Eresse - Shield Mate

Ranael knew his obligations to family and society. As a scion of Ylandre’s most powerful House, he was destined for a life of service, albeit a privileged one. As the son of a wealthy fief-lord, he was supposed to bed or wed as befitted his station. With obedience to authority ingrained in him since childhood, Ranael hewed closely to what was expected of a royal-blooded aristocrat and a military officer. Thus, defiance of the strictures of his position never entered his mind. Until he came to covet Vaeren Henaz.
Vaeren did his duty to king and country despite attempts to put him in his place and keep him there. A survivor of neglect and frightful adversity before and after he fled the orphanage wherein he grew up, Vaeren refused to let his illegitimacy or lack of sufficient lineage stop him from fighting his way up the ranks of Ylandre’s hidebound army. Nor did he allow anything or anyone to trample on his dignity or his heart. Until he learned to love Ranael Mesare.
In the dual-gendered realm of Ylandre, two warriors of nigh irreconcilably dissimilar backgrounds battle their way through the vagaries of military conventions, social censure, and personal vendettas. All while struggling with an attraction that contravenes the traditions and expectations that shape life and love in the world of Aisen’s most powerful nation.

Comment: This book is the most recent installment in the Chronicles of Ylandre, a fantasy m/m series by author Eresse. This book wasn't on the TBR list because I purchased it the day it was published, Monday the 21st and started it the day after. I just couldn't wait to read another fascinating story featuring the hermaphrodite species that live in this world the author created.

 

In this new story, we have the romance of Ranael and Vaeren, two men in the army who come from different backgrounds but meet and fall in love.

Ranael belongs to an important family, he's cousin to the king and is expected to marry well. He has never been involved with another soldier but there's something about Vaeren that compels him and he tries to be friends but their attraction and connection is too strong and they become a couple.

Vaeren knows he's illegitimate but that hasn't stopped him from doing a good job and being rewarded by his work, loyalty and merits. The King also seems to favor him despite they never met in person. Their relationship seems to go well until someone comes to their camp and becomes the new boss. But if their love is true nothing can't separate them...or can?

 

I just love these stories, the amazing and detailed world the author thought of, from rules to laws, to names and situations, everything is a rich and fascinating story done to not only delight us with its details but to let us enjoy a romance too. I mean, I'm a fan and will look forward to all the installments.

 

The stories are romances, they have many scenes related to the world building but the focus is clearly the romances and how the main characters are related and connected to one another. I also like how so many of the most important characters play a part and are important to some sections of the story or the overall plot. There's a sense of family, of community, of friendship between some of the key characters I really appreciate and enjoy seeing developed. It's something on out face, the focus is always the romantic relationship, but it's nice to have a secondary element with importance.

 

The romance in this story is similar to those in the other books when it comes to sweetness, angst moments, making up, etc. What I think makes these stories special and not repetitive (in my opinion, I know other don't think the same) is the main characters themselves, so different elements or characteristics make for different stories and impact situations.

Ranael is someone certain of his position but not of his own feelings and it was interesting to see him grow up, go from just what it was expected of him to someone he needed to be and how Vaeren helped him in it while still allowing him to keep his opinion and place in the society. Of course he makes a bad call at some point and he's the one that has to change his ways but all ends well.

Vaeren is more complex, he has a past that shaped his attitude and notions but didn't stop him from trying to be a good man, a good officer and someone others could respect. I really liked him and was very happy when his happiness was finally a sure and everlasting thing.

 

The HEA is sweet and I liked how the relationship between Ranael and Vaeren got stronger after a tribulation... it seems too long went between their problems and their making up but honestly I was simply enjoying the story. I think certain situations are clichéd and I don't care about some of them, nor the way some characters are portrayed as more fragile both in appearance and personalities. I understand this, but in some situations it verges on the limit of effeminate status and I don't care for that. Some attitudes by Ranael seem to be by someone very unsure and fragile and that's not very matching to his position of power, something we hear about often. It's not a deal breaker for me, but when I notice it, it's not easily put aside. But it's a minor personal preference.

