The Complete Horse Mistress Collection (The Eburosi Chronicles #1-4.1)

3.5 to 4 stars

This was an interesting read. The series kind of breaks the mold. It is a medieval/Bronze Age style fantasy series that uses that medium to explore some pretty unique topics for a romance.

Carivel (Cara) is the MC – a woman who ran from her village because she desperately wanted to work with the horses and women were not allowed to do that. She identifies herself as a man (I guess the medieval equivalent of someone that would today become transgendered). She is disguised in her new village as a boy and is the assistant to the Horse Master, hiding that she is a woman, and trying not to show her attraction to two men in the village.

Senovo is one of the two love interests. He is a eunuch priest who was made so without his consent. He also happens to be a wolf shifter, though he keeps that a closely guarded secret and is desperately ashamed of being one. He does his best to keep his wolf locked away.

Andoc is the second love interest. He is the second-in-command to the village chief. He is also in love with Senovo and they have a rather clandestine relationship (well, the village sort of knows about it, but no one talks about it).

When their village is attacked, Cara is injured, but Senovo saves her life in his wolf form. It is the first she learns of their relationship and Senovo’s wolf form; and the first they learn of her being female. These secrets bring the three of them together.

The Horse Master Cara has been apprenticing under is killed in the same attack, and Cara is appointed as his replacement (Horse Master – no one knows she is female still).

The story proceeds from there and explores not only issues of gender identity and dysphoria, but also same sex and bisexual relationships. It also explores the impact of the loss of one’s sexual organs. The fantasy/paranormal story itself is very well done. The characters are well-drawn and easy to emotionally engage with (even for someone like me that does not personally identify with the more unusual themes explored). The plot is well-paced and quite engaging. I couldn’t put it down. (In fact, I intend next to read The Lion Mistress, a spin off series by the same author that sounds like a slightly more traditional paranormal RH/menage.)

I will say that all of these issues are handled extremely well, with sensitive, sensual and emotional sex scenes amongst all three parties (all three together, or in varying combinations). And Andoc is a sensitively drawn Alpha male. So there is a little bit of everything here (except for vaginal penetration, there is none of that in this series at all).

The only thing I was missing was a true female character (since that is what I am looking for and identify with the most). I personally found myself wishing she would allow more traditional intercourse. But that was just a personal issue, not an issue with the series and how it was written.

If none of these thematic issues bother you, this would be a very interesting and different read. I recommend it.

Note: This is not your typical paranormal romance, but I did not have a category that fit exactly, and I didn’t want to make a new one just for this series. I would call this fantasy/paranormal menage (with only two love interests, it is not RH, and it is only barely paranormal, really more fantasy oriented, though there are werewolves).

Warnings: There is graphic sex here of multiple varieties (MM as well as MF and MMF and MFM, and anal sex). It is sensitively done, but if that is not your thing, steer clear.

RA Steffan has done it again! She is a brilliant writer! I am more sure than ever that this is the way the world should be. Most men shouldn’t be left alone and don’t do well by themselves. Having two men (or more) to take care of everything would make life move along so much smoother and would end up a good thing for everyone. By the end of this book set, I was so happy that they’d all found each other and were accepted by their community. It’s too bad the world today refuses to do the same….what would it hurt to let people love who they love? It would certainly help those good Christian folk stop having to sneak around like it was wrong….oops, did I let my non-Christianity-slip show?

This was a total surprise. I received this entire series through other authors and what a gift. I do like menage stories but this one blew me away. It was so different from anything I had ever read before and the detail of their mindsets, their feelings and their outlook on life was so unique. First of all it takes place in a time long ago. (I must admit I would have liked to know when that actually was but that is not revealed.) Secondly, it focuses on prejudice against; homosexuals, women and anything that is different from the norm. The way it is addressed is really unusual especially for the times that they were in and how backward the society was then. The three of them were way ahead of their time and were extremely brave. I do not want to give too much away because it will spoil the surprise even though other reviewers have done that already. The writing was very expressive and poignant but at times I thought that some of the wording was a little too contemporary. Other than that, I would recommend this book for anyone who is looking for something very different and interesting. Even if you are not into menage, this is a love story not an erotic novel.

A really original premise, strong characters, and best of all strong female characters. In fact, the only thing that would improve it would be if the main three characters had been women, so each reversed (a shape shifting submissive eunuch female? Hmm, a dominant female, and a girl born into the body of a male). I liked the end of the last book as well very muchsatisfying. Edited because I forgot to addit features horses! yes, more horses would be even better!!). 🙂

The Horse Mistress series explores sexuality and sensuality in ways that few have ever thought about. It looks at the depth and meaning of family and familial relationships while weaving in insight, forgiveness, reconciliation and letting go.

These are not easy topics but they are delicately woven through a story based on 3 strong characters, their love for one another and the need to protect their village from invading forces.

This is no hearts and flowers book, and yet it’s one of the most beautifully romantic stories I’ve ever read. Not only does it entertain, but it draws you to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes while giving you some tools to do so.

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