Grace Draven - Phoenix Unbound

Every year, each village is required to send a young woman to the Empire's capital - her fate: to be burned alive for the entertainment of the masses. For the last five years, one small village's tithe has been the same woman. Gilene's sacrifice protects all the other young women of her village, and her secret to staying alive lies with the magic only she possesses.
But this year is different.
Azarion, the Empire's most famous gladiator, has somehow seen through her illusion, and is set on blackmailing Gilene into using her abilities to help him escape his life of slavery. And unknown to Gilene, he also wants to reclaim the birthright of his clan.
To protect her family and village, she will risk everything to return to the Empire and burn once more.

Comment: I have read several books by this author now and, as always, when I saw the blurb for this one, it made me curious. I finally had the chance to try it.

Gilene is a sort of fire witch, in the sense that she isn't burned in contact with fire, which comes in handy in her village, since all villages in the empire have to "offer" a woman for the Rites of Spring, the end of a special event demanded by the emperors when the women are burned at a pire. Gilene has done this many times already and she does it because she knows she is immune, saving many other women who aren't. However, this time, something doesn't happens as always, because Azarion, the most successful gladiator, who is also a slave like everyone trapped by the empire, sees through her illusion and blackmails her into helping him escape. She reluctantly agrees, thinking this would be the end of it... the thing is, once she is outside, already ready to be taken away by her brothers, Azarion kind of kidnaps her. He claims he needs her help again, to regain his status in his hometown. But how can she trust him again?

This author has the best ideas for her books, even if based in other stories or situations. I'm always eager to see how the plots develop in her fantasy settings and this time, the beginning was as captivating as I imagined, with both Gilene and Azarion teaming up to escape. Of course, I knew they could not separate right away, because this is clearly a romance too, but I will say that after they escape, things aren't as thrilling as I wanted.

The empire is ruled by evil people, who enslave others and promote entertainment in humiliating ways. We are immediately taken by the characters' need to escape and to do something about this, but the road until the final battle (of course there would be one) wasn't as smooth as I hoped for. I mean, expectations are always hard to meet, but I've read other books by the author and some did accomplish this goal nicely, so I know the author could do it.

The details about the characters, the settings, the world building are all interesting and easy to visualize. I see that the author had obvious inspiration on Roman culture, as well as other subjects, but this all seemed to mesh well. I'd say that my issue with the novel was mainly the romance and the development of the plot around that. Azarion and Gilene as likable characters on their own (despite their actions in some moments) and I did root for them, and wanted to see them succeed, and for Gilene to escape and for Azarion to gain his freedom. Once they were running together, though, things weren't as interesting.

They aren't immediate allies, after all he didn't tell her he would need more of her help, but time on the road and then in his hometown work to being them closer. This plot move made sense within the story we were given but.... the pace sometimes was a bit too quick for the amount of issues they both went through in their lives. I get it that the point was not to offer a huge story but there are plot transitions that could have helped this and I think that didn't happen, so the progression of things between them felt rushed.

Perhaps the thing is, both Azarion and Gilene weren't given enough layers, to match the traumas and the situations they faced. In particular Azarion, who was a slave and how all this affected him. The author does offer some context for how they are still mentally sane (my interpretation) but I just didn't buy it completely, if one takes into consideration how they suffered. In a way, this element was kind of superficial and made the reading experience less impactful, emotionally.

The romance was also too bland, because we don't get to see how it happens. We don't have enough scenes with them thinking about one another, with them interacting in a gradual way for the final acceptance of their feelings to seem inevitable. It just was, and with the fact of their personalities being superficially presented too, it wasn't as romantic nor amazing as I wanted, and as had happened in other books by the author.

Therefore, this was a good reading experience but not great. I liked it but there were times I also noticed how many pages were left, so...

Grade: 6/10

Grace Draven - The Undying King

The stories are told in whispers, even after so long: of a man whose fair rule soured when he attained eternal youth. Imprisoned by a sorceress wife in a city out of time and place, he has passed into legend. Few believe in him, and fewer would set their hopes on his mercy. But Imogen has no choice. To break the curse that's isolated her since birth, she'll find the Undying King—and answer his secrets with her own...

