Book Reviews

Book Blurb

On an earthlike planet ruled by the Elite, a rite called “the Gleaning” is used to select suitable spouses for those of merit. Nico Stamford is a member of the Geisha class. Though he has been trained for marriage all his life, becoming a healer and a priest in the process, all he wants is to cook and open a restaurant. Instead he becomes a candidate for the ritual. He hopes the Goddess will look kindly on him and eliminate him before the final choices are made. Alex DeVrie is a member of the Warrior class who has recently returned triumphant from a clash with an alien enemy. Made a duke of the Sixth Land as a reward, all Alex needs now is a husband. As soon as Alex sets eyes on Nico, he refuses to settle for anyone else.

Tradition says they can part ways after a year and a day. But love begins to grow as they unravel the mystery behind tragic events in the Sixth Land, and they uncover a conspiracy that could change their society.

Book Review

The pairing of a warrior and a priest, in the way I understand these “job descriptions” is an interesting and challenging one to pull off well – after all, both professions have potentially diametrically opposing objectives. But from the start of this book it becomes clear that Alex, a warrior who has been given a dukedom as a reward for winning a war, may have a violent past, but he is now looking to settle down and is in need of a partner with diplomatic skills. Nico is a priest who doesn’t want to be chosen for anything, especially not to become someone’s husband, but it seems he has no choice. In a setting that feels quite feudal, yet is clearly science fiction, their story goes from a tense beginning to an all-out adventure, with new discoveries, conspiracies, and danger around every corner. For me, the best parts of the story were the characters and the sense of humor - this reads like a futuristic romantic comedy with a very serious mystery element, and lots of politics added in.

Nico may be a priest with exceptional healing abilities, but all he wants to be is a chef. When he is selected for the Gleaning, where “deserving” members of society get to choose concubines/partners, Nico thinks it’s a mistake and does his best not to be chosen for each subsequent round. Much to his shock and increasing anger, his deception of being clueless and not very attractive is not working. Once he gets picked by Alex and accompanies him to the new duke’s home, the real Nico begins to emerge, and he is quite capable. He still has lots to learn, and he does, but he is far from the withdrawn “priest” he seems to be in the beginning.

Alex knows how to develop a strategy, win a battle, and keep it up until the war is over. He has been made a duke as a reward, but many of the skills he knows he will need in peace are not in his repertoire. What better solution than to find a man who does have those skills? I’m not sure Alex expected Nico to be quite as competent as he turns out to be, not based on Nico’s behavior at the Gleaning. But something about the young man calls to Alex, and despite their initial problems, they learn to work together once they figure out they have great potential as a team. With the evil plans and dark machinations they soon uncover, it becomes clear they’ll need their wits about them – and then some – if they want to survive.

If you like futuristic adventure stories with a fairy-tale-like feel, if two men who seem opposites but learn to work together pique your interest, and if you’re looking for an epic adventure, courtly intrigue, and a great love story in an unusual setting, then you will probably like this novel.

 

 

 

 

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

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 200 pages/74920 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	26-October-2015
Price	$6.99 ebook, $14.99 paperback, $14.99 bundle
Buy Link	https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/warrior-and-priest-by-katie-howe-4661-b