This was very reminiscent of the Conan books but with a gay twist. While Conan was homoerotic this book went further. Adder and Bracken were hot! I loved the coarse and tough warrior king loving. I have to admit to hating the cover art though it seems that the author uses it as a trademark. This fantasy work had it all from mythical creatures to magical rites. ( )

Bracken, the leader and great warrior of Lakoneh, is in trouble. The war between Lakoneh and Munus has been taxing, but has now come to an abrupt end with Bracken's defeat and capture. And as custom dictates, Bracken will now become part of the Kept, a male harem belonging to Adder, King of Munus. It's not something Bracken is very excited about, but the rules of war are rules that any honorable warrior and leader will follow. Despite the circumstances, Bracken and Adder are actually afforded an opportunity to get to know each other that may help them understand the truth of why their peoples went to war in the first place. And they just might discover something else in each other at the same time.

There are definitely some unexpected twists and turns in this story. There are forces outside of these two leaders that have manipulated things to get them into the situation in which they now find themselves. And those forces might not be planning to stop, not quite satisfied with where things are. And the fantasy elements of this story and the history of the world that comes through as the plot goes on certainly add to this well-developed story.

Content warning: dubious consent ( )