I adored The Watchmaker of Filigree Street and I was really excited by the prospect of this sequel reuniting us to the world of Mori and Thaniel.
I havI adored The Watchmaker of Filigree Street and I was really excited by the prospect of this sequel reuniting us to the world of Mori and Thaniel.
I have to say though, I struggled. I'm a quick reader and its very unusual for a novel to take me a fortnight, but the pace on this is so slow. In its favour I was never tempted to set it aside, but it seems incredibly languid and indulgent for a story that is at its core very exciting - Mori letting himself be captured, possibly even killed to set in motion a chain of events leading to the outcome he desires. Characters are good. I love autistic Six, and Mori's wife!!!! Pepperharrow is certainly something.
The Japanese setting is well realised. But the setting bogs this down - there's so much in here - LGBT drama as our hero has to come to terms with the fact his beloved is married! exploration of what it means to be gay in the Victorian era, ghosts - both future and past, political intrigue, murder, magical realism, technological exploration...
Enjoyable don't get me wrong, there's so much cool stuff in here, but I wanted a tighter plot and a greater sense of urgency. ...more
The first of two novels, this charts the teenage years of Alexander the Great and his relationship with Hephaestion.
It's really well researched and doThe first of two novels, this charts the teenage years of Alexander the Great and his relationship with Hephaestion.
It's really well researched and does a great job of evoking Ancient Macedonia -The supporting cast (Cassander, Ptolemy, Harpalus etc) are much how I picture them myself which is really pleasing and I love that this gives the A/H romance the attention it deserves. It's also refreshing to spend so much time in Mizea with Aristotle - Not much happens during this period and so most Alexander fiction is set later. once the battles kick in; it's rather nice to step back and look at his adolescence.
The problem is plot - lack thereof. Historically not much happens and not much happens in this novel either. While being a massive Alexander fan-girl I was content to wallow in the evocation of 3rd Century BC Macedonia, it does make this quite slow and i won't say dull (because this period fascinates me as much as the characters) but just not that exciting. Pacing's a bit all over the place and I'm not sure what the purpose was of the Dionysian mystery rite at the end - it seems a very weird way to end this.
My biggest annoyance however is the bold choice to use the original Greek forms for character and place names - Alexandros for Alexander, Aigyptos for Egypt, Myrtale for Olympias etc - Because the western spellings/pronunciation are so ingrained using the stranger sounding Greek slows the pace even further and seems to over complicate things merely for the sake of it. This is clearly aimed at a YA audience and so I find the choice doubly baffling - Because you want to encourage teens reading not put them off by making this harder than it needs to be.
Over all though I really enjoyed this. Story-wise It makes a nice companion piece to Mary Renault's Fire from Heaven and Judith Tarr's Bring down the Sun (the only other novel I can think of which refers to Olympias' original name as Myrtale). It's not got the heart-in-your-mouth sweeping romance of Fire from Heaven or something like Song of Achilles but it is a nice portrayal of m/m first love with the added impediment of royalty and the responsibilities that brings. ...more
**spoiler alert** So I adored The Watchmaker of Filigree Street and was very excited by the prospect of another novel from Natasha Pulley. This one's **spoiler alert** So I adored The Watchmaker of Filigree Street and was very excited by the prospect of another novel from Natasha Pulley. This one's set before Watchmaker, beginning in 1859 where our hero botanist Merrick Tremayne has been mouldering at home in a dilapidated Cornish estate after a leg injury. He gets sent into deepest Peru to bring back chinchona cuttings so that they can get Quinnine and avoid all the South American cartels controlling its supply. But evil drug lords are only one of the dangers - there are living statues known as Markayuq who kill anybody who invades their territory. Merrick has to trust in a cataleptic priest Raphael who himself is turning into a living statue to survive.
Where to start - I loved the setting and the magic realism/mythological threads in this - things like the Markayuq conversing through knot writing is fascinating.
loved the linking back to Watchmaker and it was nice to see Keita get a cameo appearance.
I also liked the main drive of the story - you have the dangerous adventure of smuggling out these cuttings and of course the mystery of his grandfather/father's connection to the tale.
However, the story meandered a bit too much for my liking and it wasn't nearly as tightly plotted or exciting as watchmaker. I didn't think the characters were nearly as engaging either - Merrick was a kind of Dr. Watson figure but after the initial set up I lost interest in him. Raphael I found hard to get a handle on and the romance just didn't quite convince me... they knew each other two weeks and yet Merrick's happy to wait 20 years for him to come out of his stasis? hmmmm. I also felt a bit uncomfortable with the idea that Raphael had been involved (in love with?) with Merrick's grandfather and could just transfer that affection onto Merrick.
The writing was good and this did keep me engaged but I think in some cases this is too subtle for its own good....more
It's rare for me to pick up a book where I can't even tell you what genre it is let alone predict the plot - but that's how I felt with The WatchmakerIt's rare for me to pick up a book where I can't even tell you what genre it is let alone predict the plot - but that's how I felt with The Watchmaker of Filigree Street. The hook is ingenious, a telegraph clerk receives a mysterious pocket watch and seeks it's maker when the alarm on it saves him from a bomb. An unconventional female scientist from Oxford also receives a watch and the story reveals the connections between these characters.
The biggest draw other than the intriguing premise is the characters themselves. Mr. Mori is fascinating and I love how the novel keeps you guessing right until the end whether he is a hero or a villain. The other highlight is of course the setting - it's Victorian London, Oxford and Japan but with a slightly magical extra where a clockwork octopus is perfectly normal, predicting the future and seeing sounds as colours are natural and weather can be bottled in glass phials.
The ending was totally not what I was expecting from the way this started out and I think some people might be disappointed with that, but I personally loved every minute of it....more
The Epic of Gilgamesh remains one of my all time favourite texts. Every time I read it I find something new and amazing.
Its the world's oldest piece The Epic of Gilgamesh remains one of my all time favourite texts. Every time I read it I find something new and amazing.
Its the world's oldest piece of fiction and has five stories centred around the mytho-historical Summerian king Gilgamesh. The most interesting of the tales is probably the flood which predates that of Genesis by about 1,000 years and yet has marked similarities.
Its also a wonderful source for stories featuring the Babylonian pantheon. The scene where Gilgamesh rejects Ishtar is priceless.
You can argue this is the first gay romance. When the gods create a companion for Gilgamesh, its not a woman but a man - Enkidu is Gilgamesh's equal in every sense "like him as his own reflection, his second self, stormy heart for stormy heart." - they go adventuring hand in hand and his dreams tell him that he "will love him like a woman and he will never forsake [him]" - His grief over Enkidu's death rivals that of Alexander the great over Hephaestion - there's a beautiful poetic eulogy and at a loss he then goes off on a quest for immortality.
This story has everything, adventure, tragedy, friendship, philosophy. Its just a shame that we only have fragments, still what we have is wonderful and a must read for anyone interested in myth and history. ...more
**spoiler alert** I have mixed feelings about this vampire novella so I'll start with the positives.
The writing isn't bad and is a hell of a lot more **spoiler alert** I have mixed feelings about this vampire novella so I'll start with the positives.
The writing isn't bad and is a hell of a lot more polished than similar works I've read in the genre.
I also adore the setting - vampires in Ancient Rome under the despotic reign of Nero.
The characters are solid, the forbidden star crossed lovers works really well. I actually cared about Tyberius and Mateus and what happened to them.
The turning sequence is actually pretty erotic and not bad at all.
So with all these great things about it - why only 2 stars? This is let down by plot and novella format.
What I wanted this to be was a m/m epic romance - heck we're promised from the cover a forbidden love that will never die. For 3/4 of the story I was hooked because that's exactly what this is - but then Mateus drinks hemlock - how very Romeo & Juliet! Tyberius, now a vampire is prevented from saving him. This is not satisfying to the reader and neither is the sudden jump to modern times at the end which I presume links this to the other stories in the series, but has nothing to do with the rest of the book. It's not even hinted at the beginning - we're straight in with our lovers in Rome.
As a stand alone Roman Rebel sucks. Its unsatisfying as a story - I'm not sure how it works in the series as a whole but since the other stories aren't set in Rome I think it might be quite a challenge to piece together the threads.
I can wish that Mateus was secretly saved by another vampire and our star crossed lovers might meet up in the future, but such a conclusion isn't even hinted at by this volume as it is.
Disappointing, although it's always a delight to see vampires in Ancient Rome and the Nero setting was great....more
Concluding volume of the yaoi pirate romance. Reunited at last, Alan and Patrick decide to continue Bergadoux's quest and get the relic back from the Concluding volume of the yaoi pirate romance. Reunited at last, Alan and Patrick decide to continue Bergadoux's quest and get the relic back from the Dutch pirates. They find Santiago, a marooned Spanish sailor on a desert island, who bears an uncanny resemblance to the late Bergadoux. Patrick becomes insanely jealous and it causes a rift between our two heroes.
Yaoi melodrama on the high seas, does exactly what you'd expect. I found Santiago's 'reveal' at the end weak and a total anticlimax. Over all story is so so and the artwork is rather basic. Not one of my favourites in the genre, but you could do worse than check it out....more
1st of a two part yaoi manga about pirates, freedom and love from the guys that gave us the far superior yaoi Gawain and the Green Knight short. Alan 1st of a two part yaoi manga about pirates, freedom and love from the guys that gave us the far superior yaoi Gawain and the Green Knight short. Alan and Patrick are in love but Alan's family disapprove so the pair run away and join the navy. Ian, in love with Patrick, shoots Alan during a pirate raid and tells Patrick his lover is dead. Alan gets rescued by pirates, the only conditions - he takes the captain as his lover and becomes a pirate himself! Meanwhile distraught over his lover's 'death' Patrick turns to Ian for comfort and swears death to all pirates...
This does exactly what it says on the tin. Its a gay love story on the high seas. Melodrama at its most predictable. I'm not over fond of the simple childish artwork either. You could do worse, but its not the best in the field. ...more
A rather odd volume in the Georgeous Carat universe this one is a stand alone gothic tale that has Florian convince Noir to help out one of his relatiA rather odd volume in the Georgeous Carat universe this one is a stand alone gothic tale that has Florian convince Noir to help out one of his relatives by actually buying some artwork. They get stuck in the mansion by a freak snow storm and of course family secrets and skelletons in the closet are revealed. This feels far too light for an incredibly dark story hinting at paedophilia and incest. The yaoi content is equally minimised although we do get Noir carrying an injured Florian and a fun cross-dressing interlude to round things off.
Somehow the series never quite ticks all the boxes for me, despite having great characters, and really nice artwork. ...more
Concluding volume of 4 - this one plays out like an Indiana Jones movie. Everyone's on the hunt for the secret trasure of the Knights Templar and poweConcluding volume of 4 - this one plays out like an Indiana Jones movie. Everyone's on the hunt for the secret trasure of the Knights Templar and power hungry villain Azura simply will not die! He's been shot, pushed off a cliff and still at large!
Really exciting story with fab locations, and excellent characters. My two criticisms are that the story is a tiny bit melodramatic and that there isn't enough yaoi content, its hinted at but never really in enough detail to appease yaoi fans. Great fun read though, if a bit lite....more
Yaoi anthology collecting together 7 stories about three sets of characters.
we have an eager trainee Ninja and his master who discover a school uniforYaoi anthology collecting together 7 stories about three sets of characters.
we have an eager trainee Ninja and his master who discover a school uniform fetish. Two Nnjas who discover loyalty to each other outweighs their loyalty for their boss and finally a youth and a snow demon.
PWP fluff, this is fairly sexy but with very little plot, emotion or substance. Not my favourite artwork, but by no means the worst I've seen. A fun light read that should satisfy yaoi fans. ...more
3rd of four volumes following the adventures of jewel thief Noir and impoverished aristocrat Florian. A really exciting and dark installment set in Mo3rd of four volumes following the adventures of jewel thief Noir and impoverished aristocrat Florian. A really exciting and dark installment set in Morocco. Noir is tortured at the hands of his once beloved Azura who is trying to force him to decode instructions to the location of the treasure of the Knights Templar. Azura tells him Florian is dead; he's not but is suffering from Amnesia. Solomon Sugar arrives in Morocco following leads about the Black Hand will he rescue our two heroes or will his obsession with catching Noir overshadow everything else?
Exciting story, if a tad melodramtic. Strong characters and a wonderful setting. Not bad at all. Can't wait for the concluding volume. ...more
2nd volume of 4, following the escapades of jewel thief Noir and impoverished aristocrat Florian. In this volume our heroes travel to Morocco as a fav2nd volume of 4, following the escapades of jewel thief Noir and impoverished aristocrat Florian. In this volume our heroes travel to Morocco as a favour to Noir's old friend Azura. Azura isn't the god Noir believes however and rapes Florian and gets him hooked on opium.
Exciting story if a bit malodramatic. Lovely artwork, will appeal to fans of things like Fake. Tame yaoi content considering how dark a turn the story has taken. Not bad at all though. Morocco setting is really nice variety. ...more
Bishonen manga set in turn of the century France - Follow the adventures of Noir, a cocky and talented jewel thief and Florian of the amethyst eyes, sBishonen manga set in turn of the century France - Follow the adventures of Noir, a cocky and talented jewel thief and Florian of the amethyst eyes, son of impoverished aristocrats and now living with Noir as payment for a debet.
In this volume we have two stories - how Florian and Noir meet, and then a 'case' story in which our heroes encounter the run away son of a bank manager who has jewels in his teddybear.
Will appeal to fans of things like Gerard and Jacques and Fake. Light on the yaoi content, but strong characters and fun stories make this enjoyable....more
Concluding volume of the fun historical master/servant romance set against the back drop of the French Revolution. Jaques mother survived the chaos anConcluding volume of the fun historical master/servant romance set against the back drop of the French Revolution. Jaques mother survived the chaos and has remarried, she asks her son to return to her. The second story has Gerard reunited with his wife's lover Raoul and the final story has Ropspierre's men after Gerard, now an erotic novelist because they object to his work.
Not bad, but very uneven in tone and feels really rushed - The story covers nearly a decade but all we see are snippets. I would have loved more development. The episodes run from erotic 'fluff' to melodrama worthy of Dangerous lliasons to historical fiction - the story where our boys are on the run goes into some depth about the events in France during the Revolution (which is great) but its quite a heavy contrast to the other stories which are far less serious.
Decent enough artwork and solid characters and story. Not the best of its genre but worth checking out. ...more
1st volume of a two part Master/Servant romance set just before the French Revolution.
Scarred Gerard meets aristocrat virgin Jacques in a brothel aft1st volume of a two part Master/Servant romance set just before the French Revolution.
Scarred Gerard meets aristocrat virgin Jacques in a brothel after his father has sold him to pay off debts. Gerard seduces him and then pays for his freedom. With nowhere else to go Jacques ends up working for Gerard and finds that his new master isn't nearly as brutish as he first thought. Years pass and Jacques becomes an indespensible servant hopelessly in love with his master who won't touch him now that he works for him. The second half gives us some of Gerard's past with his capricious wife and shows how he got his scar. Reminded me a little of Vanity Fair.
Not my favourite artwork, but a good story. Fans of this might also want to check out M.J Pearson's novel The Price of Temptation which has a similar master/servant concept. ...more
Third volume of the yaoi romance series following the love of Prince Christian and his knight bodyguard Zeke. The main characters are good, but I founThird volume of the yaoi romance series following the love of Prince Christian and his knight bodyguard Zeke. The main characters are good, but I found it increasingly hard to keep track of the supporting cast. Set against a back drop of political intrigue and constant double-crossing and weaving back and forth between flashbacks pertaining to various characters the story is quite hard to follow and frankly not interesting enough to make me care that much. There is also no humour to this which makes it a bit dull. This particular volume wasn't very sexy or romantic either - our protagonists are bogged down with angst and the story is bogged down with politics.
Artwork is pretty average. There is apparently a 4th volume, but I can't seem to track it down and this volume didn't inspire me to be too disappointed about that. Black Knight is an OK series and those out there that like epic historically set yaoi will probably enjoy it, but its not one of my favourites. ...more
2nd volume follows the romance between Prince Christian and his bodyguard Zeke. Christian decides he's going to be a willing hostage in an attempt to 2nd volume follows the romance between Prince Christian and his bodyguard Zeke. Christian decides he's going to be a willing hostage in an attempt to make peace with their warring neighbours, Zeke and his father object.
The second half of the book is a flashback backstory dealing with Christian's father and how he meets and falls for his wife.
Average artwork and an overly complicated story are the down sides to this manga. Setting and main characters are great. This particular volume mixes m/m and m/f romance which might deter some readers. There are also a lot of characters, who all look pretty similar to try and keep track of....more
1st of 3 volumes following the love story between young Prince Christian and his loyal guardsman, Zeke (the Black Knight of the title) - love the two 1st of 3 volumes following the love story between young Prince Christian and his loyal guardsman, Zeke (the Black Knight of the title) - love the two leads and the setting, but found the story very complicated. You've got different sets of asassins milling around, flashbacks, and its also confusing that some characters refer to the prince as Chris and others as Jeremy. Not my favourite artwork either, but not bad.
There's a bonus story at the end - romance between a lonely priest and a novelist poet he met on the internet. ...more
Concluding second volume of the lovely yaoi romance of the mercinary guardian and the servant decoy of the prince he's out to protect. Beautiful artwoConcluding second volume of the lovely yaoi romance of the mercinary guardian and the servant decoy of the prince he's out to protect. Beautiful artwork, believable characters, engaging story with a super cute epilogue giving the fate of the other characters. The bonus story deals with the romance between another mercinary and a fox-spirit sex slave he kidnaps. Artwork on the second story isn't as detailed or "pretty" but its not bad and the story's sweet....more
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