This sweet love story is perfect for A Song for Achilles lovers. Cae and Vel's story is unexpected but a fascinating exploration of a period romance in a world that welcomed queer romance. Gender exploration and queer love seep from every page.

If you love slow burns in fantasy that also contain politicking, you need this book. I declare Foz Meadows a master at handling difficult topics in a sensitive manner, and this book is a wonderful reminder that healing need not be a solo endeavour.

Foz Meadows’ A Strange and Stubborn Endurance is a beautifully crafted fantasy that combines intricate politics, heartfelt romance, and a deep exploration of identity and healing. With its richly realized world and a deeply personal story at its core, this novel is a triumph of queer representation and nuanced storytelling.

The story begins with Velasin vin Aaro’s forced outing in a society where his preference for men is forbidden. What could have been the end of his future instead becomes the beginning of an unexpected journey, as Vel enters into a political marriage with Caethari Aeduria, a man from a neighboring kingdom where queerness is not only accepted but embraced. Meadows handles the complexities of Vel’s trauma and cultural dissonance with sensitivity and care, creating a protagonist whose struggles and growth feel achingly real.

Caethari, meanwhile, is a beacon of steady warmth and compassion, making him an ideal partner for Vel. Their relationship evolves from cautious trust to genuine affection, with moments of tenderness and vulnerability that are as sweet as they are sultry. Meadows excels at building emotional intimacy, making their slow-burn romance the heart of the story.

The worldbuilding is lush and immersive, with vivid descriptions of the two kingdoms and their cultural differences. The political intrigue is gripping, as Vel and Cae navigate Byzantine alliances, assassination attempts, and a shadowy faction bent on disrupting their union. The tension between personal stakes and larger geopolitical dynamics is expertly balanced, keeping the plot engaging without overshadowing the characters.

What sets this novel apart is its thoughtful exploration of gender, sexuality, and self-worth. Meadows doesn’t shy away from difficult topics, but these moments are handled with care, ensuring that the story remains one of resilience and hope.

A Strange and Stubborn Endurance is a triumph of queer fantasy, offering readers a story that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. It’s a tale of love and healing, of challenging societal norms and finding strength in vulnerability. Fans of The Priory of the Orange Tree or Winter’s Orbit will find much to adore in this tender and richly layered novel. It’s a book that lingers in the heart, long after the final page.

I loved this book - I love this series. I hope we get more of this story because I'm hooked on these characters.

I don't know how to fully describe this book but I loved it so much. TW: rape, sexual assault, suicidal thoughts/attempts. This was a lot and I was not necessarily prepared for so much to happen at the very beginning of the novel but it was handled with such grace and I loved that Foz Meadows gave the MC room to work through the aftermath of these issues and a partner who truly supported him. This was light fantasy - magic only came into play towards the end of the book - but high on romance and political intrigue. Meadow's writing style really appealed to me and I was invested immediately - note to night time readers: do not start this book when you expect to be in bed at a reasonable time. Every time I had to put this down I just keep being antsy for the next moment I could pick up the audiobook and keep listening. Narrators James Fouhey and Vikas Adam were both distinct and engaging and I could listen to them for hours upon hours....which I guess I did since this was an 18 hour audiobook.

I had previously tried to read this back in September/October 2022 but I picked it up at a really stressful time and I thought it just wasn't a book for me, and I only made it in like 5%, so I am so so so glad I gave this another chance! I am dying to get my hands on book two!

Meadows had me absolutely hooked from the first few pages. The writing style is really beautiful, using somewhat formal prose to tell a classic fantasy story of family legacy, honor, and betrayal, centering on two men in an arranged marriage. Velasin and Caethari are very well developed characters, and I’m looking forward to continuing their story in the sequel.
Full review on YouTube.

