Tag: fantasy romance

Book Review: Crimson Kingdom (The Lochlann Feuds #3) by Robin D. Mahle and Elle Madison

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 315 pages
Author: Robin D. Mahle and Elle Madison
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: December 17th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Rowan thought she had escaped being a prisoner.

But even in Lochlann, she is chained by the memories of everything she left behind in Socair.

Of everyone she left behind.

With her people clamoring for war, the responsibility falls on Rowan to enter into a marriage alliance to keep her kingdom safe. That should be easy, considering she’s already received proposals from half the clans in Socair.

But even with plenty of options, she’s left with no good choices.

Will she play it safe? Or will she risk everything for the kind of love she never wanted to begin with?

The kind of love that could break her.

NOT NECESSARY.

When I say I sped read this, I SPED READ. Because the first half of this book was entirely not needed to advance the plot. it was there to annoyingly add dRaMa to the love triangle where we allllll knew this was headed.

I frankly would have given this two stars, but Evander deserves one all on his own. I love the dark and broody love interest and I don’t think I’ll ever tire of them. I think he and Rowan have an undeniable chemistry and I love the sparking nature of their relationship. It’s passionate and compelling how they clash and work together all at the same time.

The second half of this book focused on the wedding and yet again, I daresay, while I did enjoy having those scenes…it could have been added to a the end of book two and nobody would have been the wiser. The whole plot of this book is that, there is no plot. It felt really filler and there to make a four book series when it really should have stayed a trilogy.

ANYWAYS. Off my soap box for this, I’m going to go read the last book and make some final judgement calls on this series.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: mild

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Book Review: Esperance (Esperance Trilogy #1) by Heather Frost

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 512 pages
Author: Heather Frost
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 18th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Twelve strangers. Six marriages. One year in Esperance.

Amryn has many reasons to hate the empire. Her latest is her forced marriage to General Carver Vincetti, better known as the Butcher. If he learns even one of her secrets, he will kill her. And Amryn has many secrets. Not only is she an empath with forbidden magic, she’s also a newly recruited rebel intent on destroying the empire—starting at Esperance.

Carver knows the rebels have infiltrated the remote temple of Esperance. His job is to hunt them down before they can wreck the emperor’s new peace. Despite the demons that haunt him, Carver is intent on his mission—but he’s not prepared for Amryn. From her fiery red hair to her surprising wit, his new wife has captured his attention. The attraction that flares between them is undeniable. Now he just has to determine if she’s the enemy.

When the newly married couples become targets in a violent game, Esperance becomes more dangerous than anyone anticipated. Carver and Amryn are about to discover that no one is exactly who they appear to be—especially each other.

INVESTED.

This book and I had a journey.

We started off super strong. I loved the premise for the plot and I am ALWAYS here for a arraigned marriage situation. There was good action to get the blood pumping and many mysteries afoot.

Then in the middle we lost me for a bit. The magic system and world building still needs some help. I think the confinement in one location caused a lack of understanding for the outside world and why there’s magic in the first place. I’m hopeful this is further explained in the next book since there’s going to be many new locations. I did struggle with the romance too, there was a bit more tell vs. show. Buuut I will say, once I got pass the 60% mark things progressively picked up.

And the ending. The whole last quarter was a wild ride. I loved having reveal after reveal after reveal. Some twists I saw coming, others, totally surprised by. And even better? NO THIRD ACT CONFLICT between the main couple. There’s plenty of other things happening around them and the fact they actually decide to TRUST one another was amazing. I love that kind of hope and communication.

I official consider myself invested in continuing this trilogy. I’m excited and hopeful about the next book!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses; mentions of closed-door between other couples
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, kidnapping, loss of loved ones, weapons violence, poisoning

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Book Review: Tarnished Crown (The Lochlann Feuds #2) by Robin D. Mahle and Elle Madison

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 354 pages
Author: Robin D. Mahle and Elle Madison
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 23rd, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Rowan was finally going to do something right.

Marry for love and for her kingdom. Keep her people safe. Until an archaic law enslaved her to the most feared man in all of Socair, a man who treats her like a pawn and calls her his pet.

But when enemies emerge from unexpected places, she’s forced to realize that being Evander’s property might just be the only thing keeping her alive.

Can she fulfill her blood debt to Bear, even if it means losing Theo forever?

Even if it means sacrificing her heart?

A SEQUEL.

That’s mostly how I feel about this. A good, but meh, second book.

One of my bigger issues was how much more prevalent the love triangle turned out to be. I’m rarely a fan of those and this one was no different, especially because there’s only ONE CHOICE. It’s too obvious and it better be the case or I have wasted my time on this series.

I loved the general continuation of the story. Getting a little bit of a thicker plot with some villains starting to show themselves and more action to the clans. The fantasy world building side of this is still weak, yet it maintains an enjoyable fast paced style that it’s easy read through.

I’m so glad we got to see more Evander (he’s obviously my choice). I love seeing deeper layers to the complex and morally grey characters and this was no different. Engaging (and occasionally enraging), Evander and Rowan found some ground to stand on together.

Things were a bit silly at times (like the snow ball fights??). Personally I’m not a major fan of things like that in my reads unless it truly connects to the story and not as a filler scene to get to the next bigger moment. It is what it is and I do plan to continue with the third book!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: little light
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Violence: mild
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: whipping (on page), kidnapping, attempted murder, near death experiences, loss of life, small battle scenes

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Book Review: Scarlet Princess (The Lochlann Feuds #1) by Robin D. Mahle and Elle Madison

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 304 pages
Author: Robin D. Mahle and Elle Madison
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: August 27th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A reckless princess. An enemy kingdom. And a mistake that could cost her everything.

Princess Rowan thought she knew her place in the world.
She never expected to feel like an outsider.
She certainly never imagined she would fall in love, least of all with a man from a barbarian kingdom half a world away.
But when series of missteps lands her in the hands of the people she was brought up to hate, she is forced to reconsider everything she thought she knew about both lands.
And about herself.
After a lifetime of animosity between the kingdoms, will the Socairans ever accept her as one of their own?
Or will her mistakes push her people into yet another war?
*This enthralling story from the Lochlann Realm takes place after The Lochlann Treaty, but can be devoured and enjoyed all on its own.*

GOOD START.

I found myself really enjoying this fantasy read. It wasn’t quite what I was after, but still held a lot of good things.

I loooove short chapters. And these are barely a few minutes long that keep the pace going quick. I flew through it and each chapter kept me wanting more. I enjoyed the writing style and the characters. It is VERY light on the genre fantasy. There’s little to no world building and there might be a magic system? But that also isn’t explained well. While this is a negative for me, I think it would be a solid gateway fantasy for those interested in trying out the genre.

The romance had me shaking my head. I wasn’t here for Theo from the get-go. But you know who I am here for? EVANDER. So that better be where this series is headed or I’m going to quit while I’m blissfully unaware. There’s good banter and kisses. Continual one bed scenarios and plenty of older YA antics.

I think this was a good start to the series. There’s enough open plot lines that I want to continue and I’m happy to have found a KU fantasy series to dive into.

Overall audience notes:

  • Upper YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses/make-outs
  • Violence: mild
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: kidnapping, physical altercations

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