Title: Triane’s Son Learning
Series: Bitter Moon Saga: Book Two (2nd edition)
Author: Amy Lane
Genre: High Fantasy / Young Adult / M/F-M/M
ISBN: 978-1-62798-338-9
Length: Extended Novel (324 pages)
Publisher: Harmony Ink, Dreamspinner Press (November 21st, 2013)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts
Reviewer: Thommie
Blurb: When Torrant Shadow fled his homeland of Clough, he hoped to leave its threats behind. He spent four years living with the Moons, making sure Yarri had a home; now it’s time for Torrant and his foster brother, Aldam, to leave for the University of Triannon, where Torrant hopes to create a new life enmeshed in healing arts and politics.
Torrant’s new school friends Trieste and Aylan want to teach him about love as he settles in, and at first, Trieste’s tenderness seems to make her the logical choice for an interim lover, while Torrant waits for Yarri to grow up. But Torrant has learned the hard way that nothing is simple when Clough still wields its influence over their lives. More and more, Torrant must call on the cold predator in himself, the part that Aylan most admires. The truth is, Torrant has certain gifts that give him an advantage of self-defense, but using them to protect the ones he cares for may destroy the part of him Trieste and Yarri love best.
As the four schoolmates progress to life beyond education and the evil from Torrant’s homeland becomes too pernicious to be ignored, Torrant must choose his destiny: Will he be a healer or a hero? Only Triane’s Son can be both.
1st Edition published as Bitter Moon I: Triane’s Son Ascending by iUniverse, 2008
Product Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4388
Review: I am utterly in love with this series and it feels like I’m a child reading fairytales again, fairytales that allow my mind to roam free and explore exquisite magical lands and wonderful, lovable heroes.
Unlike my childhood fairytales though, this one is a bit more explicit. Life, love, power, cruelty, and violence have all a place in these books in which each are strong and evoke incredible emotions from the reader.
Triane’s Son Learning picks up exactly where the first book left and we see Torrant trying to bring two more members in his Moon family. Aylan and Trieste are two figures that we expected to be here and have a prominent place in this installment. At the beginning of this story, Trieste is Torrant’s lover and of course, her relationship with Yarri has a rocky start. It was lovely reading this, Yarri is always so very charming with her wildcat character, and she throws you off of your guard with her understanding despite her young years.
At least half this book revolved around the concept of family, the ties binding together more and more with every page, the love, and acceptance, the vast magnitude of a hearts loving capability. The shadows and darkness were always around the corner, the edges of this loving story were always tainted in blood, pain, and misery. Evil’s clutches never remained far, even as our characters grew up and tried to make their sweet dreams of a loving easy life true. But the half part of this book was easy, sweet, and tender, through the new challenges of life.
The character who surprised me for the most part was Aylan. My God, I honestly can’t say I expected the depth of this character, or the growth he’d suffer here. Aylan showed such a charming personality I died a little every time when he and Torrant kept dancing around each other, yet never meeting in the middle. When they finally did get their one and only night together I swear I wept. Throughout the book the tension between them was mesmerizing so when it finally, finally happened, it felt like it was my own long-term longing finally getting fulfilled. It was wonderful, it was brilliant, and it was painful to read. Mostly it was freaking erotic without being erotic, if that even makes sense.
And it applies for all the sexual scenes be them male/male or male/female. There was such a sensual approach in each and every one of them, such descriptions that made them all unique, yet you couldn’t choose which one was better. It’s perhaps the first time I read both gender interactions and I don’t feel as if one of them lacked in the erotic/sensual part. I simply have no words for them beside them being absolutely a joy to read. Perhaps it was Triane’s doing 😉
As for the action plot, well there are so many to say and yet words fail me. The story takes a fascinating turn. Many thing that didn’t quite make sense in book one, are now brought to light. This planet with its three moons is like a sitting volcano, the story itself is trembling with tension and a brewing storm. Throughout the read, you feel it and it affects you deeply. You keep anticipating the dark tendrils of Rath’s rotten heart to come grab you from a blind corner and make the read beat in a fast and eager for blood tempo. There are bloody scenes, of course, there are, and they grip you so hard that you simply can’t fight their power, just as you can’t fight the emotional charge that follows right in their step. Every time vengeance rears its head, guilt and hurt follows like a faithful companion, delving your heart in heavy yet delicious emotions. I can’t say how much I really, really love this story. I can’t say how hard it is right now waiting for the next installment I simply LOVE this story.
So bottom end, maybe I’m biased, but I can’t recommend this book enough. Pick up book one, then this one, and by the time you’re done book three will be out. That only leaves one last installment for you to wait. I’m sure it’s going to be agony. It is for me. Totally recommended!