The High King's Golden Tongue

Wish there was more!
Will Allen ever have children or will be only the high king having kids?
What ever will happen to the rest of Allen siblings, will they ever have a happy ending for themselves?
Will this series continue?

This is a well told story with a strong beginning and well developed characters, and should have been a longer story in order to allow this foundation to develop as the middle and end of the story are rushed and do not do justice to the character building. Just for the pleasure of reading the beginning of the story I recommend it.

Thought the original short story was 4 star but
wish I could give a negative rating for the expanded version.

There were so many problems with this expanded version but I'll stick to my biggest gripes.

The book starts with a map of a place that doesn't exist on this planet. But despite having written other books in fantasy settings the author did a poor job of world building in this book. Instead I was, through the first third of the book, pulled out of the story in order to reorient myself as to the setting of this story.

Then once you get a handle on the society of this world, you're presented with perspectives/actions that make no sense given the complete gender flexible social perspectives established earlier in the story.

Would you make gender assumptions in a society where a MC's aunt agreed to "bear the children his mother sired"? And late husband/brother Nyle gave birth? But the author made the bad guys in this story that level of moronic.

I really liked the characters and the setting. It was very well written but the plot seemed underdeveloped when there were so many details that seemed like they could expanded into a truly epic tale. In the end I was left wishing that there was another at least half to three quarters of a book left to read.

An excellent story about a past age of royalty and servants, although it would have been so much better had it been longer and more involved. Such promise that I would really like to see it expanded. Just saying.

This was a cute short story.
The characters were fleshed enough to understand their situation and feelings. I loved the way it was written. It flowed very nicely and the setting was easy to understand and get into right away.
There seemed to be something missing though, between the King and the Prince. They had a connection between each other that I didn't get to see develop and that was something I didn't like.
It was a good short story and I enjoyed reading it.

This novel had potential, but none of it was fulfilled. The characters never develop, the storyline is bland and un-engaging, and there is no romance or relationship development.

The world is never explained or detailed enough to make me interested. The most engaging scenes are skipped over entirely to detail the discussion and planning that comes after. The writing is bland and flat and barely fits with the medieval style fantasy world, sometimes using too modern language.

The only redeeming qualities are the characters are unique and the sentence structure and grammar are decent.

*I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher. This has not influenced my review.*

This is the third Megan Derr book I've read, and I'm starting to think I can't go wrong with her. And like the others I've read, it was fluffy, but it was so much more than just fluff. It didn't slack on the plot or the characters or the writing, but it still just made me smile and laugh and feel happy.

This book was just so damn funny. And the characters were all so likeable. I thought Lesto and Rene especially would be jerks since they were close to the king and the brothers of the king's later consort (and because that's just how things seem to go in these royal court books), but nope. They were awesome, and I loved them, and I loved everyone. I even got a little bit emotional at times, not because I felt sad, but because I liked the characters so much and they were all trying so hard and doing their best; I felt for them when they were feeling upset or worried or guilty, as well as when they were touched or excited or happy. I don't even normally like series with different main characters in each book, but, with this one, I'm glad the other books are about different characters because I really do want all their stories! I'm pretty sure I'd read a book about any character in this series. Literally I would even read a book about Myra, and I'm pretty sure he had like two whole sentences. (Ok I wrote that as a joke because I didn't think there would actually be a book about him, but I just checked, and it turns out the fourth book is going to about him. Now I'm excited because I really do want to read a book about him, haha. Though I must say, I'm disappointed there's no book about [hidden spoiler can be found in my review on my blog or Goodreads] [yet?] because they were probably my favorite characters in this book!)

I also loved the use of the dual perspectives (Allen's and Sarrica's) to show the misunderstandings between characters, like how Allen though Sarrica must be thinking XYZ of him, but Sarrica was actually acting a certain way because of ABC. I like when books do that because, in real life, we really don't know what people are thinking/feeling or what their reasons or motivations for things are, and so we probably do misinterpret plenty. But I never felt like it went too far into the miscommunication. It was believable. And the romance itself was ultimately sweet and a bit of a slow burn, though not a particularly tension-filled one.

