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shrimpflavor's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
A deliciously devilish little read. I really enjoyed it, I knew nothing about the Crimean war, but I found it pretty fascinating. There were only a few times the war and tactical descriptions had me zoning out. The spice was perfectly tasty, the characters really charming and with great chemistry, and the historical setting was interesting. A great read if you like Natasha Pulley's ouvre (I liked this even more than her work)
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Gore
marzi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
leelah's review against another edition
4.0
If there is one trend in genre I love it gained more steam lately it's this historical romance with paranormal elements mash up. :)
Historical setting of [b:The Devil Lancer|20551629|The Devil Lancer|Astrid Amara|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1389755262s/20551629.jpg|38135412] is not very common to come across in fiction, especially of romantic kind. It covers the events of The Crimean War (October 1853 – February 1856), war Britain and allies fought against Russia. I had to mention setting first because the harsh soldier life left the biggest impression on me. There is actually very few large action sequences like battles which I love to read usually, but in this book it's the camaraderie, mud, pitiful conditions soldiers were as they were marching toward Sevastopol through turkish land and incompetence of their superior officers what grabbed my attention. Clearly, Amara did her research- it was written so good and detailed it became an integral part of main plot.
Our characters are soldiers in her Majesty's service, part of 17th Lancers regiment. Elliot Parrish is a cavalry officer and Ilyas Kovakin is a cornet. Elliot is a proper english gentleman with excellent social skills, but the best thing about him is his positive attitude and bravery. He is attracted to lonely soldier everyone avoids like plague because they think he is cursed and who often goes on mysterious assignments out of camp. Elliot has definitely the best lines in novel and I loved the way he was thinking- he has strong sense of duty, but he's not compromising his morals, so he juggles between his feelings and his orders and he does it masterly. One of my favorite things was also a great relationship he has with his best friend Henry. It was so genuine and real and as best friends in novels go, Henry was great, he was not just there to establish Elliot's virtues, he was a strong side character on his own.
Ilyas is british on mother's side, but his father is Russian, so he is somewhat of a black sheep in regiment. He is also possessed by demon with terrible hunger for violence and blood. Character of Ilyas is deeply tortured- he is blackmailed to work for british intelligence and he constantly fights for control with demon inside of him, so he is not easy to be around. We are a lot in his head, since before he gets closer to Elliot he is really lonely and nobody talks to him. Bloodthirsty demon on top of general misery of war doesn't make him very cheerful guy.
As Elliot's and Ilyas's attraction grows to something more they are joined together in a fight against evil that gives enemy on the other side powers of destruction and immortality.
Fantasy plot was pretty interesting. I actually thought it's sardonic paranormal element is of "unholy, ungodly" kind since Crimean War had religious dispute as casus belli. :) I especially liked the different ways demon possession changed Ilyas's life- some changes were evident like mental control, but other were more subtle like the fact snakes were drawn to him. In that way possession acted like a disease, slowly consuming his mind and body. Very cool.
Romance was just great. Sex scenes were hot and steamy, but I liked it because there was no stupid misunderstandings and lack of communication. Once they became an item, they were on the same side, together discussing everything and making plans.
Stars were chucked off because plot was stalling in some parts... especially in chapters prior Elliot and Ilyas made a stronger connection, beyond just a soldier and his superior. Also some actions of villain I found illogical and inconsistent with his character.
Spoiler
when he let Ilyas go back to camp after he refused to swear loyalty to Eris.All in all, great read.
pam_h's review against another edition
3.0
I thought the paranormal plot worked well, but man was this bleak. The Crimean War is not something we learn much (if anything??) about in American schools, so mostly I was just blown away by the amount of people dying for no other reason than horrifyingly incompetent leadership. It kind of overshadowed everything else for me, even though I really liked the slow-burn romance.
alisonalisonalison's review
5.0
I never reviewed this because I read it in the days before I wrote reviews, but I felt inspired today to write something and say that this is an amazing, brilliant book. Astrid Amara completely knocks it out of the park with this one. It's a Crimean War romance with a fantasy twist and it's absolutely brilliant. This is a big meaty book about the horrors of the Crimean War, but it's also very much a love story and that romance is so lovely and magical. This book is vivid and rich and intense and well researched and full of depth and like nothing I've ever read. Elliott and Ilyas are wonderful and fascinating characters who earn their HEA the really hard way--through surviving the Crimean War. Historical fantasy is arguably my favourite genre of all and this is one of my favourites. It's fascinating and completely compelling. Astrid Amara writes such stunning spec fic ([b:The Archer's Heart|3876546|The Archer's Heart|Astrid Amara|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1395589824s/3876546.jpg|3921786]! [b:Song of the Navigator|24744875|Song of the Navigator|Astrid Amara|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1422530083s/24744875.jpg|44373569]!) and it's always such a treat to read. I read this almost exactly four years ago according to GR, and it's still reasonably fresh in my mind after all that time because it made such an impression. I think I should re-read this, and soon.
kaje_harper's review against another edition
4.0
This book melds two of my favorite genres, a fascinating historical set in the mismanaged debacle that was the Crimean war, and a paranormal fantasy with some bite to it.
The war dominates the landscape, and the day-to-day lives of the two main characters. Elliott is a Captain of the British Lancers, a good horseman, a good man, and a decent leader. Unfortunately he's under the command of the same oblivious, petty, wasteful and inept leadership as everyone else in that battle zone. It's impossible not to feel for him - not to ache and rage, and recognize the huge losses that come when a wealthy leadership plays petty power games with the lives of those they control.
Elliott has to hold back his men when they might have saved other soldiers from slaughter, and then send them forward on futile charges under heavy fire with no good objective. He has to watch his subordinates and his friends (and his beloved horses) die of cholera, of wounds gone bad, and freezing, and starvation, while the top brass retire to their luxury quarters to complain about the quality of their beef. He hangs onto the shreds of a belief that following orders is a point of honor and that somehow, someone will get it right enough to bring them through this horror of a war.
The author made me feel the despair, the bitter cold, the aching bones when men and horses are asked to go beyond their strength. There's an amazing strength in Elliott, who maintains his integrity despite the conditions and who has an open heart and mind. He at least also has a good friend from childhood - Henry - and a fine horse, and a young servant boy who does his best. And his secret and best consolation, and most puzzling enigma, becomes Ilyas.
Ilyas is half British, half Russian, once a bandit of sorts in the company of his Russian half-brother and friends. Until a chance encounter infected the whole bandit company with demons. Ilyas was left for dead, and tried to escape via Britain. But his demon self was considered a potential tool of war, and his mother was quickly taken as a hostage for his good behavior by the British high command. Now he's trapped between the ravening demands of the demon growing stronger within him, the pull of his brother's company amid the enemy, and the British Army's orders to locate more demons for their use.
The only thing that still makes him feel human, and in some kind of control, is his attraction to a good-natured, handsome, blond English Captain. He should fight that attraction with all his might. All he can bring Elliott is danger - danger from the demon getting loose, danger from the men Ilyas must deal with, danger of being caught in the act of sodomy. And yet, he can't make himself walk away from the only person who sparks the man he once was inside his demon-possessed soul.
This book was fascinating, gripping and intense. The picture of men at war was bleak and real - all too familiar a situation. The resolution was satisfying, despite losses along the way. I had a bit of a format issue with the B&N copy, and much appreciate the author eventually sending me a free replacement for it. I recommend this for readers who appreciate both authentic historical settings, and a dark paranormal with a happy ending.
The war dominates the landscape, and the day-to-day lives of the two main characters. Elliott is a Captain of the British Lancers, a good horseman, a good man, and a decent leader. Unfortunately he's under the command of the same oblivious, petty, wasteful and inept leadership as everyone else in that battle zone. It's impossible not to feel for him - not to ache and rage, and recognize the huge losses that come when a wealthy leadership plays petty power games with the lives of those they control.
Elliott has to hold back his men when they might have saved other soldiers from slaughter, and then send them forward on futile charges under heavy fire with no good objective. He has to watch his subordinates and his friends (and his beloved horses) die of cholera, of wounds gone bad, and freezing, and starvation, while the top brass retire to their luxury quarters to complain about the quality of their beef. He hangs onto the shreds of a belief that following orders is a point of honor and that somehow, someone will get it right enough to bring them through this horror of a war.
