Book Review: The Lion of Kent by Aleksandr Voinov & Kate Cotoner

Title: The Lion of Kent
Author: Aleksandr Voinov & Kate Cotoner
Genre: Historical Romance, M/M Romance
Sensuality Rating: Erotic
Source: review copy from publisher
Published: August 2010 by Carina Press

Squire William Raven has only one goal—to finally receive his spurs and become a knight. When his lord, Sir Robert de Cantilou, returns from a five-year crusade in the Holy Land, William wants nothing more than to impress him.

After Sir Robert's return, noble guests arrive from France, bringing intrigue to the castle. William is oblivious to the politics, as he's distracted by nightly visits from a faceless lover—a man who pleasures him in the dark and then leaves—a man he soon discovers is none other than his master, Sir Robert.

But William can't ignore the scheming around him when he overhears a plot to murder Robert. He becomes intent on saving his lord and lover from those who would see him killed...

Reviewed By: J9

In a Nutshell: I like MM historical romance and this had a great medieval setting with castles, knights and political intrigue. And of course, lots of MM sexy time.

The Set Up: Squire William singular goal in life is to become a knight. His lord, Sir Robert, joined the Crusades preventing William from earning his spurs. But now Sir Robert has returned brining William hope for becoming a knight and with noble guests. William soon has a nameless night lover and hopes it is his lord. But the nobles are scheming to murder Robert and William no longer cares if he becomes a knight but must save Robert.

Why I Read this Book: I often enjoy Carina Press’s MM romance and really like MM historical romance so this fit both.

What I Liked: I started reading romance with knights and ladies in Jude Deveraux and Catherine Coulter books of the early 90’s. This book is the MM equivalent to those and I enjoyed this trip down romance lane. Sure, it’s an MM romance so not identical but it captures the lord-of-the-manor hero those early romances did, as well as the near-death plot so common. I’ve always been simultaneously repulsed and fascinated with this time in British history because it combines such pageantry but also hierarchy with one man controlling everything and everyone around him.

What I Also Liked: I liked William a lot. He had a modern sensibility to his character in that he was always speaking his mind to Robert, even at inappropriate times. He’s got a passion for life and a goal to become a knight and I liked how driven he is. Though this book is third person, William is the narrator as everything is seen through his eyes. As I liked William’s character this was a good thing.

What I Didn’t Like: But since this book is told through William’s eyes, Robert is short changed. Other than being a wise and benevolent lord of the manor and a strong Crusader, readers know little about Robert. His acceptance of his sexuality is all the personal details we know about Robert and I think that was a miss. Plus, William has to choose to stay with Robert and totally alter his life plans but Robert doesn’t have to make any concessions or changes in his life to have William. I get the sense that Robert is with William because he desire gay sex, not because he’s attracted or in love with William. This was a disappointment for me.

IMO: A good MM historical romance but with a lopsided romance that didn’t wow me.

J9’s Rating: