Blessing and Light: An Order Universe Holiday Short

By: Kasia Bacon

Narrated by: Michael Fox

Length: 32 mins

Publisher's Summary

It’s the Night of Winter Lights.

Heedless of the holiday, the Commander of the H’Aren fortress, Captain Torýn Torhdhar, seems to find his satisfaction in work.

Such occurrence hardly surprises his Orderly, Sæbastyn Hyago, even though the young Lieutenant has spent a silent, aching decade wishing his superior officer would pursue pleasure elsewhere - specifically in his arms. But as the evening continues, nothing about it meets Sæbastyn’s expectations. Will the Lieutenant see his secret desires realised, or his heart shattered?

©2017 Kasia Bacon (P)2019 Kasia Bacon

Lovely. Amazing. Evocative. Romantic

Lovely. Amazing. Evocative. Romantic.

I don’t do audiobooks, this is my second, but if Kasia Bacon and this narrator are working together again: I’m in.
The pace is perfect. Just perfect. That beginning where Sæbadtyn is walking around the fortress, describing what he says, what he lives... I really loved the tempo, the British accent, the voice... us powerful.
I already knew the story, I’m pretty addicted to The Order Series and I’ve read Blessing and Light more than 10 times. Love the characters and the universe Kasia has created and I think the narrator did a perfect job giving them voice, giving them feelings.

Highly recommend!

Lovely short

I don’t usually like short stories, but this was fabulous. Enough world building that I wasn’t clueless, but not so much as to negate the story. Told first person entirely from Saebastyn’s POV, it was a super sweet tale of unrequited love finally realized. It’s closed door, perfect if you’re looking for something without details.

This is my first time listening to Michael Fox narrate and it won’t be my last. He gave all the characters unique voices and did a great job with the various emotions. It’s not often a short makes me laugh, cry, & swoon.

🎧 Audiobook listener 🎧

Blessing and Light ( An Order Universe Holiday Short)by Kasia Bacon. This was a sweet short holiday listen. This story was well written. I would love to have more of these characters and the world they live in.
The Narrator Michael Fox did a fantastic job bringing these characters and story to life.

cute short

enjoyed this short story. loved that there was a happy ending and both characters got what they desired. I did wish it was longer and more world building. while this is a standalone and doesn't focus on the MC in the Order series I do recommend that other listeners give that a try. just so you don't go into it blind.

the narration was fantastic. no complaints.

a free copy was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.

New to me

New to me author and narrator, but I really enjoyed this short story. It’s definitely got me on the hook to follow up with this series. Hopefully Michael Fox has narrated the others.

a sweet short

This is a sweet, make you feel good, holiday short.
Narrator Michael Fox does a fabulous job.

Sweet, short and lovely

New to me author and narrator. Both did a great job with such a short story.
I got such a vivid impression of the camp, the soldiers and the 2 MCs from the narration that I was honestly surprised that it wasn't longer!
I absolutely will look for more from both Kasia Bacon and Michael Fox.

Interesting Setting

This was an interesting short - only two chapters. We meet Capt. Toryn Torhdhar, Commander of the H'Aren Fortress, and his Orderly, Lt. Saebastyn Hyago, during the time of the Elven Wars and battles with the Barbarians. The men have served together for over a decade, each having romantic feelings for the other, but keeping those feelings to themselves, at least until the day Toryn decides to send Saebastyn to another fortress to keep him safe from upcoming battles. It is then that their feelings become known, and the book abruptly ends with the writer alluding that the two became involved with each other. I wish the book had been longer, as I was only just starting to enjoy it when it ended. Still, Kasia's back story on the characters and the unusual setting were intriguing, and Michael Fox's narration was perfect.

Beautiful Short Story

I really enjoyed this short vignette into the life and thoughts of Sæbastyn and his commanding officer. Sæbastyn is about to be given accolades and a promotion to his own leadership position, but will he find the courage to tell his captain what he really wants, and then what? I loved the quiet, lyrical nature of the story, enhanced by the lovely narration by Michael Fox. There is a sweet tension of denied desire...and anticipation. It's a lovely tale for a winter's night.

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from the author and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

Decent short, holiday listen

This was a pleasant story with a lot of information packed into a few pages. Thanks to descriptions and the Glossary, it didn’t take much time to understand what was being conveyed. I must admit that I am amazed by the narrator and the different voices he uses for the characters. It adds depth and a fun touch.

Quality not quantity matters

I  love this author, I really do. Not many could write a super short story and drag me right back into the world she created quite like she does. I'm not a novella fan, I usually feel short-changed when reading them yet this one is the shortest I've read and really enjoyed it.

It's quality, not quantity that matters and Ms Bacon has that magical quality .... in spades.

A lovely winter story!

Even though it's the shortest of The Order Universe stories, it feels complete. Actually, it can serve as the first glimpse into this fascinating world. There a lot of showing and the emotions are palpable.
Michael Fox's narration is yet again tantalising and it brings the book alive.

Packed full of emotions!

Well done! A short story but deeply moving. You can really feel the emotion, the cold air, the festive spirit. I loved the cat (nice touch).
The narration was excellent: fluid, unhurried--it suited the mood. The voices for the main characters were distinctive and fitting. A very pleasant experience on the whole. Recommended.

Sort but intense

It is a standalone book inside The Order Universe, beautiful and exquisite, as usual with this autor. I don't know how she manage it, but her characters tug your heartstrings and not too much words are needed.

Just Lovely, Michael Fox Is Perfect

What an incredibly sweet and romantic holiday short. I'm enjoying everything I'm reading by Kasia Bacon, everything is beautifully written and truly creative. As this one comes from "the Order" universe, I'm going to check into that series and see what I've been missing.

The audiobook is performed by Michael Fox who has a lovely voice and does a wonderful job with these voices.

Words well wielded

An amazing amount of chemistry packed into such a brief story. A beautifully written short.

🎧 Audiobook listener 🎧

Blessing and Light ( An Order Universe Holiday Short)by Kasia Bacon. This was a sweet short holiday listen. This story was well written. I would love to have more of these characters and the world they live in.
The Narrator Michael Fox did a fantastic job bringing these characters and story to life.

Short and sweet

This Christmas short was my first taste of Kasia Bacon’s elven fantasy world and because it was so short, it was hard to judge. It describes a brief romantic moment between Captain Torhdhar and his loyal orderly, Sæbastyn. I found the glossary at the end helpful because it gave me a tantalising glimpse of the wider world Bacon has created. I liked the narration but felt it could have flowed a little better. I’d certainly explore more works by this author based on this taster.

as good as the ebook

The story is always full stars, because if I wouldn't like the story as ebook, I wouldn't listen to the audiobook. I can't listen to an audiobook without knowing the book, that's not possible for me.

The performance from the narrator is also very important for me. I can't listen to a lot, because my English as a non-native-speaker isn't so perfect to follow a whole story over hours, when the narrator speaks too fast or too sloppy. Normally I have to SEE the person, who is talking to me in English. It took me a little bit, to come into the narrator, but at the end, it worked. I only have to take a few breaks between. I'm just not yet finish with the book, but I listen enough to give a review.

PLEASE READ MY RATING SYSTEM!!!

To my ratings:

5* - very very good
it's like an A+

4* - very good and will be often re-listening
it's like an A

3* - it's more then a one-time-listening.
it's like a B

Very Sweet and Short Love Story

Have to say I really enjoyed this auibal at first I thought was about two Roman's but as the story goes on found I was wrong. Found it very interesting holiday they celebrate like out Christmas and the narrator brought it to life and you could feel the thoughts and feeling of each character.
Will have to see into what else she writes.