Book Review - Sword Masters

For all it's papyrus titled glory this was actually a really fun read.

Title: Sword Masters
Author: Selina Rosen
Genre: Fantasy
Page #s: 313
Publication Date: 2008
Location in Series: First, there is a recently published sequel I am considering as well
Trigger Warnings: Rape, miscarriage, abuse, lots of straight up killing

Summary: When Tarius' father, Jabon the breaker, is killed by attacking Amalite's she chooses to quit her life on Kartik, her home island, and instead become a Swordsmaster of the Jethrik, as her father had. Unfortunately the Jethrik allow neither Katabull or women to become Swordsmasters and Tarius' is both. She hides her identity from her friends, teachers, and the woman she loves. Her skills earn her accollades and the king's regard.

Then it all comes crashing down around her.

Eventually she and Jenna rebuild a new life from the ashes of the old and wipe the Amalite's out entirely.

Good Points: KICK ASS LESBIAN PROTAGONISTS.

The Kartik are accepting of m/m and f/f pairings. (Although the Jethrik, who we spend much of the book dealing with, are not.)

Kick. Ass. Lesbian. Protagonists.

Realistic rage at all the crap that goes down.

It's a fun, easy read.

Bad Points: Errrrrrr. There are a lot of skeevy points that I'm going to warn people about.

Tarius' spends most of the novel lying about her gender. She is female and is a lesbian but in order to become a swordsmaster must dress like a man. She never reveals her true gender to Jenna and in fact, when Jenna pushes for Tarius' to have penetrative sex with her Tarius' has another man take her place.

Tragon, who takes her place, is sexually aggressive with Jenna and had previously attempted to rape her. Jenna gets pregnant through their sex. She later loses the baby because of abuse at Tragon's hands.

Rating: 4/5