Title: Old Traditions
Series: Middlehill, #2
Author: Barbara Geiger
Genre: Paranormal/Fantasy
Length: Novella (86 pages)
Publisher: Loose Id (December 23rd, 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts
Blurb: To Matt, “making love” has always been a particularly sadistic phrase. He’s only known sex to be something that can be taken or sold. Even in Matt’s darkest years, though, Christmas was the one time he didn’t have to sell his body. Now, his new life with a man like Kevin in his bed is full of happiness and pleasure. Sex is fascinating and his body learning how good it can feel in this shiny newfangled world.
Ever since Matt met Kevin, his life has been a Faerie story. As the Fae King, the amazing life he now has with his Fae Prince should be perfect. However, Matt can’t forget that without Kevin, everything he has—from the safe place he lives in, to his brother’s future—could be taken away instantly. The Fae court is a world full of scheming manipulators, and Matt’s first holiday with Kevin that should be safe and warm is at risk, no matter what Kevin promises.
But, the Fae world isn’t all full of princes and Happy Ever Afters. Even Kevin has superiors who can use the Fae New Year celebrations for their own means. Matt would give anything he has to keep Kevin and his family safe, and a higher-ranking prince could take everything Matt has including Matt’s crown and all hope of future happiness.
ISBN: 978-1-62300-768-3
Product Link: http://www.loose-id.com/middle-hill-1-5-old-traditions.html
Reviewer: Prime
Review: There is a lot of background at the start of this one, however, you really do need to read book 1 (Changeling) in order to understand everything. I had to look back at Changeling and my review of it to remind me, but it is a complex book and Old Traditions has the same complexity. And despite my opinions, it is a well-written book.
I’m warning everyone right now: If you’ve not read Changeling, there are some potential spoilers coming up. It’s actually impossible for me to review this one without referring directly back to the first book because the books are so closely linked.
In saying all that, to be honest, although I had liked the first book a lot, I can’t be more positive than saying I liked Old Traditions for the most part. It is effectively an extension that directly follows Changeling and although it is marketed as a Christmas/Holiday book, Christmas is really just incidental to the events of this novella.
As to reacquainting ourselves with the main characters, Kevin and Matt, Kevin is a Fae prince who was sent to find the Fae king, who just happens to be Matt. There is also Sam, Matt’s little brother to whom he is guardian. Sam is still pretty much a mystery as he doesn’t feature much in this story. Since the plot hasn’t really moved on much, the characters didn’t really get much of a chance to develop beyond what we already know about them.
Okay, so one thing that has resurfaced to bug me. In Changeling, Matt had made a deal with the headmaster of the prestigious private school Sam goes to so that Sam would get a full scholarship, Matt got some cash income and the boys get a roof over their head.
Simple question because this comes up in the first page: why is Matt still going through this when he is a Fae king and with Kevin? In all fairness, I realise much of Matt’s actions are propelled by his self-doubts about the new station in life he has gained. It’s just playing on me way too much.
This book continues on with Matt learning about the Fae world from Kevin and the couple still very much in love. For anyone who has read Changeling, this one doesn’t really answer any of the questions that we were left with before. Neither does it pose too many questions.
While Matt is learning more about Fae powers and how the powers work, which is a majority of the plot, there a few more new mysteries added. Personally, this frustrated me, which is why I’ve given it a low-ish rating. Yet in saying that, one of the new mysteries concerning Fae abilities to mess with time is actually quite tantalising to me.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *