Rating: 4 stars
Buy Link: Amazon | iBooks | Amazon UK
Length: Novel
Outgoing Aster has no trouble meeting people. His job has him discussing details of the newest sex toys with ease, but he can’t find the right man. Aster longs for a Dom, someone that he can give his heart and body to, along with his trust. While on a trip to Montreal, Aster meets Vanor, a man who is everything Aster thinks he has ever wanted. Vanor wants Aster to trust him and gives him a trusted safeword, “winter,” as they spend one extraordinary night together. But in the morning, Vanor disappears right before Aster’s eyes. With no choice and no idea what is going on, Aster goes home to Vermont.
It’s months later and Aster simply cannot forget Vanor. It’s then that Vanor appears in the middle of a snowstorm, naked and freezing, but he can’t stay. Two men also appear to take Vanor away and Vanor has no free will and no choice but to go with them. It’s not long before Aster learns of another world that humans aren’t supposed to see. A world that may call to Aster for many reasons and a world from which he needs to save Vanor, so they can share they life they so desperately want together.
For New-to-Me Author Week in our Reading Challenge Month, I did well in this first challenge. M. Raiya writes an intriguing tale, with flowing, sensual prose; intriguing characters; and a unique story.
Aster and Vanor spend one night together and their connection is remarkable for having just met. Vanor is everything Aster has ever wanted; he wants his own Dom, he wants to submit, and he longs for a special connection. He cannot figure out how Vanor is taking charge the way he is, but he’s too caught up in the moment to give it too much thought.
Aster is an interesting character. He overcame bullying in school and now he wears his hair how he wants, wears the clothes he wants, and wearing makeup sometimes is all just part of his appeal. He is now living life on his own terms, but he certainly wants a man of his own. And, Aster is stronger than even he knows, and he is the true hero of the book.
The original appeal of this story for me was the mention of Vanor inexplicably disappearing. The book is fairly well layered and Raiya keeps the intrigue high by not only giving out just a little information at a time, but by also adding more to all Aster has to absorb and adapt to. The intimate scenes between Aster and Vanor added a bit of D/s, but were also descriptive, sensual, and evocative in tone. There’s not much else I would be willing to explain about this book in detail in order for other readers to come in with a fresh perspective.
When the world Vanor lives in is revealed, I needed more. I needed more throughout the entire book from him, his father, and several other areas that I can’t call out. I needed to know a lot more specifics of what happened to Vanor when he disappeared, and I needed much more detail on Vanor’s full history to truly pull this all together for me. The ending as well, with Vanor, seemed to fold in on itself and I needed more there as well. Again, I can’t call it all out, but I needed more world building and more justice. But, there were many parts that I did enjoy, specifically the characters. And, if M. Raiya were to write another book in this series, as there is still a lot to explore, I would be all in and would also look into any future releases from this author.
This review is part of our Reading Challenge Month for New-To-Me Author Week! Leave a relevant comment below and you will be entered to win one of six $20 gift cards to NineStar Press. Commenters will also be entered to win our amazing grand prize sponsored by Dreamspinner Press (a Kindle Fire filled with Dreamspun Desires/Beyond books, plus a 3-month subscription!). You can get more information on our Challenge Month here, and more details on New-To-Me Author Week here, including a list of all the books in this week’s prize.
Well, I have to say this sounds pretty damn intriguing! I don’t usually go for books with dom/sub elements, but I like the fantastical/supernatural stuff that you described. Cool review!
Thanks so much Sara. The D/s aspect here is on the milder side.
Oooh! How intriguing! I’ll certainly add this one to my TBR pile! Thank you for the review, Michelle
Thanks for joining us for the challenge.
I’ve been curious about this one, good to know more!
I was curious too which ultimately made me choose it. Thanks Trix!
Interesting and intriguing story.
This sounds intriguing. Books don’t need to be perfect for me to read them and I do like mystery and alternate worlds.
I hear you. Thanks for commenting.
{My comments keep disappearing today, so my apologies if this is a duplicate.} Winter sounds tantalizing, Michelle, and now I’m wondering if Valor might be an alien or a djinn or …. Thanks for the review!
Oh it’s better to find out as you read. Thanks for following the challenge!
Yay for finding something good for this week’s challenge, Michelle!! I am not interested enough with the blurb but I haven’t read M. Raiya before. So maybe I’ll check out Raiya’s other books if I want to try the works.
Thanks Ami.
Now i’m curious having read your review. The one concern i have is that you mentioned that you needed more world building and more justice, more of everything really. I hope this book doesn’t leave the reader with more questions instead of answers? Thank you for your review, it got me interested.
There’s a lot to take in with what’s presented and while I would have liked more in some areas it may not be the same for everyone. Thanks for participating in the challenge.
Maybe it will be revealed in layers in later books. I would like that.
I haven’t seen anything showing that it actually is a series but there would certainly be more to explore. Thanks Lennis.
I’ve had a book by M. Raiya on my Kindle for years but have never gotten around to reading it. I’ll probably move it closer to the top of my TBR pile because this one sounds good. Glad to hear that the D/s is fairly mild. 🙂
Thanks Barbra!
Very intriguing. Thanks for the review.
Love M. Raiya stories and so glad you reviewed her book since I don’t think she gets enough of them. I haven’t read this one yet and am looking forward to giving it a read even if there isn’t enough world building.
That’s great to hear. It certainly may read differently for you. Thanks for commenting.
Isn’t it funny what will draw you in or what will turn you off in a book. I’m going to be completely superficial here and say that if I couldn’t stand reading the names “Vanor” and “Aster” for the whole of your review then I’m not going to make it through an actual story with them. I’m glad Winter was a good choice for you, Michelle, and I hope there are continuing stories in the series that let you find more of what you wanted from this one.
Hope you find something that works for you!
I’m normally not very interested in books about D/s but you had me with a “unique story”. Your review sounds really intriguing!
I’m not sure if I’ve ever read a D/S dynamic with a fantasy element before. I’m a sucker for amnesia stories though!