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sophia_sol) wrote2020-04-05 02:16 pm
sophia_sol) wrote2020-04-05 02:16 pm
The Threefold Tie, by Aster Glenn Gray
Historical romance by Aster Glenn Gray! Obviously I was all over it. This is Gray's latest novella, just out a couple days ago. And though it's not based on a fairy tale like the other two of hers I've read, it's historical polyamory!!! Two great tastes that taste great together.
Everett and Jack were army buddies in the civil war and also lovers. Sophie is Everett's wife, post-war! Jack continues to come visit Everett (and Sophie) for a week each June and complicated feelings happen.
Of the three leads, I feel like I understand Everett the least. He's such an extrovert's extrovert. He clearly loves the other two and they him, and he seems to be a good fit for what they need in a relationship, but I didn't find him as directly compelling as the other two. (Meanwhile I found Sophie a delight and at one point in Jack's pov I found myself crying because aspects of him are a little too relatable.)
I liked how we got to see several different kinds of romance arcs at once. Jack/Everett: a second chance between people who have known and loved each other for a long time but hurt each other; Jack/Sophie: a sweet new thing blossoming; Sophie/Everett: two people who just really get each other and are comfortable with each other. All the dimensions of relationships between these three are great and lovely and I had a million feels.
My one complaint about the book is that it felt a little quick for them all to be into the idea of trying out polyamory with each other, after the conversation at the beginning of the book that established various characters as being fairly firmly in the monogamous mindset. But WHATEVER, I get that that particular variety of angst may have been less interesting to focus on, and I loved the other stuff the book did. A very kind-hearted and hopeful book where everybody is doing their best even when things are rough. A good vibe to be reading about right now.
Everett and Jack were army buddies in the civil war and also lovers. Sophie is Everett's wife, post-war! Jack continues to come visit Everett (and Sophie) for a week each June and complicated feelings happen.
Of the three leads, I feel like I understand Everett the least. He's such an extrovert's extrovert. He clearly loves the other two and they him, and he seems to be a good fit for what they need in a relationship, but I didn't find him as directly compelling as the other two. (Meanwhile I found Sophie a delight and at one point in Jack's pov I found myself crying because aspects of him are a little too relatable.)
I liked how we got to see several different kinds of romance arcs at once. Jack/Everett: a second chance between people who have known and loved each other for a long time but hurt each other; Jack/Sophie: a sweet new thing blossoming; Sophie/Everett: two people who just really get each other and are comfortable with each other. All the dimensions of relationships between these three are great and lovely and I had a million feels.
My one complaint about the book is that it felt a little quick for them all to be into the idea of trying out polyamory with each other, after the conversation at the beginning of the book that established various characters as being fairly firmly in the monogamous mindset. But WHATEVER, I get that that particular variety of angst may have been less interesting to focus on, and I loved the other stuff the book did. A very kind-hearted and hopeful book where everybody is doing their best even when things are rough. A good vibe to be reading about right now.
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Oh, that sounds like a really cool aspect!
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♥ ♥ ♥
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