The Fifth House by L.E. Bryce

[reviews_and_ramblings]

This is the first book on a spin off series of The Water Lovers of Sirilon; Dyas, a taleve (a man chosen as lover by the Lady of the Sea), is not new to who read the previous series: he was a very young boy, fourteen years old, when the Lady chosen him, and so an oddity among the other taleve, that, even if young, usually are eighteen years old or more. In the previous series Dyas is almost a mascotte of all the taleve, the puppy they always petted (Dyas' spirit is a wolf) but no one really wants as a lover. Now many years passed, and Dyas is 30 years old (and given that the Water Lovers died at forty he is almost an "old man"): he is sent to the far islands to help setting another Blue House, the fifth house, to welcome the taleve from that part of the sea. When he arrives to the island, he discovers that all the old and strictly traditions that kept the taleve almost as captive in the Blue House of Sirilon, are not at all followed in that place. There are three taleve on the island and they live among the people, working and living like poor peasant; Dyas and the two taleve with him don't know how to face this sudden liberty, but it's impossible for them to force the islanders to follow the law. Above all since Dyas starts to have a personal interest in Adarrel, one of the other taleve on the island.

As always in this series, I like a lot all the imaginary the author created around her fantasy world. I like how the taleve are free to indulge in their love since they were blessed by the goddess, and in this way, they have an immunity against the normal law. I like also the feeling of the story, a bit sad, a bit sweet... it has a gentle flow, it's not a fast paced tale, but it's quite and tender. Despite what all the setting and the religious thing could lead to believe, it's also quite erotic, the water lovers are very open in their needs and preferences. Dyas and Adarrel could have trouble in the future, there are a lot of things that are still to be faced (an age difference of 10 years is not normally a big problem, but if you are fated to die at 40...), but for now they are happy and maybe they will help to build another fantasy world where the taleve are no more privileged captives, but more special men among the others.

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Amazon Kindle: The Fifth House

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