nor ambition in life. He ends up seeing a prisoner in Stasis -- a magical suspended animation used as punishment for traitors -- and over time develops a desire to release the man.
The society in which the reluctant hero and the released prisoner/slave find themselves is an interesting and effective mix. It blends aspects of past societies with those of the future, and involves some pure fantasy as well. In other hands, this mix could have been messy and ineffective. But Ms. Fielding has done very believable and inspiring things with the setting, plot, and characters.
To say that the plot touches on government control, class oppression, and justice may sound dry, but those threads are so deftly woven into the narrative that they are insightful and moving rather than pedantic or heavy-handed.
The story flows well and is beautifully written. I honestly can't recommend it highly enough. I came to care about the characters, and I hope the author considers a sequel.
Buy it from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Stasis-ebook/dp/B00359FJCW/ref=pd_sim_kstore_2
If you enjoyed this book, read parts II and III:
Title: Flux
Author: Kim Fielding
Genre: m/m science fiction/fantasy
Print length: 208 pages
Publication date: May 1, 2011
Overall reviewer rating: Four and a Half Stars
Blurb: Ennek, the son of Praesidium’s Chief, has rescued Miner from a terrible fate: suspension in a dreamless frozen state called Stasis, the punishment for traitors. As the two men flee Praesidium by sea, their adventures are only beginning. Although they may be free from the tyranny of their homeland, new difficulties await them as Miner faces the continuing consequences of his slavery and Ennek struggles with controlling his newfound powers as a wizard. In this sequel to Stasis, the fugitives encounter challenges both human and magical as they explore new lands and their deepening relationship with each other.
Review by Jeanne McFeaters:
Though Miner and Ennek escape and flee their homeland, they will encounter new challenges. In book two, Miner and Ennek's relationship grows. Miner is not stuck with the bond-slave collar. The solution of getting it off is with a person who is now in Stasis. Ennek travel to another land and Ennek is learning how to control his new powers as a wizard.
Ennek and Miner meet many new people. But just as in their homeland, not everyone is trustworthy. Miner ends up striking a deal with another wizard out of desperation to save Ennek's life. All he could think about was helping Ennek and they would suffer the consequences later. Ennek and Miner end up in a tiny village with a loving, caring people. Though, the can't stay. They still have to find a way to get the collar off Miner and they have to deal with the wizard who helped Miner.
The new wizard is a tyrant. She claims a peice of land between two nations who are at ends with each other. She gives Ennek two choices, neither very pleasent, for helping them out. Ennek and Miner must travel to one of the nation's to deal with the local leader. Neither Ennek nor Miner wish to hurt anyone if it isn't needed. Ennek is still learning to harness his powers. He drains very easily when he uses them and is frightened of what will become of him.
As Miner and Ennek are facing the new threats, they think about there homeland. They both wish to return to their new homeland to help bring good changes. That is if they are able to survive these the threats?
Ennek and Miner meet many new people. But just as in their homeland, not everyone is trustworthy. Miner ends up striking a deal with another wizard out of desperation to save Ennek's life. All he could think about was helping Ennek and they would suffer the consequences later. Ennek and Miner end up in a tiny village with a loving, caring people. Though, the can't stay. They still have to find a way to get the collar off Miner and they have to deal with the wizard who helped Miner.
The new wizard is a tyrant. She claims a peice of land between two nations who are at ends with each other. She gives Ennek two choices, neither very pleasent, for helping them out. Ennek and Miner must travel to one of the nation's to deal with the local leader. Neither Ennek nor Miner wish to hurt anyone if it isn't needed. Ennek is still learning to harness his powers. He drains very easily when he uses them and is frightened of what will become of him.
As Miner and Ennek are facing the new threats, they think about there homeland. They both wish to return to their new homeland to help bring good changes. That is if they are able to survive these the threats?
Buy it from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Flux-ebook/dp/B004YXLGNY/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1
Title: Equipoise
Author: Kim Fielding
Genre: m/m science fiction/fantasy
Print length: 236 pages
Publication date: January 26, 2012
Overall reviewer rating: Five Stars
Blurb: Ennek, the son of the Chief, and Miner, a former slave, have escaped the totalitarian city-state of Praesidium and remain fugitives. Having defeated two mighty wizards, they begin to realize that complete freedom can be as dangerous as absolute power. In this final book in the trilogy that began with Stasis and continued with Flux, Ennek and Miner face battles, corruption, and further journeys through lands both new and familiar. As they grow more secure in their relationship with one other, they're also learning that the greatest challenges sometimes come from very close to the heart and that everything of value has a price. With the help of a few allies, they seek equipoise—a balance for themselves and for their world.
Review by Kirsten:
It was worth all the waiting time to read this third part of this wonderful trilogy. A trilogy thrilling written about love, friendship, magic and all emotions you can wish for a great novel!
I especially loved that even old enemies could change and be friends again and old friends are there for Miner and Ennek. They support them and this novell has great characters. Ennek's and Miner's love to each other is endless, great and they were able to keep their love for each other caused by their selflessness. They come out from every adventure stronger in their love and even closer to each other.
Ennek and Miner are two heros. I'm a bit sad that this was their last adventure. I hope for more. At least I'm sure there will be more of Kim Fielding and that's a reassuring thought.
Thank you Kim Fielding for the great time you gave me with all your lovely characters (and the evil one) in this wonderful Trilogy.
Buy it on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Equipoise-ebook/dp/B0072IT7WU/ref=la_B006FN2T78_1_5_title_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1368055372&sr=1-5
No comments:
Post a Comment