A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows

I had the villain figured out so quickly I thought it must be a red herring, but nobody else even suspected. Which is weird because he’s described early on as a great warrior and leader. He’s sweet, but a bit slow on the uptake. And in his new husband, he discovers a kind and understanding ally. On the bright side he excels at political intrigue, a skill his new husband lacks. Before even reaching his new home he is embroiled in a cesspool of murder, politics and backstabbing. He is then basically exiled from his homeland into an arranged political marriage all before the end of chapter 3. It all comes crashing down when he is outed to his family in a particularly brutal and heartbreaking way. Away from the prying eyes of his family, he enjoyed a precarious freedom… think Oscar Wilde and the bohemian culture of victorian era London. He has been living the life of a trustfunded 3rd son in the capital. He is a noble, good looking, able bodied, wealthy, intelligent and a cis male in a conservative patriarchal society.

On the surface Velasin seems like an unlikely victim. Velasin is a compelling and sympathetic lead, and watching him regain his spark was very satisfying. On that front, my hopes were well rewarded.

I also hoped, since the main trauma happens early, that the rest of the book would focus on recovery and not just be endless trauma porn. However, I found the premise and protagonist interesting. Normally I’m not one for heavy trauma focused books, so I wasn’t sure I would like it. I read the advanced preview chapters of A Strange and Stubborn Endurance earlier this summer. It is an audiobook that will live in your heart long after you finish listening.Ī Macmillan Audio production from Tor Books. Foz Meadows's A Strange and Stubborn Endurance is an exploration of gender, identity, and self-worth. Survival is one thing, but love-as both will learn-is quite another.īyzantine politics, lush sexual energy, and a queer love story that is by turns sweet and sultry. With an unknown faction willing to kill to end their new alliance, Vel and Cae have no choice but to trust each other. But while his family is ready to disown him, the Tithenai envoy has a different solution: for Vel to marry his former intended’s brother instead.Ĭaethari Aeduria always knew he might end up in a political marriage, but his sudden betrothal to a man from Ralia, where such relationships are forbidden, comes as a shock. When an ugly confrontation reveals his preference for men, Vel fears he’s ruined the diplomatic union before it can even begin. Velasin vin Aaro never planned to marry at all, let alone a girl from neighboring Tithena. “Stolen me? As soon to say a caged bird can be stolen by the sky.” “Many a reader longing for a sense of homecoming in the realm of romantic fantasy will find it in A Strange and Stubborn Endurance.

A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows