robin d. mahle – GoodeyReads

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

March 1, 2023May 1, 2022 GoodeyReads

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

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

February 17, 2023April 25, 2022 GoodeyReads

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

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

February 13, 2023April 23, 2022 GoodeyReads

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: