2015 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: The King of Forever by Kirby Crow

[reviews_and_ramblings]

The King of Forever: Book Four of Scarlet and the White Wolf by Kirby Crow
Gay Fantasy
Publisher: Bonecamp (July 10, 2015)
Amazon Kindle: The King of Forever: Book Four of Scarlet and the White Wolf

The sun has returned to the Land of Night and Liall has claimed a throne he never wanted, but many still oppose the presence of his beloved Scarlet at court. While the powerful barons clamor for a royal heir to secure the succession, rumors fly of Liall's marriage to a baron's daughter, driving a painful wedge between the lovers.

But the proposed marriage of Lady Ressilka isn't the only reason Scarlet has grown distant. His magic is changing, mutating into a dangerous power he does not understand, and the only people who might be able to help him control it are the Ancients, who once tried to murder him.

When the borders of Rshan are threatened and war looms, Liall agrees to a forbidden pact to save Scarlet, but the bargain may cost the Wolf his life.

This is a great continuance of the series. Kirby's writing flows so well, and the characters just build up their layers as they go along together. The future prospect of Liall marrying a woman just cut into my heart - I felt so much for Scarlet. Add to that Liall's major angst about Scarlet's short lifespan (his race live a maximum of 40 years, whereas Liall is long-lived, already in his 8th decade), and you have an angstfest. The settings are so gorgeously described. The frozen, always dark (in winter) world of Rshan na Ostre was amazingly brought to life here. I felt Scarlet's alienation and struggle to survive in a court that didn't want him, in an alien environment. I'd still like to see it do very, very well.

Gorgeously staged with intriguing characters.