The Lightning-Struck Heart

Title: The Lightning-Struck Heart
Author: T.J. Klune
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: July 20th 2015
Genre(s): M/M Fantasy
Page Count: 400 pages
Reviewed by: Belen
Heat Level: 2 flames out of 5
Rating: 5+ stars out of 5

Blurb:

Once upon a time, in an alleyway in the slums of the City Of Lockes, a young and somewhat lonely boy named Sam Haversford turns a group of teenage douchebags into stone completely by accident.

Of course, this catches the attention of a higher power, and Sam’s pulled from the only world he knows to become an apprentice to the King’s Wizard, Morgan of Shadows.

When Sam’s fourteen, he enters the Dark Woods and returns with Gary, the hornless gay unicorn, and a half-giant named Tiggy, earning the moniker Sam of Wilds.

At fifteen, Sam learns what love truly is when a new knight arrives at the castle—Knight Ryan Foxheart, the dreamiest dream to have ever been dreamed.

Naturally, it all goes to hell when Ryan dates the reprehensible Prince Justin, Sam can’t control his magic, a sexually aggressive dragon kidnaps the prince, and the King sends them on an epic quest to save Ryan’s boyfriend, all while Sam falls more in love with someone he can never have.

Or so he thinks.

There aren’t enough stars for The Lightning-Struck Heart or, as it was originally titled, Unicorn Star Fucker.

This is a brilliantly fantastic story of love, friendship, longing, loss, and hope.

Is this funny? Yes. Yes, it is. It’s fucking hilarious. Straight up – I was obnoxiously laughing so hard and so loud for so long that I actually began to feel sorry for the people around me. Sorry they were being subjected to my overt hilarity and sorry they were not reading this magnificent and wondrous book so they too could laugh uproariously.

Does this book make your heart ache? In part. Yes, it will, a little. What can be more sad than wanting someone so desperately, but knowing you can’t have him?

“…I’m sorry I made an oath. I did it because I thought it was the right thing to do. And I’m sorry that I can’t break it. But you have to believe me that it’s always been you. I promise. I promise.” His voice cracked and my hands shook. “I promise, because when I look upon these stars, there is nothing I wish for more than you.”

Is this just an OTT Fairy-tale on crack? No. No, it’s not. Or, well, it’s not only that. There are so many nuances to this. It has humor, heartache, and, most importantly, lessons to be learned about life, love and sometimes letting the things you love go even at the expense of your own heart and soul.

And, oh, the characters!

Wizard Apprentice Sam Haversford aka “Sam of Wilds” is maddening, fantastic and wonderful in all his blurty over-the-top goodness.

Sir Ryan Foxheart, is dashing and wonderful and…an asshole. But not an irredeemable asshole. Which is good.

The sidekick characters are utterly sublime! (Gary, the hornless gay unicorn, Tiggy, the half-giant, Sam’s parents, Morgan and Randall the wizards, Kevin the dragon, Mama, Sam’s fairy drag mother, the King, Pete, the guard…gods I could go on and on…) They all steal the spotlight every time they appear on page again and again.

I literally loved every single minute of this.

If you are a fan of Monty Python, Mel Brooks, Top Gun, and The Princess Bride – then you will love this book. You will want to have this book’s babies.

If you are a fan of T.J. Klune‘s, and love his characters Derrick “Bear” McKenna (BOATK), Paul Auster (TMIR), and Sandy Stewart (TMIR) – then you will love this book. You will beg for more ( by the way, T.J….MORE PLEASE!!! ) Literally.

Never fear, dear readers! You get an HEA, but it’s also left open for more adventures. And, oh, how I want them. I literally want them so much. Literally.