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The Stories of Ys #2
Emyr's Smile
Life is easy for young artist Heilyn, as he travels between the floating islands of Ys with nothing more urgent to worry about than what to paint next. Then he meets sad, serious Emyr and forms a new ambition. Before he leaves for the next island, Heilyn's going to make Emyr smile.
But will a smile be enough? If he wants more, Heilyn will have to choose between his wandering ways and the man he's coming to love.
But will a smile be enough? If he wants more, Heilyn will have to choose between his wandering ways and the man he's coming to love.
38 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 25, 2013
About the author
Amy Rae Durreson
34 books379 followersAmy Rae Durreson is a quiet Brit with a degree in early English literature, which she blames for her somewhat medieval approach to spelling, and at various times has been fluent in Latin, Old English, Ancient Greek, and Old Icelandic, though these days she mostly uses this knowledge to bore her students. Amy started her first novel a quarter of a century ago and has been scribbling away ever since. Despite these long years of experience, she has yet to master the arcane art of the semicolon. She was a winner in the 2017 Rainbow Awards.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
October 30, 2014
delightful.
in such balance. whimsy and grief in their measure, and in the end so much joy i felt free.
and what an ending.
talk about a satisfying conclusion—i think my skin is still tingling with the rush of The Happy.
truly, a genuinely wonderful story.
in such balance. whimsy and grief in their measure, and in the end so much joy i felt free.
and what an ending.
talk about a satisfying conclusion—i think my skin is still tingling with the rush of The Happy.
truly, a genuinely wonderful story.
September 26, 2024
*** 2.5 stars ***
I love ARD's writing, but it would take more than good writing to make me enjoy a hurt/comfort story with a "damaged" MC. Ugh. So not my thing. And I skimmed the last 25%, but even so I could tell that it took a turn into treacly-sweet territory. So, double ugh.
I highly recommend her other book set in this world, The Lodestar of Ys, but this story was not to my taste at all. I'm rounding up to 3 stars, but that's simply in recognition of the quality of the writing.
I love ARD's writing, but it would take more than good writing to make me enjoy a hurt/comfort story with a "damaged" MC. Ugh. So not my thing. And I skimmed the last 25%, but even so I could tell that it took a turn into treacly-sweet territory. So, double ugh.
I highly recommend her other book set in this world, The Lodestar of Ys, but this story was not to my taste at all. I'm rounding up to 3 stars, but that's simply in recognition of the quality of the writing.
June 7, 2019
Another gem by Amy Rae Durreson.
Set in the same world as The Lodestar of Ys, twenty years before the events of the first book, Emyr’s Smile is best read after The Lodestar of Ys.
The MCs of this books are loosely and indirectly linked to the MCs of the first one, and the two stories are completely independent, but you’ll have a better understanding of the world-building.
I loved the atmosphere, the island of Serig and its inhabitants were charming, and the slow burn between the MCs was perfectly executed. Sweet without being saccharine and with some serious undertones that didn’t veer into depressing or melodramatic, as they could’ve so easily done. The writing was still great and the humor seems to be a constant for this author, which is a very good thing, since it’s just the right kind of not-over-the-top humor I enjoy.
I really wouldn’t mind more stories set in this world, but I’ll settle for the other books on the author’s backlist for now. :)
Set in the same world as The Lodestar of Ys, twenty years before the events of the first book, Emyr’s Smile is best read after The Lodestar of Ys.
The MCs of this books are loosely and indirectly linked to the MCs of the first one, and the two stories are completely independent, but you’ll have a better understanding of the world-building.
I loved the atmosphere, the island of Serig and its inhabitants were charming, and the slow burn between the MCs was perfectly executed. Sweet without being saccharine and with some serious undertones that didn’t veer into depressing or melodramatic, as they could’ve so easily done. The writing was still great and the humor seems to be a constant for this author, which is a very good thing, since it’s just the right kind of not-over-the-top humor I enjoy.
I really wouldn’t mind more stories set in this world, but I’ll settle for the other books on the author’s backlist for now. :)
August 31, 2019
Wow... this short, incredibly sweet and sexy prequel was just awesome! Loved both MCs, the writing is sublime and there is humor sprinkled throughout! Looking forward to starting book one!
Want to read
June 12, 2018Kindle freebie 6/12/18!
August 26, 2023
I think I got this from Smashwords, after reading and liking The Lodestar of Ys at the end of 2017. I started it, then presumably abandoned it and lost it somehow on my kindle… 🤷♀️
Novelette of about 38 pages. Found again!
