Emotionless, dimensionless characters. Amateur writing style in need of proofreading. Constant delves into infodumping or introspection that made any attempt at steady pacing impossible. Generic evil supernatural antagonist.

Cut-and-paste of the British occupation of India into this fantasy world replete with racism and colonialist attitudes, not just in the characters but clearly from the writer's perspective as well (the historical "sources" about India Lanyon listed to inform this fantasy world came entirely from the writings of one British military man, and the bias infuses every aspect of this book). ( )

When Major Valentine Strange is hired by the Holy Order to retrieve an old relic, he has no reason to expect it to much different than a typical mission--aside from the sum offered. But the adventure he goes on with one of the Order's witches, Master Aleister Grimshaw, is nothing close to ordinary. Instead he learns there is more malevolence and mystery surrounding this particular relic than he ever could have expected.

This was...interesting. I did enjoy the rich world building and backstory. But the relationship here is completely and utterly lacking. There was so much more that could have been done with it and the author seemed to miss every single opportunity. ( )

A completely different style to anything else I've read by Josh Lanyon. It's fantasy with a strong historical feel. The plot is primarily a quest with a slow burn romance in the background. If you pick up this book expecting a string of sexy sizzling sex scenes then you've come to the wrong place, most happen off page.
It took me a while to get into (about 20%) but then I was hooked. It's not a quick read but once hooked I had no desire to leave this and go on to something else.
Definitely recommended. ( )

DISCLAIMER: the Issue was probably me and not the writing or story or narration. So do not take review as a reason to not try it.


I REALLY wanted to love this one. But I struggled badly to get into it and to follow it. It felt like I was reading a book that needed a flow chart to follow. I’m guessing this has more to do with it being in audio than anything else. I might try re-reading on kindle at some point. The narrator was good. There’s just so many unfamiliar names and labels and locations etc. That I couldn’t absorb them listening only. I probably need to see them as well. (Normally with books like this or large series I will in fact write out a cheat sheet or flow chart to follow everything.)


The two MCs do have a beautiful story and I enjoyed watching them come together and realise their feelings. It had a natural slow burn feel.

The adventure portion was good too but that’s where I struggled most bc I kept stopping and thinking wait what did what when.. who... huh? ... rewinding .... again though, minor notes and physically seeing those notes in the first 10% of the book probably would have fixed all of my issues. ( )

I will start this review up front: I’m not so fond of fantasy novel and neither so much of “quest” type of adventures. So why I read Strange Fortune that is the quintessence of both the above genres? Since I trust Josh Lanyon and his characters; it’s strange but whatever he is writing a mystery, a romance or a fantasy (and Strange Fortune is his first foray in the fantasy genre), I’m always sure that I will find two men that are unique for their story. Above all, these men are unexpected and well-rounded, with their strenghts and faults; but they are also familiar, since there will be always the dashing one and the more brooding.

Major Valentine Strange and Master Aleister Grimshaw are apparently at the opposite, but right for this reason they click together in the right way. In dept up to his neck, and maybe more, Valentine Strange needs a bit of fortune, and the mission to retrieve the diadem of the Goddess Purya seems an easy one. Unwilling companion to Valentine is Aleister, trueblood and witch, apparently the wise man in comparison to Valentine and instead the one who will almost lose his mind.

The fantasy world Josh Lanyon recreates is completely visionary, but in a way has its roots in the real medieval times: Major Strange is in a mission for the church, Master Grimshaw’s previous lover is now a priest, the one who hires Valentine. Religion, myths and witchcraft mix together to move and control the known world.

Another familiar trait that links these characters with the previous ones from the same author is the apparently contraposition between “straight” Valentine and “gay” Aleister. Valentine is planning to marry, true, more for convenience than love, but I didn’t read him as a gay in the closet; until he meets Aleister and he develops feelings for him, Valentine is not gay; maybe he is not fully straight, and sincerely he questions his feelings for Aleister more since they are ruining his second option to gain money, than for a real moral opposition to them.

Maybe for this reason, or maybe since, sincerely, Josh Lanyon writes romance, and not erotica, the sex scenes are of the old fashioned style, the ones happening behind a closed door, and to only one, necessary to the story, the fulcrum of the romance, the reader is invited.

I read different opinion on this novel, and the most common trend was, this is an unusual novel for Josh Lanyon, something his fans could love or hate, but they have to read it with an open mind, since it’s different from the usual… I disagree. Aside from the fantasy genre, the only novelty I found, this is a typical story by Josh Lanyon: the characters are what holds the story; the romance is subdued but romantic; the relationship between the two men is “quietly” passionate, meaning that there are no burst of passion but nevertheless there is love; sometime the stronger man, Valentine, seems to be more the protector than the lover, but in the end it will be Aleister who will wrap up the story. So where is the unexpected in this story? What is that could ring wrong to the usual readers of Josh Lanyon? As I said, the fantasy setting.

The fantasy setting is good, I maybe am not a fan, but just only the fact that I read it is a point to it. What I usually don’t like of the fantasy genre are the long descriptions to allow the reader to “fall into” the mood, into the new world, but that is exactly what the fans of the genre love. As I said, I found it easier since some points were familiar, and indeed this is not only a fantasy but also a quest, and so the long descriptions allow the reader to follow the main characters in their quest; what the reader and the characters will learn along the travel is that the real quest is not what they were expecting to be and when they will reach their destination, they will discover that the travel is yet only at the beginning.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/193556000X/?tag=elimyrevandra-20