After meeting Lucrio while on a walk with Sabah, the Prince’s favorite cat, Aqib is swept up in a romance forbidden by everyone in his culture.

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Why this book?: M/M? Check. POC? Check. Fantasy? Check. It’s also the March book for Keep It Diverse.

 

Because I didn’t read that much, but still have quite a few things to say, I’ll make this one short.

My main problem with A Taste of Honey is the writing style. It’s really odd, going back and forth from Shakespeare style prose to extremely modern and eloquent writing. I really couldn’t stand it. It was jerky and off-balance, and made the novella hard to read. In addition to that, I thought the characters were really under-developed and lackluster. You got what they were, but not who.

Aqib and Lucrio’s relationship also made me fairly uncomfortable. They meet really briefly, when Aqib is on a walk. How they meet? Lucrio catcalls Aqib from a street corner. That was my first strike. Second one comes when Lucrio comes up behind Aqib, and asks fairly abruptly to kiss Aqib–that quickly devolves into Lucrio saying he wanted to make love to Aqib, and pressuring him into be his lover. Strike two.

The third strike wasn’t as bad, but as it continued, I grew uncomfortable. Lucrio is often pressuring Aqib into doing things that are against his culture. Lucrio is always pressuring Aqib into doing something, and I didn’t like it.

I only read about 25% before skimming up to 50%. I’m pretty disappointed overall, but because I didn’t read much, I won’t be giving a rating. These are just my thoughts, and points that bothered me.

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Additional Information:

Published: October 25th, 2016

Publisher: Tor.com

Page Count: 160

Genre: Fantasy/High Fantasy/Romance

Synopsis: via Goodreads

Long after the Towers left the world but before the dragons came to Daluça, the emperor brought his delegation of gods and diplomats to Olorum. As the royalty negotiates over trade routes and public services, the divinity seeks arcane assistance among the local gods.

Aqib bgm Sadiqi, fourth-cousin to the royal family and son of the Master of Beasts, has more mortal and pressing concerns. His heart has been captured for the first time by a handsome Daluçan soldier named Lucrio. in defiance of Saintly Canon, gossiping servants, and the furious disapproval of his father and brother, Aqib finds himself swept up in a whirlwind romance. But neither Aqib nor Lucrio know whether their love can survive all the hardships the world has to throw at them.