Tagged: masq1
Mine to Spell by Janeal Falor
(Cover picture courtesy of Janeal Falor via email.)
Cynthia has always hidden from her father’s hexes behind her older sister. When her family gains independence unheard of for women, she’s relieved that her days of harsh punishments are over. But as her seventeenth birthday approaches—the typical age to be sold to a new master—death threats endanger her sisters. She now faces two options: run or meet society’s expectations.
For once, Cynthia isn’t going to let her older sister shield her from the problem. She’s going to prove to herself, her sisters, and society that her family isn’t a threat to their traditions. She willingly chooses to be purchased by a new master. A bold step that takes her somewhere she never thought she would go and to a man she might possibly fall in love with. With his help, she may just find a way to save her sisters while discovering how to stand up for herself. If she lives long enough.
[Full disclosure: I received a free ebook copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.]
I very much liked Serena from the first installment of this series but now after reading Mine to Spell I’m rather favouring Cynthia.
Cynthia is a fascinating character. Now that her older sister is the head of the family with the same status as a warlock she knows she doesn’t have to be sold on her seventeenth birthday. But if she doesn’t meet society’s expectations and enter the marriage pool there are some very serious death threats against her family that could become reality. So she chooses to enter the marriage pool and reveals that she isn’t the shrinking violet that always hides behind her older sister anymore. In fact, she’s ready to show all of Chardonia what women are really capable of.
I loved seeing a bit of an expanded world in this second book. We see the aftereffects of Zade freeing Serena and giving her status equal to any man. We certainly see the effects of the attempts on Zade’s life in the previous book and how they’re not going away any time soon. All those things add tension to the plot but it’s really Cynthia and her actions that drive the story forward. She really is an incredible character that will surprise you at every turn.
The plot is much more fast-paced than it was in You Are Mine. This is in part because we have a very different narrator but also because Janeal Falor’s writing has improved. It was already good but now it’s even better and I think we can expect some great things from her in the future. There are plot twists around every corner and while the ending isn’t totally unexpected it really is satisfying.
Usually the second book in a series is weaker than the first, but that was certainly not the case with this one!
I give this book 5/5 stars.
In Defense of the Queen by Michelle Diener
(Cover picture courtesy of Michelle Diener’s site.)
An artist never betrays her patron . . . especially one of the world’s most powerful kings.
Susanna Horenbout has learned this lesson from the cradle. But when she receives a letter from her father telling her to do just that, she faces a dilemma. Betray Henry VIII, or carry out the request of her father’s employer, Margaret of Austria, and pass secret information to Henry’s queen, Katherine of Aragon.
Caught between the machinations of her husband and her nephew, the Emperor Charles, Queen Katherine needs all the allies she can get. But what can Susanna really do to help her, and even if she does, will it be enough?
Susanna and her betrothed, Parker—one of Henry’s most trusted courtiers—balance on the knife’s edge of treason as they try to make sense of both international and domestic conspiracies. Sometimes, it’s better the enemy you know . .
[Full disclosure: I was sent a free paperback copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.]
With the serious cliffhanger at the end of the second book I knew I immediately had to start In Defense of the Queen. I’m very invested in this series by this point so you can understand why I was a little anxious to find Susanna in a lot of trouble in this third installment.
As with the previous two books, I loved the characters. Susanna and John’s bond is stronger than ever partly because of all of the trials they’ve gone through as a couple. Still, I was more than little worried about the two what with all of the assassination attempts and Susanna being accused of treason. I’ll admit that I have become quite attached to both Susanna and John.
I liked how we were in Susanna’s point of view a lot more than we were in the second book because she still is my favourite character. She’s tested again and again but I love that no matter how hard or awful the situation is, she stays loyal to John (even when it works against her). It’s not easy to be torn between your family’s loyalties and your loyalty to your patron and Michelle Diener played that dramatic tension perfectly.
The previous two books both had the complicated plots I’ve come to expect and love from Michelle Diener. This one tops them. There are twists and turns everywhere and the larger conspiracy is both well hidden and very believable. I honestly didn’t see the end coming and for a cynical reader like myself that’s very unusual. The ending wrapped things up nicely while at the same time leaving a little wiggle room for another sequel. I don’t think John and Susanna’s story is over quite yet.
If you haven’t read the first two books I can’t recommend them highly enough. Michelle Diener writes some darn good historical fiction and whether you’re looking for accuracy or a good plot you’ll be satisfied by her writing.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
Fire and Sword by Louise Turner
(Cover picture courtesy of Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park.)
On the 11th of June in 1488, two armies meet in battle at Sauchieburn, near Stirling. One fights for King James the Third of Scotland, the other is loyal to his eldest son, Prince James, Duke of Rothesay. Soon, James the Third is dead, murdered as he flees the field. His army is routed. Among the dead is Sir Thomas Sempill of Ellestoun, Sheriff of Renfrew, whose son and heir, John, escapes with his life. Once John’s career as knight and courtier seemed assured. But with the death of his king, his situation is fragile. He’s the only surviving son of the Sempill line and he’s unmarried. If he hopes to survive, John must try and win favour with the new king. And deal with the ruthless and powerful Lord Montgomerie. . .
[Full disclosure: I received a free ebook copy through the blog tour in exchange for an honest review.]
I have to admit that I know pretty much nothing about Scottish history so after reading Fire and Sword I can confidently say that I actually learned something new. Even better, most of it is accurate and based on the real life of John Sempill in a time of turmoil and civil war.
Although we do get to see a couple of different viewpoints, the main character is undoubtedly John Sempill. Poor John is not very inclined toward violence but at his father’s behest fights for the King of Scotland against the king’s own son James. It’s there that he’s defeated and finds his own father’s body after learning that the young rebel James has won the throne.
John is plagued by uncertainty throughout the whole novel as to his fate because he fought for the losing side. His father even died on the losing side. Luckily even though he’s not exactly in a position of power, Lord Montgomerie eventually takes him under his wing and the two of them form a rather uneasy alliance. One of the things that stood out for me the most in Fire and Sword were Louise Turner’s characters. John was very memorable as he grew from a sort of clueless teenage boy to a slightly more confident, wise young man. The most memorable was (surprisingly) Lord Montgomerie, who is the sort of man that would be very hard to deal with in real life but is easy to love as a character in fiction. He’s a law unto himself and isn’t always the most diplomatic but when he forges friendships they last a lifetime.
This is by no means a fast-paced novel. It is, however, highly detailed and well paced so that the narrative eventually sucks you in and doesn’t let go. The tension slowly ratchets up not only because of the events of the time but because of how the characters react to them. John himself creates quite a lot of the events of the novel with his little rebellion so you could say that this novel is both character-driven and plot-driven. Whatever it is, it works and I couldn’t put my Kindle down.
Since I knew nothing of the period what I really appreciated was Louise Turner’s attention to detail. She described everything from the food to the clothes to the landscape of Scotland in perfect detail. It was never boring because the descriptions were well-balanced with dialogue and internal monologue from the characters. Best of all, she made me feel like I was right there along with the characters. I felt like I really was back in time watching these events unfold and you really can’t ask for more than that in historical fiction.
Even if you know nothing of Scottish history like I did I’d highly recommend picking up Fire and Sword if you like historical fiction in general. This is her debut novel and I think we can all look forward to her future works.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
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Sworn to Defiance by Terah Edun
(Cover picture courtesy of Terah Edun via email.)
Ciardis Weathervane returned to the imperial court of Sandrin to unite her foes. But her efforts hit a stumbling block. The imperial kind. She never thought that before rallying an empire, she’d have to fight the emperor himself.
An imposter sits the throne and the court she turned to for help is in turmoil. Ciardis hasn’t survived assassination attempts, torture and really bad luck to be taken down by her own ruler. So she devises a plan. But first she needs to get Sebastian and Thanar to agree. Each seems to love her in their own way. But neither is listening to her. Pushing them to put aside their differences, in an effort to ward off catastrophe, might be harder than displacing an emperor who would do anything to keep his throne.
Butting heads at court isn’t Ciardis’s only problem. With the princess heir’s threat looming she is forced to travel to the mythical city of Kifar, where it is up to her small group to stop the destruction of the entire city while heading a rebellion that could foment a revolution. It wouldn’t be the first revolution that Algardis has ever known. But with Ciardis Weathervane at its head—it would certainly be the last.
[Full disclosure: I received a free ebook copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.]
When I realized that this wasn’t the last book in the Courtlight series as I had believed it to be, I’ll admit I got a little nervous. After all, where could the story possibly go from here? It seemed like Terah Edun was wrapping things up already in Sworn to Secrecy, the fourth book. And when there were several pages of backstory right at the beginning I was even more skeptical about this fifth book.
As usual with Terah Edun, my skepticism and anxiousness was for nothing. After the initial info dump things quickly picked up and just wouldn’t let go. I had intended to only read a few chapters before bed but once I got past the exposition (which was important) I couldn’t stop and ended up finishing the book at one in the morning. Yes, the plot was that fast-paced and there were that many awesome twists. But first I’ll start with the thing that surprised me most: the characters.
Once again the characters surprised me. Ciardis is finally demanding respect from others and not caring what they think of her (unless they’re trying to kill her). She’s started to master the commanding air of her mother and is becoming knowledgeable about the intrigues of the Algardis court. And finally, finally she’s made up her mind about where she stands with Sebastien. I won’t tell you which way she decided, but let’s just say that I was both surprised and pleased with her stance until the little complication with Thanar was thrown in. Sebastien too has grown up, even though he’s only sixteen years old. He’s finally starting to take responsibility as the prince heir and is even more determined to save Algardis from the blutgott that’s threatening to destroy their entire world. He’ll do whatever it takes, even journey to a city that’s been sealed off from the rest of the world for 50 years.
Once again Terah Edun took the time to expand on her world-building just a little bit more. We finally learn more about the special connection Ciardis and Sebastien have as well as the rather unfortunate consequences of the Thanar complication coming into play. This is quite literally the most heart-wrenching, complicated and realistic love triangle you are ever going to see. I swear it’s not the typical love triangle, mainly because Ciardis is a woman that finally knows her mind but even she can’t control people like Thanar. I also liked how we finally learn that there may be a way to stop the blutgott but that it’s way more complicated and dangerous than you’d expect.
Basically, I got everything I could have wanted out of this fifth installment in the Courtlight series: romance, character development, a complicated plot and an expanded world. You really can’t ask for more in a series and after that insane cliffhanger I’m so anxious for Sworn to Ascension, book 6.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
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After the End by Amy Plum
(Cover picture courtesy of Amy Plum’s website.)
She’s searching for answers to her past. They’re hunting her to save their future.
World War III has left the world ravaged by nuclear radiation. A lucky few escaped to the Alaskan wilderness. They’ve survived for the last thirty years by living off the land, being one with nature, and hiding from whoever else might still be out there.
At least, this is what Juneau has been told her entire life.
When Juneau returns from a hunting trip to discover that everyone in her clan has vanished, she sets off to find them. Leaving the boundaries of their land for the very first time, she learns something horrifying: There never was a war. Cities were never destroyed. The world is intact. Everything was a lie.
Now Juneau is adrift in a modern-day world she never knew existed. But while she’s trying to find a way to rescue her friends and family, someone else is looking for her. Someone who knows the extraordinary truth about the secrets of her past.
[Full disclosure: I requested and received a free paperback from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.]
A post apocalyptic book that isn’t actually a post apocalyptic book? No Insta-Love? Just a hint of magic? If any of these sound interesting, you’ll like After the End.
I began reading this book with low expectations. In the beginning it seemed like your pretty typical YA novel but then Amy Plum put some very interesting twists in to throw readers for a loop. Even though the blurb spoils the big reveal, it’s still kind of a shock to learn that Juneau’s whole life has been a lie. Her elders have lied to her for years and now suddenly she has to cope in a modern world she’s only read about in outdated encyclopedias.
Juneau and Miles are both three dimensional characters that are very, very different. Miles at first seems like your typical spoiled rich boy, but as he spends time with Juneau I like how he sort of grows out of that attitude and tries to do things for himself. Juneau thinks Miles is an idiot for not knowing how to do these things but eventually accepts that he is knowledgeable too, just in a different way. As you’ve probably guessed by now they fall in love but it’s by no means Insta-Love and there are a lot of hurdles along the way.
The plot was surprisingly fast-paced. It’s not a one-sitting book, but it is the kind of book you want to sneak away to read as often as you can, even if it’s only a couple of pages at the time. I would have liked some more description in some places, but Amy Plum’s writing is still excellent and she has a good sense of how to balance action and description. The points of views also change between Juneau and Miles at a more natural rate so it doesn’t feel like Amy Plum changed points of view just for the sake of dragging the plot along.
Basically, this is not your typical post-apocalyptic book and because of that (and the cliffhanger ending) I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
I give this book 4.5/5 stars.