The Poet and the Prophecy
by Cecilia Tan
Series: Magic University, #4
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: September 15, 2015
Kyle Wadsworth has mastered sex magic, dreamwalking, and even poetry in his years at Veritas. But in this conclusion to the Magic University series of new adult paranormal fantasy romance, Kyle begins his senior year full of doubt. Will the dire ancient prophecy he has been studying come true if Kyle cannot find true love? The signs of the Burning Days seem to be everywhere—odd storms, earthquakes, and people losing their magic—and though Kyle has many loving friends and eager acquaintances, he has no true love in sight. The only person in Kyle's heart is Frost, and the last time they laid eyes on each other, it didn't end well.
Frost has a troubled past and deep secrets. Kyle begins to hope, though, when it appears he and Frost will be in a class together. A poetry class. Maybe Frost will start to thaw after all, though Kyle has a long way to go from nemesis to lover. If the prophecy speaks true, our hero will need love to keep the world, his friends, and himself from losing magic forever.
"The Magic University books really need to be read all together to be understood. You should definitely grab all four books and get comfortable – you’re in for an exciting ride! The Poet and the Prophecy is a satisfying conclusion to the series, and one that adult Harry Potter fans will no doubt enjoy." —Lucy Felthouse, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
"I love that in The Poet and The Prophecy Kyle needs to draw on everything about himself to succeed, from his talent as a poet to his bisexuality. How often do bisexuals get to save the world in books? Kyle accomplishes things that a 'typical' straight hero would fail at, including the 'enemies to lovers' relationship we've all been waiting for since book one." –BookPost
"Tan has long been one of the foremost voices in writing and publishing erotic sci-fi and fantasy. With her New Adult paranormal romance Magic University series, Tan combines her favorite elements from the Harry Potter books with LGBT characters and eroticism. Her protagonist Kyle Wadsworth, studying at the secret magical university Veritas, learns to harness sex magic to combat sirens and prophecies alike. With Kyle starting out knowing less than Jon Snow, he experiences the kind of in-depth sexual apprenticeship that Anastasia Steele should have learned at the hands of Christian Grey." —Tor.com
"Very nice series of books that I look forward to rereading some day. The frequent description of 'Harry Potter for Adults' made me fear it would be totally derivative, but it really wasn't." —BookLikes
Prologue
Out on the sidewalk, Kyle could feel a dance beat throbbing through the walls of the building. There was no sign above the door, only a small statue of an eagle. He wanted to take that as a good omen. After all, wasn't it an eagle on Zeus's shield? He tried to remember what else it symbolized but his mind was awhirl. No one knew he was here tonight.
And probably nothing is going to happen and I'm going to go home disappointed, he thought. Classes were due to start in a week, but he was here to learn something of a different sort. Did he like men—really? Other than Frost, that is? And if so, what did he like? Ritual sex for magical purposes was one thing. But non-magical sex was another. Wasn't it?
A man in blue jeans and a black T-shirt, with a neatly trimmed, short beard emerged from the place, bringing a blast of music with him. Kyle stood rooted to the spot while the man gave him a once-over, then walked on down the street.
Kyle was still standing there when another man who looked nearly the same as the first brushed past him to enter the bar. Kyle took a breath. He was here out of desperation, trying the only thing left he could think of that might—as Alex had put it—get the taste of Frost out of Kyle's mouth.
He'd considered going to the big gay dance night on Lansdowne Street, but it hadn't sounded that exciting. He decided instead on the Eagle, which had a more masculine air than any of the other gay bars or clubs he saw listed in the paper.
"You don't want to go in there unless you're looking for trouble," said a voice from behind him.
He turned to see yet a third man in jeans with a short beard, this one tossing aside a cigarette and stubbing it out with his boot before he came closer. In the streetlamp's light, Kyle could see this one's hair was a little longer than he'd seen on any of the previous men, dark and a bit wavy.
The man stepped close enough that Kyle caught a whiff of a masculine scent coming from him, musky and earthy at once.
"And if I'm looking for trouble?" Kyle answered.
"Well, maybe trouble found you," the man replied smoothly, not even smiling at his own joke. He had a hint of a British accent. "You looking for it a little rough? What are you into, bondage? Wrestling?"
Bondage Kyle had an inkling of, but he was startled into asking, "Wrestling?"
"Sure. The winner fucks the loser, and it's great foreplay," the guy said with a quirk of his eyebrow, bemused or amused by Kyle.
Kyle found the idea turned him on, even if he wasn't exactly attracted to this man. Except that he was attracted. Something about the guy's confidence and strength was alluring, in a dangerous sort of way.
But Kyle remembered his purpose. "I'm, um, I'm more of a top, myself," he managed to say.
The man laughed. "All the better. Makes it sweeter when you surrender."
Kyle felt a shiver of lust run down his spine, as he sensed how keenly this man wanted, at that very moment, to sink his cock into him. It was discomfiting even as it was arousing, making Kyle feel more like prey than, well, loved. Is this how Frost feels when I'm around?
Kyle took a step back, but that only seemed to be an invitation to the guy to step even closer, closing the distance between them. Kyle could feel his body heat and smell the sweetness of his breath. Cinnamon.
"Don't be scared. I'll make it good." He chuckled.
"I... I don't think...."
"You don't belong here," the man said suddenly, dead serious where a moment ago he'd been laughing. He trailed the backs of his fingers along Kyle's cheek and Kyle felt the energy crackle.
Oh. He didn't mean Kyle wasn't gay enough for the place, though maybe that was true. He was magical.
Kyle forced himself to take another step back. "What's wrong with—"
But the guy was laughing again, this time a rich, full laugh. "Nothing's wrong, little one. Nothing." He laughed once more and then turned and walked away, leaving Kyle standing on the sidewalk, dumbfounded.
Also in the Series:
Book 1: The Siren and the Sword
Book 2: The Tower and the Tears
Book 3: The Incubus and the Angel
Cecilia Tan is "simply one of the most important writers, editors, and innovators in contemporary American erotic literature," according to Susie Bright. RT Magazine awarded her Career Achievement in Erotic Romance in 2015 and their prestigious Pioneer Award. Tan's BDSM romance novel Slow Surrender (Hachette/Forever, 2013) also won the RT Reviewers Choice Award in Erotic Romance and the Maggie Award for Excellence from the Georgia Romance Writers chapter of RWA. She lives in the Boston area with her lifelong partner corwin and three cats.
No comments:
Post a Comment