A m/m romance trilogy: A review

A lot of people might be a touch surprised to hear that I read m/m or gay romance, but I’m here to tell you that this trilogy is one of the sweetest and loving romances that I have read (that includes m/m, f/f or m/f romance!). It pales into insignificance that the two protagonists are both male. All I could feel from them was a warmth and love that all couples should share, regardless of their gender.

I have just finished the final book in the Ennek Series by Kim Fielding. Kim primarily writes gay fiction and she has a total of 13 books out at the moment. I have only read three of her books, but I will be reading more I can assure you. All her books are currently available on Amazon for a range of prices from $0.99 up to $6.99 for her newer books.

The Ennek series is a fantasy and adventure tale – it delves into Ennek’s life. He is the youngest son of the Chief of Praesidium. It explores magic, politics, human emotion, action and adventure and wraps it all up nicely with a bit of romance.

Be warned that the synopsis of each subsequent book may contain slight spoilers, so if book 1 sounds interesting and you think you might like to read them, perhaps shut your eyes for the second and third books. 🙂

Stasis (Book #1)

Synopsis: Praesidium is the most prosperous city-state in the world, due not only to its location at the mouth of a great bay, but also to its strict laws, stringently enforced. Ordinary criminals become bond-slaves, but the Wizard places traitors in Stasis, a dreamless frozen state.

Ennek is the Chief’s younger son. He has grown up without much of a purpose, a man who cannot fulfill his true desires and who skates on the edge of the law. But he is also haunted by the plight of one man, a prisoner for whom Stasis appears to be a truly horrible fate. If Ennek is to save that prisoner, he must explore Praesidium’s deepest secrets as well as his own.

Thoughts: 224 pages. It’s been a year almost to the day since I first experienced Kim’s incredible world of fantasy. Her writing is poetic and just about leaps off the page for you to ingest. It took me two days to finish this book.

Review: Considering this was written in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), which I didn’t know when I picked it up to read, I was more than surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I didn’t think that something of this magnitude could be completely created in one month… absolutely brilliant Kim!

With an interesting twist on Magic and Wizards, crossed with a semi-modern world that is infused with strict laws and rather harsh punishments, Stasis captured my imagination and thrust it deeply into the emotional turmoil that is Ennek’s life.

I felt drawn to Ennek and his plight through Stasis and wanted to scream in frustration, cry out his sorrows and rejoice in his happiness along with him.

The somewhat constant, yet, subdued theme of gay romance was very tastefully done. The tenderness, caring and passion that Kim created between the male characters’ of Stasis and the budding romance that was the result is something truly to be marvelled at.

I’m off to purchase and read the sequel Flux.

Flux (Book #2)

Synopsis: Ennek, the son of Praesidium’s Chief, has rescued Miner from a terrible fate: suspension in a dreamless frozen state called Stasis, the punishment for traitors. As the two men flee Praesidium by sea, their adventures are only beginning. Although they may be free from the tyranny of their homeland, new difficulties await them as Miner faces the continuing consequences of his slavery and Ennek struggles with controlling his newfound powers as a wizard. In this sequel to Stasis, the fugitives encounter challenges both human and magical as they explore new lands and their deepening relationship with each other.

Thoughts: 208 pages. I started this book the same day I finished Stasis. I finished it the next day. Easy to read and practically edible in how quickly I scoffed it down!

Review: Flux delved further into the twisted world that Ennek and Miner live and love in. With even more magic and mystery than Stasis, Flux certainly caters for those who enjoy a tantalising amount of action, but ties it down with a good amount of inner reflection of the characters and a hefty dash of emotional sweetener. I felt this part of Ennek’s and Miner’s tale was sadder and deeper than in Stasis, but every bit as enjoyable.

I did notice a few minor editing issues on the kindle version of this story (an annoying one was a H under every new chapter title! Strange!). It didn’t detract from the story being told, but they were noticeable.

This part of Ennek’s development was somewhat more troubling and darker than in Stasis, but I felt that Miner’s counterbalance was a welcome addition to the story and it helped to make them both more real to me.

I am looking forward to the third installment, as mentioned in the author’s notes at the end of the book.

Thank you for another beautifully constructed and emotional roller coaster ride with Ennek and Miner, Kim!

Equipoise (Book #3)

Synopsis: Ennek, the son of the Chief, and Miner, a former slave, have escaped the totalitarian city-state of Praesidium and remain fugitives. Having defeated two mighty wizards, they begin to realize that complete freedom can be as dangerous as absolute power.

In this final book in the trilogy that began with Stasis and continued with Flux, Ennek and Miner face battles, corruption, and further journeys through lands both new and familiar. As they grow more secure in their relationship with one other, they’re also learning that the greatest challenges sometimes come from very close to the heart and that everything of value has a price. With the help of a few allies, they seek equipoise—a balance for themselves and for their world.

Thoughts: 234 pages of conclusion to this trilogy. It took approximately 6 hours of reading (two days). It wasn’t the best ending of a series or trilogy, but it was ok.

Review: Wow, what a ride!

Starting with Stasis and then continuing with Flux, Kim sure has taken us on a rollercoaster ride with Ennek and Miner.

What started out as a rather sweet love story between the two male characters, quickly grew into a rather intricate and fully formed fantasy story that challenges some of my thoughts on magic and wizards. I loved the elemental aspects of the trilogy and adored the way Kim’s writing flowed sweetly off the page and into my memory.

I have highlighted a number of truly stunning passages from all three books on my kindle and have them shared on my GR profile (if you’re interested you can check them out in my quotes section). Kim’s talent at writing gay romance is one to rival even the biggest names. So far, my experience of her writing shows she understands the relationships, both emotionally and physically and yet, is able to explore them without graphic details.

If you’re new to the m/m romance genre perhaps a sweet, loving trek with Miner and Ennek is the gentle awakening to it that you need.

I felt a little sad to be reading the last pages of this book. It’s the end of our journey with the boys (Kim explains in the notes at the end of the book), I had always hoped that there would be more. Despite the sadness I felt at reading the ending, it’s all in all a rather good ending.

I, like many of the other readers and reviewers of this trilogy loved Ennek and Miner and accompanied them throughout their tough, tiring and exciting journey.

I would recommend this trilogy to most readers in a heartbeat. Even those who don’t read m/m romance. The fact that the boys are gay, really fades into the background of this entrancing story.

I did find one typo:
82% – ‘It was a (<;- remove a) harder to fly on the other…'

Have you read any genres that people are surprised by? Have you read any m/m or f/f romance books that you recommend I try? Let me know in the comments below.