What do you think?
Rate this book
Iospary Stories
Glorious Day
The bodyguard is a traitor. The princess is her one true love. And the revolution is almost here.
Elsenna Hazen left spaceport security and ended up a royal bodyguard. She should have known better than to fall in love with a princess.
It’s been two years since one ill-advised kiss in the garden pulled them apart. With uprisings in the streets, the nervous princess transfers Elsenna back into her service. Her Highness has no idea Elsenna is leaking data to the revolutionaries bent on overthrowing the princess’s oppressive father.
Now Elsenna wakes up each day wondering what will happen first: her own execution, or that of the woman she could never stop loving. When rebel attacks escalate and the king plans retaliation, Elsenna discovers that the fights for her love and her life are one and the same.
GLORIOUS DAY is a low-heat sapphic science fiction romance novella with a guaranteed HEA.
Content warnings are available in the book’s front matter and on the author's website.
Cover Artist: Natasha Snow
Elsenna Hazen left spaceport security and ended up a royal bodyguard. She should have known better than to fall in love with a princess.
It’s been two years since one ill-advised kiss in the garden pulled them apart. With uprisings in the streets, the nervous princess transfers Elsenna back into her service. Her Highness has no idea Elsenna is leaking data to the revolutionaries bent on overthrowing the princess’s oppressive father.
Now Elsenna wakes up each day wondering what will happen first: her own execution, or that of the woman she could never stop loving. When rebel attacks escalate and the king plans retaliation, Elsenna discovers that the fights for her love and her life are one and the same.
GLORIOUS DAY is a low-heat sapphic science fiction romance novella with a guaranteed HEA.
Content warnings are available in the book’s front matter and on the author's website.
Cover Artist: Natasha Snow
96 pages, ebook
First published August 3, 2020
16 people are currently reading
630 people want to read
About the author
Skye Kilaen
18Ìýbooks364ÌýfollowersSkye Kilaen is a bi author who writes contemporary & science fiction romance that is sometimes polyamorous, focusing on sapphic stories, queer M+F, and bi and pan main characters.
She also sends out a monthly newsletter highlighting new & recent self-published and small press queer romances that look particularly promising but might fly under the radar. Sign up on her website, your TBR will thank you!
Skye currently lives in Austin, Texas because it has so many libraries and breakfast tacos.
She also sends out a monthly newsletter highlighting new & recent self-published and small press queer romances that look particularly promising but might fly under the radar. Sign up on her website, your TBR will thank you!
Skye currently lives in Austin, Texas because it has so many libraries and breakfast tacos.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
July 28, 2020
4.25 Stars. This was great! First I do want to say that while I do not “knowâ€� Skye, she is a Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ friend of mine. Skye has been a reader/reviewer on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ for years so most of us, especially if you are a part of the LGBTQ+ book reader’s corner of Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, will probably know of Skye too. While I love seeing “one of usâ€� actually get published, and I was totally rooting for her, I don’t believe I’m being biased here. I was prepared to write a critical review if warranted. Luckily, this story had me hooked from page one and I can easily say that it’s in the running for best novella that I have read in 2020 -so far-.
This was a really interesting mix of fantasy with a sci-fi twist. If you are not a sci-fi fan don’t let this put you off. The sci-fi is very light and in fact I kept forgetting about it. Besides a few devices and people talking about traveling off planet, this almost completely feels like a fantasy book instead. This also has some romance in it too.
I’m happy to say that Skye writes really well. This did not feel like a debut to me. It didn’t have a lot of those newbie bumps that are so common for first time published writers. You can tell that she really put a lot of work into this novella.
Besides this being well written, the story is really gripping. It hooks you in from page one and you can’t stop reading until the end. I was really impressed by how good the world building was for this story. I felt like I knew just how this planet operated and what the people were like. To be able to do all of this in a novella is really impressive. Fantasy novels can be giant tomes because there is so much info to squeeze in there. To write a new world that works in the length of a novella, is very impressive.
I don’t want to say much about the characters since it can be easy to spoiler a novella, but I will say that I cared for both characters and was hoping a HEA could somehow be possible. There was also a twist -if that is even the right word- about one of the characters that I did not see coming. And once you find out what that is, it sinks in just what a badass she really is.
If you are looking for a good quality, WLW fantasy novella, this story is for you. I really enjoyed this and it makes me excited to see what Skye might come out with next. Skye, if you are reading this congrats!
I do want to point out that this novella is on a pre-order sale. I don’t know how long this is on sale for and I don’t expect it to be long, but this is only $1.79US right now on NineStar Press� website. That is a steal! This novella is a steal at the normal price of 2.99 so 1.79 is practically giving it away. Anyway, if you are interested in pre-ordering you can even get the book 3 days before it releases everywhere else on August 3rd.
An ARC was given to me from NineStar Press for an honest review.
This was a really interesting mix of fantasy with a sci-fi twist. If you are not a sci-fi fan don’t let this put you off. The sci-fi is very light and in fact I kept forgetting about it. Besides a few devices and people talking about traveling off planet, this almost completely feels like a fantasy book instead. This also has some romance in it too.
I’m happy to say that Skye writes really well. This did not feel like a debut to me. It didn’t have a lot of those newbie bumps that are so common for first time published writers. You can tell that she really put a lot of work into this novella.
Besides this being well written, the story is really gripping. It hooks you in from page one and you can’t stop reading until the end. I was really impressed by how good the world building was for this story. I felt like I knew just how this planet operated and what the people were like. To be able to do all of this in a novella is really impressive. Fantasy novels can be giant tomes because there is so much info to squeeze in there. To write a new world that works in the length of a novella, is very impressive.
I don’t want to say much about the characters since it can be easy to spoiler a novella, but I will say that I cared for both characters and was hoping a HEA could somehow be possible. There was also a twist -if that is even the right word- about one of the characters that I did not see coming. And once you find out what that is, it sinks in just what a badass she really is.
If you are looking for a good quality, WLW fantasy novella, this story is for you. I really enjoyed this and it makes me excited to see what Skye might come out with next. Skye, if you are reading this congrats!
I do want to point out that this novella is on a pre-order sale. I don’t know how long this is on sale for and I don’t expect it to be long, but this is only $1.79US right now on NineStar Press� website. That is a steal! This novella is a steal at the normal price of 2.99 so 1.79 is practically giving it away. Anyway, if you are interested in pre-ordering you can even get the book 3 days before it releases everywhere else on August 3rd.
An ARC was given to me from NineStar Press for an honest review.
Read
June 15, 2022UPDATE 7/12: My forthcoming novella, Glorious Day, now has a cover! See it even bigger on the NineStar Press website, now linked in the book info here. (More retail options coming soon, but if you pre-order from NSP it's on sale *and* you get it early. How cool is that?)
