Family of Lies: Sebastian

Title: Family of Lies: Sebastian
Author: Sam Argent
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: March 18, 2015
Genre(s): Fantasy
Page Count: 324
Reviewed by: Renée
Heat Level: 3 flame out of 5
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Blurb:

Sebastian Orwell did the only thing a smart wizard could do when he stumbled upon the wounded Crown Prince: he healed him and dumped him in a tavern where he could continue not being Sebastian’s problem. Unfortunately, the prince isn’t content with being alive, and he hunts Sebastian down to thank him personally. Not only is Sebastian stuck with the prince’s unwanted affections, he’s also confronted by growing evidence linking the assassination attempt to someone from his father’s past.

Lord Orwell is a lot of things: thief, liar, drunk, and all around horrible father, but Sebastian knows he’s no murderer. In order to prove it, Sebastian has to keep the prince alive long enough to discover the truth—a task made considerably harder because the idiot prince prefers wooing Sebastian over securing his own survival. On top of everything, Sebastian needs to save the day without revealing his magical powers and the real reason he hides his appearance.

Sebastian had no intention of playing the hero, but whoever is stirring up shit in his country will pay for destroying his quiet life.

This was scatter-brained story-telling at its best. I mean, it is literally all over the place. But I just didn’t have a fuck to give because it was so damn charming!

There are 11 siblings – 11!! They are the snarkiest bunch you’ll ever meet. And their relationship with their parents. The snark people, the snark! I was all smiles reading this.

Wizards, evil immortals, princes, and more. I honestly couldn’t put it down. Sebastian is the youngest of 12 (11 living). He still lives with his parents, as do all of the unmarried siblings. He wears a magical cloak that conceals his face and body from everyone. Only his family and those absolutely closest to him have ever seen him. (And I loved the “why” when this is revealed).

He catches the ~~eye~~ heart of the Crown Prince of the land as a teenager, and Prince Turren has never forgotten him, though they haven’t seen each other in years. Sebastian wants nothing to do with the annoying Prince now, but Turren woos him. He fights it…..boy does he fight it. (And the Prince has never even seen his face!)

“Think of it as a gift to the future Prince Consort.” A smile slowly spread across Harold’s face.
“I thought wizards had to be a century old before they started losing their minds.”
“What would you say about a man who searched seven years for a book he destroyed to give to a man he bullied as a child? Now let’s say he volunteered to go into a war-torn country in order to find that book?”

Snark and swoon on the same page!

“I’m being cruel because I’m giving you false hope.”
“They may not be as strong as mine, but I know you have feelings for me too.”

Sebastian is all attitude, all the time. In the funniest way possible. But he has a heart of gold. He gets drawn into a murder plot to kill the Prince. And he may SAY that he doesn’t have feelings for Turren, but he sure gets his panties in a bunch when he finds out there’s a plot to kill his ~~man~~ acquaintance.

There are A LOT of characters in this book. I took Todd’s advice from his review and copied the character list at the end for reference as I read. Believe it. Do it. As I used my handy reference, it was much easier to follow all these wonderful people! Personalities galore!

Sebastian launches his own plans to destroy the murderer’s intentions, but his father has plans of his own that involve Sebastian staying away from Turren for his own “good.” Because the murderer is an old “friend” of his father, and Father knows how to deal with this evil man.

“The one damn person who might not care about what I look like, and I have to give him up.”

The sexy times were LOL funny at the same time as being HOT AS HELL. There was one particular berry/forest scene that made me blush a little.

“I have healing salve,” Turren said. “It could soothe any sore muscles and we could try again.”
“Your fingers couldn’t get deep enough to soothe all my sore muscles, Prince Too-Well-Endowed.”

Chaos ensues, wizards offer their help to combat the evil Trenton, and this book is just all kinds of fun!

The love that develops, well, it’s so worth it! Recommended for m/m fantasy lovers.