Title: In the Darkness
Author: Charles Edward
Genre: LGBT Medieval Fantasy
Length: Novel
Publisher: Loose Id
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: Gareth is his parents’ dirty secret: Cursed with a demonic appearance, he has always been in hiding just to stay alive. He must never be seen or his family will die. But when a violent attack endangers a local youth — whom Gareth adores from the shadows — there is no one else to help, and Gareth is driven to risk everything to save him.
Now the young man, Evin, wants to know more about this terrifying and beautiful stranger. Where did he come from? Is he a demon, or something more? They begin to meet in the darkness, becoming friends and then lovers. Evin’s sexual exploration and adoration of every part of Gareth’s strange body erase fear and self-loathing; and Gareth’s enthusiasm and prowess make every tryst more powerful, more deliriously sensual than the last.
But there is a purpose to Gareth’s existence, and when it is revealed, Evin and Gareth will be enslaved by rivals, separated to end up on opposite sides of a war. Evin will be forced to play a dangerous role: One which may make him Gareth’s destroyer.
Publisher’s Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: male/male sexual practices, violence.
Review: Yay!!! Medieval type fantasy… yay yay ha ha woo woo… (Sorry little happy dance there couldn’t control myself). Okay, so out of all the genres in the world this is my favorite type, as the author can really let themselves go with their imaginations. Sword’s, armor, shields, evil nobles, downtrodden peasants, magic, heroic men, evil monster’s, etc. Etc. Etc. Because really, there is so much to choose from. Now sometimes it works… and sometimes it doesn’t. Some authors lose track of where they are going with the story or add too many detail’s or plots or people. But this author doesn’t miss a trick.
Gareth is sweet, naïve and bullied by his parents. Evin is trying to get through life as a peasant, who is being blackmailed and mistreated by the mayor’s son. As these two get to know each other you can’t but help cheer them on. They are about to embark on a journey that will separate them and see them re-united in a heart rendering way. At one point I really couldn’t see how the author could bring them back together, and then I thought all was lost.
Charles Edward, I salute you. This story has it all and your imagination is something to admire because the ending was inspired.
So what would I recommend? If you like fantasy, magic, Medieval, a wicked Queen, an evil Sorcerer (a wizard if you want), re-growing limbs!!! (Yeah I know!) hot and kinky sex (really I think some men will be jealous of Gareth) and a storyline that keeps you reading then…this is it.
Good review, Pixie. I think the label, LGBT Medieval fantasy is perfect. Gives readers an idea of what to expect.
Thanks but I must admit Loose Id came up with the label LGBT Medieval fantasy all by themselves, but I would of honestly!!! The rest of it is solely me though. So I accept the praise because I am that modest! ha ha lol
This was the most poignant story I’ve read in a long time, I spent quite a lot of time sniffling and red eyed, I enjoyed it, but I won’t be able to reread it for quite a while too sad! I know there was a HEA but what Gareth went through was dreadful to get it.
C M, I’m glad you cared about Gareth enough to be so affected. His predicament was horrible and very difficult to write about, but that is what drove me to write the book. I was as desperate as Evin to find a way for him to avoid his destiny!
Pixie, thank you most of all for reviewing the book, but also for the kind words about it. 🙂 I love these two guys and it always makes me very happy to learn that someone has got caught up in their story.