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The Spy Prince Of Basadesh
The Spy Prince of Bashadesh, by H.M. Heath, is a captivating fantasy romance that follows Arjun, a prince on a covert mission to save his homeland from the ruthless forces of Zorvyaka. As his country faces the brink of destruction, Arjun infiltrates the enemy’s stronghold, assuming the guise of a servant with the intention of crippling Zorvyaka from within. His mission takes an unexpected twist when he is assigned to serve the high wizard, Eldrin Glaser, the very man responsible for his nation’s suffering. As Arjun navigates the perilous world of espionage, he finds himself wrestling with conflicting loyalties. On the one hand, his duty to Bashadesh drives him forward, but on the other, he’s drawn to Eldrin, a man far more complicated than he initially believed. Their undeniable chemistry slowly shifts the dynamic between them, with Eldrin, too, feeling the pull of attraction despite their opposing roles in the brutal war. Secrets begin to unravel, and as passions ignite, both men are forced to confront the delicate balance between loyalty and the powerful connection growing between them.
What immediately hooked me about The Spy Prince of Bashadesh is its intriguing blend of spy thriller and romance. Arjun’s undercover mission creates an ongoing tension that propels the plot forward, and his evolving relationship with Eldrin keeps you eagerly turning pages. The enemies-to-lovers arc is compelling, though I did wish for a bit more sophistication in the espionage aspects. Nonetheless, the undeniable chemistry between Arjun and Eldrin stands out as one of the novel’s strengths. Their romance develops quickly but given the book’s lighter tone I think it works well within the narrative’s framework.
At its core, I think this is a YA/NA fantasy, and while the stakes are high, the prose remains accessible and easy to digest, making the book an enjoyable and brisk read. A standout element of the story is the depth of Eldrin’s character. As a wizard thrust into a position of authority because of his magical abilities, Eldrin finds himself politically sidelined. This adds a nuanced layer to the story. He and Arjun grapple with the limitations imposed on them by the war and the complex power dynamics they’re entangled in, which enriches their individual arcs.
The Spy Prince of Bashadesh excels in delivering a gripping, tension-filled romance set against a backdrop of political intrigue. Fans of LGBT fantasy will find much to enjoy, especially with the well-crafted emotional depth and the evolving relationship at the heart of the story. It’s a promising start to what could become a great series, and I’ll definitely be eager to pick up the next installment.
Page: 286 : ASIN : B0D1VN2P3V
Ternary
Ternary, by Kristin L Stamper, is a story about the cyborg Elora Cussons. Despite her not asking to be turned into a cyborg, she is brought to trial, Cussons vs. Humanity, to determine if she is human or machine. In an attempt to show she’s human, Elora accidentally traps a dead man’s consciousness in her cybernetic brain. Now, she has to be an intermediary between him and his husband while keeping her own heart out of it. And in a world where she faces fear and hate, Elora learns the true meaning of love and what it means to be human.
Stamper does a great job of dropping the reader into the action and into Elora’s head. We get to know her through what she sees, says, and actions. While I’m not a fan of the first-person perspective, I believe that Stamper did a great job with it. There’s the love story between Gareth and Bertie, and this is a big part of the whole novel. But when it comes down to it, Ternary is Elora’s story. I genuinely believe that the third-person perspective wouldn’t have done this story justice, especially if Stamper switched POV’s like some authors do.
I enjoyed reading this story. It flowed well. Stamper showed a world where humans have made technological advances over what we have today. We are shown that humans are now tolerant of marriage between men. They are even tolerant of a close relationship between three people. Though Stamper handles this in an unusual way, with the consciousness of one person sharing a body with another person, and they marry or remarry the man they both love.
But on the other hand, humans still fear and hate what is considered alien to them. Stamper doesn’t go into much detail about the Great Human-AI War that happened. Because of this war, AI’s, robots, and cyborgs are feared and hated. Enough that mobs and vigilantes attack Elora and try to kill her. Stamper brings an intriguing future alive that explores fear, hate, and mobs. It’s about dealing with someone who is different than us but still loves and can be hurt.
Ternary is a highly original novel that has action, romance, and philosophy mixed in with the drama. The cyborg and technology aspects will entertain readers of science fiction.
Pages: 285 | ASIN : B094ZDQ5YZ
LITERARY TITAN 