I loved the book, loved the plot, the world building, etc. I didn’t really enjoy the narrator though. Other than that, I’d recommend it.

i was really excited for this and while i enjoyed the book, the narration left something to be desired.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

I enjoyed the world building in this one. Good characters, some nice political intrigue and romance! Beware of the warnings before reading though. The narrators were good as well!

this fantasy world was something else. I couldn't get enough of it and I never wanted it to end. the ups and downs and world building was like nothing Ive ever read. 100% recommend.

Unfortunately, I lost access to all of my audiobooks when the app updated so I never got to finish this one. I still enjoyed the first half so will probably pick it up from my local library sometime. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I used to read mostly fantasy, but over time I started to switch things up with my reading, and it had been awhile since I picked up this genre until now. A STRANGE AND STUBBORN ENDURANCE is the first book in the Tithenai Chronicles series.

There were many parts of the plot that were so interesting, and I really enjoyed this book. From the magic, mystery, and romance to the political aspects, I was happy to embrace it all.

I listened to the audiobook copy and it was narrated by James Fouhey and Vikas Adam.

*many thanks to Tor and Macmillan Audio for the gifted copy for review

“You must be patient with me, dear Cae, as I learn to inhabit myself.” // “For you, anything.”

The standalone fantasy novel A STRANGE AND STUBBORN ENDURANCE is a delicious tangle of mystery, romance, and healing. I was completely swept up in the story of Velasin and Caethari, two men thrust into a diplomatic marriage who fall in love as they scramble to address the violent fallout from their new alliance. Velasin comes from Ralia, where gender roles are rigid and homophobia is rampant; this book does a beautiful job of showing what it’s like for him to adapt to Caethari’s more progressive Tithena, unraveling the knots of his internalized homophobia and experiencing the joys of loving his husband openly. Velasin is raped by a former partner very early on in the story, and soon after considers killing himself; much of the book is dedicated to his healing from this trauma. It’s heavy, and felt almost sensationalized in some parts, but overall it’s a powerful and transformative narrative. Definitely mind the content warnings and take care of yourself while reading, though. I adored the slow burn romance, by turns tender and sexy, and how Caethari’s consideration and affection was a salve for Velasin’s wounds. They also have a very sweet “why are we like this” energy as they figure out the shape of their relationship. The surrounding plot is a bit light and I kept having the urge to yell at these boys to be even slightly suspicious of the people around them, but honestly the politics are just background for the romance, right? There’s just a smidge of magic, which I wanted to see more of (magical puberty blockers! very cool!). I did really enjoy how the cultural differences between Ralia and Tithena are explored, and how those played into the political intrigue. An excellent book for fans of WINTER’S ORBIT, A MARVELLOUS LIGHT, and A TASTE OF GOLD AND IRON. The audiobook is narrated by James Fouhey and Vikas Adam and their performances are fantastic. Thanks to Tor Books and Macmillan Audio for the review copies!

Content warnings: sexual assault/rape, suicidal ideation, attempted suicide, self-harm, beating, branding, kidnapping, murder, animal death, homophobia/transphobia, misogyny, parental abandonment

I went in knowing essentially nothing about this book, but I loved it! Such a cute mlm love story full of mystery, political intrigue, and a little spice.

Velasin vin Aaro never planned on marrying, especially to a woman from the neighboring country, Tithena, but was willing to do his diplomatic duty to please his father. However, Vel’s preference for men gets revealed and his world starts to crash around him. The Tithenai envoy has other ideas though and Vel makes the journey to his future husband and their political union. An unknown faction emerges to kill this new union and Vel must turn to his newly betrothed, Caethari, to survive.

😲😲🥺😲🥹😲😍 - basically my state of mind while reading this gem of a book not seen on bookstagram enough!

I’m obsessed with Vel and Cae and their love for each other! This book is long, but in the best way possible - I didn’t want the story to end and the writing was superb. Their romance seems like such a slow burn because of the pages you have to read before things heat up between these two, but so much happens within just a few days that it’s not too slow in reality. They’re both kind, caring, thoughtful, and sexy af. Vel has a lot of trauma and Cae was phenomenal at supporting his partner, regardless of their union being forced upon them because of their political positions.

Outside of romance, the other main theme of the book is politics with a sprinkling a magic thrown in. You already know I was going to be obsessed with this book just based on the themes present. Things were intricate and I loved how the investigation unfolded. Gah -what a good book fellow political fantasy lovers will be sure to swoon over!

Please be sure to read the trigger warnings surrounding this book before starting it. I did and was able to prepare myself appropriately.

I LOVED this book, but it's a tough one to recommend. The explicit on page rape is jarring (which I get, that's a horrific thing to go through), but as someone who has been sexually assaulted, I was unprepared for just how explicit the rape would be. Luckily, I was able to read past that to the beautiful story that came after since it's been quite a few years for me. I'll honestly be reluctant to recommend this one to people because you never know who has gone through something like that and how fresh it might be for them. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this book and the care that was taken with trauma following the rape. The romance was sweet and just the right kind of slow burn for this kind of story.

Solid 3.5

Tw: VERY sudden sa, pet death, body mutilation, s* and self harm

I really wanted to love this book for a lot of reasons, but I think it just wasn't for me. I really adored the main characters and see this as a book of healing, but all the TWs would make me pause in the future. The magic system seemed really cool, but there wasn't enough of it in practice. Court intrigue is usually hit or miss for me, and this one had an excellent twist, but I either missed the foreshadowing or it wasn't heavy handed enough. The reveal left something to be desired and I found myself wanting more out of this book than it could give me. The worldbuilding mythology and positioning of the main characters to present it felt well done for the audience, and this is EXACTLY what I want when I say that fantasy could be queerer and weirder.

So, this book actually opens up with a note from the author talking about the content and why it may not be for some readers. I fully appreciated that as the opening scene of this book his hard to stomach. This book fully delves into Rape Trauma Syndrome, a form of PTSD. It takes a look at what it's like to live with that but presents a fully healthy partner to help them through it all. I LOVED that.

As for the political intrigue and mystery of this book, much of it gets overshadowed by the relationship and the MCs trauma but a good story does unfold around them. It is all dark and nefarious, so while the relationship does bring a beat of hope to this otherwise bleak tale, it remains a hard hitting, gritty, story from beginning to end.

At first I did find the writing a bit pretentious but looking back, it was likely the characters mental state that brought on the maudlin writing. Now, I see it for what it was and can say, the writing is exceptional.

My only problem with this book is that the ending felt quite rushed and was a bit unbelievable. I do understand how this could have all played out but it was the resolution that really bothered me.

Overall, I'd definitely say it is worth the read, but pay attention to trigger warnings because there are quite a few.

When I started listening, I wasn’t sure if this book was for me. Am I ever glad that I didn’t give up on it!
This book is not for everyone, as the second chapter includes a rape scene. Another trigger includes suicide.
There were many different elements of the story that kept me listening. For one, the narrators did as good job bringing life to the characters. They made me feel like I was a part of the story. The authors story telling and descriptions also helped a great deal.
Velasin was supposed to marry Caethari’s sister, but ends up married to him instead. Velasin is afraid of Caethari’s expectations from marriage because of his experience early on in the book. Caethari proves to be a very lovable character. Velasin’s character opens up as the book progresses and a beautiful relationship begins to form between the two of them. They were so good for each other.
I can’t forget the courtly intrigue that also kept me listening. People are dying - some pretty gruesome deaths actually - and who is responsible? I can’t say that I saw that ending coming.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for this honest review.

I really wanted to like this book, but a sequence early on sets the tone and it just made it difficult to fully enjoy going forward. There are a lot of interesting elements, particularly some well-executed world-building and a great premise. However, there were some pacing issues and a lot of different plot threads that never fully cohered. Ultimately I was let down by the novel, but it did show some great promise!