So overall, I loved the characters, I loved the relationships among them, I loved the humor, and I definitely enjoyed this book!

Rating: 4 Stars

Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight (link in profile)

I absolutely loved this world the author created!
The only thing I really was not a fan of with this book was it was such a slow burn that it almost drove me nuts. It felt like it took so long for anything to happen with these two it was kind of frustrating lol. I think it was because what little I saw of them together they were just so good together that I felt like I just wanted to see more of them as a couple.
But other then that you get a lot of action with this book and learn so much about this world. The High King of his realm Sarrica needs help so he must take a new consort having lost his last consort. Well he meets Allen and lets just say the sparks don't fly right away between these two. Allen is what they call a silver tongue so he can speak many different languages and is very valuable to the realm. There was also mention of male pregnancy Sarrica's pervious consort gave birth to the kings children.
There was action, angst and a little bit of steam. You also meet a lot of different characters in this book.
All together I really liked this book!
I would recommend this book!
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review from Inked Rainbow Reads.

*Reviewed by Iro for Sinfully Gay Romance Book Reviews*
I couldn't put this book down! I loved it – the writing is wonderful and the story itself captivating. I dare say The High King's Golden Tongue gave many of my high fantasy favorites a run for their money!

Allen is a prince, a third son who has been training for years in order to be able to navigate any court, and as of two years ago, chosen to become the consort of the High King himself. He arrives to Harken confident, prepared to follow every etiquette and be officially presented in front of the King. However he wasn't prepared for the cold and dismissive reception High King Sarrica gives him. Sarrica, still unable to let go of the memory of his late husband has agreed to a new Consort, since the Kingdom is in the brink of war and he can't keep on ruling alone and juggle state, court and military affairs effectively. While he is resigned to what he plans to be a marriage in name only, he wants and expects a soldier as his new husband but the man before him is - to his eyes - a glorified politician, someone young and beautiful that would do fine in an intrigue filled court, not in a battlefield. The communication between them doesn't improve with time and Sarrica keeps on being insulting, making Allen feel unwanted and isolated. Prince Allen is desperate to prove himself, ensure there will be a wedding and remain by Sarrica's side as his consort, so he makes a bold decision that puts him in danger.

Allen is a very strong character and a testament to why you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Young, beautiful and polished he could easily be dismissed as a songbird, but in reality he is a man of great skills and deep knowledge. I was so pleased with how he was written; despite having had a very strict education and training as a kid and later young man, Allen isn't a sheltered person and won’t be intimidated or shy from challenge. There has been a dark period in his past that didn't leave him unscathed, in more ways than one, and is probably the reason he has an iron grip on showing his emotions, a skill that might be invaluable in court but could misinterpreted as “coldness” from others. This of course couldn't be further from the truth as is evident in Allen's interaction with his new friends and his delight in having any for the first time in his life. His reactions to Sarrica and the way his feelings evolved were adorable to witness and just completed the puzzle of an adorable character.

Sarrica for all his military experience and imposing stature is a man who feels deeply. He regrets his initial reaction to Allen and despite his best efforts to make amends he can't help misinterpreting the intentions of the expressionless young man and keeps on putting his foot in his mouth. When he tries to be considerate he unwittingly comes off as condescending and he has left Prince Allen with bruised pride and every excuse to expect the worse. Leaving the past behind seems to be something he struggles with and a lot of his actions can be seen differently under that light. Sarrica is a loyal person, just, and bound to his duty and family and I could tell that a switch was turned when he saw those same values in Allen and tried to do the right thing, even though it could have been too late. I wanted to shake him and then hug him and I can honestly say his predicament of developing all kinds of feelings for Allen was one of the things I enjoyed the most.

