Master of Hounds: Book 1 (EBOOK, LGBT)

Name: Master of Hounds: Book 1 (EBOOK, LGBT)
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Master of Hounds: Book 1 (EBOOK, LGBT)

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BOOK ONE OF A GAY FANTASY ROMANCE TRILOGY (EBOOK, LGBT).

An old soldier in search of redemption.
A condemned prisoner with the power to carve out his heart… or save it.

Caius Oppita has served the Alyrion Empire for more than half his life, watching with growing revulsion as the royal family descends ever deeper into corruption and depravity. Powerless to do more than stand by as the land he loves slides toward civil war and social upheaval, he longs for his days as a general on the battlefield rather than a tame palace lapdog.

When the execution of one of the emperor’s inconvenient bastard sons goes wrong, Caius has a choice to make—do his duty, or do what is right and spirit the innocent man away to safety.

It should have been simple—hide Decian in plain sight for a few days, then smuggle him out of the palace compound. Buy him passage on a ship sailing someplace far away from the capital city, and take quiet pleasure in fighting one single injustice among many.

Instead, the swirling undercurrents of politics and power struggles seem determined to drag them ever deeper into danger—even as Decian guilelessly slips past the armor surrounding Caius’ battered soul. Caius had never considered himself a fool… but only a fool would bed the emperor’s illegitimate son. Much less let the brash young idiot anywhere near his heart.

The problem with secrets is that they breed more secrets.
And betrayal only hurts when you cared in the first place.

* * *

Master of Hounds: Book 1 is the first installment in an M/M epic fantasy trilogy by USA Today bestseller R. A. Steffan. It is set in the world of the Eburosi Chronicles, but stands alone. The book contains adult content.

Other books in the Eburosi Chronicles:

The Horse Mistress (4 books)
The Lion Mistress (3 books)
The Dragon Mistress (4 books)
Master of Hounds (3 books)
Mistress of War (3 books)

Publication date: March 25, 2021
Language: English
Print length: 261 pages
File size: 371 KB

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ONE

“THROW HIM TO the dogs.”

Princep Kaeto, the emperor’s son, waved a careless hand toward two guards holding a bound prisoner between them. The pair dragged the unfortunate man forward to the entrance of the royal kennels, where sounds of growling and scrabbling could be heard coming from within.

Caius Oppita, once a respected Legatus of the Alyrion Imperial Guard, stood at parade rest as the order was given, his eyes fixed impassively ahead. Gossip had been rampant in recent weeks concerning the steady parade of prisoners arriving at the royal compound, only to meet inventive and grisly ends on the direct order of the princep. The lithe young man with bound hands and a bag tied over his head was only the latest to confront such an unpleasant fate.

One of the guards addressed the master of hounds, who stood next to the kennel doors, his head bowed in groveling subservience. “Have the beasts been starved for a full week, as His Highness requested?” he asked formally.

The houndsman’s shoulders hunched a bit further inward. “Yes—it is as my imperial lord has commanded. They are near-mad with hunger.”

The guard nodded. “Then lead the way and hold them off while we toss this piece of garbage into the cage with them.”

With a deep breath, the houndsman straightened his spine. He clutched the handle of the whip coiled at his side with a white-knuckled grip, as he entered the low building to complete his unpleasant task. The guards pulled their captive along, following him into the kennel’s dark interior. Inside, the ominous growls erupted into full-throated baying, growing in pitch and intensity until the sounds filtering out to Caius and the other observers standing in the courtyard became positively frantic.

Caius fought down a wave of queasiness, not allowing it to show in either his face or his bearing. He’d been a soldier for twenty-nine of his forty-six years… had seen men hacked apart by swords, trampled under the hooves of warhorses, and dying of dysentery in the battle camps. Yet something about this casual cruelty still sickened him. If the talk making the rounds of the palace was accurate—and he had every reason to believe it was—then the only crime committed by the men being executed under Kaeto’s hand involved their conception. The wrong seed had reached the wrong womb, resulting in the birth of another inconvenient bastard son.

A few moments later, the guards re-emerged from the kennel. The one who had spoken to the houndsman approached Kaeto and bowed low.

“The master of hounds will stay to watch until the beasts calm enough for whatever remains of the prisoner to be removed,” he said, speaking over the din of howling and snarling. “I don’t expect they’ll leave much behind.”

Kaeto made a dismissive gesture. “Let the creatures crack the bones and suck the marrow, for all I care. Leave the filthy whore-son to rot in the manure pile after they shit him out.”

Caius continued to stare straight ahead, his expression granite. Stoicism was not enough to prevent him from becoming the next focus of the princep’s attention, however.

“You disapprove of my words, Legatus?” Kaeto’s voice held amusement, which was somehow even more galling than anger would have been.

I disapprove of your actions, Caius thought. Not just your words.

Aloud, he only said, “I prefer witnessing honorable death in battle to death by execution, Your Highness.”

The dogs were still in an uproar, though he’d heard no sounds of human screaming. They must’ve gotten the sad bastard by the throat quickly. At least that would have shortened his suffering, if nothing else.

“Still a soldier to the core, eh?” Kaeto replied. His tone changed, becoming pointed. “Well, if not for certain limitations, of course…” He trailed off, flicking his fingers in the general direction of Caius’ twisted left shoulder, where a blow from a battleaxe had mangled the muscles on his dominant side some years ago. “At any rate, Legatus, it’s all for the best. I’m certain you’ve heard the rumors. We can’t leave men like that walking around free, now can we?”

“Indeed, Your Highness,” he said tonelessly.

Thankfully, Kaeto appeared to lose interest in the exchange when Caius failed to rise to the bait.

“Now,” said the princep, turning to address his entourage. “I believe that’s quite enough of that unpleasantness. Come. Let us return to the palace and see about procuring a meal—preferably one with less gristle than what the dogs are currently enjoying.”

Polite titters greeted the tasteless joke.

Kaeto shot Caius a haughty glance. “You. Stay behind. Report to me when the thing is done and the remains disposed of—since that seems to be important to you. One does like to have someone they can trust keeping an eye on events.”

Caius felt a muscle in his jaw twitch. “As you wish, Your Highness,” he replied in a monotone, thinking that from the sound of it, the ‘thing’ had been done less than a minute after the cage door had slammed closed.

He stood stiffly as the princep, the guards, and the group of fawning courtiers removed themselves from the courtyard, presumably in search of less bloody entertainments. A short time later, he found himself alone except for the houndsman’s apprentice—a boy of perhaps twelve or thirteen years of age, with a mop of brown hair and wide gray eyes.

Flies buzzed through air heavy with humidity and the musky smell of animals. With no one but the boy left to see, Caius closed his eyes, feeling the familiar pull of the skin around an old scar bisecting his left eyebrow. The barking inside the kennel had already died down to occasional whines and yips.

His eyes flew open when it unexpectedly erupted again, the sound of baying and growling followed closely by a man’s high-pitched shrieks, growing in desperation only to be cut off abruptly. The fine hair on the back of Caius’ neck prickled.

What in Deimok’s name?

“Go see what’s happening,” he ordered the boy. It seemed decidedly unlikely that the prisoner could have survived the first round of canine frenzy, but apparently he had. Whatever the case, it sounded as though the unlucky man’s time was finally up.

The apprentice gulped nervously and disappeared into the building, only to erupt from the kennel’s doorway a few moments later like a cork shot from a bottle of sparkling wine. His face was pale as a sheet as he ran full-pelt across the cobbled yard.

“Sir, come quickly, please!” he begged. “It’s my master, he’s… he’s—”

The words choked to a standstill, lodging in his skinny throat. Caius followed with a frown as the boy grasped his sleeve and tugged him in the direction of the cacophony coming from inside the structure. Unsure what he would find, he slipped his ceremonial sword from its sheath right-handed—aware on some level that the weapon would not be enough to fend off an entire pack of crazed hounds, should such a thing become necessary.

