Guest Review by Lisa Brown Gilbert 

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Endowed with the markings of an unforgettable debut read, Karen Azinger’s The Steel Queen, draws readers into Erdhe, a fantasy imbued realm ripe with intrigue, knights, bravery, swords, sorcery and pure evil. As the premier novel in her Silk and Steel Saga, this novel serves well as an introduction to the medieval type lands of the kingdoms of Erdhe, along with its various engaging inhabitants.

Author Azinger provides a filling fantasy read built with a satisfying integration of action, intrigue and fantasy elements. The story engages instantly immersing the reader in a complexly woven storyline, which houses an abundance of varied and unique characters. The female characters bear particular appeal because of their determination and cunning in a world where their place is limited by male dominance.

Foremost, the story, particularly follows the paths of several focal characters; Katherine/Kath, a young princess whose deepest desire is to lead and wield a sword. Blaine, son of a pig farmer who earns a seemingly impossible knighthood. Steffan, a dark character who seeks power at any cost and Liandra, queen of Lanverness who looks to preserve her wealthy kingdom. Meanwhile, events unfold, with the story told from their multiple perspectives with the narrative changing viewpoints frequently, as each moves toward their destiny. As well, furthering the character woven storyline, are brief appearances of additional engaging characters. Although, initially, it seems the characters are on separate paths, with their own goals to achieve, destiny dictates otherwise as a malevolent force at work threatens all of Erdhe.

Consequently, what follows is an entertaining, adult themed, vibrant and at times quite violent, but well paced narrative, that artfully explores the sexual, bureaucratic, and religious landscape of a fantasy world facing the heart of darkness.

Ultimately, I enjoyed The Steel Queen. With this work, Author Azinger has wrought the beginnings of an intriguing and thus far, fulfilling fantasy series. Furthermore, while there are a plethora of fantasy genre novels available, what separates this one from the some of the others is the quality and style of the writing and creativity. Author Karen Azinger wields a well honed knack for engaging and concise storytelling.

Additionally, aside from the great story, I like the inclusion of the map of Erdhe and the Appendix explaining the background of various kingdoms. Overall, this was well worth the read and I look forward to the next in the series. This is a book I not only recommend for fantasy fans, but also fans of eloquently written, action packed adventures.

Republished with permission. Source – Book Review of The Steel Queen

This blog post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission to fund my tea habit if you use these links to make a purchase. You will not be charged extra.

Guest Review By Sheri Hoyte

“Her Viking Heart” by Heidi Herman is a compelling story about love, loss, betrayal and redemption, as one woman discovers a family secret that changes everything she’s ever known.

When Anna Miller’s father is killed less than two years after the death of her mother, Anna finds herself alone in the world. Moving back into her family home, Anna has the arduous task of sorting through and packing up her parents’ belongings. When she comes across some mysterious documents in her father’s study she is confused but intrigued. Determined to complete the research her father began, Anna embarks on a journey that will take her back several generations in history to WWII. As she begins to unveil the mystery surrounding her family, her research takes her to a small town in Wyoming. It is in this town she meets a handsome rancher named Logan Harris, awakening feelings that haven’t stirred inside her in a long time. As Anna gets closer to discovering the truth about her family secrets, she realizes it may be at the cost of her personal happiness.

It’s been some time since I’ve read such an enchanting story. The plotline, the settings, the characters – I found all the elements to be equally satisfying. It is a well-balanced narrative with plenty of developments that move the story continually forward, with enough surprise turns building anticipation and just the right amount of drama, romance, and intrigue to keep readers engaged.

The characters are easy to relate to and feel genuine in their roles and situations. I experienced an immediate pull towards Anna – her emotions jumping off the pages as she is forced to deal with issues one cannot even imagine unless they’ve been in those shoes. Her personality brought out the mama bear instinct in me as I vacillated between wanting to give her that kind of hug only a mother can give and wanting to take over and fix things for her! Not that she needed anyone to fix anything for her. Capable, resilient and strong, I thoroughly enjoyed investing in Anna, standing in her corner and rooting her on as she unraveled the mystery. I especially delighted in watching her evolve throughout the story, as she reevaluated the things that were important in her life.

“Her Viking Heart” is the first story I’ve read by Heidi Herman, but it won’t be the last. She is a natural storyteller easily transporting the reader to another time and place. This was such a fun read, and I highly recommend it to fans of contemporary fiction with elements of subtle romance, a good mystery to solve and enough twists and turns to keep readers on their toes.

Reviewed by Sheri Hoyte for Reader Views

Reprinted with Permission. Article Source: Book Review – Her Viking Heart By Heidi Herman