This book involves two queer heroes who eventually develop an intimate relationship with each other, but this story is far from a romance. Eveland excellently balances that line between telling an epic fantasy story that happens to involve queer characters and having their queerness be essential to the story without tipping the storyline toward overt romance (or failed romance).
The book’s dark beginning sets up Elindir’s external conflict well, positioning him nicely as a sympathetic hero even when he’s not a particularly good person. His strange journey places him solidly in forced proximity with Ruith. Along the way, Eveland never flinches from the dark realities of this world, including aspects of warfare and slavery. Being Ruith’s slave severely imbalances the relative power between Elindir and Ruith, but Elindir is clever enough to accrue his own form of power along the way. The way these men grow closer has little resemblance to a traditional romance arc as they develop a strange sort of codependency that resembles affection—if you squint; however, their growing connection in the context of Ruith’s slowly revealed external conflict is incredibly compelling.
Eveland nicely merges beats from fantasy and romance to force each man to battle his particular inner conflict. Ruith and Elindir don’t share love, but the bond between them is also far from hate, making the dark moment of this story truly heartbreaking. This book doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, bringing them together again at the very end, but the story is far from over. The bond between them has the potential to grow into something stronger in the next book, which I’d happily read even if the sequel is yet another unique amalgam of two of my favorite genres without the promise of a happily ever after.
Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.
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