THE BEAST OF BLACKMOOR
BOOK .5
” Dive into the world of beasts and barbarians in this prequel to the exhilarating Gathering of Dragons series by Milla Vane.
A warrior princess must tame The Beast of Blackmoor to earn a place among her people. When she arrives in Blackmoor, however, she finds a land cursed by a demon and ruled by an evil warlord…and discovers that the beast isn’t a monster, but a barbarian warrior who intends to do some taming himself. “
AMAZON.COM
Trigger & Content Warnings:
Rape (on-page)
Gang rape of a child recounted
Sexual slavery
Death from animal attack
Murder
TRIGGERWARNINGDATABASE.COM
01/03/2022
I didn’t read this prequel until after reading the first book, so for me, I already had a general idea of the lore. What’s amazing is just how much story Milla packs in a book that’s only 119 pages long!
I really enjoyed reading Mala and Kavik’s story, especially how the “misunderstanding” is really between each character and the Goddess Vela’s words to them. It’s always interesting to see how people interpret the words of gods, sometimes it feels a bit like the game telephone, as sometimes they veer in an entirely different direction than they need to.
Mala, who is on a quest from Vela, and Kavik, who angered the Goddess Vela, must learn to trust and work together if they both wish to fulfill promises they’ve made to themselves and their people. This is a story where things aren’t always what they seem but with the strength of mind, body, and soul Mala and Kavik may be able to shape the future together.
As a novella I fear someone who read’s this, before reading book one, may not realize just how much world-building is involved in this series and may end up surprised when they go to start book one. I would recommend, personally, to read this novella after you’ve read through book one.
A HEART OF BLOOD AND ASHES
BOOK 1
” A generation past, the western realms were embroiled in endless war. Then the Destroyer came. From the blood and ashes he left behind, a tenuous alliance rose between the barbarian riders of Parsathe and the walled kingdoms of the south. That alliance is all that stands against the return of an ancient evil–until the barbarian king and queen are slain in an act of bloody betrayal.
Though forbidden by the alliance council to kill the corrupt king responsible for his parents’ murders, Maddek vows to avenge them, even if it costs him the Parsathean crown. But when he learns it was the king’s daughter who lured his parents to their deaths, the barbarian warrior is determined to make her pay.
Yet the woman Maddek captures is not what he expected. Though the last in a line of legendary warrior-queens, Yvenne is small and weak, and the sharpest weapons she wields are her mind and her tongue. Even more surprising is the marriage she proposes to unite them in their goals and to claim their thrones–because her desire for vengeance against her father burns even hotter than his own… “
BOOKSHOP.ORG
Graphic blood & gore depiction
triggerwarningdatabase.org
April 30th, 2021
On my own, I never would have stumbled on this book. Especially since it only comes in mass market paperback and digitally whereas I prefer trade paperback [since I don’t like a lot of wear and tear on the book spines]. Luckily, Meemoreads has recommended this book in a couple of her videos and my interest was piqued.
Going in all I knew was it definitely had an alpha male and there were vibes similar to the relationship between Dany and Drogo. Based on that information I dove in…and enjoyed this epic, and spicy, journey.
I LOVE how Milla wrote Yvenne. Everyone that encounters Yvenne assumes she’s weak. Their assumption comes from the fact that physically she isn’t in peak condition even though she’s descended from warrior Queens. Although she does have a bad knee and is weak from years spent locked in a tower, her mind is sharp and strong. I love how brave she is, almost fearless, and doesn’t allow her supposed shortcomings to stop her from pursuing her goals.
Maddek is a strong warrior who finds out his parents were killed. Thinking Yvenne lured his parents to their deaths, at the hands of her father, he kidnaps her. The best way for each of them to get their revenge on her father…is to marry, produce an heir, and join forces.
Both Yvenne and Maddek have so much to learn when it comes to leading and about relationships. Both raised very differently will need to teach and learn from each other if they ever want to destroy their common enemy.
Will Yvenne be able to teach Maddek how to be a King? Will Maddek be able to teach Yvenne how to be a strong warrior Queen? Together will they be able to overcome the obstacles they face?
This story is the beginning of an epic journey that I look forward to reading more about. It looks like each book will feature a different couple as all the land’s brace for the return of the Destroyer. Currently, book two has also been released, with a third book set to release in late October.
A TOUCH OF STONE AND SNOW
BOOK 2
” Milla Vane returns to a world of kings, magic, and passion in her exhilarating A Gathering of Dragons series, as a great alliance forms to stand against an evil warlord intent on their destruction.
Danger lurks in the western realms. The Destroyer’s imminent return has sent the realms into turmoil as desperate citizens seek refuge–but there’s no safety to be found when demons and wraiths crawl out from the shadows. Even Koth, a northern island kingdom left untouched by the Destroyer a generation past, is besieged by terrors spawned from corrupt magics.
When Lizzan leads the Kothan army against these terrors, only to see her soldiers massacred and to emerge as the only survivor, she is called a coward and a deserter. Shunned from her home, Lizzan now wanders in solitude as a mercenary for hire, until she encounters a group of warriors seeking new alliances with the northern kingdoms–a group that includes Aerax, the bastard prince of Koth, and the man who sent her into exile.
Though they were childhood friends, Aerax cannot allow himself to be close to the only woman who might thwart his treacherous plan to save their island realm. But when a goddess’s demand binds them together, Lizzan and Aerax must find a way to overcome their painful pasts. Or there will be no future for the western realms… “
BOOKSHOP.ORG
STOCK PHOTO THAT REMINDS ME OF THE BOOK COMING SOON
Military violence, including genocide & child soldiers
TRIGGERWARNINGDATABASE.COM
DATE READ COMING SOON
REVIEW COMING SOON
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