Open Thread for Readers for March 2021
Misc / Need A Rec!book-pimp / Open Thread / Promotion4 Comments
Got a book you want to talk about? Frustrated with a book or series? In love with a new one? Found a buried treasure? An issue that keeps popping up in the books you are reading? Just want to chat about stuff in general?
I have to squee about a series (and author) I was unfamiliar with but recently read and loved: The excellent, immersive m/m INTO THE FIRE by Mia West. It consists of eleven interconnected novellas and short stories (published between 2014 and 2017) that chart the decades-long relationship between Marcus, a former soldier, and Wolfram, a blacksmith, as they work to build a small community into a thriving village in the years immediately following the fall of the Roman Empire (late 5th century C.E.). I loved the epic sweep of this story that begins with Marcus returning to his garrison town home in Germania after 20 years in the Roman army. He hopes to see his foster father, a blacksmith, once more. But he arrives at the town to find it deserted, his foster father dead, and Wolfram—a man Marcus knew when they both were teenagers—the new blacksmith. The two men throw in their lot together, traveling across Gaul to the coast of Brittany where they become part of a group of people living together in a crumbling Roman fort. As the years go by, they become leaders in their small village, eventually adopting an orphaned boy (who, over the course of the story, grows to manhood, marries, and becomes a father himself). I’m not gonna lie, when, late in the book, the settlement is threatened, I was anxiously turning the pages, hoping things would be resolved in the heroes’ favor; but through it all, their love remains strong and true. A brilliant depiction of Europe just on the verge of the Dark Ages, before the Christianity completed its domination of the area. Also, for those who are interested in alternate views of the Arthurian legend, INTO THE FIRE leads directly into West’s SONS OF BRITAIN series, with Arthur being one of Marcus & Wolfram’s grandsons. My favorite reads of 2021 so far. Highly recommended.
The series does sound good, @DDD, so thanks for the recommendation. I already have several of the books on my Kindle; I should move them up my list. For others who might be interested, the set that @DDD mentions is currently 99¢ for US Kindle readers.
@DiscoDollyDeb: That sounds really different and interesting. Maybe I’ll give it a try.
@Kareni: Oooh, 99 cents. I’m off to jump on that.
@DiscoDollyDeb: I agree — that looks great. Thanks for the rec. :)