Review: EVERLASTING ENCHANTMENT by Kathryne Kennedy

Kathryne Kennedy’s Relics of Merlin series has another winner in Everlasting Enchantment!

In the magical London of 1839, the ladies are all atwitter. Rumor speaks of a magical bracelet, one which chooses a lady and then brings forth a virile knight who grants her one--and only one--night of never-to-be-forgotten passion. Millicent, denizen of the dark underworld that high-born society pretends doesn’t exist, must ferret out the truth.

Her search leads her to one of the elusive and much-sought-after Relics of Merlin, and the bracelet chooses her. Now she must contend with Gareth, entrapped in the amulet, and who seeks the woman who can release him. Their feelings for each other grow, but Millicent must give him up to secure her goal, and Gareth must keep her to attain his.

Ms. Kennedy has created another exciting magical romantic adventure tale in this latest installment of the Relics of Merlin. Magic flows in the air, where were-creatures of all kinds bump shoulders with wizards, mages and common folk, spells abound, and illusion is a part of life. Under Ms. Kennedy’s deft hand, you believe such a world can exist.

But where illusion is everyday, nothing is as it seems, and Ms. Kennedy is a master at showing you one thing while masking the truth. Millicent’s and Gareth’s goals appear clean-cut, but they may not be. Each must help the other if there is to be redemption for either of them. Everlasting Enchantment is a story of learning, change, risk, and finding salvation where you least expect it.

I loved the first two Relics of Merlin novels (Enchanting the Lady, Double Enchantment), and I’m glad Ms. Kennedy has returned to this unique world with Everlasting Enchantment. I look forward to the upcoming books.

Thank you all,

Linda

ARC provided by Sourcebooks

Review: THE LORD OF ILLUSION by Kathryne Kennedy

Tender love, furious action and a life-and-death struggle bring Kathryne Kennedy's The Lord of Illusion, the final book in her Elven Lords trilogy, to a crashing finale.

All his life, Drystan has been an outcast because of his magical visions. These dreams have led him to a lonely and frustrating job as a researcher, where he sifts through long-unread records in search of the woman in his visions. That sad, beautiful lady may hold the key to defeating the Elven lords. Her sorrow also tears at his heart. Is she as lonely as he? He yearns to find her and wipe away her sadness. When his researches at last provide a clue about her, he masquerades as a nobleman and travels to the palace of the Elven lord of illusion to find the lady of his dreams.

The slave Camille has suffered abuse from men all her life. Suddenly, a handsome aristocrat arrives who protects her. He's a kind man and she had encountered too few. But she is wary. What does he really want?

The Lord of Illusion is a story of how people can change when circumstances require, but especially when love smooths the way. Both Drystan and Camille, shunned by their compatriots, tentatively search for happiness with each other. Drystan is magnificent as the strong yet gentle man who coaxes the terrified Camille to love him. Camille is heroic as she rises above her abusive situation to help in the humans' fight for freedom from the elven lords. The magical wonders along the way are exciting, well-thought out and lovely in their fierceness, but the real beauty in this novel is the growing love and trust between Drystan and Camille.

Ms. Kennedy also gives us tantalizing glimpses of other couples who have brought us to this ending. May she someday fill in the gaps.

In The Lord of Illusion, with its awe-inspiring world full of dragons, fire fountains, water steeds and other magical marvels, Ms. Kennedy demonstrates yet again that the one true and most powerful magic is love.

Thank you all,
Linda
ARC provided by Sourcebooks

Review: THE LADY OF THE STORM by Kathryne Kennedy

Kathryne Kennedy's The Lady of the Storm, the second installment of her Georgian fantasy, The Elven Lords, is a rousing story of adventure and the coming of age interspersed with magical marvels galore.

Half-human Cecily, bastard daughter of the elven lord of Dewhame, never wanted the powers over storm and stream she inherited from her father. And for years, thanks to her stepfather's magical safeguards and the watchful eye of Giles, whom her stepfather appointed as her protector, she lived as an ordinary girl. But Giles longs for action and adventure, and chafes in his role as blacksmith in a provincial village, especially since he desires Cecily. Cecily also desires Giles, but her stepfather has forbidden their yearning.

Then Cecily's stepfather disappears, and so do his shields. The water lord discovers his powerful daughter is still alive and moves to eliminate her. Cecily and Giles flee to the humans who fight to regain England from the elven overlords, and undertake a dangerous quest that leads them straight into the water lord's palace.

Ms. Kennedy has created another fascinating blend of history and magic in the elven kingdom of Dewhame. Merging magic and mores, she again captures Georgian sensibilities against the background of a world of magical wonders. And the magical water wonders are indeed wonderful and fit seamlessly into the story.

But The Lady of the Storm is also a study of heroism. Giles and Cecily, so human in their determination to seek their desires, achieve heroism and their yearned-for love when they finally accept the roles fate has thrust upon them.

Another fine effort from the master of historical magical romance.

Thank you all,
Linda
ARC provided by Sourcebooks

Review: BENEATH THE THIRTEEN MOONS by Kathryne Kennedy

With dazzling descriptions, nonstop action and searing romance, Kathryne Kennedy's Beneath The Thirteen Moons thrusts you headlong on a dangerous journey in an extraordinary world brimming with wonders and treachery.

In the water world of Sea Forest, everyone lives in trees rooted on the ocean floor. Lowly Mahri needs a Healer to save her fellow villagers from the plague. But Healers are of the privileged upper classes, who do not deign to treat the downtrodden commoners. So, she kidnaps one. But, unknown to her, the Healer she captures is Korl, Royal heir to the king of Sea Forest.

Dodging pursuit from Korl's enemies and the myriad dangers of their world, she succeeds in bringing her prize home to her village. But attraction as overwhelming as it is forbidden grips them both. While Sea Forest teeters on the brink of radical change, Korl's and Mahri's warring desires become the focal point, and either the solution or doom, of their world.

The only word to describe this book is WOW! Ms. Kennedy has taken the traditional fantasy of chest-thumping hero and clinging heroine and turned it on its ear. The prime mover and shaker is the outlaw Mahri, smuggler of the proscribed zabba root, basis of the Royals' power. Korl is a Healer (c'mon, how often do you see a male healer?), and while not averse to using his fists when necessary, is also kind. Ms. Kennedy also weaves in more than enough romance to satisfy even the most rabid romance junkie.

The third character is Sea Forest itself. Richly imagined and bursting with exotic inhabitants, Ms. Kennedy's vibrant tapestry of a world is the only possible setting for this joy of a romance.

For a different take on fantasy and tons of fabulous romance, Beneath The Thirteen Moons is a welcome change from all the same-old, same-old out there.

Thank you all,
Linda
ARC supplied by Sourcebooks

Review: THE FIRE LORD'S LOVER by Kathryne Kennedy

The Fire Lord’s Lover by Kathryne Kennedy is a dark tale of intrigue, treachery, and unexpected love in a fantasy Georgian England where malicious elves rule their despised human slaves with a brutal hand.

This first book of the series takes place in Firehame, the domain of the Fire Lord, Mor'ded. Dominic, Mor'ded’s half-human son and general of his army, has just won the latest of the war games the elves wage to amuse themselves. He returns home to wed Lady Cassandra in an arranged marriage. He also returns to his father’s continued scorn of his human side.

Cass, assassin for the humans of the Rebellion, weds Dominic to get close enough to his hated father to kill him. In spite of her intentions, she falls in love with Dominic, but he disdains her. A confused Cass wonders how she can convince him to return her love.

His father's cruelty has forced Dominic to bury his human emotions deep. He does his best not to fall in love with Cass. But when he does, his contempt is a mask to protect her from Mor'ded, who has tortured to death everyone for whom Dominic has ever cared.

Those of you who read my posts know that I like nice guy heroes, decent men who’ve been kicked around and it’s made them even better men. In Dominic, Ms. Kennedy has created a spectacular version of my favorite hero. Literally tortured by his father in an effort to eradicate his humanity, Dominic emerges more human than ever and the kind of hero I never tire of finding.

Kathryne Kennedy will guest here on Wednesday, July, 21.

Thank you all,
Linda
ARC provided by Sourcebooks