More in-depth content warnings can be found on my website, in case you need them:
Original Post:
A bodyguard-princess f/f romance with a sci-fi setting... that I wrote. :) After 9 years and 6 months on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, I finally get to add my own book! It's novella length. It comes out August 3rd. Blurb and Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ page now; cover, full content warnings, and buy links available soon.
(I'm kinda excited, y'all.)
More in-depth content warnings can be found on my website, in case you need them:
Original Post:
A bodyguard-princess f/f romance with a sci-fi setting... that I wrote. :) After 9 years and 6 months on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, I finally get to add my own book! It's novella length. It comes out August 3rd. Blurb and Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ page now; cover, full content warnings, and buy links available soon.
(I'm kinda excited, y'all.)
June 4, 2022
Oh I really enjoyed this!
A short yet exciting story with political intrigue, and two brave women at it's core.
I'd love to read more from the author, and would look forward to seeing further stories for Enna and Day if at all possible!
A short yet exciting story with political intrigue, and two brave women at it's core.
I'd love to read more from the author, and would look forward to seeing further stories for Enna and Day if at all possible!
August 8, 2020
I was sent this book as an advance copy by author for reviewing purposes, but all opinions are my own.
Let's not beat around the bush, I simply loved this! From the first line (very first line worthy) to the very end I loved the writing, and the main character's voice was quick to pull me into her head and into the story.
The story itself worked incredibly well as a novella, especially if you're someone who in any given moment cares more about the character and relationships than about heavy action. The pace was fast when it needed to be, avoiding (in my opinion) unnecessary parts in order to focus more on introspection and relationships, which is exactly what I love.
Which is not to say that I didn't love the story too, in fact it's the opposite! This book took place during a revolution and it was so good to see all the different stages of it and what they all meant for Elsenna and how she dealt with it, while carefully navigating her relationship with the princess, Day. I don't want to give too much away about the actual plot because I highly enjoyed seeing this revolution play out and then reading about its outcomes too.
The f/f romance was a constant throughout the novella and I couldn't get enough of it. I'm not always into second chance romance but here because the romance didn't actually develop in the past I felt like the tension left from two years ago was palpable in every page and every time Elsenna thought about or talked to the princess. Elsenna is a lesbian and the princess is bisexual (but she states she has no romantic interest in men, so I think she's bisexual homoromantic) and I loved them together. I also loved how in every scene between them consent was always given the importance it needs, even for the lightest touch, and in general how very little (cis-, hetero-) normative the world was, and how monogamy wasn't assumed as the default but discussed. In general this was pretty diverse, there are side characters who use they/them pronouns and Day is also blind, and a character suffers injuries that leave them disabled and receiving a prosthetic in the future.
So all in all I hope it's clear enough that I absolutely recommend this and I am going to keep an eye out for any future releases by Skye Kilaen!
TWs:
Let's not beat around the bush, I simply loved this! From the first line (very first line worthy) to the very end I loved the writing, and the main character's voice was quick to pull me into her head and into the story.
The story itself worked incredibly well as a novella, especially if you're someone who in any given moment cares more about the character and relationships than about heavy action. The pace was fast when it needed to be, avoiding (in my opinion) unnecessary parts in order to focus more on introspection and relationships, which is exactly what I love.
Which is not to say that I didn't love the story too, in fact it's the opposite! This book took place during a revolution and it was so good to see all the different stages of it and what they all meant for Elsenna and how she dealt with it, while carefully navigating her relationship with the princess, Day. I don't want to give too much away about the actual plot because I highly enjoyed seeing this revolution play out and then reading about its outcomes too.
The f/f romance was a constant throughout the novella and I couldn't get enough of it. I'm not always into second chance romance but here because the romance didn't actually develop in the past I felt like the tension left from two years ago was palpable in every page and every time Elsenna thought about or talked to the princess. Elsenna is a lesbian and the princess is bisexual (but she states she has no romantic interest in men, so I think she's bisexual homoromantic) and I loved them together. I also loved how in every scene between them consent was always given the importance it needs, even for the lightest touch, and in general how very little (cis-, hetero-) normative the world was, and how monogamy wasn't assumed as the default but discussed. In general this was pretty diverse, there are side characters who use they/them pronouns and Day is also blind, and a character suffers injuries that leave them disabled and receiving a prosthetic in the future.
So all in all I hope it's clear enough that I absolutely recommend this and I am going to keep an eye out for any future releases by Skye Kilaen!
TWs:
December 15, 2020
Glorious Day is a smooth read that is completely comfortable using some of the best tropes out there, beautiful princesses, heroic bodyguards, rebels and tyrants and then turning it all on its storytelling head by giving us a tale that feels fresh and new. I’m sure it was the strong voice and the tight writing that made me settle in so quickly.
I appreciate books that drop you right into the crux of a story and with GD being a novella, it was especially important to hit the ground running which the author did effortlessly. Romance, angst, and a bit of action added up to a very enjoyable book.
I appreciate books that drop you right into the crux of a story and with GD being a novella, it was especially important to hit the ground running which the author did effortlessly. Romance, angst, and a bit of action added up to a very enjoyable book.
September 1, 2022
Dare I hope for a sequel?
Beautifully written, I was hooked from inception and couldn't stop reading until the end, hoping for a HEA. Elsenna, stoic royal bodyguard and blind Crown Princess Banyelle feature in this compelling romance with a corrupt king, rebellion, intrigue and torture. Kudos Ms. Kilaen for serving up a plot that had emotion and drama intertwined with plot and counter plot with possible redemption and the hope for a better tomorrow. If only the book was a longer read!
Sci fi is hit or miss for me but encouraged by other reviews, I took the chance and was very well rewarded. I look forward to more from the author.
Highly recommend with 5 stars
Beautifully written, I was hooked from inception and couldn't stop reading until the end, hoping for a HEA. Elsenna, stoic royal bodyguard and blind Crown Princess Banyelle feature in this compelling romance with a corrupt king, rebellion, intrigue and torture. Kudos Ms. Kilaen for serving up a plot that had emotion and drama intertwined with plot and counter plot with possible redemption and the hope for a better tomorrow. If only the book was a longer read!
Sci fi is hit or miss for me but encouraged by other reviews, I took the chance and was very well rewarded. I look forward to more from the author.
Highly recommend with 5 stars
August 24, 2020
This is such a lovely space opera romance, with two adorable heroines and tons of fun political twistiness/maneuvering in the first half (as the bodyguard of the princess is also working as a traitor, for excellent reasons, even though she's in love with the princess) but also a real look at the longterm impacts of PTSD that meant I really believed in them as a couple by the end (and loved them both so much). Really sweet!
September 29, 2020
See for content warnings.
A lot happened in this novella. I experienced a range of emotions such as concern, sadness, and joy throughout the read.
