Falcon's Favor by Dana Fraedrich

Dana Fraedrich

Author

Falcon's Favor

Falcon Smoke never wanted the fame he’s gained. He only ever wanted to help people, but it’s hard to do right within a broken system. The cost of that same fame has forced Falcon to leave his family home and move into a small house he can only afford with the help of another young gent by the name of Keene. Keene is warm and charming and fills their new home with the wonderful aromas of his delicious tea blends and the scrumptious meals he makes for his catering clients. But most of all, Keene makes Falcon feel safe and accepted. Just as the two are getting ready for some well-deserved time off, their home is robbed. Involving the Enforcers means condemning the perpetrators to a lifetime of imprisonment and torture, so Falcon decides to solve the case on his own… or so he thinks. Keene refuses to be left out, and the two grow closer throughout the investigation. As sparks of romance ignite between them, someone notifies the Enforcers of the crime, and Falcon will be forced to choose where he’ll throw the considerable weight of his support.

Plot/Idea: 8 out of 10

Originality: 9 out of 10

Prose: 8 out of 10

Character/Execution: 8 out of 10

Overall: 8.25 out of 10

Assessment:

Plot/Idea: Falcon's Favor is a queer steampunk mystery/romance, the fourth in Fraedrich's Broken Gears series. The book opens in the aftermath of Falcon denouncing his corrupt grandfather and exposing corruption in the wake of taking down the Reaper’s Collective. As a result, Falcon is injured, essentially disowned, and the only way to move forward is to share cheap living with a stranger: Keene Kohli. After their home is robbed, the two team up to find the perpetrator.

Prose: To the author's credit, Falcon's Favor can be read as a standalone despite being the fourth book in a series. Fraedrich also has a flair for description and her depictions of food are mouthwatering. The sex scenes are tender and Keene's awareness of and gentleness with Falcon's inexperience is lovely.

Originality: Fraedrich's novel–a cozy steampunk slow-burn queer romance novel set in a police state with an Enforcer and a caterer as leads–is about as unique as it gets.

Character/Execution: Falcon is a worthy hero who faces setbacks without flinching (at least outwardly). Keene is delicious, and not just because he's an excellent cook. He's also protective of Falcon from the beginning, and doesn't hold Falcon's past against him. Their friend Beatrice is also a delight, and the thieves, despite their crimes, are sympathetic. The same can't be said for Falcon's superiors, demonstrating exactly why Falcon risked everything to expose corruption in the first place.

Date Submitted: June 26, 2024

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