Title: Casto
Series: Gods of War # 1
Author: Xenia Melzer
Genre: Fantasy
Length: Novel (294 pages)
Publisher: DsP Publications (June 21, 2016)
Heat Level: Low – Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 3 ½ Hearts
Blurb: All is fair in love and war. Renaldo has lived happily by that proverb his entire life. But he has finally met his match, and he’s about to discover how unfair love and war can be.
When demigod and warlord Lord Renaldo takes a beautiful stranger captive during an ambush, he is delighted to have found a distraction that will keep him entertained during the upcoming siege. Little does he know, Casto is keeping more than just one secret from him. Slowly, Renaldo gets sucked into a turbulent roller-coaster relationship with his mysterious prisoner, one that begins with hatred and soon spirals into a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. And when it seems that things can get no worse, an old enemy stirs right in the heart of his home.
Determined to keep Casto by his side, Renaldo has to find a balance between the capricious young man and his own destiny as a ruler and god to his people.
ISBN: 978-1-63476-838-2
Product Link: https://www.dsppublications.com/books/casto-by-xenia-melzer-265-b
Reviewer: Shorty
Review: I loved the fantasy and mythology throughout this book. It’s about two brothers who were created only to have something happen and have their hearts removed. According to a prophecy if the ones they are meant to be with find them again then they will get their hearts back though they won’t be as powerful.
Renoldo has yet to find his heart. His attitude certainly has a lot to do with that. I have to say one of the things that confused me was Casto and Renaldo’s so called relationship, as when Casto is first captured he is sixteen. I felt the master/slave factor was all there was to the relationship.
I did not feel that Casto and Renaldo had a real relationship at all. I loved Casto. He thinks for himself and does not let Renaldo push him around when he does not agree with him. There were so many characters and POV’s that at times I was lost in what exactly was happening.
I loved the banter between Casto and Renaldo. I enjoyed the witty, sarcastic comments from both and found myself laughing when they fought.
All in all it was an o.k. read.