Genre: Historical Fantasy
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
Secrets and danger stalk the streets of Astreiant…
Point of Hearts, Astreiant’s pleasure district, is being disrupted by an influx of scheming nobles who have descended upon the city for an aristocratic wedding. Mysterious carts smuggling something unknown through the night time streets and civil unrest are creating suspicion and turmoil.
Adjunct Point Nicolas Rathe and his lover, Philip Eslingen, captain in the City Guard, are keeping an eye on an aristocrat under self-imposed house arrest when Rathe is injured during a riot. Pursued by false accusations, Eslingen takes him on the run to Point of Knives while they try to unravel a plot against the queen and her government that could destroy the city they love.
Can they count on alliances from their pasts to keep them safe long enough to solve the mystery?
The Review
It never seems to fail that Eslingen and Rathe get dragged into one chaotic situation after another.
This time, Eslingen finds himself caught up in a discussion with the Surintendant of Points, Rainart Fourie; Chief Trijn of Point of Dreams; Senior Adjunct of Dreams, Nicolas Rathe, his leman; and Chief Felis Orlandi of Point of Hearts.
The Vidame de Castiat has been accused of not paying her royal salt tax. She sold salt from a small mine on her land outside the legitimate markets. She came to Astreiant and admitted in the queen’s court that she was guilty and imprisoned herself in a house which she owns in Points of Hearts. Orlandi says that it all has to do with the old laws of Ile’Nord.
Surintendant Fourie wants de Castiat to be watched, but Orlandi complains Hearts is too shorthanded, as everyone is preparing for a massive wedding that will involves many nobles.
The Levelers and their broadsheets are out to cause problems too. There have been riots against noble oppression. Rathe believes that nobility is the cause many of the problems, and it puts him in danger. Chief Trijn finally agrees to take on the task, as Hearts and Dreams overlap. Eslingen decides to speak with Coindarel, head of the City Guard, about the situation.
As Trijn and Rathe head back to Dreams, they hear a commotion. They find themselves near the Tyrseia theatre, battling their way through a crowd of men. They believe they hear a firelock, and the the attackers cleared way.
In the center of the brawl, Rathe finds Chresta Aconin, the noted playwright and poet, aka Aconite and troublemaker. One of the men in the crowd comes forward to charge Aconin with slander against their Soueraine d’Alamenon. When Aconin talks with Rathe, he denies slandering d’Alamenon or any of her kin.
With as much information as Eslingen has he finds himself at another theatre. The “Lilies” that is owned by Amorin Bonamy. Eslingen explains he’s looking for Aconin, but before he leaves, Bonamy brings up another subject. Carts have been coming through Hearts late at night. Besides the drivers, knives have been seen with firelocks. What and who could be smuggling these barrels to Hearts? When he meets up with Rathe he suggests talking with an old friend, Annechon, and that has Eslingen feeling uneasy. Rathe tells Annechon of Bonamy’s tale of the carts and men armed with firelock.
As Rathe and Eslingen look into the carts, they discover of gunpowder, and hope that d’Alamenon is not arming her people. Eslingen talks with Coindarel about the situation, but he needs solid proof that will stand up in court.
With everything going on, the situation becomes steadily more chaotic. Rathe and Eslingen end up at battle at the Lilies, putting both their lives in danger. Eslingen fears for Rathe, and will do anything to protect him as they go into hiding at Point of Knives.
Scott has crafted another exciting novel in the “Astreiant” series with book six, Point of Hearts. It’s become clear how the five points – Hopes, Dreams, Hearts, Sighs, Fairs and Knives – dislike each other, and one particular person. Senior Adjunct Nicolas Rathe, a man who carries out the law to it’s full extent. He is a man of integrity, and he can’t bought. But there’s someone else who will not turn his back or stand idly by, and that’s Philip Eslingen. He will do anything within his power to keep Nico safe, even to the point of leaving Astreiant.
Although, there are few intimate moments between Nico and Philip, it’s very clear how these two men really feel about each other. Throughout the series, Nico and Philip have grown as a couple and as individuals, and it will be interesting to see how much further they will go.
I always say how each book in the Points series is better than the last, and Point of Hearts continues the trend. Nico and Philip are dealing with so many emotions, and the story is at turns intense, intriguing, heart-rending, and romantic. It’s a work of art how Nico and Philip put the chaotic clues together to try and bring closure to an impossible case.
I highly recommend this excellent book, and all the novels in the “Astreiant” series. I hope that this is not the last “Astreiant” novel, and that Scott’s brilliance will come up with another intriguing case for Rathe and Eslingen.
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.
