Wednesday, November 14, 2012

THE EAGLE'S SCHEME by Missouri Dalton




Publisher: Torquere Press
Date published: 9/19/12
ISBN: NA
Gay Romance, Fantasy Romance
E-book
Reviewed by Helen
Obtained via publisher


 

The king sends Joslin, one of his knights, alone to the north to discover what has happened to a missing knight. Joslin and her partner, another knight, Victory, usually do everything together, but Joslin has to obey the king even though she has doubts about his actions. There follows an adventure as she discovers what has been done to the kingdom and the people.

Although Joslin and Victory are lesbian partners there is no on-the-page sex, just some sweet romance, as they are parted for the bulk of the story. This leaves more word count for characterization and story, and both are excellent. For such an extremely short length there are a lot of characters: the king, the missing knight, the bad guy, the good guy, as well as Joslin and Victory and even Joslin’s horse, Coral. Some are more fully drawn than others, but all are real and engaging. The reader will definitely cheer with the good guys and quake with the bad guys. The story is also well done, especially considering the brief length. There is adventure, drama, danger and plot and counterplot, which is amazing. The world building is clear and consistent but understated, more a matter of the reader picturing a standard medieval/fantasy-type world, sketched in with brief descriptions, such as the smell of earth, trees, home. Or the mention of sweat and heat, or cold stone and iron stoves, cleverly letting the reader’s imagination fill the gaps as she wishes.
Clever, just a bit different, and certain to keep the reader scrolling down to the very last page.
Some funky, messed up formatting, was annoying but not enough to stop me reading.


This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.










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