Review - The House of the Red Balconies by A.J. Demas

Note: The author kindly offered an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review. You can purchase this release starting June 24, 2024 at the links below.

Hylas is hired by the governor of Tykanos to build an aqueduct to bring fresh water to the small island’s town. Hylas unknowingly rents a room at the Red Balconies, one of Tykanos’ oldest “Tea Houses.” The Tea Houses are places where well-to-do men come to meet young women and men who are adept at offering various “entertainments” to their guests. Hylas’ rooms share a courtyard with Zo, one of the house’s courtesans/companions. The two get to know each other over morning tea and buns. They soon become friends and then lovers, but can they ever be more than that?

This story is set in the Greco-Roman fantasy world created by the same author in their Sword Dance series. However, you don’t need to have read the other books to enjoy this sweet, comfy romance. It’s set in the same world of island kingdoms, but there aren’t any characters in common.

Much of the story is told from Hylas’ point of view. From the start, he is a very reserved man. Hylas has kept such a tight rein on his feelings for so long, at first he doesn’t recognize what Zo stirs in him. Once we get to know a bit more about his history, we can understand much of Hylas’ personality. He’s a gentle soul trying to deal with the quirky town and its inhabitants.

We also get some of the story from Zo’s point of view. He’s a young man with a few secrets, which we only get very late in the book. Zo is a curious protagonist for these stories in that he’s a bit of an invalid. The reason for that comes out just after we learn the young man’s big secret. Zo is a complex character, but still believable and very human.

Unlike the other stories in this world, there’s no mystery driving the plot. This is more of a romantic comedy with a very light touch. The humor comes from the situations Hylas finds himself in and the odd way things work in Tykanos. It's sort of like the movie Fargo without the violent deaths.

“The House of the Red Balconies” is available from Smashwords or Amazon (commissionable link).