Veena’s review of The Mark Of The Tala (Twelve Kingdoms, Book 1) by Jeffe Kennedy
Fantasy Romance published by Kensington Books 27 May 14
I am a sucker for fantasy romance and this title definitely sparked my imagination and gave rise to all sorts of questions such that I just had to read the story. Being in the middle of three sisters, I felt I could relate to Andromeda (Andi), which would add to my overall enjoyment of the tale, and, of course, Ms. Kennedy is a new-to-me author. So all in all these things made this book a must read. In retrospect, I have to admit that I enjoyed the story, but it didn’t live up fully to the promise of my imagination. Don’t get me wrong, the author introduces some very distinctly interesting elements and yet I’m not rushing out to buy the author’s back list of books yet…
It’s kind of tough to be the one in the middle. The eldest is the heir and definitely lives up to the promise and the youngest is the beauty with all the goodness and kindness that is not usual in a beautiful person, but Andi is definitely used to being on her own and would be totally neglected and ignored by her father in many ways, were it not for the love of her sisters. I can definitely attest to that special bond that exists between sisters and the sometime feeling of displacement that Andi feels being in the middle. But back to the story, which in some ways is akin to a fairy tale where the family lived in a perfect land which was ruled over by a wise ruler – their father – until one day a lonely ride leads Andi to meet with a young man who kisses her and awakens her to truths that she had no knowledge of and her father would kill to keep suppressed.
Shape shifters and magic are not new, but Ms. Kennedy has a very deft hand with some of the magic, especially the horses and their ability to also shift shapes in battle. As Andi begins to explore the secrets of a past that is shrouded in mystery and tries to forget the kiss that awoke her out of her sleep, she finds truths and half truths that eventually lead her to betray all she’s been brought up to believe and the relationships that she’s cherished all her life for new loyalties.
There are some things that I find strange. Hugh is a perfect knight, so well suited for the perfectly beautiful sister and yet he attempts something so unchivalrous when he attempts to kill Rayfe, whom Andi has professed to love. I like how the author describes Andi’s growing proficiency or lack of with the shape shifting abilities. I like her description of when she shifts into a fish and then finds herself half in and half out of water and needs a push into it to breathe. The relationship building between Rayfe and Andi is very well done, as he stands up for her amongst court and family.
I definitely enjoyed the character of the older sister and some of the supporting characters. While Amelia, with her perfection, does not appeal to me and I know she comes next, I feel like I definitely would like to read the other two books in the trilogy.
Grade: B
Summary:
The tales tell of three sisters, daughters of the high king. The eldest, a valiant warrior-woman, heir to the kingdom. The youngest, the sweet beauty with her Prince Charming. No one says much about the middle princess, Andromeda. Andi, the other one.
Andi doesn’t mind being invisible. She enjoys the company of her horse more than court, and she has a way of blending into the shadows. Until the day she meets a strange man riding, who keeps company with wolves and ravens, who rules a land of shapeshifters and demons. A country she’d thought was no more than legend–until he claims her as its queen.
In a moment everything changes: Her father, the wise king, becomes a warlord, suspicious and strategic. Whispers call her dead mother a traitor and a witch. Andi doesn’t know if her own instincts can be trusted, as visions appear to her and her body begins to rebel.
For Andi, the time to learn her true nature has come. . .
No excerpt available
Other books in this series:
