Counterpoint (Song of the Fallen, #1) in Queereaders

Oct 17, 2010 Cat rated it it was amazing

Ok I just wanted to say that after reading this book I was mad and hurt... I was mad that I had to wait almost a whole year until the next one comes out. This book is a great story of Understanding, Patience and in the end love with some other stuff in the middle. I was caught hook, line and sinker and could not put it down. I swore after reading the ending I heard the dramatic music of supise and possible pending doom. Or was it..............

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Oct 05, 2010 Chris rated it really liked it

Shelves: gay, romance, 2012, done, ebook, fantasy, cliffie

Very good m/m fantasy romance about an elf who's captured by humans while trying to protect his sister, then becomes the favored prisoner of the area's regent. I started reading this nearly two years ago, soon after it was released. Then I learned that the book ended in an evil cliffhanger, so I stopped reading until the sequel came out (if I'd reached that cliffhanger, I would have been too pissed to ever read the sequel). ...more

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Oct 11, 2016 LD Durham added it · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m-romance, didnt-finish, fantasy, dnf

I really wanted to like this. I really did. I've been dancing around it for years. I hadn't really enjoyed the sample, so I left it alone for a long time. But GR and Amazon (I know, same thing) kept recommending it to me. When I saw the new cover, I assumed there had been a rewrite and, tripping a bit over the higher price point, bought it.

Maybe because I was in withdrawal from having finished the Captive Prince series and wasn't ready to let go. But I did not jive with the writing style of Cou I really wanted to like this. I really did. I've been dancing around it for years. I hadn't really enjoyed the sample, so I left it alone for a long time. But GR and Amazon (I know, same thing) kept recommending it to me. When I saw the new cover, I assumed there had been a rewrite and, tripping a bit over the higher price point, bought it.

Maybe because I was in withdrawal from having finished the Captive Prince series and wasn't ready to let go. But I did not jive with the writing style of Counterpoint. It was full of flowery language and very little substance. Tons of telling, little showing. It aggravates having the characters do and say one thing while their over-active mental narration is doing another. It all just seemed like junior writing, something a budding fanfic author would throw out there. And if I hadn't had the $7 price stuck in my craw, I may have pushed through. But I just couldn't. Everything anyone said or did in this book irritated me for being over-the-top or out-of-character or just not making any sense. Example: Ayden runs after his sister. He sees 19 dudes and he goes charging in to get her, knowing he's not going to be able to take them all on. What on earth happened to the soldiers that were camping at the base of his tree? His friend? Anybody that had been there before? Nope. Not only do they not show up, Ayden doesn't even think of them, not even to dismiss them as bad allies or something. They don't try to help him. Why?

Another example: If Freyric can be dismissive of his men's reactions to the elves, why is he walking around with a boner and is just overawed by them? He says that he's seen them before, but for some reason can't deal with these two. He dreams of sleeping Ayden on a pillow with pretty eyelashes fanning on a delicate cheek right after torturing him. What on earth?? If he was shaping up to be a psychopath, I guess that would be ok, but I don't think this book has that much depth. Also, for a prince who is worried about a coming battle he is calling for help for, I'm thinking he'd be a bit pissed at having an elf kill about 8 of his dearly needed soldiers. Nope, not Freyric. He's all about the booty.

I really wanted to dig this book. I was really hoping for a fun ride. But I had to return it just 14% of the way in. Clearly not my cup of tea. ...more

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Aug 18, 2010 Kassa rated it liked it

Counterpoint is book one of a two book epic story. The ending of this story is a cliffhanger with a few unresolved issues and definitely no happy ending in sight. This is perhaps why I had such a tough time with the story. On the one hand, the fantasy world is lovingly crafted with an eye for detail. On the other, I didn鈥檛 particularly enjoy the story鈥檚 focus on moderate violence, manipulation, humiliation, and hatred. This is a darker fantasy story that plays on the classic push/pull dynamic of Counterpoint is book one of a two book epic story. The ending of this story is a cliffhanger with a few unresolved issues and definitely no happy ending in sight. This is perhaps why I had such a tough time with the story. On the one hand, the fantasy world is lovingly crafted with an eye for detail. On the other, I didn鈥檛 particularly enjoy the story鈥檚 focus on moderate violence, manipulation, humiliation, and hatred. This is a darker fantasy story that plays on the classic push/pull dynamic of different races that instinctively hate each other. The main romantic relationship is a very familiar King/slave one and so the slave ends up sacrificing time and again. I was honestly tired of all the violence when the story ended and needed a break, which left me with a negative feeling towards the book but it鈥檚 highly subjective and another reader may not feel that way at all.

The summary gives a good indication of the story which is about an elven soldier, Ayden, who is captured while saving his sister from her predictable foolishness. To keep his sister safe and ignorant, Ayden agrees to do anything Prince Freyrik wants and the prince wants Ayden sexually. Freyrik however is willing to let Ayden come to him. The first part of the story deals with Ayden as he struggles to reconcile his feelings of capture, slavery, and growing respect for Freyrik, while the second finds the two in love but no happy ending. Freyrik treats Ayden as well as he can by keeping Ayden locked in his rooms, fed, and out of sight. Whenever Ayden does have to leave the rooms, he鈥檚 shackled, usually beaten, forced to kneel and subjugate himself repeatedly, which of course does nothing for Ayden鈥檚 massive pride, bruised ego, and welling hatred for humans.

The push/pull dynamic between the two is interesting and creates a good backdrop to show the intricacies of royal life. Here the setting is classic fantasy or historical with the acting King Freyrik, temporarily ruling in his brother鈥檚 place, subject to the whims and laws of his people. Humans were taught to hate and fear elves, thus they loathe and fear Ayden. Freyrik often feels badly about Ayden鈥檚 treatment and does what he can to mitigate it but Freyrik is perhaps even more helpless than Ayden. This theme of helplessness becomes more and more pronounced as the story progresses and is one of the key sources of frustration I had as a reader.

Neither Freyrik nor Ayden can effectively control their present or future. Freyrik is bound not only by his royal duties but his desire for Ayden. He often betrays his promises to Ayden by circumstance, but it鈥檚 a repeated betrayal and eventually I couldn鈥檛 feel badly for Freyrik鈥檚 emotions against Ayden鈥檚 physical pain. Instead I became more and more invested in Ayden and his struggle to reconcile his feelings. When Ayden helps Freyrik overcome an animal attack and they fall in love, the romance is there but the underpinning of doom can鈥檛 be ignored. Ayden does everything he can to really help and he鈥檚 repaid by suspicion, scorn, pain, violence, and betrayal.

On the one hand, the story is fitting to the manipulations of court, the classic evil sister in law, innocently fey sister, and other characters that are seen in almost every fantasy novel. There鈥檚 nothing especially new offered, though this story has some very nice magical touches. The world building is competent and thorough, woven into the story in numerous ways. So fantasy fans, especially those who prefer darker fantasy stories, likely won鈥檛 blink at this offering. It fits well with the genre and the writing has energy and life to keep you engaged and absorbed from the beginning. The characters are one dimensional though outside of the main couple but the focus is on Ayden and Freyrik, who definitely stretch through their association.

Ayden as the surly pseudo-slave plays well against Freyrik as the compassionate ruler. The story does a commendable job developing their romance over time. The star crossed lovers theme struggling against fate has some moments of good emotion and romance. There are two mild sex scenes with the rest fade to black so the emotion and romance is not the focus; the story and fantasy world is. This is another reason that I just tired of all the continued manipulations when I got to the hanging ending. I honestly thought to myself 鈥済reat, another 400 pages of violence, blood, betrayal, and pain to get to a happy ending.鈥� This isn鈥檛 a fair assessment because there is humor, romance, love, hints of happiness, and moments of quiet connection. These additions were essential to keeping me reading and mostly enjoying the story, but the ending reminds me of considerable more pain and heartache to come before a happy ending can even be hinted at. Not all readers will have this reaction mind you.

This is a highly subjective review 鈥� it is after all only my opinion 鈥� so the elements that struck me and stayed with me may or may not even bother other readers. The fantasy world is a major focus and well crafted with a solid, tightly plotted story. The characterization suffers outside of the main characters but their vibrancy almost forgives the subsequently flat cast. There is a familiar, almost classic feel to the romance/couple depicted and that familiarity may play well with readers. The moderate violence is done quickly, although the continued talking about and extended tension leading to said violence bothered me just as much as the actual scenes but not all readers will have that experience. I think the payoff of a happy ending is too far away for me to feel comfortable with the emotional investment so far but I am likely to continue with book two after a break away from the story.

As always see for yourself if the story sounds like one you鈥檇 like to read. My reaction is highly personal on this particular story so be sure to read critically for elements that are more suited to your tastes. ...more

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Nov 09, 2010 gina rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, fey, read-only-sections

Well... I think the problem is with me, not the book. It's me not you... as the old saying goes. I read to nearly page 100 and I just couldn't "get into it." I used to love high court, court intrigue fantasy stuff.. But apparently, I've grown out of it. I think the story seems to develop at a good pace, and obviously kudos to the writer for writing a gay/fey/human story line. I hope we see more of this in the future in all types of writing. BUT can you please tone down the cover? I don't want to ...more

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Sep 09, 2011 Rachel rated it it was ok

Shelves: queer, romance

Heh... well. My main thought: BITCHES LOVE STOCKHOLM SYNDROME.

XD That was Katie's fault.

The book was interesting. And long O.O and then didn't END! ARGH! XD Now I'll have to read the sequel.

I'm not a big fan of the whole master and slave concept so that was a bit off putting, I was imagining something more like love despite adversity, not coming to love one's captor which I'm not a huge fan of. And seriously, enough with the 'twas 'twould and 'twere! XD

That said... I think I am going to read th ...more

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Dec 04, 2011 Jack rated it it was ok

Shelves: m-m

What a terrible disappointment, after such a good beginning.

I might write out an explanation when I have the time, but most of the points are already covered in the other low-star reviews. (Yes, I had to check them out to make sure that it's not just me. Turned out it's not.) ...more

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