Tag Archives: Epic Fantasy

Kill the Queen by Jennifer Estep – Dual Review & Giveaway

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Kill the Queen by Jennifer Estep – Dual Review & Giveaway

Kill The Queen
Crown of Shards series – Book #1
by Jennifer Estep
Release Date: October 2, 2018

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Description:
Gladiator meets Game of Thrones: a royal woman becomes a skilled warrior to destroy her murderous cousin, avenge her family, and save her kingdom in this first entry in a dazzling fantasy epic from the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Elemental Assassin series—an enthralling tale that combines magic, murder, intrigue, adventure, and a hint of romance.

In a realm where one’s magical power determines one’s worth, Lady Everleigh’s lack of obvious ability relegates her to the shadows of the royal court of Bellona, a kingdom steeped in gladiator tradition. Seventeenth in line for the throne, Evie is nothing more than a ceremonial fixture, overlooked and mostly forgotten.

But dark forces are at work inside the palace. When her cousin Vasilia, the crown princess, assassinates her mother the queen and takes the throne by force, Evie is also attacked, along with the rest of the royal family. Luckily for Evie, her secret immunity to magic helps her escape the massacre.

Forced into hiding to survive, she falls in with a gladiator troupe. Though they use their talents to entertain and amuse the masses, the gladiators are actually highly trained warriors skilled in the art of war, especially Lucas Sullivan, a powerful magier with secrets of his own. Uncertain of her future—or if she even has one—Evie begins training with the troupe until she can decide her next move.

But as the bloodthirsty Vasilia exerts her power, pushing Bellona to the brink of war, Evie’s fate becomes clear: she must become a fearsome gladiator herself . . . and kill the queen.

Barb’s Review:
Kill the Queen by Jennifer Estep is the 1st book in her new Crown of Shards fantasy series. I am a big fan of Jennifer Estep, and love all her series.   I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Kill the Queen, and I am happy to say I loved it; it is epic fantasy at its best. 

We meet our heroine, Lady Everleigh (Evie), at the start, as she is helping making pies in the kitchen in preparation for a big gala at the Royal Court of Bellona.  Evie, though a distant overlooked royal, with very little magical powers, stays in the shadows as much as she can; only joining in when necessary.  As she leaves to see a friend, before she has to dress, Evie begins to notice many new guards and friends of her cousin, Vasillia; when she returns and attends the gala, she senses things that seem odd.  In a short time, Vasillia, who is the crown princess, leads a revolution that becomes a massacre of major proportions. When she comes across Evie, she uses her magic lightning power to attack her, throwing her over the cliff.  This was massacre that murdered the entire Blair royal line.  Vasillia, with her people is now the Queen of Bellona, and she plans to start a war by taking over other kingdoms.  This is just the beginning.

Evie was the lone survivor, running for her life to escape during the hunt for more survivors.  She goes into hiding, and joins a gladiator troupe, who are highly trained warriors that perform shows to entertain the local people.  Evie’s job is to make her famous pies, but the leader of the Black Swan troupe insists that all team members must train to be able to fight, no matter what their job is.  She meets Lucas Sullivan, who trains all the gladiators, and he is hard on Evie.  But over time, both will begin to have feelings for each other, which will stay in the background for most of the story.  This is not a romance, not yet.  However, I suspect we will see the two of them eventually find their way to each other, sometime in the next book.  The leader of the Black Swan, Serilda, was a great warrior, and sensed something about Evie, pushing her to practice more.

Like in any new fantasy, there is a world building that tends to go more into detail early on, which can make things a little slow at the early parts.  But make no mistake, in a couple of chapters in,  this becomes an exciting, ultra-action packed adventure that was impossible to put down. I loved how Evie became close to many members of the troupe, and when she is forced to fight for her life, she will learn how to use her magic that she has hidden all her life.  Great exciting action.

Estep does a fantastic job keeping our attention, as well as creating such a fantastic heroine in Evie. I also loved most of the members of the Black Swan that were awesome.  What follows is an amazing adventure that will allow us to watch as Evie, slowly gains more confidence in her powers and well as learning to become a good warrior.  Together with her new friends, they plan save the kingdoms facing a terrible war, and find a way avenge her family, save Bellona, and Kill the Queen.  Will Evie survive?  Can she even face the evil powerful Vasillia?

This was an exciting and enthralling fantasy, with fantastic characters (even the villians); surrounded by magic, violence, death, war, and intrigue that has us holding our breaths throughout.

Bravo to Jennifer Estep for creating another fantastic series, especially in the Epic fantasy world.  I strongly suggest you read Kill The Queen.  I for one cannot wait for the next book.

 

 

Sandy’s Review

KILL THE QUEEN is the first instalment in Jennifer Estep’s CROWN OF SHARDS epic fantasy series focusing on the Lady Everleigh Saffira Winter Blair aka Evie, a young woman of royal blood whose entire family was murdered in a coup for the throne.

Told in three distinctive parts, using first person point of view (Evie) KILL THE QUEEN follows Lady Everleigh Saffira Winter Blair aka Evie as she struggles to survive in the aftermath of a murderous rage that destroyed everyone and everything that she loved. Years earlier, orphaned at the age of twelve as a result of her parents’ murder, Evie entered the magical kingdom of Bellona, a kingdom ruled by her cousin Queen Cordelia, and her daughter Crown- Princess Vasilia. Believing Evie to hold no magical powers of her own, other than the simplified and basic ‘mutt magic’, our heroine, the now twenty seven year old, seventeenth in line to the throne of Bellona, has been virtually ignored for the past fifteen years. A royal celebration in honor of the Andvarian ambassador proved otherwise as Evie would be one of only two survivors of the Blair family massacre meant to destroy all those with any bloodrights to the throne. What ensues is Evie’s journey to the status of The Black Swan, as she and her fellow warriors and gladiators set into motion a plan to avenge the death of them all.

KILL THE QUEEN is awash in Jennifer Estep’s affinity for ‘elemental magic’. Like Gin Blanco in the author’s Elemental Assassin, our heroine Evie must become an assassin in order to avenge the death of the people she loves. From weather mages, elementals, gem and metal workers, ogres, shifters and gladiators, KILL THE QUEEN follows the magical journey wherein Evie must prepare to battle to the death in an effort to prove she is worthy of the throne.

Many of Jennifer Estep’s signature go-to story line components are present including Evie’s band of misfit elementals and warriors; a potential love interest; and the mention of the Delta Queen, as well as several characters from both her Elemental Assassin, and Bigtime Series-hint, hint Easter Eggs. Not withstanding the numerous and obvious parallel similarities between the Elemental Assassin and Crown of Shards series, KILL THE QUEEN is an intriguing, magical and infinitely detailed story of magic, honor, power and greed.

Copies provided for review

 

 

Jennifer is graciously offering an $10 Amazon Gift Card to ONE  (1) lucky commenter and a paper copy of Kill the Queen to TWO (2) lucky commenters at The Reading Cafe:

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The Empire of Ashes by Anthony Ryan – Review & Giveaway

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The Empire of Ashes by Anthony Ryan – Review & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
For hundreds of years, the Ironship Trading Syndicate was fuelled by drake blood–and protected by the Blood-blessed, those few who could drink it and wield fearsome powers. But now the very thing that sustained the corporate world threatens to destroy it.

A drake of unimaginable power has risen, and it commands an army of both beasts and men. Rogue Blood-blessed Claydon Torcreek, Syndicate agent Lizanne Lethridge, and Ironship captain Corrick Hilemore, spread to disparate corners of the world, must rely upon the new powers and knowledge they have gained at great price to halt its forces–or face the end of all they know.

 

 

Review:

The Empire of Ashes by Anthony Ryan is the 3rd and final book in his The Draconis Memoria trilogy.  This series is an epic fantasy, with an amazing amount of details and world building that includes magic, war, destruction, blood blessed and dragons.  Though the dragons are a major part of the storyline, it is the blood blessed humans who drink the blood harvested from dead dragons that give them the magic to perform many amazing powerful feats.  The story revolves around a war, with the Dragons (Red, Blue, Green & Black) lead by the all mighty White Dragon, who are bent on killing  all humans, with the help of “spoiled” (humans mentally converted by the White to do his bidding).   

As the White Dragon and those enthralled build a powerful and dangerous army to take over the world, the story line continues with the POV of the three leading characters we met in the first book…Lizanne, Clay, Hilemore.  There is also a Pov in the eyes of Sirus, who is spoiled, and working under the White enthrallment.  This is a dark complex world created by Ryan, with the horrors of the battles, as fight they fight for survival in a war against the Dragons onslaught.  

Lizanne and Clay, who continue to be the main characters, are both blood blessed, which enables them to use the effects of the powers from drinking the blood to use magic to fight against the enemy and find a way to defeat them before it’s too late. 

I did feel early on, the complex details and the many characters throughout dragged the story a bit, especially since this was over 600 pages. The last third of the book was thrilling as we raced to the climax. 

What follows is an exciting, dangerous, intense storyline filled with non-stop action.  All of our heroes are on their own, with no contact; and as the tension grows, we fear for their lives, as well as losing hope that this is battle they cannot win. To tell too much more would be spoilers, as this is a difficult review to write, with so many details.  I will say that I loved Lizanne, as she was some tough heroine, who refused to ever give up, and I loved Clay.

Anthony Ryan does a masterful job in bringing this intense  and complex story to a satisfying conclusion. If you enjoy epic fantasies, in a sort of sci-fi dystopian world, with lots of action, then you should be reading this series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

Anthony Ryan’s publisher is offering a hardcover copy of THE EMPIRE OF ASHES to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

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Furyborn by Claire Legrand – a Review

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Furyborn by Claire Legrand – a Review

 

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Description:
Follows two fiercely independent young women, centuries apart, who hold the power to save their world…or doom it.

When assassins ambush her best friend, the crown prince, Rielle Dardenne risks everything to save him, exposing her ability to perform all seven kinds of elemental magic. The only people who should possess this extraordinary power are a pair of prophesied queens: a queen of light and salvation and a queen of blood and destruction. To prove she is the Sun Queen, Rielle must endure seven trials to test her magic. If she fails, she will be executed…unless the trials kill her first.

A thousand years later, the legend of Queen Rielle is a mere fairy tale to bounty hunter Eliana Ferracora. When the Undying Empire conquered her kingdom, she embraced violence to keep her family alive. Now, she believes herself untouchable–until her mother vanishes without a trace, along with countless other women in their city. To find her, Eliana joins a rebel captain on a dangerous mission and discovers that the evil at the heart of the empire is more terrible than she ever imagined.

As Rielle and Eliana fight in a cosmic war that spans millennia, their stories intersect, and the shocking connections between them ultimately determine the fate of their world–and of each other.

 

 

Review:

Furyborn by Claire Legrand is the first book in her new Empirium YA fantasy series. Furyborn starts off with a bang, as we meet the feared Blood Queen Rielle, who has just given birth to a baby girl.  Knowing that evil wants her baby, Rielle gives her child to a young boy to take her away and protect her; feeling the  anger of the evil being coming, Rielle takes her own life.  What a way to start and grab our attention.  Furyborn follows two women, one in the past and one a thousand years later, with both women being extremely powerful and destined to either destroy or save the world.

One Pov is Reille Dardenne (before she became the Blood Queen), as we learn about her and her two best friends, Audric and Ludivine.  Rielle has always had secret powers that her father and trainer would teach her how to control everything.  When she comes across Audric being attacked, Rielle comes to his rescue using her hidden powers, which will change her life forever. 

The Prophecy claims that sometime in the future the evil angels locked away for centuries will return and wreck havoc across the world, and two women will rise; one made of Blood and the other of light. “a queen of light and salvation and a queen of blood and destruction’.  The King and his court are disturbed by the revelation of Rielle’s powers, with some threatening to have her killed.  She is forced to prove that she is indeed the Sun Queen and loyal to the kingdom by undergoing seven trials of different elemental magic, of which she must complete every one, or be executed.

Eliana Ferracora is a bounty hunter (1000 plus years after the death of Rielle), also known as the Dread of Ornline.  Eliana has been trained by her mother to be an assassin and bury her feelings within, and do what is expected of her as a bounty hunter for her kingdom .  Eliana protects her family, as she needs the money to take care of Remy ,her brother and her mother to survive, and forces herself not to let what she does consume her.  When her mother disappears, Eliana is desperate and agrees to help Simon, one of the leaders of the rebellion, in order to find her mother.  Eliana is an amazing fierce and tough heroine, though her stubbornness was annoying at times.  Eliana has the ability since she was a child to self heal, but had no idea why.  Though there is no romance between them, there is a bond that will develop between Simon and Eliana and she will learn the truth about whom and what she is.  

What follows is an intense exciting dark and intriguing story switching between two time periods separated by over a 1000 years.  Rielle will fight with help from her friends, Audric and Ludivine to survive her violent trials, as well as from the angel who helps and makes her even more powerful.  Corien, the angel is truly the villain in both time periods.  It was amazing to see Rielle fight and rise above the terrible challenges for each elemental magic.

Eliana will become part of the rebellion in order to survive, protect Remy and find her mother; she will also come to understand the role she will eventually have to play. In a desperate attempt to save Simon and the rebels, she will learn more about her inner powers. 

Claire Legrand does a masterful job creating the two main characters, as well as many of these fascinating characters (Simon, Remy, Audric, Ludivine, Navi, etc).  The storyline between the two women flows seamlessly and keeps our interest throughout this complex world. 

These two women are fierce, strong, with flaws and weaknesses, and both very different, but their spirit is enduring.   Two storylines a thousand years apart, that weave together flawlessly that surprised me how well Legrand wrote this.   There are some surprises along the way, and though we know what happens to Rielle in her time, the book leaves off with Eliana stepping up into the role she was destined to be.  Furyborn was very well written by Claire Legrand, and has us impatiently waiting to see if the Sun Queen will rise and save them all. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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Onyx & Ivory by MIndee Arnett – a Review

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Onyx & Ivory by MIndee Arnett – a Review

 

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Description:
They call her Traitor Kate. It’s a title Kate Brighton inherited from her father after he tried to assassinate the high king years ago. Now Kate lives as an outcast, clinging to the fringes of society as a member of the Relay, the imperial courier service. Only those most skilled in riding and bow hunting ride for the Relay; and only the fastest survive, for when dark falls, the nightdrakes—deadly flightless dragons—come out to hunt. Fortunately, Kate has a secret edge: she is a wilder, born with magic that allows her to influence the minds of animals. But it’s this magic that she needs to keep hidden, as being a wilder is forbidden, punishable by death or exile. And it’s this magic that leads her to a caravan massacred by nightdrakes in broad daylight—the only survivor her childhood friend, her first love, the boy she swore to forget, the boy who broke her heart.

The high king’s second son, Corwin Tormane, never asked to lead. Even as he waits for the uror—the once-in-a-generation ritual to decide which of the king’s children will succeed him—he knows it’s always been his brother who will assume the throne. And that’s fine by him. He’d rather spend his days away from the palace, away from the sight of his father, broken with sickness from the attempt on his life. But the peacekeeping tour Corwin is on has given him too much time to reflect upon the night he saved his father’s life—the night he condemned the would-be killer to death and lost the girl he loved. Which is why he takes it on himself to investigate rumors of unrest in one of the remote city-states, only for his caravan to be attacked—and for him to be saved by Kate.

With their paths once more entangled, Kate and Corwin have to put the past behind them. The threat of drakes who attack in the daylight is only the beginning of a darker menace stirring in the kingdom—one whose origins have dire implications for Kate’s father’s attack upon the king and will thrust them into the middle of a brewing civil war in the kingdom of Rime

 

 

Review:

Onyx and Ivory by Mindee Arnett is a fantasy duology.  We meet our heroine, Kate Brighton, who is a Relay Rider, for the imperial courier service.  Three Years ago, Kate was considered part of royalty, as her father was the right hand man for the High King of Rime.  When her father was killed because he tried to assassinate his king, Kate became an outcast, with nicknamed Traitor Kate, because she refused to accept that her father was a traitor.   Kate is one of the best relay riders, and when we meet her, she is pushing her horse to the brink in order to make it back before nightfall, when the barrier walls go down.  No one wants to be out in the open at night, as the monster Nightdrakes kill anyone they find.   We also get to meet Kate’s best friends, Bonner, a blacksmith who has developed revolvers; and Signe, her bff, who  also helps Bonner, by creating the gunpowder needed.  Signe was very outgoing, fun, sassy and good friend to Kate.  These two know that Kate harbors a secret that can never be revealed.  She is “Wilder”, those with magical powers, who are looked upon as a danger to the kingdom; all those suspected of being a wilder, are captured by the Inquisition and put to death. 

