About the Book: Once upon a time, in an alleyway in the slums of the City of Lockes, a young and somewhat lonely boy named Sam Haversford turns a group of teenage douchebags into stone completely by accident.
Of course, this catches the attention of a higher power, and Sam’s pulled from the only world he knows to become an apprentice to the King’s Wizard, Morgan of Shadows.
When Sam is fourteen, he enters the Dark Woods and returns with Gary, the hornless gay unicorn, and a half-giant named Tiggy, earning the moniker Sam of Wilds.
At fifteen, Sam learns what love truly is when a new knight arrives at the castle. Sir Ryan Foxheart, the dreamiest dream to have ever been dreamed.
Naturally, it all goes to hell through the years when Ryan dates the reprehensible Prince Justin, Sam can’t control his magic, a sexually aggressive dragon kidnaps the prince, and the King sends them on an epic quest to save Ryan’s boyfriend, all while Sam falls more in love with someone he can never have.
Or so he thinks.
Tales from Verania #1
M/M Fantasy (Humor)
Dreamspinner Press | July 20, 2015
“You’re a talking unicorn,” I said. “Sometimes when you poop, it comes out as rainbows and smells like cookies. There is nothing subtle about you.”
This review hurts so bad I don’t even really want to write it. I’m going to keep it short and sweet, because I just want to spare myself the agony of having to talk about why I wasn’t over the moon.
I love TJ Klune! I’ve said this multiple times. I feel like it’s obvious since I’ve been on a long running book binge, practically marathoning everything he’s written. I am a fan! I can’t say that enough. From the moment I read How To Be A Normal Person, just around a month ago, I knew I would read whatever he writes, no matter the synopsis. Just gimme. That’s what makes my lukewarm reaction to The Lightning-Struck Heart so sad.
I’m not sure what it was exactly that didn’t work for me this time around. The humor was still there. It had TJ’s quirky characters. The romance was on point, though it did seem to move too slow. Maybe it was too much comedy for me in a Fantasy element? Maybe I kept waiting for it to get serious? Maybe the humor in general was too much for me, like Robin Hood: Men in Tights?
Currently I’ve read Tell Me It’s Real, all available Bear, Otter, and the Kid books, How To Be A Normal Person, and Wolfsong. They range from relatively serious (Wolfsong) to fun romantic comedy (Tell Me It’s Real). I feel like it’s a list that runs the gambit of Klune’s styles. The Lightning-Struck Heart’s level of humor far exceeded the rest of them, and in this setting, with these characters, it detracted from the overall story for me.
But that’s just one woman’s opinion. Far more of TJ’s fans loved it, so I’m willing to chalk it up to me being a crazy person.
On a more positive note: HaveHeart is the best couple name in the history of couple names!
Also, I want to share this quote with you but I’m going to hide it. It made me bust out in laughter. It is raunchy though, so if you want to read it highlight below.
Knight Ryan Foxheart. Soon to be Knight Commander Ryan Foxheart. The dreamiest dream to have ever been dreamed. The current holder of all my masturbatory fantasies. (“Oh, who’s a bad knight? YOU’RE a bad knight. You’ve been so bad that I’m going to joust with your butthole.”)
Man, it still makes me laugh. TJ sure does know how to write funny dialogue. He’ll always be my favorite.
“Ever since I’ve known you, you’ve struck my heart, and now I have to let you go because you’re not mine to keep. I need someone that I can be strong for. But I need someone who can also be strong for me.”
Birdie Bookworm 
[…] can review the book without talking about the plot or secrets. See, I’ve already reviewed The Lightning Struck Heart and Destiny of Dragons. I’ve already broken down the story in that way. If I were to do […]
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