Review: The War Priest - Ann Aguirre

Dour. Dutiful. Dogged.

Personal tragedy drove Callum McRae to join the Order of Saint Casimir fifteen years ago; now he’s in charge of a hold he hasn’t lived in for years. Supplies are scarce, he has no knack for dealing with people, and the Gols are at the gates. To make matters worse, he’s also battling an attraction so powerful and forbidden that it imperils his very soul…

Canny. Cheerful. Charming.

Joss Bristow seems bright and cheerful, but she’s hiding a well of sorrow that fuels her music. She’s also prone to leaping before she looks, exactly how she ends up besieged at Burnt Amber. Though she wanted to get to know Callum better, she never imagined that falling for him could cost her life.

He’s the dark of night, and she’s the sun that shines just for him. Two wounded souls have never needed each other more, but between his holy vows and the devastation of war, the odds are stacked against them…

Ars Numina Series:
The Leopard King
The Demon Prince
The Wolf Lord
The Shadow Warrior
The War Priest
The Jaguar Knight (release date to be confirmed)

Visit Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
Callum left his home fifteen years ago to join the Order of Saint Casimir as a priest and he never looked back. He certainly didn't expect to have to come back years later and take control as the hold leader in the middle of a war. The Gols are closing in and battle is looming, supplies are running low and Callum is totally out of practice when it comes to dealing with so many people. Joss is Callum's total opposite, cheerful and empathic to his cold and stoic, she knows exactly how to keep people's spirits up even in the most dire situations. She has admired Callum from afar and wants nothing more than to get to know him better but his plans to return to the priesthood are a huge barrier between them. Joss is exactly what Callum needs though and she might be the only person who can help him get through the challenges that lie ahead.

I've been a fan of Ann Aguirre's Ars Numina series since the beginning but The War Priest was definitely my favourite book so far. I absolutely loved the romance between Joss and Callum. She's such a sweet and warmhearted character while he comes across as really dour and grumpy so at first glance you wouldn't think they fit well together. You'd be totally wrong on that though because Joss is absolutely everything that Callum needs, he locked his heart away after a tragedy and has been in a kind of frozen stasis ever since but Joss's sunshine personality burns through that ice and lets her through to the warm and loving man hidden deep inside.

I loved that their relationship develops slowly, the attraction is there from the beginning but it takes time for them to build a friendship and grow trust before Callum realises that Joss is the most important thing in his life, even more so than the vows he took. Even then his vows to the Order of Saint Casimir are taken seriously, Callum respects the order and he doesn't just walk away because he has feelings for Joss. He talks about it with his brothers and requests permission to leave from the head of the order. These two are ridiculously adorable together and I was so happy with the way things turned out for them.

That isn't to say this story is all easy though. They are in the middle of a war and facing danger on all sides so there is plenty of action happening here. It was nice to see some of the previous characters make cameo appearances and there was a lot of great progress made between the different factions who are all fighting against the Gols. I'm already looking forward to the next book and can't wait to see how this series ends.

Source: Received from Ann Aguirre in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Moontangled - Stephanie Burgis

Take one ambitious politician and one determined magician with wildly different aims for their next meeting.

Add a secret betrothal, a family scandal, and a heaping of dangerous fey magic in an enchanted wood...and watch the sparks fly!

For just one moonlit, memorable night, Thornfell College of Magic has flung open its doors, inviting guests from around the nation to an outdoor ball intended to introduce the first-ever class of women magicians to society...but one magician and one invited guest have far more pressing goals of their own for the night.

Quietly brilliant Juliana Banks is determined to win back the affections of her secret fiancée, rising politician Caroline Fennell, who has become inexplicably distant. If Juliana needs to use magic to get her stubborn fiancée to pay her attention...well, then, as the top student in her class, she is more than ready to take on that challenge!

Unbeknownst to Juliana, though, Caroline plans to nobly sacrifice their betrothal for Juliana's own sake - and no one has ever accused iron-willed Caroline Fennell of being easy to deter from any goal.

Their path to mutual happiness may seem tangled beyond repair...but when they enter the fey-ruled woods that border Thornfell College, these two determined women will find all of their plans upended in a night of unexpected and magical possibilities.

The Harwood Spellbook Series:
Spellswept (Prequel Novella)
Snowspelled
Thornbound
Moontangled (Novella)

Visit Stephanie Burgis' website for more information

Review:
We've met both Juliana and Caroline before so I'd highly recommend reading the previous books in the series before this novella so that you're familiar with their history. Caroline is an aspiring politician with a bright future ahead of her but only if she follows the tradition of marrying a gentleman magician. The slight hitch in that is that she is madly in love with Juliana and the two are secretly engaged. Juliana was one of the first students to join the first magic school for women, the Thornfell College of Magic. Juliana is sure that if she can just pass her exams and officially be recognised as a magician then her marriage to Caroline can go ahead without ruining Caroline's political chances.

A recent scandal has caused Caroline to start pulling away from Juliana though, so just when they're getting close to achieving their dreams it looks like their relationship may be about to fall apart. Juliana is determined to get their relationship back on track but Caroline is trying to protect Juliana's reputation by keeping her distance. One magical night along with one tricky fae and they will either lose each other forever or find their way back to one another.

I'm so happy that Stephanie Burgis decided to give Juliana and Caroline their own story. I've been rooting for the young couple ever since they were first introduced so it was sad to see their respective careers getting in the way of their relationship. Luckily they're both fighters and once they both figure out what is really important nothing is going to change their minds. Juliana and Caroline are a pretty adorable couple but it was also nice to see how supportive Juliana's classmates as well as her teachers are of their relationship.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Thornbound - Stephanie Burgis

Cassandra Harwood scandalized her nation when she became the first woman magician in Angland. Now, she's ready to teach a whole new generation of bright young women at her radical new school, the Thornfell College of Magic…

Until a sinister fey altar is discovered in the school library, the ruling Boudiccate sends a delegation to shut down Thornfell, and Cassandra’s own husband is torn away from her.

As malevolent vines slither in from the forest and ruthless politicians scheme against her, Cassandra must fight the greatest battle of her life to save her love, her school, and the future of the young women of Angland.

The Harwood Spellbook Series:
Spellswept (Prequel Novella)
Snowspelled
Thornbound
Moontangled (Novella)

Visit Stephanie Burgis' website for more information

Review:
Thornbound is the second book in the Harwood Spellbook series by Stephanie Burgis and we get to see Cassandra fulfilling her dreams as she opens the door to her new school for female magicians, the Thornfell College of Magic. Cassandra has had a lot of support from her family and her husband to open the school but it quickly becomes clear that a lot of people in positions of power are not happy with her attempting to change the status quo. It's so engrained in society that women are politicians while men are magicians and people are worried that rocking the boat with this new college will have all kinds of implications for the future.

Cassandra has never been one to back down from a challenge but when the Boudiccate send a team of inspectors who are essentially looking for excuses to shut down the college she knows she's really up against it. Then a sinister fae altar is found in the school library proving that someone has been dabbling in forbidden magic, and Cassandra's husband goes missing she starts to wonder if her own dreams are costing the ones she loves a price that she's not willing to pay.

I'm really enjoying this series and I hope that we're going to see more of Cassandra as well as the staff and students at Thornfell College in the future, I'm sure there are all kinds of adventures they could get up to! I think what I like most about this series is how it turns rules of society as we know them on their head, it's the men who have to watch their reputations as being alone with a woman could ruin their reputations and it its the women who have most of the power. But while it's fun to see that switch up I also like the way Cassandra and her students are challenging societal norms to follow their dreams. We've seen Cassandra and her brother both make choices that are looked down on from some quarters but they never gave up and now they're giving a whole new generation the ability to follow in their footsteps.

This series is brilliantly written with inspiring characters and a fun magical setting. Adding in the tricky Fae only adds to the excitement as you really never know what one of them will try next, especially if they're making dodgy bargains with people.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Snowspelled - Stephanie Burgis

In nineteenth-century Angland, magic is reserved for gentlemen while ladies attend to the more practical business of politics. But Cassandra Harwood has never followed the rules...

Four months ago, Cassandra Harwood was the first woman magician in Angland, and she was betrothed to the brilliant, intense love of her life.

Now Cassandra is trapped in a snowbound house party deep in the elven dales, surrounded by bickering gentleman magicians, manipulative lady politicians, her own interfering family members, and, worst of all, her infuriatingly stubborn ex-fiancé, who refuses to understand that she’s given him up for his own good.

But the greatest danger of all lies outside the manor in the falling snow, where a powerful and malevolent elf-lord lurks...and Cassandra lost all of her own magic four months ago.

To save herself, Cassandra will have to discover exactly what inner powers she still possesses – and risk everything to win a new kind of happiness.

A witty and sparkling romantic fantasy novella that opens a brand-new series for adults from the author of Kat, Incorrigible, Masks and Shadows and Congress of Secrets.

The Harwood Spellbook Series:
Spellswept (Prequel Novella)
Snowspelled
Thornbound
Moontangled (Novella)

Visit Stephanie Burgis' website for more information

Review:
Snowspelled is a novella set in 19th Century Angland, a kind of alternate history of our own world but with added fae and magic. Also this is very much a matriarchal society so if you've been looking for a feminist historical romance this will hit the spot perfectly!

It was a truth universally acknowledged that women were the more pragmatic sex; that was why we were expected to run the government, while the men attended to the more mystical and imaginative realm of magic.

In this world the women are the politicians, they make the rules and govern society while the men engage in more frivolous pursuits like magic. Cassandra Harwood's mother was a respected politician and Cassandra was expected to follow in her footsteps but she was always more interested in magic. It took hard work but she finally achieved her lifetime dream of becoming the world's first female magician, she had everything she wanted in her career and was engaged to the love of her life, fellow magician Wrexham, but when a spell went horribly wrong her world came crashing down around her. Now unable to use magic Cassandra has lost her purpose in life and she broke off her engagement because she didn't want to bring Wrexham down with her.

Several months later Cassandra finds herself trapped at a house party and completely out of her comfort zone surrounded by lady politicians, who should be her peers but aren't, and male magicians, who used to be her colleagues. To make matters worse Wrexham is stubbornly following her around trying to convince her to change her mind about their relationship and she also seems to have caused a bit of bother with the local elves that could cause a political nightmare.

Snowspelled was an utterly charming story by Stephanie Burgis, the world building was fabulous, full of diverse characters and feminist themes, the characters were fun to spend time with, there was a good amount of action and the romance was incredibly sweet. I was amazed how much the author managed to pack into a relatively small number of pages and I'm already looking forward to continuing the series.

Source: Won in a giveaway from the author

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Review: Lost & Found - Ariana Nash

What use is a blade without a war?

After giving their lives to the Order, the Ashford assassins are in crisis. The battles are over, the war is no more, but assassins cannot retire from who they are.

Trey knows this. He may not have been an Assassin of the Order for long, but it was long enough to leave him scarred. Restless and heartsick, he returns to wandering, traveling from settlement to settlement, delivering tokens of love, not death.

Among his Order brethren at Ashford, he rediscovers the joy of careless pleasures and the thrill of knowing he'll be gone in the morning. But one assassin isn't so easily dismissed. Proud, powerful, and a self-centered prick, Sentinel Venali is everything Trey despises. But he fucks like there's no tomorrow, and right now, sex with no strings attached is exactly what Trey needs.

When fellow Order elves begin to take their own lives, the depth of the damage done by the war becomes apparent.

