Review for the whole series (well currently including up until book #4, but there is more to come)
I don't have words for how much I loved this whole sReview for the whole series (well currently including up until book #4, but there is more to come)
I don't have words for how much I loved this whole series. I love fantasy, but so far most fantasy I've read was lacking in the romance department. So to find a series that combines both, and in such a great way, makes me super happy. So happy I'll just have to add it to my small collection of favourites.
I found these books, because I was reading an anthology by the author and really liked her style. She also uses language so beautifully that I simply had to look for more books by her. And I was not disappointed. I'm a new fan and will read everything she ever writes. Everything. And I can't fucking wait for the next books in the series.
I can't even decide whether I love the high fantasy setting more or the lovely, lovely romance between two most amazing guys, Scarlet (I love that name for a man, by the way) and Liall.
So I'll start by gushing over the world and how extraordinarily it comes to life. We have different races, politics and intrigue, magic and beliefs, and mysteries in the past and unknown futures. We have the most beautiful places that give so much rich atmosphere to everything that is happening and Liall's home country is really growing on me. Well, I could do without most of the people there ;-) but the country itself... wow!
I'm in love with both Scarlet and Liall. They are very different and have very different roles to play, too, and while I first fell hard for cute, stubborn, proud Scarlett, Liall captured my heart right after.
I think their relationship is most rewarding for a reader. It is really, really romantic, there is (sexual) tension between them, there is conflict to overcome that is never annoying—and I get annoyed very easily, believe me. I love their banter, their declarations of love, their hopes and fears, their passionate sex. I just love them.
I love how Scarlet, who has a less important position in the scheme of things, is never set aside or becomes just an attachment to Liall. He's got agency, a role to play, although he isn't in the best position to do just that.
So, this is the perfect book/series for me, and I really, really want to read more right away.
You can find the notes I took for each book separately here, and there is also a teaser from the first book, a text passage that I loved very much and made me smile so very much.
“So you thought you could slip past the Kasiri, did you? Whence comes such confidence?�
The pedlar stood and stripped the severed-leather laces from his hands before he angrily kicked them toward Liall with the toe of his boot. “I’m not confident. I have to get to the other side of this mountain and you won’t let me by. That’s all.�
“Ah, but I will� for a price.�
“I don’t like your stinkin� mucked price,� he snapped. Behind him, Peysho chuckled, then prudently coughed and looked away.
Liall dropped his voice and moved a little closer to the irate youth. “The price, or me?�
The pedlar met his eyes unflinchingly but did not answer immediately, and Liall saw that he was struggling with his answer. He fought down a surge of irritation. Princes had knelt at his feet once. Who was this illiterate merchant to refuse him? Who did he think he was?
“Come now,� he coaxed. “You will not injure my feelings. I am no charming prince, this I know. But still, am I an ogre?�
“No,� the pedlar judged after a moment, studying him. “You’re a wolf.�
“And you do not like wolves?�
“I like wolves fine, so long as they stay clear of my path. Wolves and men don’t mix.�
Or men and men, Liall supposed he would have liked to say. Peysho had shooed the tribesmen off and taken himself away with them, leaving Liall with the pedlar, the campfire, and the soft-snowing night around them.
“What about wolves and pedlars?� Liall asked softly, daring another step.
“I don’t…� the pedlar began. He stopped and swallowed hard, looking up at Liall. There was no fear in his eyes. “I don’t see why you’re vexin� yourself, is all.�
“Vexin�?� Local dialects often threw Liall. He waited for the boy to explain.
“Why are you going to so much trouble on my account? I can’t be worth this much bother.�
Liall began to suspect that this one was not terribly experienced with the desires of men. “Are there no mirrors in Lysia? Give me your name,� he urged.
“I…� The boy closed his mouth. “Let me pass.�
Liall shook his head slowly. It made the pedlar angry again.
“Damn you, why not?�
“Because I’m not through vexin� myself, I suppose.�
Notes Book 1:
- the writing is fantastic, as is the setting/world with it's races/cultures, magic, and entanglements
- the main characters Scarlet and Liall are both intriguing and lovable. I think I love young and forthright, stubborn Scarlet a little more—because cuuute—but Liall has already captured my heart, too.
