Friday Mini Reviews #31: Anne Bishop, Cate Rowan & Michelle Diener
Dreams Made Flesh by Anne Bishop (The Black Jewels #5)
bought on audio
Synopsis from Goodreads
Return to the realm of the Blood in Dreams Made Flesh - featuring four revelatory adventures of Janelle and her kindred...
Janelle is the most powerful Witch ever known, centuries of hopes and dreams made flesh at last. She has forged ties with three of the realm's mightiest Blood warriors: Saetan, the High Lord of Hell, who trains Jaenelle in magic and adopts her as his daughter; Lucivar, the winged Eyrien warlord who becomes her protector; and the near-immortal Daemon, born to be Witch's lover. Jaenelle has assumed her rightful place as Queen of the Darkness and restored order and peace to the realms... but at a terrible cost.
Amazon US/UK | Amazon kindle US/UK | The Book Depository
8.5/10
This collection of 4 stories is absolutely fabulous!
Weaver of Dreams is very short and confusing. It feels more like a prologue to the whole series, so I personally would recommend to skip it. It didn't do anything for me, and it doesn't do anything for the overall plot.
The Prince of Ebon Rih tells Lucivar and Marian's love story which fills the gap between book #2 and #3 of the series. It's fun and sweet and very romantic if you disregard Luthvian's horrible bitchiness. She is indeed a mother in law from hell!
Zuulaman is dark and horrifying. It tells us why Dorothea and Pythian were so scared of Saetan and why they couldn't afford to kill Lucivar and Daemon. It also explains why Saetan left Hekata. Honestly, that story is really scary...
At last, Kaeleer's Heart is about Daemon and Jaenelle rediscovering feelings for each other and getting married after she recovers from the destructive events in the third book. Some brainless witch is obsessed with Daemon and is trying to keep him apart from his love, and Daemon being Daemon decimates her in a deliciously vicious way. I LURVE that man!
Kismet's Kiss: A Fantasy Romance by Cate Rowan (Alaia Chronicles)
bought as a part of Darkly Dreaming anthology
Synopsis from Goodreads
In the desert realm of Kad, a deadly epidemic strikes the palace of Sultan Kuramos. Only a magical healer from an enemy land has the skill to save his royal household, but Kuramos never imagined the healer would be a woman.
Healer Varene finds her own surprises in Kad. She expects the sultan's arrogance, but not his courage, his selfless care of the ill, or the possibility the epidemic is the hex of a vengeful goddess.
Kuramos's culture condemns Varene's mystical talents. Her presence triggers an insurrection, yet as he and the healer toil for a cure, he loses his heart to her. She falls for him as well, but how can she relinquish her homeland and her principles? He already has a harem...and his family may be cursed.
Amazon US/UK | Amazon kindle US/UK | The Book Depository
Breaking Out by Michelle Diener
Ecopy from the author as a part of anthology Entranced
Synopsis from Goodreads
Breaking Out previously appeared in the anthology Entangled, which is now no longer for sale, in which all the proceeds went to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. It will go on sale on as a stand alone short story and as part of a Halloween anthology in October this year.
Imprisoned in a secret facility, powerful telekinetic Kelli Barrack and two other ‘special’ inmates grab a chance to escape, only to confront their worst nightmares on the outside.
Amazon kindle US/UK | Smashwords
Fast paced, sharp, adrenaline fueled, this story reminded me of X-Men in all the good ways. Kel was full of wonderful surprises and I'd really, really love to see her along with Giles and Nate working together in a full novel format. Read the excerpt here! You'll see what I'm talking about?
Фантастическое, острое, полное экшна городское фэнтези. Я просто не могла оторваться от экрана своего киндла пока эту историю не дочитала. Я бы очень, ну очень хотела увидеть Кел, Нэйта и Джайлза работающими в команде друг с другом в полноценном романе. Мамочки, ну какой потенциал пропадает, я аж расстроилась... Читать отрывок здесь! Видите о чём я говорю?!
Weaver of Dreams is very short and confusing. It feels more like a prologue to the whole series, so I personally would recommend to skip it. It didn't do anything for me, and it doesn't do anything for the overall plot.
The Prince of Ebon Rih tells Lucivar and Marian's love story which fills the gap between book #2 and #3 of the series. It's fun and sweet and very romantic if you disregard Luthvian's horrible bitchiness. She is indeed a mother in law from hell!
Zuulaman is dark and horrifying. It tells us why Dorothea and Pythian were so scared of Saetan and why they couldn't afford to kill Lucivar and Daemon. It also explains why Saetan left Hekata. Honestly, that story is really scary...
At last, Kaeleer's Heart is about Daemon and Jaenelle rediscovering feelings for each other and getting married after she recovers from the destructive events in the third book. Some brainless witch is obsessed with Daemon and is trying to keep him apart from his love, and Daemon being Daemon decimates her in a deliciously vicious way. I LURVE that man!
* * *
Мечты Превращённые в Плоть - это коллекция четырёх рассказов, и они просто великолепны! Первый рассказ - Ткач Мечты, очень короток и читается как пролог ко всей серии. Я бы его вообще пропустила, так как он не очень понятен и довольно скучен. Принц Эбон Ри рассказывает о том как Люсивар и Мэриан встречаются и влюбляются друг в друга, и история эта милая, трогательная и романтичная, если не принимать во внимание тёщу из ада - Лютвиан! Зуламан объясняет почему Сэйтан бросил Гекату и почему Доротея и Пифиан так его боялись и не решались убить его детех. У меня от неё шёл холодок по коже, - страшная была история, в ней было очень много душевной боли. Наконец, Сердце Колира повествует о Дэймоне и Жанель после событий в третьей книге, пока она выздоравливает и их любовь вновь набирает силу. В этом рассказе козни строит ведьма, помешанная на Дэймоне, и наш дорогой принц расправляется с ней в элегантном и совершенно беспощадном, характерном для него стиле. Ну, люблю я его, не могу!Kismet's Kiss: A Fantasy Romance by Cate Rowan (Alaia Chronicles)
bought as a part of Darkly Dreaming anthology
Synopsis from Goodreads
In the desert realm of Kad, a deadly epidemic strikes the palace of Sultan Kuramos. Only a magical healer from an enemy land has the skill to save his royal household, but Kuramos never imagined the healer would be a woman.
Healer Varene finds her own surprises in Kad. She expects the sultan's arrogance, but not his courage, his selfless care of the ill, or the possibility the epidemic is the hex of a vengeful goddess.
Kuramos's culture condemns Varene's mystical talents. Her presence triggers an insurrection, yet as he and the healer toil for a cure, he loses his heart to her. She falls for him as well, but how can she relinquish her homeland and her principles? He already has a harem...and his family may be cursed.
Amazon US/UK | Amazon kindle US/UK | The Book Depository
7/10
The world-building, my dear readers, was to die for. Lush, beautiful, full of enticing colors, textures and smells. At the same time I liked and disliked the main characters in equal strength. It's hard to explain why. I think Varene was selfish wanting Kuramos to put away his six wives in order to have only her, and he was way too kind and accommodating with her which for me felt unrealistic. We saw his face as a romantic and a lover, but I also wanted to see the ruthless ruler, a warrior and a politician, because a man with his power should have been all these things. Otherwise, as a fantasy romance this was a perfect escape for a few hours.
* * *
Безумно красивое построение мира, конечно! Мир схожий с Оттоманской империей в её расцвете, полный прекрасных тканей, расцветок, обычаев и запахов. Моя проблема была в том, что мне в равной мере понравились и не понравились главные герои. Варин, несмотря на склонность к самопожертвованию, была неприемлимой эгоисткой и хотела, чтобы Курамос оставил шесть своих жён, чтобы быть с ней одной. С другой стороны, Курамос показал себя нежным и внимательным любовником, но его сторона политика, беспощадного правителя и воина отсутствовала полностью, что мне показалось жутко нереалистичным. А так, читать можно, нормальный фэнтезийный роман. 
Ecopy from the author as a part of anthology Entranced
Synopsis from Goodreads
Breaking Out previously appeared in the anthology Entangled, which is now no longer for sale, in which all the proceeds went to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. It will go on sale on as a stand alone short story and as part of a Halloween anthology in October this year.
Imprisoned in a secret facility, powerful telekinetic Kelli Barrack and two other ‘special’ inmates grab a chance to escape, only to confront their worst nightmares on the outside.
Amazon kindle US/UK | Smashwords
8.5/10
Michelle said about this story that she usually writes fantasy and historical fiction so this was written for fun as a break from her normal routine. Well, I tell you what. It was fantastic! I was glued to my kindle. Michelle, you really need to write more of this!Fast paced, sharp, adrenaline fueled, this story reminded me of X-Men in all the good ways. Kel was full of wonderful surprises and I'd really, really love to see her along with Giles and Nate working together in a full novel format. Read the excerpt here! You'll see what I'm talking about?
* * *
Мишель Дьенэ сказала, что историю она эту написала в качестве передышки от своих обычных жанров - фэнтези и исторического романа. Офанареть просто! Мишель, какой потенциал пропадает!Фантастическое, острое, полное экшна городское фэнтези. Я просто не могла оторваться от экрана своего киндла пока эту историю не дочитала. Я бы очень, ну очень хотела увидеть Кел, Нэйта и Джайлза работающими в команде друг с другом в полноценном романе. Мамочки, ну какой потенциал пропадает, я аж расстроилась... Читать отрывок здесь! Видите о чём я говорю?!
