Tag: fantasy romance

Book Review: Obsidian Throne (The Lochlann Feuds #4) by Robin D. Mahle and Elle Madison

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 434 pages
Author: Robin D. Mahle and Elle Madison
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: December 26th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

No matter how I had tried to avoid it, there was no escaping what we had: The kind of love you went to war for.

And that’s exactly what I intended to do.

Obsidian Throne is the fourth and final book in the Lochlann Feuds Series. Don’t miss this stunning conclusion to Rowan’s story!

FINALLY FINISHED.

This series started out so promising and while the last book was good, I’m left feeling meh about everything as a whole. I think condensed to a trilogy would have been the biggest boost here, but it’s been a bunch of mixed thoughts and speed reading over here.

I liked that I got to see Evander and Rowan really work for their relationship. It’s nice when a book doesn’t throw a couple apart for the drama, but allows them to work within the plot for solutions. Rowan really held her own and I liked her tenacity and not backing down at slight provocations. Evander learned to be more open and to lean one someone allowing him moments of peace. This couple was truly a match. And that deserves all the praise.

The plot was better here. A bit more intrigue, some actual battle scenes, the story thickened with intent as the war for the throne ensued. I like that Theo made some appearances (and wasn’t a nuisance) and that we got to see some other side characters too.

I don’t think I loved this series because I needed more world building. That was the puzzle piece missing. I STILL don’t know why Rowan had fae blood and others didn’t and why that gave her miniscule power? Things like that just didn’t make sense and constantly took me out of the book.

Anyways, take what I say as you will. This might be a hit for you!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: closed door (married couple)
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, branding, whipping, murder, near death experiences, war themes

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Book Review: A Duel With The Vampire Lord (Married to Magic #3) by Elise Kova

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 536 pages
Author: Elise Kova
Publisher: Silver Wing Press
Release Date: August 18th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

On the night of the blood moon, the Vampire Lord must die.

Floriane’s position as the forge maiden of Hunter’s Hamlet is one of reverence, for it is her skill that arms and protects the vampire hunters. She knows her place and is a faithful servant to the Master Hunter and her community… until the night of the blood moon. Until her brother is dying at the hands of the Vampire Lord Ruvan.

Wanting to defend her home at all costs, Floriane fights the vampire lord, ready to give her life if it means taking his. But Ruvan doesn’t want to take her life… he wants her.

Kidnapped and brought to the vampire castle, Floriane is now blood sworn to the vampire lord. She is bound in mind and body to her worst enemy. But Ruvan isn’t the fiend she thought he was. She learns the truth of the vampires: They are not mindless monsters, but a proud people, twisted and tortured by an ancient curse.

Ruvan believes that Floriane might be the key to ending his people’s suffering. All Floriane wants is to defend her home. Loyalties are tested and the lines between truth and lie, hate and passion, are blurred.

When her dagger is at his chest, will she be able to take the heart of the man who has claimed hers?

A darkly-reimagined Snow White meets inspiration from Beauty and the Beast in an epic fantasy world of hunters, vampires, and curses that run deeper than blood. This stand alone is complete with a “happily ever after” ending. It’s perfect for fantasy romance fans looking for just the right amount of steam and their next slow-burn and swoon worthy, enemies to lovers story.

GREW ON ME.

It’s no secret, vampire books and I don’t generally get along. But Elise Kova is one of the few authors who I would give a chance to and I truly did end up enjoying this one!

I really liked the exploration of vampire lore. This felt like a new discovery on the age old assumptions and it was interesting to see how Ruvan’s history and the curse played into the human’s perceptions of vampires as a whole. There’s a great dose a mystery that has to be unraveled and I liked the twists at the end as everything was revealed.

Pacing wise it lost me a bit in the middle. A standalone fantasy at 500+ pages means there’s plenty of substance, but some if it was lost on me. I thought the romance was moving alright, the wider plot was okay too. It really took the later half to bring me back in and I realized how much I did enjoyed Ruvan and Floriane together.

I loved the Floriane was a smithy. I always like different dynamics that aren’t commonly seen and this was one of them. She was tenacious and hard working. Filled with determination to get back to her brother and end the curse once for all.

Another good read for this series. Ultimately there really wasn’t any discourse for the previous books (only vague mentions), but I did see hints for what looks like TWO more books and I’m excited to continue!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: light
  • Romance: vague open door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, murder, loss of loved ones, creature attacks, physical and magical attacks, small battle scenes

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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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