Heavily inspired by BBC's Merlin, this story takes the classic prince and pauper dynamic and makes it gay. Be ready for fluff and a happy ever after!

Okay, so not strictly a pauper. But Col is a sage (a magician) in a country where those abilities are kept a secret. Zaya is the youngest prince of the royal family, a bit of a rogue, who had to grow up fast when his family is murdered by... Well, you'll just have to read it to find out!

From the synopsis I was hoping for some antagonistic banter between the two, forced to work together. Instead, it's more like instalove and just as I was hoping to get some tension between them, it was kissing and declarations of love. In short, this is a fluffy story, a quick read, and I felt the whole thing was over before it really got going.

It's perfect if you want fluff and just enough angsty drama to make it interesting but not keep you up at night. I did shed a year at the end though, so it gets the stamp of emotional approval ❣️

Thanks to @netgalley and #CentralAvenuePublishing for this ARC. The book comes out May 18!

Overall, this was a good fantasy/romance. I enjoyed the twist on magic being derived from plants and that there needs to be a daily cleansing to keep from going insane. However, I think this might’ve been better as two books or a trilogy. Too much was cramped into one novel that the character development, interactions, and world building felt rushed and incomplete. The plot of the story was also generic and predictable. It was a good story, but I would’ve liked more depth for the magic and world..

3.5/5

When an unforeseen tragedy results in the death of his two older siblings, Zaya finds himself elevated from irresponsible young prince, to next in line for the throne. As part of a time honored tradition between the kingdoms heirs and the sages that dwell in the mountains, he must travel to the Heartwood for a month to train. Upon his arrival, Zaya is astonished to learn that the sages are actually magicians, practicing in a kingdom where it has long been forbidden. Being successor to the throne, he is tasked with learning the true history and the responsibility that comes with safeguarding that information. The sages assign him a tutor, Col, a talented sage unusually gifted with magic. Col is one of the few sages who knows that the deaths of Zaya’s siblings was actually regicide at the hands of a brother long believed to be dead. Between the lectures and personal escapades, the two grow closer, unveiling secrets determined to stay buried and an assassin still at large.

Hearing that Sage and King was inspired by BBC Merlin made me even more excited to dive into this fantasy romance. By just the first chapter, with the introduction of a plant based magic system and a complicated murder plot, I was even more intrigued. Ringle has created a world that is completely submersive, with well-thought out characters that move the plot toward its ultimate goal. While this is a book that is heavier on the side of romance, there is definitely enough going on in the background that keeps it grounded, while bringing something to the table for just about any fantasy reader. For me, the unknown assassin part of the plot was by far the most interesting. Complex sibling relationships never fail to hold my attention, and the one between Orzei and Zaya did exactly that. Though at times it was overshadowed by the main relationship conflict, there was enough of an exposition to satisfy me by the end. What few complaints I have about this are mostly related to the length of the novel. I really thought it should have been longer than it actually was in order to draw out the conflict and sharpen the development of the romantic relationship between Zaya and Col. It resulted in a bit of a pacing issue towards the final quarter of the story that would have likely been fixed had the book gone on for a little bit longer. Though that’s not to say that the ending was not to my liking. Besides that, this really is a wholesome sweet romance that is sure to make anyone looking to read more LGBTQ+ fantasy satisfied. The vibe is absolutely on par with what the author was going for in having BBC Merlin as the source of inspiration for the novel. Something that will certainly gratify readers reading for that aspect.

Trigger warnings: drowning, murder, death

Sage and King by Molly Ringle: With no responsibilities and free to indulge in late night socialising and the theatre, Zaya enjoys being the youngest Prince. But when his older siblings fall victim to an attack, Zaya is the sole surviving member of the Royal family, thrusting him into the position of King.

Years ago, Zaya’s brother was cursed with magic and died tragically. As a result, Zaya firmly supports his Kingdom’s magic ban. However, unknown Zaya, Hartwood secretly trains sages in magic. When Zaya visits Hartwood, Col, a powerful and talented sage, is assigned as his tutor. The council’s hope is that an attraction will develop between the two young men, helping to change the King’s perspective on magic.

Meanwhile, the killer makes threatening demands. The council knows who the deadly individual is, but order Col to keep it a secret from the King.

Mild spoilers ahead:
It is great to read a fantasy-based M/M romance involving the main protagonist. The continued growth of LGBT+ novels is definitely both welcome and needed.
The romance in this novel is in some ways rushed. It doesn’t take long to go from tentative kissing to sexual experiences.
I also feel Zaya was very easily swayed from dead set against magic to accepting it. This ease in which he is swayed from one point of view to another follows him through the novel.
On the other hand, the magic system was well thought out, including pros and cons. It also covers different Kingdoms having different perspectives and even touches on how religion impacts beliefs.
Although much of the plot is easy to foresee, Sage and King does flow across the pages. If you are looking for twists and turns with complicated plot lines you will likely be disappointed. However, if you want an easy to read royal romance with magic, this could be the perfect novel for you. Release date: 18th May 2021.

3.5/5 🌟

Thank you to Netgalley, Central Avenue Publishing and Molly Ringle for the opportunity to read Sage and King in exchange for my impartial review. All opinions stated above are my own.

First things first, I absolutely love Molly Ringle's books! I was so excited to get a chance to read this one early. Sage and King was loosely inspired by King Arthur and Merlin, which, if I hadn't already been desperate to read it, would have convinced me to pick it up. The story is set in a magical world, in the country of Lushrain. I really love the way Molly Ringle creates new worlds. I loved Eidolonia in Lava Red Feather Blue, and I love Lushrain.

In Lushrain, magic is forbidden, but the crowning of a new king means that there's the chance to change the rules. We meet Zaya, the irresponsible young prince who is unexpectedly crowned king, Col, his tutor, a young sage with strong magical powers, and Orzei, the villain of the story, a character who is both mysterious and interesting. Zaya and Col need to work together to navigate politics, magic, and the threat of Orzei, but secrets and lies threaten to get in the way of their budding relationship.

Something I love about Molly Ringle's books is that queer people get to just exist. The main characters are queer, but there are also side characters that are queer as well, and it's done so casually. These characters get to exist and live and love and as a queer person that's something that's just really nice to see.

I adore Zaya and Col. I really like the 'I don't know if I like you yet but damn you're attractive' trope. (Is that a trope? I don't know but I like it). I really enjoyed seeing them get to know each other, and the slow growth of understanding and acceptance between them. Also the flirting. The flirting!! This is definitely a pairing that will be living in my mind for a long time, I can tell. But as well as the romance, I also really liked the friendships, especially the one between Col and Trivin.

And then there's Heartwood, home of the sages. Oh my goodness. This place is magical. The descriptions are so vivid. Also, I want to visit the Heartwood library because it sounds wonderful. I really love the system of magic as well. The way that it works through plants is so unique, and really clever.

I adored this book. It's definitely going on my reread list. When everything goes down, oh my heart. I was on tenterhooks because I cared so much about the characters. I admit, I cried a little, and I don't usually get *that* emotional over books.

Please read this book when it comes out, I need people to talk to about it!

Overall I really enjoyed this book! I was in a bit of a reading slump when starting it, but the last half of the book totally flew by! Col and Zaya had such an interesting and cute progression of their relationship. The world building was really interesting and despite it being a novella, I felt like I really understood the setting and the magic system. The villain was interesting and the side characters interacted with the protagonists in very different ways, so they were all clearly distinguishable from one another. It dragged a bit at times but it was a captivating and sweet story. Definitely planning on keeping an eye on Ringle’s future works!

After prince Zaya's older siblings are killed by a magician, he has to deal with an unexpected accession to the throne, and the end of many of the freedoms that he has enjoyed as the irresponsible youngest prince. Part of his training sees him sent to Heartwood — home of the wise sages — only to learn that the sages are magic folk in a kingdom where magic has long been illegal to practise. Col, a young sage, is assigned to be his tutor as he learns the history and abilities of sages, and before long romance blooms between the two men.

