The thirteenth Child is a hard one for me to rate. For a long while I really didn’t know what to think about it. It definitely wasn’t what I expected after reading the blurb, but that is not always a bad thing. I liked the fantasy elements and seeing mythical creatures like fae in a modern world (which makes it urban fantasy, I guess) can be very interesting. What stopped me from really liking it were three things: there was way too much violence for my tastes (I expected some, but not in this much gruesome detail), the two main characters not just hated each other in the beginning but they really didn’t admit their feelings even at the end (romance failure), and there was more cheating going on than I was able to shake a stick at, so to speak (some of it with women, which I REALLY didn’t expect).

Now, don’t get me wrong: some of what attracted me in the blurb was really well done. The characters obviously grabbed me enough to make me mad at them, so that part was great. The world with all its rules and creatures was well developed, even though I hated how awful some of the bests were. The suspense about what was going on and who was behind it all kept me reading. But my biggest complaint is that nothing was resolved at the end. The heroes were still pretty much at each other’s throats, not even a hint of a HFN and the overall plot has left enough questions open for me to want a sequel - but there is no hint of one to be found anywhere I checked. And to be quite honest, I am no even sure I’d want to read it – being afraid I’d be heading for another disappointment.

All in all, the reasons why I couldn’t like this book are purely personal. If you like urban fantasy, don’t mind cheating heroes and don’t expect a romance, the world building, urban fantasy elements and overall plotline will probably keep your interest and let you like this book a lot more than I did. ( )

Read for m/m team bingo challenge.

Like some other reviewers said, this book had potential. The beginning was very interesting and I was hooked. So as the story progressed, when it didn't quite seem to reach its full potential that I felt was promised at the beginning, I was left disappointed. It wasn't that this wasn't romance. I enjoy urban fantasy and having read some of the reviews here before purchasing, I knew not to expect romance here. Still the couple of sex scenes present in the book happened at odd points (it felt to me) when I was mostly impatient to just get it over with, so that the plot could go on. Especially the dreamscape scene (I expected something fantastic and adventurous, in order for them to find their way out)---what actually happened, I didn't get the point of at all.

There still were too many questions left unanswered, and nothing at all felt resolved by the end. I had already purchased the second book a while ago, so I can just start reading that now and hope for better experience and some solid answers. ( )

This was a delightful surprise! I thought I was getting a gay romance, but this truly was an urban fantasy with a romantic element. That element is completely secondary as Cole and his former boyfriend are no longer a couple; Cole’s love life is left undeveloped until the end with a promise of more in the sequel. Moreover, the world-building is very creative with a familiar, but rarely used, element – the Sidhe. Most urban fantasies concentrate on the more common werewolves or vampires, but O’Faolain develops his story around an exiled Sidhe Lord, Cole. And he has some pretty cool powers!

I like the Fae because they offer more variety in characters, setting and magic. There is also an existing mythology for them that an author can draw on, tweak, and expand. Cole is fully developed, likeable and interesting as the protagonist. We get a little background on him, but he’s still somewhat of a mystery (such as why he was exiled). I found the detective annoying: a man who chooses to dump his boyfriend to marry a woman & have a family, and is bitter about it. I’ve encountered this conceit in gay romances before and I’m not a fan of it. However, the author handles it better than I have read before, and the conclusion indicates this will not dominate the sequel. The mystery is somewhat simple, but that works for the introduction to a new series and new “world.”

Though this is a well-developed fantasy, it is also very much a Dreamspinner Press title. There is an extremely explicit, and hot, gay sex scene about mid-way through and some other erotic moments sprinkled throughout (and a fair bit of humor). Urban fantasy fans should enjoy this if the erotic content isn’t a deal breaker. I look forward to reading the sequel, and hopefully more to come. Highly recommended. ( )