Reviewed by Roberta
TITLE: Desert Ice
AUTHOR: Rose Maefair
PUBLISHER: Loose Id
LENGTH: 457 pages
RELEASE DATE: January 30, 2017
BLURB:
Standing under the hot sun in the slave market, Wyl thought his fate couldn’t get worse. He’d been betrayed by his family, exiled, and sentenced to slavery in the desert lands where he doesn’t know the language or the customs. Yet, as he faces the scrutiny of an interested buyer, Wyl realizes he was wrong. With an exchange of coins, he could go from life as a warrior and a prince to that of a pleasure slave.
Lysander finds the stench of the slave-trading city almost unbearable. He longs for the quiet shelter of his home. Yet, Steed’s Hold is under siege and he has come to the city to find a warrior willing to fight for the cost of his freedom. However, Lysander does not expect to find the handsome Northerner or the new desires he sparks inside of Lysander. He also does not expect the terrible stipulation attached to the man’s sale, one that would demand a heavy price of them both.
Lysander is a mage more used to commanding earth, metal, and wood than people. How is he to be master of a slave and the slave’s desire, when Lysander hasn’t fully mastered his own?
REVIEW:
This book had my interest from the first moment that I read the blurb. I couldn’t wait see how this book would turn out. I’m glad that I took the time to read this story and find out where this story went.
Lysander is a wonderful man who only wants to do the right thing for his family and his hold. I really liked this man who wanted to purchase a warrior who would help his family and his hold and win back his freedom. Instead, he gets a warrior with a HUGE Attitude Problem. Lysander doesn’t want to root bind to Wyl, but it’s the only way that he could purchase him. Lysander tries the ENTIRE time to treat Wyl with respect and yet…he’s shit on the entire time. Lysander is a better man than I would give anyone credit for as he didn’t shank Wyl with a spork at almost any given time. I like that Lysander isn’t perfect…he’s got some self esteem issues, just a few and he has an intended that he lets walk all over him…but overall, I think this man is just so damn sweet and wonderful and just wants to do what he can in order to help out. His heart is pure and totally in the right place. The trials that he goes thru with Wyl…let’s just say…I’m putting him up for sainthood.
Wyl…now here’s the thing for me about Wyl…I totally understand where he’s coming from. That he was betrayed by his stepmother and his father just goes along with it and that he’s turned out from all that he’s ever known…I get that. I get that he’s angry and hurt and pissed as hell…I would as well. I would be pissed to be given into slavery and to know that my own father, whom I loved and served…would believe all that his new wife was planting in his ear…yeah…pissed would be the very least of it. I get that you’re angry and that you’re afraid…I get being sold into a land where you don’t know the customs or the language would be stressful…I get all of that. I get that things happening to you that you don’t know would make you more angry…I really get all of that. But to see that the person who bought you is in his own fumbling way…trying to do what’s right by you and for you to still be such a shit…just because life hasn’t turned out the way you thought it would and that the whole world needs to suffer…well…that kind of bull doesn’t fly. When you have the chance to learn the language…you take the time to learn and still…you’re a jackass. That other people have to be threatened to make sure that you act right…what foolishness. I sympathized with Wyl…but Lord Above…I didn’t care for him very much. He made me angry and he made me sad and he made me what to put my foot in his ass. He did come around more in the end…towards the very freaking end, but he did do what was right and come into his own.
I have to say that I really liked that the story was mainly Lysander and Wyl. I liked that they spent the majority of the story together and you got to get to know them. To understand them more. I liked that they had some wonderful secondary characters that really brought out who these men were. How strong, smart, resourceful and powerful they were. How they took up each challenge and dealt with them in their own way, it might not have always been right…but they handled it.
I have to say that once I started reading that I couldn’t put the book down and was wondering where the story would go and how the author would get us there…but Wyl…he just made it so damn hard for me. My Bestie would hear me grumbling and muttering about sporks…and laugh and ask if I was ok…I told him that this character really had my ire up and that I was trying to find a way to like him. I will say that I understand where Wyl is coming from and that I fully sympathize with him…but he was a complete and utter jackass thru most of this book and that colored the entire story for me and made me mad.
Overall, this was a pretty decent story and I wanted to like it more, but I just couldn’t find myself liking this character and the way that he treated others. As if all the bad in his life was their fault and instead of talking to Lysander once he got the language down…he still didn’t make the effort to work things out. I hate that trope more than most…Miscommunication. Just open your mouth and use your words!!!
RATING: 
BUY LINKS: