Tel, crown prince of Feigh, has negotiated an end to the war between his country and the strange queendom of Omela. He looks forward to an easy reign of wild parties and wilder men. When his father dies suddenly, Tel is outmaneuvered by his brother, losing the throne. Tel’s faith prohibits him from raising his sword and spilling blood, so he accepts the humiliation, working to temper his brother’s baser impulses. But the new king’s reign takes a dark turn, and his collaborators begin to round up undesirables, including those with a magic called the stagsblood.
Tel must decide: Flee or fight? Running means abandoning his people to his brother’s evil whims. Standing his ground means the sin of total war. He has no army and only a few allies—and his magical secret. Caip, his closest friend and protector, brings military experience and blunt advice. Her right hand, Dar, is the picture of loyalty. Tough, battle-scarred Bin doesn’t suffer fools gladly. And Vared, a mysterious singer-turned-diplomat from Omela, speaks the truth to Tel in ways no one else can.
"How do I make war when all I want is to be tender?".
Gideon E. Wood's The Stagsblood Prince is a poignant exploration of duty, addiction, and grief, a beautiful tale of finding one's purpose after a terrible loss, of persevering against all odds. It's a tragic tale of love and loss. The narration is a little weak in pieces, strongly relying on the later recounting of events when it might be better to show them as they happen; but the sheer intensity of the events described, especially in the second half, more than make up for it. The book features a few very descriptive and explicit sex scenes, and a tragic twist that will leave you sobbing uncontrollably.
✨ 4 stars
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