Miranda Honfleur

Blade & Rose, the first book in the Blade & Rose series by Miranda Honfleur, isn’t the sort of book I usually read. Quite the opposite. And I seldom commit to a series. But Honfleur’s magical world of Emaurria on the coast of the Shining Sea drew me in. Rielle, the primary character, is a young elemental magician – there are, apparently, many types of magicians and various ways to block their magic. She is imbued with a passion for doing what is morally right, even if it’s against show more the rules, and extremely guilt about the fire that destroyed her home. Her betrothed, Brennan, is a werewolf, one of the story’s first secrets. Rielle meets him monthly to share her blood so Brennan can control his Inner Wolf. Rielle wants to break the betrothal, one of the reasons she works for the Divinity of Magic. She receives an assignment to escort Jonathan Vers, a paladin knight, to his home monastery where he will lose his paladin standing. So, there’s that story line. There’s also an attempted coup, the release of the Immortals into the world, and the unexpected elevation of Jon to king. As the book closes Rielle is kidnapped, and both Brennan and Jon want to find her. And I want to know what happens next. show less

FYI, this has spoilers.

I enjoyed nearly everything about this book. It explores some really dark subjects while keeping the book interesting, realistic, and engaging. There were definitely a few slow parts, mainly after she is brought to House , but they were few and far between, and there was a ton of action as well. However, there is one huge part of this series that is starting to get on my last nerve: the love triangle between Rielle, Brennan, and Jon.

Let me start by admitting that I've show more been rooting for Brennan since the beginning. While I 100% understand why some would not because of the awful things he has done to Rielle, I find myself wanting him to rise above the past, mend it, become a better man, and earn her love back - but do it the right way (I love a good redemption ark). If I'm reading a book with multiple love interests, I'm usually one to root for the original love instead of the new person, mainly because I enjoy that they have a history together and know each other really well. I suppose that is because I prefer that in my own relationships. Brennan and Rielle have known and loved each other since they were children. Yes, that was put aside in the first book due to the aforementioned awful things he did, but during this book, he did try to make amends and did everything he could to see her safely back home, even if it meant going back to Jon. While he still hoped she would pick him, he was resigned to the fact that she would more than likely stay with Jon, and he hoped she would be happy. He even mentioned at one time that he didn't expect her to help him break the curse anymore by having a child with him. It broke my heart that he seemed to feel for her so deeply but knew he was probably doomed to lose her. With that in mind, it absolutely killed me when he made the stupid mistake towards the very end of the book by putting Nora's lingerie in Jon's bed for Rielle to find that last night. I was extremely annoyed that she was falling in again with Jon, but I wanted her to figure it out on her own and actually realize Brennan was who she now wanted, not have him be selfish and interfere to cause that. To be honest, I was really hoping that Shadow would stab Jon with the soulblade, which was spelled to kill the one Rielle loved most, and it wouldn't kill him, at which point she would realize it was actually Brennan she felt that way about… and when it didn't, I realized that the author was trying to keep Jon in play. No matter what happens between the two of them, I know they'll keep dandling Jon in front of her throughout the series, and keep letting Brennan slowly destroy all hope of any lasting relationship, romantic or otherwise, with Rielle. He may get her at the end of this book, but eventually, it will slip that Olivia or Jon know he planted Nora's lingerie in the bed, and he will have betrayed her trust yet again. Why can't Brennan just get a redemption ark and keep it? Why can’t he become a better character? I feel that would have been so much more interesting, especially since his family is known for being arrogant and not really the best of people. If the author doesn't plan to have Rielle end up with him, why can't they just remain close friends? He could always find a new love without continuing to do questionable things in a pointless effort to get Rielle. I don’t know how they’d get around needing her to have a child to break his curse, but since it’s a fantasy book, I’m sure something could be done. I mean, I’d really rather Jon just not be an option for her anymore, but I doubt I’ll get what I want there. I really don’t know what turns me off Jon so much, but I’ve just never liked him. I find his character boring. Yes, he is a good man, but snooooooore. Brennan is so much more fun and interesting. I mean, come on, he’s a werewolf.

Aside from my annoyance with that, there were a few other things here and there that didn’t fit for me.

When Farrad tells Rielle that he is the one who wants to release the slaves (not his conniving sister), and he tells her to check the paperwork on his desk to prove it, I was SO frustrated when she just pocketed it instead and left him to die. She could have reversed her mistake right then and healed him if he were telling the truth, which would have saved her the guilt and helped the other slaves. The author really wants me to believe that Rielle was so torn up about having to kill him, but she didn’t leap at the chance to absolve him by taking two seconds to look that over? I just don’t buy it. Yes, she was frantic to escape, but it still could have been done. I don’t really feel Farrad was completely worthy of her guilt (he did get her high and take advantage of her, even if they were already together, plus he let her get used by Brennan without being aware she knew him), but it doesn’t change the fact that he wanted to free them in the end and made for a better pick to lead the house than his lying sister.

Also, I have to bring up the pregnancy thing. Why was that necessary? I guess it has a greater purpose in the end, aside from linking her and Jon further (uhg), like making her uninterested in having kids anytime in the foreseeable future. It just felt unnecessary after all of the other trauma. She killed her family, was betrayed and disgraced by Brennan, nearly lost everyone else close to her at one time or another (in the first book, Jon and Olivia nearly die, and then Brennan nearly dies in this one), was sold into slavery and had all kinds of terrible things done to her, nearly died, was betrayed by Jon… I mean, isn’t that enough trauma for one character? I just could have personally done without this extra thing tossed in.

Overall, yes, I loved this book. It was impossible to put down and I found my emotions tugged every which way, and I immediately picked up the next book. I just personally wish the love story was going somewhere else and that Brennan wasn’t making more terrible mistakes. Oh well. show less

Everything I could want in a fantasy romance: elemental magic, stoic paladins, quest companions with dubious motives, French inspired names, rune magic, nobles with super long names, and did I mention stoic paladins?? Highly recommend to lovers of Air Awakens and Mystic and Rider.

I could nitpick over a few awkward phrases, clumsy word choices, but the few technical rough patches don't detract from the colorful and fast-paced story.

Rielle lives in a colorful world, from the dramatic elemental show more magics to the beautiful names. Each of her friends/enemies/questionable acquaintances shares an ever evolving relationship with mage Rielle, which shapes their motives and actions in unexpected ways. Leigh and Brennan demonstrate how people's actions can appear to align due to completely separate motivations.

Yeah, some of the twists are predictable, and I braced myself for any angst at the end, knowing this is the first in a series (aka, Rielle can't end this book happy), but I'm hyped to jump into the sequels. show less

I really wanted to love this! It reminded me of Grace Draven's RADIANCE (which I LOVED) and well, I've always had a thing for dark elves, ever since my D&D days. While I enjoyed plenty of aspects about this book, there were also parts that sadly fell flat for me.

I loved the prose, so beautifully written and the words really flowed. I loved the descriptions and the scenery, and the names in Silen (the human kingdom) reminded me of being somewhere in Italy. I enjoyed reading about the show more characters, especially the dark elf queen, Aless' family, and the Brotherhood. And I loved so much of the lore and magical beasts - the unicorns and pixies and fairies!

I liked Aless and Veron individually, but I didn't feel any chemistry for them together. It seemed like they fell in love very quickly and easily, and considering her hatred and disgust for his kind just before their wedding.

I think my biggest quibble is how a lot of things weren't explained. Why was Aless called the Beast Princess? What did Veron's full title mean? To name a few. I wasn't sure if I should have read the author's other books to understand the world a little better. Some of the names in the Dark Elf queendom were really over-the-top and hard to pronounce (and while I understand that it is fantasy, I thought the names were a little ridiculous-sounding).

And the ending was one big HEA (again, which I love, if done well), but felt hastily put together, with a lot of components thrown in that came out of nowhere.

All that being said, I most likely will read the sequel. show less