Review: A Heart of Blood and Ashes - Milla Vane

A generation past, the western realms were embroiled in endless war. Then the Destroyer came. From the blood and ashes he left behind, a tenuous alliance rose between the barbarian riders of Parsathe and the walled kingdoms of the south. That alliance is all that stands against the return of an ancient evil--until the barbarian king and queen are slain in an act of bloody betrayal.

Though forbidden by the alliance council to kill the corrupt king responsible for his parents' murders, Maddek vows to avenge them, even if it costs him the Parsathean crown. But when he learns it was the king's daughter who lured his parents to their deaths, the barbarian warrior is determined to make her pay.

Yet the woman Maddek captures is not what he expected. Though the last in a line of legendary warrior-queens, Yvenne is small and weak, and the sharpest weapons she wields are her mind and her tongue. Even more surprising is the marriage she proposes to unite them in their goals and to claim their thrones--because her desire for vengeance against her father burns even hotter than his own...

A Gathering of Dragons Series:
(Chronological reading order as per the author's website)
The Beast of Blackmoor (Novella in the Night Shift anthology)
Silent Night (Free short story on the author's website)
A Heart of Blood and Ashes
A Touch of Stone and Snow (July 2020)

Visit Milla Vane's website for more information

Review:
There is so much I want to say about A Heart of Blood and Ashes that I really don't know where to start. I've tried so many times to sit down and write this review but my concentration is shot to pieces at the moment and I'm finding both reading and blogging really hard. What I can say is that this is without a doubt the best new series I've discovered in a long time. I've already read this book 3 times since January and I love it more every time I pick it back up. I grew up reading fantasy and developed a taste for romance in my teens but books that combine the two are pure joy to me, especially when they're written as well as this one.

I honestly can't think of a single thing that I disliked about this book, Milla Vane (aka Meljean Brook) has created a rich and detailed fantasy world full of barbarian warriors, vengeful gods and goddesses and an ongoing plot to destroy the realms. This is a dark world so I'll warn you now that the characters we love won't have an easy journey but I never felt that the author glorifies the violence or includes things unnecessarily.

I want to talk a little about our main characters. First we have Maddek, barbarian warrior and son of the king and queen of the Parsathians. Maddek has spent years fighting on the frontlines but when he learns of his parent's deaths he doesn't believe the story that the alliance council tells him so vows to find out the truth and to seek vengeance against whoever is responsible for their murders. Something happened when they travelled to Syssia to seek a bride for him and he blames King Zhalen. He initially abducts the king's daughter Yvenne planning on using her to seek his revenge but instead of an unwilling captive he finds himself an ally who hates her father even more than he does.

Yvenne has many reasons to hate her father, the fact that she's been kept imprisoned in a tower for her entire life is just one of them. Zhalen is to blame for so much of Yvenne's suffering but he's also the one keeping her from claiming her rightful place as the queen of Syssia. Yvenne has watched for years as her people have suffered under his rule and she wants Maddek to help her protect them all. I absolutely love Yvenne, she isn't the strongest character physically but she has a mental toughness that few others could match. She's smart, cunning and willing to play dirty to get what she needs and I have a huge amount of respect for her.

Maddek makes a lot of mistakes with Yvenne, there were multiple times when I wanted to shake some sense into him but even when I was so frustrated I could understand where he was coming from and I found it easy to root for them as a couple. The chemistry between them was instantly off the charts and they really had some of the sexiest foreplay scenes I've ever read long before they ever had full sex but it was the slow build of their romance that really pulled me in. Maddek was stubborn and refused to admit what we could all see happening but when he made mistakes he was man enough to admit them, apologise and try to make amends.

I feel like I could rave about this book for hours but I just want everyone to go out and read it for themselves. I knew back in January that this was going to be my favourite book of 2020 and two rereads later that hasn't changed. If you like fantasy romance this is hands down my top recommendation for you, so stop wasting your time reading reviews and just buy a copy already!

Source: Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Silent Night - Milla Vane

Author’s Note: This is a short piece that I wrote for a blog and features Mala’s cousin, Laina, who was mentioned in “The Beast of Blackmoor.” This takes place after that story but there are no spoilers for it. 

Originally posted on That's What I'm Talking About blog this can also be read on Milla Vane's website here.

A Gathering of Dragons Series:
(Chronological reading order as per the author's website)
The Beast of Blackmoor (Novella in the Night Shift anthology)
Silent Night (Free short story on the author's website)
A Heart of Blood and Ashes
A Touch of Stone and Snow (July 2020)

Visit Milla Vane's website for more information

Review:

Silent Night is a really short story that you can read for free on Milla Vane's website here, it's told from the point of view of Laina who was briefly mentioned in The Beast of Blackmoor novella as Mala's cousin.

It's hard to say too much about this story as it's so short but we get to see that Laina is on a quest of her own for the Goddess Vela. We only see a tiny snippet of her story so I was really excited when I realised that she is the heroine of book 3, A Dance of Smoke and Steel, which publishes later this year. I can't wait to read about more of her journey!

Source: Read for free on Milla Vane's website

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Review: The Beast of Blackmoor - Milla Vane

Dive into the world of beasts and barbarians in this prequel to the exhilarating Gathering of Dragons series by Milla Vane.

A warrior princess must tame The Beast of Blackmoor to earn a place among her people. When she arrives in Blackmoor, however, she finds a land cursed by a demon and ruled by an evil warlord...and discovers that the beast isn't a monster, but a barbarian warrior who intends to do some taming himself.

A Gathering of Dragons Series:
(Chronological reading order as per the author's website)
The Beast of Blackmoor (Novella in the Night Shift anthology)
Silent Night (Free short story on the author's website)
A Heart of Blood and Ashes
A Touch of Stone and Snow (July 2020)

Visit Milla Vane's website for more information

Review:
I already wrote a brief review of The Beast of Blackmoor when I read it as part of the Night Shift anthology but I didn't go into much depth at the time and having reread the novella a couple of times recently I wanted to talk about it some more. This is one of those stories that I've loved more every single time I read it and I don't think I fully appreciated it the first time around. It's the first novella in Milla Vane's A Gathering of Dragons world and is a great intro to the dark and dangerous world she has created.

Mala is a warrior on a quest from her Goddess Vela to tame the Beast of Blackmoor, she will do whatever it takes to achieve her goal because her people are depending upon her to protect them and she needs the Vela's gifts to help them survive. What she doesn't realise is that the Beast is in fact a man and Kavik will do anything to avoid being enslaved again. Kavik angered Vela so it's not too surprising that she has forsaken him but Mala believes that they can both earn redemption for themselves and their people if they only listen to the Goddess and follow her will.

I think one of the things I love most about this series is the strong women Milla Vane has created. Not only do we have Vela, a powerful Goddess who is brilliant even as a minor character but we also have Mala, a strong and fierce warrior who stands up for people who can't stand up for themselves. This is a harsh world but Mala thinks nothing of taking on dangerous causes if she believes they are worthwhile. She chose to take on a quest for Vela knowing that the reward would be great if she achieves it but that the punishment will be even worse if she fails, she has faith that while the Goddess will make her task difficult Vela won't give her an impossible challenge so she believes that with hard work she can achieve her goal.

Mala and Kavik are brilliant together, he is the rightful leader of his people but his life was turned upside down as a child by an evil conqueror. Kavik has been to hell and back but has spent his entire life focused on saving his people. He made a huge mistake when he offended Vela but you could feel the frustration he felt as a teenager and could easily understand how desperation led him to fall so low. Now he has spent years waiting for his punishment, knowing that one day the Goddess will catch up with him and the minute he sees Mala he knows she is here for Vela's vengeance. Kavik has waited years for this moment but nothing had prepared either of them for the sparks that fly. The heat between these two was intense and from that very first meeting I was totally rooting for the pair of them.

There aren't many authors who can pack quite such a punch into a novella but Milla Vane manages to create a whole world, give us fantastic characters and create a romance that doesn't feel at all rushed. There was just so much to love about this book and considering I've already read the first full length book in the series, A Heart of Blood and Ashes, three times I can definitely confirm that this whole series is going to be a firm favourite.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Kindle:

Blog Tour: A Heart of Blood and Ashes - Milla Vane

I was lucky enough to receive a review copy of A Heart of Blood and Ashes, the first book in Milla Vane's new fantasy romance series, and I admit it's early to say this but I can pretty much guarantee it earned a spot in my top books of 2020 list. This was EVERYTHING I want from a fantasy romance and I loved every minute of it. I'll be posting my full review later today but trust me this is a book you NEED to add to your to read pile!

Let me give you a bit more information about the book (including a fab excerpt) to help persuade you!

A generation past, the western realms were embroiled in endless war. Then the Destroyer came. From the blood and ashes he left behind, a tenuous alliance rose between the barbarian riders of Parsathe and the walled kingdoms of the south. That alliance is all that stands against the return of an ancient evil--until the barbarian king and queen are slain in an act of bloody betrayal.

Though forbidden by the alliance council to kill the corrupt king responsible for his parents' murders, Maddek vows to avenge them, even if it costs him the Parsathean crown. But when he learns it was the king's daughter who lured his parents to their deaths, the barbarian warrior is determined to make her pay.

Yet the woman Maddek captures is not what he expected. Though the last in a line of legendary warrior-queens, Yvenne is small and weak, and the sharpest weapons she wields are her mind and her tongue. Even more surprising is the marriage she proposes to unite them in their goals and to claim their thrones--because her desire for vengeance against her father burns even hotter than his own...

EXCERPT:

“Our queen and king and two Dragons murdered.” A dozen warriors, who were also mothers and fathers, sons and daughters. Maddek stopped pacing, his chest a ragged ache, his family’s silver crest burning around his thumb. “How can I let this remain unavenged? I cannot.”

“You must.”

“The alliance has run its course if this corruption and betrayal can stand and the council stands with it, because nothing will stand if our allies cut our legs out from beneath us.”

“And what would you put in the alliance’s place? Warriors are stronger when they stand together—and Parsathe is stronger if we stand with the southern realms. Even if one of those realms is rotten.”

“Only one? With Aezil on Rugus’s throne, Zhalen’s rot will not be contained within Syssia—and some say that Aezil is worse than his father.” Not only murdering his cousin to gain his throne, but also studying dark magics and seeking power through blood sacrifice. “These are the kings we stand with?”

“If we must,” Nayil replied. “Kings rise and fall. It is not for them that we fight, but for the people who live under their rule.”

That was truth. So was Maddek’s reply. “Then it would be better for all if I took Zhalen’s head.”

“And if your vengeance destroys the alliance—”

“Then we will remake it anew.”

For a long moment, only another heavy sigh was Nayil’s response. Then the older man said, “You will be my king, Maddek. I hear your words—and I hope you hear mine when I advise you not to make any decisions in grief and rage. If you must vow to avenge them, I advise that you also do not speak an oath in haste. Silver-fingered Rani has taken your parents, so nothing can change their course; only yours can be determined now.”

And his course might determine the course of every Parsathean. Maddek inclined his head. Though his heart yearned for blood, he could not deny the wisdom of the man’s words.

“Your journey home will pass through another full turn of the moon,” Nayil continued. “Use that time to reflect upon the path you will take. That is my advice to you: think hard and well upon your next steps.”

“I can promise that.” Another harsh laugh escaped him. “I know not how I will think of anything else.”

“Nor I. I have not these many days and nights.” A rueful smile curved Nayil’s thin mouth before a grave weariness flattened his expression again. “When you are Ran, you will speak for every Parsathean. Perhaps you should let every Parsathean guide your voice—for Ran Ashev and Ran Marek were not only your parents but also our queen and king. When we gather, we can tell our brothers and sisters what befell them. We can tell them of the council’s investigation and of the lies we suspect. We will tell them the consequences of vengeance and the threat of the Destroyer. If they demand blood, I will stand with you.”

That was also wise advice. “And if there is not a consensus?”

“Then it is your place as Ran to speak for us. We will abide by your decision. So think upon what it must be. Think upon it as a son and as a king.”

He would try. But he was not a king yet. Only a warrior.

Now his warrior’s heart grieved anew. His parents, too, had been warriors—and every warrior knew death would one day come. If not by steel, then by claw or plague, or the ravages of age. Countless dangers could have befallen his parents. Before Maddek had arrived in Ephorn, he hadn’t known what danger it had been, but he could have accepted any of them.

He could not accept treachery and dishonor.

And Maddek had believed that in the council’s haste to send word, they simply forgot to tell the cause of his parents’ deaths to the Tolehi captain who’d borne the message. But now Maddek understood.
If the queen and king had sickened, or been attacked by bandits, or become a meal for the fanged beasts that stalked the Burning Plains, such information would have been passed along, too. But the council had not told Maddek what Zhalen had done because they had not wanted him to charge north with the Parsathean army at his back and with vengeance burning in his heart.

Yet vengeance burned hot, anyway—and only one thought stoked the furnace of his mind.

Someone would pay.

About Milla Vane:

Milla Vane is an alternate name for author Meljean Brook.

Meljean was raised in the middle of the woods, and hid under her blankets at night with fairy tales, comic books, and romances. She left the forest and went on a misguided tour through the world of accounting before focusing on her first loves, reading and writing-and she realized that monsters, superheroes, and happily-ever-afters are easily found between the covers, as well as under them, so she set out to make her own.

Meljean lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and daughter.

Find Milla online:

Website - http://millavane.com/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/millavane
Facebook - https://facebook.com/authormillavane
Instagram - http://instagram.com/authormillavane
Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/millavane

Review: Night Shift - Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, Lisa Shearin & Milla Vane

Four masters of urban fantasy and paranormal romance plunge readers into the dangerous, captivating world unearthed beyond the dark . . .

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh delivers a smoldering story with Secrets at Midnight, as the scent of Bastien Smith's elusive lover ignites a possessiveness in him that's as feral as it is ecstatic. And now that he's foundhis mate, he'll do anything to keep her.

In #1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews's novella, Magic Steals, when a woman goes missing, shapeshifting tigress Dali Harimau and jaguar shifter Jim Shrapshire must uncover the truth about the mysterious creatures responsible.

It's seer Makenna Frazier's first day on the job at Supernatural Protection and Investigations, and her first bodyguarding assignment is more than she bargained for when a leprechaun prince's bachelor party goes every which way but right in national bestselling author Lisa Shearin's Lucky Charms.

From Milla Vane - a warrior princess must tame The Beast of Blackmoor to earn a place among her people. Soon she discovers that the beast isn't a monster, but a barbarian warrior who intends to do some taming himself.

For more information about any of these authors you can visit their websites by clicking the links below:
Nalini Singh
Ilona Andrews
Lisa Shearin
Milla Vane

Review:
I'll admit that the main reason I wanted to read this anthology was for the stories by Nalini Singh and Ilona Andrews, I'm a huge fan of both the Psy-Changeling and Kate Daniels series so of course I was eager to be able to dive back into both of those worlds. It was a great opportunity to try a couple of new series though and I have to say that I definitely want to read more from Lisa Shearin and Milla Vane in the future. I'm going to talk about each of these stories individually but I would just like to say that if, like me, you picked up the anthology for one or two authors it's definitely worth giving the other stories a chance too. All four novellas are great and I'd be happy to recommend any of them.

Secrets at Midnight by Nalini Singh

Psy-Changeling Series:
(Season One in the Psy-Changeling World)
Beat of Temptation (Novella included in Wild Invitation and the An Enchanted Season anthology)
Whisper of Sin (Novella included in the Burning Up anthology or as a separate ebook)
Slave to Sensation
Visions of Heat
Echo of Silence (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Caressed by Ice
Stroke of Enticement (Novella included in Wild Invitation and The Magical Christmas Cat anthology)
Mine to Possess
Hostage to Pleasure
Dorian (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Branded by Fire
Blaze of Memory
Bonds of Justice
Play of Passion
Declaration of Courtship (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Kiss of Snow
Texture of Intimacy (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Tangle of Need
Partners in Persuasion (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Heart of Obsidian
Flirtation of Fate (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Secrets at Midnight (Novella included in the Night Shift anthology)
Shield of Winter
Shards of Hope
Allegiance of Honour

Psy-Changeling Trinity Series:
(Season two in the Psy-Changeling World)
Silver Silence
Ocean Light
Wolf Rain

I have loved Bastien ever since we first met him so I just knew that his story would be fantastic. He's such a great guy, fun loving and sweet but also incredibly protective of the women in his life as we've seen from his interactions with his sister Mercy. Bastien is currently infuriated though, he has finally caught the scent of his mate only to lose it again almost immediately. As a cat he should be able to hunt his prey wherever they go but the one person he needs to find almost desperately is managing to stay hidden from him. He isn't one to give up though and when he finally manages to track Kirby down there is no way he's letting her out of his sight again.

I don't want to say too much more about the story because there was a fabulous twist when it came to Kirby and I really enjoyed watching Nalini Singh reveal it. What I will say is that I absolutely adored this couple and I hope we get to see more of them in the future. This novella takes place over a very short space of time but it's a testament to Nalini's writing that it never felt rushed, I always find her stories completely believable no matter how short the timeline is. Kirby is one lucky girl to end up with a guy like Bastien and I'm definitely looking forward to reading his brothers Sage and Grey's stories.

Magic Steals by Ilona Andrews

The Kate Daniels Series:
A Questionable Client (Short Story included in the Magic Graves anthology)
Magic Bites
Magic Burns
Magic Strikes
Magic Mourns (Novella included in the Must Love Hellhounds anthology or available separately as an ebook)
Magic Bleeds
Magic Dreams (Novella included in the Hexed anthology or available separately as an ebook)
Magic Slays
Magic Tests (Short Story included in the An Apple for the Creature anthology)
Magic Gifts (Novella available for a limited time as a free ebook from the authors and included in the print version of Gunmetal Magic)
Gunmetal Magic (Kate Daniel's World book 1)
Retribution Clause (Short Story included in the Hex Appeal anthology)
Small Magics (Anthology containing previously published stories including A Questionable Client, Magic Tests and Retribution Clause as well as 2 other stories not set in the Kate Daniels world)
Magic Rises
Magic Steals (Novella included in the Night Shift anthology)
Magic Breaks
Magic Shifts
Magic Stars (Novella, Grey Wolf book 1)
Magic Binds
Iron and Magic (The Iron Covenant book 1)
Magic Triumphs

As a fan of the Kate Daniels series I have been rooting for Dali and Jim ever since I read their first novella Magic Dreams so I was excited to see more of them as a couple. This story fits into the timeline during events in Magic Rises while Kate and Curran are off in Europe leaving Jim in charge of the Pack while they're gone.

Dali is such a brilliant character, not only is she an incredibly rare white tiger shifter who has an unusual magical ability but she's also the only vegetarian tiger you're ever likely to meet, her eye sight is terrible and she faints at the sight of blood. Basically Dali is the complete opposite of Jim who is the Alpha of the cat clan and Curran's right hand man. I think one of the reasons I love this couple so much is because of their differences though, they compliment each other's characters so well and it's nice to see a lighter, more relaxed side to Jim because of the way he is comfortable enough to let his guard down around Dali.

Dali has a lot of insecurities about herself, she doesn't feel like she fits in around the other shapeshifters but Jim is brilliant at boosting her confidence. He is so incredibly sweet towards her and I love the way he doesn't let her keep hiding their relationship. As with the first novella there are some hilarious scenes with Dali and her mother but Jim makes the whole situation even more amusing. This novella has plenty of action, it introduces us to some more of the Indonesian mythology from Dali's ancestry and it has an incredibly sweet romance. I still hope we get to spend more time with this couple in the future but I'm very glad we got a second novella about them.

Lucky Charms by Lisa Shearin

SPI Files:
Lucky Charms (Novella included in the Night Shift anthology)
The Grendel Affair
The Dragon Conspiracy
The Brimstone Deception
The Ghoul Vendetta

The first book in Lisa Shearin's SPI Files series (The Grendel Affair) has already been published but I've not read it yet and Lucky Charms is a prequel to the series so you're fine to start here. This story introduces us to Makenna, the new Seer who has just joined the SPI (Supernatural Protections and Investigations). Makenna's first job is to track down a missing leprechaun prince and the rest of his bachelor party after they escaped from their previous bodyguards. The leprechaun's have no intention of coming home quietly though - not when there is a whole city of trouble waiting for them to find it.

This story was very light hearted and a lot of fun to read, the world Lisa Shearin has created is full of a wide range of magical creatures (Makenna's boss is a vampire and the CEO is a dragon!) and it's one I'm looking forward to exploring further. There was plenty of humour and I loved the banter between Makenna and the rest of the team she was working with. I'm very curious about her partner Ian and definitely planning on reading the rest of this series - in fact I've already ordered my copy of The Grendel Affair and can't wait to start reading it.

The Beast of Blackmoor by Milla Vane

A Gathering of Dragons Series:
(Chronological reading order as per the author's website)
The Beast of Blackmoor (Novella in the Night Shift anthology)
Silent Night (Free short story on the author's website)
A Heart of Blood and Ashes
A Touch of Stone and Snow (July 2020)

Mala is a warrior on a quest from her Goddess to tame the Beast of Blackmoor, she will do whatever it takes to achieve her goal because her people are depending upon her to protect them and she needs the Goddess's gifts to help them survive. What she doesn't realise is that the Beast is in fact a man and Kavik will do anything to avoid being enslaved again. Kavik angered Mala's Goddess so it's not too surprising that she has forsaken him but Mala believes that they can both earn redemption for themselves and their people if they only listen to the Goddess and follow her will.

I believe that The Beast of Blackkmoor is the first in a new series from Milla Vane (who you may already know under her other name Meljean Brook). This was very different to anything else I've read from this author and in a way it seemed like a bit of a strange fit for this anthology. The first three stories are UF and PNR where this is a straight fantasy and it's much, much darker than the others. I still enjoyed the story and would definitely read more if this does turn into a series but it just wasn't at all what I expected and I can see why some people haven't liked it as much. Milla Vane has created a dark world, one where you will see characters raped, beaten and tortured so its probably best to be prepared for that going in, but I really liked the main characters and enjoyed seeing them fight for their freedom and the lives of their people. This won't be the story for everyone but I'd recommend giving it a try because it might just surprise you.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle: