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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
It was mostly good but slow and more of a light romance. Big problem was that it kept going on instead of getting to know where we were. In the end, the big bad turns into a new big bad and we are left in the lurch. Yes, we get to a good ending so not a cliffhanger per se, but the plot really doesn't finish with satisfaction. It was too hastily and done without the confrontation that I was expecting. The ending was a disappointment which makes me really think I'll skip this series. The change of plot of who is bad and then adding in the element of his cousin, the smartest man, pushing the monotheistic thoughts and our hero accepting it. I liked the moon goddesses and the sun god and it devalued what the heroine had been believing. Yes, in the end they made it so there was religious freedom but why add this "other" thought at the end? Why also add the other bad guy at the very end. Just to have a lead in to the next book? No because she had the other friends to do that.
It seemed to be a over all good HR in a paranormal fantasy world. The author tells you in the end that many of the castles were inspired by Scottish and European castles so there is the reason for the HR vibe. Then while we are waiting for the finale, a twist comes to take over the ending and make it have just an OK ending. So... 3 stars but barely and not one I think I'll continue.
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This reads like a medieval times historical romance with paranomal and magical happenings. Truly if I hadn't read about the islands and two moons (the two moons gives it away) I could have thought this a before times or alternate medieval historical romance. If you don't like HR, you might not like this. Though it is PNR with shifters and magic. I'm liking it but I like both HR and PNR.
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OK I've started this and didn't read the blurb. I assumed it was some sort of spin off of her Love at Stake series but... no, not a spin off. It is Fantasy, different world Fantasy, not Urban and not what I would call the normal PNR as most is contemporary and of this world or similar. The only series that I can think to compare for location and romance is Dragon Kin of G.A. Aiken. I call this Fantasy Romance, not PNR though it is a subset, because it might not be paranormal for the world in which it is written. So this is Fantasy Romance. Another similar genre, [b:The Sword|110051|The Sword (Sons of Destiny, #1)|Jean Johnson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1438185576s/110051.jpg|106068], Sons of Destiny of Jean Johnson. In fact that has a similar premise except that the men are on the island. So if you are looking for a spin off, don't look here. :-) So far interesting but not what I was expecting.
Spoiler
The horrible King is killed by an assassin that comes out of the wood works at the very end of the book. And then the assassin doesn't just escape once, but twice. The couple are then suddenly the King and Queen. Really? That is how they avoid being the target of the King? He is killed by someone else.Spoiler
and fail to capture him twice. Made the hero seem incompetent, completely.It seemed to be a over all good HR in a paranormal fantasy world. The author tells you in the end that many of the castles were inspired by Scottish and European castles so there is the reason for the HR vibe. Then while we are waiting for the finale, a twist comes to take over the ending and make it have just an OK ending. So... 3 stars but barely and not one I think I'll continue.
80% in-----------------------------------
This reads like a medieval times historical romance with paranomal and magical happenings. Truly if I hadn't read about the islands and two moons (the two moons gives it away) I could have thought this a before times or alternate medieval historical romance. If you don't like HR, you might not like this. Though it is PNR with shifters and magic. I'm liking it but I like both HR and PNR.
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OK I've started this and didn't read the blurb. I assumed it was some sort of spin off of her Love at Stake series but... no, not a spin off. It is Fantasy, different world Fantasy, not Urban and not what I would call the normal PNR as most is contemporary and of this world or similar. The only series that I can think to compare for location and romance is Dragon Kin of G.A. Aiken. I call this Fantasy Romance, not PNR though it is a subset, because it might not be paranormal for the world in which it is written. So this is Fantasy Romance. Another similar genre, [b:The Sword|110051|The Sword (Sons of Destiny, #1)|Jean Johnson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1438185576s/110051.jpg|106068], Sons of Destiny of Jean Johnson. In fact that has a similar premise except that the men are on the island. So if you are looking for a spin off, don't look here. :-) So far interesting but not what I was expecting.
Loved it.
There is some room for improvement, but.......
It flowed easily, loaded with humor and romance.
It has a 'Lemony Snicket' feel, but in the opposite. A series of 'Fortunate Events' that make you grin.
There is some room for improvement, but.......
It flowed easily, loaded with humor and romance.
It has a 'Lemony Snicket' feel, but in the opposite. A series of 'Fortunate Events' that make you grin.
I had been intending to try the Love At Stake series by Kerrelyn Sparks for some time now. Then The Embraced series popped up, and despite the setting, thought I might start with it and get a sense of this author's writing. I was pleasantly surprised. I normally do not read, or even tend to like books based on different worlds. That might be better described as fantasy worlds. I would always feel like I was trying to catch on to all the little nuances of the world and still stay with the story being played out. This world that Kerrelyn Sparks created was SO nice. There was not a lot of world-building sequences trying to describe things as the story went along. You are given a bit of an overview at the beginning, which is fine with me, but you are not taken out of the main story by long descriptions of how certain things work. This was all a big, big plus for me.
Our main heroine, Luciana is a well constructed character. Despite growing up in a convent for her first 18 years, she quickly adapts to becoming a totally different person with everything including a new accent. As Luciana learns of the new world she is in and what is expected of her, you gain more knowledge of how truly good and innocent she is. Nothing like her sister, which causes a bit of confusion, but the Duke is quick to explain "Tatiana's" change in attitude. Luciana is a character you can really connect to and respect for sticking up for her values and defending her goodness.
Leo is someone I felt bad for from the beginning. He doesn't come across completely enraged with his lot in life, more defeated. He has learned to live with his gift and all that he has to do to protect those around him because of it. He has spent his whole life not knowing the touch of another person and avoiding his uncle's attacks on his life. Leo seems to be content, although not happy, with his life until he meets his betrothed. Then his gift becomes something that keeps him from something he truly wants more than anything.
I really enjoyed this couple as they got to know each other, trying to avoid being killed by the king's assassins all the while. Luciana's gift makes for some fun moments. Getting to know her sister was quite interesting. Tatiana was not the easiest person to get along with.
Luciana and Leo's story had very little down time and read along at a good pace. I found myself totally invested in these two main characters and trying to think of some way that they could be together. Kerrelyn Sparks pulled that off wonderfully. How To Tame A Beast In Seven Days overcame my resistance to alternate worlds and gave me my favorite mix of action and great love story. I definitely enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next one!This review was originally posted on Rantings of a Reading Addict
Our main heroine, Luciana is a well constructed character. Despite growing up in a convent for her first 18 years, she quickly adapts to becoming a totally different person with everything including a new accent. As Luciana learns of the new world she is in and what is expected of her, you gain more knowledge of how truly good and innocent she is. Nothing like her sister, which causes a bit of confusion, but the Duke is quick to explain "Tatiana's" change in attitude. Luciana is a character you can really connect to and respect for sticking up for her values and defending her goodness.
Leo is someone I felt bad for from the beginning. He doesn't come across completely enraged with his lot in life, more defeated. He has learned to live with his gift and all that he has to do to protect those around him because of it. He has spent his whole life not knowing the touch of another person and avoiding his uncle's attacks on his life. Leo seems to be content, although not happy, with his life until he meets his betrothed. Then his gift becomes something that keeps him from something he truly wants more than anything.
I really enjoyed this couple as they got to know each other, trying to avoid being killed by the king's assassins all the while. Luciana's gift makes for some fun moments. Getting to know her sister was quite interesting. Tatiana was not the easiest person to get along with.
Luciana and Leo's story had very little down time and read along at a good pace. I found myself totally invested in these two main characters and trying to think of some way that they could be together. Kerrelyn Sparks pulled that off wonderfully. How To Tame A Beast In Seven Days overcame my resistance to alternate worlds and gave me my favorite mix of action and great love story. I definitely enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next one!This review was originally posted on Rantings of a Reading Addict
The cover does not do this book justice. I thought it would be a steamy PNR read but what is actually was a bit different. It has a historical setting with PNR elements and had a lot of world building and fantastic secondary characters. It also had a lot of humor as well as steamy moments.
I expected a cheesy nobrain chicklit. Instead I got sucked into the story and had difficulties putting the book down. Nice book for the holidays or a day off and be prepared to have a short night ;-)
It started off with a fun plot, but the last half was horribly executed and so predictable
reslly good book! can't wait to read the next one!
A solid okay, I didn't love it however.
There was a LOT of convenient plot twists and the end was a bit bonkers and again convenient.
There was a LOT of convenient plot twists and the end was a bit bonkers and again convenient.
Sweet, feel-good romance! Set in fantasy world with "Embraced" people who have powers like controlling lightning, seeing the future, seeing dead people/ghosts, and there's also elves, dragons, selkies, animal shifters, human-animal shifters (chameleons), and maybe more...