Oooh, Swordspoint. ♥ That book inspired the swordfighting Suzaku drabble.

The gay isn't subtle so much as it's just...not made into an issue. It's just there, and it's normal and it's right. The porn's subtle though. It's not a gay romance novel (thank god) but it is sexy all the same (likely better, since I am unimpressed with the romance genre as a whole).