Genre: Fantasy
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
Author’s Note: As of 2024, my fiction is only released through my subscription services, so I’m only releasing stories (including novels) via omnibuses, which I update whenever a new story is released.To receive notice of new releases, subscribe to my blog or newsletter. To receive all my new releases for a monthly fee, subscribe to one of my subscription services. See also the progress report on upcoming fiction in this series.
About The Book
“Usually, he barely noticed the temperature in the Eternal Dungeon. He’d slept in far worse conditions as a boy.”
Snow can remake your world, in more than one way.
When a dangerous snowfall descends upon the Midcoast nations, the head of Yclau’s royal prison faces multiple challenges in keeping his prisoners safe and his workplace running.
Not the least of his challenges is posed by his new and unpredictable love-mate.
Inspired by a crisis caused by a little-known East Coast snowfall of the 1880s, this novelette of the love and challenges met by two men can be read on its own or as a side story to the first volume of The Eternal Dungeon, an alternate history series set in a nineteenth-century prison where the psychologists wield whips.
The Eternal Dungeon is the first series in Turn-of-the-Century Toughs, a cycle of alternate history series about disreputable men on the margins of society, and the men and women who love them. Set in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, as well as in a future that never existed, the novels and stories take place in an alternative version of America that was settled by inhabitants of the Old World in ancient times.
Tags: gaslamp alternate history (1880s), natural disasters, play, prisons, guards, m/m romance.
Happy Holidays, everyone!
The Review
Elsdon Taylor is eighteen, and the mate of Layle Smith, who is the High Seeker of the “Eternal Dungeon”.
The weather in the lightened world has gotten colder, and a snow storm has made it difficult for those who work in the Eternal Dungeon to leave or enter. There’s also difficulty getting supplies delivered, and things are seriously running low.
Elsdon has awoken Layle with his concerns as the dungeon has gotten colder. Elsdon has been a Seeker-In-Training for six months. Being a murderer – and convicted – he is trusted as a seeker to search out prisoners for their crimes. He has gained maturity and integrity, and has the compassion to do his work as a seeker. His main worry right now is the fish in the Codifer’s pond freezing.
Layle has assured Elsdon that all the fish had been moved to the aquarium and are now in the crematorium, where it’s warmer. Knowing that the dungeon is low on food, Layle has to also assure Elsdon that the prisoners and their families will be able to still have their Commoner’s Festival.
Broken pipes, supply shortages, night and dawn shift guards duties being extended, and prisoners doubling up, which violates the code – Layle has his hands full. What else lays ahead for Elsdon and Layle?
Peterson has penned a fascinating alternative world with “Winter Games” – just one of the short stories from “The Eternal Dungeon’s” Rebirth omnibus. The characterspiqued my interest, and I’m looking forward to reading more about them.
The story itself is wonderful, with a message of memories and love. I was very impressed with Peterson’s writing, story telling, and the focus that he places on his characters. Well done.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
