Publishers Weekly
04/15/2024
This humorous if dense pirate fantasy adventure marks another ambitious outing from Rowland (A Taste of Gold and Iron). Avra Helvaçi, an agent with the nation of Araşt’s Ministry of Intelligence, stumbles upon, then absconds with, coveted classified information he believes explains how Araşti ships avoid the swarms of mating sea serpents that keep rival ships ashore for weeks every year. He brings the information to his best frenemy and sometime lover, Teveri az-Ḥaffār, captain of The Running Sun, and their new crew member Julian, who would be the perfect person to decipher the information Avra stole, except he’s so attractive Avra immediately distrusts him. With serpent season approaching, the unlikely trio must work together to fence the pilfered intel without putting themselves in further danger. The characters and the world they inhabit are developed in striking detail, though extended descriptions, along with the protagonists’ many quirks, occasionally drag the pace down to a crawl in the first act. However, many trivial elements become important later on, meaning readers who stick with this will be richly rewarded. Fans of Our Flag Means Death will want to check it out. (June)
From the Publisher
"Come for the irrepressible gremlin of a narrator, stay for the plot-relevant cake competitions! A whip-smart, hilarious and exuberant high seas romp."—Freya Marske, Sunday Times bestselling author of A Marvellous Light
"Rowland’s latest standalone journey into their Chantiverse (A Choir of Lies, 2019) is a delightful romp. Fans of Our Flag Means Death are going to flock to this hilarious and unabashedly queer pirate adventure."—Booklist, starred review
"Alexandra Rowland has written the ideal antidote to the past indeterminate number of awful years, as well as a cure for the Our Flag Meets Death hiatus."—LitHub
"Humorous. . . . The characters and the world they inhabit are developed in striking detail. . . . Fans of Our Flag Means Death will want to check it out."—Publishers Weekly
"Simply a masterpiece. Uproariously funny, exquisitely witty, brimming with buckling of swashes and scuttling of butts, an adventure tale peppered with heartfelt moments and the power of friendship like so much grapeshot. Put me in a rowboat and tow me behind the ship if I tell a lie."—Premee Mohamed, Nebula Award-winning author of Beneath the Rising
"I’ve never fallen so instantly in love with a story as with Running Close To The Wind by the inimitable Alexandra Rowland. Incredible fun, endearing characters, and a beautiful message wrapped in a sea-serpent bow."—Seth Haddon, author of Reborn
Praise for A Taste of Gold and Iron
"This slow-burn romantic fantasy with a heavy dose of political intrigue is rich in world-building and emotional angst.... A queernormative fantasy world."—Buzzfeed
“A delicious tangle of romance, fealty, and dangerous politics.”—Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne
"Sexual tension overload! One of my favorite reads of the year."—Katee Robert, USA Today and New York Times bestselling author
“I highly recommend this one to all adult fantasy-romance readers! With brilliant anxiety representation and a cool magic system, A Taste of Gold and Iron is one to remember.” —Tricia Levenseller, New York Times bestselling author of Blade of Secrets
“I loved spending time with Kadou. A Taste of Gold and Iron is a beautiful love story with a warm, genuine, and hugely relatable portrayal of living with anxiety at its center, and I rooted for the main character all the way.”—Everina Maxwell, author of Winter's Orbit
“Witty, clever, and often extremely funny, Rowland’s tale of a prince who doesn’t want power but has it anyway—and must survive all the risks that brings with it—somehow manages to be both soft and hard-edged, clever and kind. And sexy! Very much that too.”—Jenn Lyons, author of The Ruin of Kings
“A Taste of Gold and Iron is a slow-burn romance flush with sexy, complicated relationships and founded on the ethics of duty and love. As indulgent and satisfying as your favorite fanfiction.”—Tessa Gratton, author of The Queens of Innis Lear
“Rowland delivers a breathtakingly intimate narrative in this gorgeous fantasy, in which the political intrigue of a kingdom serves as backdrop to a romance between the softest of hearts. . . . In exploring what monarchs owe their people, and what individuals owe each other, this achingly tender fantasy wows.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A beautifully detailed world, the power to touch-taste metal, political schemes, and a slow-burn romance wrap together in a lush fantasy. Rowland's latest continues to showcase their captivating prose, immersive details, and complicated characters."—Library Journal (starred review)
“The matriarchal defaults and three-gender system present in Arasti society place the novel squarely among the ranks of contemporary queer fantasy... An engaging fantasy/romance set in a large, lush, and inclusive world.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Drama, intense politics, and sexual tension . . . . Witty . . . While it is a romantic fantasy novel, it’s also a political thriller, heist, and family saga at once. More importantly, as with any good romantic novel, I was shaking the book asking when the characters would kiss already. It was well worth the wait when they finally did.”—Locus
“The politics and ethics of power and fealty are a big theme in this book and the Kadou/Evemer dynamic hinges less on class than oaths, obedience and a hair washing scene that would make Charles Boyle sweat.”—Geeky Inc
“Kadou's coping with anxiety and personal growth are a joy to watch as he fully embraces his talents and comes out of his shell with the help of Evemer, his bodyguard. The slow-burn romance between them is beautifully done and adds a thrilling element to the story that readers will savor.”—Booklist
“For readers who enjoy forced proximity and bodyguard romances, A Taste of Gold and Iron offers both, wrapped in a delightful package of espionage and royal duty.... Rowland also impresses in their nuanced depiction of anxiety.”—Bookpage
"Strikes the perfect balance of political intrigue and romance. . . . A beautiful, compelling navigation of power and consent, loyalty and love, trust and hope.”—Shelf Awareness
"There is action and danger to provide thrills, and a hilariously witty secondary character. But it is the aching and longing that makes Rowland’s stunning queer romance so memorable."—The Philadelphia Inquirer
Library Journal
04/01/2024
Avra Helvaçi is a former Arasti Ministry of Intelligence field agent, tasked with discovering and delivering information all over. Now Avra has accidentally stolen the biggest, most costly secret of his country. No one will believe this was unintentional, so Avra takes to the high seas to escape, landing on the ship of his occasional lover, pirate captain Teveri az-Haffar. Teveri would rather boot Avra back into the sea, but Avra convinces them to go with him to the Isles of Lost Souls, a pirate republic far from his pursuers. There, Avra and Teveri will sell the secret to the highest bidder, profit, and become legends. Will they let pesky government officials, a secretive, sexy, and celibate priest who has joined the pirate ship's crew, or the sea-serpent breeding season get in their way? Maybe. VERDICT Rowland (A Taste of Iron and Gold) dials up the humor, innuendo, and laugh-out-loud escapades in this pirate novel. Fans of the show Our Flag Means Death should definitely take a look.—Kristi Chadwick
