Blurb: Twenty-five years ago, the hand of fate marked four newborns and sent them to the four corners of the Great Kingdoms. They were schooled and trained as rulers of their lands in preparation for the Golden Eclipse ceremony: a festival to celebrate a thousand years of peace and prosperity since the Great War.
Crow, ruler of Northlands, a skilled swordsman and expert tactician, is as reclusive and stoic as the mountains that surround him. Tancho has spent his life in strict discipline, governing the Westlands with a fair mind and gentle hand. Quiet and unassuming, yet lethal in combat, he is the embodiment of the waters he lives by.
Yet the same hand of fate unknowingly linked Tancho to Crow in ways they cannot comprehend. Ruled by the stars, the brother sun and the two sister moons above them, and marked by an alchemical sorcery as old as time, their destinies were never their own.
As the eclipse draws near and the festival begins, word comes of another threat. Invaders from unknown lands bring a war no one was prepared for, and Crow and Tancho must decide on which side of the battle line they stand.
In life or death, their destinies will see them joined either way.
Lacuna is a story about four kingdoms, each with a destined ruler who has to come together for a once in a lifetime ceremony, and that is when the shit hits the fan for everyone involved, particularly for the stoic Crow, ruler of Northlands, and the feisty ruler of the Westlands, Tancho.
Tancho and Crown are both excellent main characters. They are very charming, and from the get-go, despite being forced to be together, the chemistry is there. I do love the side characters, too – the fun that they add to the story, and trust, there are many funny moments. I also loved the development of their relationship throughout the story.
Although I’ve to say that the best thing about the story is its worldbuilding, the author did an excellent job in taking us into these ‘four corners of the Great Kingdoms’ with such a refreshing interpretation of the elements – the vivid description of each kingdom is just beyond.
The story’s pacing flowed nicely, and it also feels very short at 368 pages, so it was a quick read for me that I finished it in a day.
I would’ve given this a 5-star rating if not for the hasty resolution, but I’m excited because there’s more to explore in this world and with N.R. Walker, we all know she could easily spin something from this world that would be as good as this story! This is something I’d recommend for those who are into fantasy-romance novels!
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Kindle Edition, 366 pagesPublished October 23rd 2020 by Blue Heart Press
About The Author
N.R. Walker is an Australian author, who loves her genre of gay romance. She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it, but wouldn’t have it any other way. She is many things; a mother, a wife, a sister, a writer. She has pretty, pretty boys who live in her head, who don’t let her sleep at night unless she gives them life with words.
She likes it when they do dirty, dirty things… but likes it even more when they fall in love.
She used to think having people in her head talking to her was weird, until one day she happened across other writers who told her it was normal. She’s been writing ever since.
PADDYLAST INC. 