Reviewed by Valerie
TITLE: Lacuna
AUTHOR: N.R. Walker
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 1111Kb
RELEASE DATE: October 23, 2020
BLURB:
A boychild swathed in green, a distinct tree-shaped birthmark on his wrist. A girlchild enveloped in red, marked with the three lines of the desert winds. A boy bundled in white, the koi mark on his wrist as defined as his shock of red hair. And a boychild wrapped in black, a raven his mark to serve his fate.
Twenty-five years ago, the hand of fate marked four newborns and sent them to the four corners of the Great Kingdoms. They were schooled and trained as rulers of their lands in preparation for the Golden Eclipse ceremony: a festival to celebrate a thousand years of peace and prosperity since the Great War.
Crow, ruler of Northlands, a skilled swordsman and expert tactician, is as reclusive and stoic as the mountains that surround him.
Tancho has spent his life in strict discipline, governing the Westlands with a fair mind and gentle hand. Quiet and unassuming, yet lethal in combat, he is the embodiment of the waters he lives by.
Yet the same hand of fate unknowingly linked Tancho to Crow in ways they cannot comprehend. Ruled by the stars, the brother sun and the two sister moons above them, and marked by an alchemical sorcery as old as time, their destinies were never their own.
As the eclipse draws near and the festival begins, word comes of another threat. Invaders from unknown lands bring a war no one was prepared for, and Crow and Tancho must decide on which side of the battle line they stand.
In life or death, their destinies will see them joined either way.
REVIEW:
Lacuna: “The part that is missing from each of you, is found in the other.”
Wow! Lacuna is a sensational book, captivating from cover to cover. It’s an epic fantasy about a world under attack and two of its rulers falling in love. You’ll find components of magic, alchemy, friendship, cooperation, and a slow dance of love.
The riveting plot begins with three kings and a queen who were each born with a mark on their wrist, ensuring their destinies at birth. They are about to discover the unknown fate that awaits them as they each travel from their Great Kingdom to a celebration marking a thousand year event – the two Sister Moons eclipsing the Brother sun. The rulers have been preparing all of their twenty-five years for this event.
Crow and Tancho are kings reigning over the Northlands and Westlands, respectively. They are strong leaders loved and respected by their people. They are not fond of each other when they first meet and discover their birthmarks bind them together like an invisible string. Gradually, their dynamic changes to a love/hate relationship and they must learn to set their loathing aside and work together. Slowly, their feelings creep more toward the love side of the equation, and one of the issues they must face is whether they will stay together if and when they have the choice to separate.
Then Crow did the most innocent thing. He put his hand to Tancho’s shoulder, just for a second, but time stood still and the sound of the world fell away. His palm was hot, their touch charged and buzzing. Tancho’s eyes drifted closed and he hummed, Crow gasped at the power of it, the thrill. Tancho’s blue eyes cut to Crow’s and his lips parted.
Crow and Tancho are beautiful together. Their intimate moments are more tender than steamy and the scenes gave me butterflies. Ms. Walker’s couples often have a special something I can’t quite define, and these men are no different. It is lovey to see homosexuality as a non-issue in this fictional world; it’s no more discriminated against than heterosexuality, which is none. If only our real world was so evolved.
There are some interesting parallels to current day politics: propaganda is being used to control the masses and their lies only profit those in control. “We were told only what they wanted us to know.”
There is a warm kinship between each man and his trusted, lifelong friends/advisors/guards. When they find themselves working together, a playful camaraderie develops between the three advisors. They become like cousins, alternatively squabbling, scheming, laughing, sharing a love of eating, and above all, taking great pleasure in Crow and Tancho’s irascibility from being bound together. There’s also quite a bit of unintentional cock-blocking (or more accurately, lip-blocking) that caused me growing frustration. I can only imagine how our two leading men felt. Ah well, I adore a slow burn. The king and queen of the other two kingdoms and all of their elders add to the rich and varied personalities portrayed. It is the smooth cooperation of all that translates into a synergy in battle the opponent doesn’t possess. The warfare is impressive, and gruesome at times, so don’t read on a full stomach. There’s some mystery, too, about who’s an ally and who’s an enemy.
Lacuna has word building times five – four kingdoms and the center of the peaceful world where the elders reside. The kingdoms and how they differ are fascinating, in terms of the people, climate, terrain, culture, structures, food, attire, and more. “The people were born of water. Living according to the tides, the ebb and flow was their pulse, the very lifeblood in their veins.” So many little details are brought to life with Ms. Walker’s imagination. This is superb writing.
Being a reader of mostly contemporary MM romance, I wasn’t sure this book would be up my alley. But I would read a thousand-page lawnmower instruction manual written by N.R. Walker, and I would’ve missed out greatly had I skipped this literary adventure. It must have been a joy to write; it certainly was to read. There’s a happy ending for all, but I don’t feel there’s complete closure for the story arc. It’s not disappointing by any measure – just the opposite – because there’s definite potential for a sequel or series! Between the sweet love story, the clever storytelling and unique plot, the many likable characters, and outstanding world building, this is a five + heart/star read. Don’t miss this truly fabulous, epic tale.
RATING: 
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