Teaser

Levar Boylan is just a soldier, which is why he’s surprised to be attached to his nations diplomatic team. Even more surprising is the revelation that the Emperor he has been at war with for twelve years is none other than his ex-girlfriend from college . . .

Review

I have a policy when it comes to review copies. I only request them if I’ve read the author before. That way, I get a free book that I’m confident of enjoying, the publisher gets an honest review, and the author gets some good publicity. Of course, if the book isn’t up to snuff, I do say so, but generally this policy has put me in good stead, even if it means I do miss out on all the hot debuts of the year. Sometimes, however, a publisher sees fit to send me a copy of a new book without me having requested it. Yay, free books. It also means I occasionally end up reading books I’d never have chosen to of my own volition. Such is the case with Calvin James’ debut novel Affairs of State.

There’s a lot about this book that made me think I was going to dislike it from the off. The first clue was that it is pitched as a romance book. Romantasy is all the rage in he fantasy community right now, and I wondered if that particular trend was now coming to science fiction. Each to their own, but I’ve never been one for romance in my reading. And then there’s the fact that the Emperor is listed as a Demon. Was this my other dreaded bugbear: science fantasy? Trust me when I say I steeled myself for a tough time.

Reader, I needn’t have worried. James doesn’t waste any time with set-up. He throws us right into the deep end and within three chapters there are about a half-dozen interplanetary nations using a massive party as an excuse to to sue for peace, while also using diplomacy as an excuse to throw a massive party. If you think that’s an odd set-up, then don’t worry. It’s based on the true events after the defeat of Napoleon. It’s an incredible basis for some of the best political shenanigans I’ve come across. Everyone is playing their cards close to their chests, everyone has an agenda, and poor Boylan is stuck in the middle of it all.

As for the Demons? They are not really demons, thankfully. They’re bioengineered humans with scales, horns, red skin, and claws. There’s an offhand reference to some Celestials who are presumably at he other end of the spectrum, but everyone in this book is some form of transhuman. Except for the robot horse, but that’s for you to find out about on your own. Even though the book unfolds across the course of a few days, there’s a wealth of background future history for James to play around with, and I would happily see more books set in Fallspace.

I feel I should address the elephant in the room. I am not a romance reader. I can’t compare Astrid and Levar’s courtship to any others. I think romance readers would enjoy this pairing, and if you’re a romantasy fan looking at getting into science fiction, then this is undoubtedly the book for you. For myself, I’m just glad that our star-crossed lovers are mature adults who are actually capable of talking to one another about their feelings. Even if one of them is a Demon, they feel like real people, and that can only be a good thing.

As debuts go, Affairs of State is brilliant. The pacing is relentless, the prose crisp, the characters engaging, and the climax immensely satisfying. I burned through the whole book, which clocks in just shy of 500 pages, in two days. It’s that good. It blew past any expectations and preconceptions I held, and emerged as a surprise contender for one of my favourite books of the year. Thoroughly recommended.

Release Date

Affairs of State is published tomorrow (28/07/2026) by Titan Books. I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.