“The Emperor cares for each and every one of his subjects.” Many consider the catchphrase of the imperial Lotus Knights to be nothing more but well-polished propaganda, but for Yaden, it is a way of life. A young Lotus Knight himself, his first mission in service of the Emperor sends him to the remote village of Hagermarsh, a suspiciously friendly place on a planet known for its inhospitable … known for its inhospitable people. But how to uncover a demonist coven when nothing bad ever happens?
Getting to know the villagers only makes things more difficult – the motherly fishmonger surely isn’t a demonist. Nor the gruff leader of the local militia. And definitely not the cute baker from across the street.
Or are they?
Come discover a dazzling, hopeful universe of knights and monsters, of psions, aliens and ancient deities! The Demon of Hagermarsh is the first book of ‘Sir Yaden’, an epic SF saga of grand adventure, queer romance, bromance and patchwork family, set in the multi-faceted Virasana Empire. It is a romantic adventure and can be read as a standalone
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I don’t mind a bit of a blend of magic and tech. This is space opera but set in a universe where some people have powers. And features magical/psi knights who seem to be treated like celebrities as part of the backstory. Good male friends, a gentle m/m romance, and a fun mystery.
Another great book by this author team. I am thankful that I read first The pet and his Duke as that was a perfect world-building book to start with for this series. In this beginning of the series about Sir Yaden we get glimpses of both past and present through Yaden’s and his guardian’s points of view. I liked the forward by Yaden’s son that foreshadowed the romantic aspect of the story.
I loved how this story juxtaposed fantasy expectations with modernity. The blurb sets up for a medieval setting, and yet the setting has a touch of a modern world. The world building is fabulous, as is the magic system. I loved the idea of demon magic smelling like mouldy mushrooms. I also liked that there are consequences for using magic, and that the user has to replenish the energy they’ve used.
Having the story told in 3rd person for the present, and the flashbacks in 1st, yet having the two parts of the stories working together was an original way to tell it. I liked the insight it gave to both the main characters—and the different perspectives of their class—as the story unfolded, neither spoiling the other. The switch between made it clearer whether I was reading the current storyline or the prequel/history part of it too.
Yaden is an interesting character. I loved his power, which is very cool, and I liked that way he’s powerful, yet very young, and has a lot to learn especially about relationships and romance. I enjoyed seeing him through Darios’ eyes, and learning about Darios’ history too. Yaden’s growing romance with Colin is very sweet. I liked the two of them together, and Colin as a person too.
Another strength of this story is the descriptions. They give a great sense of atmosphere and I had a clear picture of every scene. The village feels like a typical small village with the gossip and matchmaking, and I thought the demonic side of it was an interesting twist on how those kinds of stories—and reasons behind deals with demons—usually play out.
I loved the idea of the Lotus Knights, plus the fact they have a PR department making movies, and selling merchandise, based around the knights’ missions. A lot of this story is very different and original, which I thought was brilliant. I enjoyed the final showdown, and liked that it wasn’t an easy fight, and that Yaden makes mistakes. It adds a sense of realism to the story, and his character.
I also liked Yaden’s friend, Haakon, and would love to see more of him.
I was very happy to learn this is the first in a series, and looking forward to reading more of Yaden’s adventures. Further research found an online wiki, which is a very cool idea!
I’d recommend this story to reader who enjoy fantasy that is a little different and a lot of fun, fabulous world building, and endearing characters. 5 out of 5 stars.