Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: Servitude
SERIES: Reagalos #1
AUTHOR: Rebecca Cohen
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: Approx 280 pages
RELEASE DATE: September 2, 2021
BLURB:
Lornyc is good at keeping secrets, because secrets can get you killed.
Lornyc’s forbidden relationship with Methian, heir to Xenetra, has caused him enough grief. Ripped from his life as a student to fulfil a magical contract as punishment for his family’s past, he now has to play valet to Methian for ten years. It’ll be hell on their already strained relationship.
And with his city of Katraman under attack, Lornyc needs to connect to the powers he’s been hiding. If he can’t master his powers and find the leader of the plot, he could lose everything he knows and loves: his family, his future as High Lord, and Methian.
Trigger warning: mind control, attempted assault
Previously published, this second edition has been edited and reworked for release.
Tags:
Secret relationship, Magic and mayhem, What’s this thing on my arm? Romanus you old reprobate, Coming of age, Temporal vampires (sort of). Lornyc’s just about had enough! Methian needs to deal with it, Orbs are shiny, Ooh pretty blue sparkles, Didn’t see that coming, Lornyc looks good in valet clothes, Not ready but no choice, Youngest ever High Lord, That’s gotta hurt, Magical belly rumbles, Pseudo-Regency, Seriously they wear frockcoats, This is just the beginning…
REVIEW:
Romanus was Lornyc’s powerful but naughty grandfather. Due to his shenanigans, magical contracts of restitution also condemned the man’s grandson and secretly the next High Lord of Katraman to years of servitude to another cities ruling family. What’s worse is that said family was that of his secret lover Methian, whose mother was decidedly not a fan of Lornyc’s and intended to see him put down a few pegs. But evil deeds were on the horizon needing Lornyc to activate lost familial magical abilities. In the process, Lornyc learns a lot more about his family and history.
Servitude is the first of a five-book series (four adventures and a prequel). If this installment sets the tone, each will have an escapade resolved by the end and an underlying story that continues throughout the series. Rebecca Cohen has a history of writing excellent, nobility-related tales, and the Reagalos series looks like it could be a splendid addition to the library.
The story is told in the third person from the viewpoints of, mainly Lornyc with occasionally Methian slipping in. The worldbuilding is enough to build a picture, but not overdosed with excessive detail – an element I appreciated. This world is a paranormal one, delving into magical abilities, with a historical vibe of castles and palaces. There’s also a smidge of something to come with interdimensional references.
Lornyc is a lab-rat at heart, loving science. Methian, who has a bad-boy reputation, is wonderfully supportive and is Lornyc’s rock. It is in the quiet moments that these two very different people show that they belong together. Between Lornyc’s servitude, there is a threat to his father’s rule that could see Lornyc thrust into the limelight long before he is ready.
As for the other characters, the cast is sizeable in totality, but they are introduced in a manageable way, and one only realizes how many there are upon reflection. I loved the variety of personalities – caring, snarky, bossy, evil, protective, pompous, jealous, and others. Imagine Downton Abbey transported into a world of mages and warriors. There are some characters that I must give a shoutout to. Romanus – his diary entries had me laughing. Vella is the brilliant ‘no one hurts my brother without retribution’ sister. Lastly Kat, a mage who is bluntly honest and laidback at the same time – regularly lit up the page.
There were a couple of areas that, for me, were a bit of a stretch to believe. But these were minor areas in the greater scheme of things and they minimally detracted from what I found to be a wonderfully engaging read. Servitude contained dramatic variety, beautifully entertaining characters, spot-on worldbuilding, good backstory, and a carrot for the future – a super start to a series that I am looking forward to reading.
RATING: 
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