Title: Freiya’s Stand
Author: Anastasia Vitsky
Print Length: 129 pages
Publication Date: August 16, 2016
Categories: Lesbian, romance, Christian
When should love take a stand?
Freiya’s life is perfect. She’s got doting parents, a classroom of adorable kindergarteners, and the love of her life. Even if Sabrina insists on discretion in their private Catholic school, they share happiness in private.
That is, until the bombshell hits. Their principal demands a “Fight for Families” covenant to refrain from “sexual perversion.” All teachers must sign. No exceptions.
Sign, Sabrina says. Otherwise, they’ll lose their job, privacy, and home.
Freiya doesn’t want to betray the woman she loves, but how can she sign a document that denounces their love? Is standing up for love worth losing her livelihood?
If she speaks the truth, she’ll lose everything.
If she lies, she’ll lose even more.
How can Freiya take a stand for what’s right when the choices are wrong?
How can it be wrong to love the woman who makes her life worth living?
The truth should set them free, but Freiya’s stand threatens to destroy the very love she refuses to deny.
When “religious freedom” legislates against identity, how can Freiya and Sabrina survive?
I’ve been looking forward to reading this since reading the blurb. I love stories about standing up for one’s convictions. Once I began reading, I didn’t want to put it down. I had to know how it was all going to turn out with the various situations introduced in the story. There’s a lot packed into such a short work, but it doesn’t feel like too much because of the pacing.
The story is almost in two parts: First, Freiya and Sabrina must work through the the dilemma regarding their school. Once that has been resolved, they still have to deal with the ripple effect on their relationship. In between, we see glimpses of how they went from coworkers to lovers. I found the transitions to be smooth and handled well, but some readers may prefer a single timeline and plot focus. Personally, I like the multiple strands because it makes it feel more realistic for me; life doesn’t just zero in on two people and their couplehood.
It would be nice to think the contract and the expectations of the school (prohibitions against certain types of “immoral” sexual conduct) are outdated. However, they are not. They may not be spelled out as thoroughly as in the story, but they are still prevalent. I think it would have been hard in such a short work to get across the more subtle ways in which employers apply pressure. I don’t know if I agree with the way in which Freiya chose to handle the situation, since it wasn’t only her job and relationships on the line. It would be a tough call for anyone.
The reaction of Sabrina’s mother in particular also may seem a bit exaggerated, but it’s no more overdone than the school contract. There are still many families shunning their children for who they are. It’s easy to understand why Sabrina reacts the way she does. I liked the juxtaposition of Freiya’s disappointed but ultimately supportive family vs. Sabrina’s angry and distrustful family. One character surprised me in a good way, but anything else I say might be spoilers.
I love the relationship between Freiya and Sabrina. The glimpses of their history are sweet and romantic and playful. They have terrific chemistry. And of course, there is the wonderful element of forgiveness and reconciliation as a running thread throughout. I really appreciate how Freiya maintains her deep faith despite the things she’s experienced at the hands of less caring people. At the end, Freiya’s message for readers is clear and much-needed: you don’t have to see your faith as being at odds with who you are. I don’t think that gets said enough, and I hope people read those words and know how true they are.
Ultimately, I think that’s what this story is about—hope. It’s less about the specific relationship between Freiya and Sabrina and more about what we do with the circumstances we’re in. Both Freiya and Sabrina are able to find their way forward from the hurt, both that imposed on them and what they’ve caused each other.
For excellent characters, thoughtful handling of complex situations, and a positive, loving message, this gets 10/10 fountain pens.
Heat rating: 2/5 (mild, infrequent, fade-to-black)
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Freiyas-Stand-Anastasia-Vitsky-ebook/dp/B01KKHU9OO/
Cookie queen, wooden spoon lady, and champion of carbs, Anastasia Vitsky specializes in F/F fiction. She hates shoes and is allergic to leather. When not writing about women who live spankily ever after, she coordinates reader and author events such as Spank or Treat, Love Spanks, and Sci Spanks. Her favorite event is Ana’s Advent Calendar, a month-long celebration of books, community, and making a difference.
She is too afraid to watch Doctor Who, but she adores The Good Wife and anything with Audrey Hepburn. In her next life, she will learn how to make the perfect pie crust. She can be found at governingana.wordpress.com and on twitter @AnastasiaVitsky.
