The Druid Stone (Layers of the Otherworld, #1) in Read with Pride Northwest

Nov 28, 2012 Kelly (Maybedog) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: what-lgbtqia, where-grr-mine, what-male-protagonist, what-modern-fantasy, how-ebook, what-fae, what-mm-read, why-favorite-mm, what-mm

Wow. Just wow.

This was everything I'm looking for in a book: excitement, danger, fast pace, love, fear, sweetness, near-death peril, twists, complexity, etc. This was a modern fantasy with the M/M romance an equally large component. The book could stand on it's own without the romance, although it wouldn't have been as good. The story is complex, riddled with fae lore, some of it familiar, some a bit new, with a lot of twists and turns. I think Belleau did a ton of research and it shows. I think Wow. Just wow.

This was everything I'm looking for in a book: excitement, danger, fast pace, love, fear, sweetness, near-death peril, twists, complexity, etc. This was a modern fantasy with the M/M romance an equally large component. The book could stand on it's own without the romance, although it wouldn't have been as good. The story is complex, riddled with fae lore, some of it familiar, some a bit new, with a lot of twists and turns. I think Belleau did a ton of research and it shows. I think any of my friends who are fans of Urban Fantasy and who aren't homophobic would love this book.

The characters are complex, too. We learn a little more about Sean throughout the book, bits that explain his behaviors that aren't quite normal. He's damaged and hurting but strong and capable but mostly he is willing to do what he needs to do. He's also kind and good and brave. It isn't the least bit surprising why Cormac falls for him so fast.

Cormac is intriguing and kind in his own way. He is selfless and guilt-ridden but he is willing to put himself out there for someone who needs him. His emotional baggage is killing him but he doesn't stop trying to do what's right. I understand why Sean eventually wants him, too.

But there are more characters who are equally important, including Michael, the love of Cormac's life who disappeared ten years ago. Cormac blames himself and can't get over it. He was meant to be with Michael. So comes the complexity. I wasn't sure until close to the end who Cormac would end up with.

(view spoiler)

The one thing I really didn't like near was at the end: (view spoiler)

I personally don't like books that stray into weird dreamlike places where anything can happen. I think it's too easy because the author can make anything up and we can't fault it because it's not real. We also don't know what is real and what isn't. But I think the authors handled this very well and I was okay with it. I was also relieved that the second foray into fairy land was shorter, although the final battle was a bit short and anti-climactic. (view spoiler)

Overall, this book was amazing and I loved it. There were things I really didn't like but the things I did like overshadowed those negative parts, kind of like bad stuff: 3 stars, good stuff: 8 stars. So I'm giving the book 5 stars over all. If you like urban/modern fantasy with the Fae and you like M/M romances, you'll love this book. ...more

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Aug 02, 2012 ttg rated it it was amazing

Shelves: m-m, favorites, reviews

This book is a trip. AN AWESOME AWESOME TRIP. And it has EVERYTHING--romance, adventure, paranormal, sexual tension, fantasy, action, sexy times, mythology, time travel--EVERYTHING. And I couldn’t believe how much I dug this story that totally goes in crazy town directions, directions I never saw coming, but I LOVED IT.

The story--Sean O’Hara is a Cuban/Irish American, mostly estranged from his very Irish Boston family, and plagued nightly by horrible nightmares about a single murder from long ag This book is a trip. AN AWESOME AWESOME TRIP. And it has EVERYTHING--romance, adventure, paranormal, sexual tension, fantasy, action, sexy times, mythology, time travel--EVERYTHING. And I couldn’t believe how much I dug this story that totally goes in crazy town directions, directions I never saw coming, but I LOVED IT.

The story--Sean O’Hara is a Cuban/Irish American, mostly estranged from his very Irish Boston family, and plagued nightly by horrible nightmares about a single murder from long ago. He travels to Ireland to seek out the guidance of one Cormac Kelly who investigates paranormal mysteries (due to his Druid ancestry and powers.) Cormac scoffs at Sean, thinking he’s some yank off the boat that’s high on the idea of Irish magic and lucky charms, but quickly realizes that Sean’s tied in to something much deeper, darker, and more connected to Cormac’s past than he would have ever expected.