Comment: The books by this author all have interesting blurbs and premises and this was no exception, thus why I added it to my TBR.

In this fantasy world, Imogen, a young woman lives with her mother in a secluded spot for they are able to perform witchcraft and the young woman is cursed, everyone she touches dies. Despite this and their loneliness, they are companions to one another but as the story begins, the mother is dying and before that happens, she tells Imogen about a key given to her by the King of Tineroth, whom she helped years ago. She says he owes her a boon and Imogen should use the key to ask for his help in removing her curse. Since she has no strings to the land, Imogen goes on searching for this king, even though tales about him have always been told as if it was a fairy tale but suddenly, she does find the entrance to this mythical kingdom and she does meet the king. Could it be her fate will finally change?

This is a novella, apparently not linked to any of the worlds in the other series I've read by the author. This is a good way to learn about the author's style for something shorter is obviously quicker to read. At first I though this might not matter since I knew how able the author really is, but I must say I finished the story with some disappointment because the novella didn't seem to be enough to develop all the necessary elements introduced.

This is fantasy so a lot of magical and strange elements are part of the story but I felt some weren't as well explained because of the lack of pages. The author had to summarize a lot and while the plot itself is understandable and points out all the necessary things for the structure to hold on (the basic introduction, development and conclusion can be identified) but for me everything was a little superficial.

Imogen is a sweet heroine but I didn't really feel she was special besides her curse. We are told how that came to be and it was actually a nice twist but considering how she was brought up and the fact the story is focused on how Imogen gets along with the king, the subject wasn't explored as much and in the end I felt it was just another nice element and not the big deal it was meant to be.

The king is obviously a lot more interesting, he is thought as someone irresponsible and greedy who wanted immortality more than he cared for his kingdom, losing his humanity, which means he isn't a simple hero trapped in an impossible situation. Still, we are told this happened centuries ago and he is alive but in a cursed reality, where not many can see his kingdom nor himself. Suddenly, Imogen shows up and by touching her, he starts feeling like a human again and we learn that this will happen gradually, so he might remove her curse by allowing it to kill him instead. However, this doesn't happen very quickly and while they spend time together, we see them bond over their problems and attraction.

As the story evolves, they seem to be hidden in their own reality which I assume works to create this feel they are isolated and the only solution might be them falling in love. I think this is rather obvious to be the goal and it's not so different from one or two other of the author's books I've read. The difference to them - and to other fantasy books out there - is that their personalities are well depicted but they don't really evolve now. All the things happening between them are just "waking up" feelings because not only are they too focused on their issues but they don't interact with others, there's no development int he world around them...how believable it is if the experience is so self centered?

The big antagonism comes from a very badly and lacking any importance and development whatsoever regarding a neighbor real kingdom of the old Tineroth, whose prince wants control and power or something and for that he claims that by marrying Imogen, whom we discover has an aristocratic background (of course), he will achieve this goal and enforces a dark magician to find her. This part of the plot is really without depth and easily forgettable. I think it was the way used to convey urgency in separating the king and Imogen so they both realize their feelings are stronger than they thought and by forcing the end of the story.

The end is...rushed and not as significant as it might have been done, I think. Some details might seem enough and they do give the reader information about what happened and what will be the fate of the couple, but without more development on the world and on their lives, everything felt a little under done.

Grade: 6/10

Grace Draven - The Brush of Black Wings

During a foray into the woods of Neith, Martise stumbles upon a ruined temple and reawakens not only a power she thought lost, but also something far more malevolent. An ancient darkness, imprisoned in an eternal cage, sees a chance at freedom in a woman once held in bondage.
Desperate to save her, the Master of Crows will break the barriers of time and worlds to challenge an entity born of forgotten magic and the remnants of souls—a demon king who once led hordes of the damned across the face of the world.
The destroyer of gods will battle the destroyer of men to reclaim her and discover a truth the keepers of history once conspired to conceal.
A tale of revelation and redemption.

Comment: This is the follow-up novella to the amazing book Master of Crows by author Grace Draven. I really liked the main book but for some reason I procrastinated reading this novella. In a way it seems my instinct was correct because despite the fact this was an interesting story, I just didn't feel as much connection to it as I did with the first one.

This a fantasy story featuring the protagonist of the first book and now that some time has passed since the events of the full length tale, Silhara and Martise are happily married and in love and living very simple lives among all the domestic and magical tasks they work with everyday.

One day, though, while looking for mushrooms in the forest surrounding the castle, Martise stumbles on an ancient rock and somehow wakes up a being linked to the old place. In an effort to get help, she uses her power which causes the being to "wake up"and later Silhara needs to help and save her. What they discover is that the strange powerful being just awakened has a secret and a need and will our couple be able to solve the obstacle in their way?

I won't go into much description of comments about this, since this is a small story. I liked revisiting the main characters after having enjoyed their romance so well in the first book but to be honest. this was a much simpler story and not only due to the page limit.

Having a small amount of content to think of makes things a little too...vague. It was nice to have little clues on the couple and it's definitely great to see them happy.

However, thinking on how much I liked their original story, thinking on how long it's been since that and also bearing in mind I've read other books by the author in the meantime that, although not bad, weren't as addictive for me, I think I can say one needs to really like the style of this author to appreciate specific details.

I'd say my biggest complain with this story is that it feels unfinished. It gave the reader the closure regarding the couple (yay, they are happy) but it created other possibilities in terms of future stories because of what we learn. I think this author really likes to create a good atmosphere, to explain things, to add details and descriptions and often this is enough. But I can't help feeling there's also a slight sense of detachment in how the story is told vs the emotion supposed being portrayed. 

In the first book I didn't feel that but with the other books by this author I did and also with this novella. As if the emotion isn't really shown, just the fact the characters say that. I can't explain well.

This was a good enough story but there are too many things left in the air and if one were to consider this as stand alone story, then it felt weaker than it could have.

Grade: 6/10

TBR Challenge: Grace Draven - Eidolon

In a bid for more power, the Shadow Queen of Haradis has unleashed a malignant force into the world. Her son Brishen, younger prince of the Kai royal house, suddenly finds himself ruler of a kingdom blighted by a diseased darkness and on the brink of war. His human wife Ildiko must decide if she will give up the man she loves in order to secure his throne.
Three enemy kingdoms must unite to save each other, and a one-eyed, reluctant king must raise an army of the dead to defeat an army of the damned.
A tale of alliance and sacrifice.

Comment: Here we are for another TBR Challenge read. This month the theme is Backlist Glom, which means any author who has more than one book in our TBR. 

I chose Grace Draven, not only because I do have more than one book by her to read but also because I wanted to finally read the sequel to Radiance, a book many readers enjoyed in past years and that when I read, expected perfection but it was one or two steps away from it in my perspective. I wanted to see if this Eidolon would measure up and be a good sequel. It was but again there's something missing for me to consider it the best ever.

In this book we have the sequel of what happened at the end of Radiance, now showing us Brishen and Ildiko as a happily married couple living away from the Court and the influence of his evil mother, the queen. However, this villain has unleashed a terrible plague od demons that won't stop until every living creature in their path is dead. The Kai have some magic which means there are rituals they can do to stop the demons from reaching the living too quickly along with the physical barriers of water.

The responsibility of defending all the kingdoms obviously is now Brishen's, as he is the only surviving element of the royal family and who can magically fight the demons. But there's a price for this power and maybe this is too high a task for him and his wife, to bear...

As expected, this book s filled with amazing scenes of magic and fantasy situations that  can be both too far fetched but incredibly alluring to read about. It always fascinates me how authors can invent things in their heads - even with influences - and create a whole world to present. Grace Draven has a certainly creative mind and the "rules" and processes in which things happen are very imaginative and probably the best feature of this book.

This fantasy obviously has a huge conflict to be overridden and there are personal details that make it a difficult task to be done, namely how people are affected by the plague and how survivors might feel guilty they didn't help in time or that they are alive and others don't. The reasons and ways of dealing with this part of the plot seem logical to me, meaning, the steps taken from one situation to the other feel well done and even in a way that makes everything related to the plot feel right.

The story also has romance, which is a huge part of the plot because it focuses a lot on the main couple and the differences between them (mostly physical). Of course the purpose is for us to see that different beings can find happiness together and common ground even in the face of adversity. I also like the details about their individual personalities and their expectations about their marriage and in this particular story how they think about the future and what it means for them to be together when it would be more advisable for Brishen specifically, to marry a Kai woman and not a have a human wife. 

All the situations surrounding this are interesting but... I keep feeling the relationship is too easy between them. What I mean is, I like they are in sync with one another and that they are in love but I'd love to see more about their feelings and hopes and challenges. I feel what we have seen here wasn't enough to convince me their marriage is as strong as intended. But perhaps this only me.

As a whole, this story has all the elements to be a good one, the romance is good and the relationship not easily broken but I kind of expected more, I wanted all the elements to be so well mixed that I wouldn't be able to not think about this. In the end, I liked it a lot but there's still something missing.

Grade: 8/10

Grace Draven - Radiance

Brishen Khaskem, prince of the Kai, has lived content as the nonessential spare heir to a throne secured many times over. A trade and political alliance between the human kingdom of Gaur and the Kai kingdom of Bast-Haradis requires that he marry a Gauri woman to seal the treaty. Always a dutiful son, Brishen agrees to the marriage and discovers his bride is as ugly as he expected and more beautiful than he could have imagined.
Ildiko, niece of the Gauri king, has always known her only worth to the royal family lay in a strategic marriage. Resigned to her fate, she is horrified to learn that her intended groom isn’t just a foreign aristocrat but the younger prince of a people neither familiar nor human. Bound to her new husband, Ildiko will leave behind all she’s known to embrace a man shrouded in darkness but with a soul forged by light.
Two people brought together by the trappings of duty and politics will discover they are destined for each other, even as the powers of a hostile kingdom scheme to tear them apart.

Comment: Having read books by the author before and having liked them, I was quite eager to read this one, something often described as one of the author's best work and quite the story when it comes to opposites attract.

In this fantasy story we meet Ildiko, a human woman who is promised in marriage to a Kai prince. The Kai is a different species in all counts but still bearing a humanoid figure. Ildiko and Brashen are going to marry without knowing each other as a means to ensure their two countries will keep the peace and the economical treaties they share.

When they marry, Ildiko leaves to live in Kai's country and the first course of action is to meet his parents and Ildiko finds things are not easy on that department and the life she will have will be completely different from what it has been...

This book has interesting scenes and situations but of course what makes it unique and interesting is the relationship between Ildiko and Brashen and how they can become a united front against everything else.

I really liked this aspect of the story and the slow pace used which means we do have time to see the two of them become friends before lovers. The physical aspect does play a role since they are so different but more than just being opposites in their appearance, they are different in many other things and their relationship makes them closer and attraction doesn't have to be only the way one looks. I liked reading about the details about the other each main character found interesting and unique enough to become appealing. I guess it was fun to see on the page how they fell in love.

Knowing this, however, means I expected a stronger romance from a certain point on, especially as soon as they saw one another with sexual interest. But the romance was too...polite in this regard. I expected a bit more sexual tension and fear of going over the top before they admitted this but they were as friendly and fair in their decision to become lovers as they thought and discussed other things. It was nice to know they cared for each other but I guess I wanted to see more passion and romance before they got intimate.

There's a dark component in the plot. Brashen's immediate family - except his cousin who will be a protagonist in a future book - isn't a good one, not even welcoming. And the way the book ends makes it realistic to think more bad things will come. I was not very pleased with the dark tone the plot got as we got closer to the end, to be honest. I wouldn't mind a book on politics and species relationships and dealings but we also got dark powers and magic and evil and I could easily put that aside. I'm afraid of the bad things that might come which, to me, are unnecessary for this story in an overall scope but... it's the author's prerogative after all.

The little details about each species and how different they are truly won me over, in particular when it comes to gastronomy...let's say some people (aka the author) have a lot of imagination on what could be icky for us to imagine eating...

I liked the secondary characters; two are going to be protagonists and by their interactions here (clever author giving us tiny little hints) the romance will be incredible, hopefully.