Cool shadows enveloped him as he slipped through the door after the boy. Caius blinked rapidly in the kennel’s dimly lit interior, straining to see in any detail beyond the mass of dark, milling shapes behind a wall of metal bars. That was something, at least—the cage door was closed, and none of the dogs appeared to be loose. Beside him, the pale apprentice still clutched at Caius’ left sleeve, but now the boy’s frightened panting had descended into poorly stifled sobs.

Caius tugged his arm free, moving cautiously closer to the bars. As his vision adapted to the low light, he could make out a limp form being jerked to and fro in the middle of the snarling melee. It was vaguely human-shaped… but becoming less so by the second. Again, the feeling of nausea assailed him at the idea of executing someone in such a manner.

He started to turn to the boy, ready to growl at him to explain himself. That was when he noticed two of the hounds fighting over a braided rawhide whip, like pups playing tug-of-war with a length of chewed rope. His brows drew together, and he gave the large area beyond the bars a longer, searching look.

Where was the houndsman?

Now that his eyes had grown accustomed to the dimness, he could make out a second figure hunched in the far corner; back turned to the carnage. It… wasn’t the master of hounds.

Dusky skin stretched across lean muscles. The figure appeared to be completely naked. His fingers twined through wild spirals and mats of dark hair, clutching at his own head as though that was the only way he could hold up its weight.

Twisted scars from a long-ago flogging crisscrossed his back.

Caius stood frozen for several moments, attempting to force the tableau into some sort of context. The hounds had left the prisoner untouched—at least beyond ripping away his clothing—and instead savaged their caretaker?
Even now, the animals continued to tear at the corpse, their muzzles coated with gore.

That the houndsman was dead was not in question… and Caius supposed the apprentice’s hysteria made sense now. The boy had sunk to the ground behind him, his back pressed to the wall near the door through which they’d entered. He didn’t beg Caius to stop what was happening. Any fool could see there was no point in even trying at this late juncture. Instead, the lad merely looked on with unblinking horror as the animals fed on what had, mere minutes ago, been his master.
A living person.

Practicality reared its head. “Is there another whip?” Caius asked. “We should try to get them off the body while there’s still something left to bury—”

“No. Let them eat.” The raspy voice came from the hunched figure in the back. The prisoner hadn’t moved until that moment, but with those words, he let his hands slide free of his hair and looked over his shoulder at Caius. “They’re starving. And since I imagine that man was the one who starved them, there’s a kind of justice to it, I suppose.”

Caius buried the prickle of unease running up his spine. “You. Why aren’t you dead?”

The prisoner rose, a bit unsteadily. He seemed either unaware or uncaring of his nakedness as he turned to face Caius and walked toward him.

“I always had a way with dogs,” he said. His voice sounded detached. Far away. Around him, the animals parted like water, making way for his passage as he approached the barred door. His chest rose and fell on a deep, unsteady breath. “It’s been a while, though. Wasn’t sure if I still had the knack or not. Guess I do.”

Caius’ sense of unease didn’t lift, though its flavor shifted incrementally as he became acutely aware of the other man’s body. The prisoner stood barely more than arm’s length away from him, separated by the heavy iron bars. Caius judged him to be in his mid-twenties, though he looked older than that. Not surprising, after what had probably been years spent languishing in prison for the crime of being born an emperor’s illegitimate son.

It was apparent from his skin color and his unusual hair that his mother must have been from one of the southern lands—perhaps Kulawi. His eyes were a rich brown shade, heavy-lidded and accented by dark lashes. His body was hairless except for thatches of black at his armpits and groin. There wasn’t an ounce of fat anywhere on his frame, but rather than appearing frail, his arms and legs were corded with lean muscle and sinew. It was the body of someone who’d been used on the prison work crews rather than kept chained in a cell day in and day out. When he spoke, his accent was provincial, but not unpleasant to the ear.

“So, are you going to kill me now, soldier?” he asked, sounding more tired than fearful. His eyes landed rather pointedly on Caius’ drawn sword. Around him, several of the hounds looked up from their grisly meal, and Caius heard the low rumble of warning growls as the beasts sensed the sudden change in atmosphere.

Caius’ disquiet over the entire situation coalesced into a sharp, burning point beneath his ribcage. “Do you even know why you’re here?” he asked, in lieu of answering the man directly.

The prisoner still looked unutterably weary. “Some nobleman or the other couldn’t keep his prick where it belonged, and nine months later, there was me. No clue why someone suddenly decided to turn me into dog meat after ten years of wasting perfectly good food and clothing on me in prison, though.”

Caius blinked.

Good god.

The poor bastard didn’t even realize who his father was, did he?

An idea both terrible and wonderful in its simplicity percolated through Caius’ mind, pushing his heartbeat into a gallop.

“You haven’t answered my question,” said the prisoner. “Will I die now at your hands, instead becoming food for the pack?”

For a long moment, Caius stood poised on the cusp of what would arguably be an act of treason, wavering. He had watched in silence for the past three years as the empire his family had served for generations slid ever downward, spiraling into corruption and depravity.

The emperor—once a military and organizational genius well on his way to conquering the known world—was losing his wits and his health in equal measure. Of the emperor’s three legitimate sons, one was a drunkard, one was a sadist, and one was a manipulative bootlicker. Between them, they threatened to tear Alyrios apart with their power struggles.

And Caius, once a respected general in the Alyrion army, had somehow become the man whose job it was to make sure that the bones of a dead imperial bastard were cleaned up after being devoured by His Highness’s hunting dogs.

Almighty Deimok, how had his life come to this?

Twenty-nine years of loyalty and military discipline creaked under the accumulated strain, like rotting timbers on a bridge giving way beneath the force of a flood-swollen river. Caius met the eyes of the man standing on the other side of the bars. The prisoner’s gaze was dull with resignation.

“No,” he croaked, barely recognizing his own voice. “I’m not going to kill you. Though we may both end up dead if we’re not careful.”

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5 stars: 14 (70%)
4 stars: 2 (10%)
3 stars: 4 (20%)
2 stars: 0 (0%)
1 star: 0 (0%)

2020-2021 Rainbow Awards

I really enjoyed this high-fantasy story about an older military man, Caius, who finds himself watching as his emperor slides into senility, while three legitimate heirs, none worthy of the role, maneuver to take his place. Caius saves an innocent victim from the second son, the most crafty and sadistic of the three. He has no regrets, but he also didn't count on developing feelings for the rescued young man. And now someone wants one, or both, of them dead, as tensions rise in the capitol city. Great characters, solid world-building, an underlying mystery, and engaging narration kept me reading quickly. The ending is indeterminate, so I was very glad to have book 2 to jump right into.

Never a dull day at the office...

Appearances can be everything. Sometimes all you need is to look like you're doing what you're supposed to, and no one bothers to pay attention. But some people have much keener eyes than others. Such is the case in Master of Hounds, by R.A. Steffan.Cauis Opppita is a loyal warrior with a tragic, lonely past, having served his country's empire for most of his life. Unfortunately, the people around him are not so loyal, and it seems that the older he gets, the worse things are - until the day he meets Decian. Decian, who is set to be executed all for being the **** son of the ruling king - not that he is aware of that fact.The two men could not be more different from each other, and though it's obvious why they don't get along at first, it's also clear that they very much would like to. From their very sudden and forced first meeting they seem to constantly butt heads. The banter between them is adorable, both clearly caring more than they want the other to know. Then when they finally get a moment alone, they’re able to work out their frustrations - and comfort each other despite their surroundings.The entire impetus for them being stuck together is a last minute plot to save Decian’s life by having him pretend to be someone else, at least until he is able to safely escape and hide somewhere far away. It seems as though there is someone lurking around every corner ready to discover the truth, causing Caius plenty of stress. And the longer he's with Decian, the more he cares for him, and the harder he (and we) knows it will be to say goodbye. Gotta love a good tragically doomed relationship. With all hat danger, there are more than a few action scenes, which I found well written and easy to follow.A few side characters get their own moments to shine, but I’m happy to say the cast is not overloaded. Celine runs the local brothel, a trans woman who at times will see to Caius' particular needs, while also offering counsel on occasion. We have Pip, the young assistant to the royal houndsman, and one of the few in on their secret. And of course the royal family, particularly the three princes, two of them vying to take the crown. The middle child, Kaeto, seems to be especially dangerous, something Caius is well aware of from the start.This is a fantasy world, though the plot of the story rarely leaves the castle grounds or the surrounding city. Still there are hints of things in the world at large, and of course plenty of political intrigue via the fighting sons of the partially senile king. We get flashes of things like bits of magic that are not fully explained, and implications that something larger is at work, but I could have used a little more worldbuilding. Hopefully the sequels go into more detail!A fun book, and one that is clearly setting up a larger story. Steffan did a great job in writing these two men, because I am already quite attached to their story, especially since I know there is more to come. Looking forward to reading book two very soon!

Another great series starting

Love this book and writer! Grab your hair and try not to screech to loud cuz this is so good

Howling for More!

I was so excited to be back in this universe, this time with an M/M story! It’s not necessary to have read the previous collections, but I highly recommend it because all three are fantastic. One warning: there is a bit of a cliffhanger at the end of this book, but it’s still a complete story before that. There are awesome, interesting side characters to bracket this clandestine relationship, and I can’t wait to learn more about them. I think the world is going to be changing for the better at the hands of our protagonists, but it’s not going to be an easy road, and previous characters just might make an appearance too!

MM relationships

INCREDIBLE!I am so enthralled with this book.The characters, I feel anyone, everyone can relate to.We are once more brought into the world that started with The Horse Mistress and what lies beyond.My gods this author is brilliant in her writings.

Another enjoyable Eburosi read, with a fresh setting and plenty of heat and feelings

I liked the tie-ins to the previous Eburosi books, but it doesn't seem like there would be an issue reading this as a standalone, as it's a fresh start. Typical for these books, the characters draw you in right away with plenty of heat and connection, and they're well-written and believable. I would definitely recommend giving it a read.

excellent start to what promises to be another amazing story from this expansive world

I worried, at first, that I would have a difficult time getting into this book because it has been so long since I devoured the earlier installments in this series. However, this trilogy can easily stand on its own. Offhand references are made to events and issues recognizable as being from previous books, but they exist solidly in different countries and earlier times. The point of view character, Caius, did play a small part in the events of The Horse Mistress, and it was fascinating to read his interpretation of the events and how they shaped his future.But Caius was a younger man then, at the earliest point in his career, and he’s all but retired now. I’ve always had a soft spot for cranky old soldiers, and Caius both fits the stereotype and breaks the mold at the same time. Everyone has their limits, and Caius finds his when ordered to assist in the execution of Decian. Little did he know how important the younger man would become to him personally as they fall into a physical relationship that both pretend isn’t anything more. The age-gap element is less interesting than the “opposites attract” dynamic. After all, Decian is so laid back that he might as well be horizontal, and Caius continues to cling to the ideals and duty to country he has upheld his entire life.Steffan pulls more influence from the Greco-Roman empire for this slice of the world than just aspects of society and culture. Though Caius does his best to remain separate from the political maneuverings of his Emperor’s sons, his position in court puts him in a position of prestige and influence he does not know how to effectively wield. Political upheaval is imminent, with a side helping of religious conflict. Despite how he and Decian fall on opposites sides of the rhetorical argument on that front, their inconvenient love affair manages to take precedence.Until it doesn’t. At first, Caius is willing to sacrifice his heart for Decian to reach safety. But when secrets are revealed, this book features a gut-wrenching dark moment. The cliffhanger is not stark, but it does prompt the reader to want to dive into book 2 immediately. This novel is very much the first act of a longer narrative rather than simply the first story.

To Do His Duty or What's Right?

My review is written after listening to the audio version of this book.The two main characters in this book are very different, different ages, different religions and different backgrounds. Caius Oppita has served the Alyrion Empire as a soldier for more than half his life. He's sustained injuries guarding the royal family, his career is all he has, his wife and child died years ago and he's never had a serious relationship with anyone since. But he's become disillusioned, there is so much corruption and depravity within the Court. He feels powerless and wishes he was anywhere else but stuck being a palace lapdog.Decian is one of the emperor's ****, although he doesn't know this, he's seen as a threat by one of the legitimate sons who is systematically executing any of the emperor’s inconvenient **** sons he can find. Decian's spent the last ten years in jail but has no idea why. He's been brought to the palace for execution, the sentence to be torn apart by the palace hounds! But something goes wrong and incredibly he survives.Caius already sickened by what he knows to be happening decides to forego his duty and help Decian escape. But with no way to get him out of the palace, he decides that Decian should hide in plain sight for a few days, while they work out how to smuggle him out of the palace compound.Much against his better judgement Caius allows himself to form a bond with Decian and they become more than friends, perhaps there's a way Decian can stay? But then Caius's life is threatened and it's Decian's turn to come to his aid but their relationship is forever changed by what happens that night.The narration of this book by Cornell Collins is excellent and added immensely to my enjoyment of the tale.My review is written voluntarily.

3.5 Stars

This book was a tease! There was just enough plot and development to hook me and and then left me on a cliffhanger.The story is set in a Romanesque era with the addition of magic and supernatural entities. An old soldier who is disenchanted with the current direction of his country has a moment of 'weakness' and helps a prisoner escape execution. Said prisoner is on the many **** sons to the emperor slated for death at the order of the second in line to the throne.There is intrigue, betrayal and all manor of plots happening in the palace. The emperor is unwell and all three sons have an interest in ruling. A plot had already been set in motion, but I'll have to read book two to dine out what's going one.The narrator did a good job distinguishing between characters an immersing the listener with the world.

Complex Fantasy Plot with Believable Romance

4.5A thornbush in blood-soaked dirt, a single rose blossoming from its wretched stems.That's what this book feels like. A flower in the middle of an old battlefield. Twisted, clutching, craning for the weak sun leaking through gray-mist clouds.It's grungy, it's gruff, and it's beautiful and tender and somehow so much more alive than I ever expected, sparks of color in an otherwise gray and tired world.MASTER OF HOUNDS **Trigger Warnings located at the bottom of the review**I'm not sure what I was expecting going in to MASTER OF HOUNDS, but a cast of characters, assassination plots, well-researched, historically accurate details naturally slipped in, all alongside a realistic and steamy romance had so much more... muchness than I had strapped in for, but I was quickly sucked in for the ride.This book is an erotic romance, that's done superbly well (no insta-love! And a growing admiration only tinged with insta-attraction), but there's a lot more here than that. From the very first chapter, all the way through to the end, there's a heavy plot with twists and layers added chapter by chapter like sweeps of a paintbrush illustrating the author's vision.Not only is there a danger for our main character in saving the life of a man meant for execution, but there's royalty, a king losing his mind, three sons all vying for the throne, and a queen in the shadows, surviving it all, not to mention the distant, subtle magic of shapeshifters and the religious upheaval of the "pagans" fighting for their right to worship. Everyone has sides, and those that don't are running out of time to pick one as unrest amongst the royalty as well as the citizens continues to rise as the backdrop Caius and Decian's burgeoning relationship.Caius and Decian are the characters at the forefront of this story, Caius a gruff, experienced strategist, tired of the courtly games and questioning where his loyalties should lie henceforth; and Decian, the illigitimate son of a royal, imprisoned for ten years because of his genes and now grateful for whatever opportunity his new freedom grants him.I found I liked both of these characters quite a lot, the dichotomy of the honored and the ex-prisoner, the reluctantly political and the ignorant, the wizened and the unrestrained, mingling well with their mutual attraction, dark histories, and agreeable conversation. The age gap was a subtle but interesting added depth to their chemistry.These two are backdropped by a variety of characters, but my favorite is probably the sly Celine, a trans-woman running a brothel alongside her beloved partner.All in all, this story was exciting, delicious, and addicting - satisying in ways I didn't know I was searching for! Steffan is a skilled writer, able to create a world and plot with characters that fit seamlessly into both. With superb writing, she creates visions in your mind that keep you enthralled to the very end. I can't wait to start book two, and once I've finished this trilogy, I'll be checking out her other books!MASTER OF HOUNDS **Trigger Warnings**~Gore~Blood~Death by starving dogs~Past animal cruelty~Dead buck via hunting party, described in detail~Killed horse~Killing in self-defense~Torture, brief~Very brief, mentioned implied rape of off-screen characters (only mentioned in passing, no details)~Past death via childbirth~Past injuries~Past torture~Generally homophobic society, nothing on-screen, but queer relationships must be kept secret~Slavery~Implied societal racism~Implied dementia~Religious oppression (there is only one religion allowed by the government in this society)~I think I covered everything, but keep in mind, this is a Roman-ish fantasy world with the expected weapons present, and the main character is a retired soldier, so violence in general is fairly abundant

Got interesting at 84%

The characters are bland. There were hints of interesting back story, but they weren't developed to the point of caring about them until the end of the book. That is where the story got interesting. Not sure it's enough to read the next one. Also the **** scene was bland, unemotional, and not ****

Must read

Fantastic read. Great characters and romance

Loyalty

Fantasy kingdom and a loyal advisor intrigue and back stabbing. Throw in some mm romance and shape shifters and you have this book . My only complaint was the abrupt ending leaving me unsatisfied.

Love the book

I have loved the universe you have written in the other series, and this one is no different. Thank you for your hard work on this book, and the universe.

Set in the Eburosi chronicles

In the enemy country of the rest of his books in the Eburose chronicles...the Master of Hounds meets a dog boy and must help him (and himself) to freedom. This is book 1. I am looking forward to the next story.

A little short

This was an interesting read but it ended right when it really picked up. I'm interested enough to read on because I want to know how it ends

Another great book from RA Steffan!

A tired wounded former solider turned royal adviser and a young royal **** meet in a life or death situation, and become friends and lovers. Of course, nothing is simple in a royal court, so there areassassins, infighting, and riots in the streets. I loved this first book in a new series occurring in the Eburosi Chronicles universe.

Good writing!

This reminded me so much of Megan Derr and Ginn Hale stories. Glad I found another author with the same calibre.The writing was awesome. I mean, it was engaging and interesting and way too short! Good thing the second book is out 😆We haven’t seen much of the world building but I think that’s mostly cos it’s an existing world and a spin-off from the author’s earlier series so, it does feel like it’s only just beginning. So in that regard, it’s very exciting and interesting.Can’t wait to read more! 🤩

Interesting

This book did one thing I despise. Ended just as I was really getting into the story, without any real climax. Just as the story was good it ends with little reason. And, it seemed a bit short. Other than that it was a,well written story with good characters. Perhaps, it is one of those situations where one needs to read all three stories to get one book. I ,however, am not sure I will bother.

Surprisingly good

I was intrigued by the book summary and decided to give it a try. I don't really like contemporary MM stories as I enjoy more masculine heroes. And this for the bill perfectly. I'm eager for the next book and am hoping for a NEW for these two.

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Master of Hounds: Book 1 (EBOOK, LGBT)

Master of Hounds: Book 1 (EBOOK, LGBT)

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