A trapped immortal planning escape...A prince who is the key...And the deliberately forgotten history of a royal family's women,captured in a magic book that may lead the key to open the lock... Just turned 18, Prince Temmin Antremont has finally joined his father's court, only to walk straight into a power struggle between the secular and the sacred. The twin gods of love and sex call Temmin to serve in the Lovers' Temple for two years, a call made even more tempting by the seductive twins who embody the gods.Prophecy suggests that Temmin's entrance into the Temple spells the kingdom's end, and the King will stop at nothing to prevent it. But the king's own advisor, a strange immortal called Teacher, comes to Temmin's aid. Why? And does the kingdom's fate really hinge on one young man's decision?Lovers and Beloveds is the first book in the acclaimed Victorianesque fantasy series An Intimate History of the Greater Kingdom, which continues with Son in Sorrow.Raves and a 4-star average at Goodreads!"Everything I adore in high fantasy--lush worldbuilding, political intrigue, and compelling characters--combined with something I rarely find in high fantasy--intelligent, well-written, relevant sex. MeiLin Miranda's a damn fine writer and definitely one I'll be keeping my eye on in the future!" -- M.K. Hobson, author of The Native Star"If George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series captures the gritty realism of medieval history,Lovers and Beloveds reveals the intimate and personal dynamics of power in aristocracies. It weaves together a rich multi-layered story that explores how sex and power shape history and individual destiny--sharing a perspective that's beyond the 'men, swords, and thrones' (capital H) history that's often seen in fantasy." -- book blogger Frida Fantastic"[C]aptivating - almost like an anthropological study of sex, identity, gender, relationships, power, fetish, etc. Unlike your normal smut novel or porn piece, the sex is heart-breakingly realistic, full of warts and rough edges. ... Overall Rating: 4.5 stars. Thought-provoking, well-written, emotionally powerful." -- Maria T. Violante, Write, Read, Review blog