Vice-Captain Elsenna Hazen of the castle's security force is helping to overthrow the current king of Iospary. When she gets reassigned as the princess's bodyguard, the same job she had two years ago, she has no choice but to face her feelings for the crown princess. Again. She is also sure that the princess has many bedmates and does not miss her the slightest. Though carefully shielded from everything going on, the Blind princess sees more than anyone suspects, and has plans of her own. Seemingly on different sides of the revolution, both characters find themselves needing more from each other than they thought they do.
Glorious Day starts off with these sentences: "It had been difficult that morning to fit treason in around my duties as vice-captain of the castle complex’s security forces. Every professional conversation had taken twice as long as it should have." This no doubt piqued my interest, and throughout the whole story, I was constantly wondering what would happen next. I only relaxed upon reaching the guaranteed HEA.
The first thing I noticed as I read was the beautiful language. It created an exquisite feel for the sci-fi story. Along with the royalty, Glorious Day reads almost like fantasy but in space. The technologies involved are not far from current developments. In fact, one robot in particular reminds me of a project my lab mates proposed: a personal radar system for the Blind. If you want to try some light sci-fi without all the fancy gadgets, this one is a good start.
I love the disability representations in this story. Other than the Blind princess, there is also another one which I cannot touch on without spoilers. I appreciate Kilaen not treating disabilities as a novelty, but since I am non-disabled, I cannot comment much on this.
At least two characters use they/them/theirs pronouns, including Elsenna's sibling Tesza and a judge. Also note that with Glorious Day told in Elsenna's first-person viewpoint, we don't actually know her gender until chapter three.
The initial pitch of an "f/f sci-fi novella with a bodyguard and her princess" totally seized my attention, and I am happy to say this story is much more than promised. Within the 87 pages (paperback), the world of Iospary literally changes. If you are looking for a short exciting read with some cute sapphic romance (I consider it non-explicit), read Glorious Day. You are guaranteed not only a lovely HEA but also a great story. It is definitely a thrilling and sweet novella I would love to revisit some day.
I received an e-ARC from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A lot happened in this novella. I experienced a range of emotions such as concern, sadness, and joy throughout the read.
Vice-Captain Elsenna Hazen of the castle's security force is helping to overthrow the current king of Iospary. When she gets reassigned as the princess's bodyguard, the same job she had two years ago, she has no choice but to face her feelings for the crown princess. Again. She is also sure that the princess has many bedmates and does not miss her the slightest. Though carefully shielded from everything going on, the Blind princess sees more than anyone suspects, and has plans of her own. Seemingly on different sides of the revolution, both characters find themselves needing more from each other than they thought they do.
Glorious Day starts off with these sentences: "It had been difficult that morning to fit treason in around my duties as vice-captain of the castle complex’s security forces. Every professional conversation had taken twice as long as it should have." This no doubt piqued my interest, and throughout the whole story, I was constantly wondering what would happen next. I only relaxed upon reaching the guaranteed HEA.
The first thing I noticed as I read was the beautiful language. It created an exquisite feel for the sci-fi story. Along with the royalty, Glorious Day reads almost like fantasy but in space. The technologies involved are not far from current developments. In fact, one robot in particular reminds me of a project my lab mates proposed: a personal radar system for the Blind. If you want to try some light sci-fi without all the fancy gadgets, this one is a good start.
I love the disability representations in this story. Other than the Blind princess, there is also another one which I cannot touch on without spoilers. I appreciate Kilaen not treating disabilities as a novelty, but since I am non-disabled, I cannot comment much on this.
At least two characters use they/them/theirs pronouns, including Elsenna's sibling Tesza and a judge. Also note that with Glorious Day told in Elsenna's first-person viewpoint, we don't actually know her gender until chapter three.
The initial pitch of an "f/f sci-fi novella with a bodyguard and her princess" totally seized my attention, and I am happy to say this story is much more than promised. Within the 87 pages (paperback), the world of Iospary literally changes. If you are looking for a short exciting read with some cute sapphic romance (I consider it non-explicit), read Glorious Day. You are guaranteed not only a lovely HEA but also a great story. It is definitely a thrilling and sweet novella I would love to revisit some day.
I received an e-ARC from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 19, 2020
The princess is probably my favourite character, even though we don’t get insight into her thoughts in the same way we do for Elsenna. She’s blind, has strong friendships with artists, and is wildly underestimated. I loved seeing her go toe-to-toe with Elsenna and I would have happily read another several hundred pages about her.
Full review:
Full review:
July 26, 2020
Wow, this was a tightly paced, engaging novella. It feels like a snapshot of a time of upheaval and country on the brink, without needing to get into the full history of the country in question. It's quite a feat to do a huge amount of world building in just 80 or so pages (that's the page count on my e-ARC )but Kilaen pulls it off with ease. I loved how its just integrated into the plot, as we learn the important parts of what caused the unrest and the immediate effects of it. Even though Captain Elsenna is a traitor and a rebel, she still can't help her feelings towards the Princess that culminated in a kiss two years prior to the events of the book. The conflict feels earned even though most of the plot takes place over the span of a couple of days. I could not help but feel just as flummoxed as Elsenna when the Princess seems to be pointedly oblivious but shrewd at the same time.
I enjoyed just about everything in this novella. It feels like a full length novel, despite its really short page count. I hope more books come out of this world, because it was a treat to read.
Many thanks to NineStar Press and Netgalley for providing a copy of this ARC.
I enjoyed just about everything in this novella. It feels like a full length novel, despite its really short page count. I hope more books come out of this world, because it was a treat to read.
Many thanks to NineStar Press and Netgalley for providing a copy of this ARC.
August 15, 2020
What a great read. There is so much going on in this book that it is hard to believe it’s only so short (my e-reader indicated 75 pages but this may vary a bit). Also, I would have never guessed this was a debut book, it’s written very well.
Elsenna Hazen, a high-level security guard for the king, is requested by the princess to become her bodyguard once again. After sharing a kiss with the princess two years previous, Elsenna transferred from bodyguard to another security position to protect herself from heartache and the wrath of the king if he were to find out they were together. In those two years apart, Elsenna started working with the rebels to overthrow the tyrannical king. Back in her position as the princess’s bodyguard she’s torn between her love and protective instincts for the princess and her duty to her country (to overthrow the king).
The world the story is set in is a wonderful mix of sci-fi and historical elements. To me it felt mostly as if I was reading a historical romance with kingdoms, nobility, castle’s, balls and ballgowns, handmaidens and chaperones. But on the other hand, there were light sci-fi elements like talk of space travel and the presence of some tech, and there was a high-level of diversity and inclusion. Same sex pairings appeared to be accepted (although not explicitly stated) and they/them pronouns were used for some of the characters.
