Genre: Sci-Fantasy, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay, Bi , Poly
Reviewer: Serena
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About The Book
A swashbuckling adventure? An epic romance between three men? Characters that feel so real they virtually jump off the pages? A succession war between competing noble Houses except it’s set in space? Diplomatic complications and interplanetary rivalries? Sign me up! It has been a while since I have read such an amazing story, and I was spellbound by this one from the first page. I followed the adventures with bated breath and even when the three heroes (for that is what they are) seemed to relax in-between all their shenanigans, I was still waiting for the next surprise to come interrupt their explorations of a slow-building relationship.
The worldbuilding in this novel is excellent. While I have not read any of the other Virasana books it was not difficult to figure out how this world works. The short version: it’s complicated. The longer version: you’ll have to read this book for yourself. The various Houses and chivalrous knights make it feel like the Middle Ages, but because people from different planets are involved and various interesting technologies are involved, it’s clear that this is a space opera. An epic one, the drama alone makes it worth reading this book.
Prince Li Lan Tô-Genji, as the third son of the Duke of Qufu, should be a fairly unimportant character. His family certainly pays him no heed! His role as a scholar and historian fits him like a proverbial glove because he is curious, super intelligent, and very well informed. He is less enamored with the very strict etiquette on his planet, but he is able to use it to his advantage more than once. Li Lan also takes the first opportunity to leave everything behind because he wants to do the right thing and, clearly, following his House’s strict regulations will get him nowhere.
Sir Wilhelm Grebenstein is the “classic” heroic knight, knows how to fight with a sword, and is definitely not interested in politics. His House maligns loving relationships between men, So when he falls for Li Lan, Wilhelm does not quite know how to deal with his growing feelings. But being the straightforward, honest man he is, he denies nothing and “muddles through” as best he can.
Sir Saïd is also a knight, but of a different caliber than Wilhelm. He is also honorable, but his code, being a Medina, is more practical and sometimes self-serving. He is very passionate about everything, especially Li Lan once he gets to know him better. Saïd would have never expected the seemingly harmless Li Lan to free him from the cage Li Lan’s family have put him in, but he is extremely grateful and determined to protect his savior at all costs.
The three men have different moral backgrounds, so finding their way as a throuple is not easy. Saïd has a background of acceptance of all kinds of sexuality, but neither Wilhelm nor Li Lan come with a background that allows them to understand, never mind accept, their developing emotions for two other men. Meanwhile, they are on the run and hunted by very powerful factions, so working out how they relate to one another is not an easy task. But it was fun for me as a reader to follow them along!
If you like the idea of “aristocrats in space”, if throuples are your thing, and if you’re looking for a story that is as entertaining as it is suspenseful, then you will probably like this novel as much as I do. Recommended for everyone who wants to be swept away by a pair of masterful storytellers.
Note: This review originally appeared on Rainbow Book Reviews here. Shared with permission.
The Reviewer
I am a writer and reviewer for Rainbow Book Reviews and other sites. I currently live in Ireland, sharing my house with a vast collection of books. I like reading, traveling, spending time with my nieces and listening to classical music. I have a passion for science and learning new languages.