 

All in all, I liked this romance and the story itself and here I am again, just waiting for the next story and hoping the author won't take too long to write and publish it!

Grade: 8/10

Eresse - In Fine Form

A bastard of unknown parentage, Yandro Vaidon was born saddled with a huge disadvantage. The nigh

rigid class structure of the dual-gendered realm of Ylandre relegated him to the bottom rungs of the social ladder and promised a dim future. Worse, the endeavor to win respectability was arduous—most claimed it was impossible. But by dint of hard work, perseverance and instances of plain good luck, Yandro rises higher than even he had hoped. However, he quickly learns there are hurdles to overcome even at these heights. Not least is his inconvenient attraction to a colleague deemed way beyond his reach.
Scion of House Essendri, the reigning dynasty of Ylandre, Jareth Hadrana is gifted with more than his fair share of beauty and wit. The kingdom’s preeminent ambassador, he has surpassed what is usually expected of a fief-lord’s second son. But while his high birth and family wealth opened doors for him, Jareth’s success stemmed from his own efforts to make something of himself other than the idle fop or swaggering rakehell that was the lot of many younger sons.
A coincidence of interest drew Jareth and Yandro to the same profession, but a king’s intervention throws them together in an association that soon turns into mutual desire. However, prejudices have largely kept the aristocratic True Bloods and lower caste Half Bloods on opposite sides of the social and romantic divide. In addition, reticence born of distrust and a secret like no other hamper their attempts to span the chasm between them. It will take more than their shared passion to convince them to lower their protective walls and risk their hearts in full.

Comment: This is the most recent installment in the Chronicles of Ylandre series by the author. In this book we have a couple that has been working together for long but never acted on their attraction. This series shows us a fantasy world where genders evolved and now only the hermaphrodites Deir exist. This is a world full of imagination and details but still focusing a lot on human feelings and experiences.

This book shows Yandro, a man coming from doubtful origins, he is an orphan who got something out of life sue to his own worth and work. He feels attracted to his new boss as soon as he meets him but he has a work code he respects so he never acted on his feelings or planed on revealing them.

Jareth comes from the ruling royal family tree and his wealth and influences would make sure he didn't have to work but he isn't one to just exist, he wants to do something valuable so he works where he knows his abilities will be more needed. Yandro is the only one of his aids who never tried to gain his good graces intimately so he respects him and can't help but feeling something for him too, something that evolves to love. But their roles and origins can be on the way if they don't admit they love each other...

I liked this story a lot. I think it was well done and the relationship between the two main characters was portrayed quite well too.

This book also has a lot of politics but I'll be honest, I didn't pay much attention to those parts. Not that those aren't important, after all they provide plot development and help explain how many things work, it helps to contextualize everything. But for me these books have their strength in the relationships and the society workings. I think the author does a great job in imagining so many details about how such a society would work, the rules which have a lot of what we know of reality and historical times. The characters have depth and their reactions and feelings seem real.

The main point in this book is Yandro and Jareth' relationship. They come from different sides of the society and Yandro feels the prejudice because of his origins. Some things are expected of him because of that be he always tried to be more while keeping his honor and willingness to work and prove his worth. I think his character just proves people with humbler origins can be as important and hardworking as any one and that doesn't affect his personality. He has a good grip on how things work but he still has dreams.

Jareth is rich, comes from an important family but he isn't lazy or wastes his time. He found a work that he is good at but he still keeps his secrets. I liked how he shared important things about himself with Yandro and how he trusted him.

Communication is key in a romantic relationship and these to have had their issues because of a lack of it. But I never got the feeling this was silly misunderstandings as it happens often in romances, they had expectations about their roles and while they never judged the other because of what they thought the other should be like or be with, they still had their personal doubts and like anyone else in the world, they wanted to be worthy of the one they loved.

I think the emotional situations provided in this book were well approached and dealt with. Jareth and Yandro had issues to solve before admitting to a relationship and I felt for them in their journey to acceptance. No that they didn't say they had feelings, but sometimes people just need to speak. I liked the pace of the story and how all the things we would want to see took its time but were done well.

