erastes

I found this book completely by accident - and I have to be completely honest that if I'd seen the cover of the book without knowing what the subject matter was I would NOT have clicked on it to find out more about it.

I found it because it was bundled together with Standish on one of those "Buy Ransom with Standish for less money than the combined price" dealies and I thought "Why is that being bundled with Standish?" so being nosy I went over and had a look.

It's a Regency Gay Romance, which made me beam, because really - how many are there? But more excitingly, it's a nautical tale, set in the same time period as Master and Commander and Hornblower - so if any of you have ever slashed Archie and Horny or Horny and Pellew - you are going to LOVE this. It's 1799 and not only is homosexuality on land punishable by prison and death (if enough proof) on His Majesty's Ships the Articles of War give an automatic death penalty for it - and very little proof was needed - if a man of a higher rank gave evidence against one of a lower, that man would hang.

But it's more than just "oh whoopee another historical homoerotic romance do buy" This is excellently written. It could easily be Forrester on a Slashy day, and even, I'll go further to say that the writing surpasses Forrester. It's also immaculately (as far as I can see) researched and what brings it alive to me is that the language is in the tone of the TIME. Nothing worse than reading about 21st century men who just happen to find themselves on a 18th century warship.

"I believe Captain Cooper has been in an awkward position," Archer said. "He knew Coreey was untrustworthy, but the man was clever and deceitful. He bribed the men under his command to act as his spies and look outs, and Correy's family has influence enough to lose Cooper his command if he had acted without ironclad evidence. The Captain did the best he could to keep Correy from power - he never made him acting lieutenant, nor recommended him for the lieutenant’s examination."

"Hi family must have been influential indeed, for him to flout the Articles," Marshall replied. "how could he make such a proposition, bald faced, and even threaten me? T claim he'd had a boy flogged for refusing him...!"

"He did, more or less," Archer said. "Correy made his wishes known and the boy refused, so Correy brought him before Captain Cooper and charged that the youngster had made the proposition himself. The boy was so flustered he must have appeared guilty of something. The Captain had him caned, not flogged, for 'unclean behaviour.'"

"What?"

"He had to do something. Correy swore on the Bible and all the boy could do was deny he’d done anything. At least there's no death penalty for it. And refusing didn't even help the lad. Correy had his way with him eventually, poor little bastard."

"My God." Marshall let out a long breath. "Thank you for telling me that, Mr. Archer," he said. "I will not speak of this to anyone, but you have eased my conscience."

Archer smiled. "You have made the Titan a safer place for our youngsters, sir. It is I who should thank you."

They drove on again in silence. Marshall seemed at ease, but Archer's spirit was now in turmoil. His gratitude was far deeper than that of a concerned officer; Marshall had freed him from a demon who had made his existence a living hell.

He had not told Marshall that the boy he spoke of had been himself.

The sex is beautifully described and perhaps some readers won't find it as graphic as they'd like, but it is all there, it's just written so beautifully and so lightly that it's inferred rather than explicitly shown. It's either a paperback or an ebook btw, the ebook being very cheap. Far too cheap.

Anyway - HIGHLY recommended especially for all of your who moan that there's no historical slash out there. BUT omg - Fugly FUGLY cover!