What I loved:

The characters--so good! Loved the MCs. They’re so sympathetic, and interesting, and the developing chemistry and heat between Cormac and Sean is OFF THE CHARTS. But even besides the hot sexy times, the romance and relationship growing between them is intense and enthralling, to the point where you have these gasp-worthy scenes where they’re clutching at each other, Cormac saying so fiercely that no matter what happens in this CRAZY STORY, he will find Sean. Super intense and fully engaging, and boy was I rooting for them. (And yes, the ending is sooooooooooooo satisfying.)

The story—By 30% in, I was a happy camper, following along. Around the 40-45% mark, the story starts to veer in these new unexpected directions. And basically every 10% mark after that, things just keep going down this rabbit hole that I never would have dreamed of from the start. Druid magic, Irish gods, potty-mouthed gnome creatures, time travel, A GIANT EEL, changelings, old flames, ETC, ETC, ETC. And that’s just a tease! There is so much more, and YOU SHOULD BE SURPRISED. Or at least as surprised as I was. At 75%, I was all, “This cannot get any more crazy,” but then, “...OMG. IT DID!”

It’s also deliciously long. It doesn’t feel long in a bad way, and Amazon tells me this is around 280 pages, but so much happens in this story that I felt like I came up from a much longer work. It’s kind of amazing how much is crammed in there, but overall, I didn’t feel that the pacing was rushed, and the authors did a good job of wrapping everything up.

The writing--very smooth and readable. Really well done. And there are a lot of Irish mythology references in here that mostly go unexplained. Personally, I preferred it this way rather than having a lot of exposition and info dumping. It meant that the pacing was overall very tight, and moved along quickly. I never felt a drag, which I think was one of the reasons why the story felt so intense.

As a heads-up, the first scene is very violent. (It’s Sean’s nightmare. Totally understand his sleepless nights.) If you’re squeamish about violence, I recommend just pushing through. There’s violence in other parts of the book, but I think this scene has the most intensity and immediacy.

Anyways, still kind of stunned. Totally loved this crazy book, and would pick up a sequel in a second if one comes out. If you are fine with fantastical elements in your m/m romance, and can handle a story that’s a little intense (I’m a stressed-out reader so had to step away at a few moments to chill out), then you might really dig this book. Highly recommended. ...more

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Aug 25, 2012 Mtsnow13 rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, contemporary, m-m, own-read, paranormal, historical, fantasy, paranormal-demon-otherworld, suspense, series-read

This was a great book to listen to. The Irish and American accents were done very well by the narrator. It was a very convoluted, and at times confusing story, but I really got pulled into the fantasy and Irish lore.

The world building was fantastic, and I could almost feel myself being pulled into the world I was listening to...smell the green earth, the blood, the stickiness of the beer in the dark and spooky pubs, feel the water as it rushed over my head, as well as the history of the vikings ...more

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Jul 26, 2013 Shelby rated it really liked it

Shelves: kindle, paranormal, deserve-additional-reads, m-m

I admit I give this a bump ‘cause I’m Irish. Probably only a 3.5 stars book for me, but that little bit of Irish love puts it at a solid 4.

Sean’s been having nightmares, and not just any nightmares, but nightmares of getting slowly tortured and murdered over and over again. He hasn’t been able to sleep for months and even sleeping aids aren’t helping. Born of a Cuban mother, and an Irish father, the one cousin he still speaks to on his father’s side suggests a rather strange solution to his prob ...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Laylah Hunter rated it it was amazing

Shelves: m-slash-m, gods-and-monsters, favorites, fantasy-other

Right, well then. For starters, I have this problem with any title that has the word "druid" in it (or "faerie," or "emerald," or references to the moon esp. if full, etc. -- you get the idea). Much like main character Cormac's problem with the American romantic notion of Ireland! My expectations immediately take a turn for the worse on exposure to the key words. I think I had already passed over this one once before I read Cruce de Caminos and got curious enough about Sean's continuing adventur ...more

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Dec 21, 2013 J. Vaughn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mm-fantasy-au

4.5*

Just reread this one and enjoyed it just as much the second time around. Heidi and Violetta do a wonderful job with enemies to lovers. Both MCs are stubborn and it takes them a while to get to know each other well enough to actually start communicating. It's a bit frustrating for the reader, but it's believable and not contrived or over-dramatic.

The magical aspects are fascinating, detailed, and as believable as they can be. Thoroughly enjoyed this trip to rural Ireland and meeting the local ...more

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