Customer Reviews

The Archer's Heart

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Honesty from the outset~

Over the last few months I have reviewed several stories by Astrid Amara in the anthologies Hell Cop and Tangle: Edition XY. Each time I have come away more and more impressed by her storytelling. The Archer's Heart did not disappoint. This was the stuff of epics.

First things first~

When The Archer's Heart arrived with a thunk on my doorstep I admit to being daunted about the task of reviewing such a large book that was sure to be filled with the rich prose I've come to expect from this author. Once I'd started reading I quickly forgot my earlier intimidation and over the next four to five hours completely lost myself in the world the author had created.

Where to start...

The Archer's Heart is beautifully written with the culture and landscape of the Marhavad kingdom being lushly crafted and reminiscent of India at its most beautiful and its most darkest. This is a story about power, oppression, societal expectations, personal belief systems, acceptance, hope, friendship, family, loyalty and love. The setting, especially with its rigid caste system, provides a perfect backdrop to the exploration of these themes.

There were a few places where I did find the world building a little too descriptive. Having said that, it never overwhelmed as is sometimes the case in the fantasy genre, was always relevant to the plot and helped to paint the vivid picture that was the Marhavad kingdom. In places, you could almost smell the stink of the sewerage of the slums or the stench of the dying bodies on the battlefield. It was very evocative.

The story focuses on Keshan and Jandu and their relationship and on the story of Tarek. Through them you meet a cast of characters, who both repel and engage your emotions. Some of you might be jumping to your own fantasies conclusions and thinking along the lines of m/m/m, but I assure you it is not. Tarek and the unrequited feelings he has for his Lord (Darvad) provides the contrast to the openness, love and commitment between Keshan and Jandu. From a low caste, Tarek worked his way up to his high status and as a result is obsessed with his oath and the man who helped him get there. He will do anything to serve his Lord, even compromise his own beliefs.

Keshan and Jandu on the other hand are complete opposites; not only in ideals, but also in factions. Keshan is politically savvy with a radical vision (literally) for the future which he works to see implemented and Jandu is a spoilt young man who has never questioned his position as Prince. The two are fascinated with each other from the very beginning, despite Jandu's horror at being attracted to a man which is an act punishable by death in the kingdom.

For all his apparent shallowness at the beginning of the book, Jandu was by far my favourite character. Don't get me wrong, all the protags are very well developed in The Archer's Heart. Yet, it was Jandu who captured MY heart. I think this was because of the incredible and challenging experiences this character has over the approximately four year period the book covers. Although he becomes lovers with Keshan quite early in the story, it is not Keshan who is the central catalyst to Jandu's maturation but it is the impact of his other life circumstances. As a reader, I felt privileged to witness Jandu's change and growth in character albeit distressing at times.

Finally, and trying not to give any spoilers, some of you sooner, as I did, rather than later will get an idea as to how the book may finish. Do not let this distract you from your enjoyment because, in my opinion, it is the journey - the hows, whys and whens - that make this story, not necessarily the ending.

A couple of issues/warnings~

The were only a few things which stopped this from being five stars for me. The first was a minor issue associated with the world building and I touched on that above. The second related to the telling of Tarek's story. Although I understand Tarek's relationship with Darvad provided juxtaposition to that of Keshan's and Jandu's, I found myself becoming increasingly frustrated with his inability to see the truth about Darvad. There is no doubt in mind this was the response the author was trying to evoke in the reader; however, I have to admit I did skip some of the passages towards the end of the book because he was annoying the absolute crap out of me.

My recommendation~

This is quite simply the best fantasy story I've read in my nearly 18 months of reading m/m fiction. To those who particularly enjoy this genre I would strongly recommend that you buy The Archer's Heart. It is excellent.

If you want to read a gay fantasy epic, "The Archer's Heart" is for you.

Jandu Paran, a young prince who is very full of himself, unintentionally wins the hand of a beautiful young girl. With his slapdash daring, he draws the attention of the rebellious and talented Keshan Adaru. The two of them are deeply involved in opposite sides of the Marhavad succession and are put into a position where they are forced to compromise love or loyalty.

What I find most remarkable about this epic is how the setting forms both plot and character. It takes place in a world that is more than reminiscent of pre-colonial India, but here, the Yashvas (somewhat like demons, somewhat like gods) take an important role. Not only magic but also cultural phenomena (such as polygamous marriage, family hierarchy, and the caste-system) shape the story. Unlike so many fantasy epics, I felt as if this story could only take place in this culture and at this precise time. It made the novel very believable, and there were hundreds of small details that gave "The Archer's Heart" a sexy, exotic feel.

Besides, I loved how the relationship between Jandu Paran and Keshan Adaru progressed as their characters evolved.

It was a real page-turner. Even though I was tired, I stayed up late so that I could finish it. Can't wait to read Astrid Amara's next book.

"The Archer's Heart" by Astrid Amara is amazing and should not be missed! This is an epic tale of politics, family, betrayal, war, exile, Gods/Goddesses, curses, blessings, and love.

I have to admit to initially being intimidated by the setting of this novel. Although it is never specifically stated, it appears the story is set in a land similar to India with its caste system and its mythology. Sometimes reading stories that take place in exotic lands and in different languages can overwhelm the reader with strange sounding names that get confusing. This fear was completely unfounded! I had no problem following the exotic names of characters and places, nor the rich mythology contained within this novel. I felt like I was immersed in an exquisite world of mystery and wonder. The place never felt false or imaginary; rather, it was immediate and alive.

In fact, I would not refer to this story as paranormal so much as one filled with mythology. I was impressed with the skill the author showed in making the lush mythology so easily comprehensible and the dexterity of keeping a cast of thousands clear and recognizable.

I cannot praise enough the nuanced characterizations that are to be found here. Many characters go from good to bad to somewhere in between and back again numerous times. I found myself switching allegiances to characters until the very end. People that I felt were so obviously wrong in their thoughts and political agendas I found myself not only sympathizing with but also rooting for and then cursing and then understanding ~ just like real life.

The relationship between two of the main characters, Jandu and Keshan, is a beautiful and wondrous liaison to watch develop. When they first meet, there is intense chemistry. Keshan understands his attraction but it is completely new and foreign to Jandu. Jandu doesn't know how to interpret his passionate attraction to Keshan. So, he labels it as family affection, friendship, anything and everything but lust/love. It doesn't help that homosexuality is not only against the law but is punishable by execution and that Jandu's oldest brother is not only extremely religious, but he is also the Royal Judge invested with the obligation to uphold all religious and governmental laws. After their first kiss, Jandu is conflicted ~ he fears these new feelings, hates/blames Keshan for the kiss, and yet is also completely overcome with desire for Keshan. He fears he has been bewitched, yet, feels awakened to passion and life.

Again, the author's skill must be praised. In an intensely moving and horrifying scene, Jandu is brought to court with his brother the Royal Judge to learn the family business. While Jandu is present, two men are brought before the court for homosexual activity. Jandu's brother is repulsed and outraged at the two men and orders their immediate execution. Jandu watches as the two men are forced to kneel down and are beheaded in front of him for the very feelings and actions he dreams about sharing with Keshan ~ a deeply powerful scene!

Juxtaposed to Jandu and Keshan's relationship, is one between Tarek and Darvad. Tarek is in love with Darvad, who is straight and vying to be king. The characterizations of this relationship will resonate with any gay man who has struggled to deal with romantic feelings for a straight friend. Darvad may or may not grasp the romantic longings of his friend and may or may not deliberately toss him just enough attention and moments of affection to feed Tarek's obsessive desire for the man he cannot have. Complicating these interactions is the fact that Darvad has elevated Tarek from a lower caste to a higher caste, improving not only Tarek's life but also Tarek's family and progeny. Tarek is not only grateful but, perhaps, also loyal to a fault. As he watches his life falling apart around him, he can't resolve his attraction for Darvad instead he seems to be almost paralyzed by these feelings.

While the relationship between Jandu and Keshan was like a glorious lotus blossom slowly unfolding to greet the morning sun, Tarek's obsessive love for Darvad seems to drain the light from his life. It is a beautiful revelation of the two sides of love.

There is much to discover in this astounding epic tale. The writing is top rate; the story lines are compelling; the characters are complex and authentic; the mythology is gripping; all in all, this is a novel that is not to be missed!

If this book is indicative of Astrid Amara's skills as a writer, I can't wait for the next novel and I wouldn't be surprised to see it listed on the NY Times best seller list sometime in the future. Highly recommended!!

Good fantasy, and a beautifully told love story. The main characters Jandu and Keshan are developed well, both individually and as a couple. I was thrilled to find another gay fantasy novel that had style and substance to it. I appreciated how complex the characters were - it didn't take very long before I couldn't tell which "side" I was supposed to be on - the Paran's side (Yudar was horrible, but almost forgiveable as Jandu's brother), or Darvad's side (who wanted to change the kingdom for the better, but who played dirty, and was greedy). I like it when the lines between good and bad, or right and wrong get blurred in novels. There are very few clear-cut good guys or bad guys in The Archer's Heart. Tarek stood out as a perfect example of this. At first I sympathized with this character - initially a "good" guy, an underdog - I rooted for him, but after a while it became difficult to sympathize with him at all, yet, I still can't say he ever really became a "bad" guy.
This book was alternately fun, touching, erotic, and hopeful. There were parts that I completely related to, such as Jandu's struggle with his sexual orientation (the scene where he breaks down and cries after he has sex with Keshan; the scene where he sees Keshan for the first time after their initial "break-up", etc).
Anyway, from someone who has read a lot of gay fantasy, I'd highly recommend this novel to anyone else who reads in this genre. This one was a gem, and I hope you enjoy it as well.

Bought this when it was published in 2008 but because of its thickness kept putting it off. Wow! Now I regret I did not read The Archer's Heart earlier. I love fantasy gay romance and this one has to be in the top of my list after Wreaththu. Amazing world building, rich imagination, exciting and stirring plot, appealing and credible characters, touching romance, brotherly love all the ingredients I want in my fantasy romance are there.
Making use of Hindu mythology with its colorful cultures, mind boggling magics and terrible caste system the writer has turned The Archer's Heart into a magnificent fantasy epic. The plot itself is complex and spellbinding, one roller coaster ride both emotionally and as a grand adventure epic. Court intricacies, princes killing each other for the throne, astounding magics in the arts of wars involving gods and goddesses. And above all a moving and captivating romance as old as time. I love Keshan and Jandu, a lord and a prince who have to overcome so much trials and tribulations to be together. Keshan to Jandu's rescue is one heart gripping scene and is simply unforgettable as are both men willing to give up all to be together. There are scenes here involving the lovers and with their brothers which I do not think I will ever forget and this makes The Archer's Heart a very special book for me. Bravo Astrid Amara.

This is one of the best novels I have read in a long time; intriguing and well written. The picture the author painted with her words was just fantastic, I wanted to visit this world. I felt involved with all of the characters. I liked some of them, hated others,and the relationship between Jandu and Keshan was written perfectly; intense, loving, romantic, satisfying. I was also happy with the length of the novel. So many 'novels' portraying m/m relationships are just horribly short sex scenes with hefty price tags. Thank you Astrid Amara!! I hope to read more from you soon.

Others have described the plot and the setting better than I could, so I won't repeat that. What I have to say, though, is that I loved this book. Loved it! And believe you me, that is a sentence I haven't said about a book in altogether too long a time. The world building is flawless, and it's similarities to pre-colonial India put the cultural conventions in a quite believable context. And what is more, those conventions serve beautifully to give the characters depth and motivation. Or show their shallowness, which is quite nice as well. I like an author who clearly loves and enjoys her characters very much but does not shrink from showing their not so lovable sides as well - or occasionally putting them through the wringer. Also, high points for a most dramatic coming out scene. The curse may seem a little contrived but then again, for me it contributed to the fairy-tale flavour of the book and it advanced the plot, so I'm okay with that.

So, very solid writing (this is not! printed fan fiction but a real novel), good world building, interesting and believable character arcs, gripping plot: What more do you want? Read it.

Reading The Archers Heart was truly a pleasure. This beautiful fantasy novel draws on elements from the Mah'bh'rata and is set in a land, not dissimilar to India, called Marhavad. It is a tale of caste, magic, betrayal, adventure, war and love. I spent a week sloping off to bed early just so I could read more!

I think the first thing that appealed was the setting. The Indian influence that saturated Marhavad was delightful and with most of what I've read in fantasy set in more European influenced worlds, an enjoyable change. It made me remember reading The Far Pavilions (incredible, beautiful story) and sneaking out to watch The Jewel in the Crown when I was younger. I cannot express how nice it is to read about somewhere a little different and loose some of the Anglo-European centric feel that many fantasy novels have. No LOTR template here and no singing hobbits either!

The world building was tight with magical elements blending seamlessly within the historical feel of the novel. It was also well paced with nothing glossed over or rushed despite the book covering a period of several years. There were the odd bits that lagged, but for the most part I was kept well entertained.

I liked the character of Keshan Adaru, who is a man with change at the forefront of everything he does. He is determined to see a society where all men and women are treated equally and the caste system removed. He is charismatic and beautiful. The romance that blossoms between him and Prince Jandu Paran kept me up way past my bedtime. I think, of the two characters, the depth and growth of Jandu was what really captured my interest. He begins the story a brash young boy and grows into a man worthy of his title. And yeah, all serious waffle aside it was kinda hot. heh.

The inclusion of Tarek Amia, whose story runs along side that of Keshan and Jandu, was very poignant at times. I enjoyed his stoic, soldier like nature and unrequited love for his Prince. Such an honorable man, I wanted someone to ruffle his hair occasionally.

If I have any whinges it's that I did find Jandu's curse a little odd in the scheme of things. While it did move the story along it was a little different and unexpected. I also felt a bit uncomfortable at the unsympathetic portrayal of Keshan's wife and wondered if this could have been handled a little differently.

I think the most charming thing about this book is its uniqueness. I don't think I've really read anything quite like it before and this was probably its most appealing quality. Beautifully presented and a distinctively different read that is well worth reading. Liked it lots!

I'm not a regular reader of fiction, mostly because there aren't a lot of really "great" books out there. Most pander to the mass consumption mentality as beach vacation throw-away novels wrapped in an eigth grade reading level. Gay fiction is particularly bad, often disguised as soft core porn with a barely-there plot servicing as a bridge just to "get to the next sex scene". This is in addition to writers to love to "hear themselves write" by being extremely verbose...spending three pages just to describe a street scene or spending all their time in their character's subtext by telling us what they're thinking and then proceeding to tell us how they FEEL about what they're thinking. You know these writers.

At over 600 pages, The Archer's Heart could easily have been one of those books. I'd been looking for a gay-themed story, fantasy-based where the relationships were adult and real, yet was supported by the male/male romance instead of driven by it. I'd started a much shorter book by a very famous LGBT author and just could not finish it.

Once I started The Archer's Heart, I could not put it down. I know it sounds cliche, but I flew through this book in less than three weeks. For me, that's warp speed. Like a good movie should do, I kept thinking about Keshan, Jandu and all the supporting characters in this book all day long, wondering what happened to them. They lingered with me and before I knew it; I'd become fully emotionally invested in these characters. I'd find myself reading seven or eight chapters in a sitting, holding my breath to see if things would turn out the way I'd wanted them to. I felt like a kid does when he's watching his favorite TV show. I was totally engrossed with a complete suspension of disbelief. That's what great fiction should do and that's what The Archer's Heart does.

As a professional writer, I can say that Amara's writing is perfectly paced. It's economical, yet descriptive in all the right places. Her world is magical, colorful and you absolutely feel in the center of it. It's easy to become crushed under the weight on a world you've created when writing an epic. Too many popular authors create worlds and then cannot navigate them, ending up with plot problems and continuity issues. Amara never loses sight of all her plot lines and weaves them together in the end like the colorful fabrics that adorn the world of her story.

Simply...The Archer's Heart is the best piece of fiction of any genre that I've read in years. I hope Amara has another fantasy planned because I will be the first one in line to buy it.

Words cannot effectively describe how brilliantly crafted this epic tale is. It tells the story of two noble men, who in the beginning could not be more different in their views on life and society. However, throughout the book, Jandu the pampered Paran prince, begins to realize how horribly unfair the caste system is for the lower class and that his lover Keshan, had the right idea all along.
The characters are beautifully crafted and engaging. The author pulls you along for a joyous ride in this fantastic fantasy world. A gripping page turner from start to finish. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading well-written, epic fantasy, with the added bonus of the two main characters being gay men. I sincerely wish there were more of these novels out there. When's the sequel???? :D