Rating: 4.5🌈

Zone of Action concludes the fantastic story of the evolving relationship between Shiirei General Sho Renjimantoro (now Aart Warder Ren Brahms) and Aart General Arman Brahms.

The story opens with the epilogue from Fourth Point of Contact, which has the men already married, and getting ready for a big wedding celebration at Fort Brahms with family and friends. Until an urgent call comes from the King with another message from the Emperor of Shiirei.

That sees both Ren and Arman sailing back to Ren’s homeland on a mission of international security , one that has both stressed over the threats for war and those of a personal one, as same sex relationships aren’t culturally tolerated within the Shiirei nation.

Sherwood moving the narrative out of the tolerant society of Aart back to the intolerant world of Shiirei adds a great deal of new tension to the storytelling. It sharpens the sense of potential danger for the characters in even the most mundane situations to the benefit of the novel.

Not that there’s many of those. It’s a constant struggle to rebuild a fortress under siege by, at first, an unknown number of enemies who are deliberately targeted the them in their efforts to build.

A number of various countries/kingdoms are involved with this conflict as they don’t want a return to the war they fought. Many of the “countries” Sherwood has created have recognizable counterparts in real life nations today. Whether it’s by names, cultural elements, clothing…I’m sure some of not all will be guessing if it’s a composite or something similar. Either way, I found it a wonderful way to ground each nation in the various characters and cultures.

The POVs have expanded from two to three characters as well. For me, I was divided by this aspect of the story format.

First, I love these characters. All three. The interaction between them was heartwarming and added so much depth to each personally as well as to the whole relationship between the men and then them as a family. Seeing it from each person’s perspective was important for the situation and what it represents for them as a couple. And for this child. So for that reason, yes, I did like the idea and decision to have a 3-person narrative.

However, for me it also took away from the whole storyline. There was so many scenes that were a bit “off page” as far as activity because there just wasn’t enough time to cover it all.

The child herself , Sakura , had a great backstory, and, frankly, frightening current situation that as a reader we were never able to get a good grasp of. All we ever saw or heard of her was when he/she appeared before Arman or Ren. What happened to her in between those occasions was a complete mystery. That’s a shame because when her history becomes known, the tragedy of her life is a narrative goldmine that’s been left behind.

I did love her character, and her interactions with her new family, especially Arman. She’s a gem who had more potential than the length allowed.

The story goes through the events, seeing them through the eyes of each character, which considering we are talking over a year, is sped up considerably. For me it feels just too shortened.

There’s high drama, some political issues and politics that make international relations seem more like modern times than the age reflected by the world there. And , being a tad nit picky, some modern phrases that occasionally sound out of place than in a world where horses and sails are the mainstays of transportation.

But did I love it? Yes, Ren, Arman, and Sakura are a hard family to resist. I adored them going home and the welcome they received.

This wraps up the story for Ren and Arman. Although I can always hope we see them again in the next couple of books to come. That’s O’ Broin’s journey to love and marriage. He’s from another country that came to help Ren and Arman.

It should be quite a tale. I can’t wait. Until then, I’m highly recommending both the novels below, including this one. Read them in the order they were written.

Legends of Lobe den Herren :

✓ Fourth Point of Contact: The Warden and the General #1

✓ Zone of Action #2

Buy Link:

Zone of Action (Legends of Lobe den Herren Book 2)

Blurb:

Ren’s homecoming wishlist includes:

•Arman not bashing everyone’s heads together (at least not without him)

•Getting the fortress built before the Mongs attack (not at the rate they’re going with all the thefts happening)

•Going home without incident (also, again, not likely)

What it did not include was:

•Social reform

•A child

•A raiding party

•Arman actually using his words

Life once again proved reality is better than fantasy, and Ren couldn’t be happier.

Except for the Mongs. He could do without the Mongs.

Tags:

Homecoming, Arman actually uses his words, it’s a miracle, children, homophobic idiots, supportive brother, surprise visits from royalty, Ren would like to point out this was not his idea, words are hard, if you have to build a fortress do it right the first time, Arman promises to not beat the whole country to a pulp for scorning his marriage, maybe, no promises, parenting is hard, someone should have warned Arman, raiding parties are their jam, O’ Broín is a good bro, matchmaking, social change, Arman sucks at giving hints, absolutely no one is surprised by this, fantasy becomes reality.