Thursday, August 25, 2011

Review: The Lady of the Storm

The Lady of the Storm (Elven Lords - Book 2) by Kathryne Kennedy

Publication Date: August 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Fantasy/Romance/Magical Elements
Pages: Paperback, 416pp
ISBN-13: 9781402236532
ISBN:
1402236530

(Received for an honest review from Sourcebooks)

Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Kathryne Kennedy on the WEB: website, blog, facebook, twitter

Excerpt from
The Lady of the Storm

Book Trailer:



Synopsis:

GILES IS BOUND TO PROTECT HER...

In a kingdom viciously rules by warlike elven lords, village blacksmith Giles Beaumont reluctantly swears to protect the half-elf, half-human Cecily Sutton, never dreaming that he will fall under her enchanting spell.

BUT DUTY SOON TURNS TO DESIRE...

When Cecily's father disappears, Cecily and Giles set out to find him. But, as their journey unfolds, duty is quickly replaced by desire - and the search for Cecily's father leads to a magical destiny that could end the rule of the elven lords forever...

Thoughts:

The Lady of the Storm, second book in Kathryne Kennedy's Elven Lords series, takes readers back to an alternative England that is ruled by a ruthless race that is bent on destroying everything in it's path. Kennedy's world-building skills are phenomenal and readers will quickly fall in love with her descriptive writing style. With complex characters, facing seemingly insurmountable odds, this is part adventure story, part fantasy and part romance. It will appeal to a variety of readers from the romance fan to the paranormal enthusiast.

Cecily Sutton has been kept in hiding nearly all her life. Protected from her ruthless father, an elven lord, who would kill her if he knew her abilities had the potential to be stronger than his own. Living life in a small village near the sea, Cecily is at home in the water and successfully hides the fact that she can control it from the villagers. Until the man who raised her turns up missing and her village is attacked. Using her ability to control the water saves the village, but it alerts more than just the villagers of her presence. Giles Beaumont has been guarding Cecily since she was a child, watching her grow into a beautiful woman, he could never hope to have for his own. Taking Cecily and fleeing the village in search of Thomas, Giles is unable to hide his feelings for her. But he knows she is the last best hope to dethrone the elven lords forever. Cecily and Giles must both decide what is most important to them...

Kathryne Kennedy once again shows readers why she is considered one of the best, when it comes to fantasy.
The Lady of the Storm, follow-up to Kennedy's, The Fire Lord's Lover is an exceptional book, written in a lyrical style that is pleasing to read and full of emotion. Readers who are familiar with Kennedy's writing already know how beautifully descriptive and complex her novels are and this one is no exception. Kennedy continues to use her world-building skills to introduce readers to an alternative England, that is beyond their imaginations. There are so many good things to say about this book, I hardly know where to begin.

I really enjoyed the first book in the Elven Lords series,
The Fire Lord's Lover and I was excited to see where Kennedy would take readers in The Lady of the Storm. She takes a more laid back approach with this second book and the flow of the story is a little more leisurely, but it definitely works. As Giles and Cecily wander the regions of the land, readers start to find out more about the other kingdoms,
Dewhame, Bladehame and even Dreamhame. Kennedy has so much room to work with, it's staggering. That's exactly what I love about fantasy. The writer is able to create a world that is completely their own and then let readers in on the secret. The depth of Kennedy's imagination is remarkable. I thought her descriptions of the land and the features that were natural to each area were spot on and very interesting.

I also really enjoyed how Kennedy describes the abilities that these "half-breeds" possess and how the elven lord's react to them. Not wanting anything or anyone to be able to gain control over them, the elven lord's have tricked the people in the land into believing that the brightest and best children are sent back to their homeland to be trained, when in truth, they are systematically removing any threat to their reign. In this book, we see that their are those that can stand up to the elven lord's and make a difference. Cecily doesn't really want to be used by the Rebellion but when she realizes the depths they have gone to, to purge the land she cannot stand by. I loved the fact that Kennedy chose water as Cecily's element. She is not only able to control and use the water, she needs it to survive. It is a very intricate plot that is full of danger and adventure.

The romantic aspect of the book is also very well written. Giles has had to stand back and watch over Cecily practically her entire life, and he cannot act on the feelings he has for her. Cecily even approaches him, being drawn to him and he had to turn her away. But it is obvious that their feelings for each other are extremely strong even from the beginning of the book. I liked the way Kennedy sort of takes the reader back in time a little bit by describing their relationship through the years and then sends them on a very climatic journey, where they are forced to face their feelings for each other. I thought the romantic scenes were well written and not forced. The pace of the book itself, suggests that they are learning to follow their hearts and taking their time instead of rushing into things.

There is something for several different kinds of readers in this book. There is adventure for those who like a good battle now and then. There are tender moments and steamy situations to keep the romance readers interested and there are is magic! The world Kennedy creates is magical itself, but it is peopled with magical beings and abilities. If you enjoy a good fantasy read, you just can't miss this one! I recommend it to all my readers, from the romance fans to the paranormal readers. If you've never read a book like this one, this is the place to start, Kennedy is at her best in this series. One of the best books I've read this year!

The Lady of the Storm is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one a resounding 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!




Kathryne Kennedy is an award-winning author acclaimed for her world building and known for blending genres to create groundbreaking stories.
The Lady of the Storm is the second book in her magical new series, The Elven Lords, following The Fire Lord's Lover. Look for book three, The Lord of Illusion, coming to bookstores soon. She's lived in Guam, Okinawa, and several states in the United States, and currently lives in Arizona with her wonderful family - which includes two very tiny Chihuahuas. She loves to hear from readers, and welcomes you to visit her website, where she has ongoing contests.

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