Book Review: Sacrati by Kate Sherwood

Reviewed by Susan65

Title: Sacrati
Author: Kate Sherwood
Heroes: Theos/Finnvid
Genre: MM Historical Fantasy
Length: 407 Pages
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Release Date: May 2, 2015
Available at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: As an elite Sacrati fighter in the mighty Torian military, Theos is blessed with a city full of women who want to bear his children, and a barracks full of men proud to fight at his side and share his bed. He has everything he needs—until he captures Finnvid on a raid.

Finnvid is on a secret mission to prevent the Torian invasion of his homeland Elkat. Being enslaved by Torian soldiers wasn’t in his plans. Neither is his horrified fascination with the casual promiscuity of the Sacrati warriors. Men should not lie with other men—and he should not be so intrigued when they do. He definitely should not be most intrigued by the leader of the soldiers who captured him and plan to invade his home.

For Theos, everything would have been easier if the infuriating, lying, bewildering Elkati had never come into his life, but he can’t stay away. When betrayal and treachery threaten both their nations, they must work together to stop a war that could destroy their homes forever—even as they begin to question everything they’re fighting for.

Review:  This story is amazing. Nothing is sugar coated and glossed over. Nothing is alluded to, and everything felt so authentic that I could nearly hear, smell, and taste every little experience that happened during this medieval style time period. It was harsh, raw, and amazing. Both the people, the villages, the marches through the woods, the visit to the cities for some fun debaucherous activities, and the free for all sexfest with the other soldiers. It wasn’t perverted or kinky, it was just the way things were…it was natural for the times.

Well, natural for the Torians, maybe, and especially the elite soldiers, the Sacrati, but definitely not natural for the Elkati. Theos is a leader among men and women. He is Torian, but more so, he is Sacrati. He is naturally charismatic and braver than most. He is a fighter and a fucker. He lives for those two things, not because he is cold-hearted, but because that is what the Torian males are raised to do. Theos is the best of the best and he will knock you on your ass just as quickly as he will fuck you in it.

Finnvid is not Torian, he is not a soldier, and he is definitely not a slave to be treated so harshly. But when he is captured by the Sacrati, his world is turned upside down. Men fucking men is so not what his civilized world is about and he struggles more with those unnatural acts then the fact that he is being forced to do their laundry. But no matter how much Finnvid tries to look away, there is one man who he so drawn to that he is willing to bend a few rules.

Theos and Finnvid’s story is not your typical romance. It takes nearly the entire book before I was even convinced that they could find a way to make it work. These two both have their individual belief systems, cultural differences, and their families to deal with before they can even consider a possibility of happily ever after. And at the same time, there is deception within the military ranks and civil war is on the horizon. Theos and Finnvid have to survive first.

Kate Sherwood stepped outside the norm with this story and did an incredible job with characterization and world building. I was enthralled and captivated by the detail and descriptions; I could easily visualize their world, both inside the villages and on the marches, and especially inside the snow dens. This is a complete story from start to finish and I loved it.

Overall Impression:  I loved it

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review.*