Cider - Shop now
$2.99 with 70 percent savings
Print List Price: $9.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.
Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Gideon E. Wood
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Stagsblood Prince: Book One of the Stagsblood Trilogy Kindle Edition

by Gideon E. Wood (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 127 ratings

The stagsblood gave him powerful magic. But it can't give him back what he's lost...or what he will lose. A new gay fantasy epic begins.

"A sexy fantasy novel that explores the complexity of war, peace, and our relationships to violence and harmony." --Samantha Hui, Independent Book Review

★ One of Reedsy Discovery's Best Books That Launched This Week ★

Tel, handsome crown prince of Feigh, has negotiated an end to the war between his country and the strange queendom of Omela. He looks forward to an easy reign of wild parties and wilder men. The deities have other ideas, however, in this stunning tale of transformation, redemption, and love.

When his father dies suddenly, Tel is outmaneuvered by his brother, losing the throne. Tel’s faith prohibits him from raising his sword and spilling blood, so he accepts the humiliation, working to temper his brother’s baser impulses. But the new king’s reign takes a dark turn, and his collaborators begin to round up undesirables, including those with a magic called the stagsblood.

Tel must decide: Flee or fight? Running means abandoning his people to his brother’s evil whims. Standing his ground means the sin of total war. He has no army and only a few allies—and his magical secret.

Caip, his closest friend and protector, brings military experience and blunt advice. Her right hand, Dar, is the picture of loyalty. Tough, battle-scarred Bin doesn’t suffer fools gladly. And Vared, a mysterious singer-turned-diplomat from Omela, speaks the truth to Tel in ways no one else can.

(You can find content/trigger warnings for this book at the author's website.)

Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Book 1 of 3
    The Stagsblood Trilogy
  2. Print length
    390 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    February 7, 2021
  5. File size
    9.0 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details
Unwell Hydration from Alex Cooper
Hydrate & focus with every sip Shop now

Shop this series

 See full series
There are 3 books in this series.
This option includes 3 books.

Customers also bought or read

Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1
Previous page
  5. Dark RiseBest of #BookTok
    Kindle Edition
    $9.99
  7. Sanctuary (On the Wind Book 1)
    Kindle Edition
    $5.99
  20. Kick at the Darkness
    Kindle Edition
    $6.99
  29. XOXO (Roosevelt College Book 1)
    Kindle Edition
    $5.99
Next page
Loading...

From the Publisher

Can't have a happy ending when the story's just begun. Make magic. Make music. Make love. Make war.

You weren’t present. But they only need ten for quorum. They’ve declared you of unsound mind

Prince Tel, wearing leather armor, conjures stagsblood fire with his hands.

A sexy fantasy novel that explores the complexity of war, peace, and our relationships to violence

Editorial Reviews

Review

One of Reedsy Discovery's Best Books That Launched This Week


"Erotic, profound, and, at times, tender...a great fit for those looking for great characters and strong worldbuilding in their sexy fantasy adventures." --Samantha Hui, Independent Book Review


"If your preference is for character-focused fantasy that makes you smile, laugh or cry; and where the hero's inner struggles are even greater than the physical challenges, then try the magic of The Stagsblood Prince." --ManyBooks


★★★★★ - "Un-put-downable...assured, intelligent prose and deeply realized characterization..." --The Prairies Book Review


★★★★★ - "[A] thoroughly engaging fantasy, complete with a flawed but good-hearted hero, an epic love, and descendants of an ancient bloodline to throw some magic into the mix." --The Book Review Directory

"The satisfying twists, dramatic battles, and absolute emotional gut punches...will keep you enthralled, excited, and horrified in turn." --Rory Michaelson, author of Lesser Known Monsters


"I loved this book. It was magical, fantastic, terrifying, heart wrenching, and so personally uplifting too." --Ash Knight, author of Stay and The Gravity of Shooting Stars

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08P979P9Y
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ex Asperis, LLC (February 7, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 7, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 9.0 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 390 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 127 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Gideon E. Wood

Gideon E. Wood

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Gideon E. Wood writes gay fantasy fiction. He has been in recovery from alcohol and other drug addiction since 2011. Second chances and transformation are at the heart of his work. Gideon lives in New England with his cat but thinks it’s important you know he isn’t a cat person.

You can get in touch with him at his website, GideonEWood.com, or on social media @gideonewood.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
127 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book's story layered and intriguing, with well-rounded characters and sincere writing. The book receives positive feedback for its visual elements, with one customer noting the richly drawn supporting players. Customers disagree on the emotional content, with some finding it poignant while others describe it as depressing. The pacing receives mixed reactions, with one customer noting the beginning is slow.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

9 customers mention "Readability"7 positive2 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a marvellous and deeply satisfying read, with one customer noting it serves as a superb start to a series.

"...- even in his darkest moments - to make him human, relatable, and very likeable...." Read more

"...the bard was a barb in our titular prince's side, they complimented each other quite nicely and made no demands from each other except to BE TOGETHER..." Read more

"...Even the supporting players are richly drawn and memorable. And Vared, beautiful, fascinating Vared...Gideon Wood, how could you?..." Read more

"...it remained mostly bitter and felt rather rushed and pointless by the end...." Read more

8 customers mention "Story quality"8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the layered plot of the book, with one customer highlighting its numerous twists and another noting how the fantasy elements are balanced without overwhelming the narrative.

"...The Stagsblood Prince has many fantasy mainstays: incredible magic, beautiful landscapes, massive battles, friendships that weather the worst of..." Read more

"...his masterful prose, his compelling characters and a plot that is completely intriguing and utterly unpredictable...." Read more

"...The story is layered and often moving and poignant, the journey sweeping in its scope, but it is never predictable and always compelling...." Read more

"...It had all the right notes of fantasy and romance within as well as its other themes of addiction...." Read more

7 customers mention "Visual quality"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the visual quality of the book, with one mentioning the vivid picture and another noting how the supporting characters are richly drawn.

"...Stagsblood Prince has many fantasy mainstays: incredible magic, beautiful landscapes, massive battles, friendships that weather the worst of times...." Read more

"...Even the supporting players are richly drawn and memorable. And Vared, beautiful, fascinating Vared...Gideon Wood, how could you?..." Read more

"...First the world building is gorgeous...." Read more

"...This book paints such a vivid picture of the world that is Tel's reality, and a longing for a united world that he seeks...." Read more

7 customers mention "Writing quality"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book, with sincere prose and wonderful characterizations, and one customer notes the author's great job of balancing lovely description.

"...and personality - even in his darkest moments - to make him human, relatable, and very likeable...." Read more

"...Gideon E. Wood's prose is sincere and heartwarming, but brutal and callous at times...." Read more

"Gideon Wood will enchant you with his masterful prose, his compelling characters and a plot that is completely intriguing and utterly unpredictable...." Read more

"...The main character was complex yet wholly believable. I love when an author creates a flawed and broken character that you still want to root for!..." Read more

6 customers mention "Character depth"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the well-rounded characters in the book.

"...quite the opposite, and Wood gives the character enough depth and personality - even in his darkest moments - to make him human, relatable, and very..." Read more

"...What I liked: Caip - She is a wholesome character in every respect...." Read more

"Gideon Wood will enchant you with his masterful prose, his compelling characters and a plot that is completely intriguing and utterly unpredictable...." Read more

"...The main character was complex yet wholly believable. I love when an author creates a flawed and broken character that you still want to root for!..." Read more

10 customers mention "Heartwarming"6 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the emotional content of the book, with some finding it poignant while others describe it as an emotional rock.

"...There are also tender moments, heart wrenching events, and a multitude of twists - including the very end, which is NOT a cliffhanger!..." Read more

"...The story felt dragging and morose throughout but I had some hope for at least a bittersweet ending...." Read more

"...Flawed, lawful, emotional rock--Caip is at once the heart and the conscience of the story...." Read more

"...There's 'dark" and then there's needlessly tragic...." Read more

3 customers mention "Pacing"0 positive3 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book unsatisfactory, with one customer noting that the beginning is slow, while another mentions the story feels rushed.

"...What I didn't like: "What's in the box?!" - This moment was so rushed, it felt like an illusion...." Read more

"...Unfortunately it remained mostly bitter and felt rather rushed and pointless by the end...." Read more

"...You can say the beginning is a little slow, but it’s all part of creating the world you find yourself immersed in...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Isaac Grisham
    5.0 out of 5 stars Solid debut novel, setting the stage for even more!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Most good stories - even fantasy - require a tether to the real world. Something the reader can relate to or identify with. These ties can be cleverly hidden or painfully obvious. Gideon E. Wood peppers the world and narrative of The Stagsblood Prince with several such tethers (discovery of love, familial loss, civil war, alcoholism, and many more). The reluctant discovery of love and the ongoing battle with alcoholism particularly engaged my emotions, as I've seen many close to me fall to the disease.

    Because of that, I thought for sure I was bound to hate Prince Tel, the book's main character. Wood takes his time creating the world, including the cultures of Feigh and Omela, and setting up the story. Several chapters go by before I began to sense where the epic journey was taking me, and Tel was a drunken mess in nearly all of them.

    But the prince, like so many alcoholics, is not a bad man. In fact, he is quite the opposite, and Wood gives the character enough depth and personality - even in his darkest moments - to make him human, relatable, and very likeable.

    I wasn't the only one to think so... Vared, another in the book's wonderfully diverse cast, is attracted to the prince despite all attempts to distance himself. As the two inevitably grow closer, they both find reasons to be better people. To grow and adapt. To fight for what is right.

    The Stagsblood Prince has many fantasy mainstays: incredible magic, beautiful landscapes, massive battles, friendships that weather the worst of times. There are also tender moments, heart wrenching events, and a multitude of twists - including the very end, which is NOT a cliffhanger! Despite being the first in a planned trilogy, the story is self-contained (though there are plenty of hints at what the future holds). I am eagerly awaiting the release of the next installment, The Stagsblood King.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Paola Valera
    4.0 out of 5 stars Sometimes slow burn but rich in character and world building.
    Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2021
    Prince Tel has spent years of his life working towards peace between his nation, Feigh, and the queen doom of neighboring Omela. He has also spent much of those years drinking days away and sleeping with any man who offered. When his father passes, his natural right to the throne is taken from him by his younger brother Lag with the support of the Table of advisors deeming him unfit to rule.

    Just as peace is finally secured, Feigh, under his brother’s rule and strong sentiments of outright racism begin to undermine the work their late father and Tel have done. Tel could choose to sit back and let this happen or perhaps he can, although against his pacifist nature, fight to restore their hard won peace. He does, after all, have the power of the stagsblood.

    “A fraction of Tel’s new reality settled in his chest. He would never again discuss a poem with his father.”

    Settling into new fantasy worlds tends to take a few book chapters for me. Slowly getting to know this one seemed to be the name of the game and by book’s end I can safely say that I did quite like what was presented. An added plus here was that it was a smooth read.

    I did find the length of this to be a double edged blade. It took time to give character growth and for us as the read to learn the world’s societal differences. I sometimes felt the chapters drag along. Slow burn for sure.

    I almost missed the moment when I came to really care for many of this book’s characters. Simply because if felt so long to get through and for brief moments I felt like we were meandering a bit long before any major plot beats would come back around. They simmered there in the background while the romantic bits came around. But really… when anyone got hurt in any way I felt it deep in my gut. So thank you Gideon E. Wood, for all these heightened emotions. That’s part of why I love reading after all.

    Also, on the topic of romantic bits! This one is queer fiction friends and it does get a bit explicit. Just felt that needed to be said just in case.

    Wood built a world of magic and some weight of history to it. With a fantastic amount of character growth and redemption, I’ll be looking for the next installment when it comes!

    I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
    4 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Rory
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fresh epic fantasy that leaves you devastated but wanting more
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 14, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This book is a memorable and deeply impactful wonderful and terrible delight.
    When was the last time you could honestly call a fairly traditional high fantasy set up ‘refreshing’? Growing up, I loved high fantasy. As I developed into the most authentic version of myself that love clung on to me, but it became a somewhat abusive relationship. This is a genre that often lacks diversity (bizarre for fantasy, no?) and harmful coding that is all but directly discriminatory to queer people and minorities. So what a pleasure it is to go on this journey not with an inexperienced arrocishet farmboy, but a sex positive queer middle aged main character.

    The prose keeps you on your toes, quickly establishing its own unique and enjoyable rythym. Likewise, the dialogue is often beautiful, and neither wander into purpledom. This isn’t a lazy read, but the well written words serve to pull you into the story further. Incredibly clever, with detailed world building, smooth dialogue, an interesting magic system, and vivid descriptions. I was reminded at times of Robin Hobb’s Farseer series. The satisfying twists, dramatic battles, and absolute emotional gut punches delivered within the story will keep you enthralled, excited, and horrified in turn.

    I sometimes worry with high and epic fantasy that unless the series is already released I will forget parts of the intricately built world, or character details by the time the next book comes out—but this story is so lovingly built, with twists that made me have to read the same page several times to believe it that I don’t think i have to worry about that here. I just wish the next book was already out purely for my own enjoyment, but then no doubt I’d still be left wanting more.

    *CONTENT WARNING: Alcoholism, emotional abuse, violence, death and grief, sex
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report