Book 21
Callum's Fate by Dianne Hartsock
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This novella needs you to think 'do I like more plot and less sex' or 'do I like a simple plot and tons of hot action?' While I'm in the former's camp, the novella is in the latter. That said, I still enjoyed it. I'm a sucker for stories that draw from faerie lore and this has that in spades.
The plot is simple Callum is a beautiful young man out to make his way in the world, being a younger son with few prospects at home. He made an ill-fated decision to cross the moors and fell into a barrow that a barrow-wight called home. Callum is marked by the fey now. The barrow-wight is not alone in trying to make Callum his as other fey try their best to lay claim. The sex scenes are inventive and dream-like. It's hard to say if this is all really happening or a magical happenstance inside Callum's head.
He is discovered by Donal, a land owner along with Sean and his wife (though he and Sean have a history). Donal wants to help Callum and asks his gruagach, Liam to save Callum. Donal has already seen another good young man succumb to the faeries and die. He doesn't want Callum to die as well.
Because the Barrow-wight will eventually kill Callum unless Liam can find a way to stop him. Matters go from bad to worse as Callum enters the dark woods where he'll be at the mercy of the fey.
This one could have easily gone for the dark ending and make it as believable as Liam finding a way to save Callum.
In way of full disclosure, I received a copy of the novella from the publisher in return for an honest review.