Gaven (Gaven, #1)

4.5 stars

For some reason I was expected Sci-Fi M/M, but this is medieval M/M. (Not sure where I stuffed up :)

I really enjoyed this story; it engaged right from the start and didn't let go. I just wish it was a fraction longer so that I knew read more of Gaven's acceptance into this new life and more on his interactions with Vlad. I loved that the book was focused more on Gaven's journey, his honour and bravery; not on a straight, unrealistic mate-bond.

Fortunately, I note this is the first in the series, so without a doubt, I'll read the next installment :)

I like this story. We are introduced to a hurt Gaven who has been raised as a peasant almost and finds out he is more than that. He was destined for than just the pittance his lord gave him. He learns his entire life was a lie at the tender age of seventeen. He finds out the tribe/group/Masarians, the enemies he was told to despise is actually his people.

And get this, he's the son of their warlord, Gareth! Vlar, the second in command who scares Gaven also wants to...mate with him too, become his lover, master, teacher. But Gaven has been raised that man/man love was wrong and can not wrap his head around it. He fights what his father's soldiers tell him and almost gets raped because of his folly. We (the readers) get some paranormal show more aspects to this story as well as a few different genre elements which made for a solid read.

But...

Here's one of my pet peeves that I found in the story...

Gaven has blues eyes. It's one of the main identifiers for him since his daddy, Gareth has blue eyes too. The author establishes this from the get go. Then somewhere in the book the father's eyes change to being green and then it's back to blue later on in the story.

Sigh.

It's a pet peeve of mine because it makes me feel the author forgets characteristics of their own characters.

But I'm getting sidetracked - I enjoyed the fantastical, historical edge J.C. Owen created. I liked the world the author introduced me too. i will read the next books in this series because I am intrigued with Vlar and want to know more about his kind...and Gaven too. show less

Great book. I fell in love with the characters within the first few pages. The world was richly developed and the story line kept me hooked to the end.

Alright, so doing a reread 3+ years after the first...revised this down to 3 stars. Yes, I do so love me some rape and torture, but this and its sequel are not that good quality story-telling or writing. Plot holes and questions never answered, characters acting radically different here and there, unsatisfying shit I had to ignore...

Yes, I still like it, but it kind of goes from hardcore with problems to mush with problems, and it's also a bit blah. Hope this all makes sense outside of my brain!

One of those books that's either 4 stars or 2 stars, depending on the mood.