The slow burn romance and the miscommunications and political developments that complicate the MCs' relationship may be center stage, but the secondary characters were a huge part of this book not only for the role they played in the story but on their own merit. Extremely nuanced, interesting and likable they went a long way to make this book that much more interesting. I laughed so much with the banter among Sarrica, Lesto and Rene, his brothers-in-law and head of the army and a band of mercenaries respectively. Lesto is a personal favorite and I could sense that the author has a soft spot for him too. He threw the best insults and had no qualms in putting the King in his place whenever needed (which was often). Rene was a younger more easygoing version of Lesto and his interactions with Allen were one of my favorite aspects of the story. Also, I was instantly smitten with Tara. He was the most lively and kind character and gave a lighthearted note to a spy and intrigue ridden court.

What was really brilliant in this book was the word building. The more I read the more fascinating it became. A world where languages are too complex and diverse that 'silver tongues', people who can speak multiple languages, are worth their weight in silver. Titles and prestigious positions are as likely to be held by a woman as by a man and that goes for any occupation really, from mercenaries to secretaries. It was eye opening when I caught myself assuming someone's gender because of a title or societal role only to be set to my place by a pronoun two rows down. There are some things mentioned in the story that are left without proper explanation, and that I believe is a hint to a system where genders are perceived as non-binary by default. It gave my whole reading experience another dimension. There were a few brief “history lessons” seamlessly incorporated in the story that helped me understand the “hows” and “whys” of the political upheaval that Saricca has to deal with.

I wasn't bored once. I just want to see more of this world!

I gave the book 5 stars without second thought. I had an amazing time reading it and if there were any flaws they were insignificant. In one word: Beautiful. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book, since it's Lesto's story I am sure it will be a treat!

P.S. You should take a moment to admire the brilliant cover - it's a perfect match to the story!

I had no expectations upon reading The High King's Golden Tongue, which is why I'm so delighted to say that I absolutely loved this!

The world Magen Derr created was fascinating, especially the entire concept of silver tongues (people proficient in many different languages). I have to say the possibility of men carrying children kind of threw me off a bit, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story as a whole.

Allen and Sarrica didn't have one if the best starts, which only made their journey as they went from disliking each other to falling in love with one another sweeter. Sarrica was pretty stubborn at times, and more often than not I found myself sharing Lesto's urge to punch him in the face. Allen was great trying to make the best of a difficult situation, although he made some foolish decisions at times (which he admits freely, after everything is said and done). Rene, Tara, and Lesto, Sarrica's friends, were also interesting and funny characters, spending some of their time rolling their eyes at how oblivious both Allen and Sarrica could be of their feelings for each other.

This was a wonderful set up to the series, with antagonism and adventure and a slow burn romance thrown in. It was fast-paced and wonderful to read. I can't wait for the next installment!

The Harken Empire consists of a complex combination of languages and classes, and has been at war in some way or another for far too long. The current High King is the perfect example of this. He’s an ex-soldier whose deceased husband was also a soldier. As often happens with Monarchs, since it’s been years since his husband died, he’s being pushed into marrying again. Enter prince Allen, a silver tongue (translator) who knows more than ten different languages fluently and has been training for the past two years for the position of High Consort, and who is nothing like the soldier partner High King Sarrica wants. Allen and Sarrica are both stubborn and determined, and despite Sarrica snubbing him at their first meeting, Allen is determined to do what he was trained for.

For those of you who may not know, the first version of “the High King’s Golden Tongue” was a short free read written for the Goodreads MM Group’s 2012 Don’t Read in the Closet event, and although I did enjoy the first edition, I felt that there was a lot missing. The new edition doesn’t just fill those holes, it creates a whole new landscape. For one, ‘alternative sexualities’ (such as the LGBTQ rainbow) are taken as being as normal as hetero leanings, and transgender people are accepted as being the gender they feel rather than what they are born as. For example, Sarrica’s first husband was male yet carried their children, and one of Allen’s siblings is asexual (obviously that’s not the term used, though). I must admit, I loved that acceptance, as it is how I feel it should be always. In top of that, the Harken Empire is made up of many different languages with many dialects and the confusions such things cause, yet gender is not taken into account when it comes to careers, lifestyle, or status.

I don’t know if I could say I had a best bit, per se, but I did love the fact that all of the main characters had their own strengths and weaknesses, the teasing between friends and family, and the way each character was affected by their past in different ways. To be honest, I couldn’t put it down, and my sister gave up trying to talk to me until I finished the book because I either didn’t hear her or had to ask her to repeat what she’d said. (I’ve actually trained myself to mostly not do that anymore, since it’s dangerous to be oblivious to what’s happening around you for hours on end.)

I would recommend the second edition of “The High King’s Golden Tongue” for anyone who enjoys reading stories with action, drama, fantasy, wit, or people who persevere despite the odds.

I will admit that I am a fan of Ms Derr’s but even so, I would put this story among the best she has written in the fantasy genre.

I enjoyed this book. The initial meeting between Prince Allen and High King Sarrica did not go according to how Prince Allen expected. He met with the King because he was expecting a marriage proposal, however, Sarrica only saw Allen as a pretty face prince who was not a warrior/soldier. Allen feeling rejected but not hopeless sets out to prove his worth. He is known as a silver tongue because he speaks many languages (14 to be exact) he is also trained in running the royal court. Allen makes friends with a few folks. He goes off on a mission without informing the King in hopes of showing him once again that he is not hopeless he and Rene gets captured and must be rescued by the High King and Lesto. The relationship between Sarrica and Lesto was rather entertaining. Eventually Sarrica allows himself to let go of his dead mate and open himself up and get to know Allen. This was well written detail oriented, funny and filled with adventures both at court and outside of court.

1) This book was superb, engrossing, and unexpected. I couldn't stop reading. The characters were interestingly drawn, believable, and charming. The setting teemed with detail, and I'd love to revisit this world and see how the love lives of the vivid and delightful secondary characters play out.

2) The characters here are absolutely fantastic - I love the way Derr builds their personalities establishes their roles. As for those roles, I love the way she plays with our gender expectations even more, both with the relationship reveals and the intriguing hints and clues along the way regarding sexuality.

Read reviews after November 2015 for this title. I've read both versions and at first I was comparing this to the original. I stopped doing that almost immediately. This is the book I wanted to read originally.

I loved this one. The characters - fleshed out. You liked some disliked others and wanted to smack a little sense into one or two.
World building - thumbs up, although a little more explanation about their physiology would not have been reissued.
A few typos but I've come to expect that from her. But I'm still looking forward to part 2.
You'll enjoy reading this. As soon as vacation time comes, I'm rereading it (that way I can stay up late to finish it).

I received a free copy via Inked Rainbow in exchange for an honest review.

Megan Derr is fast becoming another one of my favorite authors, and this book joins the ranks of some of the best I've ever read. It's long, but it's well worth every minute spent immersed in the pages.

I think I might have been a little bit in love with Prince Allen from the first page. He's smart and interesting and well-trained, yet he never comes across as snobby or full of himself. He's confident in his multilingual skills, and he knows how valuable they are, but it never becomes a matter of excessive pride. Instead, he charms his way into the lives of the entire High King's court. Too bad it takes him so long to charm the King himself, but that's half the fun of the story.

King Sarrica is gruff and brooding and somewhat needy, and he could too easily have been a stereotype of the tough exterior/soft heart. Instead, he's shown to be a complex man with a long history and some not-so-hidden vulnerabilities. It took me longer to warm to him because I so badly wanted to smack him and tell him he was overlooking the delightful Allen. But I came around, of course.

Allen and Sarrica are to be married (should Sarrica get a clue) whether or not they love each other. So while there is an underlying love story as their affection grows, the main part of the story is action and adventure. Ms. Derr has done a phenomenal job of world-building without slipping into information dump--it's done largely through action and dialog, and the places come to life as the story unfolds. What was interesting to me was this fantasy world with the same "old-fashioned" feel of fairy tale settings, but with a decidedly queer twist. It looks (at least from this reading) as though the majority of people are queer-spectrum, but it never feels like readers are somehow supposed to learn a Valuable Social Lesson from that. It simply is what it is, and I love it.

There's a huge cast of supporting characters, and unlike a lot of high fantasy with male main characters, there are a number of women who are brave, interesting, and complex. Jac was by far my favorite, and I hope to see more of her in future installments. I enjoyed meeting many of the other characters, and I look forward to reading more of their stories as well.

There are a lot of dense themes in the story about what makes a person strong or worthy and how our past can affect our present. I loved how Sarrica's grief over his deceased consort factored into the story, for example. I also liked the way Allen's training and ability made him more capable of understanding other cultures and how he brought that to his position as consort.

This is just such an excellent book, one I'm sure I'll have to read multiple times to get all the subtleties. I'm really looking forward to the next part.

I received a free copy via Inked Rainbow in exchange for an honest review.

Megan Derr is fast becoming another one of my favorite authors, and this book joins the ranks of some of the best I've ever read. It's long, but it's well worth every minute spent immersed in the pages.

I think I might have been a little bit in love with Prince Allen from the first page. He's smart and interesting and well-trained, yet he never comes across as snobby or full of himself. He's confident in his multilingual skills, and he knows how valuable they are, but it never becomes a matter of excessive pride. Instead, he charms his way into the lives of the entire High King's court. Too bad it takes him so long to charm the King himself, but that's half the fun of the story.

King Sarrica is gruff and brooding and somewhat needy, and he could too easily have been a stereotype of the tough exterior/soft heart. Instead, he's shown to be a complex man with a long history and some not-so-hidden vulnerabilities. It took me longer to warm to him because I so badly wanted to smack him and tell him he was overlooking the delightful Allen. But I came around, of course.

Allen and Sarrica are to be married (should Sarrica get a clue) whether or not they love each other. So while there is an underlying love story as their affection grows, the main part of the story is action and adventure. Ms. Derr has done a phenomenal job of world-building without slipping into information dump--it's done largely through action and dialog, and the places come to life as the story unfolds. What was interesting to me was this fantasy world with the same "old-fashioned" feel of fairy tale settings, but with a decidedly queer twist. It looks (at least from this reading) as though the majority of people are queer-spectrum, but it never feels like readers are somehow supposed to learn a Valuable Social Lesson from that. It simply is what it is, and I love it.

There's a huge cast of supporting characters, and unlike a lot of high fantasy with male main characters, there are a number of women who are brave, interesting, and complex. Jac was by far my favorite, and I hope to see more of her in future installments. I enjoyed meeting many of the other characters, and I look forward to reading more of their stories as well.

There are a lot of dense themes in the story about what makes a person strong or worthy and how our past can affect our present. I loved how Sarrica's grief over his deceased consort factored into the story, for example. I also liked the way Allen's training and ability made him more capable of understanding other cultures and how he brought that to his position as consort.

This is just such an excellent book, one I'm sure I'll have to read multiple times to get all the subtleties. I'm really looking forward to the next part.

My favorite thing about it was that a translator was the main character, and seeing that set in a fantasy setting was great. I also really enjoyed seeing how Sarrica was getting over the death of his former husband - I don't often see men who have been widowed as characters in romance novels. Megan Derr's books have great wit and worldbuilding, and this was no exception.

(First read and reviewed on Smashwords) At the end of the story, the author writes that she is often accused of fluff and nonsense. If so, it's the best sort. Very enjoyable, well-written story. This story revolves around what makes a man valuable. Strength? Brains? In this case, the king learns physical strength isn't necessarily sexy or what he needs in a partner, but it takes a serious threat to life for him to wake up and figure this out.

The author has created characters to care about, an interesting world for them to inhabit, plenty of intrigue and espionage, and star-crossed lovers with enough dislike for each other to guarantee fireworks before they finally get together.