Rating: 4.75 stars
Buy Links: Amazon | All Romance | Amazon UK
Length: Novel
Lyon has spent fifteen years hiding away in his little stone house in a remote village. He used to be a sorcerer, working under an experienced mage until something went horribly wrong and Lyon barely escaped with his life. His sanity still seems a little bit uncertain. It has taken years for Lyon to get to the point where he could remove the bars from his windows or have a brief chat with a delivery boy at his door. But he rarely leaves his house or interacts with anyone, and is still tormented by nightmares and even thoughts of suicide.
When Tobin knocks on the door one day, Lyon is surprised to see his old childhood friend. Tobin was a soldier who become one of the King’s Voice after injury, and he has come to tell Lyon that the king has summoned him to come and help with a translation. Tobin is shocked to discover the translator he was sent to find is Lyon, as he had believed the man long dead. Lyon still has affection for his old friend, but even that is not enough to get him to willingly leave his home and sanctuary. But finally Tobin manages to convince Lyon that he has no choice but to follow the king’s request.
As the two travel to the capital, they slowly rekindle the close friendship they shared as young men. Lyon is still plagued by fears at traveling away from home and suffers frequent nightmares, but finds is is able to share a bit of his past with Tobin. Still, being around other people is difficult, especially when they are arrive at the bustling court. It turns out the king has some critical intelligence, but no one is able to understand the language of the messenger but Lyon. Although he agrees to help, things are not as simple as they seem and soon Lyon is tangled deeper than he ever imagined in sorcery he had hoped to leave behind him. His old nightmares seem to be turning into a reality as the magic spells lose control and suddenly Lyon isn’t sure he can make it safely past this task to have the future his has started to dream about with Tobin.
I read this book for Genre Week as part of our September Reading Challenge Month. I decided to pick a fantasy story as this is a genre I seldom read. What is funny is that I almost always enjoy the rare fantasy books I try, but I have a really hard time making it past the blurbs to actually pick up the book. I saw this one listed on Goodreads under fantasy recommendations and decided to give it a try based on its great reviews and the good things I have heard about author Kaje Harper. And I am thrilled to say I totally loved it.
This story has so many elements that really appeal to me. I love a good road trip story and the early parts of this book definitely have that vibe as Tobin and Lyon make the journey to the capital. I loved seeing Lyon slowly let down his guard and be able to relax with Tobin and they rekindled their friendship. He is so scared and this whole thing is so overwhelming for him, but he is incredibly brave and pushes forward anyway. Tobin is the most sweetly patient man, always giving Lyon the space he needs, even as Tobin feels such a strong attraction. Along those lines, the story also has a lovely lovers reunited feel to it. Technically these guys were just friends, but there was a mutual interest that was never able to be explored. So it is lovely to see them together again and able to reconnect as friends and then develop their romantic feelings for one another.
Harper also does a wonderful job incorporating the magical elements here, and the story becomes one that combines magic, ghosts, politics and intrigue, and lots of excitement. I don’t want to get into too much detail about the task Lyon needs to undertake for the king, because I loved how it all unfolds and I don’t want to spoil anything. But Lyon takes on a job that would have been impossibly beyond him just weeks before and manages to be brave enough to take on the challenge in order to help save his kingdom. I loved watching his transformation, and adored seeing how sweetly Tobin supports him and makes it possible for Lyon to be brave enough to go on. The story is twisty and clever and gets very exciting. I was glued to the pages and couldn’t put it down.
So I absolutely loved this story and definitely am glad I gave it a try. It is sweet and sexy and very romantic. I just adored Lyon and Tobin together and found them such a great couple. I loved seeing Lyon come back to life under Tobin’s tender care and for the two of them to find their way back to one another. Just wonderful and highly recommended.
P.S. Just another note here — this story was written as part of the Don’t Read in the Closet event in M/M Romance Group on Goodreads. That project has readers submitting pictures with story prompts and authors pick a prompt as the basis of their story. So this was written as a free story and is still available free at a variety of retailers (including Amazon and ARe). Harper describes the original photo and prompt at the start of the book and you can find the picture itself if you are a member of that group.
This review is part of our September Reading Challenge Month for Genre Challenge Week! Leave a relevant comment below and you will be entered to win this week’s fabulous prize of all 12 books released in September, plus an audiobook, from Less Than Three Press, as well as our amazing grand prize sponsored by Riptide Publishing. You can get more information on our Challenge Month here, and more details on Genre Challenge Week here. And be sure to check out our prize post for more about the awesome prizes!
Great review, Jay! I like fantasy, but it is not one genre I read very frequently. After reading your review I’ve decided to read Nor Iron Bars a Cage along with you this week. I’m really intrigued by the mixture of road trip, friends to lovers, second chances and mystery in this book. And with magic on top of it! It sounds really appealing. So I’ve already downloaded it to my ebook. Thank you for the review!
Yay! I think you will enjoy it. It is fantasy, but also has a lot of other elements. And plus FREE! I look forward to hearing what you think!
I am so glad you loved Nor Iron Bars a Cage. I love fantasy and also Kaje Harper’s writing and remember being blown away that she gave us this amazing book for free. I would be all over a follow-up if she were to write one.
Yes, most of these GR stories are very short but this is over 100K words if I am remembering correctly. Definitely a full length novel for free!
I’d been holding off because it sounded so intense, but I’ll definitely pick it up now!
Yes, let me know what you think. I don’t think it was too heavy. I mean definitely some intense moments, but generally not a heavy tone.
This was one of the few mm-fantasy novels that I read in the last year and I just loved it. (Years ago, before I started reading mm stories, I read very much fantasy, since then not so much. Really don’t know why…)
I know almost all of Kaje Harper’s books, she is one of my automatic-buy-authors, and I was really surprised with a pure fantasy setting. I didn’t expect it in a book by Kaje Harper, if that makes sense.
But it’s sooo worth reading it. It’s a great and moving story with great characters and I would highly recommend it to everyone, even people who hesitate with fantasy-stuff.
Fantasy isn’t my favorite genre either, but this one I have read, and reading your review made my recollection of the events you’re not mentioning all coming back to me. At the time I read it – two years ago now – I was hospitalized for a longer period of time and I think it changed my opinion of the story and of all the stories I read at the time, for the worse I’m sad to say. I remember enjoying it, but having a difficult time really getting into it, despite the fact that I have read other Harper novels prior to this, as well as others after it and liked them better.
I do remember reading this inthe DRitC event but can’t really remember much of the story – Kaje’s are usually my favourites each year! I think this wasn’t up there for me because of the fantasy elements so I think I’ll give it another read.
Yes, check it out. I think it is very accessible, even to those (like me) who rarely read fantasy.
Great review. I’ve been getting into fantasy more lately. The magical element sounds very cool. I’ll add this one to my TBR list.
One of these days, I’ll give this a re-read. Kaje is one of those authors I know I’ll like whatever she’s penned. Doesn’t matter if it’s something I don’t normally get into. Her offering for DRITC this year is about a trans MC which I very seldom read for very intense personal reasons; however I know that Kaje will have done excellent research into the subject and will have approached it in a manner that will be sensitive and will not put me off her work.
I love how she’s able to bring her characters to life while incorporating sensitive and sometimes painful subject matters.
I haven’t read this one, yet, but I’ve had it for quite a while now and will definitely have to get to it sooner! (I don’t even understand why I read some books right away and others not.) I haven’t read all of Kaje Harper’s books, but they always work for me. If you want to try another free one that’s full-length though a completely different genre, I’d suggest Into Deep Waters. I read it last year (in mid-September coincidentally), and I absolutely loved it. It moves from historical to contemporary, starting with two young men meeting on a navy ship right before WWII starts. How does she write such wonderful free full-length novels? Thanks for reminding me I have this one to look forward to, Jay!
Oh thanks for the tip Carolyn! I will be sure to look for that one!
I absolutely loved this one. I think I’ve loved everything I’ve ever read by Kaje Harper. Great review, Thanks. 🙂
Love fantasy, and this is one of my all time favorites. I love it when I see others enjoyed it too!
Wow, this looks right up my alley. I love fantasy, and I love a good road trip story. Will add to my TBR!
This is one of my favourites. I went on a Kaje Harper binge awhile back and stumbled across this one. I’m not much for fantasy, but knowing it was written by Harper, I decided to give it a try.
I am so happy that I did! I recommend it to people all the time. Happy to know it’s still attracting new readers.
This one has been on my kindle for ages. I love fantasy and I really enjoy Kaje Harper’s stories, so I don’t know why I haven’t read it yet. I’m moving it up on the list. Thanks for your great review!
Oh good! Hope you enjoy it and definitely let me know what you think!
I’m another who only rarely reads fantasy but generally enjoy it when I do. I’ve had this title sitting in my Mt. St. E-Pile for quite some time now. I’m now much more eager to read it. Thanks for a thoughtful review.
Yes, I think I just have to get over the hurdle of actually picking them up, lol. Because I tend to enjoy what I read. I hope you like this one when you give it a try!
I love fantasy and know it’s not for everyone. I’m glad to hear you give it a read and liked it a lot. I haven’t gotten to it yet but have enjoyed Kaje other works =)
Just bought this one the other day. Fantasy is not normally a genre I read, but I will have to bump this one up on my TBR list. Thanks for the great review.
Oh good! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Great review, Jay! This is another one I’ve had forever but never read (that happens a lot with free books). I love Kaje Harper’s writing and friends to lovers romances are a favorite, so I’ll definitely be moving it up to the top of the TBR pile!
Oh good! Definitely let me know what you think!
I’m a fan of Kaje Harper but this one has been sitting on my TBR pile since fantasy is not a genre I typically read. Like many of the other commenters, your review might just help me move this one up the list. Thanks
So glad! I hope you enjoy it!
I love this one, I can’t believe the great stories Kaje Harper donates to the Romance Group! I like Fantasy novels but they really aren’t something I read very often. I have to be in a certain mood I suppose. But when I find one I’m interested in I usually like them!
I love Kaje Harper’s stories, but avoided this one due to the fantasy aspect. I definitely want to give it a read after this review. Thanks!
Oh good! Let me know what you think!