W. A. Hoffman

I loved this book so much! More than the prequel, even. Then what’s my excuse for taking so long to finish it?

The thing is, I put Matelots on hold for more than a month. And I had a good reason for doing that (or so I thought…). It wasn’t anything serious, I just had an issue with the unexpected and unwanted ‘finding a bride’ arc and basically chickened out before it reached the neat and very satisfying solution; there’s NO cheating/sharing a partner! Well, there is, kind of, but show more not when it comes to Gaston and Will. Ugh. I hate giving out spoilers, but I don’t want people tossing it because of something that ultimately doesn’t even happen, so there you have it.

The relationship development in both Brethren and Matelots is insane (pun intended) and it keeps getting better. How’s that possible? I’ve no idea, but I’m enjoying it so much that I DON’T CARE! Will and Gaston’s relationship is unlike anything else I’ve ever encountered. They understand each other (and each other’s Problems) on a very deep, instinctive level. The amount of trust between them is just unbelievable, but conversely, so is their potential to hurt one another — however unwittingly that may occur.

Their love has been undeniable since the first book, but because of their personal Problems, the more physical aspects of their relationship were tricky for the longest time. But there was an epic breakthrough here! Epic, I tell you. The unexpected — I feel like everyone concerned was equally surprised — and somewhat low-key (for now…?) power exchange dynamic suits them so well. Considering their past, it makes a lot of sense, but it also complicates things for them…

I should also mention that I absolutely LOVE the way they actually TALK with each other. They’re the poster boys for open and honest communication. When it comes to that, they’re #RelationshipGoals, as far as I’m concerned. Even though it’s no walk in the park, those two centaurs keep pulling their chariot and don’t give up…

In my review I focused on the romance, because I’m still in awe of those two. But while this is definitely a relationship-driven series, it’s also action-packed and filled with vibrant supporting characters, who have their own problems (of much less epic proportions, hence the lowercase) and are every bit as crucial to the story as our MCs.

Let’s just say that I’ve fallen back in love with this awesome series! I also feel like I share Will’s brain, which is a strange and wonderful experience in and of itself. I love that guy. show less

When I saw that Raised by Wolves is one of TJ Klune’s favorite m/m romance series, I knew I had to read it. And sure enough, this is historical romance/adventure at its finest. It’s a lengthy read, and a first installment in a reeeaaally long-ass series. I like long books, but considering the genre and my sometimes not-so-great attention span, I was afraid I might get bored halfway through. WRONG! There is not one boring moment in this book.

Will (aka John Williams) and Gaston are two show more extremely scarred people who are still dealing with the aftermath of their past experiences. They're beautifully complicated characters, and they work so well together - they’re like two pieces of a whole, complimenting each other in many different ways. I liked that there’s no insta-love in this. The way their relationship progresses - the gradual build-up of trust and affection and the deepening intimacy - is just so freaking genuine. It’s definitely one of the highlights of this book.

This isn’t an easy read by any means. It addresses some serious issues such as past rape & abuse, PTSD, etc, and is one of the angstiest and slowest burns I’ve ever read. It’s not all so dark as it may seem, though, and the plot is actually super entertaining. Will is an excellent narrator with a very interesting worldview and I loved being in his head. All the pirate shenanigans provide an excellent balance to the complex character & relationship development, and the dynamics among the Brethren are something else entirely!

Let me just say that before reading this, I had no particularly strong feelings about pirates, one way or another, but now I want to become one. show less

The first in a projected trilogy, Brethren is historical fiction at it's FINEST. A rich epic set in the Caribbean in the late 1600's, this is the story of the roguish William Marsdale. Readers will be hooked from the first page. Will left home to escape an abusive relationship, and to see the world. He becomes an accomplished swordsman and duelist, as well as a seasoned traveller. When he finally returns home to England, he is sent by his father to Jamaica to manage a new sugar plantation. show more Of course, he promptly puts someone in charge of it and joins a buccaneer crew! Buccaneer's have some "questionable" traditions, such at Matelotage. It is a partnership between two men to support each other in battle, share responsibilities and to provide company. These relationships were often sexual, but not always. Will unintentionally finds himself with a matelot. The bitter-sweet love that develops between he and Gaston is believable and has great potential (which is explored in Volume 2).

