Reforged
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4.2 • 11 Ratings
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
Since time immemorial the warriors of the Paladin Order have harnessed arcane powers to protect their rulers. For Balen, who has given up his chance at love and fought his way to the top of the Paladin Order, there can be no greater honor than to serve his king. But when assassins annihilate the royal family, Balen suddenly finds himself sworn to serve the very man he abandoned.
Now with their nation threatened by enemies both within and outside the kingdom, Balen must fight hidden traitors and unnatural assassins, while also contending with the biting wit and dangerous charm of young King Zavrius. To save themselves and their nation they will have to put aside their past and reforge that trust they lost so long ago.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
A king and his lover turned bodyguard struggle to secure a kingdom's future in Haddon's promising debut fantasy. Prince Zavrius, who prefers music to fighting and who many perceive as weak, ascends to the throne of Usleth after the mysterious murder of his four siblings on the border of the enemy Rezwyn Empire. He selects Balen, an ex-lover and the novel's primary point of view character, as his Prime, the paladin tasked with his personal protection. These new positions catapult both men into danger: the king's entourage is ambushed by fighters dosed with performance-enhancing ichor that only paladins and nobles have access to; then Zavrius narrowly escapes a poisoning at his coronation ball after announcing a plan for peace and commerce with Rezwyn. Balen and Zavrius realize insurrection is brewing, prompting them to flee. In the hinterlands, they uncover a plot to force war with Rezwyn, Zavrius confesses knowledge about his siblings' deaths, and Balen and Zavrius move past their squabbling back toward intimacy. The final act feels a bit rushed after the delicate, involved worldbuilding of the opening, but the complex politicking and Balen's frustration and confusion over Zavrius's mixed signals remain gripping throughout. Fans of action-packed queer fantasy will welcome this new voice.
Customer Reviews
Little rough but worth a read
Good. I do feel like it read a bit too much like D&D fanfic, scene transitions were sometimes confusing, and it took too long for the mc’s to get together. I look forward to reading other books from this author.
Hope there’s a sequel.
More than I expected and very well written.
Loved the story and the attention to detail