Trey has watched those around him buckle beneath their fears, powerless to stop their self-destructive path. He knows some cries for help are silent. And few need help more than the damaged Venali.

Tomorrow, Trey will be gone. Because staying means loving, and his cracked heart cannot withstand another break.

If only it were that simple to say goodbye.

***

Trey's novella takes place after events in the Silk & Steel trilogy. For the best experience, please read the Silk & Steel trilogy first. This novella does contain spoilers for the Silk & Steel series of novels.

Silk & Steel Series:
Sealed with a Kiss (Prequel short story)
Silk & Steel
Iron & Fire
Blood & Ice
Lost & Found (Novella)
The Black Prince

Visit Ariana Nash's website or Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
I highly recommend avoiding this novella until after you've read the Silk & Steel trilogy (Silk & Steel, Iron & Fire, Blood & Ice) because it does contain spoilers for the main story arc. However, once you've read that trilogy you really don't want to miss the chance to see Trey get his much earned happily ever after!

I've loved Trey since his first appearance in the prequel Sealed with a Kiss and his character has been brilliant throughout the series so I was really happy when Ariana Nash announced that she was giving him his own story. This is all about the Order Assassins and how a lot of them are struggling to find a new purpose for their lives now that the war is over and the elves and dragons are at peace. They've all watched friends and family members die, they've seen and done terrible things and now they've got to try and come to terms with that and figure out a way to move forward. It's not easy though and an increasing number of suicides amongst their number is starting to raise suspicion.

I don't remember much of Venali from the main series but he turned out to be an exceptional match for Trent. The two of them heat up the pages like nothing else and I think this might even be the hottest instalment in the series (which is really saying something to anyone who has read the other books!). Although their connection starts out with the physical I really enjoyed seeing the emotional connection build as they spent more time together. Throwing in the mystery of what is happening with members of the order and I flew through this novella. This story is highly recommended to fans of the Silk & Steel series and I just can't wait to see what Ariana Nash comes up with next.

Source: Received for free from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Sleigh Bells Ring - Jodie Griffin

Vixen loves Nicholas, but as her stay in the North Pole grows short, this reindeer-shifter worries that her time spent with the Master Elf has ruined her for any other dominant out in the real world. But Nic has other plans for the little doe who caught his eye . . . and his heart.

This story was published at the author's website as a free holiday story: http://jodiegriffin.com/2015/12/sleigh-bells-ring/

Visit Jodie Griffin's website for more information.







Review:
Sleigh Bells Ring is a short but spicy free Christmas story that you can read on Jodie Griffin's website here.

Just imagine that Santa's reindeers are actually shifters and think about all the kinky things they could get up to with Master Elf Nic during all those long winter days while they wait for Christmas.

The trouble for Vixen is that she's fallen in love with the immortal elf and she knows she'll never be happy when she's finished her time working for him and has to return to her mortal life and the real world. Luckily for her Nic has no plans on letting her go.

Like I said before this was a really quick read but it was also a really fun one with lots of interesting uses for peppermint candy canes and icicles. It's not for the faint of heart - these reindeers all have their kinks and there are lots of multi-partner situations going on not to mention some BDSM elements but I enjoyed the story and thought reading it was a fun way to pass 20 minutes.

Source: Read for free on Jodie Griffin's website

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Review: The Black Prince - Ariana Nash

In the war-torn rubble of the human world, can a rebel elf and a lost dragon prince find love, or will a dark threat tear them and their world apart forever?

A new land, a new court, a new king, but some things never change.

Broken in all ways, Akiem fled his life as the amethyst prince only to land at the mercy of the beautiful but deadly diamond king, Luceran.

Akiem knows dragons. He knows he’ll die today, tomorrow, whenever Luceran’s executioner brings down his axe, and maybe it’s all he deserves. He’s ready for death, craves it even, like he craves the elf with flame-red hair and a sly smile, the damn elf whose stolen kiss lit Akiem up in ways he didn’t know were possible.

Akiem doesn’t do males and he definitely doesn’t do elves. But some things do change.

Drifter, mercenary, lover — Zane is all those things. He’ll do almost anything for coin. But he doesn't do dragons and he definitely doesn’t do love.

It's not such a bad life for an elf. Better than the rest of his kin, living under the rule and whims of the dragon king, Luceran.

Working as a bodyguard in Bayston should have been quick coin in his pocket before moving on. But King Luceran has a new toy he parades at court. A dragon with eyes of gold and scales as black as night.

He probably shouldn’t have kissed him. Definitely should have killed him.

And now, moving on is the farthest thought from Zane's mind. Because Luceran's new toy is not like the other dragonkin. And maybe, just maybe, the terrible, beautiful beast has the key to freeing all the persecuted elves and unlocking Zane's restless heart.

Zane doesn't do love and he doesn't do dragons.

But with the arrival of the Black Prince, everything is about to change.

***

The Black Prince is part of the Silk & Steel world and takes place after events in Silk & Steel. It can be read as a standalone.

Silk & Steel Series:
Sealed with a Kiss (Prequel short story)
Silk & Steel
Iron & Fire
Blood & Ice
Lost & Found (Novella)
The Black Prince

Visit Ariana Nash's website or Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
If you'd asked me at the beginning of the Silk & Steel series if I wanted to read a whole book about Lysander's brother Akiem the answer would have been a resounding no, but by the time I'd read Blood and Ice, I'd definitely changed my mind. Anyway, as you might have guessed from the title, The Black Prince picks up Akiem's story after the end of the original trilogy. It was a very broken version of Akiem that fled across the ocean trying to escape his past and what he found there was a world very different to the one he grew up in but once more it's a world where he has no control over his own life.

Akiem has caught the eye of the dragon Luceran and nobody tells the diamond king no and lives. All Akiem can do is try to find a place for himself in Luceran's court, he just wants to fit in and not draw too much attention to himself but that becomes increasingly difficult when the king's brother starts trying to draw him into a conspiracy. Mercenary Zane is an elf who drifts from one place to the next earning whatever cash he can along the way but when he discovers a secret he's horrified by the actions of one of his own people. Then his friend is abducted and Zane knows he'll do whatever it takes to mount a rescue, even if that does mean seducing the king's latest pet dragon.

I'm not going to say much more about the story so you'll just have to read the book for yourself. What I will say is that Ariana Nash is extremely good at making me care about characters that are flawed. We all saw Akiem do terrible things in previous books yet I found myself really feeling for him here and wanting him to find some kind of happiness. After all Akiem grew up with the same mother as Lysander and although he was the favoured son that doesn't mean his life was easy. He did terrible things just to survive but the difference is he feels guilt for what he's done, he's now trying to make amends for his previous actions and that makes it much easier to forgive him. Zane was another great character, someone who doesn't always make the right choices but who tries to do the right thing. He's seen a lot of suffering in his life but that hasn't jaded him past the point where he can see the good in others.

This story was a great addition to the Silk & Steel world. It's set in a different country so it can be read as a stand alone but I think you'll appreciate how far Akiem has come much more if you know his story from previous books. All of the other characters are totally new though and there are definitely some interesting ones there so I'm kind of hoping we might end up getting a few more stories set in this world.

Source: Received for free from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Blood & Ice - Ariana Nash

An elven assassin. A dragon prince.
Three days they had together.
Three days was not enough.

There’s a traitor among the elves. A traitor who will stop at nothing to see Eroan pay for the crime of loving a dragon, and Eroan Ilanea will pay with blood.

Lysander has never been free to choose his fate. That is about to change. Finally, he learns what it means to be emerald, but knowledge is power, and power whispers its seductive curse into the ear of a broken prince.

Elf and dragon.
Leaders, lovers, fighters.
Fates entwined.

But as the dragonkin rise under a new king, will Eroan's and Lysander's boundless love save the world or destroy it forever?

***

The devastating and emotional bestselling Silk & Steel series concludes in Blood & Ice.

Silk & Steel is a m/m dark fantasy. The series has triggering content.

Silk & Steel Series:
Sealed with a Kiss (Prequel short story)
Silk & Steel
Iron & Fire
Blood & Ice
Lost & Found (Novella)
The Black Prince

Visit Ariana Nash's website or Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
This series has been an emotional rollercoaster from beginning to end. Eroan and Lysander's journey has been far from easy and they've both been tortured along the way but they're still determined to make a better future for their people. Eroan has done everything he can to get the elves to accept Lysander but they're still wary and a further betrayal by one of his own threatens to ruin everything. Lysander was always waiting for things to go horribly wrong so the betrayal doesn't come as such a shock to him but that doesn't make it any more welcome.

In Blood & Ice we get to find out exactly what Lysander is capable of and why the other dragons are so scared of him, we see Eroan make some difficult decisions about the people he's dedicated his entire life to protecting and there's a final showdown between the elves and dragons that ends in a way you probably won't be expecting. The characters we love face dangerous and difficult trials that will change them forever and some characters we hate will get their comeuppance. Nobody is safe in this world, enemies are closing in from all directions and nobody will come out unscathed.

This was a fabulous ending to the trilogy and it left me really excited to read Akiem's spin off book, The Black Prince. I'm very curious to see how much the world will change thanks to revelations at the end of this book.

Source: Received for free from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Shadow Warrior - Ann Aguirre

Bitter. Broken. Brutal.

Molded since childhood to be the perfect weapon, Gavriel d’Alana (also known as Death’s Shadow) has devoted himself to serving Thalia Talfayen. The life of a Noxblade is lethal and lonely, and since the princess has no need of him, he secretly believes there’s no reason for him to live—and he should seek a glorious death—but that’s before he tangles with a tiger woman who unleashes his darkest desires.

Tough. Tenacious. Trustworthy.

Magda Versai has a reputation for being unattainable—no deep attachments, only discreet amusements. If she has her way, the pride will never learn of her private heartbreak, as she accepted her curse years ago. Now, she focuses on work, which is why she’s acting as Raff’s bodyguard while secretly hunting for Slay. The search leads Mags to team up with a Noxblade so belligerent that she can’t resisting baiting him.

She’s the steel, he’s the flint, and the sparks they strike together might kindle a fire that could warm them for a lifetime, if they don’t kill each other first…

Ars Numina Series:
The Leopard King
The Demon Prince
The Wolf Lord
The Shadow Warrior
The War Priest
The Jaguar Knight (release date to be confirmed)

Visit Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
Gavriel was trained from childhood to be a lethal assassin, as a Noxblade his sworn duty has been to protect Princess Thalia and it's a job he's been proud to do. But as the Princess makes a marriage alliance with wolf and Pine Ridge alpha Raff he believes his duty as her bodyguard is over and is looking for a new way to serve. Magda has been working as Raff's personal protection but her main reason for travelling to the Eldritch lands is her hunt for former pack member Slay. Nobody knows if Slay willingly became traitor and betrayed the pack or whether he's been taken hostage but Mags is determined to hunt him down and find out the truth. Gavriel agrees to be her guide and help Mags with her hunt but he has very little idea what he's just signed himself up for and the sparks are about to fly.

Events at the beginning of The Shadow Warrior run alongside ones in The Wolf Lord and it was interesting to see how Gavriel reacted to Raff and Thalia's growing closeness, he had always considered himself in love with the princess but it doesn't take him that long to realise it was just admiration. This story gives us some great development in the ongoing story arc and shows that their enemies are only getting started on their campaign designed to start a war. Gavriel and Mags have a part to play in deescalating certain situations but there is far more going on behind the scenes that we're only starting to uncover.

Although the book has plenty of action and a lot going on the best thing by far was the romance and the slow build between Mags and Gavriel. Raised to be a top assassin Gavriel didn't have anything like a normal childhood and he's already lost the warriors he was closest to. He can think of 100 ways to kill someone but he finds it very difficult to make small talk so he came across as quite abrupt in previous stories but he's actually pretty sweet once you get to know him. What I really loved was that Mags was the dominant one in their relationship, Gavriel will fight alongside her when they're in danger but when it comes to the bedroom he prefers to let her take the lead and he likes a little pain to go along with his pleasure.

It's very rare to find a romance hero who isn't a bossy alpha male so Gavriel was a really refreshing change. I also loved the way Mags introduces him to Dominance and submission, she's very open and upfront about her own sexuality and desires and she slowly earns Gavriel's trust well before they start any kind of kinky play. There was no diving in at the deep end, it was all about discovering what worked for both of them and sharing their deepest fantasies. They were perfectly matched in so many ways even though both of them were incredibly wary of relationships.

The Shadow Warrior also set things up perfectly for the next book, The Warrior Priest, and I can't wait to get to know Callum better.

Source: Received from Ann Aguirre in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Iron & Fire - Ariana Nash

Alliances are forged and broken, friendships shattered, and despite the odds stacked against them, two hearts collide in this explosive sequel to Silk & Steel.

From his mother’s cage to a human one, but Lysander’s captors are the least of his concerns. Rumors of a monstrous bronze dragon ripple through human camps, a dragon tearing great holes in the world as though searching for something… or someone.

It’s just a matter of time before the bronze chief, Dokul, finds Lysander and makes good on his promises. And should he find him, Lysander knows Dokul will not be merciful.

Amidst the greatest of elven victories, Eroan failed. Failed his people, failed himself, and failed the dragon who saved him. But he will not falter. The dragonkin are in disarray, there will never be a greater opportunity to strike. Eroan Ilanea will not fail his people again.

But when rumors of the dragon prince’s survival reach him, he must choose: Fight for his people or fight for the prince who nobody thought to save?

***

Contains adult themes, triggering content, a bisexual elf, and a gay dragon shifter.

Silk & Steel Series:
Sealed with a Kiss (Prequel short story)
Silk & Steel
Iron & Fire
Blood & Ice
Lost & Found (Novella)
The Black Prince

Visit Ariana Nash's website or Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
Iron & Fire picks up the story several weeks from the end of Silk & Steel, Lysander has spent that time as a prisoner and while the humans haven't technically tortured him being stuck inside a cage hasn't been much fun. What's worse is the rumours of a giant bronze dragon that has been seen all along the coast, Lysander knows that Dokul is searching for him and he dreads what will happen when he does. Meanwhile, Eroan has returned to his people and is helping to spread the word about weapons that can be used to actually kill dragons, he's trying to convince the elves to work alongside humans so that they have a chance of destroying their enemy once and for all but after the last betrayal the elves are wary.

Eroan hasn't been able to forgive himself for Lysander's death so when he realises that the dragon may in fact be a prisoner he has a difficult decision to make. Should he risk it all to save a dragon when his entire life has been devoted to destroying as many of them as possible? It should be an obvious choice but without Lysander he wouldn't have survived his own captivity and now is his chance to return the favour. The only question is how many enemies will he make amongst his own people by doing what he knows is the right thing.

If you read the first book then you'll already know that this is a dark series, I'm going to warn you now that this book wasn't any easier to read. In fact certain scenes were incredibly difficult to get through so please take this warning seriously. There are rape scenes, both MM and MF, and I think that's important to know if it could be triggering for you. Having said that, no matter how painful parts of this book were to read it was still an excellent instalment to the series. It's not light and fluffy, instead it's gritty and raw but it also has a lot of heart and characters you'll find it easy to root for.

I love Lysander, for someone who has suffered so much he still has a huge amount of compassion for others. He takes some serious knocks in this book but in spite of that he tries to do the right thing. There were times when I really wanted to smack some sense into Eroan, I was angry with him for leaving Lysander to suffer for so long but at the same time I could understand that he was trying to do what was right for his people. Both of them have such complex histories and even when they make questionable decisions it's easy to see why they think and act the way they do. I so desperately want them both to find happiness but I have a feeling they're going to have to face a lot more hardship along the way.

Iron & Fire is a book that tore my heart out but that just proves how invested I am in these characters and this world and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book to see what happens next.

Source: Received for free from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Silk & Steel - Ariana Nash

A tormented dragon prince.
A captured elven assassin.
Duty demands they fight for their people but love has other plans.

Eroan, one of the last elven assassins, lives for one purpose: kill the queen.

He would have succeeded if not for her last line of defense: Prince Lysander. Now, captured and forced into the queen’s harem, Eroan sees another opportunity. Why kill just the queen when he can kill them all? It would be simple, if not for the troubled and alluring dragon prince. A warrior, a killer, and something else… something Eroan finds himself inexplicably drawn to.

Trapped in a life he despises, Lysander knows his time is running out.

If the queen doesn’t kill him for his failures, her enemies will. There’s nothing left to live for, until an elf assassin almost kills him. A stubborn, prideful, fool of an elf who doesn’t know when to quit. An elf who sparks a violent, forbidden desire in Lysander. If Lysander can’t save himself, maybe he can save the elf and maybe, just maybe… one stubborn elf will be enough to bring down the queen before her reign brings death to them all.

Silk & Steel is a 85,000 word full-length novel.

This series is a dark fantasy intended for mature readers.
Silk & Steel features gay and bisexual characters and encounters.

Silk & Steel Series:
Sealed with a Kiss (Prequel short story)
Silk & Steel
Iron & Fire
Blood & Ice
Lost & Found (Novella)
The Black Prince

Visit Ariana Nash's website or Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
I'm a huge fan of Pippa DaCosta's writing so when I found out she was writing a dark fantasy M/M story under the pen name of Ariana Nash I immediately added it to my wish list. Throw in the fact that the main characters of Silk & Steel are an elven assassin and a dragon prince and I just couldn't wait to get started! Anyone who has ever read any of Pippa's stories will know that she excels at detailed world building and tortured heroes and she has outdone herself on both of those fronts with this book.

Eroan is one of the few surviving members of the elven assassins, his whole life has been spent training to kill the dragon queen although he has always known that he is more likely to die in the attempt than to actually succeed. He came so close to achieving his goal but he was captured by the dragon prince Lysander and now he is being held prisoner in their stronghold. The only thing keeping Eroan going is his dream of ending the dragon queen once and for all but the longer he spends in captivity being tortured the slimmer his chances appear.

Lysander has been his mother's plaything since he was a child, nothing he ever did was good enough to earn her acceptance and the title prince is a mockery when he is just as much a prisoner of his circumstances as Eroan. Lysander has given up hope of surviving his mother but there is something about the fierce and proud elf that makes him long for a future he knows is impossible. Perhaps if he can just manage to save Eroan then his entire life won't have been wasted but to do that he's going to have to stand up to the woman who has made his entire life a misery.

You only need to read the blurb for Silk & Steel and the warnings it contains to know that this story is going to be a dark one, it's actually quite uncomfortable to read at times but in that best kind of ways where your heart hurts but you just can't stop reading. The characters are complex with believable motives and although there is a great forbidden romance bubbling along in the background it's definitely  a slow build which works perfectly in this situation. That's not to say there's no heat in this story because there's still plenty of sex happening, both of the M/M and M/F variety, but Eroan and Lysander have a long road to travel if they want any chance at a happily ever after and they're nowhere near the finish line yet.

I'm ridiculously excited to see where this series is going to take us, there have already been plenty of unexpected developments and I'm sure Ariana Nash is going to throw in a few more curveballs along the way. This is shaping up to be one heck of a ride!

Source: Received for free from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Sealed with a Kiss - Ariana Nash

Sealed with a Kiss is a fantasy m/m short story.

"You can have all of me for one night only. Say no, and I'll leave, but say yes and I'll give you a night you'll remember forever."

As one of the few remaining elven assassins, Eroan Ilanea doesn't have much time for pleasure. Until a messenger arrives from a nearby village and suddenly pleasure is all he can think about. The kind of pleasure he's never surrendered to before. The messenger is a tease, a vision of elicit delights, and he'll be gone in the morning.

This night, Eroan just might say yes...

Sealed with a Kiss is a short, sexy, m/m story that takes places several years before events in the novel Silk & Steel (to be published in 2019).

Genre: Dark fantasy
Heat level: Scorching

Pages: 42
Read-time: 20 minutes.

Ariana Nash is a pen name of international bestselling author Pippa DaCosta. Her Ariana Nash books are m/m adult reads.

Silk & Steel Series:
Sealed with a Kiss (Prequel short story)
Silk & Steel
Iron & Fire
Blood & Ice
Lost & Found (Novella)
The Black Prince

Visit Ariana Nash's website or Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
Pippa DaCosta is one of my favourite authors so when I found out she was writing a new series under the pen name Ariana Nash, it went straight to the top of my wish list. Sealed with a Kiss is only a short story but boy does it introduce us to this new world with a bang!

Here we are introduced to main character Eroan, an elvish warrior who works hard to protect his village from the dragons that are slowly destroying his realm. We don't know a lot about the world yet but this little taster did a perfect job of whetting my appetite for the first full length book, Silk and Steel, which is being published in January.

This is an m/m series and Ariana Nash takes no time in raising the heat levels between Eroan and a messenger who has arrived at the village with important news. Seriously, this is short but it's scorching and if this is any indication of what's to come in the rest of the series I can't wait to continue reading.

This story is available to purchase on Amazon or you can get a copy for free by signing up to Ariana Nash's newsletter so you have no excuses not to give it a try. If you like your stories hot enough to melt your kindle then you're going to love every minute of it!

Source: Received for free from the author for signing up to her newsletter

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Review: The Wolf Lord - Ann Aguirre

Roguish. Reckless. Unreliable.

Raff Pineda has a certain reputation among the Animari. He’s the one to call if there’s a party starting, not the man to rely on when all hell breaks loose. Though he’s nominally the leader of the Pine Ridge pack, he defers to his second on the tough calls. Raff prefers to live fast and hard and keep his heart hidden, but a certain Eldritch princess won’t fall for his usual tricks, and their contract political marriage may be anything but convenient.

Ambitious. Elegant. Isolated.

Princess Thalia Talfayen may not have been raised by a witch in a tower, but she’s spent the last few decades locked up for a failed insurrection. Plotting and scheming come naturally to her; personal connections do not. Since she’s come this far in her unstoppable quest to claim the silver throne, she won’t hesitate to do whatever it takes to unite her people, even if that means giving herself to the big bad wolf...

Ars Numina Series:
The Leopard King
The Demon Prince
The Wolf Lord
The Shadow Warrior
The War Priest
The Jaguar Knight (release date to be confirmed)

Visit Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
Thalia is a princess of the eldritch but her father was a traitor and she's spent the last decade locked away from the world. She's determined to claim her rightful place as queen and prevent her people falling into civil war, all she wants is to be a fair ruler and fix the damage caused by her father and the people he allied with. She can't do it alone though and she doesn't have enough of an army to claim the throne so she proposes a marriage alliance with the leader of the Pine Ridge animari wolf pack. Raff is leader in name but has spent years putting off taking as much responsibility as he could, letting his second make all the important decisions. He only became Alpha after the death of his older brother and has never felt worthy of the position so he prefers to spend his time partying. A war is coming though and if he can help bring he eldritch and animari together then they might stand a chance of winning against their common enemy.

This series is just getting better and better, what starts as a marriage of convenience between two strangers quickly morphs into so much more as Thalia and Raff get to know each other. They're both wary initially but the treachery they are surrounded by forces them to work together in dangerous situations and that builds bonds fast. I love how respectful Raff is of Thalia, she's more pragmatic and willing to do things just because she feels they need to be done but Raff doesn't want her forced into a corner and is willing to wait for things to develop naturally. They're both very different characters, Raff is much friendlier and warmer while Thalia is initially quite cold and she has been taught from a young age to keep everyone at a distance but once you get past the surface they have a lot in common and she's much more caring than you realise.

Each story in this world does work as a stand alone from a romance point of view but the world is constantly expanding as we learn more about both the eldritch and the animari so I'd recommend reading the series in order. There are lots of world developments here that are going to have an impact on future stories and I'm looking forward to seeing which couple is up next, I have a feeling I've guessed the hero but I'm not 100% sure so that always keeps things interesting.

Source: Received from Ann Aguirre in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Make Me Believe - Shiloh Walker

Chelly is going nuts-she thinks. And she's fighting for the right to keep her little boy. Right before Christmas, her ex announces he is going to sue for custody of their child. Because she is losing her mind. She is talking to a man who doesn't exist. A tall, sexy creature with wicked blue eyes and magic in his hands. And he can't possibly exist. After all, elves aren't real.

Visit Shiloh Walker's website for more information

Review:
Ever since Chelly was a child she's had an invisible friend that nobody else has been able to see, people expected her to grow out of it but even now she's a mother she still sees Nikolai in her dreams. When her son is badly injured her life is turned upside down when Nikolai literally steps out of her dreams to save him. Their lives will never be the same again but can Chelly forgive Nikolai for taking away her choices from her?

I should point out that this is a short and very quick read that comes in at about 50 pages so you have to go in expecting things to be resolved fairly quickly. This was a fun read and I enjoyed the author's take on elves and Santa, it's a hot read too and there is plenty of attraction between Chelly and Nikolai but I can't help thinking how much better this could have been if their relationship had been a slower build. Yes, he's been part of her life for as long as she can remember but she never believed he was real before and after everything that happened when her son was injured I think I just needed a little more time with them talking things through and discussing their future before they jumped into bed.

This is definitely a nice Christmas story though and I'd be quite happy to read more stories about these characters, or some of the other elves we met, in the future.

Source: Purchased

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Review: The Demon Prince - Ann Aguirre

Charming. Irreverent. Haunted.

Alastor Vega is the sole challenger in a brutal battle for succession. Against all odds, he must stop his power-mad brother, Tycho, before he destroys the Numina. Though he never wanted to rule, he must claim the throne and liberate his people, or the consequences will be calamitous. Yet only the surprising support of a beautiful Animari doctor gives him the fortitude to fight.

Focused. Analytical. Solitary.

Dr. Sheyla Halek has always been more interested in research than personal contact, but family ties—and the needs of her pride—keep her in Ash Valley, deferring her dreams. Brusque and abrasive at the best of times, she never expected to bond with anyone, let alone Golgoth royalty. Strangely, Alastor seems to need her as no one has before, and not only for her medical skills.

Their attraction is forbidden, likely doomed beyond the wildness of wartime, but these fires burn too hot and sweet to be contained…

Ars Numina Series:
The Leopard King
The Demon Prince
The Wolf Lord
The Shadow Warrior
The War Priest
The Jaguar Knight (release date to be confirmed)

Visit Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
Alastor's brother is determined to start a war amongst the Numina, he already caused chaos when he bombed Ash Valley while the races were all in the midst of a signing a peace treaty and nobody is exactly sure what he will try next. Alastor never wanted to lead his people but knows that as the sole remaining heir to the throne it is up to him to try and stop Tycho before even more lives are lost. The one thing holding him back is his poor health, suffering with a genetic disease Alastor relies on medicine to survive but with his supply quickly running out his chances don't look good.

Sheyla is a cat shifter and one of Ash Valley's doctors who has been tasked with trying to replicate Alastor's medication. She takes her responsibility for Alastor's safety seriously and even joins him on the battlefield to ensure his survival. Sheyla has never found it easy to relate to others, they don't understand her abrasive personality, but Alastor looks past her harsh exterior and sees the woman underneath. There are a million reasons why a relationship between the two of them would be a disaster but the more time they spend together the harder it is for them to resist giving into temptation.

I really enjoyed The Leopard King but The Demon Prince amps things up to a whole new level and Alastor is definitely my favourite hero of the series so far. I love the way Ann Aguirre turned the tables  on usual romance tropes in this book so that Sheyla is the stronger, more alpha character and Alastor is physically more fragile and willing to be led. Sheyla knows exactly what she wants from life and that extends to the bedroom too and Alastor is more than willing to make her every desire reality. I really enjoyed the slow build romance between them and the sexual tension was brilliantly done. They have fantastic chemistry and I was really able to root for them as a couple but I absolutely loved the addition of Alastor's bodyguard Dedrik when the couple choose to play out a menage fantasy. I only really mention that in my review because I know MFM scenes aren't for everyone but it was really well written and definitely raised the heat levels in my opinion!

I mentioned in my review of the first book that I would have liked a little more world building and background on the different Numina factions and I'm happy to say we did start to get a little more history in this book. I think that's only going to increase as we start to spend time with the different groups as the series continues. This is such a fun series and I'm already looking forward to the next book.

Source: Received from Ann Aguirre in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Leopard King - Ann Aguirre

Proud. Imperious. Impassioned.

Until three years ago, those words applied to Dominic Asher, the leader of Ash Valley. His family has ruled the feline branch of the Animari for hundreds of years, guiding the pride through perilous times. Unspeakable loss drove him into seclusion, a feral beast nobody can tame. Now he’s wrecked, a leopard king in exile, and he wants nothing more than to die.

Fierce. Loyal. Determined.

Fortunately for Dom, those words still apply to Pru Bristow, his dead mate’s best friend. She’s had her heart broken too, but she never quits. With the conclave approaching, alliances with the Pine Ridge pack and Burnt Amber clans on the verge of collapse, she’s prepared to do whatever it takes to drag their leader back, before his second can start a war.

At best theirs seems like a desperate alliance, but when their mate bond turns hot and fierce, there’s no end to the questions and the doubts. Neither of them expects to fall in love. But sometimes people don’t know what they’re looking for until they find it.

Ars Numina Series:
The Leopard King
The Demon Prince
The Wolf Lord
The Shadow Warrior
The War Priest
The Jaguar Knight (release date to be confirmed)

Visit Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
When Dom's mate was murdered his grief sent him into a tail spin, unable to cope with his loss he walked away from the rest of his pride and has been living in seclusion for the last 3 years. Pru was Darlena's best friend and was also devastated by her death but she has been sent to bring Dom home to lead important peace talks with the other races to help prevent all out war. The pride need Dom and Pru will do whatever it takes to convince him to come back to them no matter what it costs her.

The Leopard King was a great start to Ann Aguirre's Ars Numina series, I'd like a little more background information about each of the different races but I think that's something that will come with time and we were given just enough in the first book to hook us in without overwhelming us and taking away from the current story. The set up is definitely interesting and there were characters from each of the different factions that I'm totally intrigued by so I'm looking forward to spending more time in this world.

Dom was left broken by the loss of his mate, he didn't cope well with his grief and his world completely fell apart but once he makes the decision to return to lead the pride he steps up and takes full responsibility for his actions. He doesn't find it easy to slip back into the role of leader but he accepts help along the way and trusts his people and Pru to help guide him. I loved that he wasn't an over the top alpha, he's a man who is still hurting but he is trying his best to protect his people. Pru has had her own share of heartbreak, not only did she lose her best friend but she's also spent her whole life being pitied by her clan and rejected by the man she loved because of her latent shifting ability. The fact that she isn't able to take her cat form is something that has been incredibly painful for her and she's always felt worthless because of that so her confidence is low. She's a really sweet character though, someone with a huge heart who cares about everyone around her. She willingly takes on half of Dom's burdens and she's excited to take a bigger role in caring for her people.

What I loved most about this book was that the characters didn't instantly fall in love and they weren't fated mates who never had struggles in their relationship. They both have history with other people that has effected them differently and their mating starts out as friendship with the agreement of mutual support. They both take time to talk to each other setting ground rules and then work through any issues as they come up. They both have insecurities but whenever one of them is worried about something they talk about it like adults and they both put the work in to make their relationship a success. It was so easy to believe that their friendship was blossoming from respect and caring to attraction and eventually love.

We have been introduced to characters from each of the different factions and I've already made guesses about which ones will be getting books of their own and in some cases who the romances will be with. The great news is that they're all characters I'm interested in spending more time with and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing where the action takes us next. The Leopard King has it all - great characters, interesting world building, plenty of action, a nice amount of romance and some hot sexy times. It's just what I look for in a paranormal romance and the rest of the series is going on my must buy list.

Source: Received from Ann Aguirre in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Exiled - Amanda Carlson

Phoebe Meadows is on trial for her life.

After freeing her half-brother, Baldur, Phoebe is set to stand before the Council in Asgard to answer for her actions. The threat of exile if she’s found guilty looms, not to mention the added stress of meeting her real father for the first time.

Upon entering Asgard, Phoebe discovers new allies in a half-brother she’s never met as well as an oracle who is in possession of valuable information. A little added help couldn’t have come at a better time, because when Phoebe is tossed into an unknown realm, she’s armed only with Gundren, a jewel, and her wits.

When Loki shows up, all bets are off. The trickster god throws a wrench in Phoebe’s plans and kidnaps Fen, her only ally. And just when she thinks she sees the light at the end of the tunnel, Phoebe finds she has to defeat one last obstacle: The Norns.

And they aren't planning to go down without a fight...

Phoebe Meadows Series:
Struck
Freed
Exiled

Visit Amanda Carlson's website for more information

Review:
At the end of the previous book we saw Phoebe and her friends travelling to Asgard so she can stand trial for helping Baldur escape. The Goddess Frigg blames her for Baldur's death but Phoebe is hoping she'll be given the chance to prove her innocence and make sure the real culprit is punished. Frigg isn't willing to listen to reason though, her son is dead and all she cares about is getting revenge so it looks like Phoebe will receive the ultimate punishment and find herself exiled to Helheim, the real question is whether Fen will be sent with her or if she'll have to face a new realm full of enemies completely alone.

This series really is going from strength to strength. I love the Norse mythology Amanda Carlson has taken inspiration from and I really enjoyed getting the chance to spend time in both Asgard and Helheim in this book. It's great that we get to explore new places in every instalment of this series and the author does a brilliant job of making each realm feel completely different to the ones we've already visited. The story is action packed as Phoebe is set an almost impossible task by Frigg and she has to face her scariest enemies yet if she wants to be able to return from her exile in Helheim.

Phoebe gets the chance to meet more of her family here too which was a lot of fun, not only do we catch up with her adoptive parents in the human realm but we also learn more about the Valkyrie side of her family and she finally gets to meet her father Odin. The romance between her and Fen is still going strong and I continue to love the friendship between Phoebe and her human friend Sam too. Odin and Frigg aren't the only gods in the mix and Loki is causing mischief just like you'd expect but luckily Phoebe has some powerful allies as well as enemies or she'd be in even more trouble.

I've been having so much fun reading this series and I'm eagerly awaiting the next instalment to see what adventures Phoebe gets up to next.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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