As someone who often struggles to get into fantasy, I'll start by saying that this was very easy to read. The world building was really nicely done, with great descriptions making it very accessible. I devoured the first half of the book in a fairly short time, where the reader learns along with Zaya about the secrets of the sages and the lore of magic in this world. The fact that magic comes from plants was a really nice touch — with the magical properties of many different plants, both fictional and real-world based species, explored nicely. (The magic of real-world plants was based on traditional medicine and witchcraft practices, which helped make the fantasy world feel familiar).

While set in a fantasy world, this book is more of a romance. Unfortunately, this is where the book started to fall a little flat for me. The chemistry between Zaya and Col never really built for me — it was a case of being told rather than shown any reasoning. The issue of being told and not shown was also apparent in some other character work in the book too. Sadly this was mostly just a case of slightly inelegant writing.

The author has said that this book was inspired by BBC's Merlin, and although I've never watched a single episode of the show, it did feel strongly at times that this was just a fanfic with the names switched out. I have nothing against fanfic being turned into original stories (and I know I've read a few excellent published novels that have started out life that way!), however this one did lack the feeling of originality — or more importantly, characterisation for readers that aren't viewing these characters as familiar figures from a TV show — that is needed to make that jump into an original piece of work. The romance story in particular felt at times that it had never developed past the fanfic stage.

There were some great ideas in the story and I'd love to explore other narratives within the world that was built so well. It's a decent effort, but sadly lacked the polish to make me really love it.

Zaya never thought that he would be king because he was too far down the line of succession. Turns out, when your entire family is murdered that you can rather suddenly find out you are King of Lushrain. Still struggling with grief and the fact that his entire life is changing, Zaya finds himself embedded in the rules, responsibilities, and secrets that come with the throne. Not only is there an assassin that clearly wants all the royals dead, but Zaya's life also isn't at all what it would have been.

The throne brings with it the secrets of royalty and one of them is all about ... magic.

Zaya is sent to Heartwood to learn from Sage's and he is shocked to find out that he must learn about magic. Magic... that is forbidden in Lushrain. Magic ... that has always existed in spite of the fact that Zaya didn't know ... the same magic drove his older brother mad and made him violent and frightening before he died.

At first, Zaya is angry but his assigned "teacher" Col wears him down. Col is young, charming, and an unusually powerful sage. Zaya wants nothing to do with magic at first. He has had his distrust of magic drilled into him from a young age...he can't help remembering what little he knows about his brother's descent into madness.

I was fascinated by Molly Ringle's account of magic in the world of this novel. The fact that magic is drawn up from the growing things. I really enjoyed the descriptions of magic...both good and evil and how the powers could be used. There are some frightening scenes in this story when the assassin uses plants and trees to capture and injure people - marvelously creative and frightening at the same time. I loved the way that the author captures the power of a malicious sage and the terror he could bring simply by existing. It's very reminiscent of the feelings we are all dealing with at the moment as we face a global pandemic we have very little control over.

This book is a bit of "Romeo and Juliet" spiced up by the imagination and lovely writing style of Molly Ringle. Col and Zaya are lovely characters. Col is feisty and outspoken and still gentle and measured. Zaya is a very free spirit who has been confined by his role as King...his spirit is struggling to be released! When these two characters meet, the fireworks begin.

Definitely on my faves of the year so far! Can't wait, as always, to read more by Molly.

I don't know where to begin; I simply loved this book. I couldn't put it down, and about halfway through became sad that I was reading an ARC and thus couldn't go to Twitter and look for others yelling about how much they love Zaya and Col.

The story is magnificent and really draws you in. Even when I could predict parts of where it was going, it still managed to surprise me with its intensity, some significant turn, or its resolution.

I really appreciate the small political aspects of the book, especially seeing Zaya learn more about how the world works, and realize laws need to be changed to help people. I also appreciate that it's not easy, even for him--he recognizes that changing the way things have been run for hundreds of years will be difficult. But still, it feels hopeful in a refreshing way.

Other small details I loved: one of the main characters is bi/pan, and just this world's general stance on queer relationships was refreshing without being wildly unrealistic. Also, the cover is absolutely gorgeous; I thought so at first glance, but now that I've looked at a bigger version more closely, I'm just in love with it.

I would recommend this book to anyone, not just because it's good and I think they'd enjoy it, but also because I want others to talk about it with! This book deserves a whole community of readers making fanart and discussing what the rest of this world could hold (as well as getting excited about the romance aspect, because wow I know I did).

Thank you to NetGalley and Central Avenue Publishing for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Molly Ringle demonstrates a mastery of prose in this short novella. The world is vaguely Arthurian and slightly Tolkien-esque, and yet entirely its own. The writing style is simple and to the point, but not for lack of character or mastery of language. The setting is lush and complex, with characters delicately interacting in a complex world.

The two main characters, Zaya and Col, were both in their mid twenties, and both were solidly queer characters. I don't usually read MLM pairings, simply because I've found that they are often written poorly, but I am so pleased to say that this was not the case with Sage and King. These two characters and their romance between them was so artfully crafted, and it was a genuine pleasure to read. LGBTQ+ representation is so important, but it is also so important for representation to feel natural--not forced. Sage and King does a fantastic job of including representation, but never once did it feel forced. It was simply there because it should be, and I loved that.

While the plot itself was somewhat predictable, this doesn't take away from the overall enjoyment of the book. It was a lush, alluring magical fantasy, and I would highly recommend this to fans of BBC's Merlin, Tolkien and Arthurian Legend.

What a tender, sweet and magical romance! I absolutely adored this book! The characters are so likeable that I even found myself rooting for the villain for a good percentage of the story. That’s just how real and fleshed out these characters are! Also, their world is well built without being bogged down and slowing the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will re-read it again!

This is a must-read for fans of BBC’s Merlin. All the ships are sailing in this story and I am here for it! Really, though, anyone who enjoys fantasy, m/m romance will fall in love with this novel.

I received an ARC from Netgalley and Central Avenue Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

- super quick read, only about 200 pages
- m/m romance
- immediately invested in the story
- magic and secrets
- multiple pov
- rooting for col and zaya from the beginning
- mentioned sweet potato rolls which is my fave sushi (yes im lame but they are so gooood)
- pretty predictable but a great quick romantic fantasy

3.5 stars

Sage and King follows Zaya, a playboy prince who is thrust into becoming king after his family is murdered by an evil sorcerer. Once he becomes king he has to travel to the heartwood on a pilgrimage, which every new monarch must complete to learn it's secrets. Once he arrives he meets Col, a powerful sage who has to teach him about the secrets of magic, however Zaya has been taught all his life magic is evil.

I really enjoyed this novel, I thought the exploration of how magic is not inherently evil rather it is how the person who chooses to practice it that determines how it is used and for what purpose - this was an interesting dicussion to have. Additionally prejudice against magic users is rampant in the kingdom, and the sages of the heartwood want to try and dismantle this by persuading the new king to their side. I really liked how everything came to a climax and the hopeful message the book ended on.

I really liked both our main characters, Col was such a sweetheart and very adorkable, and his patience with dismantling Zaya's hatred of magic really showed his resilience of character. The romance between them was really sweet, I liked the angst and the reluctant allies to friends to lovers dynamic. I would probably have liked a bit more development in the relationship, I think this reflects the length (see below) and not having time to have more scenes together - but what we got was really good!!

My main criticism was the length, I thought this was a lot shorter than it could have been and therefore it felt like things happened very quickly and there was not enough time spent with the characters and exploring their relationships - especailly all the side relationships, some of which were very promising. I especially would have liked more exploration of the relationship between Zaya and his brother Orzei, who is the main villain of the book - I love fraught sibling dynamics and I though Orzei had a lot of potential for a very interesting backstory and descent arc, and while we got a bit of that I would have loved more!

I also really liked the magic, based around plants and different plants giving different powers based on their properties. I also thought the idea of dill being a magical viagara was so funny haha. The whole book really appealed to my little plant loving gay heart.

In conclusion a really fun, quick fantasy romance inspired by arthur/merlin from the Merlin tv show (according to the author) set in a world with plant magic and a great foresty backdrop.

When the royal party is killed in an 'accident' Zaya the youngest prince, who loves his life of no true responsibility, suddenly becomes King of Lushrain. There is a secret tradition whereas the new ruler must train in magic at Heartwood, even though it's illegal. There he meets his sage tutor, Col. As Col and Zaya grow close, he learns it was actually an assassination, the assassin might be after him too, and the sages may know more than they are letting on.

This book seizes your attention and tickles your imagination from the very beginning. Picturesque descriptions embellish the exquisite worldbuilding. There is always an abundance of charm in Ringle's tales, in the storytelling, and of course the characters shine with it.

With an antagonistic relationship to begin with, Zaya hating magic and Col having to teach him, their budding feelings clash with that, and it's such a pleasure to read. You can't help but wholeheartedly root for the couple-to-be.

The author seems to enjoy writing fish out of water situations for her protagonists and excels at it. I adore her humor, finding myself chuckling, even laughing out loud in parts. Inviting, comfortable prose with characters you can't help but fall in love with.

Cultivating a healthy respect for nature with the sages and their magic, this story presents an intelligent character evolution and is an envoy for showing humanity. Emphasizes how educating people is a good way to help solve prejudice.

The intrigue with the assassin could have been fleshed out more evenly in the book, and I do wish there had been even more of this wondrous magic system and people's reaction to it and its legality. These are minor gripes though and might be me wanting more of this feel-good, engaging fantasy and spicy caliente queer romance.

With its heart-jolting, tear-worthy finale, I finished this book with a big smile on my face and was realized again why Molly Ringle has become one of my new fave authors.

If you want to get lost in a wholesome plot, an interesting magic system and a sweet LGBT+ romance, pick up a book by Molly Ringle. I love her previous novel, Lava Red Feather Blue, and this novella is just as fun and fantastical.

True to its name, Sage and King follows the journey of new king Zaya (thrust into the throne by the sudden death of his sister and brother-in-law) and his initially reluctant new sage, Col (the most powerful magician in a kingdom that outlaws magic). Both characters are flawed and hurting, set on opposite sides of a generations-old political divide. But as they grow to know each other on a deeper level, they might just be the very ones to set real change in motion. And just in time too, because a magic-crazed killer is striking very close to home.

I love how magic works in this fantasy world. Magicians take the natural properties of plants and amplify them to create exaggerated effects such as mood changes, physical healing and transformations. A system like that makes the spells almost believable, and really draws you in.

Also, the world building is subtle and second to the story. You learn about the world through the characters and the events that affect them, so there's not too much explaining or exaggerated exposition, and I really like that. It also gives you more space to get to know the characters, which I feel is apt for a novella, when the falling in love process needs to happen quite quickly.

Really recommend this one to anyone looking for a lighthearted adventure tale you can read in a couple of days.

Thank you to Netgalley, Molly Ringle and Central Avenue Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the sweetest, nicest, romance with magic book I've read so far. The characters are so likeable, I even found myself liking and rooting for the villains at times. Their world is well built and I appreciated the author's ease in telling and describing everything without spending too much time on one subject. The whole storyline is clear and consistent and it was with such ease that I was able to just sit down and read it, put it down and then pick it it again and all the characters come to life again. I loved this book so much and will re-read again.

I grinned the entire way through this book, it was so wholesome and made my heart swell. Such a cute love story (and rather tastefully steamy!).

This is a cuddle-in book form, if you need me I will just be reading it again! Would wholeheartedly recommend Sage and King,

Holy crap, this is one of my favorite reads of 2021 so far.

I felt so invested in this world and these characters. From the setting, atmosphere, dialogue... everything felt so realized and as if I were right there with Zaya.

Also, this book is so queer and it makes my heart scream with joy.

I hope there are more books in this world.

This book was apparently inspired by the relationship between Arthur and Merlin on the BBC television show. I will be blunt and say I don't usually read MM romance but I thought the synopsis sounded interesting so dove in.
Zaya is what many would consider to be a play boy Prince and as third in line to the throne lives his life his way. When his sister and brother are murdered poor Zaya is suddenly no longer the "spare" but the actual King ! Unknown to Zaya magic is widely practiced albeit secretly in his kingdom and he's about to get a crash course from his new advisor Col.
This was incredibly easy to read and the time just sped past. I found both main characters to be very likeable although it's obvious that Col is not as worldly wise or experienced as Zaya. However Col didn't feel weak in any way just perhaps a little overwhelmed by his feelings at times. There isn't an awful lot here about the villain although his motivations are explained and yes he's done heinous crimes but I did feel a small amount of sympathy for the situation. The magic in play here was absolutely fabulous and I really enjoyed what the author came up with. This is a romance so do expect something a little stronger than mere hand holding and kissing ! Yes I thoroughly enjoyed this and would definitely read more from this new to me author.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review!

In this book, Molly Ringle presents a beautifully crafted fantasy world with lovable protagonists, good world-building, and delightfully casually queer characters.

I have previously complimented Ringle's writing style and the natural flow of background information throughout the book, and I have to praise this book for having the same quality. I often find fantasy books a bit tedious with the abundance of details, and I even get mixed up with character names at times, but I never once had this issue with Sage and King or Lava Red Feather Blue. As a non-native English speaker, I truly appreciate books that don't give me terse paragraphs or overly complicated descriptions to wade through. Sage and King manages to build up a beautiful world, and teach about its history and its characters while maintaining a lovely, flowing writing style. At no point did the information presented feel out of place/confusing, and we also see more of the main characters' shift in dynamic while learning about this magical world. The writing style is often the first thing I make note of when reading, and we all know that easy reading is damn hard writing so I must applaud Molly Ringle for delivering on that front.

Sage and King is (by the author's description) a book inspired by Merthur but is not Arthurian. Despite the book drawing inspiration from Merthur, and presenting a dynamic similar to the well-loved Arthur/Merlin, the main characters of the book are their own people with their own traits and personalities. I found Zaya endearing and thoughtful, and felt for him even when he made misguided decisions out of anger. The baseline for Zaya's character is a kindness that shines even when he's put in bad situations and I found myself thinking that this is probably what "chivalrous" actually means. This trait gives his and Col's dynamic an even more interesting spin due to the events of the books, and the information that we as readers are privy to -but Zaya is not (watch me try to word this well without spoiling anything). I enjoyed the budding relationship between Col and Zaya, and the underlying tension that came with Col's chapters while Zaya remained oblivious. Overall, I enjoyed these characters together and I enjoyed their relationships with other characters in the book. In fact, I really wanted to see more of Zaya and Del's friendship!

Another point to bring up is the characters' age. Zaya and Col are both in their mid/late twenties, and I honestly adore having queer characters my own age in a fantasy setting. Oftentimes queer novels are either set up with far younger characters in coming-of-age stories, or with older character destined for trauma and tragedy. Therefore it was lovely to have queer main characters in their mid/late twenties in a novel combining fantasy and romance.

Furthermore -and yes this needed its own paragraph- I also really loved all the talk about plant magic. I pride myself on knowing a lot about plants due to my heritage, so it was particularly fun to see what type of magic each plant got assigned and how it was used by Col and the other magicians. I would honestly read a novella just about Col living his every day life in this world. No plot required.

A final thought is that this book doesn't waste any time on homophobia within its fantasy world. In fact, Sage and King features a bisexual MC, a gay MC, and casual mentions of queer relationships and nonbinary people -which is a refreshing, welcome change from fantasy books that still use homophobia to push the plot. Overall, the book is a fun, light read and a lovely escape from reality for a few hours. The plot is well set up and easy to follow and the world-building is fantastic.

I highly recommend that you buy this book if you're looking for something well written, romantic, and has lovely high fantasy elements.