Some political parts were a bit boring and there was this character that, although I understood its presence due to plot issues, I still would have done something different, and these are the reasons why the grade isn't higher.

Still, the goos things made me read the book fast and it was hard to put it down.

I liked the end a lot. It's always so good to have an epilogue that works, that doesn't feel like a duty just because and that helps proving the good guys deserve happiness.

I think the issues about relationships addressed in this story were dealt with fine for the most part and in terms of romance and writing, it was done very well.

I hope there are more stories to come in this world.

Grade: 8/10

Eresse - Cross Purposes

One of Ylandre’s most prominent nobles, Keosqe Deilen may have had it all in terms of wealth, power and social rank. But in matters of the heart, he was impoverished. Such was the consequence of falling in unrequited love. Though he hides that love and his sorrow well, a few inevitably see through his masquerade.
Young Tristen Marante is quick to discern Keosqe’s pain. His blunt sympathy is a balm to Keosqe’s wounded heart as much as his beauty is an effective distraction from the noble’s hopeless yearning. But Tristen is a skittish would-be lover, whose reluctance to express his affection is as much an impediment as the lack of reciprocation from Keosqe’s first love had been. Whereas Keosqe seeks intimacy, Tristen shies from it, suspicious of the motives behind his pursuit and unwilling to yield his heart so easily or soon.
With such different perspectives toward lust and love, is it any wonder their path to a common goal is strewn with stumbling blocks and paved with false impressions?

Comment: This is another book in the Chronicles of Ylandre series. The most recent one was recently released and I'm eager to read it despite this one not being as amazing as the previous ones. Some things seemed weaker and it wasn't as enjoyable either.

This is Keosqe's story, he's another of the many cousins to the king and a close friend too to pretty much all the characters we've met so far.
Keosqe has been in love with his best friend since they were young and they were even intimate. Now his friend, who never returned his deep feelings, married and asked Keosqe to help his younger brother by letting him live with him while he went about his studies. But Keosqe gets closer to Tristen not realizing his feelings are changing too.
Tristen doesn't like to be someone else's trouble and doesn't like to be in debt. But the time with Keosqe teaches him many things among them the value of patience and waiting.

Well, these stories are heavily set in the workings of a hermaphrodite society but much of the details are obviously similar to those old Victorian ideals of innocence and power plays between older and younger people, namely the older should take care for the youngest and wait until they are of age before sexual activity and other more adult ways of acting. Despite nothing out of place happens here, it's a bit too much on the limit how Keosqe, so many times said as just and patient, sort of pressures Tristen for sex. It's not aggressively done, actually it' quite subtle, but there nonetheless. I think it wasn't the best way to carry on things. There's a fine line almost crossed here that I feel it's unnecessary because the tone of the books so far has been more focused on the romance and the balance in it, the emotions and in this case it missed the mark because the way things were done, I felt it wasn't as good as we were used to.

I also had the feeling this story had a more boring tone than any other. I don't know exactly how to explain, perhaps because I've never warmed up to Keosqe and reading his story was more of a task than I imagined. I just didn't feel as eager to read and not even the most emotional parts, which in the previous book always made me shed a tear here and there, weren't as polished and to the point as before. Tristan and Keosqe had their obstacles but I wasn't as motivated to read as that.

The plot follows the usual patterns, some sort of mutual interests at some point, seduction, caring, betrayal and making up, of course with different details for each story. In this book's case it was so but it just wasn't as thrilling or well shaped, I thought it was more of the same and I felt the difference in writing, it felt weaker somehow. Still, I enjoyed seeing beloved characters, some details here and there and the overall plot details.
The romance felt lacking strength and beauty and romantic things. It was more like a task to be done so I wasn't even overjoyed with the HEA.
Not the author's best, I think.

I really hope the next one keeps up with the goodness and isn't like this one. Still, it's interesting enough, if not for more than just to keep up with the series.
Grade: 5/10

Eresse - Heartstrings

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.

Comment: This is another installment in the Chronicles of Ylandre series. This is a world where there are only men and the species has evolved, and all men are hermaphrodites. The stories focus a lot in the romances between the main couple as well as some minor society dealings.

This is the story of Ash and Eiren, they've been together forever although Ash hasn't been faithful all that time. After one argument, Ash leaves Eiren angry and betrays him again, but this time his choice of a partner is someone Eiren can't forgive him for. They separate, Eiren goes abroad to work and when he returns, he's married.
Ash regrets his actions terribly but he can't hate Eiren's new husband. In fact they become friends. Then he finds out something he didn't foresee but Eiren is there to help and to be the person he always wanted to have...

I liked this story. Despite the not as appealing theme of cheating, I kind of liked how Ash turned his ways and admitted he did wrong and that Eiren didn't deserved what he did to him.
This story is more focused on the main character's lives than on the society or other plot lines. In a way, it's good, because it provides a bigger look into each one of the guys and what they are feeling and thinking, but it also feels the story is as a specific zoom on them and everything else is just setting, which I don't like as much. But I can't say it's a bad thing, just a different focus.

Eiren and Ash have been in love for a long time, but they never said it with words and their roles were pretty much decided from the beginning. Eiren is a healer, he's special and very dedicated. His fault is maybe he doesn't realize what Ash was really feeling, but one can say Ash didn't came forward with what was on his mind and heart, so how could Eiren guess? Their relationship was based on assumptions and attraction but it changed. What the guys didn't see was how their feelings evolved too..but in a way the feelings and the minds didn't went at the same pace.
Ash was always led back, assuming his life would follow a certain path and he didn't accepted to himself why he felt so dissatisfied and why he cheated. When he finally does, he's too late and Eiren has gone to another stage of his life.

The biggest part of this story is the time and the things needed for the guys to deal with their feelings, with the disappointments from the past and the hope for what might be in their path. Several things change, mostly in terms of expectations for the future, the meaning of each other's roles in their relationship and in life...but it was good to see them admitting what was real then and how they could work things out to have a future together and also shared.
This book is an interesting study of emotions, of expectations and changes of heart, of forgiveness and love and it offers good lessons in how to care for what others think, feel and deserve.
I liked it even despite the slightly less good things here and there.
Grade: 7/10

Eresse - By Chance Met

From the moment he laid eyes on the handsome Lord of Ilmaren, Naeth Orosse fell head over heels in infatuation with him. And after that first meeting in the middle of a tavern brawl in the dual-gendered realm of Ylandre, Reijir Arthanna did not forget the orphaned youth who came to his aid unasked. When fate brings them together anew, Reijir becomes Naeth’s guardian, which proves both blessing and bane when their mutual attraction is guilelessly nursed by one and distrustfully downplayed by the other.
Between attempting to ignore Naeth’s artless overtures and suppressing feelings he had long disavowed, Reijir has his hands full. But more than a title and duty were forced on this enigmatic cousin of Ylandre’s king. A less than benevolent past has left its imprint on Reijir who is as known for his cynical outlook on life as he is for his exotic features and proficiency between the sheets. Convincing him to risk his heart in love is a battle more experienced Deira than Naeth have waged and invariably lost.

Comment: In keeping up with this series, this month it was time to read the third installment of the Chronicles of Ylandre, a series of five books by Eresse.

This is Reijir and Naeth's story. 
Naeth is a young man who lost everything back home and looked for help in the capital with one of his father's old friends. He works in a tavern but his life is far from perfect. One day he helps some highborns and when he is attacked later that night, Reijir rescues him from harm. That night starts their relationship, as Reijir welcomes Naeth as his ward and takes care of him. Years go by and Naeth falls more deeply in love with Reijir the more time he spends with him. Things reach a breaking point when Naeth listens to what he shouldn't and tries to run away, but will Reijir just let him go?