The cast of supporting characters are all fully developed and help propel the storyline as well as provide humor. Hoffman has done a lot of research into the time period and subject matter and it shows. The dialog and language is representative of the time, and extremely well written. Her descriptions of the world and people are detailed without bogging a reader down. With a a lot of action, and an engrossing plot, this is a fantastic adventure story. I read this massive novel in only two days and can hardly wait for the rest of the trilogy. I can not recommend this series enough!! show less

Treasure took me longer to read than the first two books simply because I kept rereading passages because they were so damn good! Right from the beginning I was hooked. What I liked best was how this novel really focused on Will and Gaston, with the men confronting issues and examining their relationship. The men do not go roving until near the very end of the book. Most of the story takes place on land, where they deal with family, their plans for the future and conspiracies that threaten show more them all. There is a lot of angst in the story; the two do a lot of soul-searching and talking, and they have a LOT of sex (woohoo!). Far more than I found in the first two novels together, though still not as graphic as most gay romance/erotica. I also think their love reached a new level, and the two finally became one.

When I got 2/3 through the book, I browsed Amazon and saw the negative reviews about this volume and how women “intruded” into Will and Gaston’s gay relationship. Now that I have finished, I have to completely disagree. Gaston really was the focus of this book, despite Will being the narrator, and I think that was so he could exercise his demons in preparation for the final book. Will’s problems with his father are the heart of the overarching plot to all four books. Naturally, the final volume will bring that to a resolution. Will must come to terms with Shane, his father and his past. But, he will need Gaston there to support him, and I don’t think Gaston would have been capable to do so if he hadn’t gone through the events in Treasure.

Gaston’s father comes to Port Royal to make amends with his son. Naturally, it is not that easy and he has other motives. But, his arrival forces Gaston to face his fears and decide what he wants for the future. He loves Will, and can’t live without him. But, he does want his title and he does want children. Both of which mean he will need to marry. Dissatisfied readers didn’t like this development, but it made sense to the story and more importantly, the time period. These two could not just fall in love and live happily ever after. Sodomy is a handing offense, and they are well-known, high-born men (whether they inherit or not). They must build a wall for the outside world to see, while remaining true to one another behind it. Will wishes neither of them had to be married, yet he understand the necessity and so did I. In the previous books, Gaston faced his fear of whips and overcame impotence with Will’s help. So, I had no issue with the sexual experimentation Gaston and Will engaged in with a female character. It was obvious they didn’t love her, or her them. They had a goal – to have Gaston face his demons from the night he killed his sister and his father beat him with a whip. He is both angry at and attracted to women; not a good combination for a man who truly has a mental illness. These scenes not only helped him overcome that, they showed him how important Will, and their sexual relationship, is to him. One of my favorite scenes late in the book is when Will wakes to overhear a conversation between Gaston and his father. His father wants to know how Gaston can engage in sex with Will if he doesn’t really favor men. Will’s reaction to what he hears, and his words to Gaston, were more touching than anything I have read in gay romance. It firmly cemented their commitment to one another without doing a disservice to the sacrifices and issues they have faced. The author has said she wanted this series to be more than a simple” boy meets boy, they have a few problems, they ride off into the sunset together.” She has succeeded beautifully. This is an expansive historical epic, with a wonderful love story (not just a gay romance) at the heart. Will and Gaston live in a real and dangerous world, and as they say often in this book, “we will do what we must” to endure together.

Though I found this to be a real page turner, I did have a couple of very minor criticisms. Will and Gaston work through many of their issues using their animal metaphor (the Horse, wolves, centaurs, etc.) just as in the previous books. However, I think it was overdone and a bit tedious at times in this volume. Since the men spend so much time engaged in conversation, and observation of those around them, they use it a great deal. Sometimes I needed to reread to see just what they meant. Secondly, I felt the resolution of Alonso’s unwelcome presence was way too predictable. I knew exactly what was going ot happen with him. That said, I felt neither of these things diminished the book in any way. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will now agonize over the long wait for volume 4.

I can’t recommend this book enough! show less