Captive Prince

Well, this week Captive Prince ate my brain. It’s a two-volume set, ending in a cliffhanger, available at Kindle, Nook, Kobo and maybe elsewhere.  Over the course of two books, you get to watch two princes, who are enemies, fall in love—in a convincing, complex, and wholly satisfying way. I’m collecting links below, mostly so I can refer to them myself, but also for anyone whose interest is piqued.

Warning: The first half of the first book is difficult to read, with abuse and rape, on page and off.

Different posts in different places have talked about it and the discussion has been fascinating:

• Janine reviews Captive Prince at Dear Author
• Vacuous Minx has notes here and here, about Orientalism and slavery among others things (lots of spoilers everywhere)
• Coffee and Ink has interesting things to say in this post and this post
  
• Joanna Chambers posts some thoughts on CP
• Romance Around the Corner posts a review

So now I’m kind of casting around in terms of what to read next. It’s been a bit of a strange reading year for me. In that I’ve been reading very little, but when I am reading the book has been very long (or very short) and very impressive, if not, well, eating my brain. And it’s all been m/m when I usually mix things up more.

Books I’ve read that bring to mind Captive Prince, or vice versa:

1. The Rifter by Ginn Hale. Portal fantasy. Follows two men from very different places with their slow-build, slow-burn romance, despite the fact one man is supposed to kill the other. Lots of UST. Lots of danger. Super highly recommended :)
2. Fingersmith by Sarah Waters. Victorian England setting. Betrayal and reversals when Sue sets off to help a con man seduce Maud, a wealthy heiress, and develops feelings for Maud herself.
3. Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner. Politics and intrigue. Fantasy world with no magic. Swordfights and men in love. Excellent sequel with The Privilege of the Sword.
4. The Thief by Megan Whelan Turner. No romance, but if you love how Captive Prince uses point of view to reveal and hide what is really going on, this might appeal. Political intrigue and an appealing, clever protagonist. (Romance arrives in later books.)
5. Inversions by Iain M. Banks. I should really reread this before I put it on the list. Yet, the stranger entering into a foreign court and trying to figure out what is going on plays out here. Yes, it’s a Culture novel and therefore science fiction but has fantasy trappings.
6. Lymond series by Dorothy Dunnett. If you loved Laurent, Lymond is his predecessor. Not only that, if you make it to book 5, you’ll have a long-in-the-making romance over the next two (long) books.

If I think of more, I’ll add them! If anyone else has suggestions, I’d love to hear them.

Immersive Reads

I’m slowly making my way through The Rifter. I’ve reached Book 8, so that was far enough to read some reviews of it at Dear Author. And in one of those reviews Sunita talks about it being an immersive read. Which got me thinking about my immersive reads. So I thought I’d list them here. In no particular order.

1. The Rifter by Ginn Hale. (Of course.) My mother always read books slowly like she didn’t want them to end. I’m usually at the other end of the spectrum, where I need to finish and find out what happened. But with The Rifter being quite long, and having convenient stopping places, I am enjoying my time with the story. And I think about the characters quite a lot.

2. The Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett. This was only immersive for me during a reread. I stopped and started the series during my first read-through. But my reread was one right after another, and not only that, I read Lymond directly after reading Dunnett’s House of Niccolo series, Lymond’s prequel. I think Lymond may be my most intense and satisfying read ever. Be warned: Book 4 ripped my heart out.

3. Adrien English by Josh Lanyon. Watching Adrien and Jake slowly get together (and break apart) while solving mysteries captivated me. I can’t say why these guys became so real to me, but they were. It’s interesting to me that this is the only contemporary series on this list. I reread the first two books more than once, and straight through the series once book 4 was released. I still remember the day I started on book 4.

4. Crossroads Trilogy by Kate Elliott. Though this wasn’t a reread like the others, the series was immersive for me. In part because these are three long books; in part because Elliott creates a complex high-fantasy world that drew me in. I was so taken by the giant magic eagles bonded to their humans, as well as the winged horses. And there was lots of creative, thoughtful world-building beyond that.

Oddly these are all from the past ten years of reading, but I’m quite sure I had immersive reads before that! I just can’t think of them. I know that if my series reading is spread out over time it doesn’t have quite the same effect, even if I can’t wait to read the next installment. (The Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold comes to mind.)

Reading The Rifter, and other books

I’m reading The Rifter by Ginn Hale. It’s a serialized story that came out in 2011. Since I’m not reading it all that quickly now—time constraints—I rather wish I’d read it as it was released. Certainly each episode (ten novellas in total) keeps up the tension, each installment makes me want to read the next. So it would have been fun anticipating the next one as it was released.

I’m not too regretful though, given I’m thoroughly enjoying it now. I’ve finished book three, Black Bones. So don’t spoil me! I’m avoiding any posts about it till I complete the entire book, at which point I’ll go visit Dear Author, which reviewed the bulk of it, and its GoodReads page.

I’m quite worried about the characters. I’m engrossed, the world fascinates me, and I can’t wait to see how the different pieces of the story fit together. But the characters seem in quite a bit of danger in a way that kind of hooks into my chest and makes me fret for them. We will see what book four brings.

But this type of worry reminds me of when I read The Charioteer by Mary Renault. That book rather wrung my heart out—for different reasons. The danger to the characters is entirely different, given the settings (portal fantasy vs. post-WWII England), but neither place is the easiest place for gay men. I think it says something about the writing and the story when the characters come so alive for me that I am concerned for their well-being.

This happens to me less in the romance genre. The Rifter is fantasy and The Charioteer is general fiction (and contemporary for its time). I guess when it’s full-on romance, if you will, I can’t quite escape the knowledge that the two main characters are heading for an HEA.

Don’t get me wrong, I love romance for its structure and its HEA. But it’s been a long while since I fretted about characters in it like this. I do think that used to happen to me with early Susan Elizabeth Phillips, actually, and some Laura Kinsale, but I’m trying to remember others! I’ll have to think on it.

Thursday links

This is basically stuff that interested me in the past week, some of it reading material.

• Kate Elliott has some new books out in digital (USA/Canada only). I devoured her Crossroads trilogy (beginning with Spirit Gate) and thoroughly enjoyed Cold Magic (DABWAHA contender), and I intend to read its sequels. Now I can easily pick up King’s Dragon, which won the Nebula.
• Malinda Lo is asking, for YA Pride, if you know of a 2013 YA novel with LGBTQ characters. Lots of interesting novels listed. I’m not a big reader of YA, but some have piqued my interest, including a selkie one named Teeth.
• I don’t read a lot of non-fiction, and hardly ever online, but Vanity Fair’s The Expendables by William Langewiesche, about the French Foreign Legion was fascinating and well written. (Via Sandra McDonald.)
• Liz at Something More is doing a book club thingy on Vicki Essex’s Superromance, Back to the Good Fortune Diner. Chinese-American heroine has piqued interest in this book, and it’s getting good buzz elsewhere too.
• Kate Elliott again, where she discusses Falling Into Books. I love getting so caught up that nothing else exists in the moment of reading except this place and these people that another mind has fashioned and sparked with an odd sort of life. She cites Susanna Kearsley and Ben Aaronovitch.
• I find it hard to concentrate when I read short stories online, but this one, Selkie Stories Are for Losers by Sofia Samatar, sucked me in. I hate selkie stories. They’re always about how you went up to the attic to look for a book, and you found a disgusting old coat and brought it downstairs between finger and thumb and said “What’s this?”, and you never saw your mom again.

Favorite 2012 reads

There were a few standout reads in 2012. I didn’t make as many notes as usual about my reading, so my comments are a bit sparse. In order read:

• A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant

This debut got great buzz and, in my opinion, for good reason. Regency countryside setting, with a heroine on a mission and an appealing hero. Bad sex before good sex.

• Irregulars by Nicole Kimberling, Josh Lanyon, Astrad Amara and Ginn Hale

Terrific anthology of collected novellas by four very strong writers of spec fic.

• Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas

I couldn’t put this contemporary romance down. Damaged heroine, patient hero, convincing story arc.

• Easy by Tamarra Webber

Perhaps my favorite read of 2012, which surprised me, as the hero and heroine are college-aged and I am usually drawn to older protagonists. Another book with a lot of deserved buzz. Webber writes convincingly and compellingly.

(Interestingly to me, the second two books had first-person point of view, which I enjoy quite a lot.)

Those were my four A reads. I also highly rated:
Santa Olivia by Jacqueline Carey (post-apoc with a f/f romance)
For Your Pleasure by Meredith Duran (Georgian-set romance)
A Beautiful Place to Die by Malla Nunn (South African mystery, mid-1900s)
The Stranger’s Child by Alan Hollinghurst (historical fiction that moves from 1913 forward)
Untraceable by Laura Griffin (RS heavy on the suspense)

2012 Reading Stats

This year has been a tough one in many ways. But I have high hopes for 2013, and I hope to do more writing, reading and blogging. I still like to go over my reading stats for the year, though I’ve read less than ever!

Total books read (includes shorts to novels): 45

2012 books read in 2012: 15 (so 1/3)

Breakdown by genre:

30 Romance 8 Contemporary 7 Romantic suspense 7 Historical 5 M/M 2 SFF 1 Paranormal

15 Non-romance 5 Urban fantasy 3 YA 3 Historical 2 Fantasy 1 Mystery 1 Non-fiction

I reread the Patricia Briggs’s Alpha and Omega series early in the year, in preparation for Fair Game, which I found very rewarding. That comprised the bulk of my UF reading.

The bulk of my m/m reading was fantasy, and mostly Blind Eye Books with Irregulars and Lord of the White Hell. Also very rewarding.

Romantic suspense really worked for me, though I was focused on two authors only—or because I was focused on two authors—Laura Griffin and Jill Sorenson.

Cecilia Grant was a terrific discovery with both her 2012 releases.

I did read three or possibly four New Adult books but I’ve folded them into other genres, mostly romance.

My historical fiction reading fizzled out despite it going great guns in late 2011. I was disappointed by most of what I tried this year.

My ratings stats. (Just to note, I put aside books easily, so no low ratings. I didn’t rate my rereads.)
4 As
29 Bs
9 Cs
1 DNF

Next post I’ll talk a bit about the books I loved best. Though I have fewer As than usual, I had a lot of B pluses. And there’s honestly not always a lot of space between a B plus and an A minus.

Reading Goals in 2012

Every time I write or see 2012, I’m surprised afresh. I just can’t believe it, but it’s here!

I was comparing my reading stats, this year’s and last year’s, in which I read 54 books. It’s actually hard to know if I read more or less because book length varies so. I figure it’s about the same. As always, I hope to read more.

Last year I was also surprised I didn’t read more paranormal romance, so I guess this is a pattern!

I planned to read more Jo Goodman and Ginn Hale, and didn’t so I need to rectify that. I did finish the Drakon series by Shana Abé. I read the new Patricia Briggs—and I’m sure will do so again. I wanted to read more books in genres outside romance, which I did. But I didn’t read more historical romance, futuristic romance or romantic suspense.

I continue to find Dear Author a gold mine when it comes to book recs. I actually appreciate all of their reviewers, though the one who’s probably most influential in my reading is Sunita. As well, if I’m looking for mystery or suspense, Keishon’s blog, Yet Another Crime Fiction Blog, has gotten me books I’ve enjoyed. But these aren’t the only reader blogs that influence me! I can’t possibly link them all. I’m just so glad there are people out there talking about their reading. Makes my world better.

So, reading goals for 2012.

1. Authors to read again: Jo Goodman, Ginn Hale, Harper Fox, Mary Renault, Meredith Duran
2. Authors I’ll continue to read: Patricia Briggs, Josh Lanyon, Kate Elliott, Sharon Shinn, Sherry Thomas
3. Books that have piqued my interest: A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant, The Lady’s Secret by Joanna Chambers, Wight Mischief by JL Merrow
4. New-to-me authors I’m excited about: Sarah Waters, Michael Connelly, Stieg Larsson, Ilona Andrews
5. Series to continue reading:
   1. Millenium by Stieg Larsson
   2. Harry Bosch series by Michael Connelly
   3. The Edge by Ilona Andrews
   4. Spiritwalker by Kate Elliott
   5. Petit Morts by Jordan Castillo Price, Josh Lanyon and others
   6. Regeneration series by Pat Barker
   7. Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega series by Patricia Briggs
6. Series to try:
   1. Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews
   2. Lupi series by Eileen Wilks

Favorite reads of 2011

This is the order in which they were read.

1. Spirit Gate by Kate Elliott. My first foray into Elliott’s works is book one of the Crossroads trilogy—high fantasy with strong characterization and world building. She had me at the opening, which focuses on the world of Reeves and their eagles. These eagles are huge and bonded psychically to their Reeve, who rides them. It’s an intricate relationship, an intricate world. And that world opens up to a large cast of characters. First of three books, and they’re all strong. (All read in 2011.)
2. Come Unto These Yellow Sands by Josh Lanyon. I’m a big fan of this author’s work, and for me this was his standout read in 2011. Contemporary romance, with a side dish of mystery. Told in third person, all from the point of view of one of the heroes, Swift, a poet and reformed drug addict. His relationship with the sheriff, Max, is threatened when he gets involved in a case. Emotional, intense and extremely well written.
3. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larrson. I was a bit behind the times but eventually succumbed. A little slow to begin, this quickly became a page-turning read. Lizbeth (the girl with the dragon tattoo) was the star, but the heart of the mystery also captured my attention and she was well-matched by Blomkvist, the disgraced journalist who is asked to discover what happened to the niece of a rich old man.
4. On the Edge by Ilona Andrews. My first Andrews, I adored the world’s setup. Most of the action takes place in the Edge, which lies between the Broken (basically our world) and the Weird (a kind of high-fantasy world). Rose lives in the Edge and believes Declan from the Weird has come to claim her because of her powers. She resists, he doesn’t leave, and they begin to learn a lot more about each other. Also, Rose’s two young brothers are fantastic, even, I believe, for those who don’t like children in their books.
5. The Demon’s Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan. I became besotted by this book. I turned around and reread it, which I hardly ever do. This is YA, which I hardly ever read. It focuses on two orphaned, on-the-run brothers who live in a world of demons and magic. The story is told entirely from the point of view of the younger, more violent brother who clearly has trouble understanding people. The author uses this point of view to great effect as the story unfolds, and the climactic ending is absolutely stellar.
6. Mystery of the Tempest by Sam Cameron. YA mystery, a kind of Hardy boys for teens, though in this case the brothers are twins, one gay, one straight, both keeping secrets. When a yacht blows up in Fisher Key harbor, Stephen and Denny try to solve the mystery while simultaneously trying to figure out their love lives. A sweet romance develops between Brian (who’s out) and Denny (who’s in the closet). Very smartly written, engaging characters, hard to put down. (Full disclosure: I am a friend of the author’s.)
7. The Charioteer by Mary Renault. Reviewed here. Affecting, haunting, set in WWII. Classic gay fiction.
8. Regeneration by Pat Barker. Set in a WWI hospital where a Dr. Rivers treats patients such as Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfrid Owen—in order to send them back to the front. Those three people were real, but there are also fictional characters, eg. Billy Prior whose story continues in the sequels. I actually thought I might bounce off this book, given the material, but the writing pulled me right in. Watching these young men struggle with shell-shock and its attendant problems is heartrending. Watching Rivers work to make them well enough to return to France is difficult, but I couldn’t look away. I found the second book, The Eye in the Door, as engrossing and will be reading the third, The Ghost Road.
9. Fingersmith by Sarah Waters. I have this giddy new-to-me-author feeling upon finishing Fingersmith. Historical crime fiction—this was an immersive read. Fantastic setting (seamier side of Victorian England), strong characterization (and pretty flawed characters at that), twists galore. Twists take a careful hand, but these were incredibly satisfying. There’s a light romance, emphasis on the light, but it is critical.

I’m able to think of 5 of these 9 books as romance, at least in terms of having a romantic throughline. Same with all of the HMs below.

Honorable Mentions:
Song of Scarabaeus by Sara Creasy
Troubled Waters by Sharon Shinn
Cold Magic by Kate Elliot
Winter Knights by Harper Fox

2011 Reading Stats

I read 49 books in 2011. I’m pretty happy with that number, though I’d like to read more next year. A number of these reads were short stories or novellas. However, a number of them were thick books too.

I’m going to do a followup post where I list my favorite reads of 2011. Here it’s all about the stats.

Of the 49 books read:
28 romance
21 non-romance

In romance I read:	****	In other genres I read:
15 contemporary romance 6 historical romance 2 fantasy romance 2 romantic suspense 1 paranormal romance 1 science fiction romance		8 fantasy 4 urban fantasy 4 mystery/suspense 3 historical fiction 2 science fiction

I was surprised I only read 1 paranormal romance, but the line between urban fantasy and paranormal romance is a little thin. Also Ilona Andrews’ The Edge series has paranormal-romance elements but I classified it as fantasy.

I read 16 gay romance and 3 gay fiction.

I read 3 YA.

My late-year push was into historical fiction, which I really haven’t read much of.

I don’t think I read any Canlit or Canadian-set books this year, which surprised me.

I did 2 rereads, one of a book I read years ago, The Charioteer by Mary Renault, one where I turned around and reread the book immediately, The Demon’s Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan.

My ratings stats. (Just to note, I put aside books easily, so no low ratings.)
9 As
16 Bs
8 Cs

My non-romance books tend to get higher ratings. Not because I think the romance genre isn’t as good as any other genre. There are three things going on there, I believe:
1) I’m more likely to put down a non-romance book rather than read through and give it a C.
2) I’m more likely to pick up non-romance books that have been highly lauded and/or which I have reason to think will appeal to me. I’m more adventurous with romance.
3) There’s the “freshness” factor. A different genre offers me something I haven’t read for a while. Whereas if I read as deeply in, say, mystery/suspense as I did romance, I wouldn’t be struck by certain tropes or characters or plot twists.

I’m pretty pleased with all the books I did enjoy, and next I’ll write about my fave reads of 2011.

The Charioteer by Mary Renault

I read The Charioteer a number of years ago and thought it was wonderful. I always meant to read more Mary Renault, but instead I’ve read The Charioteer again—when I’m not much of a rereader.

I think there’s a couple of things going on. First off, Renault is not available in digital. I can of course buy print books, but it takes more effort, and I’m less likely to get around to it. Also, the other Renaults that get significant attention seem to be set in ancient Greece. I’m not against such a setting, but because I loved The Charioteer so much, I’d be more likely to pick up another book in that era. (Basically contemporary for her, I know.)

Anyway, the book itself. I can cast it as a romance, as the major throughline is the relationship between two men. But as a genre, it’s more gay fiction than romance. (Not that romance existed as a genre back then.) It’s also a love triangle.

The book opens with a powerful and sensitively written scene about a boy (five-year-old Laurie) who understands, if not that clearly, that his family life is about to change irrevocably. His father leaves that night, and he never sees him again. It then jumps forward to his teen years and his saying goodbye to Ralph (known at that point as Lanyon) who’s been booted out of school because of a scandal.

The final time jump is to Laurie recovering from a very serious leg wound in a hospital, or hospital-like facility. (I’ll admit to some fuzziness about both boarding school and medical institution terms.)

Spoilers follow.