Blood and Ember by Isabel Cooper – a Review

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Description:
A century ago, the Traitor God’s fury left the world broken by violent storms and twisted monsters born of darkness and death. Now those storms are sweeping across the continent again and it will take everything the armies of man can muster to survive. As a sworn knight, Olvir is prepared to do his part–even if that means journeying deep into the magic-tainted Battlefield to face the enemy alone.

Sentinel Vivian Bathari has lost too much to allow her closest friend to make such a sacrifice alone. Besides, there are whispers that Olvir’s strange new powers are somehow connected to the Traitor God, and she’d rather be by his side should the worst occur. But as they travel deep into the heart of danger, their growing attraction burns into mutual desire, and the true depth of Olvir’s connection to the evil haunting their world is made clear. In the end, Vivian will have to decide what she’s willing to sacrifice to save their world…and the man she loves.

Review:

Blood and Ember by Isabel Cooper is the 3^rd and final book in her Stormbringer series.  Refresher: This is an epic fantasy adventure series filled with magic, sword fighting, epic battles, monsters and an evil god.  Sentinels, who start training at a young age, protect the world against a traitor god and his minions who threaten to destroy the world.

Olvir, our hero, is a knight, whom we met in the first book.  Vivian Bathari, our heroine is a Sentinel, and has worked with Olvir, over the years, just being friends.  As the Traitor God continues to create havoc and chaos, all the Sentinels, Knights, and others are losing the battle.  During one attack, Olvir finds himself with some unusual abilities to help defeat the monsters, that seemed to look only at him.  The leaders suspect that his new found powers have some sort of connection to the evil Traitor God, and decide to send him on a journey to the “Battlefield” were it all began. 

Vivian, who is one of the leaders of the Sentinels, decides she and her soulstone sword will join Olvir on his dangerous mission, to help support him.   Vivian also knows if along the way, if Olvir is overtaken by the Traitor God, she will have to kill him.    

As they travel, both Olvir and Vivian begin to feel the growing attraction to each other, which slowly becomes love for them both.  But no matter what, Olvir must retain his own mind and ability, and not succumb to the Traitor God’s powers; or Vivian will have to do what she dreads. The journey was very detailed, with Olvir seeing memories from those years ago, trying to find where to stop the constant attacks and horrible weather that would eventually destroy the world.

What follows is a nonstop action filled battles that has you on the edge of your seat, if they will survive, especially against Thyrad, the Traitor God’s second in command.  Olivr and Vivian work closely together to use their experience and magical skills, along with Ulamir (soulstone sword) to fight the traitor god’s monsters, storms and evil beings. 

This is a difficult review to write, as with so many details and descriptions, it would ruin the book for you.  I said this previously that Cooper creates strong and powerful women (warriors/sentinels) in this series, who are equal to the men.  I really liked Vivian and Olivr together, as they made a great couple. The last half of the book was tense and exciting, as we raced to the climax. 

Blood and Ember is another exciting and well written story by Isabel Cooper, with great couple and secondary characters, excellent fantasy adventure, with was nonstop action. Blood and Ember was a satisfying conclusion to this series, tying up loose ends.  Very well done.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher