When the monster is dead, what happens to the survivors?
Gabriel has been freed from the control of the abusive vampire noble who kept him imprisoned, but not all is well. Despite his best efforts to turn to a new life in the country with Miles, the mage who helped kill Gabriel’s abuser, he is not entirely without trauma. When a messenger arrives with a letter from his former home in Avedon, Gabriel is told that not only is he now the heir of his abuser’s estate, but he’s also got his title. This isn’t a paycheck and a hearty handshake, but rather an absolute administrative nightmare that forces Gabriel to confront his worst memories and the people who ruined his life. Gabriel can’t opt out and if he runs away, he and Miles will be chased to the ends of the earth for an overwhelming tax-debt. Gabriel becoming a noble overnight also ruins Miles’ plans. Miles’ plan to propose is shattered as with his role as a combat mage he is legally banned from marrying a noble thanks to Avedon law. To save their future, Miles begins to make lists and Gabriel plans to bring his elegance, sass, and sarcasm to show Avedon what a mess they are making.
A seemingly sentient house, a badass set of characters, and a trauma-aware M/M romance, make Err Apparent and absolute delight to read. Author H. Kamenar skillfully creates a traumatized character without hitting readers over the head with descriptions of the abuse. While much of what Gabriel has experienced is hinted at, it is so refreshing as a survivor not to have to read the nitty gritty details that so many authors feel the need to include. Gabriel doesn’t have to justify his anger. Miles doesn’t question if it really was all that bad but rather believes and supports his partner with the patience and grace that we would all be so lucky to find in a relationship. The miscommunications between Miles and Gabriel are treated not as an act 3 breakup plot point, but as believable arguments from two people who genuinely care about one another. Miles and Gabriel face problems differently, but with skill. Neither of them is more powerful than the other, and you can feel their respect for those they trust. I will also say that it is rare to find a writer who can write both fight scenes and sex scenes with equal skill, but H. Kamenar nails it with this one.
Err Apparent is the first book in H. Kamenar’s Tenibrian Affairs series and I can’t wait to read more.
