The Solstice Gift by Cari Z.

1898Title: The Solstice Gift

Series: Oberon’s Court

Author: Cari Z.

Genre: Fantasy

Length: Short (40pgs)

Publisher: Total E-Bound (17th December 2012)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3 ½Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: How long can a human survive in the treacherous court of the winter fae, when even his allies are fighting for their lives?

Dis is a changeling, a human stolen away from his own world as a child by the vicious winter fae. He’s survived to adulthood through a combination of luck and careful oversight by his only ally, a fairy lord named Marten, but his success might have finally reached its end.

It’s the winter solstice, and Oberon’s court is preparing for a hunt with a history of bloodshed, one that requires Dis to be an unwilling participant. Even if Dis lives through that, he’s being watched by the king of the fae himself, and no one can save him if Oberon has marked him for sacrifice.

Purchase Link: http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=1898

Review: Before we go any further I just need to do this… ‘Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrgggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh’. Okay, that’s out of my system. Dis was stolen from the human world many years before. He is the only human of recent years to reach adulthood and it is far from an easy life. The only bright spot in the dreary winter court is the fairy lord, Marten, but even he can’t keep him safe. The Hunt brings Dis to the attention of Oberon. Marten’s sister, Sable, is not impressed and Dis finds himself in danger on many levels.

This is a brilliant cruel stark story of the court of Oberon. Dis has had a cruel hard life living in the winter court.  He has no way out and his only glimmer of warmth in the cold world comes from Marten a, fairy lord. Snatching moments with the Fae, when Marten can sneak him away. Dis has attention drawn to himself during the Hunt and is given a special task by Oberon himself.

This story is brilliant. I loved the stark descriptions and the bleak outlook with there being only one bright spot in an otherwise dark life. It is a life without any hope except death, but the secret love that Dis has, keeps him going. But, they have to keep it hidden, because he is a changeling, and also because of the cruelness of Marten’s sister, Sable. The relationship between Marten and Dis is very secret and we see how much they care for one another without either of them giving the other away. The sex is hot between them and they genuinely love each other, but the parting is bittersweet.

There is much of this story that pulls you in and I will be honest the ending had me growling in frustration and spitting feathers. I nearly gave this book 2 Hearts because it ended so abruptly. But, I have since calmed down enough to give it a reasonable rating based on the storyline. There has to be a sequel in the pipeline for this book *on knees begging* because I need to know what happens next pppllllleeeeeaaaaassssseeeee.

I will recommend this to those who love Fae, finding love in a bleak harsh landscapes, a hard unfair life and a very bittersweet ending.