Weekend Reads: The Faceless Mage and The Unseen Heir by Kenley Davidson (Rachel)

Leisa, a bodyguard of the king of Soren’s daughter, serves out of gratitude and love. Abandoned by her parents when a child, she was taken in by the king and believes he considers her more than just another servant. However, she questions this assumption when he insists she impersonate his daughter on a political trip by using her magical gift. His demand puzzles her because she believes the move foolish and herself very unqualified to mimic the princess. However, motivated by her love of the princess and her adopted homeland, Leisa reluctantly agrees.

Once arriving in the foreign land, she is thrown into a difficult situation that grows worse by the day. Leisa encounters the Raven, a masked and silent assassin bound by magic and shrouded in mystery. Everyone except the king fears him. The Raven is the king’s blunt force, killing suddenly and swiftly. The king orders him to guard Leisa in her position as visiting princess. Whether the order is meant as a threat or a comfort remains to be seen. However, almost immediately, Leisa begins to wonder who is behind the mask and why he acts the way he does.

Set in a world of magic, mages, and political maneuvering, Davidson does a beautiful job pulling us into the world and introducing the characters. I appreciated the depth of the character development, especially of the two main characters. The organic and believable development of their connection despite communication issues, cultural differences, conflicting desires and goals is entrancing. As a host of forces work to keep them apart for various reasons, the two work together in an unsteady partnership to survive.

My absolutely favorite part of the set of books is the way Davidson connects the plot, tensions, and conflicts to the characters themselves consistently through both The Faceless Mage and The Unseen Heir. Yes, the situations bring external pressure to bear on the characters. Still, each character's decision is tied tightly to who they are, their character, and their integrity. Moral dilemmas are weighed and wrestled with before decisions are made. The easy way isn’t always the best. The healing power of love is realistically challenging to accept and process. It isn’t an instant cure-all. The characters still have scars, memories, and a past they will continue to wrestle for a while.

All that said, do you like a mysterious, powerful hero who needs someone to see him for what he is? How about a man not afraid of accepting the help of a woman and fights at her side? Don’t forget a heroine who isn’t afraid to make hard choices and fight for what is right and those she loves, even at significant personal cost. Oh, and best of all, this book includes a solid adventure melded with a wonderful romance. If all of these are true of you, I recommend The Faceless Mage and The Unseen Heir. The books are the beginning of a longer series, but together they form a complete romantic story. I am looking forward to the next book in the series, The Hidden Queen.

What books have you read recently with solid and engaging characters?

What aspects of a character draw you to a book? 

Weekend Reads: Crown of Shadows and Crown of Moonlight by K. M. Shea (Rachel)

I am a bit late to the urban fantasy reading game. A long-term fan of Kimberly A. Rogers, I only recently dove into a new series Hall of Blood and Mercy by another favorite author, K. M. Shea, because I was impatiently waiting for the next City Between novel by W. R. Gingell. Of course, as most obsessions go, one series led to the next in quick succession. I devoured the Blood and Mercy and started on the next trilogy, Court of Midnight and Deception, the third book of which is due to come out on January 15, 2021.

Leila, a half-human farm girl in Wyoming, is determined to launch her “Responsible Adult” plan. She denies her fae blood and does everything she can to live as a normal human. However, this plan is waylaid by the arrival of a fae horse. Black, scary, and clearly abused, it appeals to Leila’s animal-loving side. She can’t resist taking the apparent stray in and nursing it back to health. To her surprise, though, more of the strange horses arrive over the following days, and they do more than drain the resources of her family farm. They bring a significant change of plan. Through multiple fun and amusing confrontation, Leila discovers she has been made Queen of the fae Night Court without her knowing. Because of this, her life transforms into something she never expected.

The snarky and spunky heroine, Leila, makes these books an entertaining and fun ride. Plopped in an unexpected situation with the odds stacked against her, she is feisty enough to do her best to survive and thrive. Using her humor, her wits, and vivaciousness, she foils her multitudes of objectors' plans.

To support her, Shea introduces a varied and diverse cast of unique characters. From her friends Hazel and Killian from the previous trilogy, Hall of Blood and Mercy, to newcomers like her support staff. I love her companion, a brownie obsessed with human pop culture, and her host of new scary new pets. Oh, and Rigel is too good to miss, especially if you like the silent, mysterious types with a heavy dose of dangerousness.

Crown of Shadows and Crown of Moonlight by K. M. Shea are perfect weekend reads, especially since the third book, The Queen’s Crown, is releasing next week on January 15, 2021.

Court of Midnight and Deception page on Amazon

What urban fantasy series would you recommend to a newbie to the genre?

Weekend Reads: Asperfell by Jamie Thomas (Laurie)

We made it to another weekend! I don't know about you, but in our house that feels like a major accomplishment these days :) And since it's Friday, I get to share a book recommendation with you! 

Last week, Sarah reviewed a Regency-era fantasy called Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal. I thought I'd continue in that vein by sharing about another Jane Austen-esque fantasy - Asperfell by Jamie Thomas!

Briony spent much of her childhood far from home, raised apart from the dangerous court intrigues of a king whose fear and intolerance of magic caused him to banish his own brother to Asperfell, an indestructible prison in a different realm designed specifically to hold the most threatening mages. When her father's participation in a rebellion is discovered, Briony finds herself face to face with the vicious king, sentenced to death for possessing magic her parents had desperately tried to keep hidden. In a last-ditch attempt to procure the king's downfall, the rebellion saves Briony by instead sending her to Asperfell, hoping she can find a way back with the mage-prince who should've inherited the throne. In Asperfell, Briony struggles to unearth the secrets of the prison and her own magical talents, all while suffering the indifference and snide remarks of Prince Elyan and the cruelty of her fellow prisoners. But just as she settles in with a new set of alliances and a distinctive use for her newly-discovered magic, a betrayal sends her on the run once more, making her quest all the more urgent.

This book was so beautifully written! I loved the lush prose, vivid descriptions, and sophisticated writing style. The prison of Asperfell was a fascinating concept, as were the various types of mages in the fantasy world. Briony was a fun character to adventure with, and I appreciated the complexity and dynamics of the secondary characters throughout the book. Although a certain gentleman made me frustrated on numerous occasions, the hints of romance did make me grin :) The opening chapters were a little on the slow side since there was a fair amount of back story, but even then the hints of mystery kept me reading, and once Briony reached Asperfell I could hardly put it down! Based on something I saw on Goodreads, Book Two is expected to release sometime in 2021 - I'm very much looking forward to it!

(While this was a clean read as a whole, there were a few descriptions that were a bit graphic, especially an instance of unwanted sexual advances. They were handled well and central to the story, but if you prefer to avoid such content this might not be the book for you.)

What have you been reading lately? Do you have any Jane Austen-style fantasy books to recommend?

Thanks for reading!

Laurie

Weekend Reads: The King's Oracle (Vanessa)

Happy Friday! I am so excited to share an exciting book with you for Weekend Reads this week. I recently was given an advanced reader copy of The King’s Oracle by Sherry Torgent and loved it! Before I begin my gushing about it, here’s what it’s about:

The Great Destruction has left the Kingdom of Ferran devastated and divided.

The people of the eagle—the Alrenians—have sought safety in the trees, while the people of the wolf—the Uluns—struggle to survive on the toxic ground. But as resources grow scarcer, both factions must face their impending ruin.

When Wynter, a lowly Alrenian transporter, becomes entangled in a kidnapping scheme, she lands right in the hands of the enemy—the heir to the Ulun crown, Gideon. Driven by an obscure oracle of a past king, Gideon is desperate to save his people, and Wynter is just the pawn he needs in his quest to find Isidor, the land prophesied to be untouched by the Great Destruction.

As their worlds collide, Gideon and Wynter must decide whether they will continue on the destructive paths of their predecessors or embrace a destiny of unity. What follows is a quest more dangerous than either of them could imagine.

Let’s start with the setting. The world building in The King’s Oracle is fantastic. I was sucked right into the Kingdom of Ferran and the dueling nations of Alrenia and Ulun. I loved the conflict and the reason behind it.

Next, the characters. Right away the reader loves Wynter and her determination. She’s not willing to let people run over her or control her. She is strong and able to handle deep sorrow and heartbreak, even though she believes she can’t. Gideon is hard to love at first because you don’t know much about him. But, as the story progresses, you see his tender side and begin rooting for him.

Finally, the plot. I thoroughly enjoyed the engaging plot of The King’s Oracle. It was a quest within a quest! I love stories within stories that also have a deeper meaning beyond the surface.

The writing of this story was absolutely beautiful, and the action, adventure, and romance were perfectly balanced. 5 stars from me!

To purchase The King’s Oracle, click here.

Review of The Piper's Pursuit (Katie)

Review of Melanie Dickerson's The Piper's Pursuit

What We're Reading (Katie)

Aren't books the best? They can pick you up when you're down, welcome you home when you've been away, or take you away when you've been in one place too long. I've been reading a bunch of great books over the last six weeks, and today I'm telling you about The Piper's Pursuit by Melanie Dickerson.

A plague of rats. Children going missing. A giant beast attacking just outside the walls of Hamlin.  And one young woman determined to save her town.

Katerina’s stepfather, Hennek, is neither a good father nor a good husband, but he is the mayor of Hamlin. Could he somehow be causing the misfortunes that have befallen her beloved town? The evidence points to a beast of unusual size—a wolf, perhaps, or a large dog—killing people who venture too far from town. But does that explain the disappearance of so many children, many of whom seem to have gone missing from inside the town walls?

Steffan knows he must reconcile with his father, the Duke of Hagenheim, but he’s not sure he’s ready. In the meantime, he roams from town to town seeking adventure and reward. When he hears of a giant beast terrorizing the town of Hamlin and an equally giant reward that includes gold, money, and the mayor’s daughter in marriage, he heads to Hamlin. Steffan plans to kill the beast, rid the town of its rat infestation, and take the reward—everything except the girl in marriage. However, when he meets Katerina, he’s not so sure. Perhaps his plans need changing.

Katerina is hunting the Beast of Hamlin for herself, determined to win liberation from her conniving and controlling stepfather. When she finds one of the children who has been missing for many months, dirty and wandering around the woods, the mystery only seems to deepen. Katerina will have to team up with Steffan, the handsome but brash duke’s son who infuriates her—he’s the only one in town who isn’t controlled by the mayor. Danger dogs them from both man and beast. Can Katerina and Steffan stop the “Pied Piper” from stealing every last child from Hamlin? Or will their interference create an even worse fate? 

I've been reading and enjoying Melanie's books for several years now, and while there are some books I've liked more than others I was thrilled with The Piper's Pursuit. I thought I'd give you a few of my favorite parts.

* Katerina's raw emotion throughout the story

* The "realness" of the antagonist (aka the bad guy)

* Steffan's gentle yet strong presence

* The orphans (love kids involved in the story like this!)

* And, as always in Melanie Dickerson's stories, the great adventure and action throughout the story

If you want to learn more about The Piper's Pursuit you can check it out here on Goodreads. It will be available for the general public in December. However, I was given an advanced copy by the publisher. All thoughts are entirely my own.

Review of Adrift (Lizzie)

Adrift by J. F. Rogers is the sequel to Astray (reviewed here) and is the second story in the Ariboslia trilogy.

Here's the blurb:

The long-awaited day has come, Fallon’s eighteenth birthday. Her chance to return to Ariboslia and aid her friends in the battle against vampire-like creatures—the fasgadair. This time, she knows what she’s up against. This time, she’s prepared.
Or is she?

Unlike last time, Fallon knows who her friends are. She knows her enemy. She knows her abilities and what her blood can do—redeem fasgadair. But how can she save a few when thousands want to destroy her?

Shortly after Fallon’s return, fasgadair overrun the last refuge and push survivors across the sea to a land from which none has ever returned. There they meet a hostile race. With enemies squeezing in on all sides, even infiltrating Fallon’s mind, she struggles to continue her quest. But if she fails to find her way back, the fasgadair will rule Ariboslia with no hope of redemption … and Fallon and her friends will die.

My thoughts: I loved the characters in book 1 and found the worldbuilding interesting. Unfortunately, the secondary characters I loved in book 1 were little more than cameos in book 2 (including her newly found mother). And including the love interest from book 1. The story line itself wasn't what I was expecting from the first book. The victory in the first book was seemingly worse than pointless, because when Fallon is allowed to return to Ariboslia a year later (beginning of book 2), a far worse enemy has been appointed to replaced the one killed in book 1. Now, the land if overrun and everyone not dead (seems like most of the world population) is fleeing.  I wasn't expecting all the death (though not graphic, you just hear about thousands dying while a small group escapes--not my cup of tea).

There's a good bit of adventure and quest-like feel to the book and I did enjoy some of the newer characters and places. But the lack of character-interaction continuity was a big disappointment. The biggest disappoint--really a MAJOR frustration to be honest--was what happened with Declan, the likable love interest from book 1. Granted, he was in an arranged engagement, but I figured that would get worked out by the series end and we'd get our happily-ever-after. [spoiler alert] Well, that's not happening because after 1 1/2 books of wishing for the happily-ever-after romantic relationship between Fallon and Declan, we learn that Declan is her brother. They're triplets. Not a fun joke on the reader. By this time a new guy has come on the scene. He's nice but we're under the impression at first that his and Fallon's attraction is all part of some  unavoidable selkie-gachen magnetism and that Declan will show back up in true form (he's been in hiding but secretly helping Fallon). I was hoping this brother thing was just soap-opera level drama made up by the cackling bad guy to distract Fallon. Nope. Declan's a brother and the "magnetism" thing is a lie.

While the writer definitely has talent and I did enjoy some aspects of this story, book 2 was not at all what I was expecting.