- very slow-burning romance with an enemies-to-lovers theme that had me smile very much.
Notes Book 2:
- great development of characters, their love for each other, and the whole world and plot in the sequel
- beautiful language, vivid description of the voyage and Niall's home country
- OMG, such sweet and passionate love scenes
- believable struggle in the relationship, without it getting annoying, and the promise of a lot more to (over)come
- the new situation for Scarlet and Liall is a tricky one and I hope their relationship will not strain too much under it, but so far they got stronger through everything
- I hope Scarlet will not take the backseat too much, but I am confident the author will do right by him
Notes Book 3:
- everything cool I said about the first two books :D
- intriguing new secondary characters (loved the queen and Cestimir—I love him especially), (hated the bitch—what's her name?)
- Liall and Scarlet... sigh, they had some very lovely scenes together, but they needed to overcome a lot in this book, too, which was not always pleasurable to read, but... I still loved it. Maybe a little less drama would have been better for me, but it's all good. I love how they always make up and talk, and that's really mature!
- Liall might be surprised by turn of events in the end, but I wasn't, so I'm really looking forward to the next book; also Scarlet's future seems to be getting more and more interesting :D
Notes Book 4:
- *sigh* best ending ever
- I can't believe I have to wait for more books now :-/
- While the conflicts are not really solved, I loved how the story was paced, and I can't wait to find out more. I am so curious and excited for the next book.
- I love my guys. I love how they grow in their relationship. I even love how they struggle and hurt with each other. I love them. So much.
- I want the next book. Now.
Merged review:
Review for the whole series (well currently including up until book #4, but there is more to come)
I don't have words for how much I loved this whole series. I love fantasy, but so far most fantasy I've read was lacking in the romance department. So to find a series that combines both, and in such a great way, makes me super happy. So happy I'll just have to add it to my small collection of favourites.
I found these books, because I was reading an anthology by the author and really liked her style. She also uses language so beautifully that I simply had to look for more books by her. And I was not disappointed. I'm a new fan and will read everything she ever writes. Everything. And I can't fucking wait for the next books in the series.
I can't even decide whether I love the high fantasy setting more or the lovely, lovely romance between two most amazing guys, Scarlet (I love that name for a man, by the way) and Liall.
So I'll start by gushing over the world and how extraordinarily it comes to life. We have different races, politics and intrigue, magic and beliefs, and mysteries in the past and unknown futures. We have the most beautiful places that give so much rich atmosphere to everything that is happening and Liall's home country is really growing on me. Well, I could do without most of the people there ;-) but the country itself... wow!
I'm in love with both Scarlet and Liall. They are very different and have very different roles to play, too, and while I first fell hard for cute, stubborn, proud Scarlett, Liall captured my heart right after.
I think their relationship is most rewarding for a reader. It is really, really romantic, there is (sexual) tension between them, there is conflict to overcome that is never annoying—and I get annoyed very easily, believe me. I love their banter, their declarations of love, their hopes and fears, their passionate sex. I just love them.
I love how Scarlet, who has a less important position in the scheme of things, is never set aside or becomes just an attachment to Liall. He's got agency, a role to play, although he isn't in the best position to do just that.
So, this is the perfect book/series for me, and I really, really want to read more right away.
You can find the notes I took for each book separately here, and there is also a teaser from the first book, a text passage that I loved very much and made me smile so very much.
“So you thought you could slip past the Kasiri, did you? Whence comes such confidence?�
The pedlar stood and stripped the severed-leather laces from his hands before he angrily kicked them toward Liall with the toe of his boot. “I’m not confident. I have to get to the other side of this mountain and you won’t let me by. That’s all.�
“Ah, but I will� for a price.�
“I don’t like your stinkin� mucked price,� he snapped. Behind him, Peysho chuckled, then prudently coughed and looked away.
Liall dropped his voice and moved a little closer to the irate youth. “The price, or me?�
The pedlar met his eyes unflinchingly but did not answer immediately, and Liall saw that he was struggling with his answer. He fought down a surge of irritation. Princes had knelt at his feet once. Who was this illiterate merchant to refuse him? Who did he think he was?
