Lord of the White Hell [Paperback]

The first thing to know about this book is that it is the sequel to, or rather: the other half of, Lord of the White Hell Book One. That one ended rather abruptly in the middle of a night, this one starts with breakfast next morning. So if you know you liked, or are going to like, the first, you want to order this book straight away. The second thing to know is that this is not the middle book of a trilogy, but the conclusion of the story. At the end, all plots are revealed. The fantasy is elaborate enough to allow the author to revisit the world or even the characters in a future sequel if she likes, but there are no cliffhangers that would necessitate it. The third thing to know is that the story of both books has nothing at all to do with the author's exciting previous book Wicked Gentlemen. In fact, they are quite different: that was a romantic mystery thriller told from the viewpoints of two very weird adult characters, this is rather standard young adult fantasy told from the viewpoint of Kiram, a 17y old first year student at a royal academy.

The book (meaning now both halfs) is a pageturner. I finished it in two days. The characters draw you in, the world building is rich and detailed (culture, religion, cities, family, friends) and you are going to miss it all when you're finished reading. I think the book might have improved by switching viewpoints now and then (as in "Wicked Gentlemen"), e.g. it would have been nice to witness first hand Javier's impressions of Kiram's home in the Haldiim section of the port town of Anacleto, but alas, the "camera" remains steadily on Kiram's shoulder. There are a few misgivings in dramatical development, like when Kiram receives a letter from his academy tutor that potentially shatters all previous preconceptions he, the "genius mechanist", like the reader, might have had about himself, but it's all part of a slippery slope of events that doesn't give you the time to reflect and makes it easy to overlook. Some characters are crooked, but noone, with exception of the antagonist and a loose former acquaintance of Kiram, makes really bad choices that last, and that - together with the "academy" setting -, gives the book a little bit of Harry Potter feeling. No dear character dies.

The book has been compared to Mercedes Lackey's Vanyel trilogy (starting with Magic's Pawn), and related Amazon recommendations include Lynn Flewelling's Nightrunner series (starting with Luck in the Shadows) and Kirby Crow's Scarlet trilogy. Now I think Mercedes Lackey's tearfilled romances stem from a very different period and now feel quite outdated, and Kirby Crow's trilogy is so badly plotted and so lacking in terms of character that a comparison seems insulting - not all fantasy books with m/m characters compare. But liking it to Flewelling's first two Nightrunner books is also what came to my mind when reading the book: quick paced, strong characters, rich world, a litte less drama and horror, more mature sexual encounters. So if you liked the Flewelling books, I think you should not miss this one.

When things ended in Book 1 of the Lord of the White Hell, Academy student and Haldiim Kiram Kir-Zaki was heartbroken. Kiram comes from a culture where men loving one another is accepted and not looked down upon. When Kiram ended up winning a scholarship to attend an affluent Cadeleonian Academy, he knew he would be an outcast because of his race. He did find friends, one being Cadeleonian Nestor, who is engaged to be married. The other close friend is Javier Tornesal, the Duke of Rauma, his roommate and now his lover. Javier has a curse living inside of him called the white hell and goes through incredibly harsh penances given to him from the church to keep the curse at bay.

Kiram has fallen in love with Javier, but because Javier wants to keep their relationship a secret, Kiram feels used. Even though the boys at the academy may dabble in male intimacies, it's not expected to go much further than that, especially in regards to Javier, who will be expected to marry and have heirs. If he's caught with Kiram, he could be exiled and his title and lands stripped away. Kiram must make a hard choice regarding Javier, who with one smile and a caress, has Kiram wanting him.

While Kiram tries to figure out how to handle Javier, he also wants to find a cure for Javier's curse, which may not even be that. Someone wants to destroy Javier and has used his dim-witted cousin, Fedeles, who also suffers from the same curse, to do just that. As Kiram gets closer to the truth, he's finds himself in grave danger and Javier becomes more protective and possessive of him. Kiram invites Javier into his community where Javier meets Kiram's parents, siblings and neighbors. But a former suitor of Kiram wants him back and will stop at nothing, possibly even murder to get him.

The odds are stacked against Kiram and Javier, but as they finally find out who is causing Javier harm, they may have a chance to be together, but all for a cost.

Lord of the White Hell Book 2 is masterful. This epic fantasy tale hits all the high points for me. Not only has Ginn Hale created a wonderful cast of characters, but there's so much intrigue and adventure in every chapter. Her writing is beyond superb and well crafted. The way she has written Kiram and Javier's relationship will make you sigh and swoon over the beautiful way they love one another. These two men cannot go a day without seeing and touching each other. Javier is more alpha of the two, but things begin to change when he allows Kiram to introduce him to new intimacies that he normally wouldn't do with anyone else because it leaves him frightened and wide open emotionally.

You will simply become lost in the words, and the last one-hundred pages will have your attention in such a way where you won't want to put this book down. Lord of the White Hell Book 2 is a book to be savored. This is the only book this year, that as soon as I finished, I wanted to start reading it all over again.

The thrilling conclusion answers many questions, but still has a cliffhanger of sorts that has me BEGGING FOR A BOOK 3! I know Ginn doesn't have any plans to do so, but the need on my end for one is still strong. Kiram and Javier have found their way into my heart and are two characters I won't soon forget.

Ginn's Lord of the White Hell Book 1 and 2 are my top reads for this year. This is what incredible storytelling is all about and shows perfectly that Ginn Hale is an author who writes quality fiction.

For those who are fans of epic fantasy, M/M romance or haven't read M/M fiction, and want to know where to start, Lord of the White Hell Book 1 and Book 2 are perfect books to read. I hail Ginn Hale as an author extraordinaire and the Lord of White Hell books both get my seal of writing excellence.

Katiebabs

Lord of the White Hell Book One

I truly regret that I waited so long to read The Lord of the White Hell. This has easily moved into my top five favorite works of fantasy, alongside David Eddings' "Belgariad" and Mercedes Lackey's "Last Herald Mage." It is that well done, and I read the book in a single day after finishing book one.

In book one, readers met Kiram, a Haldiim, and Javier, a Duke hunted by a powerful curse and haunted by a terrible power. Book one took place in the Cadeleonian Sagrada Academy, but here we travel to Kiram's home city. Javier and Kiram learn the truth about the white hell, and it puts their lives in danger. Book one introduced the world and characters, but here the plot thickens (mwahahah!) and the pace accelerates exponentially. Javier and Kiram will have to make hard choices and painful sacrifices to remain true to each other, and prevent the white hell from falling into the wrong hands.

I cannot say enough good things about how wonderful these two novels were! I was engrossed from the start and will no doubt re-read them again and again. And this is one of those rare books where I was taken completely by surprise at who the true villain was! And though the major story arc is resolved, Javier and Kiram's adventure is really just beginning. I truly hope Ginn Hale writes more novels in this series. This world is as amazing as Valdemar, and deserves many, many more stories.