4 1/2 HeartsFirst published at MM Good Book Reviews
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/2012/07/06/all-my-crimes-by-tal-valante/
Teregryn is compelled to save his king when a threat emerges that they had all thought was long gone. Even though his king seems to have forsaken him and even though he is being haunted, he sets out to protect, but finds answers that he didn’t want.
This is an excellent short story that packs a punch and fits an amazing amount of emotion in just 39 pages. Teregryn has no idea why the king forsakes him after the war. But, he is still loyal to his king. So, when clues are left for him by an Elven assassin and he starts to be haunted by an elf, he knows he must protect his king at all costs. But, when the truth emerges can he forgive the king and can he forgive himself?
Wow, a definite page turner that makes you wonder about the depths that guilt will drop you into and that self forgiveness is hard to find. Teregryn has suffered greatly because of his conscious; the great burden of guilt that weighs him down is staggering and not easy to fight through. When all his memories return, Gidden (the king) will do anything to ease his burden.
Okay, so, fair warning, this isn’t a traditional M/M romance, there’s no sex, no undying love, it’s a tortured story about guilt and love. Make no mistake; this is a wonderful story that gives us much to chew on and a wealth of emotions to experience. This is one of those short stories that you would love to see made into an extended novel, because there is just a wealth of potential. Almost as though this has been snatched from the middle of a story as a nibble to whet our appetites and have us begging for more.
So if you want a story that is wonderfully written, that will drag at your emotions, that is filled with rich detail and makes you want more, then this is the book for you, I highly recommend this one to all the fantasy lovers out there who love angsty fantasy.
