Review: "Counterpoint" by Rachel Haimowitz

Note: This book was provided by Riptide Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Counterpoint is the first book in the Song of the Fallen duet by Rachel Haimowitz and is an M/M fantasy romance about an elven warrior named Ayden Vaska and a human prince regent named Freyrík Farr. Centuries of hatred and distrust have made enemies of elfkind and humankind, and when Ayden and his sister are captured by soldiers belonging to Freyrík's kingdom, he refuses to submit to Freyrík, even if what is being offered in exchange is kindness.

I'll be the first to admit that, while I found the book's synopsis intriguing (thus making me request it on NetGalley), I didn't immediately get into the story in the first few pages. Yes, I read almost anything and I have read fantasy romances before; they're just not on top of my go-to list of books I want to curl up to in the middle of the night. Fantasy books tend to be more complicated to read, especially if there's a lot of world-building (and if you're a fantasy fiction fan, you'll want the world-building) and new languages that you'll need to decipher. 

With that being said, Counterpoint opened my eyes and transported me to a world I happily and willingly got lost in. You could picture this beautiful and lush land surrounded by nature's bounties that was the backdrop to a war between the dark ferals and humans. The magic that the elves carry with them is described in a lyrical manner, almost as if you could hear the music that only they can hear. Everything was chronicled so clearly and exquisitely that even someone with a lack of imagination need not try so hard to see it all in their head. ^.^

Ayden has always hated humans so to be enslaved by one brings out the worst in him, to the point that sometimes he forgets that his behavior may bring about recrimination towards his sister, Ella. On the other hand, Freyrík doesn't treat Ayden or Ella as prisoners, except that they are not free to move or do as they please. The patience he shows is only an inkling of his affection for Ayden and even for Ella but he also realizes that he needs to keep up appearances lest his subjects demand that the elves receive harsher punishments.

The story was allowed to develop at a more than acceptable pace, helping the reader experience everything that both Ayden and Freyrík were going through. Nothing was rushed nor was anything included just for the sake of titillating readers. The book invites you to go on an adventure and that is exactly what you get, but not just the kind that involves swordplay and danger. You get to see how two individuals who would otherwise have nothing to do with each other try to navigate their way through the new circumstances they find themselves in.

I highly recommend Counterpoint and yes, it does end on a cliffhanger BUT the sequel, Crescendo, is already out so you can get the answers to all your questions once you're done with this first book. ^.^ The fact that I'm not an avid fantasy genre reader and yet fell in love with this fantastic book goes to show that a well-written story about two people and those of their kind needing to overcome their own prejudices in order to gain each other's trust and respect and, in the case of the lead characters, love, will always win me over in the end. ♥ Counterpoint gets five-plus well-deserved stars!

Date read: 30 September 2014

Learn more about author Rachel Haimowitz here.

Grab a copy of Counterpoint and Ms. Haimowitz's other books on Amazon | Barnes & Noble.