A review by iskanderjonesiv
Blade & Rose by Miranda Honfleur

3.0

A kingdom in turmoil or the love of her life. Which one will she save?

Elemental mage Rielle hasn't heard from her best friend in far too long. Yet no one at the Tower of Magic seems to care about Olivia’s silence, or the curtain of secrecy surrounding the distant capital. Before Rielle can investigate, she's assigned a strange new mission: escort a knight named Jon across the kingdom.

When whispers reveal mercenaries have killed the king, taken the capital, and that no one is coming to help, Rielle can’t leave Olivia in peril. But as infamous mages and deadly assassins hunt Jon, she can’t leave him unprotected either--especially as she finds herself falling for his strength, his passion, and his uncompromising goodness. Her past returns to haunt her, a werewolf stalks their steps, and an ancient evil is gathering, yet the restraints forbidding their love strain and snap one by one.

Saving Olivia and the kingdom means defying orders and sacrificing her every ambition, and could mean losing the man who's become so much more to her than a mission. Which will she choose: her best friend and the kingdom, or the love of her life?

If you like the fantasy romance of A Court of Thorns and Roses, the dark intrigue of the Black Jewels series, the epic adventure of Game of Thrones, and a heroine who never gives up, you’ll love this heart-wrenching romantic epic fantasy series.

Buy Blade & Rose and dive into a medieval world sensual and dark, full of magic and greed, love and blades, where factions vie for influence and there are no easy choices...

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(Note: This is an adult fantasy novel, and as such, there are adult situations depicted, including adult language, violence, romance, alcohol and/or drug use, etc. This is the first book in a projected six-book series, so although this book's story is complete, it is not a standalone novel.)
**

Review

"...[M]ultiple threads of a complex plot, forbidden romance, manipulative villains, and marvelous writing." --Fantasy-Faction.com

"Miranda Honfleur is extremely talented, you can tell it from her wonderful, eloquent descriptions, and all the effort she made to create a such an expanded and intricate world. The Mages, the Paladins, the ancient creatures, the noble houses, Miranda spread her wings wide and added so many aspects to her story, and she put them together in a way they fitted perfectly, like pieces of a puzzle. The werewolf lore, the power games, the medieval setting, the scheming and politics, the intense and various battle sequences, the vital part of magic and of Rielle's past, they co-existed harmonically and captured your interest and attention with a strong, magical grip." --Booknest.eu

"The magic system was interesting, the plot was layered and complex, and the writing was wonderful. If there were some flaws in the book, they were easily overlooked in favor of the interesting, character-driven plot. This is a solid start to a series that will likely find plenty of fans amongst those who enjoy romantic fantasy." --Bookworm Blues

"With a brilliant plot line and rich, exciting characters , and a very touching, beautiful, sensual, passionate and honest love story " --Amazon Reviewer

"The best part is the main female character, Rielle... No damsel in distress , she's a strong, smart, and reliable mage all on her own. She has flaws, but it makes her relatable. You cheer her on from start to finish." --Amazon Reviewer

"Honfleur sucks you into her vibrant and tumultuous world right away with unforgettable characters and a masterful plot that enthrall the reader to the very last page (and beyond)." --Amazon Reviewer

" Wonderful, detailed world-building and engaging, interesting characters set the stage for this intriguing fantasy story. Action, adventure, suspense, and intrigue - and plenty of twists and turns - kept me turning pages, fully immersed" --Amazon Reviewer

"What an excellent, exciting, gripping, spellbinding first book for this series." --Amazon Reviewer

" Sweeping fantasy with deeply human characters " --Amazon Reviewer

From the Author

The Dragon King (Blade and Rose #5)  has been delayed but is planned for release in Q3-Q4 2019. Sign up for Miranda Honfleur's mailing list for regular updates.