Tag Archives: Epic Fantasy

A Touch of Stone and Snow by Milla Vane – a Review

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A Touch of Stone and Snow by Milla Vane – a Review

 

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Description:
Danger lurks in the western realms. The Destroyer’s imminent return has sent the realms into turmoil as desperate citizens seek refuge—but there’s no safety to be found when demons and wraiths crawl out from the shadows. Even Koth, a northern island kingdom left untouched by the Destroyer a generation past, is besieged by terrors spawned from corrupt magics.

When Lizzan leads the Kothan army against these terrors, only to see her soldiers massacred and to emerge as the only survivor, she is called a coward and a deserter. Shunned from her home, Lizzan now wanders in solitude as a mercenary for hire, until she encounters a group of warriors seeking new alliances with the northern kingdoms—a group that includes Aerax, the bastard prince of Koth, and the man who sent her into exile.

Though they were childhood friends, Aerax cannot allow himself to be close to the only woman who might thwart his treacherous plan to save their island realm. But when a goddess’s demand binds them together, Lizzan and Aerax must find a way to overcome their painful pasts. Or there will be no future for the western realms…

 

 

Review:

A Touch of Snow and Stone by Milla Vane is the 2nd book in her fantasy series, A Gathering of Dragons.  Though they are mentioned a few times, the heroes of the first book do not play a part in this one, but I am sure in the next book we will see them all together in trying to defeat the Destroyer.

Lizzan, our heroine, is one of the best warriors for the Koth kingdom; but when she was the lone survivor of a massacre, they accused her of running away and not helping her soldiers.  She was shunned and exiled, with her name removed from the Kingdom.  Over time, she becomes a lone mercenary for hire to help those in need of protection.  Lizzan comes across a group of warriors from different kingdoms seeking alliances to fight the Destroyer.  She makes friends with some of them, until she learns that the man she always loved, Aerax, is part of the group with other Kothans.

Aerax, our hero and a prince of Koth, has been trying to find Lizzan, since he has always loved her; but he knows when she was accused of betrayal, he did not offer to help her, as he knew of her innocence. Aerax is determined to destroy Koth, and knew Lizzan would try to stop him; but now all he wants is to make amends.  I absolutely loved loved his snow leopard, Caeb.  The cat, who was loyal to both Aerax and Lizzan was a fantastic addition to this series, and all scenes with Caeb were wonderful.  There is more to what Caeb is, but I guess we will learn more in the next book.   

What follows is a wild, exciting, action packed adventure, filled with myths, magic and gods.  When Lizzan goes to the god Vela for help, she is sent on a quest to protect the first person she sees, which does end up being Aerax.  They both will join hands with some of the other groups, as well as our wonderful Caeb to try to stop a demon.  It was great to watch Lizzan and Aerax begin to resume their relationship and love. It was funny to see Caeb push both of them together often.  Cute.  Knowing that if they can’t defeat the demon, their lives could be lost, they make the most of their lust for each other, which was sizzling.

A Touch of Snow and Stone is an epic fantasy at its best, with intense nonstop violent action, excitement, fantastic characters (some from the previous book) and a wonderful romance. There is a lot of details throughout as they head to Koth, keeping us on the edge of our seats to see who will survive.    If you enjoy fantasy, a great world building, with monsters, such as wraiths, and magical elements, I suggest you read this series.  Start with the first book A Heart of Blood and Ashes, and then continue to A Touch of Snow and Stone.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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Sisters of Sword and Song by Rebecca Ross – a Review

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Sisters of Sword and Song by Rebecca Ross – a Review

 

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Description:
After eight long years, Evadne will finally be reunited with her older sister, Halcyon, who has been proudly serving in the queen’s army. But when Halcyon appears earlier than expected, Eva knows something has gone terribly wrong. Halcyon is on the run, hunted by her commander and charged with murder.

Though Halcyon’s life is spared during her trial, the punishment is heavy. And when Eva volunteers to serve part of Halcyon’s sentence, she’s determined to find out exactly what happened. But as Eva begins her sentence, she quickly learns that there are fates much worse than death.

 

 

Review:

Sisters of Sword and Song by Rebecca Ross is a fantastic YA fantasy.  Having read a previous duology by Ross, I looked forward to reading this book.  I loved it, and best of all, it is standalone novel, which means you don’t have to wait to see what happens in the next book. ?

Sisters of Sword and Song focuses on two sisters, Halcyon and Evadne, who were very close.  Halcyon is the older sister, who left home 8 years ago to join the Queen’s army, where she rose to become a powerful and loyal warrior in the Bronze Legion.  Evadne was excited, as she awaited Halcyon’s return home to visit after all these years, but to her surprise, she is awakened in the middle of the night by a desperate Halcyon.  Evadne will learn that Halcyon is now wanted for murder, though it was an accident; but she wanted to see her sister, and run before she is found, or they will kill her despite not being intentional.  Swearing Evadne to not revealing that she came to see her, Halcyon runs away; only to be found a short time later, and captured to and tried for murder. Evadne, and her family travel to support Halcyon, as they knew she would never murder anyone and she was also so loyal to the Queen and her commander. 

Evadne worshipped her sister, and when then the sentencing is harsh (15 years in three concurrent 5 year terms), it will be Evadne who will offer to share the penalty to help save her sister’s life.  The Lord Commander Straton, whose son, Xander was the one who was killed, will step in and accept those terms, with Evadne being the one who will spend 5 years working for the Straton family. 

What follows is a tense, exciting, action filled and intriguing story that is filled with many surprising twists. We follow as Halcyon is sent to prison, where she is quickly under duress, as those in charge are determined to get information from her about the mission she and Xander were on when the accident occurred. One of the villians, a mage, arranged to have her poisoned, in order to weaken her and break through her mind to find the information needed.  Will she survive?  During that same period, Evadne is put to work as a servant, until Damon ( Xander’s brother and Straton’s other son), who is a Mage, takes a liking to her, and eventually pulls her to work for him as a scribe. Together they will slowly find their attraction growing, as well as becoming a perfect team; using the mage’s ability to sing (with Evadne joining the song) to use magic that will help them defeat the enemy.  Both Damon and Evadne will be the ones who will step up to take over the dangerous mission to gain a relic that will help save the Queen, against a evil and strong mage, who happens to be Straton’s sister.  Too tell too much more would be spoilers, but this was an exciting, mind blowing adventure that held me on the edge of my seat, wondering who will die and who will survive. 

I loved both Halcyon and Evadne, as they not only made great heroines, but it was so great to see their sisterhood bond.  I also loved Damon and Evadne slow burn romance, as they made a great couple.  She willingly helping Damon, despite the dangers; and he turned into such a great hero, so sweet and charming.  I got a kick out of Evadne discovering her new wings, and her ability to fly both her and Damon to safety. 

Sisters of Sword and Song was a fantastic story, so very well written by Ross.  This was a fantasy that had a bit of everything, such as mythology, magic, mages, scribes, warriors, gods, magical relics and horrible villains.  This was a journey to save the Queen, against evil forces; especially against a terrifying evil and ultra-powerful villain.  If you enjoy fantasy, especially a rare standalone, then look no further than Sisters of Sword and Song. I have come to adore the writing of Rebecca Ross.  

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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Stealing Thunder by Alina Boyden – a Review

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Stealing Thunder by Alina Boyden – a Review

 

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Description:
Protecting her identity means life or death in this immersive epic fantasy inspired by the Mughal Empire.

In a different life, under a different name, Razia Khan was raised to be the Crown Prince of Nizam, the most powerful kingdom in Daryastan. Born with the soul of a woman, she ran away at a young age to escape her father’s hatred and live life true to herself.

Amongst the hijras of Bikampur, Razia finds sisterhood and discovers a new purpose in life. By day she’s one of her dera’s finest dancers, and by night its most profitable thief. But when her latest target leads her to cross paths with Arjun Agnivansha, Prince of Bikampur, it is she who has something stolen.

An immediate connection with the prince changes Razia’s life forever, and she finds herself embroiled in a dangerous political war. The stakes are greater than any heist she’s ever performed. When the battle brings her face to face with her father, Razia has the chance to reclaim everything she lost…and save her prince.

 

 

Review:

Stealing Thunder by Alina Boyden is the first book in her new fantasy series with the same title.  When I started reading this book, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but upon completion of this story, I am happy to say Stealing Thunder was an excellent read.  The story did start a bit slow, which is normal for any worldbuilding in fantasy; but the second half was very exciting and awesome. 

Razia Khan is our heroine throughout the entire book, and she is a trans gender woman, who gave up life as a crown prince to live her life as a woman.  Razia escaped from her evil father, to become a hijras in Bikampur, where she lives with other girls who are dancers, some also being transgenders.  She is one of the finest dancers, a courtesan, as well as being a thief to help her leader pay bills.   Over time, Razia has become the best at everything she does.

During one of her performances, Razia meets Prince Arjun and both become attracted to each other, as they begin to spend a lot of time together.  He also discovers that she is stealing expensive items for her leader, and arranges for her to leave her dera, bringing along two of her ‘sisters’ to become his concubine.   When Razia left her family, she missed her zahhak (dragon) and Arjun allows her to ride his zahhak, bringing back her memories of her long lost dragon,  Sultana.  When Razia goes to live with Arjun’s family, his father puts her down, even though his son cares for her, but with war on the horizon against a powerful enemy, Arjun’s father will quickly change his tune.  Razia’s background as the young heir to the family throne, gives her amazing knowledge and skills that will push her into the forefront of this war.  Those who look down on her, such as Arjun’s father, her cousin, and others, will begin to see how smart she is, as well as being able to know how to stop and defeat their enemies. 

I loved how Razia finds her lost dragon, Sultana, and uses her abilities to climb a mountain, and get the help they need to defeat the enemy.   But that will bring her face to face with her father, who is determined to kill her.  Can Razia be able to use her savvy, smarts and Sultana to help her win the battle for her life?  To tell too much more would be spoilers, and you really need to read and enjoy the wild and climatic ending.   

The last half of Stealing Thunder was very exciting, nonstop action, with flying dragons, aerial battles, and a heroine who stood up to the challenge.  This was also a sweet romance, as I did like Razia and Arjun together.  Alina Boyden did a great job writing this wonderful fantasy, and I for one cannot wait for the next book. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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The Kingdom of Liars by Nick Martell – a Review

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The Kingdom of Liars by Nick Martell – a Review

 

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Description:
Michael is branded a traitor as a child because of the murder of the king’s nine-year-old son, by his father David Kingman. Ten years later on Michael lives a hardscrabble life, with his sister Gwen, performing crimes with his friends against minor royals in a weak attempt at striking back at the world that rejects him and his family.

In a world where memory is the coin that pays for magic, Michael knows something is there in the hot white emptiness of his mind. So when the opportunity arrives to get folded back into court, via the most politically dangerous member of the kingdom’s royal council, Michael takes it, desperate to find a way back to his past. He discovers a royal family that is spiraling into a self-serving dictatorship as gun-wielding rebels clash against magically trained militia.

What the truth holds is a set of shocking revelations that will completely change the Hollows, if Michael and his friends and family can survive long enough to see it.

 

 

Review:

The Kingdom of Liars by Nick Martell is the first book in his new fantasy series, The Legacy of the Mercenary King.  I had some mixed feelings about this book, but since this is Martell’s debut novel, and considering this is an epic fantasy, it was a well written story.

Michael Kingman is our hero in this series, though in the first half of the book, he wasn’t a good hero, being somewhat unlikeable.  Michael, whose father murdered the King’s son 10 years earlier, has lived with his family branded as traitors.  Michael works with friends to con royals to make ends meet.  Michael is determined to prove that his father was innocent and framed; he pushes his way into situations that endanger himself and his friends. The story did begin with Michael on trial for supposedly killing the King, and it then switches to the past, detailing how Michael ended up being accused of murder.

In order to get closer to the royal family, he helps a Fabricator, who is looking for evidence and in doing so becomes more visible, especially to the Corrupt Prince, who wants nothing better than to have Michael killed.  In any first book of a fantasy, I recognize the author trying to give us a lot of information of the worldbuilding.  My mixed feelings were more that the first half was a bit slow, the hero wasn’t overly likable, the secondary characters were ok, and the storyline was somewhat confusing with each chapter.  I wasn’t sure I would continue.  However, I am glad I did, as the last half of the book picked up, with a bit more clarity, and excitement and the hero becoming more focused.

We learn more later in the book about Fabricators and their magic, as well as Mercenaries.   I also did like Michael’s sister, Gwen, who was a heroine in her own right; and Naomi was another interesting character.  This is a difficult review to write, as so much is going on from the start to finish that is hard to put in writing without being spoilers. 

The Kingdom of Liars was an interesting fantasy, that became exciting and intriguing in the last half of the book.   The finale was a surprise, and did have me pushing to find out the end. Being fantasy, Nick Martell wrote a good story, especially being his debut novel, which I expect to see some improvements in the next book. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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The Girl and the Stars by Mark Lawrence – a Review

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The Girl and the Stars by Mark Lawrence – a Review

 

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Description:
In the ice, east of the Black Rock, there is a hole into which broken children are thrown.

On Abeth the vastness of the ice holds no room for individuals. Survival together is barely possible. No one survives alone.

To resist the cold, to endure the months of night when even the air itself begins to freeze, requires a special breed. Variation is dangerous, difference is fatal. And Yaz is not the same.

Yaz is torn from the only life she’s ever known, away from her family, from the boy she thought she would spend her days with, and has to carve out a new path for herself in a world whose existence she never suspected. A world full of difference and mystery and danger.

Yaz learns that Abeth is older and stranger than she had ever imagined. She learns that her weaknesses are another kind of strength. And she learns to challenge the cruel arithmetic of survival that has always governed her people.

Only when it’s darkest you can see the stars.

 

 

Review:

The Girl and the Stars by Mark Lawrence is the 1st book in his fantasy Book of Ice series. I have become a big fan of Mark Lawrence after I read and loved his Book of Ancestor series.  I did enjoy The Girl and the Stars, and though it was a good story, I felt this was totally a different kind of read, even if it does take place in the same world as Book of Ancestor. 

We meet Yaz, our heroine, at the start, as the clans, who live in a brutal cold ice-covered world, have to attend every few years a gathering run by the priest regulator.  Yaz fears that she will die, as the priests will push away the children who they consider broken (no ability, disabled, too small or big, etc) into a large hole in the ice never to be seen again.  To Yaz’s shock, the priest keeps her and pushes her younger brother down the black hole; she throws herself down the gap to try and save him. This was an amazing and shocking start that kept us enthralled, as Yaz lands in the dark, and is immediately attacked by a giant monster.  As she tries to run, she is helped by strangers who come to her rescue.

We get to meet many of the survivors (young and older) who live in the ‘Missing’ cities below.  Yaz will join with Arka (who has lived there for 20 years) and her team, who have to survive the dangers, such as Gerant (large beings), Tainted, Hunters (vicious creatures).    I really liked many of the secondary characters Lawrence created, such as Thurin, Erris, Arka, Maya, Quell, and even the bad ones such as Theus and Pome.

What follows is a nonstop action filled story, with everyone trying be a step ahead of the enemies, who are constantly trying to get them to join their team or kill them.  Yaz is determined to find her brother at any cost.  She is pulled away from her group many times along the way, and in doing so, learns about the powers she has with the stars, that will help her and her friends survive.   I loved Yaz, as she became such a great heroine, especially using her stars to guide her. 

The Girl and the Stars was a fantasy in a different kind of world that is beyond normal.  The cruel conditions, the dangerous people, the constant battles and the need to survive keeps us engrossed into this story. To tell too much more would be spoilers, as you really need to read this to understand all the factions involved.  I will say there is sort of a cliffhanger at the end.  If you enjoy fantasy, you can never go wrong with Mark Lawrence. I suggest you read The Girl and the Stars.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout – a Review

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From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout – a Review

 

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Description:
A Maiden…

Chosen from birth to usher in a new era, Poppy’s life has never been her own. The life of the Maiden is solitary. Never to be touched. Never to be looked upon. Never to be spoken to. Never to experience pleasure. Waiting for the day of her Ascension, she would rather be with the guards, fighting back the evil that took her family, than preparing to be found worthy by the gods. But the choice has never been hers.

A Duty…

The entire kingdom’s future rests on Poppy’s shoulders, something she’s not even quite sure she wants for herself. Because a Maiden has a heart. And a soul. And longing. And when Hawke, a golden-eyed guard honor bound to ensure her Ascension, enters her life, destiny and duty become tangled with desire and need. He incites her anger, makes her question everything she believes in, and tempts her with the forbidden.

A Kingdom…

Forsaken by the gods and feared by mortals, a fallen kingdom is rising once more, determined to take back what they believe is theirs through violence and vengeance. And as the shadow of those cursed draws closer, the line between what is forbidden and what is right becomes blurred. Poppy is not only on the verge of losing her heart and being found unworthy by the gods, but also her life when every blood-soaked thread that holds her world together begins to unravel.

 

 

Review:

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout is a fantastic fantasy novel, which is her first foray into High Fantasy. After finishing the book last night, I was thrilled, as I loved every moment of this story, and discovered that this is the beginning of a wonderful new series.   

We meet our heroine, Penellaphe (Poppy), from the start, as she is secretly in a bar, hidden by a mask, to check out the men and women enjoying each other’s company. Poppy does not have a normal life, as she is the “Maiden”, who is the chosen one, as her destiny is to Ascend to her place with the gods.  She has a year before she ascends, and lives mostly in solitude, with only her guards and her maid.  Despite her circumstances, Poppy is a strong, smart, independent heroine, and has been secretly trained by her lead guard how to fight and defend herself if needed. When she is hiding in a room in the bar, she meets a handsome stranger, who will in time change everything about her life. 

Hawke, our hero, becomes one of Poppy’s main guards, when one of them is killed in an attack by Descenters, who want to kill Poppy.  In a short time, Poppy will quickly realize that Hawke is the man she met at the bar.  Hawke was such an awesome character, whom you could not help fall in love with.  He was determined to win over Poppy, and nothing would stand in his way; even if he was very protective of her.  I loved Poppy and Hawke together, as the chemistry between them was sizzling.   Poppy tries very hard not to fall in love with Hawke, as he constantly teases and makes advances on her.  Wonderful couple, but do they really have a chance to be together?

Armentrout does an amazing job with this world-building, with gods, royalty, the mystery of ascension, as well as those the war against those they need to fight, such as Descenders, Atlantians, Cravens, Wolvens etc.  I do not want to tell too much more, as it would be spoilers, and this is too good to ruin it for you.

From Blood and Ash is an intriguing fantasy story, in a world filled with secrets, betrayals, suspense, action, mystery, passion and a wonderful cast of fantastic characters.  The last half of the book was mind-blowing, with tense violence, danger, constant action, heart wrenching and surprising twists.   In the forefront of this story is this wonderful romance between Poppy and Hawke; which will change everything about Poppy’s life as she learns the horrific truths along the way.  Who does she trust?

Bravo to Jennifer L. Armentrout, who has written such an amazing high fantasy, that kept me glued to my seat, unable to put the book down. From Blood and Ash was also a fun, enjoyable, as well as intense story line that had a bit of everything.  I am so happy to know that there will be another book, and possibly more in a series that is not to be missed.  I recommend you read From Blood and Ash, as I cannot wait for the next book.

Reviewed by Barb

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Crush the King by Jennifer Estep – Dual Review and Giveaway

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Crush the King by Jennifer Estep – Dual Review and Giveaway

 

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Description:
Queen Everleigh Blair of Bellona has survived the mass murder of the royal family, become a fearsome warrior trained by an elite gladiator troupe, and unleashed her ability to destroy magic. After surviving yet another assassination attempt orchestrated by the conniving king of Morta, Evie has had enough. It’s time to turn the tables and take the fight to her enemies. 

There is no better opportunity to strike than during the Regalia Games, a time when warriors, nobles, and royals from all the kingdoms come together to compete in various sporting events. With the help of her loyal friends, Evie goes on the attack at the Regalia, but things don’t turn out the way she hopes. Soon, she is facing a terrifying new threat, and she will have to dig deep and learn even more about her growing magic if she has any chance of defeating her foes.

Because to secure her throne and ensure her kingdom’s survival, Evie must think like a true Bellonan: she must outsmart and outwit her enemies . . . and crush the king.

 

 

Barb’s Review: 
Crush the King by Jennifer Estep is the 3rd book in her wonderful A Crown of Shards fantasy series. I am a big fan of Jennifer Estep’s books, having read all her series.  In A Crown of Shards, I loved the first two books and I thought Crush the King was equally as good as the first two.  Fantastic series.

Evie, our heroine and Queen of Bellona, having survived a terrible tragedy when the King of Morta murdered everyone in her royal family, with Evie having escaped.  In Crush the King, Evie and her magnificent team of gladiators travel to the Regalia Games, where all the nobles of each kingdom converge annually to have their best representative play in various games.  Evie is determined to make new allies to help her defeat the powerful King Maximus of Morta, as well as possibly assassinate him. 

Evie was a fabulous heroine, who over time and training from her amazing warrior friends, became a fierce, strong, brave, cunning, savvy and loyal Queen.  She will have to use all of her power and smarts to be able to defeat the evil King. I loved seeing all her friends (Serilda, Paloma, Sullivan, Xenia, Cho) from the earlier books, who have all stood by her and help protect her

To say too much more would be spoilers.  What follows is an exciting, intense, non-stop action that has us on the edge of our seats.  Estep has done it again with wonderful fantastic worldbuilding that kept our attention from start to finish. This was an exciting and enthralling fantasy, with fantastic characters (even the villains); surrounded by magic, violence, death, war, and intrigue that has us holding our breaths throughout.

Crush the King was an intriguing exciting enthralling epic fantasy that was so well written by Jennifer Estep.  She has created a wonderful heroine, and great cast of secondary characters.  I strongly suggest you read this series.  

 

Sandy’s Review:

CRUSH THE KING is the third instalment in Jennifer Estep’s CROWN OF SHARD’S epic fantasy series focusing on the newly crowned Queen of Bellona, Queen Everleigh (Evie) Saffira Winter Blair, a young woman whose ascension to the throne is predicated on a murderous coup against our heroine’s family. CROWN THE KING should not be read as a stand alone. There is a continuous theme throughout the series as Everleigh sets her sights on avenging the deaths of everyone she loved.

SOME BACKGROUND: The Crown of Shards series is the focus of elemental magic, magic of which our heroine is believed to have not been blessed, but Everleigh’s ‘mutt magic’ is much more than anyone could have imagined. As the series progresses, Everleigh’s strengths and powers make her the target of a group of assassins hoping to destroy whomever wears the crown. With the power to ‘scent’ out emotions, as well as her ability to manipulate magic, Everleigh is a powerful Queen, indeed. With her own band of ‘gladiators’ and Lucas Sullivan, the man that she loves, Everleigh is a force unto herself, a force that is constantly tested by would-be assassins, and spurned kings and queens.

Told from first person perspective (Everleigh) CRUSH THE KING focuses on the preparations for the Regalia Games, a competition between kingdoms wherein Everleigh, as the new queen of Bellona, will prove she is worthy to wear the crown. Months earlier, the murder of her entire family, ordered by the Mortan King Maximus, left Everleigh the sole surviving member of the Winter bloodline, and as such our heroine is the ongoing target of numerous assassination attempts, all of which Everleigh has defended using her powerful magic but when the murderous plots continue to unfold at the Regalia Games, Everleigh knows that to stop the attempts on her life, she is going to have to take down and crush the king.

Like Estep’s Elemental Assassin series, the Crown of Shards series focuses on elemental magic. From weather mages, elementals, gem and metal workers, ogres, shifters and gladiators, the similarities are numerous and familiar. Jennifer Estep pulls the reader into an enchanting, detailed, complex, intriguing, and intense story of family, power, greed, and magic.

Jennifer is graciously offering a $10 Amazon Gift card to ONE (1) lucky commenters  at The Reading Cafe:

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7. Giveaway open Internationally

8. Giveaway runs from March 17- 21, 2020

 

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Forbidden Queen by R.J. Vickers – a Review

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Forbidden Queen by R.J. Vickers – a Review

 

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Description:
Her power is forbidden. But she’s next in line for the throne. 

When Princess Kalleah is born with a forbidden magic power, her mother takes her into hiding to keep her safe. 

Now, at eighteen, she is back to claim her throne. 

People with Kalleah’s deadly power aren’t allowed into the city of Baylore, let alone the palace. If she is to rule, her people will need to overcome centuries of prejudice against the forbidden races. 

But the timing for her return could not be worse. 

Baylore was once a haven for the magic races that were persecuted and killed in other lands. 

Now, a small but dangerous group calling themselves Truthbringers have stirred up public sentiment against all magic–not just the forbidden races. 

If Kalleah can’t claim her rightful place on the throne, the once-peaceful city of Baylore will fall to chaos. Hatred and bigotry threaten to overthrow everything Baylore once stood for. 

But as she seeks support in her bid for the throne, she faces enemies at every turn. 

Can Kalleah win the throne and hold Baylore together? 

Or have the Truthbringers already sown the seeds of discontent too deep? 

 

 

Review:

Forbidden Queen by RJ Vickers is the first book in her new Forbidden Queen series.  Kalleah, our heroine, lives in hiding in a small village with her mother, as she hides a magical power (she can draw energy from people)  all of her life.  Now at 18 years old, her mother decides it is now time for her to return to Baylore, where her mother once again becomes Queen and Kalleah will meet her father the King.  Her mother left Baylore when Kalleah was a baby for her safety, and now it’s time for her to claim her rightful heir to become Queen of Itrea.  But her forbidden magical power is still considered bad, and many fear her powers, especially the Truthbringers, who preach that Kalleah is dangerous and are determined to make sure that she will never be Queen.  This includes her father’s brother, who plans on pushing his son, Leoth to be King, even if they have to destroy her.  At first Leoth was scheming, but in a short time they became friends, with Kalleah finding herself falling for him.  But was his feelings toward her real; can she trust him?

While the story revolves around the upcoming election of either a queen or king, Kalleah was the center of the story. Kalleah, had many enemies, tried to make friends, as she knew she would need them to be able to win the election, in which she needed 20 votes to win.  I really loved Kalleah, as she made a terrific heroine, being smart, brave, powerful and she needed to find a way to ensure the people that she wanted peace and they had no reason to fear her.  Will Kalleah survive and win the election?  To tell too much more would be spoilers and I do not want to ruin the story for you.

Forbidden Queen was captivating and intriguing story and held my attention throughout the book.  This is well written by RJ Vickers, as she has created a unique world building.  I look forward to the next book in this series, Innocent Queen.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for review

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