The author made me feel the despair, the bitter cold, the aching bones when men and horses are asked to go beyond their strength. There's an amazing strength in Elliott, who maintains his integrity despite the conditions and who has an open heart and mind. He at least also has a good friend from childhood - Henry - and a fine horse, and a young servant boy who does his best. And his secret and best consolation, and most puzzling enigma, becomes Ilyas.
Ilyas is half British, half Russian, once a bandit of sorts in the company of his Russian half-brother and friends. Until a chance encounter infected the whole bandit company with demons. Ilyas was left for dead, and tried to escape via Britain. But his demon self was considered a potential tool of war, and his mother was quickly taken as a hostage for his good behavior by the British high command. Now he's trapped between the ravening demands of the demon growing stronger within him, the pull of his brother's company amid the enemy, and the British Army's orders to locate more demons for their use.
The only thing that still makes him feel human, and in some kind of control, is his attraction to a good-natured, handsome, blond English Captain. He should fight that attraction with all his might. All he can bring Elliott is danger - danger from the demon getting loose, danger from the men Ilyas must deal with, danger of being caught in the act of sodomy. And yet, he can't make himself walk away from the only person who sparks the man he once was inside his demon-possessed soul.
This book was fascinating, gripping and intense. The picture of men at war was bleak and real - all too familiar a situation. The resolution was satisfying, despite losses along the way. I had a bit of a format issue with the B&N copy, and much appreciate the author eventually sending me a free replacement for it. I recommend this for readers who appreciate both authentic historical settings, and a dark paranormal with a happy ending.
the_novel_approach's review against another edition
4.0
Author Astrid Amara proves two things with this novel:
1.) I knew nothing about the Crimean War before I started reading it
2.) Contrary to the disrespect frequently lobbed at the romance genre by some people for being vacuous fluff, those people should read this book and then enjoy being wrong
The saying “war is hell” applies to The Devil Lancer, though it doesn’t necessarily apply to the act of battle itself. While Amara admits to taking certain liberties with dates and the timing of certain events for the sake of her storytelling, what remains authentic is the descriptions of the setting, the conditions under which the men served, the hardships they and their horses suffered, and that the Ottoman alliance against the Russian Empire was woefully and grossly mismanaged, to the point that the story was frequently eloquent in its pathos. Cholera, dysentery, and outright starvation beleaguered the troops, a majority of whom didn’t die of battle wounds but of disease and the lack of food. Amara paints every scene in substantive detail to allow readers to become immersed in sympathy for what the characters were enduring for the sake of their service and loyalty to the cause, and she does it while introducing a relationship that is far from the norm.
The devil in The Devil Lancer isn’t figurative. It isn’t a metaphor for a soldier who is fierce in battle or who is being tormented by the horrors of war. These are literal demons that influence this story. They are named and they are being pursued as weapons of war. And it is a demon, Kydoimos, that has taken up residence under Ilyas Kovakin’s skin. A demon which Captain Elliott Parrish is determined to exorcise. What begins as Elliott being ordered to spy on the spy, evolves into something more. Elliott inadvertently becomes a champion in the fight to save Ilyas’ very being; the true battle that between loving someone and the prospect of losing them to something that seems impossible to defeat, a foe that fights dirty, is older than time, and has the advantage of power and to instill fear in its enemies. And caught between the battle for survival, serving with honor and dignity, and attending to this man who is at once tender and passionate, but who also simmers with a nearly uncontrollable rage and fights his demon for control, Elliott must reconnoiter, calculate his odds, and strategize when he realizes where his true loyalty lies—with Ilyas.
The devil is in the details, as the saying goes, and it applies in Elliott and Ilyas’ quest. There are scenes of intense action, although I wouldn’t call the story action-packed. There are deeply romantic scenes between Elliot and Ilyas, but I wouldn’t call this novel a strict category romance. It’s a historical novel, it’s a paranormal fantasy, it’s a blend of military fact and fiction, and tying all of it together, what is intrinsic to its success, is the hope that Elliott and Ilyas will defy the odds and overcome the almost insurmountable fight they face. The end is, without a doubt, deeply romantic.
Colorful characters, evocative detailing, and more than a bit of history go hand-in-hand with the mythology that completes the story and delivers an entertaining read.
1.) I knew nothing about the Crimean War before I started reading it
2.) Contrary to the disrespect frequently lobbed at the romance genre by some people for being vacuous fluff, those people should read this book and then enjoy being wrong
The saying “war is hell” applies to The Devil Lancer, though it doesn’t necessarily apply to the act of battle itself. While Amara admits to taking certain liberties with dates and the timing of certain events for the sake of her storytelling, what remains authentic is the descriptions of the setting, the conditions under which the men served, the hardships they and their horses suffered, and that the Ottoman alliance against the Russian Empire was woefully and grossly mismanaged, to the point that the story was frequently eloquent in its pathos. Cholera, dysentery, and outright starvation beleaguered the troops, a majority of whom didn’t die of battle wounds but of disease and the lack of food. Amara paints every scene in substantive detail to allow readers to become immersed in sympathy for what the characters were enduring for the sake of their service and loyalty to the cause, and she does it while introducing a relationship that is far from the norm.
The devil in The Devil Lancer isn’t figurative. It isn’t a metaphor for a soldier who is fierce in battle or who is being tormented by the horrors of war. These are literal demons that influence this story. They are named and they are being pursued as weapons of war. And it is a demon, Kydoimos, that has taken up residence under Ilyas Kovakin’s skin. A demon which Captain Elliott Parrish is determined to exorcise. What begins as Elliott being ordered to spy on the spy, evolves into something more. Elliott inadvertently becomes a champion in the fight to save Ilyas’ very being; the true battle that between loving someone and the prospect of losing them to something that seems impossible to defeat, a foe that fights dirty, is older than time, and has the advantage of power and to instill fear in its enemies. And caught between the battle for survival, serving with honor and dignity, and attending to this man who is at once tender and passionate, but who also simmers with a nearly uncontrollable rage and fights his demon for control, Elliott must reconnoiter, calculate his odds, and strategize when he realizes where his true loyalty lies—with Ilyas.
The devil is in the details, as the saying goes, and it applies in Elliott and Ilyas’ quest. There are scenes of intense action, although I wouldn’t call the story action-packed. There are deeply romantic scenes between Elliot and Ilyas, but I wouldn’t call this novel a strict category romance. It’s a historical novel, it’s a paranormal fantasy, it’s a blend of military fact and fiction, and tying all of it together, what is intrinsic to its success, is the hope that Elliott and Ilyas will defy the odds and overcome the almost insurmountable fight they face. The end is, without a doubt, deeply romantic.
Colorful characters, evocative detailing, and more than a bit of history go hand-in-hand with the mythology that completes the story and delivers an entertaining read.
pyrojack's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Death, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, and War
Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Colonisation, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Rape, and Vomit
kjcharles's review
5.0
God damn, that hit the spot.
Excellent historical setting, really vivid and well realised and so compelling on the incredible stupidity with which the Crimean War was conducted. Terrific fantasy elements, really scary at points. A tender romance (weirdly enough, since one guy was possessed by a devil, but hey, it worked) with some very hot moments.
That was basically *exactly* what I wanted to read right at this moment. And I read it. Win!
The pacing could have been a tad tighter - it's a big book, it could take it - and I'd have been tempted to cut the epilogue, but on this scale of hugely readable historical fantasy, I'm nitpicking. I really went for this.
Excellent historical setting, really vivid and well realised and so compelling on the incredible stupidity with which the Crimean War was conducted. Terrific fantasy elements, really scary at points. A tender romance (weirdly enough, since one guy was possessed by a devil, but hey, it worked) with some very hot moments.
That was basically *exactly* what I wanted to read right at this moment. And I read it. Win!
The pacing could have been a tad tighter - it's a big book, it could take it - and I'd have been tempted to cut the epilogue, but on this scale of hugely readable historical fantasy, I'm nitpicking. I really went for this.
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