Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Alliance
SERIES: The Triad
AUTHOR: Cari Z
NARRATOR: Michael Ferraiuolo
PUBLISHER: Cari Z
LENGTH: 5 hours and 33 minutes
RELEASE DATE: May 24, 2024
BLURB:
One wedding. Two grooms. Three lovers, preparing to fight for themselves, and their kingdoms.
Symon Parador is a prince in name only until the day he’s bartered away to the neighboring kingdom, to marry their queen’s brother, Petur. A mage in a nation full of shifters who distrust his magic is bad enough, but even worse is the fact that Petur is already as good as married to an assassin from the north named Deyvid, who’s immune to all magic.
He doesn’t expect to love either of them, but Deyvid’s surprising kindness is too addictive to run from, and even Petur’s ferocity is lightened by his sly sense of humor. Sy could see himself falling for them if any of them survive the sudden onslaught of attacks against the royal family.
Entwined in a dangerous game of survival, love, and loyalty, the cost of saving his lovers may be Sy’s own life.
Alliance is a polyamorous M/M/M fantasy with enemies to lovers, graphic violence, snarky humor, and explicit sexual content.
REVIEW:
Well this was quite an exciting kickoff to this series. Told in three parts from alternating POVs of Symon, Deyvid and Petur, we get the full picture of how these three very different men come together as a triad.
Petur and Deyvid’s relationship has been long established. Symon’s discomfiture at being thrust into a surprise arranged marriage with Petur – a man who is a powerful shifter and who is the brother of the queen of a neighboring kingdom was definitely not on his bingo card. The trip from his home, away from everyone he knows, to a hastily arranged marriage is not easy. But Symon is a powerful mage and has mastered all the magic disciplines. His mother was a powerful herbalist and Symon has talents in that area as well (which turns out to be a goo thing too). There is danger afoot with multiple attacks and attempted assassinations of Petur’s family. Symon’s magic will be an asset to helping protect the royal family.
The guard who sees to Symon’s safety and comfort on the trip to meet his fiance is kind and helpful. Only after arriving in his new home does Symon realize who Captain Silver really is. But when another attempt is made on the royal family, Symon’s magic abilities really do help to save the day.
Nobody is too comfortable though and the wedding is done with all due haste. Unfortunately Symon has no idea who his husband really is except someone very powerful. And he feels like a bit of an interloper into Petur and Deyvid’s relationship. But needs must so they make the best of things. No sooner have they moved on from the wedding night though when another attack is launched. And this time it may actually be deadly to the one person that Symon has feelings for.
Whew boy! Lots of twists and turns! I can’t wait to see what will happen next. The book doesn’t exactly end on a cliff, but we have no resolution and while the attackers are now known, how they can be stopped is a whole different matter.
Michael Ferraiuolo does a beautiful job with this performance. The music and the voices lend to the drama of this story. With assassins and attacks and lots of court intrigue, we are never sure what is coming next. The suspense if so well done here – by both author and narrator. Highly recommended and I can’t wait for the next audio!
RATING: 
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