Genre: Paranormal Historic Fantasy
LGBTQ+ Category: Demi, Gender Fluid, Trans FTM
Reviewer: Maryann
Get It On Amazon | Heavy Metal Blood Box Set
About The Book
And what fate befalls the undead?
Elyes Jaohari never wanted anything more than to travel. When his older brother needs a new cartographer during the Anglo-Spanish War, he jumps at the opportunity. Working under the command of English Captain Westmont, Elyes and his crew make easy work of the Spanish fleets. In exchange, Westmont promises them more money than they can count and free movement through the English world after the war. It seems like the perfect way to get everything he wants.
Until inhuman, blood-drinking monsters board the ship and slaughter most of the crew.
There’s no time to mourn. Elyes’ brother and captain are dead. Elyes must take command and assemble a new crew to continue fighting the Spanish.
Just when Elyes thinks it’s all finally over, Westmont turns on their deal and threatens to hunt down every member of Elyes’ new crew. In order to stop Westmont, he must become just as ruthless as his prusuer. Knowing that he will never see his family again, he sets on a path that will alter his life forever.
A man with nothing to lose is a dangerous creature, and Elyes has everything to gain.
From USAT Bestselling Author Amir Lane comes a story of music, magic, and mayhem. This is a standalone novella, and can be read in any order.
The Review
The year is 1597, in Algiers, Algeria. Elyes Jaouhari sits at the port, plucking the strings of the sintirs. He is accompanied by his sister Laila, who sings and plays the darbuka drum, and brother Aissa, playing the bowed rebab. Elyes loves music and enjoys playing with his siblings. They are awaiting the arrival of their older brother Ishaq. The port is a busy place, filled with people and merchants dealing of goods and unloading of ships.
With the death of their parents, Ishaq has taken care of his younger siblings. Elyes is the youngest at twenty-eight. He has very few memories of his parents. He does remember the traveling from place to place, and then back home to the port in Algiers. Traveling was the nature of being a merchant.
As Elyes watches the other ships come in, he is worried for Ishaq, who is aboard the Ibn al-Haytham. The ship is two weeks late. It could be because of the weather, or trade delays. He hopes it has nothing to do with the war going on between England and Spain.
When his brother finally arrives, they are all relieved. Elyes has always wanted to go with Ishaq on the trade expeditions. Ishaq, at times too protective, made him feel like a child. Ishaq brings back gifts for for his siblings: a knife, a broach and for Elyes a box sundial/compass. Ishaq is tired, but Elyes notices there is something else wrong. His brother has a scar behind his jaw.
Ishaq stares at someone on the ship. He’d sailed with Bey Yazid bin Dana Halil, the commander of the Ibn al-Haytham, for a very long time. Surely he was not upset with this man. It had to be the man beside Bey Yazid – he’s pale and he’s crude.
Bey Yazid points out Elyes as the cartographer. He asks if Elyes can fight with a sword, and finally they are introduced to the pale man – Capt. Shelby Westmont of Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth the 1st’s Royal Navy. Capt. Westmont tells Elyes he will be the cartographer on the next expedition. Elyes hears the word corsair and wonders if that’s what his brother is.
Now in the year 1600, Elyes and Bey Yazid’s crew are still at sea. Elyes has quickly learned how to fight with different swords, knives, and pistols. He doesn’t particularly like fighting the enemy, but he enjoys sparing with the crew. They need to stay on course to reach Marseilles for supplies. The Kingdom of France and Kingdom of England are allies against the Spanish in the war. Letters from Marque and Reprisal give them permission to attack Spain’s ships, without the threat of prosecution. Although Elyes can fight, his job was to remain on deck to navigate the ship.
After a battle with the Spanish ship San Sofia, men are lost not only to the fight, but there is little medical help on board. Later in the evening, Capt. Westmont and four other white men come to the ship to speak with Bey Yazid. Elyes notices something strange about the men. Capt. Westmont relays that Queen Elizabeth the Firstias impressed with the ship and what it has accomplished. The Queen has decided to include them in a new type of army. Bey Yazid refuses the offer, because they would have to become English citizens. That refusal brings on an attack that is filled with horror.
Many of the crew are lost, and those that remain on the ship have their lives changed forever. Will Elyes ever get back to Algiers and make the music he loves?
Lane has crafted a story of lies, deceit and heart-break in A Rhapsody of Rapiers, the prequel to the “Heavy Metal Blood” series. I’ve been reading several books for the 2024 Rocktoberfest, and the “Heavy Metal Blood” novellas feel like the dark reflection of Rocktoberfest. The story includes ghouls, vampires, witches, witchcraft, magic, and an evil Queen. There are frightening moments of gore and terror, but in the end, there’s a very different meaning to the story, about innocent people who were forced to be something terrifying.
A Rhapsody of Rapiers presents actual folk songs of Algeria, with the lyrics in that language.
I highly recommend A Rhapsody of Rapiers, and all the novellas of “Heavy Metal Blood” – they are really well written, and each one a surprise at the end. “Heavy Metal Blood” is a brilliant idea, and I can’t wait to see what Amir Lane will publish next.
All four books of the “Heavy Metal Blood” stories are available separately, or in “The Complete Origin” box set.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.