With any other story I would scream 'MENTAL DISORDER WARNING' but this read as a lovely fairytale. More Disney than Grimm but both warm my heart. ( )

Brute has spent most of his life alone. Most people find him frightening due to his height and his background. But when he risks his life to save the life of the prince, he is rewarded with a new job in the palace and a total change in his station. His new job is a mysterious one, however. He is tasked with guarding a single prisoner, Gray Leynham. Rumor has it that Gray, who is blind and can barely speak due to a severe stutter, is a powerful witch and traitor to the kingdom. Gray is plagued by terrible nightmares--nightmares that Brute learns have a tendency to come true. As Brute learns more about Gray from the man himself, however, he finds out the truth of Gray's fate. And he also begins to understand that life does not necessarily need to be defined by what people expect of you and sometimes it is in doing the unexpected that one gets the chance to truly live.

There are some heavy moments here, and I personally wished that some things would have turned out better than they did. But there's also something refreshing about characters reaching points in there story that work, even if those points don't come together perfectly. Life is full of challenges, after all. Kim Fielding has a way of bringing characters to life on the page, and I certainly saw that same magic at work here as I was fixed to the book from pretty much the very beginning right on through to the end. ( )

Reading this book was like meeting an old friend for the first time. It felt comforting and familiar, like I'd loved it for years and knew every beat by heart. And even better than the fantasy books of my childhood I could legitimately feel this kind of nostalgia for, in this story gay people exist and sex is a part of life. ( )

Saccharine mm love story fantasy for those that can sometimes feel unlovable. ( )

This is a sweet romance set in a world where magic and other fantasy elements are common (and homosexuality is apparently mostly accepted). Brute is a hulking, ugly giant. Orphaned as a young boy, he has had to work most of his life doing menial labor. He can neither read nor write, and he doesn't really see a life outside of the small town where his presence is only barely tolerated. All of that changes when he saves Prince Alfrid's life quite unexpectedly. Although Brute loses his left hand, he gains a much better paying job in the royal city as a guard to a very special prisoner.

Gray Leynham is blind, almost rendered mute by a stutter, and has horrible dreams of people's deaths almost every night. He is not used to being treated kindly by his guards, but Brute is different. Brute feeds him well, doesn't mistreat him, gives him blankets, and begins to fall in love with him. But Gray is rumored to be a witch and a traitor.

I don't say this often, but I really could have gone for more sex in the book, haha. Most of it happens "off page," although there are a few brief scenes between Gray and Brute/Aric. This kind of gave the book a more young adult vibe to it, which I'm not opposed to necessarily - I just wanted to kick it up a notch or two. ;)

I did like the slow build between the two of them; neither of them are looking for love, and it takes a while for them to get there. Brute/Aric is incredibly sweet as a main character, and I loved the elements of Beauty and the Beast and various giant folktales woven into the story.

I felt like the ending was just a little too expected, but I didn't really mind, because I so wanted these two to have a happy ending.

I also liked how Brute, who had been alone and mistreated most of his life, began to develop confidence and made several good friends during the book. The book didn't just revolve around his relationship with Gray; it showed some quality character development, and I really liked that.

Definitely recommended. ( )