I liked this installment. Many things are going on, although it's obvious the wight of the relationship is distributed not very equally...Naeth is clearly portrayed as younger and more naive man and Reijir is the older, more mature one. I felt that, until the end, Naeth was a much easier character to understand, he showed his feelings better and in a more obvious way. Reijir had reasons to be quieter and more reserved, but in a way that fact didn't help in building up a more empathic connection to him and he always felt a bit cold at times. His reasons are more than acceptable, tough. But that doesn't mean he changes much, I found his character to be pretty much the same throughout the story.

Like I said, I still liked this one, and it was interesting to see how previous characters played a part in this one as well. There are many usual elements in this novel, the same way there are in any other romance story. There's jealousy, fear, feelings of inadequacy, love, lust, friendship...although the overall feel of the story doesn't differ much from the other stories, I thought this one felt more polished, more thoughtful in a way.

This series are based on a society where only exist men. Therefore, any relationship pertains only men, so it can be a bit annoying at times when they talk or act together and one of them is almost what we would call a "twink" because of the similarities to women's behavior or characteristics. Personally I would prefer if this were not to happen, as I like my m/m romances with men acting like men (for the most part), but this being a fantasy, it's not that weird. I just think it wouldn't be bad if one of them didn't had to look "weaker" in a relationship, or if this is such a keystone to the imagined society, then why does this has to be a rule in all books? Just random, personal thoughts.

Despite my personal ideas, I still enjoyed the book and was touched when they faced emotional and moral dilemmas and had their problems...I wanted everyone to be happy and to find their place. Despite a thing here and there I don't like as much, I still feel marveled at the author's imagination and society descriptions, which are a lot, and how interesting everything works.
Grade: 7/10

Eresse - Hallowed Bond

Time and circumstances may force true lovers apart but the tie that binds them can never be fully severed.
When Dylen Teris and Riodan Leyhar meet one harsh winter in the dual-gendered realm of Ylandre, neither expects the encounter to lead to a fast friendship and abiding love. For a chasm of vastly dissimilar social stations lies between them, and not all Deira could imagine, let alone accept, such a relationship.
Circumstances eventually separate them for what seems forever only to conspire to bring them together once more in the most unlikely of places—at the court of Rohyr Essendri, Ylandre’s powerful monarch. Complicating their situation is the attraction that still lingers between them, waiting to flare once more into love. But when one is unwilling to venture his heart again or wholly forgive its breaker, it may take a king’s interference to reunite these star-crossed lovers for good.

Comment: This is the second book in the Chronicles of Ylandre series. This time it features two different main characters although it's set in the same scenario as the previous one. I was curious enough with the previous book to keep reading despite the little things that I thin could have been better. I was hopeful about this one.

This book starts when Dylen and Riodan meet. Dylen works as a companion, a sort of exclusive prostitute but his services don't always mean sexual intercourse. Dylen lives with his father and a servant and has a very peaceful life. When he meets Riodan in a cold day, he offers him shelter and that is the start of a serious friendship, even if Riodan tells he's ready for more. Time goes by, their relationship changes and gets more intense. However, Riodan finished his studies and starts working. He goes away for 12 years and it's a hard separation to both although Dylen agreed because he wanted the best for Riodan.
One day they meet again when Dylen asks Riodan for help to his ailing father, but the result of that meeting isn't the one Dylen expected. From then on, things no longer were the same until now, when another change puts them together once more.

This story has several changes in time while the plot develops. In a way, it helps the readers to have their own ideas about what is happening because it allows them to see what happens and how Dylen and Riodan's relationship is shaped from the start. On one hand, I liked this for this reason exactly, it helped to understand many reactions and thoughts throughout the time it took for the story to develop. On the other side, it dragged the action through so many times and settings, in a way it lost a bit of power, I'd say. If it had been ore sudden, or just one change total, it would be easier to follow. But all things considered I can't say it was badly done, just that it was obvious enough to remember after finishing the book.