The book ends not with a full HEA since there is a sequel but I hope there are happier things to wish for and to live through for the main couple.

I'd have really added a few seduction scenes before they told one another they were in love...I think it would have felt more romantic and inevitable, instead of just being good.

Grade: 8/10

Grace Draven - Master of Crows

What would you do to win your freedom? This is the question that sets bondwoman, Martise of Asher, on a dangerous path. In exchange for her freedom, she bargains with her masters, the mage-priests of Conclave, to spy on the renegade sorcerer, Silhara of Neith. The priests want Martise to expose the sorcerer's treachery and turn him over to Conclave justice. A risky endeavor, but one she accepts without hesitation--until she falls in love with her intended target.
Silhara of Neith, Master of Crows, is a desperate man. The god called Corruption invades his mind, seducing him with promises of limitless power if he will help it gain dominion over the world. Silhara struggles against Corruption's influence and searches for ways to destroy the god. When Conclave sends Martise as an apprentice to help him, he knows she's a spy. Now he fights a war on two fronts--against the god who would possess him and the apprentice who would betray him.
Mage and spy search together for a ritual that will annihilate Corruption, but in doing so, they discover secrets about each other that may damn them both. Silhara must decide if his fate, and the fate of nations, is worth the soul of the woman he has come to love, and Martise must choose continued enslavement or freedom at the cost of a man's life. And love.

Comment: I've previously read something by the author and I liked it. When I had the chance to suggest this tile for one of my book clubs I didn't hesitate because I was confidant this would be a great read for us all. I was proven right because, for me it was amazing. I hope the others will love it too.

This is the story of Martise, a young woman, slave to a powerful man. In this world of magic and powers, Martise is Gifted but she doesn't know how to make her power come forth. Taken to the Master of Crows with the excuse that someone as powerful as him could help her in exchange of her work in his house and business, Martise is actual a spy on behalf of her owner to uncover evil deeds done or planned by the Master of Crows.

Silhara, the Master of Crows faces a hard task, defeating a God. Corruption wants to seduce and use him if only he succumbs. Silhara knows Martise is a spy but he still accepts her in an attempt of gaining something against the group of magicians who want him dead.

What these two didn't know was that a bond between them will grow and the other will be so much more than they ever imagined.

I truly loved this story. I think it's really amazing and very well written, in my perspective. As it happened with the other book by the author I've read, this one also presents a believable couple whose romance develops at the perfect pace.

All the practical reasons about the plot aside, I have to confess I loved the romance. I think this author really understands how a romance should work and in a way, it almost seems she knows precisely how I like to see a relationship develop and how suitable the couple must be for each other.

My absolute favorite thing about this story is precisely how the two protagonists meet, are wary of each other but something compells them to become closer. The time between they meet until they finally become intimate is filled with sexual tension, with poignant scenes, with little scenes where they start to feel good in the other's presence, where they start to have feelings for each other. In a way, their romance feels real and believable because we see things happen in the time it takes for things to change. There's no insta-love, no fast run for sex without care. I really appreciate stories where the couple can take time to care for each other, where we can see how they start wanting to be together but there's no polite talking about it, as if it were just a means to an end, nor a rushed step towards something that would feel cheap. I really, really love romances where we see things happen before they have sex.

Of course all this would mean nothing if the characters themselves weren't appealing individually.

I liked Silhara because despite everything others said about him, he has honor and in the end tries to make a sacrifice that saves all of those he holds dear. He's fascinating because he has a warm soul despite the evil attempts of the God Corruption to overtake him. He is loyal, caring and has a simplicity to his way of life, his actions that show how great he is despite the awful things from his past that could have made him be something very different. He's a great hero.

Martise is an almost perfect heroine. She is in a difficult situation but she isn't giving up on honor and rightness for personal gain. She is fair and she recognizes something good not only in Silhara but in his life. She makes some harsh but understandable decisions about herself and I liked her even more for that.

Together, they are amazing and both their personalities seem to be a match.

The plot has some slower moments and some less than appealing scene jumps. I kind of understand why, it does allow for us to see more things, to see characters in different scenarios, but it can drag the action a bit.

Nevertheless, be assured everything works out in the end. Nothing is sugary perfect, but the HEA happens beautifully and I'll cherish this story for a long time.

Can't wait to read more by the author!

Grade: 9/10

Grace Draven - Entreat Me

Afflicted by a centuries-old curse, a warlord slowly surrenders his humanity and descends toward madness. Ballard of Ketach Tor holds no hope of escaping his fate until his son returns home one day, accompanied by a woman of incomparable beauty. His family believes her arrival may herald Ballard's salvation.
...until they confront her elder sister.
Determined to rescue her sibling from ruin, Louvaen Duenda pursues her to a decrepit castle and discovers a household imprisoned in time. Dark magic, threatening sorcerers, and a malevolent climbing rose with a thirst for blood won't deter her, but a proud man disfigured by an undying hatred might. Louvaen must decide if loving him will ultimately save him or destroy him.

Comment: This book came into my attention because of the Internet Book Club at Goodreads. I don't participate every time but this book seemed something I'd enjoy reading so I thank Mariana for the chance to read it and Hilcia again for letting me know about the group.

This is a new version of the classic Beauty and the Beast (which also happens to be my favorite Disney story ah ah) so I was quite eager to read it. Having a not so good experience with re-telling/re-versions of beloved stories, I was apprehensive but trusted the opinions of those who had read it and Mariana especially for having recommended it.

The story follows a sort of fantasy world (historical toned) and the Beast gets his curse because he was married to a woman who didn't love him. She cheated on him and he killed her lover. After giving birth to a baby boy, she cursed Gavin, her son, on her deathbed. However, Ambrosius, a sorcerer makes it happen to be Ballard (the Beast) to be the one to suffer the worst of the curse.
His lands are enchanted though and only Gavin can leave and one day he returns with a beautiful young lady who they hope might fall for him and break the curse. But they didn't arrive alone. Louvaen, the young lady's older sister comes to protect her and soon Ballard can't seem to stay away and the most wonderful of it all is she can't either...

I liked this story because the connection between the two protagonists, Ballard and Louvaen, was simply amazing. I think their romance was so cute, despite the hardships, that I was eager to keep reading just to see them interact and fall in love.
In fact, to me this was what made this story such a personal success. I think the changes made to make this a version of the classic story were well done for the most part, as all the important details from the original were present, even if slightly altered. 
However, the pace wasn't always the best in my opinion, there was some dragging at times and also a lot of focus on things I didn't think were that important for the main storyline.

There are many differences from this story to the original, namely the presence of a child also cursed, and Beauty's enemy not aiming for the Beast at the end, but overall, it was a good follower and did th original justice, considering this version is oriented for adults.

I could speak about the considerable little things that made this story a good one, like the character's personalities that came alive throughout the book, or the descriptions that were very real, or the narrative that was often witty and easy to follow.
I could speak about the detail of Gavin and Louvaen's sister sub plot and how they kept falling in love but only were intimate after their marriage which added some innocent and sweet tone to the plot, or about the secondary characters that helped the plot and the romances.

I could, but honestly the best thing about this is the actual romance between Ballard and Louvaen. They both have strong personalities. Who wouldn't admire a man that sacrificed himself to bear a child's curse? Or a woman who defends her family until the end? I liked these two a lot and how they had love and honesty and bravery and humility to help the others, to try their best and be the most wonderful couple ever! Not even the fact they had a lot of sex distracted me from this because the sex was the affirmation of their love even when they didn't know it yet. Louvaen fell for Ballard despite his curse, his looks and his limitations and she still didn't change herself for him, she was with him all the way being true to herself. Ballard too had a huge soul and he is one of the best because he did learn a lesson without ever compromising his honor.
They are a great couple and I loved their HEA.

Of course not everything is perfect, like I said the pace and some details were a bit distracting and I wasn't as captivated at first. Thankfully the more I read, the better it became.

I think this is a wonderful fantasy take on Beauty and the Beast. There are changes but also gains by reading this adult version. And there's an epilogue that any romance reader will enjoy. It's a very special read and I was surprised positively by the author's style and voice. I'll read more by her in the future.
Grade: 8/10