Note from the author:
“This little novelette was written as a companion piece to my longer novella The Lodestar of Ys, as a thank you to my readers. Although it is set twenty years before The Lodestar of Ys, it assumes that you have read that book first. The most important thing you need to know is that the islands of Ys float in the sky just offshore, lifted by the magical derwen trees that grow on every island. The most low-lying of the islands is Sirig, which floats just above the sea. The islanders of Ys travel by flying ships, built of derwen wood and steered by lodestones. Emyr and Heilyn make a brief appearance in The Lodestar of Ys, but the main characters and plots of the two stories are quite distinct.“
Funnily enough, ships made of magic wood play a part in another series I am currently reading… Here the magic ships are in the sidelines though, the story takes part on the island. Man meets man, man doesn‘t like man, one of them is set to make the other one like him — you can picture the rest, more or less. Nicely written, with some unexpected depth, a dark past, the required drama, some light porn. Nice. I even sniffled a bit.
Can be read for free at the author‘s (inactive since 2020) blog site: https://amyraenbow.wordpress.com/free...
The Lodestar of Ys | My GR review | Marriage-of-convenience, m-m romance
Novelette of about 38 pages. Found again!
Note from the author:
“This little novelette was written as a companion piece to my longer novella The Lodestar of Ys, as a thank you to my readers. Although it is set twenty years before The Lodestar of Ys, it assumes that you have read that book first. The most important thing you need to know is that the islands of Ys float in the sky just offshore, lifted by the magical derwen trees that grow on every island. The most low-lying of the islands is Sirig, which floats just above the sea. The islanders of Ys travel by flying ships, built of derwen wood and steered by lodestones. Emyr and Heilyn make a brief appearance in The Lodestar of Ys, but the main characters and plots of the two stories are quite distinct.“
Funnily enough, ships made of magic wood play a part in another series I am currently reading… Here the magic ships are in the sidelines though, the story takes part on the island. Man meets man, man doesn‘t like man, one of them is set to make the other one like him — you can picture the rest, more or less. Nicely written, with some unexpected depth, a dark past, the required drama, some light porn. Nice. I even sniffled a bit.
Can be read for free at the author‘s (inactive since 2020) blog site: https://amyraenbow.wordpress.com/free...
The Lodestar of Ys | My GR review | Marriage-of-convenience, m-m romance
August 1, 2019
A sweet, warm little fantasy story in the universe of The Lodestar of Ys - I read it after the main book, so I don't know how the world-building would come across standing alone. (This is a world of floating islands, connected by sailing ships through the sky.) But the setting is evocative and charming and the characters have some depth and were people I cared about.
Heilyn is a free spirit, an artist who travels island to island on a lighthearted adventure, looking for subjects for paintings, doing odd jobs, sometimes taking a lover, never staying too long. Emyr is a local merchant, rooted in his life, a man quiet and serious with a past full of loss. Each of them has something to offer the other, in this little hurt-comfort story about finding your person, and your place.
Heilyn is a free spirit, an artist who travels island to island on a lighthearted adventure, looking for subjects for paintings, doing odd jobs, sometimes taking a lover, never staying too long. Emyr is a local merchant, rooted in his life, a man quiet and serious with a past full of loss. Each of them has something to offer the other, in this little hurt-comfort story about finding your person, and your place.
February 25, 2020
3.5 stars
This was a very sweet and charming story with touches of humor throughout. The world building is kind of light, probably because this was written after Lodestar of Ys, which I probably should have read first even if this is a prequel. I wasn't confused though, mostly because the cover for Lodestar shows you what kind of world this is.
I really liked Emyr and Heilyn. They had good chemistry and I liked that even though this was a short story, the relationship wasn't too rushed - not until the end anyway when they go from zero to sixty in no time at all. Then there's a Big Misunderstanding and a cute resolution.
This was a very sweet and charming story with touches of humor throughout. The world building is kind of light, probably because this was written after Lodestar of Ys, which I probably should have read first even if this is a prequel. I wasn't confused though, mostly because the cover for Lodestar shows you what kind of world this is.
I really liked Emyr and Heilyn. They had good chemistry and I liked that even though this was a short story, the relationship wasn't too rushed - not until the end anyway when they go from zero to sixty in no time at all. Then there's a Big Misunderstanding and a cute resolution.
February 14, 2014
A nice fantasy short about an artist Heilyn and a merchant Emyr. Heilyn is hired to create a mural at the local hospice and spends his time on the island painting and courting Emyr, trying to tease him out of some of his somberness. There is some unique world building here based in the world of The Lodestar of Ys. I find the concept interesting even if the physics of it baffle me.
The story is sweet with a nice touch of angst to it. A nice romantic read.
The story is sweet with a nice touch of angst to it. A nice romantic read.
January 19, 2020
I liked this second story set in the same universe as The Lodestar of Ys, but the final conflict between the characters didn't work as it should. I feel it dragged for too many pages in a book too short for that. But still, the story isn't bad and it's well written.
July 29, 2023
Short and smutty freebie set in the Ys world, which I wanted to like much more than I did. It was fine, but I found the POV character to be a little exhausting and not particularly likeable. A large part of what made me pick up this book was wanting more of the Ys world-building, and given this was super light on that aspect, and with a MC I didn't really connect with, this one was a bit of a miss.
August 11, 2019
It's a nice little story and it's quirky. Thing is, I don't do so well with quirky stories so for me it was an afternoon well spent but nothing to write home about. YMMV.
August 4, 2016
So, I was 2 chapters into this, and had to go and reread The Lodestar of Ys and fall in love all over again with the surly Sjurd and the snarky Celyn. And remind myself of their world (& and find that indeed there are really only two sentences about this pair in that story).
Then went back and loved the hell out of Heilyn and Emyr. Quite a different pair of potential partners: arty, carefree, flirty Heilyn who is on a devil-may-care trip around Ys with no plan, no ambition, no intentions of settling down; and serious, stern Emyr, who has taken on responsibilities and the obligations of family and is lonely and lost amid his predictable routine.
They meet, they flirt, (well, Heilyn flirts and Emyr listens), they become friends and more.
It's whimsical, it's lovely, it's a treasure. More please Miss Amy Rae.
Then went back and loved the hell out of Heilyn and Emyr. Quite a different pair of potential partners: arty, carefree, flirty Heilyn who is on a devil-may-care trip around Ys with no plan, no ambition, no intentions of settling down; and serious, stern Emyr, who has taken on responsibilities and the obligations of family and is lonely and lost amid his predictable routine.
They meet, they flirt, (well, Heilyn flirts and Emyr listens), they become friends and more.
It's whimsical, it's lovely, it's a treasure. More please Miss Amy Rae.
February 8, 2014
Aww... Light, sweet read that affected me more than I expected it to.
I liked this one :)
I liked this one :)
September 27, 2016
This short story is touching, full of gentleness
and love. I fell in love with the little world of Ys.
and love. I fell in love with the little world of Ys.
September 12, 2016
What a sweet and wonderful story! I hope Amy writes more stories from this world.
January 14, 2016
This was amazing.
The events in this book take place about 20 years before The Lodestar of Ys, but the world-building is much more detailed there, so it would make more sense to read Emyr's Smile second.
I fell in love with the world of Ys since first reading about it. All those floating islands, incredibly beautiful and vivid descriptions of the mists and waterfalls...I wanted more of it, and thankfully, the author wrote another story of Ys.
This book is poignant, beautiful, full of mischief, tenderness and love. It tugs at your heartstrings something fierce! Emyr and Heilyn are adorable together and apart, and I fell head over heels in love with them.
Recommended.
The events in this book take place about 20 years before The Lodestar of Ys, but the world-building is much more detailed there, so it would make more sense to read Emyr's Smile second.
I fell in love with the world of Ys since first reading about it. All those floating islands, incredibly beautiful and vivid descriptions of the mists and waterfalls...I wanted more of it, and thankfully, the author wrote another story of Ys.
This book is poignant, beautiful, full of mischief, tenderness and love. It tugs at your heartstrings something fierce! Emyr and Heilyn are adorable together and apart, and I fell head over heels in love with them.
Recommended.
January 31, 2016
4.5
Красивая, нежная, забавная история.
Хочу больше, хочу эпилог.
Красивая, нежная, забавная история.
Хочу больше, хочу эпилог.
Read
July 9, 2023A companion novella to the Lodestar of Ys (and free too!). Writing, dialogue, characterisation are great and the story is cute, but i didn't find the main couple very compelling for my tastes. Still, a quick sweet read for a relaxing evening.
