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katikatI've felt like reading a gay book once again. And a fantasy one at the same time too. Thus I ended up choosing "The Winged Assassin" by Catherine Cooke. Please, don't heed the reviewer on Amazon. This book is really excellent and since it's the first book in a trilogy, I can't wait to start the second one.
The book is set in a world similar to the stories of "One Thousand and One Nights" and it describes the story of Arris j'Arreyta, the youngest son of a general and the Crimson Goddess' dreamed-lover. His mother is Yaighan, a member a race who has been waiting for thousand years for their Crimson Goddess to wake up, but his father is a trusted man of the Khalifate that conquered the Yaighan a couple of years ago. Arris himself was born because the Goddess wanted the perfect lover and so she has dreamed him up and caused him to be born. Arris is also best friends with the Khalifate prince Saresha... But one day, Arris' father is accused of killing the Khalif and so the nine-year-old boy has to run for his life.
It was so exciting to read about his journey. He returns to his mother's people only to find out that they want to use him for their own plans. He runs again only to be caught by slave traders and sold to the harem of the Emperor Hareku. There he becomes a love slave of the Emperor and a skilled assassin too. He feels quite happy in his master's arms though the desire to avenge his father is a heavy burden for him.
I liked this book immensely. It's not your lovey-dovey story where the main hero would sigh and pine after his love interest. Sure, Arris falls in love with the musician girl Danae but after being brought up in a harem, he sees no harm in sharing the bed of others. He loves Hareku but fears him at the same time because the Sacred One, as they call Hareku, can be rather whimsical. And he feels desire for Saresha, but cannot forgive the prince that he chased him, Arris, out of the palace and believed that Arris' family caused the Khalif's death. Arris loves men and women and he sees nothing bad in sleeping with both.
Also the Gods and Goddesses of this book are interesting. The Crimson Goddess is not a poor harmless creature but a blood-thirsty, manipulative daemon that reminds me of the Gods in old India.
This book was truly exciting and I was almost flying through the pages. But be warned: As I said, it's the first book of a trilogy so it ends more or less with a cliffhanger. It's been so long since I've read a fantasy gay book. There aren't enough of them out there! This one deserves 4,5 stars out of five!
The book is set in a world similar to the stories of "One Thousand and One Nights" and it describes the story of Arris j'Arreyta, the youngest son of a general and the Crimson Goddess' dreamed-lover. His mother is Yaighan, a member a race who has been waiting for thousand years for their Crimson Goddess to wake up, but his father is a trusted man of the Khalifate that conquered the Yaighan a couple of years ago. Arris himself was born because the Goddess wanted the perfect lover and so she has dreamed him up and caused him to be born. Arris is also best friends with the Khalifate prince Saresha... But one day, Arris' father is accused of killing the Khalif and so the nine-year-old boy has to run for his life.
It was so exciting to read about his journey. He returns to his mother's people only to find out that they want to use him for their own plans. He runs again only to be caught by slave traders and sold to the harem of the Emperor Hareku. There he becomes a love slave of the Emperor and a skilled assassin too. He feels quite happy in his master's arms though the desire to avenge his father is a heavy burden for him.
I liked this book immensely. It's not your lovey-dovey story where the main hero would sigh and pine after his love interest. Sure, Arris falls in love with the musician girl Danae but after being brought up in a harem, he sees no harm in sharing the bed of others. He loves Hareku but fears him at the same time because the Sacred One, as they call Hareku, can be rather whimsical. And he feels desire for Saresha, but cannot forgive the prince that he chased him, Arris, out of the palace and believed that Arris' family caused the Khalif's death. Arris loves men and women and he sees nothing bad in sleeping with both.
Also the Gods and Goddesses of this book are interesting. The Crimson Goddess is not a poor harmless creature but a blood-thirsty, manipulative daemon that reminds me of the Gods in old India.
This book was truly exciting and I was almost flying through the pages. But be warned: As I said, it's the first book of a trilogy so it ends more or less with a cliffhanger. It's been so long since I've read a fantasy gay book. There aren't enough of them out there! This one deserves 4,5 stars out of five!
