Strange Fortune by Josh Lanyon

[reviews_and_ramblings]

I will start this review up front: I’m not so fond of fantasy novel and neither so much of “quest” type of adventures. So why I read Strange Fortune that is the quintessence of both the above genres? Since I trust Josh Lanyon and his characters; it’s strange but whatever he is writing a mystery, a romance or a fantasy (and Strange Fortune is his first foray in the fantasy genre), I’m always sure that I will find two men that are unique for their story. Above all, these men are unexpected and well-rounded, with their strenghts and faults; but they are also familiar, since there will be always the dashing one and the more brooding.

Major Valentine Strange and Master Aleister Grimshaw are apparently at the opposite, but right for this reason they click together in the right way. In dept up to his neck, and maybe more, Valentine Strange needs a bit of fortune, and the mission to retrieve the diadem of the Goddess Purya seems an easy one. Unwilling companion to Valentine is Aleister, trueblood and witch, apparently the wise man in comparison to Valentine and instead the one who will almost lose his mind.

The fantasy world Josh Lanyon recreates is completely visionary, but in a way has its roots in the real medieval times: Major Strange is in a mission for the church, Master Grimshaw’s previous lover is now a priest, the one who hires Valentine. Religion, myths and witchcraft mix together to move and control the known world.

Another familiar trait that links these characters with the previous ones from the same author is the apparently contraposition between “straight” Valentine and “gay” Aleister. Valentine is planning to marry, true, more for convenience than love, but I didn’t read him as a gay in the closet; until he meets Aleister and he develops feelings for him, Valentine is not gay; maybe he is not fully straight, and sincerely he questions his feelings for Aleister more since they are ruining his second option to gain money, than for a real moral opposition to them.

Maybe for this reason, or maybe since, sincerely, Josh Lanyon writes romance, and not erotica, the sex scenes are of the old fashioned style, the ones happening behind a closed door, and to only one, necessary to the story, the fulcrum of the romance, the reader is invited.

I read different opinion on this novel, and the most common trend was, this is an unusual novel for Josh Lanyon, something his fans could love or hate, but they have to read it with an open mind, since it’s different from the usual… I disagree. Aside from the fantasy genre, the only novelty I found, this is a typical story by Josh Lanyon: the characters are what holds the story; the romance is subdued but romantic; the relationship between the two men is “quietly” passionate, meaning that there are no burst of passion but nevertheless there is love; sometime the stronger man, Valentine, seems to be more the protector than the lover, but in the end it will be Aleister who will wrap up the story. So where is the unexpected in this story? What is that could ring wrong to the usual readers of Josh Lanyon? As I said, the fantasy setting.

The fantasy setting is good, I maybe am not a fan, but just only the fact that I read it is a point to it. What I usually don’t like of the fantasy genre are the long descriptions to allow the reader to “fall into” the mood, into the new world, but that is exactly what the fans of the genre love. As I said, I found it easier since some points were familiar, and indeed this is not only a fantasy but also a quest, and so the long descriptions allow the reader to follow the main characters in their quest; what the reader and the characters will learn along the travel is that the real quest is not what they were expecting to be and when they will reach their destination, they will discover that the travel is yet only at the beginning.

http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/strange-fortune (ebook)

http://www.blindeyebooks.com/strange.html (print book)

Amazon: Strange Fortune

Amazon Kindle: Strange Fortune

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle


Cover Art by Dawn Kimberling

Comments

[elena-62.livejournal.com]

Hi, Elisa!

Thank you for the nice review. I love Josh Lanyon's books and I loved also this one. Me too I was wondering which kind of thing he would write, being his first experiment with fantasy: it came out good!

I'm glad you are showing here also the cover of the paper edition of Blind Eyes Books. It is much more connected to the story than the Samhain cover.

Ciao

Antonella

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I like Dawn Kimberling's covers so it's my pleasure to showcase one. And yes, even if different, this one was as always a good Josh Lanyon's.

[lusiology.livejournal.com]

Not having read the book I prefer the top cover rather than the bottom one.

[elena-62.livejournal.com]

Well, the bottom cover shouldn't have had the writing on the side, and then would have been even better. But the top one it's just two typical hunks, they could have been on the cover of *any* m/m book. Anyway it's a matter of personal opinion ;-). Ciao!

[lusiology.livejournal.com]

I adore the top cover but really don't like the bottom one, shame it's on all the versions except the samhain book.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

the bottom one is more "classical" of fantasy genre. Samhain's cover is more typical of M/M romance. I think it depends on the audience.

[jgraeme2007.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much for the review, Elisa. It's so very nice of you to review when you don't usually enjoy fantasy.

I hope (believe) that you're right. The elements that readers enjoy in my stories are going to be found in my fantasy work too.

And Antonella, I do agree with you about the artwork. Dawn's artwork is unique and beautiful. It's a lovely thing to have someone take the time to do original artwork for you.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

To me this was not so much different from your usual work, so I think your usual fans will not be disappointed; moreover, also the fantasy lovers will learn to like you.