With nothing left but each other, they run contraband and smuggle fugitives from the safety of their ship, the Cormorant—with the occasional clandestine mission for the rival Coalition thrown in. Their heists have not gone unnoticed, though even the bounty on their heads doesn’t prevent them from being a thorn in the enemy’s side at every opportunity.
Pissing them off? Big mistake.
From the day of his birth Prince Jorvik of Akiak learned duty, wisdom, and honor from his father, leaving him ill-equipped to withstand betrayal by his Federation-puppet uncle. He has no love for the greedy off-worlders who plunder his world’s natural resources and enslave his people. To defeat his foe, he needs the cunning, fearlessness, and touch of treachery only outlaws can offer.
Two off-world mercenaries make unlikely partners in Jorvik’s quest for vengeance, but the more he learns of them, the more common ground he discovers. In each other’s arms they find passion, heat, and maybe, a reason for living—until their common enemy threatens to tear them apart.
To survive, they must take on the corrupt Federation.
And win.
Listening Length: 12 hours 42 minutes
Narrator: Darcy Stark
Reviewer: Annery
The New Year has proven to be a bounty of riches and I couldn’t be happier. Eden Winters is a NTM author and shame on me for coming so late to the party. The audio version of Consorts of the Red King, which is how I primarily experienced this story, is nothing short of wonderful. I think I would’ve loved it just based on Darcy Stark’s masterful narration. Happily this an excellent marriage of a well told AU/SciFi story and the perfect performer for the job. Darcy Stark gifts us with distinct and nuanced voices for each and every character, from the lowly, one-scene-only ones to our protagonists Van, Tayn, and Jorvik whom he imbues with humor, emotion, and undeniable uniqueness. In my limited knowledge I’d see his style most closely resembles Greg Tremblay, and that’s no small compliment. If you like ABs, you won’t be disappointed.
THE STORY: Even if you’re only tangentially acquainted with post-Earth Sci-Fi from the last 40 years, from Star Trek to Star Wars to Firefly, the world created by will be familiar, but Eden Winters adds a deft touch of humanity, depth, and humor, and doesn’t resort to “telling” us about this world but rather showing it through action and speech. Things that should feel alien are utterly familiar, because in the end people are people even when they’re not humans. The insatiable and ruthless hunt for resources, child soldiers, questionable experimentation in biogenetics, and other ills of current Earth haven’t fallen by the wayside in this post-Earth future. Why would they?
Tayn & Van are former Coalition soldiers currently helming the Cormorant, a prototype ship which melds sentient pilots with the machine. Basically they’re sanctioned space pirates for missions against the Federation and other stuff the Coalition would rather deny. They’re also FWB (friends with benefits) who can’t acknowledge that they’re way beyond that, that their shared history makes them so much more. They need a push and it arrives in the shape of Jorvik, Prince of Planet Akiak, who’s fled home after egregious betrayals and has to transform himself in order to take back his kingdom and free his people. The three need each other in ways big and small and it’s beautiful to see them come together.
If you like adventure with heart, humor, grumps (looking at Van), and a decidedly different take on an MMM relationship this book is for you. Even if you’re not a superfan of any of those things I think these three characters will definitely win you over.
MISCELLANEOUS: Though the story ends in a satisfactory way there’s a giant door left for a sequel or two which I’ll be eagerly waiting for. The cover, though maybe crude or cheesy, is very representative of the characters and their relationship. It doesn’t lie.
Two characters show up towards the end, Connell and Stone, who besides being very helpful have their own sweet story told in The Sentinel, which is free. I’d recommend it.
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