9
Sep032010
BOOK REVIEW: Warrior by Zoe Archer
by Carolyn • Posted in 3 Star Reviews, Book Reviews, Historical Romance, Paranormal Romance, Romance
Title: Warrior (The Blades of the Rose #1)
Author: Zoe Archer
Publisher: Zebra Books
Publication Date: Sep 2010
ARC Ebook: 370 pages
Genre: Paranormal/Historical Romance
RATING: 6/10 – good
GOODREADS SUMMARY:
To most people, the realm of magic is the stuff of nursery rhymes and dusty libraries. But for Capt. Gabriel Huntley, it’s become quite real and quite dangerous…
IN HOT PURSUIT…
The vicious attack Capt. Gabriel Huntley witnesses in a dark alley sparks a chain of events that will take him to the ends of the Earth and beyond—where what is real and what is imagined become terribly confused. And frankly, Huntley couldn’t be more pleased. Intrigue, danger, and a beautiful woman in distress—just what he needs.
IN HOTTER WATER…
Raised thousands of miles from England, Thalia Burgess is no typical Victorian lady. A good thing, because a proper lady would have no hope of recovering the priceless magical artifact Thalia is after. Huntley’s assistance might come in handy, though she has to keep him in the dark. But this distractingly handsome soldier isn’t easy to deceive…
REVIEW:
Captain Gabriel Huntley has returned to England after years of serving abroad in the army. With no remaining family he has nothing in his pocket save a letter from a friend inviting him to Leeds to make and honest living, settle down, marry and have a family.
But Gabriel is restless after years of travelling the world and fighting for his country. He does not know how to fit in to English society, let alone how to go about courting a delicate, Victorian lady.
However, fate intervenes and on his way Gabriel discovers a man being brutally beaten. The man is seriously outnumbered Gabriel cannot bear bullies and rushes to help him. But he’s too late and cannot stop it as the man is fatally stabbed.
Gabriel cannot refuse a dying man’s wishes so when he requests Gabriel passes on a gravely important message before he knows it the course of his life is irrevocably altered. He finds himself the keeper of a bizarre, encrypted message, in possession of an unusual compass on a ship on his way to Outer Mongolia. Knowing only that he must find a man called Franklin Burgess.
Thalia Burgess has spent most of her life living in abroad. She is more at home wearing a Mongolian del than a corset and bustle. She’s not one to live by the rules and decorum set by society. When Captain Huntley arrives with a grave message she knows that her injured father is not well enough to do what is necessary. So she embarks on the dangerous quest on her own with no more than her faithful servant Batu for company.
When Thalia realises she is being followed it is not long before she discovers it is the noble Captain intent on protecting her on her mission. But she protects a sacred, ancient secret. How can Gabriel protect her and not discover the truth?
I can’t reveal the full premise of this book as it would spoil it for you. At the beginning the reader is as much in the dark as Gabriel which adds to the overall mystery and intrigue.
When I picked up this novel I expected it to be a standard romance, but it is much more that that. While romance is integral to the story, this is a book about magic, intrigue, and bravery. It is essentially an epic adventure across Mongolia and China as the main characters battle against large odds to fight for the greater good. Which culminates in a spectacular finale involving a rag tag group of unlikely heroes and Shaolin monks all working together.
This book is superbly written and while I’m certainly not a expert in Mongolian culture it is clear that that the author has researched her subject very well. It is the small inclusions as to how the Mongolians lived their lives back in the 19th century that adds to the richness of the narrative.
The main characters are well rounded and three dimensional and avoid many of the clichés that romance characters often fall into. I in particular loved Captain Gabriel Huntley who is a great mix of nobility and strength while at the same time unpolished. The archetypal rough diamond.
If I had one small criticism it would be that at times the narrative is a little slow moving, but just as you’re beginning to get frustrated the pace picks up once more.
VERDICT:
This is a fun, adventure that complements a warm and unconventional love story.
SOURCE: Thank you to the author for sending BCC a copy of Warrior for review.
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9 Comments
I heard so many people rave about this book. I like a good adventure story and put romance in the mix and I'm sold. Can't wait to get my hands on it.
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I ignored this book at first since I didn't think it was going to be me kind of story but I'm slowly feeling the appeal with reading your and Mandi's review
It's now definitely in the zone of possible buy's this year.
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I really enjoyed this book..thought the beginning was a little slow too but overall I love the premise
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I really love this cover, it definitely wants to make me pick up this book, and now after all the very good reviews I keep reading I think I will read it. Thanks for the review Laura!
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@SusiSunshine it's a great mix of adventure and romance. Not quite a class romance, but good fin never the less
@Leontine it's not a standard romance, it's quite an adventure story. So it depends what your tastes are. But I did really enjoy it.
@Mandi yes I found there were a couple of slow bits in the narrative. But overall really good fun. The premise was really cool, as was the setting. I'm interested to know where she takes it.
@BookChickCity as always you're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it. It's a great cover isn't it? I think it's perfect for the story too.
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Great Review! I read this book and also enjoyed it. My biggest complaint, however, was the big reveal about the source. ***Possible spoiler*** I hate that sex was the catalyst for them figuring it out. It felt like a cheap ploy to add more sex to the book. Maybe I'm the only one who was bothered by that, but it definitely took away from the book, in my eyes. ***End of possible spoiler*** Other than that I thought the book was pretty good. It was definitely different from anything I'd ever read before, but maybe that's because I'm new to the UF genre.
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Great review! Another added to my ever expanding TBR pile… LOL!
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@Lisapollard ***spoiler*** I hadn't thought about the catalyst that way actually. But you have a point. The problem it's not an uncommon theme in romance books I've found. For example have you read Sherrilyn Kennyon's Darkhunter series? Same thing there in some of the books. But I still enjoy them. I would say this book is more romance than urban fantasy which may explain why this was on there more?? ***end of spoiler***
@justpeachy36 thank you! I know the feeling my tbr list is huge
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Great review – I am yet to read this, but I have heard quite a few good things about it already!
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