A Touch of Darkness (The Towers of the Earth, #3) by Nita Round – Review

Tags

4 1/2 stars, Adventure, airship, Book Review, lgbtq, magic, Nita Round, ravens, Steampunk

About A Touch of Darkness by Nita Round

In the shadows, treachery and betrayal grow unseen.

The state funeral of Princess Olivia at Port Ruth marks the end of the Queen of the Desert’s reign of terror. As Lucinda, Magda and Ascara attend this grand ceremony, all is not as it seems. A storm of secrets and lies emerge from the shadows and the darkness threatens to destroy them all.

No matter where Magda goes, her heritage calls to her. Even when they make their way home, peace and safety are still not theirs. Malice and betrayal, hidden and out of sight, finds the three women and threatens to pull them under the waves of death and pain once more.

For the Trinity of Truth: Raven, Fire and Ice, there can be only one way forward, but at what price?

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Review of A Touch of Darkness

My favorite book in the series, so far. The trinity of Raven, Fire and Ice continue to encounter dark powers and plotting. The story moves quickly from Port Ruth, where the last story ended, back to Verity, my favorite airship. Verity makes an excellent stage for adventure, espionage, romance and danger.

A Touch of Darkness further explores the closeness of the three friends Lucinda, Magda and Ascara. This is a slow burning romance that is moving at just the right pace, with flirting mostly. But finally, there is an outright serious relationship conversation, with hints of what may come.

This book also explores the background of Magda and Ascara a bit more, and sets them on future paths that are sure to be formidable. One of these paths means the trio heads for Magda’s home float (a group of boats gathered to form a community). Naturally, it won’t be a straightforward trip. I would be so disappointed if there was not some peril. I was not disappointed.

A Touch of Darkness does end on a cliffhanger. So minus ½ star for that. Only ½ because the author has stated the next book is not far behind. If you don’t mind a bit of a cliffhanger, and you do like steampunk adventure, great characters and the best airship in steampunkdom, this your book.

Thanks to the author who provided a copy of her book in exchange for my honest review.

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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 Pinch of Salt (Towers of the Earth, Prequel) by Nita Round – Review

Tags

5 stars, Adventure, Book Review, fantasy, lgbtq, Nita Round, paranormal, prequel, romance, series, Steampunk

About A Pinch of Salt by Nita Round

A survivor with no memory and a warrior looking for her path unite against the pirate horde.

Two hundred soldiers walk into the burning sands of Gypta, but only a handful make it out. When Magda Stoner wakes in an infirmary halfway across the world, she discovers her memories of the desert are gone. Something happened that tore her mind and soul apart, and the only thing keeping her sane is the fact that she can’t remember a thing.

Ascara d’Jharaena ael Korphen is a warrior, not a soldier, and trying to fit herself into the lesser role at Veritas Traders has left her body battered and broken in the same infirmary where Magda recovers.

As they both mend, they meet a survivor of a pirate attack that included gifted attackers. Finding themselves without a unit or mission, they propose a daring plan to infiltrate the pirate horde and bring them to justice.

Can the pirates be stopped? Or will Magda and Ascara be caught before they even begin?

This is the first prequel in the Towers of the Earth fantasy adventure series.

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Review of A Pinch of Salt

As a subscriber to Nita Round’s newsletter, I was treated to the opportunity to download a copy A Pinch of Salt.  Thanks to Ms. Round for that! I am a reader of her Towers of the Earth series, so I was excited to read this prequel novella and share my unbiased review.

If you have read and enjoyed the other books in her series, you will love A Pinch of Salt.  Magda and Ascara, younger and less wise, meet for the first time in a hospital, each recovering from their own unfortunate experiences.  Their backgrounds are brief, but vital.  Their initial meeting is just what you might expect (especially from the irrascible Ascara).  Flirting and friendship.  The mission they undertake is dangerous and vital to understanding these characters and where their relationship is headed, as well as a hint at the overall mission.

I loved this novella and, even if you have not read any other books in the series, I think you will enjoy it.

A note about the series.  Three novels, previously released as 1) Raven, Fire and Ice 2) Raven, Sand and Sun and 3) Raven, Storm and Shadow are going to be re-released in 2020.  According to the author’s website, you may anticipate another prequel, the 3 previously released novels and one more novel – all to be released between now and the end of May.  I will be looking forward to the progression of this series!

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