REVIEWS

"A fascinating story with incredible characters and writing style. The expressive narration and descriptions of the locales, culture, scenery, and people and more are all beautifully portrayed and conveyed. A story of love, war and so much more. The author has composed a lovely, imaginative and brilliant captivating story. Nahar is a must read epic fantasy romance, metaphysical and visionary fiction novel!!!" - Pauline Ross, Goodreads Review.“

Templeton's writing style took me back to the classic foundations of Epic Fantasy that isn't really published in modern day pieces anymore. I immediately got The Lord of the Rings vibes in regards to the storytelling style., which is what hooked me on the book in the beginning. The world is richly detailed, and the characters are deep people with good and bad to them, not just one aspect or the other. Despite the interesting plot and classic storytelling style, though, the way certain aspects of the story are addressed led me to give it a 2-star review....There are multiple highly-detained erotic scenes throughout the piece, with only a few being consensual....Overall, readers who appreciate real "slice of life" Epic Fantasy wiht true consequences of war...such as fans of the Game of Thrones series - may appreciate the ode to classic Fantasy that Templeton has crafted." - Katherine D. Graham. Discovery Review.

"I absolutely loved this epic fantasy, visionary and romance novel. It has incredible characters, beautiful scenery, war, intrigue, passion, love, deceit, twists, turns and everything readers of this genre long for in an exceptional read. This one of those stories you can get lost in. The descriptions are so vivid and well expressed that the author immerses the reader in the story itself. Do yourself a favor and read Nahar by Kirk Templeton." - Jewel Hart, Goodreads Review.

“Nahar by Kirk Templeton is a timeless classic fantasy drama that is as compelling as it is entertaining. The characters are realistic, and the plot is fascinating. It is set in a fantasy world that is breathtaking, complex and cleverly portrayed. Our protagonist is Nahar, the beautiful queen of the desert city Samandal. She rules alone and while cherishes her power and her throne, she is compromised when her domain is conquered by Timur of the Mrrrg; warlord, vanquisher and enemy. However, she finds her sexual encounters with him like nothing she has experienced before. Their relationship is intense, complicated and intriguing.

This is a sensual tale that will leave the reader fascinated and wanting more. Nahar is torn between her own desires and the needs of her people. She must come to terms with her situation but also remain true to herself. And so, begins her own journey of discovery and self-realization.

Nahar is beautifully written. The descriptive scenes, dialogue and narrative are well crafted and masterful. Author, Kirk Templeton goes to great lengths to weave magical narrative with his attention to detail and the building of a complex, unique and authentic world.

There are many plot twists as cities are conquered and conquerors are challenged by others vying for power. Interestingly, violent and energized battle scenes are juxtaposed with dreamy moments of peace and beauty. I found the author’s ability to write in this manner to be absolutely brilliant.

Kirk Templeton has built amazing worlds within worlds. He has developed excellent realistic characters in creative fantasy realms that are so believable the reader will find it difficult to imagine this is a work of fiction. As well, he has created incredible maps and endnotes to help establish his narrative as a time of myth and legend.

Nahar is going to make great inroads into the fantasy genre and leave fans talking about it, and sharing it with friends and family, after they have finished reading it. It will leave each reader wanting more and there is little doubt fans will be eagerly anticipating the next book. It truly is an epic fantasy that you won’t want to put down.A fascinating story with incredible characters and writing style….A story of love, war, and so much more…Nahar by Kirk Templeton is a must read epic fantasy romance, metaphysical and visionary fiction novel and comes highly recommended. — S. Day, Artisan Book Reviews.  

”Nahar by Kirk Templeton is an exquisitely descriptive fantasy novel that requires a trigger warning due to the mentions of coercive sex, gang rape, explicit scenes, and intense displays of warfare throughout the entirety of the book. Moreover, readers that appreciate fantasy literature written with the darker aspects of life interwoven with realism and juxtaposed to the elements of a fantastical storyline will be enthralled by the narrative.
Nahar is the beautiful queen of Samandal, a prosperous city within the Kurgon Empire with several critical trade routes, which are paramount to the region's economy. Samandal reflects elements of Indo-Persian aesthetics coupled with Hinduistic undertones that will unquestionably transport the reader to the magical world of Samandal alive with colorful saris, dazzling jewels, and open-air bazaars.
Nahar came into power upon the death of her parents when she was a mere eighteen years of age. Initially, the young queen ruled the kingdom proudly and was well-loved by her people. Until the Mrrrg, a sub-human race of vicious beings invaded a neighboring town and kidnapped the queen shortly after. Young, naïve, and fighting to preserve her people, she fell prey to Timor, the warlord of the Mrrrg, via forcible kidnapping and coerced sexual acts.
Timor was a monstrous being with cruel and manipulative intentions housed within a gruff exterior. Even though the Mrrrg believed that humans were disposable pawns, Timor did find himself falling romantically for the beautiful young queen, Nahar. However, he must keep her as a pleasure slave to not appear weak to his fellow Mrrrg.
Author Templeton vividly depicted the multifarious layers of psychological complexities within the protagonists, which provided the novel a well-grounded basis for the blossoming relationships between characters to develop naturally as several crises ensued within the troubled kingdom.
Also, a classic battle of good versus evil is loosely woven into the narrative via Nahar's moral dilemmas. She must continually wrestle with the realities of fighting for her kingdom and people, and the whims of her heart dipped in darkly erotic desires for her captor Timor. Nahar faced abuse, traumas, and warfare, which led to self-discovery and confronting difficult decisions that would determine her people's fate.
Author Templeton's debut novel Nahar is undoubtedly a brilliantly written speculative fiction novel replete with action, eroticism, intrigue, self-discovery, and warfare. Indeed, a remarkable book that will reside within the readers' memory banks long after finishing the last chapter.” - Willow Greymoor, San Francisco Reviews (5 star review)

"Set in an alternative world with an Indo-Persian flavor, Templeton's debut is a deft blend of romance, high erotica, and speculative fiction. Nahar, the beautiful young of Samandal, is content ruling her city until a semi-human race of ferocious and savage conquerors, the Mrrrg, led by Timur attack and capture her along with her people and the city of Samandal. Forced to serve the pleasure of the conquering Mrrrg, Nahar soon finds her soulmate in the vicious Timur. But the powerful matriarchs of Samandal's Great Houses joining to revolt and free Samandal, the young queen must find her way not only to the perfection of love with her soulmate but to her own sefl-fulfillment. Templeton's book features all the requirements of the genre, such as a ferocious and savage race of semi-human creatures, courageous warriors, a maiden in distress, and a dark anti-hero. Almost all the characters have an acute darkness to their persona but that does not detract from their appeal. Initially, the story seems to be presenting a familiar plotline about a young queen captured by the enemy force, who goes on to change her savage captor to an empathetic being capable of feeling emotion. But Nahar isn't just a naive young queen. She has this dark tint to her personality the makes her susceptible not only to Timur's sexual fanatsies but also to several others' sexual advances. Still, the story's main focus lies in her erotic love story with Timur, who has no emotion to speak of but is capable of empathy in the presence of the lovely queen. Templeton does a good job of moving Nahar and Timur's relationship along while sustaining the threads that come together and form the larger narrative. He neatly brings various plot threads together while establishing the psychological groundwork for his protagonists, making both Timur and Nahar's dilemmas believably wrenching, helping to offset the latter's considerable darkness and the former's brute power. The bulk of the narrative consists of Nahar's highly explicit sex scenes with Timur and various other characters. While Nahar's relationship with Timur is well developed, there is little emphasis on other secondary characters and the never-ending struggle between humans and the Mrrrg. Graphic scenes of erotic sex, gang rape and acute sexual violence, bloodshed, and war urge caution on reader's part. A satisfying story for those who are able to ignore any feminist reservations and enjoy a disturbing, highly erotic fantasy steeped in violence and sex". - The Prairies Book Review (five star review)

"Templeton takes readers on a young woman's journey to love and self-transcendence in his unsettling debut. Nahar, the young queen of Samandal, a city-state located on the rich trade routes linking the Inner Regions of the desert with the Kurgon Empire, finds herself at the mercy of TImur, the paramount warlord of the Mrrrg, a semi-human race of ferocious and savage conquerors, afte the latter captures the city of Samandal. Torn between love and desre and her duty to her people, Nahar sets on a fierce journey of sensuality and self-discovery. There is danger, action, erotic sex, and true love as the protagonists.stuggle with their dilemmas, fears, and inner darkness. Templeton's prose is crisp, letting the reader see the vulnurabillities lurking beneath Timur's malevolent persona. Timur may be a ruthless monster, for example, but he shows a slightly emotional side and an appreciation for Nahar's inherent strength and sexuality. Equally compelling are his exporations into Nahar's inner turmoil as she grapples with her duty and dark sexual fantasies. The highly explicit sex scenes that form the major portion of the narrative are mostly varied and very graphic in nature (including disturbing rape scenes, with the victim getting aroused and scenes of sexual violence), and the action sequences are heavy on bloodshed and violence. A highly erotic tale of speculative fiction that's packed with sex, violence and intrigue. - Bookview Review (5 star review)

"A queen and her people fight back against oppressive, beastly warriors that have seized their city in this debut fantasy. Queen Nahar rules the desert city of Samandal alone, having lost her parents by the time she was 18 years old. This prosperous city resides on crucial trade routes that unite various regions. So Samandal's Great Council is understandably worried when massive "semi-human" raiders, the Mrrrg, overtake a neighboring town - a 'major nexus' for the trade routes. Despite its efforts, the Samandal army can't stop the Mrrrg's mighty Dragon Horde from seizing the city. Paramount chieftain and warlord Timur sets his sights on Nahar even before his Dragon Horde reaches Samandal. As is typical for a savage Mrrrg, Timur forces himself on Nahar only to feel something beyond physical pleasure. Nahar, too, senses a deep connection while shamefully enjoying sex, even when other men rape and, at one point, whip her. Meanwhile, the captive citizens plot an escape, and Bahadur, the leader of the city's temporarily useless Household Guard, spearheads a rebellion to retake Samandal. He starts by disrupting the profitable trade routes, which Timur has been exploiting. But the paramount chieftain also faces dissension with the Dragon Horde; his love for Nahar is a sign of weakness that some Mrrrg will take advantage of. As battles against the Mrrrg and humans increase, Nahar discovers an unusual way to acquire power. She must nevertheless choose a side - take back her throne of love and enemy of of both Samandal and the human race.
Templeton's epic story teems with melodrama, sporadic action, and eroticism. Many readers will be put off or deeply troubled by the explicit sex scenes....But the author does skillfully portray this tales intriguing world, from the lands surrounding Samandal to the myriad characters. For example, Samandal's women, who oversee the city's politics and finances, plan the escape from Mrrrg control using 'bribes and seduction.' In the story, good and evil aren't easily defined; not everyone is innocent in Samandal, which has a dark underbelly where killers and thieves thrive. While Templeton rarely misses an opportunity to describe Nahar's somatic beauty, the author proves adept at portraying various characters, including Kashi [sic], a wizard: 'Mustachios curled under his hawk nose, and his beard, black but streaked with white, reached nearly to his waist.' The narrative's actions comes in bursts, which are often effective and a further display of the sharp prose: 'The steeds of both warriors, well trained and tried in war, fought as well, each sensing from the shifting of his rider's weight where and when he meant to strike, and swerving to place him a best advantage, without need for direction.' The final act takes an odd but not entirely unexpected turn, and the story ends on a surprisingly lyrical note." - Kirkus Reviews.

"An interesting read with good storyline and well developed characters. The story keeps you intrigued. Overall a very good read." - Ron Baumer, Goodreads Review.

"Drawing inspiration from Hinduism, the erotic fantasy novel Nahar concerns a queen's sacrifice. A queen finds herself and her city at the mercy of savage invaders in Kirk Templeton's erotic fantasy novel Nahar. Nahar rules over Samandal with a kind hand. At her borders is a mountain pass that leads to the lands of the Mrrrg horde. When word reaches her that the Mrrrg have taken her border garrison, Nahar convinces her to mount an attack. The vast majority of her forces are sent out in this effort. But the Mrrrg are led by a cunning chieftain, Timur, who has his eyes set on beautiful Queen Nahar and her kingdom, which he hopes to obtain for the glory of his horde. He crushes the Samandal army. After a short siege and invasion, Nahar is forced to tender a total surrender in order to save her people. Understanding her sacrifice but unable to endure continued humiliation, her shadow council sets a secret plan in motion to free Samandal and avenge their dead. While the story includes exciting instances of battle, subterfuge, and intrigue, the narrative leans too far into its troubling eroticism. The culture of Samandal is inclusive of various forms of age relationships and holds courtesans in high esteem. Nahar herself is neither virginal or chaste. But the conquering Mrrrg forces view humans as lower life forms (a world view echoed by the humans toward the Mrrrg); taking women in conquest is a vital aspect of their culture....Women, including Nahar, come to love and desire their captors. The seeds of this are planted Nahar and Timur's first intimate encounter, and are intriqued and led by it to each other. That connection is not explained to the end, whose revelation stops short of a declarative declaration....But the world building is extensive and creative, gathering inspiration from myriad real-world cultures, including Hinduism. Castles, slums, mountains, and desert steppes are described in rich detail, and the women wear jewels and bright saris; they are knowledgeable about manipulating the body's energies. Still, the books exposition is uneven -- sometimes illustrated in involving ways, but sometimes overly long and distracting." - Dontana McPherson-Joseph, Foreward Clarion Reviews.

"Excellent read. I could not put this one down. Highly recommended." - Mary Lynn, Goodreads Review.

"An epic battle between good and evil lies at the core of Nahar, Kirk Templeton's tale of a queen torn between loyalty to her country and the demands of her heart. Nahar is the queen of the city of Samandal in the Kurgon Empire [sic], a fictional realm that recalls the ancient empires of the East. The city's riches and locale as a hub of commerce and civilization make it a target for conquerors, as does its queen's beauty. 'Her body was a dream: voluptuously curved into rounded fullness in breast and hip, but slender at the waist above her gently rounded belly with its goblet navel.' The queen and her city draws the attention of Timur, chieftain and warlord of the Mrrrg, 'a savage, semi-human race,' which conquerors Samandal. Nahar submits to Timur's will, soon developing deep feeelings for him, while a resistance cell ultimately blooms to return Samandal to its rightful rulers. Templeton's vision for his imagined realm is vast, and his endnotes referencing sources ranging from Lao Tzu [sic] to Iroquois myth hint at the scope of his influences. At his best, he writes with an impressive scale, vocabulary and imagery. At his worst, however, Templeton offers overly sexualized imagery that detracts from the main narrative....Templeton creates a vivid and elaborate world....Erotica fans will find some appeal here, but those looking for solid fantasy will find this an uneven offering." - Blueink Reviews.