The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson

Genres: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Romance
Publication Date: November 11th 2014
POV: Male - Third-person, Past tense
My Rating: 4 out of 5

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The perfect gift for Shadowhunters. This gorgeous illustrated hardback brings 10 stories about immortal warlock Magnus Bane together for the first time, along with a bonus never-before-seen tale. A fan-favourite character from Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunter Chronicles, Magnus features in The Mortal Instruments, The Infernal Devices, Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy and the movie of City of Bones. Magnus will never be able to tell all of his tales. No one would believe him. But these stories shed a little light on his often inscrutable character. They are stories he probably wishes had never got out.

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So, some background on my relationship with Cassie. I read City of Bones first. Wasn't a huge fan of it, didn't particularly like Clary or Jace, I hated their relationship, and I hated Simon. The only redeeming quality was the excellent world-building and Magnus Bane. As I read City of Ashes and City of Glass I felt the same way and decided that was a good place to stop. I have never read City of Fallen Angels.

Then, as I heard all the ravings from fans about how much better TID was, and all the raving about Will and Jem, I became curious and wanted to know which side of the love-triangle I would fall on. So I read Clockwork Angel and yes, it is much better. It introduced me to Jem, who is the best thing Cassie has ever created, the story was very interesting, and Tessa is somewhat better than Clary. At least I don't actively dislike her. But there is one major drawback. Will Herondale is one of the worst things I have ever seen created on paper. I can't even tell you have much I hate him because words do not suffice.

I am always somewhat scared to start a new Cassie Clare book because her world is amazing and it has a lot of potential to impress me but I just seem to hate what she seems to think is a good romance and a good romantic lead. I do intend to keep trying though, by reading each of her new series. But as I said, Magnus Bane is one of the redeeming characters she has created, and I was excited to read about him in his own world.

“If one could look this fabulous, one had an obligation to. One should wear everything, or one should wear nothing at all.”

Each story in this book was interesting in its own right. I won't say which was my favourite because they were all interesting, entertaining, funny, and they all taught me something new about Magnus Bane. That is the best thing about this book. The overall experience of getting to know Magnus Bane. He never received this kind of undivided attention before and I feel like I know him intimately now. I don't know how much he appeared in the latter books of TMI, but this gave me a whole new view of him and I love him even more. He is an amazing warlock and an amazing person.

I loved seeing the friends he made over the years, the lovers, how he treated people, including Shadowhunters; how he tried to save Raphael, and Camille, innocent werewolves. He is a hero. But he never stops being Magnus Bane either. He shows up to battle in hot pink. I love his sense of humour too, his sarcasm. That is something I already knew about him, but I really enjoyed seeing more of. Two side of him worth loving.

“Even if the Shadowhunters had been expecting an interruption, and the werewolves had been hoping for a savior, apparently nobody had been expecting all the hot pink.”

I also loved seeing him with Alec. I enjoyed Alec in the books as well, but its different when you see him as Magnus sees him. I never knew Alec was so insecure and shy and good. I loved the way Magnus described him and the way he made him feel. It makes me reconsider finishing TMI, just to get a few more glimpses of Magnus and Alec together. I now have an incredible love and respect for Magnus Bane. I love him more than this series can contain. He is too big for his world. I will keep trying with Cassie Clare, but I have no reason to expect to find anything as great as this by her in the future.

"...he had wanted Alec there, so badly, and here he was. It felt more like magic than anything he could do."

The Bone Orchard by Abigail Roux

Genres: Adult, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Romance
Publication Date: August 11th 2014
POV: Alternating - Third-person, Past tense
Smut-O-Meter: 6 out of 10
My Rating: 3 out of 5

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After leaving a trail of terror and death in his wake, the notorious “Missouri” Boone Jennings finally meets his match in San Francisco when US marshal Ambrose Shaw catches up to him. The story of his capture, and the marshal’s bravery, has already become legend back east by the time Pinkerton inspector Ezra Johns gets off the train from New York City to testify in the murderer’s trial.

When Ambrose is unable to give witness to the evils he’s seen, Ezra becomes their lone hope for putting Jennings in a noose. But if Ezra thinks that’s his biggest problem, he’s got plenty to learn about life—and the afterlife—in the spirited West.

Fortunately, Ambrose is there to assist, and more than happy to oblige Ezra—in the courtroom or the bedroom. He spent his life bringing justice to the Wild West, and if he has a say in it, that’s how he’ll be spending his death too.

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This was a pretty good western ghost story. I don't read a lot of ghost stories, but this was really interesting. Ezra and Ambrose are both lawmen hunting the same killer. One a Marshall from California, the other an Inspector from New York. They hunt Jennings across the country, until they meet in San Francisco where they have tracked down Jennings. He is tried and hung, but continues to kill from beyond the grave.

I especially enjoyed the second half of the story, as time starts to pass more quickly, and Ezra and Ambrose watch the decades pass around them. The idea that having a nemesis is what makes the time worth living for them is different and unexpected. You would expect the good guys to defeat the villain, but not here, and that's okay. Ezra and Ambrose have each other, but protecting people is what their lives were about and so are their deaths. Meeting Ezra's nephew at the end was an interesting turn of events as well. I was not expecting more story at that point and I enjoyed the fact that others knew of Ezra and Ambrose's existence. Although, I wish they could have spoken more and that Owen and his friends could have known all the good Ezra and Ambrose have done over the last 150 years.

The romance in this was pretty disappointing though. I didn't really feel the connection between Ezra and Ambrose. It seemed to happen awfully quickly. They probably knew each other 3 or 4 days before they expressed feelings for each other. Eventually they said the 'L' word and it wasn't even made into a big deal. They both acted as if it was totally normal to fall in love after only a week or so and neither were surprised to hear the words.

But regardless of the passage of time, it wasn't used to its full potential. Their relationship could have been developed better in the given time. I don't really know what they loved about each other. We were not told. And I don't think we were ever told what Ezra looked like. When he first saw Ambrose he described him to us, but we were never given a description of Ezra and he is sort of just a blank in my mind. Also, in a story of 133 pages, there was time for more than one sex scene, but we were only given one. It wasn't super explicit but I enjoyed it. It was one of the few times when I felt their emotional closeness, as well as the physical, of course.

So this is a good read for people who enjoy ghost stories and paranormal, who don't mind some M/M on the side, but aren't looking for a romance at the moment. I wouldn't mind a sequel.

"I love you," he said quickly. "If I don't come back..." 

"No," Ezra hissed. "No, you must."

"Know I loved you a lifetime's worth," Ambrose gasped. "A lifetime."

Sisters' Fate by Jessica Spotswood (The Cahill Witch Chronicles #3)

Genres: Young Adult, Historical Fiction/Alternate History, Paranormal, Romance
Publication Date: August 14th 2014
POV: Female - First-person, Present tense
My Rating: 4 out of 5

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A fever ravages New London, but with the Brotherhood sending suspected witches straight to the gallows, the Sisters are powerless against the disease. They can’t help without revealing their powers—as Cate learns when a potent display of magic turns her into the most wanted witch in all of New England.

To make matters worse, Cate has been erased from the memory of her beloved Finn. While she’s torn between protecting him from further attacks and encouraging him to fall for her all over again, she’s certain she can never forgive Maura’s betrayal. And now that Tess’s visions have taken a deadly turn, the prophecy that one Cahill sister will murder another looms ever closer to its fulfillment.

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This was a great conclusion to this series. It has been almost exactly 2 years since I read Born Wicked, and I have enjoyed the whole experience. I had no idea what I was getting myself into at the time.

I really enjoyed the danger in this book, with all the sneaking around and secret meetings. Cate and her friends were never safe from the Brothers or Inez, and you truly never knew what was going to happen next. Yet Cate stood strong through it all. Her and her friends are extraordinary young women. They have gone through so much for each other, for other women they don't even know, and for the betterment of all of New England. I really have a hard time hating any of the young Sisters, even Maura and her posse. Yet Cate is still the most amazing of all. I wonder why the prophecy put so much focus on Tess when she didn't really do that much. She is a brilliant and strong little witch, but so are many others. And her visions weren't even that helpful. It seemed to me that Cate really was the one that everyone rallied behind.

I think Star Cursed is still my favourite book in this series, but Sisters' Fate is a close second, and Born Wicked is not far behind that. The action and suspense in this book were heightened even more from the previous books, as was the death count, with a huge climax as Inez enacts her final plan, which is more heinous than I could have possibly imagined.

I think the ending was the best way to settling things. I am only surprised at what Cate and Tess did. I was not expecting such drastic measures from them. But Finn was as adorable as ever, and I loved how he and Cate came together again, despite what was done to him. And I am also glad that Tess and Cate managed to reconcile with their father and tell him the truth. Only Maura was left out of a wonderful Christmas. But I wish I could see more. I know things will be better now, but I would love to see it. I would love to see Cate and Finn get their relationship back to where it had been. I would love to see Elena on the city council. I would love to see Tess grow up into a wonderful woman. And I would love to see what becomes of Rilla and Alistair. Perhaps we will get a short one day, set a year or so later. That would be wonderful!

"I'm falling in love with you more every day. I don't know if they were the same things I loved about you before, but now--the bit of red in your hair. The way you tilt your chin when you get angry, like you're charging into battle. How fiercely protective you are of the people you care about. How big your capacity for forgiveness is. You are an amazing woman, Cate Cahill."

Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers (His Fair Assassin #2)

Genres: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Romance
Publication Date: April 2nd 2013
POV: Female - First-person, Present tense
My Rating: 3 out of 5

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When Sybella arrived at the doorstep of St Mortain half mad with grief and despair the convent were only too happy to offer her refuge - but at a price. The sisters of this convent serve Death, and with Sybella naturally skilled in both the arts of death and seduction, she could become one of their most dangerous weapons.

But her assassin's skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to the life that nearly drove her mad. Her father's rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother's love is equally monstrous. But when Sybella discovers an unexpected ally she discovers that a daughter of Death may find something other than vengeance to live for.

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I enjoyed this a bit more than Grave Mercy because it had more interesting characters and not as familiar of a story. Although the story in Dark Triumph felt a bit simple and the book felt, overall, short; it was more interesting to me than Grave Mercy.

Court intrigue has been done, and done again. So I was glad that in the second book of the His Fair Assassin series, things are viewed from a more military POV, as Sybella and Beast fight the French and D'Albret's rebels. It is still the same fight, but Sybella is very different from Ismae. And Beast is way more interesting than Duval.

Duval was a Lord, and Beats was a soldier. He is a Duke too, I think, but he identifies more as a soldier. He was so tough and confident. I totally loved him, and the fact that he was so ugly made him more endearing, although I wish that Sybella would have stopped pointing it out.

I felt really uncomfortable with Sybella's brother Julian. I know we are not supposed to accept the incest or rape, but in the end Sybella and Julian were still close, and she forgave him for everything. I felt really uncomfortable with the whole situation. After what he had done, I felt like he should have been a villain, but he wasn't. I felt like I wanted to hate him, but he wasn't portrayed that way. I just didn't know what to do with him and I didn't like it.

This series does not focus on the romance as much as it does the heroine, and her journey of self discovery. I personally would prefer more romance, but they are still good stories.

I really enjoyed reading the Author's Note, where she explained the similarities to historical events, and why she made certain changes. It was really interesting and it shed a new light on the story. I look forward to reading Mortal Heart.

“And just as love has two sides, so too does Death. While Ismae will serve as His mercy, I will not, for that is not how He fashioned me. Every death I have witnessed, every horror I have endured, has forged me to be who I am -- Death's justice.”

Tiger's Promise by Colleen Houck (The Tiger Saga #0.5)

Genres: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fantasy/Mythology, Romance, Novella
Publication Date: June 1st 2014
POV: Female - First-person, Past tense
My Rating: 5 out of 5

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Before the curse, there was a promise. A prequel to the bestselling Tiger’s Curse series, this much anticipated novella recalls the beginning of Ren and Kishan’s story. Before Kelsey there was a girl, raised by a villain, whose love for a hero changed the course of history.

Trapped under the thumb of her abusive and powerful father Lokesh, Yesubai struggles to keep her own magical abilities secret while evading his dark powers. When Lokesh promises Yesubai to the prince of a neighboring kingdom, she becomes the central pawn in his plot to destroy the ruling family and take power for himself. Yesubai is trapped by her father’s threats and desperate to protect the man she comes to love, but she knows that any decision she makes will have dire consequences. As dark forces gather around her, Yesubai must decide if she’s willing to reveal that somewhere deep within her she has the power to change everything.

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This book destroyed me! It was just the right combination of factors to rip my heart out.