“Come now,� he coaxed. “You will not injure my feelings. I am no charming prince, this I know. But still, am I an ogre?�
“No,� the pedlar judged after a moment, studying him. “You’re a wolf.�
“And you do not like wolves?�
“I like wolves fine, so long as they stay clear of my path. Wolves and men don’t mix.�
Or men and men, Liall supposed he would have liked to say. Peysho had shooed the tribesmen off and taken himself away with them, leaving Liall with the pedlar, the campfire, and the soft-snowing night around them.
“What about wolves and pedlars?� Liall asked softly, daring another step.
“I don’t…� the pedlar began. He stopped and swallowed hard, looking up at Liall. There was no fear in his eyes. “I don’t see why you’re vexin� yourself, is all.�
“Vexin�?� Local dialects often threw Liall. He waited for the boy to explain.
“Why are you going to so much trouble on my account? I can’t be worth this much bother.�
Liall began to suspect that this one was not terribly experienced with the desires of men. “Are there no mirrors in Lysia? Give me your name,� he urged.
“I…� The boy closed his mouth. “Let me pass.�
Liall shook his head slowly. It made the pedlar angry again.
“Damn you, why not?�
“Because I’m not through vexin� myself, I suppose.�
Notes Book 1:
- the writing is fantastic, as is the setting/world with it's races/cultures, magic, and entanglements
- the main characters Scarlet and Liall are both intriguing and lovable. I think I love young and forthright, stubborn Scarlet a little more—because cuuute—but Liall has already captured my heart, too.
- very slow-burning romance with an enemies-to-lovers theme that had me smile very much.
Notes Book 2:
- great development of characters, their love for each other, and the whole world and plot in the sequel
- beautiful language, vivid description of the voyage and Niall's home country
- OMG, such sweet and passionate love scenes
- believable struggle in the relationship, without it getting annoying, and the promise of a lot more to (over)come
- the new situation for Scarlet and Liall is a tricky one and I hope their relationship will not strain too much under it, but so far they got stronger through everything
- I hope Scarlet will not take the backseat too much, but I am confident the author will do right by him
Notes Book 3:
- everything cool I said about the first two books :D
- intriguing new secondary characters (loved the queen and Cestimir—I love him especially), (hated the bitch—what's her name?)
- Liall and Scarlet... sigh, they had some very lovely scenes together, but they needed to overcome a lot in this book, too, which was not always pleasurable to read, but... I still loved it. Maybe a little less drama would have been better for me, but it's all good. I love how they always make up and talk, and that's really mature!
- Liall might be surprised by turn of events in the end, but I wasn't, so I'm really looking forward to the next book; also Scarlet's future seems to be getting more and more interesting :D
Notes Book 4:
- *sigh* best ending ever
- I can't believe I have to wait for more books now :-/
- While the conflicts are not really solved, I loved how the story was paced, and I can't wait to find out more. I am so curious and excited for the next book.
- I love my guys. I love how they grow in their relationship. I even love how they struggle and hurt with each other. I love them. So much.
Lately, I haven't enjoyed reading so much, but it seems to me now that it was the books and not me since I enjoyed reaThis book was fucking fantastic.
Lately, I haven't enjoyed reading so much, but it seems to me now that it was the books and not me since I enjoyed reading this newest installment of Kate Kane's story so so very much.
Basically everything about this was great. And I am liking where this is all going.
I wonder whether Kate will eventually dip into her darker fairy part or at least be able to be more in control about it. I love Elise and her interactions with her sisters and the inate objects. I hope to see more oft his in the future!!! And I definitely dig what happened in Kate's personal life in the end since it seemed very plausible to me. I am looking forward to the new developments here as well.
Now I need to find out when the next book is coming out. Please let it be soon.
Merged review:
This book was fucking fantastic.
Lately, I haven't enjoyed reading so much, but it seems to me now that it was the books and not me since I enjoyed reading this newest installment of Kate Kane's story so so very much.
Basically everything about this was great. And I am liking where this is all going.
I wonder whether Kate will eventually dip into her darker fairy part or at least be able to be more in control about it. I love Elise and her interactions with her sisters and the inate objects. I hope to see more oft his in the future!!! And I definitely dig what happened in Kate's personal life in the end since it seemed very plausible to me. I am looking forward to the new developments here as well.
Now I need to find out when the next book is coming out. Please let it be soon....more
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