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Joseph Stone
Pub date October 11, 2023
ISBN 979-8864070376
Price $24.99 (USD) Hardcover, $17.99 Paperback, $0.00 Kindle edition
In Stone’s third installment in The Lykanos Chronicles, a young man struggling with his sexuality finds a shocking truth about his identity. 1746, Burgundy, France. A brilliant and fine-looking member of a nomadic performing troupe, Esprit is keeping a secret: he’s attracted to men. Struggling to find a place to belong, he meets enigmatic Maximilien and accompanies him to his lavish mansion, unaware his life will never be the same again. Stone packs hefty worldbuilding into this third installment in the series, which can be read as a standalone novel as well. There are numerous interesting discussions about lykanos, from how they survive the treachery and bloodshed within the community to learning to live undetected among humans. Esprit’s first-person voice is affecting, offering an engrossing storytelling. And though Esprit is the lead protagonist, it is the pair of Maximilien and Gabrielle—a headstrong, resilient couple who more than holds their own in combat with both werewolves and humans—who leads the story with panache. The dialogue is affecting, and the pacing remains smooth. Stone navigates LGBTQ tropes with a clever hand, exploring new boundaries and providing readers with a fresh take on the subject. Those looking for an original perspective on LGBTQ issues will find much to enjoy within these pages. Dark, atmospheric, gripping: a real page-turner.
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