Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Captured as a boy when Herra invaded his homeland, Micah realizes that finding his way to freedom in Alekia with his savior and lover Eli was the easier task. They now hide among the Alekites, but battle with Herra looms.

With Eli’s love, Micah must come to terms with his status as a noble and his mother's birthright of witch's blood inside him. The two also face the father Micah cannot forgive and Eli's family, who very much want Eli back as firstborn heir rather than the lowly slave who rescued the king's favorite son.

When court intrigues stir and Herran armies march to war, Micah and Eli must make their stand...or fall as plunder.

WARNING: This book contains graphic sex and violent content.

The first edition was published by Loose Id in August 2012.

Book Review

Where the first book in this series was hard to read for me, due to the gruesome circumstances Prince Micah was exposed to during his enslavement by the Herrans, this sequel, in many ways, was even more difficult for me to deal with. It is a great story, full of confusion as Micah learns to deal with freedom, determination to fight for what he wants, and amazing courage as he decides to face his ex-enslaver and the man who raped him then let his noblemen do the same, King Xerxes. In line with the historical time this novel is set in and the theme, the violence is indeed graphic, and the publisher's warning note is not to be ignored. This is not a book for the fainthearted.

However, having said all that, if you want to "risk" it, the potential for finding this book rewarding is definitely there. I found it extremely fascinating and rewarding because it deals with someone who reacquaints himself with freedom after knowing only slavery between the ages of eight and twenty, someone who also is supposed to be a prince, leading other men, and, in the end, a man who is desperately looking for love and affection from the only other human being he has ever truly loved, his "master" Eli.

Micah is getting to know himself pretty well, and he has gotten better at letting others know what he wants as well. Slavery, or the illusion of it, is still easier for him though, and Eli does his best to coax him out of it. Micah doesn’t like his methods, and I have to say I cannot blame him. Additionally, Micah's father has his own sinister plans to use Micah, never mind what price Micah has to pay or if he is even ready. I had a hard time accepting all of that, but it was great to see that Micah came up with his own plan and, never mind how significant a price he had to pay, he went for it. As tough as it was to read, it showed how far he had come and how much he was his own man, in the end.

Eli is a different matter. Yes, he loves Micah, and he sacrificed his own freedom to be able to protect the prince, but he is also very selfish and way too loyal to his king, who happens to be Micah's father. Eli's family also enters the picture in this book, and not all of them have pure motives, nor do they have Micah's interests in mind. I can't really blame them, except to say that they should accept how much Eli loves him, and be less harsh on Eli.

If you're ready to read the continuation of Micah's harrowing tale only to discover there is more hell ahead of him if he wants his revenge and to keep Eli safe, if you want to find out how it is possible to cope with that much suffering, fear, and horror, and if you're looking for a story that will make you think, and cry, and wonder how we survived as a species with any sort of moral compass mostly intact, then you will probably like this novel. It moved me deeply and Micah will be with me for quite a while.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by the publisher for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Novel, 165 pages/53244 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	07-September-2016
Price	$4.81 ebook
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LRGZ9OC