Rainbow Book Reviews
A lord too drunk to know what’s going on, his loyal servant who has been in love with him for years, and a Mercenary (yes, capital M) who has been hired to protect the lord meet for an adventure with an outcome no one suspects. They have to face challenges and threats, need to figure out what to do with their attraction, and decide which future to choose. This story is an adventure of the swashbuckling kind set in the fictional province of Eyvindar, and with just a touch of magic added to the mix, it is quite entertaining. Lord Hark is the heir to the province’s governor, his uncle, but he is not happy about it. He’s a warrior by choice and prefers fighting to negotiating trade deals. He has sort of lost his way and is so drunk most of the time that he doesn’t even see the threat to his life. Alisander has been Hark’s squire since he was fifteen, but he is twenty-one now and in love with Hark. He knows nothing can ever come of it, since he is “only” a servant, but he is steadfast in his support of Hark. When Alisander meets and is attracted to Cax, he suddenly realizes the opportunity to get away from his hopeless situation with Hark, as well as potential for a fulfilling relationship. Cax is a Mercenary through and through, and he has some interesting “extra” capabilities. He is honorable to the core, so even though he is attracted to both Alisander and Hark, he does not plan to act on his feelings. Fate has different ideas for the three men. As they discover Hark’s enemy, discover their attraction goes three ways, and survive various obstacles thrown in their way, it becomes clear they need to find a way to be together. If you like sword-carrying heroes, if strong men who fall for each other is your thing, and if you’re looking for an entertaining read set in a “faraway” province, then you might like this novella.