Oak King Holly King

Written by Sebastian Nothwell

Narrated by Gary Furlong

Shrike, the Butcher of Blackthorn, is a legendary warrior of the fae realms. When he wins a tournament in the Court of the Silver Wheel, its queen names him her Oak King - a figurehead destined to die in a ritual duel to invoke the change of seasons. Shrike is determined to survive. Even if it means he must put his heart as well as his life into a mere mortal’s hands.

Wren Lofthouse, a London clerk, has long ago resigned himself to a life of tedium and given up his fanciful dreams. When a medieval-looking brute arrives at his office to murmur of destiny, he’s inclined to think his old enemies are playing an elaborate prank. Still, he can’t help feeling intrigued by the bizarre-yet-handsome stranger and his fantastical ramblings, whose presence stirs up emotions Wren has tried to lock away in the withered husk of his heart.

As Shrike whisks Wren away to a world of Wild Hunts and arcane rites, Wren is freed from the repression of Victorian society. But both the fae and mortal realms prove treacherous to their growing bond. Wren and Shrike must fight side-by-side to see who will claim victory - Oak King or Holly King.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kenneth Henry
• Release date: Aug 14, 2024
• ISBN: 9798882378058

Sebastian Nothwell

Sebastian Nothwell writes queer romance. When he is not writing, he is counting down the minutes until he is permitted to return to writing. He is absolutely not a ghost and definitely did not die in 1895.

Reviews for Oak King Holly King

[Susan Grunner · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I'm not a fan of the writing style, but I did like the story. The characters have depth (particularly Wren) and the various plots are interesting (though the fae plot is very predictable, which is why I assume the human plot was added).

[cberlus · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I wanted to love this book so much and had high hopes for it. Unfortunately, it didn't really deliver: dragging at times ; too many human plotlines; plotholes, things that made no sense and had no explanations ; the ending which was kind of character for Wren and I didn't quite find it satisfying either.