Veena’s review of Orphan’s Blade (Chronicles of Ebonvale, Book 2) by Aubrie Dionne
Romantic Fantasy published by Lyrical Press 10 Nov 15
If you like epic fantasy, then this book is definitely for you. The author reached out and grabbed my attention from page one and never let go. Princess Valoria is caught up in the difficult choice between love and duty, as a second attempt is made to join the house of Song with the kingdom of Ebonvale. I read spellbound as the three protagonists confront their fears and their pasts as they race against time on a quest that will help them take a stand against the evil that confronts the kingdom. I’m sad that I did not know this author before, but now that I do, I will definitely be reading more of her work.
The kingdom of Ebonvale is stark and unfriendly to a young princess raised in the beauty of the house of Song. First her retinue is threatened by hungry dissidents who attack them on the way to the capital, then she’s confronted by a lifestyle which is very different from what she’s used to, besides which these are dangerous times. Fortunately for her, she finds hidden depths in her own talent which turn her into a warrior in her own right. Then she finds out that the man who she could fall in love with is the adopted brother of her fiancé and as different from him as cheese from chalk.
I really enjoyed how she uses her musical talents to battle and beguile as necessary. Unfortunately, in one of her defensive tacks, she seems to have tapped into the darker side of her talent and is now connected in some way to the evil necromancer who’s determined to conquer Ebonvale. She needs to figure out how to stay to the light, even as she taps into the dark notes that allow her to effectively battle the evil that threatens.
As the threesome head out in disguise over the countryside, each of them confronts hidden depths within themselves that force them to change and evolve. As they ready themselves for the final stand, it’s not certain how events will fall, which makes for an exciting race for the finish line for the reader.
I have not read the first book in the series and, frankly, I did not even realize that there was perhaps an earlier book until I was near the end. I promise you won’t miss not having read it first, but given the compelling nature of this story, I would definitely like to read the earlier book.
Grade: A
Summary:
In the battle for a kingdom, every alliance counts…
Princess Valoria only cares about her music and her destiny: to unite the Kingdom of Ebonvale with the House of Song and succeed where her father has failed. As if that weren’t challenge enough, she must contend with her marriage to a battle hungry brute of a prince…until she falls for his adopted brother, the orphaned son of a blacksmith. But with a horde of undead gathering to attack Ebonvale, Valoria will have to choose between her personal happiness and the safety of the kingdom. Now the fate of Ebonvale rests in her heart.
No excerpt available.
Other books in this series:
