Title: Heartstrings
Series: Chronicles of Ylandre 04
Author: Eressë
Genre: High Fantasy, Hermaphroditism, Science Fiction-ish, M-Preg
Length: Novel (roughly 168pgs)
Publisher: Liquid Silver Press (4th July 2012)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: When all else comes to naught, a steadfast heart is the only thing that stands between hope and despair.
Scions of the most powerful House in Ylandre, Ashrian Mithani and Eiren Sarvan were more than just cousins. Lovers of long standing, theirs was a bond that would have been the envy of all were it not for one glaring flaw—Ashrian’s inability to commit himself wholeheartedly to Eiren. Despite the dismay of some and the derision of others, Eiren bore his inconstancy; displaying a loyalty Ashrian seemed incapable of returning. That is, until Ashrian crossed a line and the transgression proved one Eiren could not forgive.
In the wake of grief and remorse, Ashrian seeks to make amends and win Eiren back. But something stands in his way. Or rather someone. And the irony of it all is that Ashrian can neither hate nor help befriending the Deir who is his rival for the heart of Ylandre’s most beloved physician.
Purchase Link: http://www.king-cart.com/cgi-bin/cart.cgi?store=linda018&product_name=Heartstrings
Warning: Hermaphroditism (dual sex). This book is part of a series and must be read in order.
Review: Heartstrings is a very fitting title for this book as it will definitely be pulling at yours. Ashrian (Ash) and Eiren (Ren) have a very tenuous relationship. Ren is committed to Ash, but Ash still lives the high life and enjoys his flirtations. But, one day Ash goes too far and Ren doesn’t think he will ever forgive him and accepts a position that he had been toying with taking. When Ren returns he brings back a new love and dashes Ash’s hope of regaining his love, but circumstances change over the years and a spark returns between Ren and Ash.
This story runs parallel to the other stories in this series and as always we see a wonderful selection of characters that we have fallen in love with in the past. In this story, we have heartbreak, cheating, betrayal, remorse, redemption and forgiveness. Ren and Ash have had a very up and down relationship for many years and Ren has always put up with Ash’s unfaithfulness, but one night Ash sleeps with the wrong person and Ren has had enough. When Ren is gone, Ash realizes exactly what Ren really meant to him. But, by the time Ren comes back, Ren has moved on and there is nothing that Ash can do about it.
As always in a relationship there is always more than one point of view and to make a relationship work there has to be communication, and with Ren and Ash there is a distinct lack of communication. *sigh* When I started to read this one I really wanted to hate Ash, but the further I got into the book the more I began to sympathize with him. because Ren never put his foot down, Ren never really pulled him about anything and just walked around like a martyr with a ‘woe is me, my man cheats on me and I do nothing about it’ attitude. I will be honest all my sympathy went to Ash and I think that Ash and Firyon (I won’t spoil it) were great characters and Ren came into his own much later when he also faced his own faults.
This story is again beautifully written. We are given more world building with fantastic characters. Eressë drags us back into the world of Ylandre, giving us more knowledge about characters we have met in the past. Filling us in with the stories of others and tearing our heartstrings as we become involved with the beloved characters. Ren and Ash’s story with shock you, it will disgust you, it will make you tear up, it will get you angry and it will fill you with forgiveness and happiness but it will never be boring.
I am recommending this to all those who love m-preg, misunderstandings, frustration, despair, angst, forgiveness, happiness, growing relationships and growing people but most of all a happy ever after that is well deserved.
