About ‘Those Who Follow’ by Kael Platt:
Genre: High Fantasy; Erotic Romance; Action/Adventure; LGBTQ
Triggers: dubious consent, rape, domestic abuse, PTSD
Follow the adventures of Garrick Creed as an illustrious king from an ethereal plane drags the assassin and his inner most circle into scandal, political downfall, and biding revenge.
Once a rural commoner in the nation of Quaine, Garrick finds himself entangled in lust and war as he stands between both sides:
His dearest friends and the illusive manager of their murderous guild, or his growing fever for King Azarin Mael’cron.
Battling the ghosts of his past, Garrick perseveres through assaults of both the mind and body as he comes face to face with the demon hunters that seek the curious demon king and the reckless turmoil left in the wake of his anxieties thought to be left behind.
A tale of passion, greed, and redemption awaits.
The plot of ‘Those Who Follow’ is a treacherous one, filled with secrets, trauma, and complicated love. In order to seek a better life for himself, Garrick escaped his homeland with the help of villains who inflicted severe abuse upon him and now haunt the assassin’s every night. In his more recent years, Garrick developed feelings for the demon-king Azarin, though their relationship remains largely sexual up until the present, their combined fear inhibiting them from becoming more emotionally intimate.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching their love grow, their walls come down, and stayed on the edge of my seat while mysteries surrounding the affair were gradually revealed. That said, even by the end of the story, there were still some barriers in place, some distance still kept between them. As I screamed inside my head at the pages, wanting them to iron everything out before there were no words left to read, their situation was realistically complicated…meaning were I in either’s shoes, I also would be unsure about what to do and how I felt.
This romantic part of the story is one of two major plot lines. The other is the intricate web of hidden agendas, namely where it entails the desire for King Azarin’s death. Of course the latter only adds more tension upon the first. It feels like (or outright says) everyone is hiding something, with reasons varying from distrust to a belief they are protecting their loved ones.
Despite knowing more collectively than any of the characters do individually, the reader is still left suspecting everyone and wondering what is really going on behind the scenes. Who is really what they say? Who is actually in danger? It was absolutely nail biting.
Platt has crafted an intense experience with a rich fantasy world full of culture and history, realistic in its conflicts both outward and inner. It was so easy to become immersed in the world and get attached to (or angry at) the characters. Everything was so wonderfully fleshed out, including the grammar and writing style. Alongside the evolution of Garrick’s and Azarain’s relationship over the course of the story, I particularly appreciated the aspect regarding Garrick’s PTSD.
It was not directly stated to be PTSD, but any sufferer of trauma would be able to see it, especially in the later pages when he is forced to face his abusers and past. As a PTSD patient myself, I found it not only heartfelt and cathartic, but incredibly realistic. Platt gradually increased the amount of behavioral clues and information to reveal Garick’s mental status as he mustered up the courage to be more truthful with his lover, and ultimately begin to confront his damage.
Another thing I appreciated was the tenderness in characters who would otherwise be described as tough and gritty. Garrick, the assassin for hire; Maeve, the experienced thief handing out hits; Azarin, the powerful king and professed sole demon of the realm… For each, we see their strength, yet also their softness. Garrick may be deadly when it comes to his job and be able use his inner anger on those who would hurt his heart or loved ones, but he also often finds himself cowering to those around him in his social life, taking beatings (physical, verbal, and emotional) due to the trauma that has settled his mind into the vulnerable, awkward underdog. Meanwhile, Azarin is a pillar of power both physical and authoritative, yet is sensitive to affairs of the heart, including sexual submission to his lover.
Platt has written several dualities that I don’t see often or at all in fiction. Along with the unique world he has crafted, this makes for an enthralling and fresh read. I must also praise his creativity, especially in regards to King Azarin’s interesting anatomy seen in one of many steamy scenes. As well, bonus points for two of my favorite things: demons and casual queerness (queerness that is readily accepted by the book’s world and written in a way that is natural and relevant).
You can find Kael Platt on:
Facebook
Amazon
Goodreads
((Review submitted to Amazon and Goodreads))
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~Sahreth ‘Baphy’ Bowden
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