green rider – GoodeyReads

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 848 pages
Author: Kristen Britain
Publisher: DAW Books
Release Date: September 14th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

This seventh novel of the Green Rider series follows the adventures of messenger, magic wielder, and knight Karigan G’ladheon as she fights to save king and country from dark magic and a looming war.

After her capture at the hands of Grandmother and the Second Empire, Karigan G’ladheon is making halting progress towards recovery. Karigan takes on increasingly dangerous missions, haunted by the specter of her torturer, Nyssa, and sinking ever further into the mire of her recollections of the past and the losses she’s sustained.

Meanwhile, the forces of the Second Empire are moving on Sacoridia and their primary target is a vulnerable garrison that guards a crucial mountain pass. Faced with new fatherhood and a country on the verge of war, King Zachary sends a contingent of soldiers and Green Riders to the pass–but his own recovery from the events of the north is not yet complete either.

Reunited with her fellow Riders at the pass, Karigan takes on a leadership role, but quickly finds that the Riders are not as she last left them. As tension mounts and war draws ever closer to the heart of Sacoridia, Karigan must discover what it truly means to be a Rider and a hero of the realm–and what sacrifices must be made to truly heal from her past.

WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO NOW.

Fair warning: this series does not have an end date.

AND I AM IN TURMOIL.

There’s not even news on the next book?!

Anyways, actual book review information.

Another enjoyable installment. I liked most of the direction for the characters here and how the plot continually thickened around many aspects. My mind is pulled in so many directions while reading this series and yet, I am easily able to move through each segment and remember what’s happening and who’s doing what. I love the readability of these books and how much the audio is a game changer for them as well.

Karigan kind of at least, caught a few breaks this go around. I love seeing her continual development as a character and I am here to follow her wherever she goes. I don’t know how I feel about the romance sub plot though?! I’m more conflicted than I was after reading Mirrorsight. It’s a very tangled web that fits the nature of the book, but leaves me wanting a bit more.

I have truly enjoyed reading this hidden nook series in the fantasy genre. I highly recommend if you’re looking for something off the beaten path with multi-POV, high action and intense situations.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy
Language: very little
Romance: kisses
Violence: high
Trigger/Content Warnings: PTSD (for torture), loss of life, war themes and battles, poisoning, near death experiences, emotional infidelity

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Book Review: Firebrand (Green Rider #6) by Kristen Britain

April 10, 2023May 24, 2022 GoodeyReads

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 816 pages
Author: Kristen Britain
Publisher: DAW
Release Date: February 28th, 2017
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Magic, danger, and adventure abound for messenger Karigan G’ladheon in the sixth book in Kristen Britain’s New York Times-bestselling Green Rider epic fantasy series.

Zachary Davriel Hillander, High King of Sacoridia, rues how much he has had to give up to lead his realm, including the freedom to live and love as he chooses. When an embassy from Eletia arrives to propose a joint venture between their realms to seek out an old ally in the north, he is dismayed to learn that the one Sacoridian they have in mind to accompany their guide is the woman he truly loves but cannot have: Green Rider Karigan G’ladheon.

Karigan has only just returned from a dark future where Sacoridia has been conquered and is ruled by a despotic emperor, and she has not recovered in heart or mind. As if that is not enough, the castle ghosts won’t leave her alone. Though Zachary is loath to part from her so soon after her return, he knows she is the best choice to undertake the mission to the north.

Each step on their journey places Karigan and her companions closer to enemy territory and danger, for northward lie the forces of Second Empire, Sacoridia’s longtime foe, and Grandmother, the necromantic leader of Second Empire, has not been idle. She uses her magic to summon a wild elemental spirit to wreak havoc upon Zachary and his wife, Queen Estora.

At first the Sacoridians succeed in fending off the creature, but it so covets Estora that it can’t stay away. It abducts Zachary, assuming his form and his place at Estora’s side–but when it is finally ousted, Zachary is still missing. Estora, alone and heavy with twins, must prepare her realm for the coming conflict from the confines of her bedchamber.

Meanwhile, the danger only deepens for Karigan and her companions as they journey north. When she finds herself caught in the midst of a clash between forces, Karigan must rescue and protect her king before she falls into a trap set by Grandmother–a trap that could give Second Empire the power to control the dead and all the demons of the hells.

VERY MUCH CONFLICTED.

I jumped back into this series on a whim and woooooo boy I am CONFLICTED.

The romantic plot lines of this series will be the end of me. I’m at this point of having invested too much time not to see this through, but also I’m going to be enraged if things don’t follow through for Karigan. She is getting the short end of the stick EVERY DANG TIME. In, seriously, everything. Her moments of peace are few and far between and I feel for her in having to pick herself back up over and over again. I would want to stay down for a bit too.

The action and politicking stayed steady. I liked the flow of action and where The Second Empire drama continued on. There were some characters missing, but the ending led me to believe it’s going to come full circle in the next book? Which makes sense and I will be picking up ASAP.

I am also incredibly conflicted about King Zachary. While a good King, he is a bit wishy washy for me as a man. He wants to make every decision correctly but after deciding does not commit fully and the wake being left behind is hurting my heart. I did love that we got his POV much more in this installment and his understanding and choices at least were easier to understand. I love the multi-POV and the writing style. It is perfect as an audiobook.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy
Language: very little
Romance: closed door
Violence: high
Trigger/Content Warnings: PTSD (from torture), torture, whipping, near death experiences, cheating/infidelity, loss of loved ones, loss of life

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Book Review

Book Review: Blackveil (Green Rider #4) by Kristen Britain

September 19, 2022October 20, 2021 GoodeyReads

Rating: ☆☆☆☆ 1/2
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 672 pages
Author: Kristen Britain
Publisher: Daw Books
Release Date: February 1st, 2011
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The long-awaited sequel to Green Rider, First Rider’s Call, and The High King’s Tomb.

Once a simple student, Karigan G’ladheon finds herself in a world of deadly danger and complex magic, compelled by forces she cannot understand when she becomes a legendary Green Rider-one of the magical messengers of the king. Forced by magic to accept a dangerous fate she would never have chosen, headstrong Karigan has become completely devoted to the king and her fellow Riders.

But now, an insurrection led by dark magicians threatens to break the boundaries of ancient, evil Blackveil Forest-releasing powerful dark magics that have been shut away for a millennium.

HOW DARE YOU.

I feel personally victimized by this love triangle. VICTIMIZED. Yeah yeah yeah, this book isn’t even about the romance the majority of the time but my romance loving heart wants it all. I guess I’ll have to keep reading to find out what happens next with my fates lovers.

ANYWAYS. Some other commentary. I LOVE these as audiobooks. LOVE. This was entrancing and the narrator does an excellent job of voices and reading. I also feel completely taken into the world and love this for me. The ever changing POV and moving to different parts of the world are continually interesting. I appreciate getting different sides to figuring out what is going on in Blackveil. I am becoming really attached to many of these characters for a variety of reasons.

I thought the pacing was steady and the action took me by surprise. I love a good gasp face while running down the road listening to this. I am anxious to read the next book already and see where Kerrigan has ended up. I love her as a main character. She feels authentic with more than one layer to her. Trying to remain loyal, but also having a heart that wants to love too. Being strong in the face of evil and so much more. Yay for heroines that are worthy of cheering.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy
Language: very little
Romance: closed door
Violence: physical and magical altercations, battle scenes, weaponry (arrows, swords, etc.), loss of loved ones, attempted murder & murder, executions, blood/gore depiction

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Book Review

Book Review: The High King’s Tomb (Green Rider #3) by Kristen Britain

September 7, 2022September 27, 2021 GoodeyReads

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Audience: High Fantasy
Length: 680 pages
Author: Kristen Britain
Publisher: DAW
Release Date: November 1st, 2007
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

For Karigan G’ladheon, the call of magic in her blood is too strong to resist. Karigan returns to the Green Riders, the magical messengers of the king, to find she’s badly needed. Rider magic has become unstable, many Riders have been lost, and the Rider corps is seriously threatened. The timing couldn’t be worse. An ancient evil, long dormant, has reawakened, and the world is in peril. Karigan must face deadly danger and complex magic to save the kingdom from certain doom.

BEST [YET].

Didn’t realize that this would almost bring me to tears by the end. OH STAR CROSSED LOVERS. Such a tensely filled trope.

I love Karigan! She is strong and incredibly in tune with things around her. I like how she takes on danger and takes down opponents. But also, that Karigan is filled with flaws and is continually practicing at things she struggles with. I love a nuanced character you truly want to cheer for.

The romance is definitely not at the forefront of this story, but we all know I love a good dash and this is no exception. Karigan and Spoiler might run me absolutely ragged by the end of this series. WE’LL SEE.

Once again the audio book is amazing. I feel attached to many of the characters and love the every changing points-of-view that provide different angles to this very large plot. Some questions were answered and more were added. A new favorite for this series for me and I can’t wait to read the next book!

Overall audience notes:

High fantasy
Language: very little
Violence: physical and magical altercations; blood depiction
Trigger/Content Warnings: kidnapping, torture, loss of loved ones, war themes