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Lovers and Beloveds (An Intimate History of the Greater Kingdom) [Kindle Edition]

MeiLin Miranda
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)

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Book Description

A novel of magic, sex and political intrigue


Prince Temmin Antremont has been sheltered from assassins and women for all his eighteen years. Now at his father Harsin's court, forces he can neither control nor understand pull at him from all sides. But none pull harder than the Lovers, the twin gods of love and sex. They want him to serve Them for two years. King Harsin believes an old prophecy: if Temmin joins the Lovers' Temple the monarchy will end. 

The gods are irresistible, and the King is implacable. Temmin must decide which is more dangerous--defying his father or defying the gods. 

Set in a Victorianesque world of magic, sexuality and empire, Lovers and Beloveds is the first book in the epic fantasy saga An Intimate History of the Greater Kingdom.


Editorial Reviews

Review



"Everything I adore in high fantasy--lush worldbuilding, political intrigue, and compelling characters--combined with something I rarely find in high fantasy--intelligent, well-written, relevant sex. MeiLin Miranda's a damn fine writer and definitely one I'll be keeping my eye on in the future!" -- M.K. Hobson, author of The Native Star

"[C]aptivating - almost like an anthropological study of sex, identity, gender, relationships, power, fetish, etc. Unlike your normal smut novel or porn piece, the sex is heart-breakingly realistic, full of warts and rough edges. ... Overall Rating: 4.5 stars. Thought-provoking, well-written, emotionally powerful." -- Maria T. Violante, Write, Read, Review blog

"If George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series captures the gritty realism of medieval history, Lovers and Beloveds reveals the intimate and personal dynamics of power in aristocracies. It weaves together a rich multi-layered story that explores how sex and power shape history and individual destiny--sharing a perspective that's beyond the 'men, swords, and thrones' (capital H) history that's often seen in fantasy. ... This is an intelligent, insightful, and beautiful fantasy novel. I highly recommend Lovers and Beloveds." -- Frida Fantastic Indie Speculative Fiction Reviews blog

"If you are a fan of well-written fantasy stories with a strong sexual element, then this book comes strongly recommended." -- Grace Krispy, Mother Lode Book Reviews

"5 stars!" -- Sift Book Reviews blog

From the Author

I always find Lovers and Beloveds a hard book to describe. It's Victorianesque, but it's not steampunk. It's epic fantasy, but it's not medieval. There's a lot of sex (at least in this first book), but it's not erotica.

It is a sprawling family saga, outlining what may be the final years of an empire. Prophecies are converging, and at their center is Temmin Antremont, the crown prince. Some events are pre-ordained, but Temmin is the variable. He will be either Temmin the Liberator or Temmin the Magnificent. He doesn't know which path to take--or even how to take it.

The series An Intimate History of the Greater Kingdom explores duty, responsibility, redemption, free will and sexual politics in a world where gods walk among humans, magic lurks just beneath the surface, and many don't believe in either.

Product Details

  • File Size: 697 KB
  • Print Length: 420 pages
  • Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
  • Publisher: Sans Culotte Press (September 6, 2010)
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B0043EX1S2
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • X-Ray: Not Enabled
  • Lending: Enabled
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #159,692 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
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Customer Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
(30)
4.5 out of 5 stars
Characters Temmin is the lead character, and Prince of the Kingdom. Sift Book Reviews  |  14 reviewers made a similar statement
This one's definitely a book I'll read more than once. Erinn M. Streeter  |  14 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars history, intrigue, magic & more September 28, 2010
Format:Kindle Edition
Prophecies, magic, curses and Gods -- Lovers and Beloveds has all the trappings of a strong coming-of-age fantasy novel. It offers an impressive depth and breadth in terms of world-building, mixing hints of Victorian aristocracy with Ancient Greek religion to create a compelling, evocative setting. But most of all it offers an intimate view into the daily lives of those who have shaped and will shape the Kingdom of Tremont, intertwining the history of Temmin's ancestors with his current experiences at court.

This dual narrative -- jumping between present times and Temmin's ancestors - is part of what makes the story so addictive. Lovers and Beloveds is in part a character study of Temmin and his formal training as Heir, but there is a larger story at play, too, which only becomes evident through the parallels between Temmin's behaviour and his ancestor's mistakes. Much of this revolves around religious, moral and sexual themes, in which Temmin is largely innocent and ignorant -- and while the story is often explicit and occasionally non-consensual, it is handled gracefully and is crucial to the plot.

But what is perhaps most striking is that both setting and cast have received equal care and attention; the Prince and his companions are as vivid in my mind as the city itself. Temmin is a believable teenager, awkward, petulant, trying hard to do what is right but often distracted by what is tempting. The strong bench of supporting characters are also well-developed, with histories of their own. My personal favourite is Teacher, a dark mysterious figure bound by magic to obey the King's commands.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Well-written fantasy with the good bits left in September 25, 2010
Format:Kindle Edition
Every once in a while, when you're lucky, you encounter a book that hits you right between the eyes and leaves you behind, happy but slightly stunned. MeiLin Miranda's first novel, and the first of hopefully many more in her Intimate History series, is such a book.

Her beautiful writing combines a coming of age story with memorable, three-dimensional characters, tight and detailed world building that never gets in the way of the story being told, magic, technology, eroticism and plenty of conflict, and it weaves all those ingredients into one of the more remarkable books I've ever read.

Lovers and Beloveds is an epic fantasy story that makes you think, with a solid helping of erotica and action to keep you excited, and I can't really recommend it enough.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Not for the Kiddies! January 5, 2012
Format:Kindle Edition
First things first - for the purposes of this review, Lovers and Beloveds: (An Intimate History of the Greater Kingdom, by MeiLin Miranda, will be henceforth referred to as LAB. Perhaps not the most glib of monikers, but it gets the job done, and typing out that whole title over and over would eventually kill me.

I find LAB extremely hard to describe or categorize, but I'm going to give it my best shot. While a large part of the novel in some way is devoted to sex and sexuality, I would not classify it as primarily "erotic fiction." Those words always make me think of a thinly veiled, somewhat pornographic venture in which the main goal is to either turn one on or provide spank-bank fodder. LAB strikes me as something more contemplative, almost anthropological. When boiled down to its bare-bones, one might summarize it as a fantasy novel that details a young prince's passage into adulthood, nobility, and sexuality. I will state that it is not appropriate for minors or for those who are less than comfortable with some of the more "alternative" forms of sexuality. I don't want to get too far into the details with that one, so let me say this: if the idea of "alternative" sexuality makes you uncomfortable, then you may want to research this book further before purchase.

I should also state, for those still on the fence about a possible purchase, that while the book isn't without its issues, I found it interesting, unique, well-written, and thought-provoking - the last of which is a characteristic you rarely find in a fantasy work. We've become very used to just having a great story told to us, but sometimes it's also important to think about what you are hearing (er, reading).

So, as is always my style, let me begin with what didn't work for me.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
I purchased Lovers and Beloveds as an impulse buy - and I was surprised by how good it turned out to be. More than just erotic fantasy, MeiLin Miranda's novel about a young man's first steps toward kinghood in a world full of magic, intrigue and sex was also funny, entertaining, suspenseful and thought provoking. This one's definitely a book I'll read more than once. And I'm looking forward to book two!
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Everything I love in high fantasy--and more! December 5, 2011
Format:Paperback
Lovers and Beloveds: An Intimate History of the Greater Kingdom has everything I adore in high fantasy--lush worldbuilding, political intrigue, and compelling characters--combined with something I rarely (to be honest, almost never) find in high fantasy--intelligent, well-written, relevant sex. The story's explicit content (and it is substantial) is masterfully handled with grace and elegance. Most importantly, it is always in service of the book's sweeping, dramatic narrative. Author MeiLin Miranda deploys her erotic charges in the best possible way: to reveal character, explore power dynamics, and further disclose the unique structure of the rich and fascinating society she has created. She's a damn fine writer and definitely one I'll be keeping my eye on in the future!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Well Done!
The road to the throne is never easy. For Prince Temmin, the decisions he makes on the way could make, or break the very foundation on which the kingdom stands. Read more
Published 4 months ago by MazeyDaze
3.0 out of 5 stars An intimate fantasy
Cross-posted from Papyrus Independent Author Reviews.

Temmin is the heir to the throne of Tremont, about to turn 18 and enter into manhood, and is still a virgin. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Caleb Blake
5.0 out of 5 stars Passion, lust and coming of age
Where do I start? This book was amazing, tantalizing, passionate, well written and over all one of the best erotic paranormal romance books I've read in a while. Read more
Published 13 months ago by L. A. Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars Intimate History: a double entendre
I read "Lovers and Beloveds" on the advice of a friend, and I must thank the friend. I've also recently read the first two "Fifty Shades" novels. Read more
Published 13 months ago by L. Finch
5.0 out of 5 stars Embodiment of Wisdom
This is one of those rare books woven with complexities, great writing, competent world-building, and a story line that leaves me wanting to read more, though this first in a... Read more
Published 23 months ago by H. Hoogstra
5.0 out of 5 stars A great political fantasy
Characters

Temmin is the lead character, and Prince of the Kingdom. At the start of the book, he's just coming into his majority, and unlike effectively all other... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Sift Book Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars A little history, a little fantasy,...
Lovers and Beloveds is the first of a series, An Intimate History of the Greater Kingdom. When I received the book and read a little about it, I thought it was going to be a... Read more
Published on May 25, 2011 by Kiki Deister
4.0 out of 5 stars An intelligent, insightful, and beautiful fantasy novel. Highly...
"If the women were so important, why aren't they in the histories?" -Prince Temmin

If George R. R. Read more
Published on May 19, 2011 by Frida Fantastic
4.0 out of 5 stars Where's the next one?
Although I found the beginning a bit slow, all of a sudden I was in deep & couldn't put it down! Temmin's character is pretty naive in a self-centered sort of way in the... Read more
Published on May 18, 2011 by Lisa M. Almond
4.0 out of 5 stars Erotic Fantasy
4.5 stars for Amazon rating standard - Temmin is Prince of Tremont and Heir to the throne. He has grown up with his mother, the Queen, far from the King's residence in a sheltered... Read more
Published on May 16, 2011 by Michelle
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More About the Author

MeiLin Miranda writes Victorianesque fantasy and science fiction from her 130-year-old house in Portland, Oregon. Her love of all things 19th century (except for the pesky parts like cholera, child labor, slavery and no rights for women) has consumed her since childhood, when she fell in a stack of Louisa May Alcott and never got up.

MeiLin has been a professional writer for most of the last 35 years, focusing on nonfiction until a cardiac arrest and near death experience in 2006 convinced her she'd better get moving if she meant to write fiction.



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