JB McDonald

I liked this story about a gay man who needs to save his daughter from an ex-wife who allowed her to be molested in her care. The only problem is that he's an alcoholic and needs to clean up his act before he can help his daughter. His best friend Rick ends up helping him - even though it's hard for Rick not to let Jay know how he feels about him.

The develpment of the relationship between the two men, as both come to terms with their past, was interesting and kept my interest. It was realiastically slow and tentative, so this is not a fast-moving story. Very touching.… (más)

Ashe and Katsu are in for more excitement in this story. They've made it to Katsu's home, and Ashe discovers a whole new culture. I loved the descriptions of the weather, the people, and their habits from Ashe's point of view. They don’t accept him easily, since beings with pointed ears are demons for the, but since he is linked to a dragon, they cannot touch him. Katsu has his own battles to fight, and facing his mother's continued rejection head-on isn’t easy.

Ashe doesn’t really like living in the palace while Katsu tries to cure his sister of the plague, but the increased levels of magic that come from the nearby jungle intrigue him. Learning about Katsu's past is equally fascinating, and trying to figure out how to help Katsu's sister keeps him busy.

Katsu is being quiet and withdrawn, angry about the way his mother still treats him as if he were dead to her. Well, the prince he once was no longer exists, he is now only 'the doctor'. He tries to explain the whole situation to Ashe, and some fascinating details about his culture come to light. But he isn’t ready to stay, even though he will miss his siblings.

I liked the deepening of the story about Ashe's magic, the changes in his relationship with the dragon more toward that of a pet (well, mostly), and the different setting and culture kept me interested. If you like fantasy that is about adventure as much as it is about different cultures, if you enjoy tales about surprising discoveries, and if you want to know how Ashe and Katsu are doing, you will probably like this story.




NOTE: This book was provided by Torquere Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
… (más)

Now that the dragon-problem is sort of manageable after the visit to the dragon whisperer in the last book, things could have calmed down for Ashe, the adventurous elf, and Katsu, his human medic partner. Of course, this being a series, they don't slow down at all, instead presenting the heroes with a new issue. And this one, from the looks of it, could be far more damaging to their relationship, and their very lives, than anything they have faced so far.

Katsu is confronted with his past, and he hates it. Kicked out of his country, or so we find out, he never wants to go back. And yet, when messengers find him to ask for his help as a doctor, because his sister has contracted the newest plague, it makes him think. His family and their attitude were what drove him away, but his sister was never nasty to him, so should he go back, risking his freedom and pace of mind, and help? It is a very difficult decision for him to make!

Ashe, barely recovered from his ordeal with the dragon, is hit with some information about Katsu that makes him wonder if he knows the man at all. On the one hand I can understand that he is livid about the things Katsu didn’t tell him, on the other – I cannot imagine anyone happily telling their very new lover all of that back story. Personally, I wouldn’t even know where to start. Luckily, Ashe decides to stand by his man.

This installment is the beginning of a new adventure as Ashe and Katsu set off to travel to Katsu's old home. It promises lots of suspense and interesting adventures. If you like fantasy where surprises rule the day, if you enjoy tales about faraway lands and different cultures, and if you want to know how Ashe an Katsu are doing, this book may be just what you need.




NOTE: This book was provided by Torquere Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
… (más)

The continuation of this story from where the last book left off is seamless, and the suspense as to what was going to happen now that the queen is hunting Ashe, is very high. Both Ashe and Katsu have real obstacles to overcome, and I was really glad Ashe had decided to free Daisuke, one of the servants, to take with him as a guard. He came in very, very handy!

Katsu has decided to follow Ashe, his mother's plans be damned. But he very quickly finds out how tough it is to travel alone, and gets robbed. He perseveres, but since he is still 'nobility', his recovery is much easier than were he a common peasant. Still, finding Ashe and dealing with his troubles is a challenge, and for a long time, it didn’t look very good.

Ashe has his own problems to deal with. He wants to go home as quickly as possible, but Daisuke seems to slow them down at every opportunity, When Ashe gets taken prisoner I thought my heart would stop. And that wasn't even the worst of it. Luckily, Ashe is very, very determined to leave the country with Katsu – and do so alive.

Ashe and Katsu have come a long way in these eight short books. Their love has grown, they have gotten to know each other and changed for the better, and I loved not just the adventures they had on the way. But the ending to this latest installment. While I hope there will be more books in this series, this story rounds out what happened very nicely and left me emotionally satisfied and happy.

If you like fantasy with a touch of romance, if you enjoy stories about dragons and faraway lands, and if you're looking for an entertaining series that has a few unexpected twists, then you will probably like this book, as well as the entire series.




NOTE: This book was provided by Torquere Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
… (más)