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alice2000's review
3.0
I hate to say this, but what a disappointment. Both in terms of Catallus's story and the final battle against the Heirs.
As to the second part, the story just bored me in the middle. The Heirs plan felt a little flat to me. It didn't excite me like I'd hoped it would. The actual final battle was engaging however. It had all the characters I've grown to know and love and a feeling of breathless excitement.
Catullus. Well, I've loved him in all the previous books and was so looking forward to his story. Anyone who knows me knows how I usually despise lead characters who are journalists- especially the women. Gemma was better than what I'd anticipated, knowing that she was a reporter. Still I didn't engage with her at all. I also felt that Archer took away a lot of the things that made Catullus so brilliant a character. He underwent a pretty dramatic shift in thinking and it just didn't work for me.
That being said, I still love this series and will definitely be revisiting the earlier books again.
As to the second part, the story just bored me in the middle. The Heirs plan felt a little flat to me. It didn't excite me like I'd hoped it would. The actual final battle was engaging however. It had all the characters I've grown to know and love and a feeling of breathless excitement.
Catullus. Well, I've loved him in all the previous books and was so looking forward to his story. Anyone who knows me knows how I usually despise lead characters who are journalists- especially the women. Gemma was better than what I'd anticipated, knowing that she was a reporter. Still I didn't engage with her at all. I also felt that Archer took away a lot of the things that made Catullus so brilliant a character. He underwent a pretty dramatic shift in thinking and it just didn't work for me.
That being said, I still love this series and will definitely be revisiting the earlier books again.
abbythompson's review
4.0
Three cheers to Zoe Archer for not wrecking a whole series in the last book, especially one where the readers have pinned their highest hopes. I think I speak for a majority of women when I say that Catullus Graves is my favorite Blade.
In the final book of the series, the Heirs of Albion have gained control of the Primal Source and are unleashing a host of strange, fantastical and deadly magic. Catullus and Gemma must journey into the deepest realms of legend in order to save the world. It's never quite certain whether or not they'll survive, which adds delicious tension to an already tautly written plot.
I loved Gemma and Catullus' chemistry (har har). They was an undeniable passion between them, and yet, unlike in previous books, I never wanted to beat them over the head shouting "There's no TIME for sex right now! You have to go save the world!" Making Catullus and Gemma wait and spacing out the sex made for even hotter scenes - we're talking world-meltingly awesome, here.
I also appreciated how Archer wrote an interracial relationship. Not everyone is accepting of it and it's a bittersweet ending for Gemma and Catullus. (Don't worry, they're together, but it's not all sunshine and rainbows.)
The whole series reminded me of Romancing the Stone: fun, fast-paced, interesting, adventurous and romantic. It's been the ultimate literary adventure for me and I'm sorry to see these characters go.
In the final book of the series, the Heirs of Albion have gained control of the Primal Source and are unleashing a host of strange, fantastical and deadly magic. Catullus and Gemma must journey into the deepest realms of legend in order to save the world. It's never quite certain whether or not they'll survive, which adds delicious tension to an already tautly written plot.
I loved Gemma and Catullus' chemistry (har har). They was an undeniable passion between them, and yet, unlike in previous books, I never wanted to beat them over the head shouting "There's no TIME for sex right now! You have to go save the world!" Making Catullus and Gemma wait and spacing out the sex made for even hotter scenes - we're talking world-meltingly awesome, here.
I also appreciated how Archer wrote an interracial relationship. Not everyone is accepting of it and it's a bittersweet ending for Gemma and Catullus. (Don't worry, they're together, but it's not all sunshine and rainbows.)
The whole series reminded me of Romancing the Stone: fun, fast-paced, interesting, adventurous and romantic. It's been the ultimate literary adventure for me and I'm sorry to see these characters go.
lizabethstucker's review
4.0
Blades of the Rose 4
The Heirs of Albion have the Primal Source in their control. Despite knowing little about it, they are prepared to use it to gain their ultimate objective, a world controlled by Great Britain. The Blades of the Rose are converging on England, including Catullus Graves, Astrid Bramfield and Nathan Lesperance. Following them is American reporter Gemma Murphy, a woman whose interest in Catullus is more than just a story.
