A Hint of Hope (Towers of the Earth Prequel) by Nita Round – Review

Tags

5 stars, airship, Book Review, fantasy, lgbtq, Nita Round, paranormal, pirates, prequel, series, Steampunk

About A Hint of Hope by Nita Round

Friends. Pirates. Slavers. Who can they trust? Their lives will depend upon it.

A notorious slaver has acquired the latest in airship design, an Imperial Condor Class transporter. This is a ship designed to change the world and if the slaver transforms it into a warship then no one will be safe. Anywhere.

Magda and Ascara have travelled the world as pirates. An attempt on their lives brings into question who can be trusted. Who is a friend? And who are their foes? With only themselves to rely upon they set out on a daring mission. They join forces with the pirates to stop the largest sale of slaves and gifted ones.

Can they rescue the slaves? Will they stop the creation of a super warship? And will their friendship be enough to survive against the odds?

This is the second prequel in the Towers of the Earth Fantasy series. It brings together many of the characters who are a part of the Towers series and fills in the details of how they come together.

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Review of A Hint of Hope

A Hint of Hope continues the adventures of Magda and Ascara.  As of the end of A Pinch of Salt, they had hooked up with some unusual pirates.  In this new prequel, they’ve been with the pirates for a while.  “Pirates” may not be the best term to use, since they really do all aim for a greater good…..though their method of doing so may be a bit piratical.

The story starts with betrayal and quickly moves to a critical mission to save and free slaves and prevent a war.  The relationship of Magda and Ascara is strengthened and we learn more about both of them.  And the flirting continues.  But most importantly, we learn about the origin of that fabulous airship that graces the pages of the Raven, Fire and Ice, book 1 in this series (to be re-released in March as A Touch of Truth).  I love airships in my steampunk and this ship is one of the best!

A Hint of Hope is a prequel novella that is a complete story that stands on its own, but is even better as a part of the entire series.

The novella was a freebie for the subscribers of Nita Round’s newsletters.  I love this series, so I was thrilled to download this story and share my unbiased review.

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A Heart of Blood and Ashes (A Gathering of Dragons, #1) by Milla Vane – Review

Tags

5 stars x 2, Book Review, fantasy, magic, Meljean Brook, Milla Vane, romance, series

About A Heart of Blood and Ashes by 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…

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Review of A Heart of Blood and Ashes

I’d like to make a prediction.  A Heart of Blood and Ashes is the going to be on my best of 2020 list.  You may say it is too soon to call, being only February 6th.  But wow!

Milla Vane is the alter-ego of Meljean Brook.  So I kind of knew what I was getting.  A complex, yet lush story line.  Sharply defined characters – flawed primary characters that are somehow still perfect and secondary characters that add depth and perspective to the tale. And a world intricately built just for them.  And me.  I immersed myself in A Heart of Blood and Ashes.

Maddek’s and Yvenne’s entwined stories are salient, agonizing and exhilarating.  I was amused as often as I was saddened.  These two have issues that keep them apart because there is a major communication issue.  But there is much to draw them together also.  Including a sizzling hot sexual attraction.  Speaking as someone who tends to skim those passages, I recommend you read them all.  Far from the usual, the sex scenes were creative, blazing and, dare I say, satisfying.

Maddek and Yvenne are still hanging out in my reader’s mind.  I will be more than ready when the next installment is ready.  The romantic fantasy world will never be the same for me!

Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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A Blight of Blackwings (Seven Kennings, #2) by Kevin Hearne – Review

Tags

5 stars, Book Review, exploration, fantasy, giants, Kevin Hearne, magic, paranormal, series, storytelling

About A Blight of Blackwings by Kevin Hearne

SOLDIER AND AVENGER
Daryck is from a city that was devastated by the war with the Bone Giants, and now he and a band of warriors seek revenge against the giants for the loved ones they’ve lost. But will vengeance be enough to salve their grief?

DREAMER AND LEADER
Hanima is part of a new generation with extraordinary magical talents: She can speak to fantastical animals. But when this gift becomes a threat to the powers-that-be, Hanima becomes the leader of a movement to use this magic to bring power to the people.

SISTER AND SEEKER
Koesha is the captain of an all-female crew on a perilous voyage to explore unknown waters. Though her crew is seeking a path around the globe, Koesha is also looking for her sister, lost at sea two years ago. But what lies beyond the edges of the map is far more dangerous than storms and sea monsters. . . .

In this sequel to A Plague of Giants, these characters and more will become the voices of a new generation bringing hope and revolution to a war-torn world.

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Review of A Blight of Blackwings

Again, Kevin Hearne as put me through an emotional journey.  After reading A Plague of Giants, I thought I would be prepared.  I was not.  Mr. Hearne’s masterful storytelling is ingenious, wildly inventive and so skillfully presented that this reader was blown away before being given a chance to brace against the wind.

Having read book 1 over 2 years ago, I had a bit of a struggle getting back into the story.  But somehow, suddenly I was there.  There are so many fascinating, colorful characters, each with unique personalities and motivations.

If you have not started this series, a little (non-spoilery) background is in order.  The story centers around the tales of master storyteller Fintan, who has traveled the world to collect his stories. He remembers everything, good or bad, and weaves his stories together by taking on the persona of the person he originally heard the tale from.  His voice projects over the entire town so that everyone in the harbor village of Pelemyn, which had recently survived an attack by the bone giants, can hear his songs and tales.

Fintan’s stories include tales of the bone giants, events and politics in all the surrounding areas and stories of the discovery of the 6th kenning.

Kenning’s are special paranormal talents that people may acquire by passing a test.  Those that do not pass the test do not survive.  Those that survived are blessed with special abilities such as Fintan’s ability to recall everything and project his storytelling voice.

As Fintan tells his story, some of his audience starts to become aware that their world is changing, even more than the changes caused by the bone giant attack.  This is part of the reason I will return to this series, even if there are two years in-between books.  I need to know how the world will adapt to all this fantastic knowledge!  But, specifically, I have a vested interest in the characters.  And I need the good ones to survive, thrive and have a HEA.  That is my hope.

Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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