On one of her relays, Kate overhears a battle ongoing, and rushes to help; only to find a new species attacking the prince of Rime and his soldiers.   Daydrakes are new, and Kate using her revolver manages to kill many of them, and saving the prince.   Corwin Tormane, our hero, and Kate’s former boyfriend from her royal days, is surprised to see Kate.  She has never forgiven him for allowing them kill her father, instead of sending him out in exile.   But both still find themselves with the old feelings, which will be the start of a slow built rekindle of a romance.

Corwin, travels with his best friend and right hand man, Dal and the prince’s soldiers.  They ask Kate for her help in discovering more about these new revolvers, in order to help them fight off the Nightdrakes and these new Daydrakes (sort of dragons who cannot fly).   She reluctantly introduces them to Bonner and Signe, and soon all three will accompany Corwin and company back to Rime, where she hasn’t been in three years.

Upon his arrival home, Corwin and his older brother Edwin will be forced to undergo trials, to determine who will be crowned King.  It was interesting to see all the illusions and dangers both brothers have to face to survive.

What follows is an exciting adventure, where Kate will return to the Kingdom where she grew up, and try to find the truth about her father.  What she will find are some surprises about him, and learn more about The Rising, which is a rebellion of “wilders” in hiding, who want to come out and live normal lives, not in fear of being put to death, because they were born with certain powers.  Most wilders do not use their magical powers to hurt anyone, unless in defense of their lives.  Kate can sway animals, Bonner uses his magic to help make the revolvers, and some have elemental magic.   But the powers that be in Rime, including Edwin, and the governing monarchs fear and hate wilders and plan to eliminate them all. 

Kate, Bonner, Signe will find themselves in danger, when a surprise powerful enemy in Rime’s government kidnaps them to use their powers.  Corwin, Kate, Dal wil have to fight to save themselves, as well as the Rime kingdom who will not listen to reason, and tries to kill them.  This leads to an ultra exciting climax that will lead into the next book of this duology.   There were a number of surprises and twists along the way that made this story even better.  Kate was a fantastic heroine, and I loved her and Corwin together, hoping they will continue to rekindle their love for each other.  The secondary characters were great, from Dal, Signe, Bonner, and even some of the villains were very well done.  Mindee Arnett has done an excellent job with the world building, and I for one cannot wait for the next book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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Grey Sister by Mark Lawrence – a Review

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Grey Sister by Mark Lawrence – a Review

 

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Description:
In Mystic Class Nona Grey begins to learn the secrets of the universe. But so often even the deepest truths just make our choices harder. Before she leaves the Convent of Sweet Mercy Nona must choose her path and take the red of a Martial Sister, the grey of a Sister of Discretion, the blue of a Mystic Sister or the simple black of a Bride of the Ancestor and a life of prayer and service.

All that stands between her and these choices are the pride of a thwarted assassin, the ambition of a would-be empress wielding the Inquisition like a blade, and the vengeance of the empire’s richest lord.

As the world narrows around her, and her enemies attack her through the system she has sworn to, Nona must find her own path despite the competing pull of friendship, revenge, ambition, and loyalty.

And in all this only one thing is certain.
.
There will be blood.

 

 

Review:

Grey Sister by Mark Lawrence is the 2nd book in his wonderful Book of the Ancestor series. In Grey Sister, Nona Grey continues as our young powerful heroine, and most of the wonderful characters we loved in the first book are back.  Once again, Mark Lawrence gives us another fantastic story line, with continued world building and an intense mind-boggling action packed thriller throughout the book. 

Two years have passed since we left off with Nona killing Raymel Tascis, and saving the Sweet Mercy convent.   But since she killed Tascis, Nona inherited a devil inside her, which makes life difficult.

Nona is now in Mystic Class, learning the next of 4 paths, which is described very well in the description (the red of a Martial Sister, the grey of a Sister of Discretion, the blue of a Mystic Sister or the  black of a Bride of the Ancestor – life of prayer and service). Nona misses her friends in the Red, especially with some of the snobbish girls in Mystic, who look down on her.   Jolei is the leader of the Mystic group, and she makes it known that she is will do anything to get Nona out. The beginning concentrates on Nona having to fend off the attacks from the Mystic group, with her Red sisters trying to help her.  Just when Nona manages to be one step ahead, her quest to find information on those behind the death of Hessa (first book) and the stolen shipheart; she makes a mistake that will bring dire consequences.

Nona will have to run to save her life, and travels back to where it all began.  While Nona is on the run, Abbess Glass is also in dire straits, as she is being threatened by the inquisitor, who plan to torture and remove her from her position.   Sister Kettle, is also missing, as she decides to find Nona and try to help her.  What follows is an amazing, violent, intense, dark & action packed adventure that will put all of their lives in danger from a corrupt empress, who controls those in power.

Nona is such a fantastic heroine, and I absolutely love her loyal friends, especially Ara, and her new powerful friend, Zole.  Nona suffers so much, yet her powers grow, as she continues to learn how to use what she has been taught.  Sisters Glass and Kettle have much bigger and important roles in Grey Sister.  Lawrence also gives us some terrible villains, besides Joeli, Tascis father and son, the inquisitor, and the empress.  You cannot help but hate them all, as we root for Nona and friends to defeat them.

The last half of the book upped the ante that left you holding your breath as Nona, Ara, Kettle, Glass, Rego faced danger & death defying situations.  They will also learn more about Nona, and her abilities as they struggle to survive. What a fantastic climax to a wonderful story.  There was an epilogue that has us waiting with bated breath for the next book in this series.   If you enjoy a well written fantasy, in a unique intriguing world, with a fabulous heroine and other wonderful characters, you must read Grey Sister.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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The Last Namsara by Kristen Ciccarelli – a Review

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The Last Namsara by Kristen Ciccarelli – a Review

 

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Description:
In the beginning, there was the Namsara: the child of sky and spirit, who carried love and laughter wherever he went. But where there is light, there must be dark—and so there was also the Iskari. The child of blood and moonlight. The destroyer. The death bringer.

These are the legends that Asha, daughter of the king of Firgaard, has grown up hearing in hushed whispers, drawn to the forbidden figures of the past. But it isn’t until she becomes the fiercest, most feared dragon slayer in the land that she takes on the role of the next Iskari—a lonely destiny that leaves her feeling more like a weapon than a girl. 

Asha conquers each dragon and brings its head to the king, but no kill can free her from the shackles that await at home: her betrothal to the cruel commandant, a man who holds the truth about her nature in his palm. When she’s offered the chance to gain her freedom in exchange for the life of the most powerful dragon in Firgaard, she finds that there may be more truth to the ancient stories than she ever could have expected. With the help of a secret friend—a slave boy from her betrothed’s household—Asha must shed the layers of her Iskari bondage and open her heart to love, light, and a truth that has been kept from her.

 

 

Review:

The Last Namsara by Kristen Ciccarelli is the 1st book in her new YA fantasy Iskari series.  Ciccarelli has created a complex and interesting fantasy world of Dragons, Royalty and a heroine, who is considered a princess, but is hated by many.  Asha, our heroine, is considered an Iskari, bringer of death.  When she was a young child, she suffered a disfigurement when she accidently hurt Kozu, the first and most powerful Dragon. The town had serious deaths & damage by the fire of an angry Dragon, which the town blamed her for that disaster. From that moment, Asha became the Iskari, and her job was to kill all dragons and bring their heads to her father, the King. Though this is noted above, it is worth reprinting to explain the difference between an Iskari and Namsara.

                “In the beginning, there was the Namsara: the child of sky and spirit, who carried love and laughter wherever he went. But where there is light, there must be dark—and so there was also the Iskari. The child of blood and moonlight. The destroyer. The death bringer.”

In current time, Asha is determined to find Kozu and kill him, which would free her from having to marry the commandant, Jarek, who truly was evil.  While killing another dragon, she returns home to Figaard with a burned hand that can be poisonous.  Jarek’s slave is nearby and attempt to help her, but he is not allowed to touch her; he does anyway in order to help her, but she will keep his secret.  The slave, Torwin, is besotted with Asha, but knows this is forbidden.  Asha herself, wants nothing to do with the slave boy.  Things during the course of this story will slowly change, as will Asha’s life. 

Because of the burn, or due to her desire to find, Kozu, Asha has dreams during the night about the old one, and is given things she needs to do to be able to find Kozu.  First she is given blades to fight; then is given a young dragon that she must protect; lastly she is given fireskin, which allows her to go through fire and not get burned.  The key to the story is that Asha would always kill dragons, thinking that is her destiny.  But when she must protect the young dragon, Shadow, who follows her everywhere, she begins to have feelings for the dragon.  Torwin, who is now on the run from Jarek and death, does everything he can to help Asha and Shadow; and a friendship is born, but one of secrecy.

What follows is an addictive adventure that will have Asha and Torwin running for their lives, especially when she realizes that she has been betrayed from the beginning, when she was burned as a child.  Her half cousin, Safire and her brother, Dax try to help her and together they will find the truth that will also save Dax’s life.  What was amazing was the Dragons, especially Kozu, who would become a very big part of Asha ‘s life, as we raced to climax, which was an exciting last half of the book.

I can’t tell too much more, as it would ruin the story for you. The Last Namsara was an exciting, captivating story, in a fantastic intriguing new world, which includes villains, dragons, forbidden romance and a great heroine. Kristen Ciccarelli has done a fabulous job writing this story, and I cannot wait for the next book. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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The Legion of Flame by Anthony Ryan – Review & Giveaway

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The Legion of Flame by Anthony Ryan – Review & Giveaway

 

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The Legion of the Flame
The Draconis Memoria series – Book #2
by Anthony Ryan
Release Date: June 27th, 2017

The Legion of the FlameAmazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository

Description:
Empires clash and a fell power stakes its claim in the second in a new series from the New York Times bestselling author of the Raven’s Shadow Trilogy.

For centuries, the vast Ironship Trading Syndicate relied on drake blood—and the extraordinary powers it confers to those known as the Blood-blessed—to fuel and protect its empire. But now, a fearsome power has arisen—a drake so mighty that the world will tremble before it.

Rogue Blood-blessed Claydon Torcreek, Syndicate agent Lizanne Lethridge, and ironship captain Corrick Hilemore embark upon perilous quests to chase down clues that offer faint hopes of salvation. As the world burns around them, and the fires of revolution are ignited, these few are the last hope for the empire and for all of civilization.

 

 

Review:

The Legion of Flame by Anthony Ryan is the second book in his The Draconis Memoria series.  The Legion of Flame picks up after The Waking Fire left off.  Being an epic fantasy there is a lot of detailed information, as the story line progresses.  In this intense world, the humans and blood blessed (humans who drink the blood harvested from dead dragons), are in a fight for survival in a war against the onslaught of all dragons (blue, black, green, red and the new ultra powerful white).  It is also a world filled with magic, war, danger, destruction, ships, and dragons.

Lizanne and Clay, who are both blood blessed, continue as the main characters with POV’s  in this series.  Hilemore, the captain of one of the fleets, also has some POV;s, and Sirius, who has been captured by a white drake (dragon) now has his own POV, as he has been changed into a human-spoiled controlled by the White.   With the danger escalating, and the world very much in danger of being destroyed by the attacking Drakes;  Lizanne, Clay and Hiemore  take on various assignments to stop the enemy before it’s too late. 

Lizanne, after being successful in her last mission, will now go undercover to a city that is a prison for rough tough mean prisoners that survive in the city of undesirables.  Lizanne, who is an agent and assassin for the syndicate, is determined to find someone who has the ability to build items that could help fight the Drakes.   Clay follows a vision to also discover more about the Drakes, and someone who might be able to help them win this war.  Hilemore must push his men on the ship to fight the continued attacks by the Drakes.  Each of them faces terrible odds of survival, especially Lizanne and Clay.

What follows is an exciting, dangerous, intense storyline filled with non-stop action.  All three of our heroes are on their own, with no contact; and as the tension grows, we fear for their lives. The journey for each will take them to depths of hell.    To tell too much more is difficult, as in fantasies there are many details that need to be read to understand.  I loved Lizanne, as she was some tough heroine, who refused to ever give up.  I liked Clay too, but to me Lizanne stood out the most. 

Anthony Ryan does a masterful job in writing this complex story that intensifies the further we delve into the horrors we witness in a world that is falling apart.  As in most fantasies, this is a big book, just under 600 pages.  If you enjoy epic fantasies, in a sort of sci-fi dystopian world, with lots of action, then you should be reading this series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

giveaway

Anthony Ryan’s publisher is offering a paper copy of the first book in this series, THE WAKING FIRE to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

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Red Sister by Mark Lawrence – Review & Giveaway

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Red Sister by Mark Lawrence – Review & Giveaway

 

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Red Sister
Ancestor series – Book #1
by Mark Lawrence
Release Date: April 4, 2017

Red SisterAmazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository

Description:
I was born for killing – the gods made me to ruin.

At the Convent of Sweet Mercy young girls are raised to be killers. In a few the old bloods show, gifting talents rarely seen since the tribes beached their ships on Abeth. Sweet Mercy hones its novices’ skills to deadly effect: it takes ten years to educate a Red Sister in the ways of blade and fist.

But even the mistresses of sword and shadow don’t truly understand what they have purchased when Nona Grey is brought to their halls as a bloodstained child of eight, falsely accused of murder: guilty of worse.

Stolen from the shadow of the noose, Nona is sought by powerful enemies, and for good reason. Despite the security and isolation of the convent her secret and violent past will find her out. Beneath a dying sun that shines upon a crumbling empire, Nona Grey must come to terms with her demons and learn to become a deadly assassin if she is to survive…

 

Review:

Red Sister by Mark Lawrence is the first book in his new Ancestor series. When I started this book, I wasn’t sure what to expect, since some of the new fantasy books that I have read recently have been ok.  I am happy to say, I loved Red Sister. Wow, what a fantastic story line, equally fantastic characters and wonderful world building. 

In Red Sister, Nona Reeve is our young heroine, but there are a number of young girls that play major parts in this story.  The story starts with 8 year old Nona facing execution in the gallows, only to have a nun save her.  The Abbess Glass, who runs the Sweet Mercy Convent, manages to whisk Nona away and brings her to her convent, which is filled with young girls, who are novices in training.  Nona, who is a peasant, is at first uncomfortable surrounded by those who come from families, who can afford the Convent fees.  Why is Nona brought there, as she has no family and is still being sought out for murder?

The Nuns in the convent all have strange and magical abilities, and in each class the girls are trained how to use those abilities, such as weapons (knives, throwing stars), shadows, paths, poisons, spirituality, etc.   These trainings were unique, strange and very difficult; much time is spent on watching the girls learn from these nuns.  But early on, Nona will find two friends to trust, and eventually others will accept her, and they will form a wonderful group of friends.  I loved Nona, Ara, Clera and Hessa.  But the cloud over Nona’s head remains, as those who are determined to get Nona back to pay for her crime,(which was truly done in self defense), will stop at nothing to get her.  The Abbess will once again save her, at a horrible cost, but Nona, will have to find a way to use her untrained ability to win the battle.  We know that though she is saved, those villains will continue to haunt her for the rest of this story.

What follows is an intense, harrowing and exciting tale of a young girl, her friends and their growth to be more than they were destined to be; in a place where they are trained to become self sufficient, and learn to be deadly killers, if need be.  Nona will become a kick-ass heroine, who will need to use her anger to utilize some of her special Hunska blood that will help magically enhance her abilities.  Nona not only is tough, but her loyalty to her friends makes her special.  Some of the other girls will also learn from their training from their at times dark atmosphere, strange and tough teachers to be equally powerful.

The last half of the book upped the ante that left you holding your breath as Nona, and the girls faced danger & death defying situations.  They will also learn more about Nona, and her abilities as they struggle to survive. What a fantastic climax to a wonderful story.  There was an epilogue that has us waiting with bated breath for the next book in this series.   If you enjoy fantasy, in this unigue intriguing world, with a fabulous heroine and other wonderful characters, you must read Red Sister. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

About The Author

Mark Lawrence


Mark Lawrence was born in Champagne-Urbanan, Illinois, to British parents but moved to the UK at the age of one. He went back to the US after taking a PhD in mathematics at Imperial College to work on a variety of research projects including the ‘Star Wars’ missile defence programme. Returning to the UK, he has worked mainly on image processing and decision/reasoning theory. He says he never had any ambition to be a writer so was very surprised when a half-hearted attempt to find an agent turned into a global publishing deal overnight. His first trilogy, THE BROKEN EMPIRE, has been universally acclaimed as a ground-breaking work of fantasy. Following The Broken Empire comes the bestselling RED QUEEN’S WAR trilogy. The BOOK OF THE ANCESTOR trilogy, in an entirely new setting, commences with RED SISTER in 2017. Mark is married, with four children, and lives in Bristol.

 

 

Giveaway

Mark Lawrence’s publisher is graciously offering a Hardcover copy of RED SISTER to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

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9.. Giveaway runs from April 7 to 11, 2017

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