Title: The Gravemen
Author: Melissa North
Genre: Fantasy
Length: Novella (153pgs)
Publisher: Less Than Three Press (17th April 2013)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: THE BANAM-HIN: An elite guard of the royal palace and city, they are seldom seen beyond them. Asdelar is a Blade of marked skill, but also a man who lives loud—flirtatious, teasing, open and free with affection. Life is not meant to be dull, even for a Blade.
THE IMALT-WOR: The notorious strong arms of the king, they maintain his law across the land. They are highly disciplined, respected, and feared. Hinego is as strict in his personal life as he is maintaining the king’s law. He has no time or patience for careless wastrels.
Forced to work together to locate the king’s missing niece, neither man sees the journey ending in anything but disaster.
Purchase Link: http://www.lessthanthreepress.com/books/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=92&products_id=469
Review: Hinego is an Imalt-Wor (Reds) he roams the land with his fellow warriors keeping the kings laws upheld, he is as strict in his personal life as he is with his job and he has no time for wastrels like the Blade he has been teamed up with for a mission. Asdelar is a Banam-Hin (Blade) an elite swordsman who is protection for the royals and the city, he lives life to the fullest, snatching enjoyment wherever he can and he wishes he could get the Reds to loosen up a bit. Forced to work together on a mission for the king, both men have to learn to accept the other and discover just what has happened to the king’s niece.
The Gravemen is a great fantasy of opposites attracting once two men get to spend time together and get under each other’s skin. We come into this story after Hinego and Asdelar are already paired up and they are on their journey, immediately you can feel the tension and frustration from Hinego because Asdelar seems to be treating their mission like a holiday. You actually agree with him as well, Hinego is experienced with the country and towns whereas Asdelar has lived his work life mainly in the palace and hasn’t a clue how to act among the masses, he cause trouble through his carelessness and refusal to listen. Asdelar also can’t open his mouth without flirting and puts poor Hinego on edge constantly… but when Asdelar turns to a new traveling companion for company Hinego can’t understand why it annoys him.
The mission part is interesting as both men are stumped as to where the kings niece has disappeared to, it doesn’t help them that she had a habit of running off, so they both have to discover if she has just run off again or if this time she has been kidnapped. Following the limited non-clues leads them to danger and they both have to work together and apart to recover the kings’ niece. Their relationship is very rocky and they just begin to warm up to each other when they are joined by another traveler who monopolizes Asdelar time and drives a further wedge between Hinego and Asdelar. And it isn’t until they are both in danger that they really realize what the other has become to them. There’s some great action scenes and we also get scenes where they open up a bit to the other (large quantities of alcohol are involved) and the ending scene gives us hope for the two men.
I recommend this to those who love fantasy, an awkward warrior and a flirtatious swordsman, an interesting journey, an awkward relationship being built and a happy for now ending.