This story focus a certain subject quite heavily, something that revolves around the guys' relationship. Many people said it was something bad and unfair, but without getting into spoilers, I'd say to me, it didn't seem so harsh. I think I wasn't properly invested in their relationship at that point. It didn't bother me as much and I saw it more as a way to separate them which would mean they would have a reconciliation after. However, after thinking about it for a while, I agree it was something bad because despite their mutual agreement on the reasons for the separation and on the separation itself, it still gives the whole thing a bad notion when one thinks about the reactions of Riodan when they meet 12 years later. I said it didn't bother me that much and it didn't, I can't explain well why, but I admit it left a sour note for the rest of the book.

This subject aside, the story was again very well focused on the customs and dealings within this society where aren't no women, where the characters have a very social live and interactions and he world has many details the author inserted to built up more expectations and notions about how everything works and why. Quite the structured world, I think.

The final part of the book, after the main characters meet again is faster happening, it moves along easily and offers many insights to the way everything works and how society is a well of problems but beauty too. I liked it and also the way both Dylen and Riodan worked with their issues personally and professionally, which ended up in an interesting twist and the expected HEA. At this point, their positions in life are different, they both have new status socially and politically, so it's another layer to add to the consequences of their reconciliation.

I'll keep reading the series because fantasy aside, I like to see what happens from the emotional POV. This one was heavy on that aspect, but not as much for me personally that I didn't stomach the worse parts. To entertain it works.
Grade: 7/10

Eresse - Sacred Fate

In the dual-gendered realm of Ylandre, the great divide between the high-born True Bloods and the lower-ranked Half Bloods is deemed impassable by most. Rohyr Essendri dared to cross it when he took young Lassen Idana from his provincial town and made him his paramour. Lassen perforce learned how to navigate the intricate byways of life at court. What he never expected, however, was to fall in love with Rohyr, a most inadvisable and impractical thing to do when one’s lover is sovereign ruler of the land. But anything worth having is worth fighting for, both figuratively and, as Lassen discovers, literally speaking.

Comment: I picked this book because it was in my tbr list for a long time. I thought it would be an interesting read for this moth so I added it to this month's readings a couple of months ago. I was very curious to see what kind of story it was and I was away from reviews. Besides, the cover was cute, I like draws as covers, they're so much better than the computer digitalized...

This is the story of Rohyr and Lassen, two different men from two different backgrounds. They live in a place where women no longer exist and their species has become hermaphrodite. Still, the difference among classes and poverty vs wealth remains. There is a lot of political intrigue and Rohyr, being the king of Ylandre has a lot of protocols to follow but he puts that aside when he chooses Lassen for his lover, someone unsuited because he is a half blood, thus not being in the same class as Rohyr. But their relationship soon evolves to commitment and love, even when duty gets in the way...

So, this book shows us a new world where the men are hermaphrodites which means they can have their own babies. It may sound weird and I admit at times it sounded too much like a guy playing woman but the way things work biologically is different enough to make us put that thought aside. I've started with this because it surely would be the biggest issue most people would have with the story. Personally I wasn't that surprised as I've read before stories with this theme. I think that, if we thin about this from a romance point of view, it can be....sweet. The way a family works is there as well, so...and the beauty is there's no shame in two men together, just the expected class difference.

What made me struggle the most with this new world was the geography. We would get detailed geography lessons about what is where but it was everything very confusing...and the made up names didn't help because both the personal names as the topography were very different from what we are used to, so it made more difficult the reading of those parts.

As for the two main characters, they're very different in all levels but their falling in love is almost believable..I say almost because I felt they took too long to say it and to show it to the other. At some point there's some angst moments that allow their confessions so I guess I would have preferred them to say it at a time where such pressure wasn't there. Still, it shows in those little moments we see throughout the book.
Being from two different environments, of course their relationship isn't as easily accepted and there's some obstacles to overcome, very similar to those old stories of arranged marriages, but I've decided to read this more like a fantasy romance than something realistic so some elements were to be expected, mostly in terms of romance clichés and solutions. Still enjoyable anyway.

In the end, I finished the book with a smile, not sure if due to the silliness of some things or just because it has a HEA that makes you smile, but I also got curious enough to want to read the following story. I think if one puts aside most expectations about it, it can be enjoyable and fun.
Grade: 7/10