Book 1 (The Eburosi Chronicles) - The Horse Mistress

Absolutely fantastic book. Such complex characters and brilliant erotic scenes. Considers gender, sexuality and the impact of trauma. Completely respectful and hot! I will recommend this book to anyone that might be interested in this genre.

Disclaimer: The following review was originally posted on my book blog The Book Challengers (link in bio).

I actually started reading this book as it happens to be one of those freebies that has been sitting on my Kindle for an eternity and for a moment it seemed like something that I might enjoy at that particular moment. I quite enjoyed the fantasy-like background and the fact that our hero was born female but was trying their best to do what they loved despite the itsibitsy problem of having a female body but a male mind (I think it's the best description I can use).

I think it was my first menage story with three people in a relationship. I'm not into BDSM in so-called normal relationships either, but I did appreciate the fact that the menage part was actually quite light. If it hadn't been, I don't think I would've read till the end. Also, three people in a sexual relationship really isn't my cup of tea. Each to their own, it simply isn't something for me.

As the sexual part of the story started somewhere around 60% (I think, am not quite certain now), I got to enjoy the fantasy part of the story and really, Steffan managed that rather beautifully. The story would have been better (for me) if there was less of the menage part and more of Carivel working with horses.

Will not continue with the series.

The Horse Mistress series is a great read. I find myself thinking about the characters and wonder what they're up to and can't wait for book 4 to be released. The author describes everything so well, I feel like I can see it with clarity. I definitely recommend this series!

Let me start by saying this is an excellent book. And there are at least four books to read. This book is about three people living in a small village. Carivel is a young woman that loves horses but is unable to work with them because she is a woman. She has been masquerading as a man for the last three year as an apprentice to the tribe's Horse Master. The other two characters are Andoc, a warrior and Senovo, a enuch priest. Andoc and Senevo have a very close relationship as friends as well as lovers.

Towards the beginning, Andoc and Senovo discover Carivel's secret and they promise to keep it between them. The remainder of the book involves Carivel, Andoc and Senovo traveling to another village to see about getting their help to fight another tribe that attacked the first tribe. Hard to reviewa book without reveiling the plot.

I received a free copy of this ebook for an honest review.

This story was very good. I loved the character and gender twists and how they interacted with each other and with others. It was not a shallow read. There is some stuff to "chew" on here. I loved the "horsey stuff". It seemed very realistic and lovely. I thought the action was good, as was the level of suspense and the resolution. I too, wish this were a longer story and I'm glad there are more in the series.
This is borderline a "Serial" as opposed to a "series"; there is a wrap up but the adventure is just beginning, both in their relationship and in the defense of their homeland from the invaders and as 2 of them are un-masked and must make a new way in their society. I would recommend this book with the qualifiers that you will most likely want to buy the rest of the series and that it is not for the sexually squeamish.

Very good story. I very much enjoyed the two male characters and thought they were well developed, but I did not care for the female at all. Other than her pleasant understanding of horses, I found her hard to connect to. I kept warring between viewing her as a innocent misunderstood girl and a dominate experienced man. It is hard to understand a character that possesses two extremely different sides. The sex was a bit TOO honest for my liking. I felt like I was reading a tutorial on how to have a three-way in sex- Ed class instead of reading hot erotica. Also, big pet- peeve here: women should not "squirt"... It brings to mind a camel. If I were basing my review on the female lead and the sex, it would be a one star book. But the story was well told enough around all that I did not like to give it a three. In my opinion this story would be much improved without the girl and the sex.

I have really enjoyed reading The Horse Mistress Book 0 and Book 1. Its interesting to follow their lives and how they came to be together. I'm looking forward to continuing with them on their journey and see what all happens with them. I really like the characters and where their story has taken me. I love all types of erotica, and there's just enough sexual tension and intimacy to keep me coming back for more. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

The characters seem very real, in a world filled with real concerns and also feelings of being uncertain about their future and their desires. I am starting on the second book in the series now, as i just have to know what happened next !

An intriguing premise, but for me Steffan fails at delivering a compelling first act.

First the reader had a nice voice but her lack of voice-acting experience was apparent. She has the basics (almost) but technique needs work.

Then my interest sputtered and died with sentences like "I smiled back at her with a smile of my own". Well, who else's smile would it be? Gregorio's from down the block? How about "l smiled back at her and scrounged down the stairs, guarding my bowl of stew like a wolf guarding its prey".

Good writers read. Everything. And one must dig deep, into oneself, the craft, and the story. Steffan only skims the top.

This series will undoubtedly be successful, with its fantasist character and graphic sex scenes. I wish the author luck and abundance, but I for one will go back to Gabaldon.

Carivel is a young woman who is forced to pretend she is a man by the Bronze Age style culture which forbids women from handling horses. Since she arrived at this village and apprenticed to the Horse Master, though, the horses have thrived. Then an attack by night kills some of the villagers including the Horse Master. Can Carivel keep her secret and live up to her training? I enjoyed particularly a scene where Carivel works the Monty Roberts magic on a fierce stallion. (If you don't know about this horse trainer, look up his books.)

Be prepared for a multifaceted fantasy romance for adults, between the werewolf, the bondage, the trio and the eunuch. Mature scenes and strong language are presented in context. This is a book which firmly separates sex from violence and shows that gender roles can be altered.

As raiding parties and seeking allies are a major part of the tale, I take it the series will continue with more battles. I would keep reading for the horses.
I availed of a free download day. This is an unbiased review.

This story is about differences and secrets. The apprentice horse master is Carivel, a woman hiding as a man. The priest is Senevel a beautiful man and a hidden shape shifter. A catalyst, the first warrior a second beautiful man that again has secrets and also knows the priests secrets.
Their town is attacked in the middle of the night with no warning. This is most dishonest to the tribe who the seek allies to fight with them
The leader desires to send the newly appointed horse master, Carevel and the warrior, and priest as his emissaries to the closest tribe to negotiate a treaty.
The story is a very different type of book for me but I loved it. It is about love trust and different types of committements it is well written, very sensual but not gross. Exciting fast paced and worth buying this first one and then the next two.
Yes I would recommend this to friends of both sexes as it can be enjoyed by both
Yes I did receive this as an arc read but that has never stopped me from giving my opinion in the past. If you want first grans at her stories. Sign up for the arc tens of your new favorite authors.
Any names spelled wrong I am real sorry. Would like to blame it all on spell check but names are my. Downfall. When I see them I remember them. When I don't I remember the story but not the names

I loved this book not just for the characters who were so believable but for the fantasy world the author created. These three people form a strong emotional and physical bond. Carivel embraces her masculine side in order to pursue her love of horses. In the world she resides in, women do not work with horses no matter how good they are with them. Her adored, Andoc the warrior and his beloved, Senovo the monk must visit another town to ask for aid in defending their town from attack by rival soldiers. This particular town doesn't have harsh rules about women's roles so they respect Carivel for her skill and call her the "Horse Mistress!" Long journey short, the three make love complimenting their needs. I look forward to their journey in book 2.

The Horse Mistress is my very first foray into this author's writing and I was not at all disappointed. Carivel is the type of female lead character I enjoy reading. She is strong, smart, confident in her abilities, but willing to be soft for the man, or in this case men, in her life. Andoc is the epitome of the strong warrior, but has an amazing kindness and gentleness when needed. Senovo is broken yet displays a peaceful strength. These three learn to rely on each other and become quite a team. Great first book in this series! I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book.

The author takes a well thought-of approach to gender and sexuality and does not omit to build a world around her fluid characters. This short story therefore -the first part in a yet to be published series- can stand on its own two feet.
What I missed is more pages: transitions are believable but hurried and narrative tension suffers because of this.
As far as enjoyment goes, this work, with its very explicit sex-scenes, will please readers eager for ménage whereas I prefer pure M/M. I woudn't have mentioned this objection if the required "more pages" had turned an erotic romp into a real, full-fledged novel.

I am going to use gender-neutral pronouns for one of the characters, though they're not used in the book.

In Carivel's tribe, women aren't allowed to work with horses. Carivel doesn't usually think of zirself as a woman, and dresses as a boy to be assistant to the Horse Master. Zie has what she thinks are hopeless crushes on the priest Senovo and the warrior Andoc. Tragic circumstances bring them to try to seek an alliance with another tribe.

I liked that there was some focus on the characters' jobs, and how they did their jobs. Sometimes romances ignore that. Also the characters talked things out, Carivel learning about the relationship between Senovo and Andoc. The three protagonists made a good team.

I liked the world-building, too. There are interesting details in the historical part of the historical fantasy that help ground it and make the suspension of disbelief for the supernatural parts easier. The dynamic of the power exchanges between the protagonists was interesting for me, too.

Highly recommended for readers who enjoy menages and power exchanges in a relationship. There was a lot more to the story than the physical relationship, though.

Edited to add: I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.