Book Review: Bridge Of Souls

The Quickening Book Three

Things are coming to a head. Aremys ends up in the Razors and figures out what happened to Lothryn. He befriends Myrt who is now Cailech’s right hand. Yulena/Wyl went to see Valentyna, forgets himself kisses her. Freaks her out and then heads out to give her/himself up to Celimus. Meanwhile Aremys tells Celimus that he has Yulena. Crys leaves for the Razors to find Elspyth.

And stunningly enough, this whole arc of stories may actually be about Fynch and Knave.

Can’t wait for the ending (I am hoping what seems like an obvious ending to me is either avoided, or done in such a way that I am taken by surprise.)

Book Review: Blood and Memory

The Quickening Book 2

So…Wyl is a woman, and clearly uncomfortable as such. Wyl seems to have a harder time with this transformation and not simply because he is a woman. The realization that he may never get to “die” is quite disturbing to him. What’s worse is that he is captured by Aremys and turned over to Jessom because King Celimus wants to meet the assassin that killed Romen. Jessom knew that Fail would never come willingly. When Wyl actually meets with Celimus it’s all he can do not to kill him. Especially after he hears about the job Celimus wants Fail and Aremys to undertake. They are to kill Yulena and then go see Valentyna. If Valentyna refuses to submit to the wedding Fail is to kill her.

Meanwhile Yulena and the priest make it to the Duke of Felrawthy’s place. Where they tell their gruesome tale and get instant sympathy. The duke begins planning his revenge. And the Mountain men are getting restless. Is it because of the Mountain King Cailech? Or the Evil madman behind the King? The barshi Rashlyn.

What follows is treachery, death, a manwitch and perhaps a wedding….

Book Review: Myrren’s Gift

The Quickening Book One
Our story starts with death, which is not such a bad way to start a story.

Loyal General Thirsk best friend to King Magnus gets wacked saving the Kings life. Magnus promises to treat Thirsk’s children like his own. (Actually better) Wly at 14 is now the General of the Legion (tradition) and has an instant antagonist in Celimus, the King’s son. Celimus is everything that Wly is not, flashy, handsome, sly, cruel and an all around shit. King Magnus was hoping that Wly and Celimus would become as close as Thirsk and he were and that Wly would be a good influence on him. Not so much, Celimus drags Wly down to the dungeon to see a young girl tortured into giving a confession just to see Wly squirm. Wly gives the girl a sip of water because that is all he can do. He goes to see her put to death and with her last breath Myrren gives him a gift of sorts, she asks Wly to keep her dog.

Things only get worse from here.

Celimus beheads Wly’s best friend and brother in law and then forces Wly’s sister to carry the head to the dungeon where she will be staying until Wly comes back with an agreement from a neighboring kingdom. Of course Celimus has planned on having him killed, what he didn’t figure on was Romen the mercenary. There are twists and turns and beautiful strong women and not so strong. Throw in a smidgen of magic, crazy kings and a situation that was….unexpected and you have what I hope to be a good series.