Tag Archives: Dark Fantasy

Bride of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes – a Review

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Bride of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes – a Review

 

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Description:
A shunned princess. A reluctant king.
A marriage that could save both their kingdoms . . . but destroy their hearts.

Though she is the oldest daughter, Princess Faraine lives in the background, shunned from court and kept out of sight. Her chronic illness makes her a liability to the crown, and she has learned to give place to her beautiful, favored younger sister in all things.

When the handsome and enigmatic Shadow King comes seeking a bride, Faraine is not surprised that her sister is his choice.

Though not eager to take a human bride, King Vor is willing to do what is necessary for the sake of his people. When he meets the lively Princess Ilsevel, he quickly agrees to a marriage arrangement.

So why can’t he get the haunting eyes of her older sister out of his head?

When disaster strikes and the marriage alliance is compromised, Faraine suddenly finds herself forced to take her sister’s place . . . regardless of her new husband’s desires. Can she find a place at Vor’s side as his queen? Or is his heart forever closed to the woman who deceived him so cruelly?

Passionate and alluring, Bride of the Shadow King is an arranged marriage tale with dual point-of-view (his and hers). It’s perfect for fantasy fans looking for a touch of spice to go with the sweet in their next swoony, slow-burn romance.

 

 

 

Review:

Bride of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes is the first book in her new Bride of the Shadow King series.  We meet Princess Faraine, who is the oldest daughter Of King Larongar of Gavaria; as she has been banished to a convent, since her father was not able to arrange a marriage by the groom.  Now her younger sister, Ilsevel is refusing to marry King Vor of Mythanar, and Faraine is called home from the convent to calm her sister and convince her to wed the man her father wants her to marry. 

King Vor agrees to wed princess Ilsevel, because he needs human magic to save his kingdom; as King Larongar is determined to get Vor to help protect their own kingdom.  Faraine is on her way home, and she and her brother are attacked; King Vor with his team comes to their rescue. In a short period, as they head to Gavaria, with them having an instant connection, as their attraction is strong. King Vor is eager to take a human bride, as he is willing to do what is needed to help his people. When he meets the lively and talented, Princess Ilsevel, he quickly agrees to a marriage arrangement; with the blessing of King Larongar.

When disaster strikes, and Ilsevel and her younger sister, are both killed in an attack by Gavaria’s enemy. King Larongar is determined to keep the marriage alliance, with Faraine now being forced to take her sister’s place; as a mage helps to change Faraine face to look like her sister. When she travels with Lyria to become King Vor’s new wife, as his Queen; she continues to wear a veil to keep her facial change. The wedding night approaches, with Vor and Faraine succumbing to their sexual feelings.  But Vor will discover the truth about Faraine, and all hell will break loose.

Bride of the Shadow King was a very good romantasy, with a slow burn and forbidden romance; which had magic, deception, betrayal, sacrifice and death.  The finale was a wild intense ending, leaving us with so many more questions. Bride of the Shadow King was very well written by Sylvia Mercedes.  Though there was some bad scenes as we got closer to the end, I suggest you read this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli – a Review

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Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli – a Review

 

 

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Description:
A steamy game of cat and mouse between witch and witch-hunter, played out against a backdrop of opulence, secrets, and bloody history.

On the night Rune’s life changed forever, blood ran in the streets. Now, in the aftermath of a devastating revolution, witches have been diminished from powerful rulers to outcasts ruthlessly hunted due to their waning magic, and Rune must hide what she is.

Spending her days pretending to be nothing more than a vapid young socialite, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues her kind from being purged. When a rescue goes wrong, she decides to throw the witch hunters off her scent and gain the intel she desperately needs by courting the handsome Gideon Sharpe – a notorious and unforgiving witch hunter loyal to the revolution – who she can’t help but find herself falling for.

Gideon loathes the decadence and superficiality Rune represents, but when he learns the Crimson Moth has been using Rune’s merchant ships to smuggle renegade witches out of the republic, he inserts himself into her social circles by pretending to court her right back. He soon realizes that beneath her beauty and shallow façade, is someone fiercely intelligent and tender who feels like his perfect match. Except, what if she’s the very villain he’s been hunting?

 

 

Review:

Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli is the 1st book in her new romantic fantasy duology Crimson Moth series.  We meet Rune, our heroine, whose life drastically changed forever, when a terrible revolution, when witches became outcasts; hunted and killed. To save her granddaughter, Rune was told to pretend that she knew nothing about her grandmother being a witch, with Rune hiding what she is to survive. Devasted by the death of her grandmother, as well as all the deaths of witches, Rune changes her life.  During the daytime, she is a wealthy socialite and by evening she is the infamous Crimson Moth, who rescues witches before their horrifying deaths.

Gideon Sharpe is a witch hunter, who has unsuccessfully been trying to find the Crimson Moth.  He gets a clue that Rune might be using her ships to free the witches, and decides to pursue her and in order find evidence that she is a witch.  Gideon’s brother Alex, is Rune’s best friend, as well as Verity, and they both know that Rune is the Crimson Moth, but they are totally loyal to her.  When Gideon starts making advances, Alex is not happy, as he secretly loves Rune. Gideon plays the part of courting her, and slowly begins to fall for Rune, learning more about her intelligence, as well as being caring.  Rune also learns more about Gideon’s past life, hating the witches who killed his family and used him.

Though I understand Gideon’s past with a witch who destroyed his family, I found him to be a bit harsh, going to any length to discover if Rune was a witch.  I did love Rune, who was a cunning fighter, always trying to save the witches.  With both constantly changing their minds on what are their real feelings in in this game of cat and mouse. There were a lot of twists and turns as we get closer to the end, and saying too much more would ruin this for you.

Heartless Hunter was a fast-paced compelling page turner, that was intense, intriguing, exciting, and a forbidden romance. The last third of the book was wild and tense, with me unable to put the book down. Heartless Hunter was so very well written by Kristen Ciccarelli, was well as being a fantastic world-building. I look forward to the next book, especially since this is a duology.

 

 

 

 

 

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Crowbones by Anne Bishop – Review & Giveaway

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Crowbones by Anne Bishop – Review & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
Crowbones will gitcha if you don’t watch out!

Deep in the territory controlled by the Others—shape-shifters, vampires, and even deadlier paranormal beings—Vicki DeVine has made a new life for herself running The Jumble, a rustic resort. When she decides to host a gathering of friends and guests for Trickster Night, at first everything is going well between the humans and the Others.

But then someone arrives dressed as Crowbones, the Crowgard bogeyman. When the impostor is killed along with a shape-shifting Crow, and the deaths are clearly connected, everyone fears that the real Crowbones may have come to The Jumble—and that could mean serious trouble.

To “encourage” humans to help them find some answers, the Elders and Elementals close all the roads, locking in suspects and victims alike. Now Vicki, human police chief Grimshaw, vampire lawyer Ilya Sanguinati, and the rest of their friends have to figure out who is manipulating events designed to pit humans against Others—and who may have put Vicki DeVine in the crosshairs of a powerful hunter.

 

 

Review:

Crowbones by Anne Bishop is another fascinating story in her The World of the Others (Book Three)/The Others (Book Eight) series.  Those of you have read my reviews; know that I am a huge fan of Anne Bishop.  I have read every series & books she has written, and loved them all.

Crowbones returns us to the town of Sproing in Lake Silence (terra indigene-controlled Finger Lakes region of Northeast Thaisia); where we get to see Vicki Devine, who runs the Jumble lakeside resort, and is once again in the forefront with her life in danger.  Vickie is human, in a town filled with vampires, shifters (bears, coyote, crows, other humans, etc), elementals.  It was great to spend time with those who protect Vicki, such as Ilya Sanguinati (Vampire), Wayne Grimshaw (human police chief), Julian (intuit), Elementals and the Elders (who will do anything to protect Vickie).  I also got to like Natasha much more.

It all starts when Vicki arranges to have a Trickster Night at the Jumble during Halloween; as the resort, local cabins are now full.  Aggie, Jozi and Eddie (crow shifters) who now work for Vicki, help her set everything up; some strange boys play a prank, and things go bad right after, with a dead body found, causing the town to be closed off from anyone leaving. The mysterious deaths that will follow will include humans, shifters, and even vampires.  Ilya, Grimshaw and Julian suspect that someone is manipulating others to force people to do bad things.  Besides everyone working together, word is out that the mythical predator Crowbones is soon to arrive to find the culprits.

What follows is an exciting enthralling story that will also be deep in a mystery as to who is behind what is happening, as well as why they are threatening Vicki.  The terra indigene, Elementals and Elders are always watching over Vicki.  Vicki has become a bit more comfortable to deal with the scary people who are not human, but who she has befriended, and they in turn are her protectors. Vicki is also called “the reader”, as she reads books three evenings a week, not only for locals, but in the darkness are the Elders who also listen.    

The entire book was exciting, intense, pulse pounding, action filled; especially with many deaths, some horrific. To say too much more would ruin it for you, as you need to read this book from start to finish.  I loved returning to Lake Silence, and the people who watch over Vicki. It is just amazing how Bishop brings us in to this amazing world, and you are so deeply engrossed into the story, that you cannot put the book down.  No one does Fantasy in so many different types of worlds better then Anne Bishop, and I look forward to anything she gives us.  She is a master at her world building and great characters. If you have not read Anne Bishop, what are you waiting for?  

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Anne Bishop is graciously offering copies of CROWBONES to TWO (1) lucky commenters at The Reading Cafe.    

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Horseman: A Tale of Sleepy Hollow by Christina Henry – a Review

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Horseman: A Tale of Sleepy Hollow by Christina Henry – a Review

 

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Description:
Everyone in Sleepy Hollow knows about the Horseman, but no one really believes in him. Not even Ben Van Brunt’s grandfather, Brom Bones, who was there when it was said the Horseman chased the upstart Crane out of town. Brom says that’s just legend, the village gossips talking.

Twenty years after those storied events, the village is a quiet place. Fourteen-year-old Ben loves to play Sleepy Hollow boys, reenacting the events Brom once lived through. But then Ben and a friend stumble across the headless body of a child in the woods near the village, and the sinister discovery makes Ben question everything the adults in Sleepy Hollow have ever said. Could the Horseman be real after all? Or does something even more sinister stalk the woods?

 

 

Review:

Horseman: A Tale of Sleepy Hollow by Christina Henry is a standalone novel.  Henry has been giving us some modern & dark tales on various stories such as this one.  Horseman takes place 20 years after the headless Horseman and Ichabod Crane events, as Sleepy Hollow has been quiet. Ben Van Brunt, is the granddaughter of Brom Bones, who was part of the stories years before.  Ben (who is a girl, but acts like a boy), is 14 years old, and loves and wants to be like her grandfather; she is strong and tough; as she stands up to the boys who tease and threaten her.  One of those boys is found in the woods with his head and hands missing, and the town is in an uproar, fearing the that the magic and horror is returning. 

Ben tries to find more information about her deceased father, and learns he was killed years ago in the same manner these young boys were.  Brom and Katrina (her grandparents) warn her to stay away from the dangerous woods.  When another boy’s body is discovered in the woods, Ben finds herself being accused by the boy’s father as the one who is using magic to kill his son, and the other boy.  Ben sees the creature who is killing the boys, as well as hearing sounds of the horseman trying to come to her rescue.  Is she imagining the thumping sound of the horse, is the horseman real?

What follows in a dark and intense story, where we follow Ben when she finds herself in danger, as she is taken captive by the dead boy’s father, and she does everything to fight and survive, even if she has to kill.  But when she comes face to face to the creature, her survival is dire; can the Horseman be real and save her?  One of the amazing parts is when Ben is in the woods, I can actually feel the thumping of the hooves as she can feel the Horseman coming. To tell too much more would be spoilers, and with all that happens, you do need to read this book.

Christina Henry wrote another interesting and dark storyline, as well as being scary with chilling scenes.  If you like intense dark stories, based on old tales that are created in the modern world, you should read Horseman, which was very well written by Christina Henry.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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Kingsbane by Claire Legrand – Review & Giveaway

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Kingsbane by Claire Legrand –  Review & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
Rielle Dardenne has been anointed Sun Queen, but her trials are far from over. The Gate keeping the angels at bay is falling. To repair it, Rielle must collect the seven hidden castings of the saints. Meanwhile, to help her prince and love Audric protect Celdaria, Rielle must spy on the angel Corien—but his promises of freedom and power may prove too tempting to resist.

Centuries later, Eliana Ferracora grapples with her new reality: She is the Sun Queen, humanity’s long-awaited savior. But fear of corruption—fear of becoming another Rielle—keeps Eliana’s power dangerous and unpredictable. Hunted by all, racing against time to save her dying friend Navi, Eliana must decide how to wear a crown she never wanted—by embracing her mother’s power, or rejecting it forever.

 

 

Review:

Kingsbane by Claire Legrand is the 2nd book in her YA Fantasy Empirium series.  When we left off in Furyborn, Reille Dardenne managed to come through her trials to prove that she is the Sun Queen, though we knew from the start that she was indeed the Blood Queen, and gave birth to a girl; a baby she handed off to Simon ( a young boy) to bring her to safety, away from the evil angel, Corien. 

Eliana Ferracora is in fact, Reille’s daughter (1000 years after her death), and she is just learning about her powers and who her mother really was.  In Kingsbane, we continue the story in the past about Rielle prior to her death, leading up to her being the Blood Queen.  In the present, Eliana must learn to how to use her powers, as well as accept her destiny to save the world and be their savior as the Sun Queen.

To understand a bit better the theme of this series:  Many years prior to Rielle’s time, there was a Prophecy that claims sometime in the future the evil angels locked away for centuries will return and wreck havoc across the world, and two women will rise; one made of Blood and the other of Light. A Queen of Blood and Destruction and a Queen of Light and Salvation; hence the Blood Queen and the Sun Queen.  Kingsbane continues the two pov’s of the past with Rielle, and the present with Eliana.

Rielle continues her journey to prove to she is the Sun Queen, and in doing so must collect the castings of the saints. Wherever she goes, she has her love and the future king of Cedaria, Audric and her trusted friend (and secret angel), Ludivine traveling with her.  I really liked them in Furyborn, as they are what holds Rielle together, to prevent the evil Corien from pulling her to his side. The evil Corien was very powerful, not only a voice in Rielle’s head, but also appearing to her in her dreams.    I also adored her Dragon, Altheria.   But Rielle has her issues controlling her anger, when she is faced with others not believing in her, causing more dissent.

Eliana continues to grow into her power, accepting with each passing day that though she has her mother’s powers, but she is not evil, and is indeed the true Sun Queen.  I loved Eliana, even though she may have been stubborn, she eventually was ready to rise up and help all those she loved.  In time, she was a tough and terrific heroine, and was willing to put her own life on the line to save others. 

There were a wonderful cast of secondary characters for Eliana too; Simon, Remy, Zahra, Navi, Harkan, and those who began to believe in her.    Kingsbane was an intense and wonderful continuation of this fabulous trilogy, with a major surprise twist at the end.  This can be considered as a cliff hanger; making it a difficult long wait for the final book in this trilogy.  Kingsbane was another excellently written book by Claire Legrand, with quite a few surprises that had us holding our breaths, as well as leaving us hanging.    Now we wait impatiently to see if the Sun Queen will rise up and save them all.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

Claire Legrand is graciously offering a paper copy of KINGSBANE to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

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2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Please LIKE us on FACEBOOK and click GET NOTIFICATIONS

4. Please FOLLOW us on Twitter for an additional entry.

5. Please FOLLOW us on GOODREADS for an additional entry.

6. Giveaway is open to USA only

7. Giveaway runs from May 20 to 24, 2019

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