Gemma’s talent is certainly helpful for someone in her line of work. I like all of Archer’s characters, especially her female characters, but I believe Gemma may be my favorite of all. She is so earnest and feisty, a woman not easily influenced by others. It all hits the fan in this story, bringing the Blades into one of the most important confrontations of the series. It is a wild ride, continuing from where Rebel left off. The use of a black hero who is probably always the smartest man in the room was a delightful idea. Add his shyness around women, especially Gemma, and you have a man to die for.
This series, bought in a bundle due to the intriguing covers as well as the synopsis for each, was more than I had hoped for. Adventure, romance, the paranormal, magic, strong women, strong men who accept them as they are. Yep, Zoe Archer is on my must read ALL her books list! 4.5 out of 5.
The Heirs of Albion have the Primal Source in their control. Despite knowing little about it, they are prepared to use it to gain their ultimate objective, a world controlled by Great Britain. The Blades of the Rose are converging on England, including Catullus Graves, Astrid Bramfield and Nathan Lesperance. Following them is American reporter Gemma Murphy, a woman whose interest in Catullus is more than just a story.
Gemma’s talent is certainly helpful for someone in her line of work. I like all of Archer’s characters, especially her female characters, but I believe Gemma may be my favorite of all. She is so earnest and feisty, a woman not easily influenced by others. It all hits the fan in this story, bringing the Blades into one of the most important confrontations of the series. It is a wild ride, continuing from where Rebel left off. The use of a black hero who is probably always the smartest man in the room was a delightful idea. Add his shyness around women, especially Gemma, and you have a man to die for.
This series, bought in a bundle due to the intriguing covers as well as the synopsis for each, was more than I had hoped for. Adventure, romance, the paranormal, magic, strong women, strong men who accept them as they are. Yep, Zoe Archer is on my must read ALL her books list! 4.5 out of 5.
mreader's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
melbsreads's review
4.0
Trigger warnings: racism, violence, misogynistic bullshit
Is this series ridiculous? Definitely. Is it also a crapton of fun? YES.
There are two main things that I love about this series:
1. It features protagonists of colour
2. It's set in fun locations around the world
I mean, the magic and the way mythology comes into the story is super fucking fun too. But those are the two main things that stand out to me.
So I was a liiiiiiiittle disappointed when this one turned out to be set predominantly in England, but considering the male love interest is a black man who's an inventor and highly respected by his peers, I managed to overcome my disappointment.
This is probably my favourite of the series. The relationship between Gemma and Catullus is adorable. Catullus is an awkward little squish and I love him. I loved that the protagonists from the earlier books in the series come back for the big final battle. Etcetera.
I had one big fuck off sized gripe with this book, and that was that King Arthur - who turns up in the course of the story - is referred to throughout as "Your Highness". DEAR AMERICA: HIGHNESS = PRINCE/PRINCESS. MAJESTY = KING/QUEEN. IT'S NOT THAT FUCKING HARD JESUS CHRIST WHY DON'T AUTHORS OR EDITORS UNDERSTAND THIS OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOD.
Anyway. This was a lot of fun and a very satisfying end to the series. But if I have to read one more book where a king or queen is referred to as "your highness"? I'mma fucking cut someone.
Is this series ridiculous? Definitely. Is it also a crapton of fun? YES.
There are two main things that I love about this series:
1. It features protagonists of colour
2. It's set in fun locations around the world
I mean, the magic and the way mythology comes into the story is super fucking fun too. But those are the two main things that stand out to me.
So I was a liiiiiiiittle disappointed when this one turned out to be set predominantly in England, but considering the male love interest is a black man who's an inventor and highly respected by his peers, I managed to overcome my disappointment.
This is probably my favourite of the series. The relationship between Gemma and Catullus is adorable. Catullus is an awkward little squish and I love him. I loved that the protagonists from the earlier books in the series come back for the big final battle. Etcetera.
I had one big fuck off sized gripe with this book, and that was that King Arthur - who turns up in the course of the story - is referred to throughout as "Your Highness". DEAR AMERICA: HIGHNESS = PRINCE/PRINCESS. MAJESTY = KING/QUEEN. IT'S NOT THAT FUCKING HARD JESUS CHRIST WHY DON'T AUTHORS OR EDITORS UNDERSTAND THIS OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOD.
Anyway. This was a lot of fun and a very satisfying end to the series. But if I have to read one more book where a king or queen is referred to as "your highness"? I'mma fucking cut someone.
prgchrqltma's review
4.0
Characters: independent minded reporter, inventor/warrior
World Building: fairy world, continuing blades/heirs conflict universe
Plot: Stopping the heirs ultimate weapon
Sex: Medium
A nice wrapup to the series. I loved the thoughtfulness around independence/interdependence and interracial relationships, especially. Also, the sadness around the USA's ideals of egalitarianism and how that bumps up against reality.
World Building: fairy world, continuing blades/heirs conflict universe
Plot: Stopping the heirs ultimate weapon
Sex: Medium
A nice wrapup to the series. I loved the thoughtfulness around independence/interdependence and interracial relationships, especially. Also, the sadness around the USA's ideals of egalitarianism and how that bumps up against reality.
ecath's review
1.0
Such a disappointment. I wanted to love Catullus' story, but felt it was lost amid entirely too much of...well, everything else. This book suffers from Kitchen Sink Syndrome. It has too much of everything in it.
kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review
1.0
Disclaimer: I have not read the other books in this series, and I picked this up thinking it was a fantasy/romance novel and not the romance/fantasy/steampunk novel it is. If I was grading this on a strictly romance book criteria, I suppose I would give 2-3 stars.
I use to read romance novels. I even re-read [b:Outlander|10964|Outlander (Outlander, #1)|Diana Gabaldon|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41PXCSX5AKL._SL75_.jpg|2489796] a couple years ago and liked them. I enjoy the work of [a:Jacqueline Carey|9237|Jacqueline Carey|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1205262579p2/9237.jpg]. I don't mind sex in a novel at all. But as I got older, I read less and less romance novels. I find my patience waning when I read them, unless they are like Carey's work and a good mixature of fantasy and romance.
I was hoping this book would be somewhat like Carey's work (no, not the S&M of the earlier works), but it isn't.
As a straight romance book, I suppose it might not be too bad. The heroine, Gemma, is overall a good character. She isn't stupid, but she isn't perfect either. It is true that she is somewhat unusal because she is a female reporter who travels during a time when female reporters were rare. She also isn't the only strong female in the book. I wouldn't comment on the relationship between the two women who share the most screen time because I haven't read the previous book, and it is very likely that Astrid is being kept in character. The sex scenes are good. The sexual tension is there.
As a fantasy novel, this book does not work. As anything other than a sexusal encounter novel, this book does not work.
The first reason, as any long time fantasy reader will point out, is that the magic system in the novel does not work. it does not seem to be well thought out and just seems to be a muck of powers Archer thought would be cool. the one exception to this is the powers that Gemma has which actually tie into her being a reporter.
The second reason is that the bad guys, the fancy pant Brits, don't seem that dangerous and the world doesn't seem to be in danger at all. I never thought that anything remotely bad was gpoing to happen. Like all romance novels, the bad guys are just an excuse to get the good guys in bed. This would be okay in a straight romance book, but doesn't work in the fantasy novel it is also trying to be. They don't seem dangerous at all. Even Disney villans seem more dangerous, and I'm not talking about the wicked witch from Snow White; I'm talking about the gang from Robin Hood.
What the bad guys are trying to do is really stupid and doesn't make sense in terms of what they'll long term goal is outside of a strict military idea; it irgnores a realm of legend and character.
While Gemma is a good character, there are also problems with her character. At times, she does not act like a reporter. she also has some of the sterotypes of romance heroines - small waist, big bust (honey, I lovew Dolly Parton but her look ain't natural), Gemma doesn't know how beautiful she is, her true love is the best partner she's ever had (but in all fairness, at least she has experience), she dresses modestly but her clothes are so threadbare that they could be see though. My biggest problem was the line about how she didn't really make money, yet apparently can afford transcontiental and transaltantic transportation. She also seems to accept too much on faith. The good guys are the good guys because she thinks one of them is sexy.
In other words, everything in the novel seems to be ane excuse fdor the characters to have sex. I don't even buy that they are in love. I buy that they'll in lust, but not the love that Archer keeps telling the reader that every single couple in the book feels (which apparently is why they are the good guys).
And I think, in all fairness, that is the problem. Say what you will about [a:Jacqueline Carey|9237|Jacqueline Carey|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1205262579p2/9237.jpg]'s writing style, but her world buildling is good. When she presents a couple in love; you believe that they are truly in love. It is an equal mixature of fantasy and romance, both well thought out. This doesn't seem to be the case here.
I use to read romance novels. I even re-read [b:Outlander|10964|Outlander (Outlander, #1)|Diana Gabaldon|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41PXCSX5AKL._SL75_.jpg|2489796] a couple years ago and liked them. I enjoy the work of [a:Jacqueline Carey|9237|Jacqueline Carey|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1205262579p2/9237.jpg]. I don't mind sex in a novel at all. But as I got older, I read less and less romance novels. I find my patience waning when I read them, unless they are like Carey's work and a good mixature of fantasy and romance.
I was hoping this book would be somewhat like Carey's work (no, not the S&M of the earlier works), but it isn't.
As a straight romance book, I suppose it might not be too bad. The heroine, Gemma, is overall a good character. She isn't stupid, but she isn't perfect either. It is true that she is somewhat unusal because she is a female reporter who travels during a time when female reporters were rare. She also isn't the only strong female in the book. I wouldn't comment on the relationship between the two women who share the most screen time because I haven't read the previous book, and it is very likely that Astrid is being kept in character. The sex scenes are good. The sexual tension is there.
As a fantasy novel, this book does not work. As anything other than a sexusal encounter novel, this book does not work.
The first reason, as any long time fantasy reader will point out, is that the magic system in the novel does not work. it does not seem to be well thought out and just seems to be a muck of powers Archer thought would be cool. the one exception to this is the powers that Gemma has which actually tie into her being a reporter.
The second reason is that the bad guys, the fancy pant Brits, don't seem that dangerous and the world doesn't seem to be in danger at all. I never thought that anything remotely bad was gpoing to happen. Like all romance novels, the bad guys are just an excuse to get the good guys in bed. This would be okay in a straight romance book, but doesn't work in the fantasy novel it is also trying to be. They don't seem dangerous at all. Even Disney villans seem more dangerous, and I'm not talking about the wicked witch from Snow White; I'm talking about the gang from Robin Hood.
What the bad guys are trying to do is really stupid and doesn't make sense in terms of what they'll long term goal is outside of a strict military idea; it irgnores a realm of legend and character.
While Gemma is a good character, there are also problems with her character. At times, she does not act like a reporter. she also has some of the sterotypes of romance heroines - small waist, big bust (honey, I lovew Dolly Parton but her look ain't natural), Gemma doesn't know how beautiful she is, her true love is the best partner she's ever had (but in all fairness, at least she has experience), she dresses modestly but her clothes are so threadbare that they could be see though. My biggest problem was the line about how she didn't really make money, yet apparently can afford transcontiental and transaltantic transportation. She also seems to accept too much on faith. The good guys are the good guys because she thinks one of them is sexy.
In other words, everything in the novel seems to be ane excuse fdor the characters to have sex. I don't even buy that they are in love. I buy that they'll in lust, but not the love that Archer keeps telling the reader that every single couple in the book feels (which apparently is why they are the good guys).
And I think, in all fairness, that is the problem. Say what you will about [a:Jacqueline Carey|9237|Jacqueline Carey|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1205262579p2/9237.jpg]'s writing style, but her world buildling is good. When she presents a couple in love; you believe that they are truly in love. It is an equal mixature of fantasy and romance, both well thought out. This doesn't seem to be the case here.
krisrid's review
4.0
This is the first of this author's book that I've read, but I really enjoyed it. A very creative take on both "fairy-land" and combining paranormal romance with well-done historical aspects.
When British inventor Catallus Graves and American reporter Gemma Murphy cross paths at a remote Canadian trading post, Gemma smells a story and doesn't plan to let Graves out of her sight till she scopes out every last detail.
Her pursuit takes her on an oceanliner bound for Britain following Graves and his two mysterious companions, all of whom seem to be more than they appear.
Of course, Gemma has some surprises up her sleeve as well, with the magic she's inherited from her ancestors.
As Gemma gets closer to Graves, she discovers that Catallus and his companions are warriors in an ancient battle against those who would use magic to enslave the rest of the world to Britain and those few men who believe they and only they should rule the entire world.
Gemma and Catallus naturally are attracted to one another, and quickly Gemma becomes part of the fight to avoid world-domination - fight which will eventually require them taking a trip to faery to beg the assistance of Merlin . . . yes, THAT Merlin.
The plot is very exciting and cleverly conceived with lots of engaging secondary characters in addition to Gemma and Catallus. The romance part is pretty typical and predictable, but the story is what makes the book worth reading. I really enjoyed it, and will definitely check out some of the other books in this series to find out the back stories of the other pairs of lovers who make up part of this book.
When British inventor Catallus Graves and American reporter Gemma Murphy cross paths at a remote Canadian trading post, Gemma smells a story and doesn't plan to let Graves out of her sight till she scopes out every last detail.
Her pursuit takes her on an oceanliner bound for Britain following Graves and his two mysterious companions, all of whom seem to be more than they appear.
Of course, Gemma has some surprises up her sleeve as well, with the magic she's inherited from her ancestors.
As Gemma gets closer to Graves, she discovers that Catallus and his companions are warriors in an ancient battle against those who would use magic to enslave the rest of the world to Britain and those few men who believe they and only they should rule the entire world.
Gemma and Catallus naturally are attracted to one another, and quickly Gemma becomes part of the fight to avoid world-domination - fight which will eventually require them taking a trip to faery to beg the assistance of Merlin . . . yes, THAT Merlin.
The plot is very exciting and cleverly conceived with lots of engaging secondary characters in addition to Gemma and Catallus. The romance part is pretty typical and predictable, but the story is what makes the book worth reading. I really enjoyed it, and will definitely check out some of the other books in this series to find out the back stories of the other pairs of lovers who make up part of this book.
cleocleveland's review
5.0
I just love this whole series. I think that Scoundrel remains my absolute favorite from it but this one gets a bump up for a great ending to the series. One thing I love in this series is the way that Zoe Archer focused on the myths and magic of each region where the books were set. The desert golem and the dragon of Mongolia in Warrior, the Greek Gods and Heroes in Scoundrel, the animal totems of North America in Rebel and finally the Fae and Arthurian legends of the British Isles in Stranger. I'm a big mythology geek so I loved that aspect of these books.
But I loved the romance too. Catullus and Gemma are a great couple. It's great watching these characters who have always been a little apart from everyone else find and fall in love with each other. And as much as I love the heroes from these books I really love the heroines. They don't have any superpowers, they are just smart, capable, strong women who manage to stay that way after becoming involved with the hero without succumbing to foot stomping bitchiness. Can't wait to see what Zoe Archer does next!
But I loved the romance too. Catullus and Gemma are a great couple. It's great watching these characters who have always been a little apart from everyone else find and fall in love with each other. And as much as I love the heroes from these books I really love the heroines. They don't have any superpowers, they are just smart, capable, strong women who manage to stay that way after becoming involved with the hero without succumbing to foot stomping bitchiness. Can't wait to see what Zoe Archer does next!