As I mentioned, there is so much going on, many topics like intrigue, action, angst, romance and living with a disability are covered without the story becoming fragmented or creating loose ends. The only comment I have is that I wish it were a full-length novel. The pace is so high and at some points I would have liked a slightly slower buildup or just a little bit more information on what’s happening. I think as a full-length novel this book could be even more gripping (and don’t get me wrong, it already is) and it would have likely tipped my rating to a 5 stars.
I would recommend this to anyone wanting to read an exciting story (light sci-fi) with a sweet (non-explicit) romance and good world-building.
Elsenna Hazen, a high-level security guard for the king, is requested by the princess to become her bodyguard once again. After sharing a kiss with the princess two years previous, Elsenna transferred from bodyguard to another security position to protect herself from heartache and the wrath of the king if he were to find out they were together. In those two years apart, Elsenna started working with the rebels to overthrow the tyrannical king. Back in her position as the princess’s bodyguard she’s torn between her love and protective instincts for the princess and her duty to her country (to overthrow the king).
The world the story is set in is a wonderful mix of sci-fi and historical elements. To me it felt mostly as if I was reading a historical romance with kingdoms, nobility, castle’s, balls and ballgowns, handmaidens and chaperones. But on the other hand, there were light sci-fi elements like talk of space travel and the presence of some tech, and there was a high-level of diversity and inclusion. Same sex pairings appeared to be accepted (although not explicitly stated) and they/them pronouns were used for some of the characters.
As I mentioned, there is so much going on, many topics like intrigue, action, angst, romance and living with a disability are covered without the story becoming fragmented or creating loose ends. The only comment I have is that I wish it were a full-length novel. The pace is so high and at some points I would have liked a slightly slower buildup or just a little bit more information on what’s happening. I think as a full-length novel this book could be even more gripping (and don’t get me wrong, it already is) and it would have likely tipped my rating to a 5 stars.
I would recommend this to anyone wanting to read an exciting story (light sci-fi) with a sweet (non-explicit) romance and good world-building.
June 4, 2022
This was a surprise disappointment for me considering how highly reviewed it is. I just could not connect no matter how much I tried.
There were two issues that I believe kept me with connecting. The first one being pacing. All the parts I considered interesting happened off screen and were summarized in a sentence. It makes sense since we are following a first person narrator but it just felt... unfulfilling.
The other issue was the presence of subtext that completely went over my head. I need motives and actions to have a clear foundation otherwise decisions feel like they come out of nowhere. Conversations seemed to move in weird directions. Funny enough, the coded court politics were not the issue here, it was the conversations not in court that made me feel like I was missing a key piece somehow.
That being said. The world was quite interesting and I would be willing to give another title set in this world a try. I would recommend this to anyone who does enjoy more court intruige. Also probably anyone who wants a lighter sci-fi book since it does not house heavy world building descriptions.
There were two issues that I believe kept me with connecting. The first one being pacing. All the parts I considered interesting happened off screen and were summarized in a sentence. It makes sense since we are following a first person narrator but it just felt... unfulfilling.
The other issue was the presence of subtext that completely went over my head. I need motives and actions to have a clear foundation otherwise decisions feel like they come out of nowhere. Conversations seemed to move in weird directions. Funny enough, the coded court politics were not the issue here, it was the conversations not in court that made me feel like I was missing a key piece somehow.
That being said. The world was quite interesting and I would be willing to give another title set in this world a try. I would recommend this to anyone who does enjoy more court intruige. Also probably anyone who wants a lighter sci-fi book since it does not house heavy world building descriptions.
March 23, 2023
I feel mean rating this so low, because there was nothing I actually hated here. But "it was OK" is pretty much the perfect encapsulation of how I felt. The story idea is good, but at 95 pages it was just too short* to really deliver on anything (at least, on what I was hoping for).
Sci-fi or political world-building?
In terms of the former, this reads like a historical fiction with some "comms" and spaceports slapped on. The second short story/novella in the volume reveals that there ARE actually aliens in this universe (though none of them get described there either)...so that could have been fun.
Politically...well, I did like that there were three different rebel factions with different goals and methods - that's realistic. And depiction of torture as A) not yielding reliable information and B) having long-term physical and mental effects was good. But the monarchy was confusing to me. For example: The king apparently got his position by...murdering his wife? That suggests she is the lineal descendant of the previous monarch. But it is never suggested that any monarchists are mad that he isn't the rightful heir. Also - what did he get by directly being king that he couldn't get as the consort? And then, the princess should be legal heir to both, but she has to pretend to be harmless and dumb because...he doesn't care if anyone has confidence in his heir's ability to rule?
Romance?
We start in the middle of the story, where the bodyguard is already enamored with the princess...but we don't really get to see why. It would have really helped to have more flashbacks to their time together before the kiss in the garden to show what exactly they like about each other. I did start to like the princess better after she shows the steel ovaries to - but since her LI didn't know she was capable of that, it can't be the reason for her crush! (Well, I get the impression that it is a bit of a "I want to protect the damsel in distress" thing, but...IDK) The structure would have worked fine for a fan fiction, where I'm already acquainted with the characters and like them. As it is, even by the end all I could muster up was a half-hearted "aww, good for them, I guess." And since it is "low spice" (as it says in the blurb) there wasn't any of that to keep me entertained either.
Representation?
The disability rep of the (secretly more capable than she pretends) blind princess was good. There's some nice casual non-binary rep, so points for that, even if it would have been nice to learn more about how this culture views gender and sexuality. However: Minus some points for having the bisexual character be the one with a reputation for never being serious about relationships! I mean, it's implied that maybe she didn't want to draw attention to anyone she cared about, but also she had to think about it for a while when asked if being exclusive was OK, and then said sure because her new work would keep her busy... But I feel like "being arts ambassador" and "having side-pieces" are not substitutable things that you'd have to do mental math to decide if the values were equivalent!
So...it's FINE. If you just want a short Sapphic love story with a happy ending and aren't as picky about world-building details, you might like it more than I did. It sounds like there are multiple stories set in this universe, so possibly they build on each other. But given that the other story ('Necessary Repairs') also followed the formula I didn't care for of starting in the middle of a relationship and not fleshing out the character's personalities much at all...I probably won't be reading more of these.
*Well...someone like Ursula Le Guin, who can pack in practically a whole trilogy worth of plot an character development into fewer pages than the first Harry Potter book could have done it. But that's not a fair standard to hold everyone else to!
Sci-fi or political world-building?
In terms of the former, this reads like a historical fiction with some "comms" and spaceports slapped on. The second short story/novella in the volume reveals that there ARE actually aliens in this universe (though none of them get described there either)...so that could have been fun.
Politically...well, I did like that there were three different rebel factions with different goals and methods - that's realistic. And depiction of torture as A) not yielding reliable information and B) having long-term physical and mental effects was good. But the monarchy was confusing to me. For example: The king apparently got his position by...murdering his wife? That suggests she is the lineal descendant of the previous monarch. But it is never suggested that any monarchists are mad that he isn't the rightful heir. Also - what did he get by directly being king that he couldn't get as the consort? And then, the princess should be legal heir to both, but she has to pretend to be harmless and dumb because...he doesn't care if anyone has confidence in his heir's ability to rule?
Romance?
We start in the middle of the story, where the bodyguard is already enamored with the princess...but we don't really get to see why. It would have really helped to have more flashbacks to their time together before the kiss in the garden to show what exactly they like about each other. I did start to like the princess better after she shows the steel ovaries to - but since her LI didn't know she was capable of that, it can't be the reason for her crush! (Well, I get the impression that it is a bit of a "I want to protect the damsel in distress" thing, but...IDK) The structure would have worked fine for a fan fiction, where I'm already acquainted with the characters and like them. As it is, even by the end all I could muster up was a half-hearted "aww, good for them, I guess." And since it is "low spice" (as it says in the blurb) there wasn't any of that to keep me entertained either.
Representation?
The disability rep of the (secretly more capable than she pretends) blind princess was good. There's some nice casual non-binary rep, so points for that, even if it would have been nice to learn more about how this culture views gender and sexuality. However: Minus some points for having the bisexual character be the one with a reputation for never being serious about relationships! I mean, it's implied that maybe she didn't want to draw attention to anyone she cared about, but also she had to think about it for a while when asked if being exclusive was OK, and then said sure because her new work would keep her busy... But I feel like "being arts ambassador" and "having side-pieces" are not substitutable things that you'd have to do mental math to decide if the values were equivalent!
So...it's FINE. If you just want a short Sapphic love story with a happy ending and aren't as picky about world-building details, you might like it more than I did. It sounds like there are multiple stories set in this universe, so possibly they build on each other. But given that the other story ('Necessary Repairs') also followed the formula I didn't care for of starting in the middle of a relationship and not fleshing out the character's personalities much at all...I probably won't be reading more of these.
*Well...someone like Ursula Le Guin, who can pack in practically a whole trilogy worth of plot an character development into fewer pages than the first Harry Potter book could have done it. But that's not a fair standard to hold everyone else to!
August 15, 2020
This short book was well thought out. I felt Enna’s pain at her situation and Day’s as well. We knew what Enna was up to because we’re in her head, but although there are clues to Day’s motives and actions, we don’t really know her plans until she executes them. The secondary characters and situations are also well done and complex. I could feel Enna’s concerns about the people she works with and her actions. She walked a tightrope in an uncertain world. I also appreciated so much time in the novella on the aftermath. Too often stories conclude with the grand gesture, but not its repercussions.
August 6, 2020
This was a tease of what could have been. I wish it had instead been a proper length novel—or a prequel to a novel. There is a lot packed into these pages and the story zips along far too quickly in the places I wish it would have languished a bit more in. As a novella, I felt like I did not have enough time to truly grasp the emotions of these characters. That said though, this author definitely has a talent for world-building and story. I just wish there was much much more of it.
August 10, 2020
Glorious Day starts with a captain getting a call from her gay Princess she once kissed in a garden. Did I mention this happens while she’s plotting against her tyrannical father, the king? So that happens.
Set in space, Glorious Day reads like a fantasy with a taste of Star Trek. The princess, Banyelle, calls Captain Elsenna Hazen to ask of the threats towards the kingdom. Hazen keeps her moonlighting a secret, as she is unsure of Banyelle’s stance towards her father. These two, despite having apparently shared a kiss, do not really know each other very well.
The Princess asks Hazen to once again be her bodyguard. A plot of rebellion and anti-monarchal plots ensues, as does a supposed developing romance between Hazen and Gloria.
Sounds fun right? Swoony. All the gay things. Rebellious gays kissing their way into rebellion.
It would have be great. If it hadn’t been completely and utterly lacking in chemistry or emotional development. I can not find it. It seems to have been lost. If you have seen chemistry, the sizzles or any sort of development call me. It is dry.
Also the fact that the heroine describes wanting to suck on Banyelle’s finger like a baby kinda weirded me out? It wasn’t even sexy. It was more like……some sorta child fetish in my mind. No. Did not interest me. Not fun.
Where is the sizzle.
Lost like my respect for J.J. Abrams.
Another point which I would like to discuss is the antagonist. I have thought a great deal about this and cannot see an actual purpose for her. There’s rebellious themes with a lot of action. A secret. There’s a bodyguard/Princess thing going on. Why do you need an ableist antagonist constantly going on about Elsenna wanting to get into the Princess� pants and treating a blind woman like a child? Can we not have romances where there is a threat of hatred towards a disabled gay woman?
Call me the day when disabled and/or gay people get to be happy and that is completely normal in a fantasy world. I would love to see that. Sounds refreshing.
I also could not find much lead up to decisions or actions taken throughout the novella. Actions seem to just happen. Period. The pacing, plot, and emotional development do not work in conjunction to create a fluidity in decisions made by the characters. It took me out of the book. It was very jarring and sudden.
I’m Bi, a fantasy nerd, and I have a thing for the bodyguard trope. I wanted a f/f SFF romance just like what was in the description. I’ve been desperate for more romances like this but with better writing. The writing did not work for me the way it seems to with other people. It seems that I am more interested in the idea than the actual book.
Thank You To NineStar Press for an advanced readers copy via Netgalley
Set in space, Glorious Day reads like a fantasy with a taste of Star Trek. The princess, Banyelle, calls Captain Elsenna Hazen to ask of the threats towards the kingdom. Hazen keeps her moonlighting a secret, as she is unsure of Banyelle’s stance towards her father. These two, despite having apparently shared a kiss, do not really know each other very well.
The Princess asks Hazen to once again be her bodyguard. A plot of rebellion and anti-monarchal plots ensues, as does a supposed developing romance between Hazen and Gloria.
Sounds fun right? Swoony. All the gay things. Rebellious gays kissing their way into rebellion.
It would have be great. If it hadn’t been completely and utterly lacking in chemistry or emotional development. I can not find it. It seems to have been lost. If you have seen chemistry, the sizzles or any sort of development call me. It is dry.
Also the fact that the heroine describes wanting to suck on Banyelle’s finger like a baby kinda weirded me out? It wasn’t even sexy. It was more like……some sorta child fetish in my mind. No. Did not interest me. Not fun.
Where is the sizzle.
Lost like my respect for J.J. Abrams.
Another point which I would like to discuss is the antagonist. I have thought a great deal about this and cannot see an actual purpose for her. There’s rebellious themes with a lot of action. A secret. There’s a bodyguard/Princess thing going on. Why do you need an ableist antagonist constantly going on about Elsenna wanting to get into the Princess� pants and treating a blind woman like a child? Can we not have romances where there is a threat of hatred towards a disabled gay woman?
Call me the day when disabled and/or gay people get to be happy and that is completely normal in a fantasy world. I would love to see that. Sounds refreshing.
I also could not find much lead up to decisions or actions taken throughout the novella. Actions seem to just happen. Period. The pacing, plot, and emotional development do not work in conjunction to create a fluidity in decisions made by the characters. It took me out of the book. It was very jarring and sudden.
I’m Bi, a fantasy nerd, and I have a thing for the bodyguard trope. I wanted a f/f SFF romance just like what was in the description. I’ve been desperate for more romances like this but with better writing. The writing did not work for me the way it seems to with other people. It seems that I am more interested in the idea than the actual book.
Thank You To NineStar Press for an advanced readers copy via Netgalley
August 1, 2020
The first sentence of Skye Kilean’s Glorious Day sold me. The fact that it was a fast moving, thoughtful, quick read kept me.
Elsenna Hazen is providing information to a rebel faction and hoping an end to the current king’s rule comes swiftly. She does not expect to survive the coming coup, in whatever form it takes. The Princess throws a wrench into Vice-Captain Hazen’s plans by insisting she will only be comfortable with Elsenna as her bodyguard. Elsenna was once the Princess’s bodyguard, and fell in love with her. The pining is swoon worthy. Becacuse of their class differences and the dangers of their current situation, Elsenna and the Princess keep their emotions locked down and masked, but Skye Kilaen makes them simmer under the surface. The first part of the book feels like a cork that’s about to pop.
Elsenna feels terrible guilt for the orders she has followed and sees her likely execution as either a traitor to the crown, or for her sins as a security officer, as inevitable and justified. She worries that she won’t be able to protect the Princess without betraying her rebellious affiliations.
Her Highness, the Most Glorious Born on the 13th Day of Spring, the Crown Princess of Iospary is largely ignored. Her father dismisses her because she is blind, and she has learned it is safer to appear to be less than she is. One of the joys of the book, short though it is, is watching her blossom.
Skye Kilean moves the plot along as she sets the scene. For a story about treason, betrayal and overthrowing a bad king, she keeps the plot spare enough that while I wouldn’t call it low angst or low tension, it is low drama. Glorious Day was the perfect thing to read on the day the President tweeted out a threat to delay the national election. It’s exactly the right kind of revolution romance for the current moment.
Skye Kilaen has a far better list of content warning on her website than I could come up with. I received this as an arc from the author in exchange for an honest review.
It had been difficult that morning to fit treason in around my duties as vice-captain of the castle complex’s security forces.
Elsenna Hazen is providing information to a rebel faction and hoping an end to the current king’s rule comes swiftly. She does not expect to survive the coming coup, in whatever form it takes. The Princess throws a wrench into Vice-Captain Hazen’s plans by insisting she will only be comfortable with Elsenna as her bodyguard. Elsenna was once the Princess’s bodyguard, and fell in love with her. The pining is swoon worthy. Becacuse of their class differences and the dangers of their current situation, Elsenna and the Princess keep their emotions locked down and masked, but Skye Kilaen makes them simmer under the surface. The first part of the book feels like a cork that’s about to pop.
Elsenna feels terrible guilt for the orders she has followed and sees her likely execution as either a traitor to the crown, or for her sins as a security officer, as inevitable and justified. She worries that she won’t be able to protect the Princess without betraying her rebellious affiliations.
Her Highness, the Most Glorious Born on the 13th Day of Spring, the Crown Princess of Iospary is largely ignored. Her father dismisses her because she is blind, and she has learned it is safer to appear to be less than she is. One of the joys of the book, short though it is, is watching her blossom.
Skye Kilean moves the plot along as she sets the scene. For a story about treason, betrayal and overthrowing a bad king, she keeps the plot spare enough that while I wouldn’t call it low angst or low tension, it is low drama. Glorious Day was the perfect thing to read on the day the President tweeted out a threat to delay the national election. It’s exactly the right kind of revolution romance for the current moment.
Skye Kilaen has a far better list of content warning on her website than I could come up with. I received this as an arc from the author in exchange for an honest review.
August 8, 2020
Romance? Intrigue? Space castle? YES.
The relationship at the center of the novel is between Elsenna, vice-captain of security, and Her Highness, the Most Glorious Born on the 13th Day of Spring, Crown Princess Banyelle Geren. There is political intrigue, a romantic past between the MCs, and some security situations. Her Highness is blind, and it is used by her opponents to oppress her and keep her guarded, when in fact she manages her life quite well on her own -- she appreciates art, fine clothing, and romance in her life. I should say here that Kilaen is herself a very sensitive reader and I have relied on her goodreads reviews to catch issues in books related to homophobia, sexism, racism, and crappy portrayals of disabilities. But sensitivity does not make a book. Kilaen writes at a perfect pace, clipping along through the plot evenly. The worldbuilding is well done, without leaving the reader in the dust or slogging through clumsy infodumps. The story is told entirely from Elsenna's POV, and the author who I was most reminded of was Kazuo Ishiguro = the themes of penitence, acceptance of the past, and telling the story through the eye of a player instead of the mastermind. It also had Ishiguro's contemplative, internal feeling to it, though unlike Ishiguro this story has a resolution! And did I mention it's a story of love between women?
I thought this was a stunning debut. Kilaen's writing is delicious, I definitely found myself slowing down to savor every word and enjoy the story. I look forward to reading more of her work!
I am grateful to have received an e-arc of this book from Netgalley. My opinions are my own.
The relationship at the center of the novel is between Elsenna, vice-captain of security, and Her Highness, the Most Glorious Born on the 13th Day of Spring, Crown Princess Banyelle Geren. There is political intrigue, a romantic past between the MCs, and some security situations. Her Highness is blind, and it is used by her opponents to oppress her and keep her guarded, when in fact she manages her life quite well on her own -- she appreciates art, fine clothing, and romance in her life. I should say here that Kilaen is herself a very sensitive reader and I have relied on her goodreads reviews to catch issues in books related to homophobia, sexism, racism, and crappy portrayals of disabilities. But sensitivity does not make a book. Kilaen writes at a perfect pace, clipping along through the plot evenly. The worldbuilding is well done, without leaving the reader in the dust or slogging through clumsy infodumps. The story is told entirely from Elsenna's POV, and the author who I was most reminded of was Kazuo Ishiguro = the themes of penitence, acceptance of the past, and telling the story through the eye of a player instead of the mastermind. It also had Ishiguro's contemplative, internal feeling to it, though unlike Ishiguro this story has a resolution! And did I mention it's a story of love between women?
I thought this was a stunning debut. Kilaen's writing is delicious, I definitely found myself slowing down to savor every word and enjoy the story. I look forward to reading more of her work!
I am grateful to have received an e-arc of this book from Netgalley. My opinions are my own.
May 4, 2022
Exciting!
Elsenna, a bodyguard to a princess who she has fallen in love with, finds herself back in the princess� service and finds herself working with revolutionaries that want to overthrow the princess� father. Elsenna spends her time wondering what is going to happen to her and the princess, but then attacks happen and things get a bit more serious, Elsenna starts to realise she isn’t just fighting for her life.
As a novella, this packed in a lot of adventure, which all happened at a fast pace. It was easy to follow the story and Elsenna was a most admirable character, my only wish is that it had been a bit longer. There is so much I still want to know about Elsenna and the princess, and although we got a lot of information about them in this story, I just wish there had been more about their earlier connection but it worked just as well for this story.
I was excited for all they faced. It was a real challenge for Elsenna, managing work affairs and also those of her heart. It made things personal, more complicated, and where the princess didn’t know parts of this information about Elsenna, it made for an interesting dynamic when they interacted. They did have a magnetic connection though, destined to be in one another’s lives and share emotions and feelings. The princess had so much to contemplate, and with everything happening with her family, she faced uncertainty that also ended up impacting Elsenna.
A great sci-fi fantasy novella, with a light romance and an immersive, engaging adventure. I really enjoyed it and hope there will be more stories about Elsenna and the princess in future.
Elsenna, a bodyguard to a princess who she has fallen in love with, finds herself back in the princess� service and finds herself working with revolutionaries that want to overthrow the princess� father. Elsenna spends her time wondering what is going to happen to her and the princess, but then attacks happen and things get a bit more serious, Elsenna starts to realise she isn’t just fighting for her life.
As a novella, this packed in a lot of adventure, which all happened at a fast pace. It was easy to follow the story and Elsenna was a most admirable character, my only wish is that it had been a bit longer. There is so much I still want to know about Elsenna and the princess, and although we got a lot of information about them in this story, I just wish there had been more about their earlier connection but it worked just as well for this story.
I was excited for all they faced. It was a real challenge for Elsenna, managing work affairs and also those of her heart. It made things personal, more complicated, and where the princess didn’t know parts of this information about Elsenna, it made for an interesting dynamic when they interacted. They did have a magnetic connection though, destined to be in one another’s lives and share emotions and feelings. The princess had so much to contemplate, and with everything happening with her family, she faced uncertainty that also ended up impacting Elsenna.
A great sci-fi fantasy novella, with a light romance and an immersive, engaging adventure. I really enjoyed it and hope there will be more stories about Elsenna and the princess in future.
August 17, 2020
Full review to come. Glorious little novella. I’m not usually a SFF reader, but I love F/F novellas. I so appreciated how the author handled disability, performance, image, and gender. Very deftly done. I especially liked how guilt, atonement, and complicity were handled. It felt very timely. I was surprised this was single POV, but given how much action was packed in, I thought it was cleaner that way. I would gladly read a dozen adventures with Enna & Day. There was a big cast of characters, but their names and personalities were mostly distinct enough to follow. I read it in one sitting.
Read
August 8, 2020Engaging characters (excellent use of single POV, and I enjoyed the wry narrator SO MUCH), engaging plot (that involves brisk but deep consideration of political revolution, accountability, and reformation on both the small- and large-scale), and a lovely, second-chance-ish f/f romance. There were so many little details that made the narration, the romance, the story, and the world all feel so expansive.
(Disclosure: I'm Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ friends with the author.)
(Disclosure: I'm Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ friends with the author.)
September 14, 2020
3.5
This was a good solid read, but for some reason I didn't really connect with the two main characters or feel much chemistry between them until near the end.
This was a good solid read, but for some reason I didn't really connect with the two main characters or feel much chemistry between them until near the end.
November 1, 2023
This was a fun f/f novella about a blind space princess and her bodyguard. I loved the ways it surprised me but it took a gory turn that was a bit too much for my taste.
August 6, 2020
Quick exciting action read. Bodyguard, princess romance. Treason, a coup and dangerous regime change.
Definitely had a GREAT surprise moment half way through. Totally unexpected and very entertaining.
Elsenna is the disenchanted vice-head of security for an awful dictator. She is also feeding intelligence to various rebel groups seeking to overthrown the regime. She has no illusions that this course of action will lead to her death, but she can no longer stand passively by while the king kills, torture and imprisons. Princess Banyelle Geren puts on a vapid and helpless face in order to stay below the intrigue of court. But she, ultimately, she is trapped in a horror of constant threat overlaid with opulence.
The two may have more in common than they know... and they know they have a forbidden attraction.
**I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
Definitely had a GREAT surprise moment half way through. Totally unexpected and very entertaining.
Elsenna is the disenchanted vice-head of security for an awful dictator. She is also feeding intelligence to various rebel groups seeking to overthrown the regime. She has no illusions that this course of action will lead to her death, but she can no longer stand passively by while the king kills, torture and imprisons. Princess Banyelle Geren puts on a vapid and helpless face in order to stay below the intrigue of court. But she, ultimately, she is trapped in a horror of constant threat overlaid with opulence.
The two may have more in common than they know... and they know they have a forbidden attraction.
**I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
June 19, 2022
I was given an ARC of this ...novella? and this is my honest review.
What a great story. The setting is a kingdom with a spaceport. Yisss. :D
It took me some patience to get into (not the story's fault), but once in, I read it in a few well-spend hours. Great disability rep, great characters, great ending. Don't miss this one!
What a great story. The setting is a kingdom with a spaceport. Yisss. :D
It took me some patience to get into (not the story's fault), but once in, I read it in a few well-spend hours. Great disability rep, great characters, great ending. Don't miss this one!
July 23, 2020
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for my e-ARC.
This novella made my day. I’ve literally read it in one sitting.
Skye Kilaen’s ‘Glorious Day� follows Elsenna as she navigates her job as a Vice-Captain Hazen, helping the rebels planning to overthrow the current King and her feelings for a princess who she hasn’t spoken to in a long time. Her regret for things she had to do as a guard and strong feelings for a person she doesn’t think she deserves are driving her actions throughout ‘Glorious Day�.
We follow Vice-Captain Hazen as she has to face princess again, all while the tension in the nation increases. Elsenna doesn’t expect to leave this fight alive. She’s strong and devoted to those who she cares about it and I liked following the narrative from her point of view.
While ‘Glorious Day� is a quick read, it’s full of content - a fast-paced narrative filled with the action centred both around the politics in the futuristic-like world as well as the romance between the two main characters, Elsenna and the princess.
I appreciated the content warnings for the book, although most of the violence has taken place off-page. Moreover, Skye Kilaen’s book has such great representation. From a guard-princess relationship that follows two strong female characters to characters with a disability. The princess herself is blind, but while some around her try to use that to control her, she is not limited by her disability. Similarly, Elsenna has to deal with her injuries at the end of the story, but again that doesn’t necessarily hold her back.
At moments the story felt a little rushed, with so many events contained in a relatively short novella, but overall, I really enjoyed Skye Kilaen’s ‘Glorious Day� and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for an entertaining quick read with interesting characters.
I’m definitely looking forward to reading more from Skye Kilaen.
This novella made my day. I’ve literally read it in one sitting.
Skye Kilaen’s ‘Glorious Day� follows Elsenna as she navigates her job as a Vice-Captain Hazen, helping the rebels planning to overthrow the current King and her feelings for a princess who she hasn’t spoken to in a long time. Her regret for things she had to do as a guard and strong feelings for a person she doesn’t think she deserves are driving her actions throughout ‘Glorious Day�.
We follow Vice-Captain Hazen as she has to face princess again, all while the tension in the nation increases. Elsenna doesn’t expect to leave this fight alive. She’s strong and devoted to those who she cares about it and I liked following the narrative from her point of view.
While ‘Glorious Day� is a quick read, it’s full of content - a fast-paced narrative filled with the action centred both around the politics in the futuristic-like world as well as the romance between the two main characters, Elsenna and the princess.
I appreciated the content warnings for the book, although most of the violence has taken place off-page. Moreover, Skye Kilaen’s book has such great representation. From a guard-princess relationship that follows two strong female characters to characters with a disability. The princess herself is blind, but while some around her try to use that to control her, she is not limited by her disability. Similarly, Elsenna has to deal with her injuries at the end of the story, but again that doesn’t necessarily hold her back.
At moments the story felt a little rushed, with so many events contained in a relatively short novella, but overall, I really enjoyed Skye Kilaen’s ‘Glorious Day� and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for an entertaining quick read with interesting characters.
I’m definitely looking forward to reading more from Skye Kilaen.
August 7, 2020
"Glorious Day" takes some fairy-tale-ish elements � a wicked king and a scheming courtier, an innocent (at least in some ways) princess, a noble-hearted guard � adds a lot of realistic emotional complexity, gives it a futuristic veneer, queers it, and remixes it all into an unusual, slow burn FF romance (with just a dash of second-chance trope).
What I liked best about was the subtly shifting balance of what characters are capable of and what other characters assume they're capable of (physically, emotionally, intellectually). I don't think it's a spoiler to say that ableism plays a significant role in the story, but it's really interesting how ableism and other forms of under-estimation drive both the romantic arc and the narrative plot in different ways.
And there is definitely a plot (besides the romantic arc), with more on-page violence than I usually expect from a romance � the author does provide cautions, so take note if that is a concern.
The setting is lightly sfnal, with mention of a spaceport and happenings off-world, but mostly current/near-future tech. I might liked to have seen a bit more of the universe beyond the monarchy where the the story is set, but that really wasn't the focus.
Eager to read more from Skye Kilaen!
(I don't know if I need this disclaimer or not, but I've commented on Skye's reviews here on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ and vice versa.)
Edit: decided it was dumb to withhold a star because I've interacted with the author. Un-withheld.
What I liked best about was the subtly shifting balance of what characters are capable of and what other characters assume they're capable of (physically, emotionally, intellectually). I don't think it's a spoiler to say that ableism plays a significant role in the story, but it's really interesting how ableism and other forms of under-estimation drive both the romantic arc and the narrative plot in different ways.
And there is definitely a plot (besides the romantic arc), with more on-page violence than I usually expect from a romance � the author does provide cautions, so take note if that is a concern.
The setting is lightly sfnal, with mention of a spaceport and happenings off-world, but mostly current/near-future tech. I might liked to have seen a bit more of the universe beyond the monarchy where the the story is set, but that really wasn't the focus.
Eager to read more from Skye Kilaen!
(I don't know if I need this disclaimer or not, but I've commented on Skye's reviews here on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ and vice versa.)
Edit: decided it was dumb to withhold a star because I've interacted with the author. Un-withheld.
August 10, 2020
My only problem with this novella is that I desperately wanted it to last longer.
Glorious Day is, well, glorious. Skye Kilaen manages to weave a story that contains soft sci-fi elements, court intrigue, action, some very important conversations about ableism and people with special abilities... and one of the softest F/F romances I've ever read. One of the MCs is blind and the other is forced to deal with life-altering trauma later on (no spoilers) and they're both such strong, captivating personalities you can't help but fall for them � and pity the fools who underestimate them. Another thing I personally loved was the wry humor, always cutting through tense and dark moments and making this novella a beautiful balancing act.
5 stars, will recommend to everyone, when can we have some more?
P.S. I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for offering me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. The gushing is 100% mine.
Glorious Day is, well, glorious. Skye Kilaen manages to weave a story that contains soft sci-fi elements, court intrigue, action, some very important conversations about ableism and people with special abilities... and one of the softest F/F romances I've ever read. One of the MCs is blind and the other is forced to deal with life-altering trauma later on (no spoilers) and they're both such strong, captivating personalities you can't help but fall for them � and pity the fools who underestimate them. Another thing I personally loved was the wry humor, always cutting through tense and dark moments and making this novella a beautiful balancing act.
5 stars, will recommend to everyone, when can we have some more?
P.S. I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for offering me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. The gushing is 100% mine.
January 22, 2021
Elsenna is second in command of the king's security forces. She's also a traitor to the brutal, horrible dictator, secretly working with insurrectionists to overthrow the oppressive regime. Oh, and she's also in love with the king's only daughter. What could possibly go wrong.
I make no secret of the fact â€� in books or in life –ÌýI have no use for romance. Too often I find it distracts from a story and/or attempts to stand in for genuine character development. Not so here. The characters are flawed and realistic and fully rounded.
Ninestar Press describes this as science fiction romance. I'd describe as a political intrigue thriller tale of found family. Beautifully diverse and disability positive.
If you've ever thought that what the world really needs is Heinlein's classic, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, but left-wing and queer, then this book is for you.
I make no secret of the fact â€� in books or in life –ÌýI have no use for romance. Too often I find it distracts from a story and/or attempts to stand in for genuine character development. Not so here. The characters are flawed and realistic and fully rounded.
Ninestar Press describes this as science fiction romance. I'd describe as a political intrigue thriller tale of found family. Beautifully diverse and disability positive.
If you've ever thought that what the world really needs is Heinlein's classic, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, but left-wing and queer, then this book is for you.
August 3, 2020
I picked this up on pre-order and read it as soon as it downloaded. This was an engaging read from the first sentence, very fast paced but with enough world building packed into it to not lose clarity. In fact, I am impressed so much was fitted in to a novella without confusing the reader. In a very short space of time I cared about the POV character and their struggles. I actually think it was the first sentence that summed up how I was to feel about them. It is an excellent first sentence and says so much more about the character than its few words. If you are after a fast and exciting otherworld read, this is it.
If I have any complaint, it is that I would like to read more about these characters, right now!
If I have any complaint, it is that I would like to read more about these characters, right now!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.