Read
May 25, 2015A free short, set in the same world as The Lodestar of Ys. It's a standalone, but if you're going to read both, you should probably read that one first (it's free too).
This started out as comment fic and grew. I wanted to set something else on the floating islands of Ys, and this is one of my favourite things to do with fantasy: a quiet story set in a magical place. Nobody is trying to save the world in this one; it's just two men falling in love, and struggling with the way it challenges their own assumptions. Heilyn is the most happy-go-lucky character I've ever written, and Emyr needs lots of hugs, so that's one of my favourite relationship dynamics too.
This started out as comment fic and grew. I wanted to set something else on the floating islands of Ys, and this is one of my favourite things to do with fantasy: a quiet story set in a magical place. Nobody is trying to save the world in this one; it's just two men falling in love, and struggling with the way it challenges their own assumptions. Heilyn is the most happy-go-lucky character I've ever written, and Emyr needs lots of hugs, so that's one of my favourite relationship dynamics too.
January 13, 2014
Really liked Emyr and Heilyn. Their story was very sweet. And I also liked the world building. A very addition to The Lodestar of Ys.
July 6, 2020
4.5 stars
December 11, 2021
This was just lovely.
September 18, 2019
Slight but sweet romance prequel to Lodestar of Ys. Vaguely annoying lead, but cute enough.
February 23, 2017
Sweet beautiful prequel to The Lodestar of Ys.
February 23, 2017
Genre M/M Fantasy
MC1 Heilyn
MC2 Emyr
Storyline
Heilyn travels from island to island painting and doing odd jobs to pay his lodging. When he meets Emyr he's struck by how much he wants to paint Emyr's smile. But he has to make Emyr smile first. And as the couple become friends Heilyn knows that Emyr's smile is one of the most beautiful things he's ever seen.
Conflict
Emyr has been left with a lot of responsibility. And his former partner died running the ropes. He's just waiting for Heilyn to leave him like everyone else has.
My Thoughts
There's a lot of goodness in this little short story. I really enjoy this world & hope to someday read more from the world of Ys. (Hint, hint)
MC1 Heilyn
MC2 Emyr
Storyline
Heilyn travels from island to island painting and doing odd jobs to pay his lodging. When he meets Emyr he's struck by how much he wants to paint Emyr's smile. But he has to make Emyr smile first. And as the couple become friends Heilyn knows that Emyr's smile is one of the most beautiful things he's ever seen.
Conflict
Emyr has been left with a lot of responsibility. And his former partner died running the ropes. He's just waiting for Heilyn to leave him like everyone else has.
My Thoughts
There's a lot of goodness in this little short story. I really enjoy this world & hope to someday read more from the world of Ys. (Hint, hint)
June 16, 2017
This is so PRETTY.
This is my favorite kind of world-building, where a quirky character is doing their thing and in bits and pieces you learn that islands float in this world... It's possibly the sweetest romance I've ever read. That's saying something because they're my favorite kind, so I read every one I can find. Emyr and Heilyn's meet-cute, friendship, upsets and so on are as endearing as a basket of kittens, and then this setting elevates it to art in words.
I'm not sure why on my copy of the ebook this is #0, but in GR it claims to be #2...
This is my favorite kind of world-building, where a quirky character is doing their thing and in bits and pieces you learn that islands float in this world... It's possibly the sweetest romance I've ever read. That's saying something because they're my favorite kind, so I read every one I can find. Emyr and Heilyn's meet-cute, friendship, upsets and so on are as endearing as a basket of kittens, and then this setting elevates it to art in words.
I'm not sure why on my copy of the ebook this is #0, but in GR it claims to be #2...
November 28, 2016
There was such grief in Emyr's life, while Heilyn only knew adventure and joy. When Heilyn meets Emyr while painting in his meadow, Heilyn vows that he is going to make Emyr smile. And the journey to that smile is filled with the two of them getting to know each other, with Heilyn getting Emyr to see the joy in life, and with Heilyn experiencing heartache for the first time.
What a beautiful little story. It was nice to be back in this 'verse again.
What a beautiful little story. It was nice to be back in this 'verse again.
December 27, 2013
The same, wonderful world as Lodestar of Ys
June 9, 2014
Absolutely beautiful short story set in Ys.
I enjoyed the romance between Heilyn and Emyr. I have a soft spot for talkative MCs paired with strong silent types.
I enjoyed the romance between Heilyn and Emyr. I have a soft spot for talkative MCs paired with strong silent types.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews