Customer Reviews

Strange Fortune

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Valentine Strange is in desperate need of money having bad luck at the gaming tables recently. His fortune changes however when he is propositioned by The Holy Order, more specifically Brahman Warrick. He asks Strange, who has a reputation of a man who knows how to get things done, to go on a mission - retrieve an ancient diadem belonging to the goddess of Purya, one that The Holy Order will pay Strange for handsomely and allow him to pay off all his debts. Strange has never heard of this diadem, but according to Warrick, after Purya defeated monsters and demons, she forged this diadem to be worn by her successor the next time the world was in danger. Strange isn't necessarily buying this tale, but for the right price, he will find truth in any story. This is a dangerous mission though - having to journey into the White Mountains, so he demands all of his money upfront. Warrick also decides to send Aleister Grimshaw, a witch with Strange to help if needed, but Warrick has ulterior motives. Warrick doesn't think Grimshaw is mentally stable, and thinks he needs a break from the Holy Order.

Grimshaw comes from a trueblood family, one that conspired in a mutiny against Strange's people. Although Grimshaw saw his own father and grandfather executed for their crimes, Strange saw many more terrible things done to his people during that time. They set off with history already clouding their trust. Grimshaw is just as "excited" as Strange to go on this mission, but Warrick is giving him no choice.

They set off with an unknown road ahead of them. Much distrust swirls around Grimshaw because he is a witch and his powers are not trusted. They soon realize, they not only have assassins following their trail, but heir own laborers attempt mutiny. Strange soon concludes that retrieving this diadem is not as straight forward as Warrick assumed it to be. Once they reach the monastery where Warrick promised the diadem to be located, Strange and Grimshaw realize there is much more going on. Strange also realizes his basic intentions of keeping Grimshaw safe, have turned into a much more stronger desire. Having been in a relationship with a woman previously, his feelings for Grimshaw come as a bit of a surprise, and Strange soon finds himself trying to keep Grimshaw safe, no matter the cost.

I could probably write a five page summary for Strange Fortune, but that is because Josh Lanyon puts that much detail into this story. Valentine Strange is the type of character I love - cocky, finding himself in continuous trouble, and more concerned with his polo ponies or weapons than anything of significance. In the beginning, all he truly cares about is finding the diadem to uphold his part of the bargain, but that is before he meets Grimshaw. The witch is a mysterious one - he keeps to himself, and performs spells at night which keeps everyone on edge since magic is not trusted. Strange likes a mystery and finds Grimshaw's riddled answers and secret ways antagonizing but it keeps him on his toes. Grimshaw is lonely, and finds talking to Strange a great source of relief and a friendship develops. They soon learn they really have only each other to trust, as the others plot and uprise against them.The romance unfolds very slowly, Grimshaw falling a little faster in love. Strange always has in the back of his mind the question of whether Grimshaw is glamouring him, but it is more of a defensive thought, since he hasn't been with a man in a long time. These two really become allies first in this mission as their friendship is tested, especially on Strange's part. At one point in the journey, Grimshaw is unconscious for two days, and Strange never once thinks of leaving him behind, even though it puts him more at risk.

I think for those Josh Lanyon fans out there, and for those who have never read him, it needs to be stressed that this is foremost a fantasy book. Those anticipating the big romance scene may be disappointed - if that is the only thing you are waiting for. Yes there is romance, but it is not written in your face. Rather, it quietly surfaces in the story as Grimshaw and Strange go on their journey.

Their journey to retrieve the diadem becomes very complex and many twists are thrown at the reader. My only criticism is that in some parts it does become a bit slow, but at he same time, this story would not be what it is without the meticulous world building Josh Lanyon has included.

Strange Fortune is much different from his m/m romance books he is known for, but it is a fun, exhilarating change and I hope it isn't the last of this world we have seen!

I just got the book yesterday and read straight through the Night. That is another great story by Josh Lanyon, the storytelling is flawless. The Heroes have their little flaws just so much that they are interesting. I like the wity and sometimes sarcastic dialogues, but this is something one is expecting in Lanyons books. The lovestory is sweet and even if there are not so many sex scenes, I didn`t miss them. That books is a keeper and I am really waiting for a sequel. I am curious what might be behind this hills too
Highly recommendable read !!

Well, I had absolutely no idea what to expect from this novel. Fantasy is certainly not something I expected from Josh Lanyon and, being hesitant to try something so different when I love the mysteries he writes, I cracked this book open with trepidation. For some reason - maybe precisely because of the newness of it - I found it difficult to connect and believe in the characters. I wasn't being sucked into the story as has happened with every other Lanyon work I've read. Then ... magic! I don't know precisely how the story changes, or maybe I stopped thinking about the strangeness of Lanyon + fantasy, but suddenly I could not put the book down. I became completely absorbed in the story by the time I was finished, and I will keep my fingers crossed for a sequel. I would love nothing better than to read more about the adventures of Master Grimshaw and Valentine Strange.

If you're iffy about the whole fantasy thing I'd say take the plunge and go for it because Josh Lanyon delivers like he has in all his works and this is another one to love.

Josh Lanyon's "Strange Fortune" is a decent and entertaining read for those interested in m/m fantasy, but will likely hold little appeal for mainstream readers. While it's a fun read, it's not memorable, and nothing about it struck me as phenomenal. I'm not sorry I read it, but I won't be re-reading it any time soon.

I'll start with what I didn't like:
First, the book suffers from technical flaws and careless editing. There is an unusually high number of misspellings/malapropisms/typos. These errors are peppered throughout, and are noticeably more abundant than in a mainstream title.

Second, the book's plot felt a little weak/loose. It was pretty simple conceptually: one magical artifact, gods, legends, demons wanting to possess people and wreak havoc, etc. While some parts were interesting, others felt a little sloppy and unclear. I felt the two plots were not woven together very well... the political undertone of the native peoples rebelling against the colonials did not feel well melded with the second plot, which focuses on Purya's diadem and the legends surrounding it. Overall, there was a lot going on and it felt a little vague, disconnected, and not paced well. It was somewhat interesting, but ultimately lacked a certain tightness, coherence, and spark, to make the action truly come to life.

That aside, the writing style/prose was of good quality considering the genre and the fact that it's coming from a specialized publisher. I enjoyed the characterization of our two protags, Strange and Grimshaw. Both men were fun and had their own perspective on things. I particularly liked Grimshaw, who was usually knee-deep in sarcasm, and who's semi-detached observations about his own personality and issues were enjoyable, sometimes even funny. I found Strange's confidence and his secular, down-to-earth attitude refreshing. The two men make a likable pair, both romantically and as friends/comrades. Similarly, the romance was well-paced and handled nicely. I enjoyed the slow buildup from mutual distaste, to physical attraction, to respect, and finally romance.

Overall, decent read. Liked the romantic element, and think fans of m/m fantasy would find this "cute". It's nothing special, but worth reading for fans of the genre.

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.

I really like Josh Lanyon's mystery series, and when I heard he was doing a fantasy novel for Blind Eye Books I immediately pre-ordered it. And he did not disappoint. Lanyon chose a tried and true format to base his fantasy on - the quest. Quests pop up often in fantasy mainly because they work so well - look at Dragonlance, or the Belgariad. Quests allow characters to build relationships over a period of time, provide a sense of adventure for the plot and introduce readers to the author's world quite literally as characters travel across it. Valentine Strange and Aleister Grimshaw are on a quest to find an artifact - they must travel for weeks into the mountains to search. This provides an opportunity for them to get to know each other, begin to rely on one another and for the seeds of romance to be planted. And, it worked beautifully. I got to know the characters, and their relationship was realistic and believable because time was spent developing it. This is not an M/M romance. It is a fantasy story with an underlying romantic element - and both protagonists are likeable men.

Some of my favorite fantasies are those whose worlds reflect an "exotic" civilization in the real world (or at least exotic to a majority of readers). It makes the fantasy more real to a reader because of an underlying sense of familiarity. Here, I felt Lanyon drew ideas from ancient Persia, the Ottoman Empire, etc. The place names, like Harrapu for example, and caste system underlie this. There is plenty of detail for readers to get to know Lanyon's world without tedious amounts of description. Lanyon's magical and political systems are carefully thought out and directly influence the story. The fantasy element is subtle. This could have been a simple adventure novel, save for a few scenes and the ending.

My only small criticism of the novel is that the middle part was very slow. Strange and Grimshaw spend a lot of time held prisoner in a monastery. Too much time. I read the first half of the book in a couple days and put it down for several more before picking it up and finishing. However, the conclusion was very action-packed, magic came front and center, and lots of plot threads were tied up. A very satisfying ending. A sequel could easily be done, but it not absolutely necessary (although I really, really, really want one!). Highly recommended.

One of the great pleasures of reading Josh Lanyon's stories is his knack for using tried and true literary devices and conventions to delightful effect. In a relatively calm passage in which our heroes are riding along on their second quest, suddenly, almost before we or the heroes are aware of it, everything is dangling by a ...
Another great pleasure in reading Lanyon's stuff is picking up the allusions. Here there are plenty: the British Raj, the Sepoy Mutiny, Hindu mythology (he had me scrambling to look up all those multi-limbed, multi-hued gods), 19th century British boys' adventure novels, and witchcraft lore, about which I know little.
And of course there's the romance. I liked its restraint. Rather than some gooey, anatomically specific climax, the payoff comes when one of our heroes realizes that his happiness depends on the welfare of the other. Guess that's what it's all about.
Well, if you haven't done so, you'll have to read this wonderful story for yourself. And you'll love it.

I am always on the look out for fantasies featuring gay protagonists, better still if there is romance in it. When I read that Josh is writing one I could not wait for it to be released. Sure Josh has proven himself countless time in mysteries but what about fantasy? One thing I am certain is he will give us characters we would fall in love with regardless of the setting. And Josh has indeed delivered in Strange Fortune and much more. Now I know what a versatile, talented and imaginative writer he truly is. A rich alternate world of gods, magic, evil versus good and intrigues. A grand action packed adventure of gun fights, swords flashing and heart stopping escapades. A gripping plot and what a roller coaster ride all the way to the end. Last but not least a sweet and unforgettable romance. I could not stop reading or ask for more. And what is more romantic than the pairing of a soldier of fortune who scorns at the mystique and a otherworldly witch known for his madness. It is so easy to fall in love with the skeptical and gallant Major Valentine Strange and his vulnerable yet charming witch, Master Grimshaw. I want more of these two characters and hope Josh will deliver soon.

I have loved all of the mysteries I've read from Josh Lanyon in the past, and I've read most all of them. I'm also a I also love fan the fantasy genre (magic type fantasy, not just made up things, hehehe). But I was worried getting this book that these might be two great things that just shouldn't go together, like a mayonnaise daiquiri. Boy was I wrong. This was unlike the other Lanyon books I've read in the past, but it was every bit as good and a very high quality job. The blurb conveys the plot very well; I just want to allay anyone's fears if they were as leery as I was when I bought this. This is a great, fun, and sexy m/m fantasy novel. Lanyon has always come up with great stories that could easily be translated into mainstream novels; this one is no exception. The characters are imperfect and flawed, they do their best and often (but not always) succeed, and there HEA is realistic and satisfying rather than a fairy tale. Classic Lanyon

To tell the truth I did not expect much from this book even if I hoped for a couple of hours of easy fun; I stand corrected, at least partially and I am glad about it.

First of all this is a real fantasy novel, not just an excuse of a plot to introduce gay characters in an original setting. Mr Lanyon has apparently read some good authors and has build his own fantasy novel which sports gay characters but can stand on its feet even among general readers.
The setting is clearly and heavily mutuated from the India colonised by the Britons in the XIX century; the author exploits cleverly this setting and faces us with a world in turmoil that provides the necessary stimuli for the action.

The plot is not the most original ever conceived but it is consistent and flows unerringly to its end. The writing is good, proficient, with no frills but not shabby.

The only flaw I could find occurs more or less halfway through the book: the two main characters, up to then slowly building trust and attraction, suddenly find themselves caring for each other a lot. This seems to happen overnight and disrupts the pleasure of seeing them getting to know and love each other. I can only suppose the author cut a couple of chapters he considered unnecessary and did not notice the problem.