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tristinbooks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kzimm2024's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars. So close to being a favorite, rants at the end of the review. This book is a long read, M/M, not historically accurate but well written so I decided to take my time with it. The chemistry between these two is nuclear, one of my updates was just "wow".
We meet Harry, I love his candor:
"Finally, Harry thinks as sleep overtakes him, finally he’s going to be where the action is... (next day)
The action is horrible."
Harry meets the Boy:
"The boy spits, hitting Harry in the cheek. ‘You killed my family. I will kill every one of you.’
Harry uses his free hand – the one that isn’t gripping the boy’s bicep against his next escape attempt – to wipe the saliva from his face. He sighs, and changes tack.
‘I’m Harry. What’s your name?’
The boy laughs, sharp and hollow. ‘You killed them all and you don’t even know my name. Fuck you. Death. That’s my name.’"
(Funny how I just now realize that "My name is Death" comes in to play later.)
Harry is charged with taking Iain home and keeping him "safe", more like under lock and key to be used as a pawn later. But Harry doesn't roll that way.
As Harry tries to integrate him into his household:
"Harry hears Ralf stride up beside him, and glances up at the big blacksmith.
‘Thanks for standing by today.’
‘My pleasure,’ Ralf says, his eyes on Iain’s back.
His next words are a whisper. ‘He’s determined to hate you.’
‘I know,’ Harry breathes.
‘And he’s furious with himself that he’s failing,’ the blacksmith continues."
There is some fun dialogue between them throughout the story:
"As he scratches her bristly nose, he says, ‘You know my palfrey, Star.’
‘Well, not personally,’ Iain says."
Iain has no regard for his safety and runs, but is caught and viciously returned to Harry:
‘Why can’t you just hate me?’ Iain sobs under his breath. ‘It would be so much easier.’
‘Save your energy,’ Harry says. ‘We can fight tomorrow. Right now we have to rinse those scrapes out with vinegar before they fester. You’ve brought half the moor home with you.’
Harry, his poor horse:
Harry dismounts, shaking with anger.
He straddles the ditch and pulls Iain out by his hair until they’re face to face.
Iain visibly blanches at Harry’s expression of fury. ‘Do. Not. Ever. Stab. My. Horse. Again,’
Harry growls, glaring at the wet, muddy boy. ‘I don’t mind you trying to escape, but think up better plans.’
and "All he wanted was less stabbing, and no more running away." :)
Eventually, they fall in love and boy, what a love it is. Graphic, forbidden sex scenes (some ick moments with the germ police). Harry had always wanted a comrade, he had been raised with no friends his age and longed for that connection. It doesn't seem like Harry struggled with his sexual identity before Iain, since he didn't seek out anyone but Iain, so he loved the person Iain was (who was definitely bi) rather than the gender.
Iain has realistic reasons for going with boys. They were safe, rather than risk an unfortunate pregnancy with a girl. And that he felt he could be killed at any time and wanted to experience everything in life before a death that could come at any time.
They spend time going to tournaments and competing and I found that interesting yet filler as it builds the story. They meet foes and friends and eventually Alys comes along. They make a match solves a lot of problems.
Next comes a separation: I understand why the author needed a reason for Harry and Iain to part so the rest of the story could play out, that the reason for parting had to be good enough. It still hurt!
2 things that bothered me: Harry, as a 19 year old man, is NOT a good communicator. Shocker. Iain, a 17? 18? year old "boy", is not a good communicator either. They could have saved some betrayal if they had just talked! Also, years and years apart and Alys paid a price for that with Harry.
We follow Harry as he loses himself to grief and war for a few years
"Harry is glad he is riding to war. He badly wants to harm a lot of things."
before surprise- we get an HEA. I would have loved a longer epilogue. I feel like the whole long war and vendetta was wrapped up fast at the end and we get a glimpse of what their new normal life might look like but I definitely felt like it was an abrupt ending.
We meet Harry, I love his candor:
"Finally, Harry thinks as sleep overtakes him, finally he’s going to be where the action is... (next day)
The action is horrible."
Harry meets the Boy:
"The boy spits, hitting Harry in the cheek. ‘You killed my family. I will kill every one of you.’
Harry uses his free hand – the one that isn’t gripping the boy’s bicep against his next escape attempt – to wipe the saliva from his face. He sighs, and changes tack.
‘I’m Harry. What’s your name?’
The boy laughs, sharp and hollow. ‘You killed them all and you don’t even know my name. Fuck you. Death. That’s my name.’"
(Funny how I just now realize that "My name is Death" comes in to play later.)
Harry is charged with taking Iain home and keeping him "safe", more like under lock and key to be used as a pawn later. But Harry doesn't roll that way.
As Harry tries to integrate him into his household:
"Harry hears Ralf stride up beside him, and glances up at the big blacksmith.
‘Thanks for standing by today.’
‘My pleasure,’ Ralf says, his eyes on Iain’s back.
His next words are a whisper. ‘He’s determined to hate you.’
‘I know,’ Harry breathes.
‘And he’s furious with himself that he’s failing,’ the blacksmith continues."
There is some fun dialogue between them throughout the story:
"As he scratches her bristly nose, he says, ‘You know my palfrey, Star.’
‘Well, not personally,’ Iain says."
Iain has no regard for his safety and runs, but is caught and viciously returned to Harry:
‘Why can’t you just hate me?’ Iain sobs under his breath. ‘It would be so much easier.’
‘Save your energy,’ Harry says. ‘We can fight tomorrow. Right now we have to rinse those scrapes out with vinegar before they fester. You’ve brought half the moor home with you.’
Harry, his poor horse:
Harry dismounts, shaking with anger.
He straddles the ditch and pulls Iain out by his hair until they’re face to face.
Iain visibly blanches at Harry’s expression of fury. ‘Do. Not. Ever. Stab. My. Horse. Again,’
Harry growls, glaring at the wet, muddy boy. ‘I don’t mind you trying to escape, but think up better plans.’
and "All he wanted was less stabbing, and no more running away." :)
Eventually, they fall in love and boy, what a love it is. Graphic, forbidden sex scenes (some ick moments with the germ police). Harry had always wanted a comrade, he had been raised with no friends his age and longed for that connection. It doesn't seem like Harry struggled with his sexual identity before Iain, since he didn't seek out anyone but Iain, so he loved the person Iain was (who was definitely bi) rather than the gender.
Iain has realistic reasons for going with boys. They were safe, rather than risk an unfortunate pregnancy with a girl. And that he felt he could be killed at any time and wanted to experience everything in life before a death that could come at any time.
They spend time going to tournaments and competing and I found that interesting yet filler as it builds the story. They meet foes and friends and eventually Alys comes along. They make a match solves a lot of problems.
Next comes a separation: I understand why the author needed a reason for Harry and Iain to part so the rest of the story could play out, that the reason for parting had to be good enough. It still hurt!
2 things that bothered me: Harry, as a 19 year old man, is NOT a good communicator. Shocker. Iain, a 17? 18? year old "boy", is not a good communicator either. They could have saved some betrayal if they had just talked! Also, years and years apart and Alys paid a price for that with Harry.
We follow Harry as he loses himself to grief and war for a few years
"Harry is glad he is riding to war. He badly wants to harm a lot of things."
before surprise- we get an HEA. I would have loved a longer epilogue. I feel like the whole long war and vendetta was wrapped up fast at the end and we get a glimpse of what their new normal life might look like but I definitely felt like it was an abrupt ending.
coffeeintherain's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars
Almost dnfed it due to the excessive and anachronistic sex scenes, but it turned out to be very good in the end.
Almost dnfed it due to the excessive and anachronistic sex scenes, but it turned out to be very good in the end.
jillipaige's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Once I picked up this book - I could not put it down! The plot and the overall love story pulled me in! I loved the two main characters journey and the surprise revenge twist! The ending was great too and I really liked the pace of the book!
booksbutmakeitgay's review against another edition
There’s too much lying by omission, lack of communication, hate towards the main characters and minor character for being queer, and I should have read more about it being a captor/captee story, because that power dynamic does not work for me at all.
drakoulis's review against another edition
5.0
A beautiful historical romance !
Nineteen year-old squire Harry Lyon is dreaming of chivalrous glory in the war in Scotland, and of the riches he will bring back to help his mother's estate in Devon. Sadly, his mother passes away days before the campaign, and when Harry reaches the battlefield, the battle is over; the English have won, but Harry's mentor, Sir Simon, is dead.
Harry is unexpectedly knighted by the young King Edward III, after the latter is encouraged by the shady Baron Montagu and his vassal, Rabbie. Harry accompanies Montagu's small squad in an undercover mission deep in Scotland, where they abduct an almost-starved young man - and kill the rest.
The wild Scot is given to Harry as a squire - and Harry is both satisfied (because the brutality of the other men sickens him) and apalled. What will he do with someone who doesn't want to be there and will run at every chance he has?
Iain, the seventeen-year old Scot, though, is not what Harry expected. He is educated, he speaks French and Latin, he charms the house staff, and Harry himself. Harry stats being fond of Iaian, and fondness becomes something deeper....
As Harry and Iain navigate their feelings, a political game of spies and deception evolves in England and France, and they get dragged in the middle of it. They'll soon realize what's most important for them and fight for it no matter the consequences.
This book is amazing and I hope more people find it !
If you love a steamy romance and historical fiction in 13th century Britain, it's for you too !!
Nineteen year-old squire Harry Lyon is dreaming of chivalrous glory in the war in Scotland, and of the riches he will bring back to help his mother's estate in Devon. Sadly, his mother passes away days before the campaign, and when Harry reaches the battlefield, the battle is over; the English have won, but Harry's mentor, Sir Simon, is dead.
Harry is unexpectedly knighted by the young King Edward III, after the latter is encouraged by the shady Baron Montagu and his vassal, Rabbie. Harry accompanies Montagu's small squad in an undercover mission deep in Scotland, where they abduct an almost-starved young man - and kill the rest.
The wild Scot is given to Harry as a squire - and Harry is both satisfied (because the brutality of the other men sickens him) and apalled. What will he do with someone who doesn't want to be there and will run at every chance he has?
Iain, the seventeen-year old Scot, though, is not what Harry expected. He is educated, he speaks French and Latin, he charms the house staff, and Harry himself. Harry stats being fond of Iaian, and fondness becomes something deeper....
As Harry and Iain navigate their feelings, a political game of spies and deception evolves in England and France, and they get dragged in the middle of it. They'll soon realize what's most important for them and fight for it no matter the consequences.
Spoiler
What's most important for them is each other, the story has a happy ending :)This book is amazing and I hope more people find it !
If you love a steamy romance and historical fiction in 13th century Britain, it's for you too !!
the_bookish_escape's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I would definitely recommend listening to it, the voice actor does a great job (and it’s on Spotify)
It’s a wonderful story about love, friendship and grief. I really liked the spicy bits and development between the couple. They are very different and loveable in their own way. The Scottish boy is the perfect mix of comfort read, slow burn, twists and challenges. In my rating I’m in between 4,25 and 4,5 Stars. The ending is poorly written. Suddenly the story is lacking the crucial complexity of war experiences and family dynamics/ duties.
It seems like the author was losing interest towards the end and just wanted to end the novel as quickly as possible. A shame, I think the possibility of discussing named topics could make the Scottish boy a book that is more than mere entertainment.
- Spoiler-
Harry becomes a father and not once thinks of his children while he is away, didn’t even MENTIONS them to Iain when they meet again? For me that’s just not realistic.
It’s a wonderful story about love, friendship and grief. I really liked the spicy bits and development between the couple. They are very different and loveable in their own way. The Scottish boy is the perfect mix of comfort read, slow burn, twists and challenges. In my rating I’m in between 4,25 and 4,5 Stars. The ending is poorly written. Suddenly the story is lacking the crucial complexity of war experiences and family dynamics/ duties.
It seems like the author was losing interest towards the end and just wanted to end the novel as quickly as possible. A shame, I think the possibility of discussing named topics could make the Scottish boy a book that is more than mere entertainment.
- Spoiler-
Harry becomes a father and not once thinks of his children while he is away, didn’t even MENTIONS them to Iain when they meet again? For me that’s just not realistic.
chicklettime's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
thespaceraider's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
noahhawthorne's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0