Tuesday 26 April 2016

Niveus by Sharon Cramer - Book Review

Niveus
The Wintergrave Chronicles #3
By:  Sharon Cramer
Published: February 14, 2016 by Talking Bird Books/
B & F Publishing
Genre:  Fantasy, Historical
Pages:  321 PDF
Source:  Author Publicist, via Bostick Communications

Niveus is…perfectly peculiar.

The silver-haired beauty with eyes the color of a dying rose is the only daughter of Ravan and Nicolette. She wanders the Wintergrave Realm like no other, unseen and unheard—sharing an extraordinary gift. The Wintergrave Dynasty’s strange daughter—she is beloved by all and understood by none.

Ravan’s realm seems the perfect place to shield Niveus from the outside world and all the dangers that lurk there, until…a wicked soul from the North appears. Malik is smitten with such a profound hatred and jealousy of Ravan, that he comes with one intent—to destroy his daughter.

But Malik’s scheme takes a twisted turn when he finally lays eyes on the extraordinary creature, and his wicked plan drags Niveus, and those who love her, on an epic trek like no other. And with Niveus’ power at his disposal, it seems no one can stop Malik—not Risen, not Nicolette, not even Ravan.

What will it take to tilt the world even again. Perhaps the undying love of another is the only thing that can conquer true evil? But what will be the sacrifice needed to bring Malik’s bloody realm to the ground?

All your favorite characters return in this final chapter of the Wintergrave Chronicles. Venture with them into 14th century Prussia to discover if Malik will be undone or if Niveus, or someone she loves,…is lost forever.
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Readers will truly enjoy Sharon Cramer’s Wintergrave Chronicles. I came into the series at the third and last book. One could read this stand-alone though to have all the back story would really bring in the fullness of the characters.

Our heroine, Niveus, is the daughter of Lord Ravan, and a very unusual person. A gifted healer, Niveus truly lives in her own world. She doesn’t explain herself to anyone and seems to believe that things will turn out as they should. She’s gossamer, and other-worldly, something no one understands. And pretty much likes to go near barefoot everywhere. I found her a very interesting being though had a hard time connecting to her in any real way as she is quite disconnected from things to a great degree.

Through her strange ability, Niveus discovers Viktar and his uncle Malik when they travel to her family’s kingdom, Wintergrave. Viktar is gravely wounded and Niveus answers the soul call of his pain.

Malik is a hideous, despotic creature. I just loved hating him and I cheered for Viktar at every turn as he calmly refuted his uncle’s cruelty. Nothing like a horribly evil villain to rally the reader to the side of the good guys.

Viktar and Niveus’ love grows sweetly despite Malik’s evil designs on all those around him when Niveus agrees to be taken to Prussia in order to protect Viktar.

There are several nice touches. The author really likes to explore the process of forging a sword, and the magic in this case. The novel has some historical feel to it of western and eastern Europe but this is light and doesn’t intrude on the story itself much. And there is a curious delight in describing how Malik and Bora enjoy the pleasures of evil.

I found the ending kind of long and drawn out with battle stuff though it was ultimately both sad and very satisfying. The story has themes of magic, nobility, and evil.

I’ve been really busy end of April but made time to finish this well written, and well edited, unusual story. Really worth checking out if you love fantasy/historical works. 4.5 Stars!

My thanks to the author and publicist for a free copy via Bostick Communications for the purpose of an unbiased review.

Check out author, Sharon Cramer, on the internet at these links!

Wednesday 13 April 2016

Dark Prince by Eve Silver - Book Review

Dark Prince
Dark Gothic #3
By:  Eve Silver
Published:  August 5, 2014, Smashwords (First published August 1, 2007)
Genre:  Gothic, Historical Romance, Mystery
Pages:  352 Pages Amazon Kindle
Source:  Free day on Amazon

Innkeeper’s daughter Jane Heatherington is sold into indentured servitude to cover her father’s debts to Aidan Warrick, a man whose handsome face and form mock the rumors that skulk in his shadow, rumors that paint him a smuggler, a pirate…and worse.

On the rain swept Cornish coast, Aidan’s business is carried out in the darkest hours of moonless nights, his secrets are many, and death follows in his wake. Isolated and alone, Jane's only companion is the man she dare not trust, the man who looks at her with heated desire that she both fears and craves.

As she finds herself ensnared in the twisted schemes carried out within the walls of Aidan’s looming estate, Jane must decide if Aidan Warrick is the dark prince of her dreams or a monster preying on the innocent…
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Our lingering winter put me in the mood for an atmospheric gothic novel so my thanks to author Eve Silver for her free day on Amazon for one of her earlier novels, Dark Prince!

The story takes place along the moody, tragic Cornwall coast and a trip to the cemetery to start this period romance wrapped in a mystery. Yum. Just the kind of setting I like for a gothic.

Here’s a dark hero with a tortured past that drives him. There’s a mystery to hero, Aidan, that’s played out nicely through the book, pulling the reader along. It’s entwined with a puzzle around a shipwreck, wrapped up in a deep, dark completely unsuspecting secret that gradually unravels. Is Aidan truly evil, or are we just missing some of the facts? I loved the surprise revelations at the end.

The relationship between Aidan and Jane develops at a realistic pace.  It’s wonderful how Aidan comes to care for Jane in the truest, and most practical way. Jane has an infirmity but is no true damsel in distress, though I found her somewhat “dear God” ish. And if you’re looking for a maidenly gothic, heads up, this one has some steam in it!

Overall Dark Prince is well written, though I wanted to see and know a little more of Trevisham, Aidan’s manor house, in the style of gothics.  Also, calling the heroine Jane just puts me in mind of Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre and I thought of this all way through the book. So, I think a different name would have been better for her.

Fav quote at 2732/3582:  She lifted her eyes and met his gaze. “A fine pairing, then. If we are both mad, neither shall notice the malady in the other.”

At the end, there is a sample from His Wicked Sins, another in the line of Eve Silver’s Dark Gothic series.

Definitely recommend for romance fans, especially if you like mystery, or gothic overtones. 4.3 Stars!

You will find Eve Silver on the internet at these links:

As of this writing, Dark Desires is currently Free!  Dark Desires on Kindle