Novella Review: The Lion Of Kent

Author: Aleksandr Voinov & Kate Cotoner
Title: The Lion Of Kent
Publisher: Carina Press
Publish Date: Aug 30, 2010
Review Copy Received By: Carina Press & NetGalley
Buy: Amazon
Book Blurb: Squire William Raven has only one goal—to finally receive his spurs and become a knight. When his lord, Sir Robert de Cantilou, returns from a five-year crusade in the Holy Land, William wants nothing more than to impress him.
After Sir Robert's return, noble guests arrive from France, bringing intrigue to the castle. William is oblivious to the politics, as he's distracted by nightly visits from a faceless lover—a man who pleasures him in the dark and then leaves—a man he soon discovers is none other than his master, Sir Robert.

But William can't ignore the scheming around him when he overhears a plot to murder Robert. He becomes intent on saving his lord and lover from those who would see him killed...

Review: This is a really short gay historical romance. Some might try to lump this in as erotica, but it really isn't. There isn't enough sex for it to be considered that. Mind you there's a bit of sex and in a story that's only a little over 80 pages, some might consider it more erotic, but when you compare it to some of the novellas put out by mass market romance it is pretty tame.

I found out after having read the novella that it is a a prequel to Aleksandr Voinov's story Deliverance from the anthology Forbidden Love. Once you read The Lion Of Kent, you'll be wanting to read the rest of William's story.

The two writers really pulled off the relationship between Robert and William well, especially as this was definitely a time when homosexuality was not as "out" as it is now. Both men are strong characters that are easy to like. A bonus is that the story is historically accurate.

It isn't easy to create characters that will draw a reader in, in only 80ish pages, but Aleksandr and Kate have done just that with The Lion Of Kent, plus they've left me wanting more

Rating: 5 flowers