First, it heavily featured Kishan, the 'book boyfriend' love of my life. Secondly, it was from the POV of a woman who loved him. When she met Ren and compared him to Kishan, she actually found him wanting. In Kishan's eyes she saw the warm sun and kindness, not a man who always fell short. And thirdly, the real clincher to my broken heart, is the fact that I knew what would happen in the end. I knew that once again, or for the first time, chronologically, Kishan's love would be ripped from him. Every time Yesubai thought of Kishan it broke my heart again, knowing that they would never be together. It was constant pain and suffering for me to finish this book. I can't remember the last time a book made me cry so hard.

 

And now I need to see Kishan find happiness one day. I know that he eventually marries Annamika, but the little we have seen of them together does not give me great hope for their happiness. I have to see it, read it with my own eyes. I used to always feel like Kishan marrying Annamika was like a betrayal to Kelsey. Even if she had treated him badly, and Kishan had lost her forever to his brother, I didn't want his great love for her to die. And I supposed a part of it never did, as he said in his letter to her. But I still didn't really want to acknowledge the fact that he married Annamika. 

I have now had time to come to terms with the truth, and after seeing the tragedy that was his relationship with Yesubai, I must see him find happiness with a woman who loves him most of all. Does Annamika love Kishan fully, as fully as he loved Kelsey? Or is it just convenient, a result of their circumstances? I can tell in the sneak peak that he is attracted to her, even if he is not acknowledging it yet. They better be featured heavily in Tiger's Dream. If Colleen can manage to show me their relationship become what Kishan has been without for centuries, what he so badly deserves, what I have been wanting for him for so long that I am at this very moment in tears, I will hunt her down and give her the hugest hug!

“Like the trees, his roots went deep, and I daydreamed that if he wrapped me in his arms, he could safely tuck me away within his branches and hide me from the world. He was shaken by nothing. He feared nothing.”

Bittersweet Obsession by Tess Oliver (The Dark Romance Collection #1)

Genres: Adult, Historical Fiction, Romance
Publication Date: September 29th 2012
POV: Alternating - Third-person, Past tense
Smut-O-Meter: 7 out of 10
My Rating: 4 out of 5

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The Dark Romance Collection is a series of full length adult romance novels set in the nineteenth century and based loosely on horror classics. Bittersweet Obsession, the first in the series, is based on Mary Shelley’s classic, Frankenstein.

Angel Van Ostrand has returned from the Peninsular War wounded and dispirited from the horrors of battle only to discover that his father, Dr. Van Ostrand, a once renowned scientist, is engaged in a series of macabre experiments financed by a wealthy baron who seeks immortality. With the melting of winter’s frost, Angel is determined to leave his family home, Greystock Manor, forever. But when his father’s latest purported triumph over nature comes in the form of an ethereal beauty named Jane, Angel is drawn to her. And now he finds himself in a new battle— one that involves his heart.

After being stabbed and left for dead in an icy pond, Jane has woken in a strange house under the care of an odd physician and with no recollection of her past. As she recuperates and deals with the slow and painful return of dark memories, she finds that she is losing herself to the doctor’s son, Angel. But with each passing day layers of secrets from both the past and present are peeled away and soon Jane discovers that nothing is as it seems.

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I loved the setting in this book and it managed to keep a bit of the Gothic feel with the secluded old manor. Or as I would imagine it, since I have never actually read Frankenstein. I instantly felt for Angel as we are introduced to him and he is contemplating suicide. I would guess he had PTSD from the Napoleonic War, but that diagnosis didn't exist at the time.

As we get to know Angel a little better we see that he is moody and angry at the world for a lot of reasons. I felt instant sympathy for him and his situation and already started looking forward to the introduction of his true love. I was really excited for him to get that chance to heal.

Jane was sweet although I would have preferred a little more depth to her. Angel was the one always risking himself for her, and saying incredible things like "You possess me wholly." I still really enjoyed the way their relationship developed, and how Angel gradually let himself forget her origins. It was very romantic. They had great chemistry, and I know Jane loved Angel, but she wasn't as passionate about it as him.

There was a lot of mystery surrounding Jane's previous life that I enjoyed. We never really knew who the people were who were looking for her until the end. The mystery unraveled slowly and there was a bit of a twist which I thought was very neat and smart. And I enjoyed the ending, as Angel once again takes charge and sweeps Jane off her feet.

"There is no one else on this earth for me but you."

New Cover Reveal and Re-release of Bittersweet Obsession by Tess Oliver

Today is the re-release and cover reveal of Tess Oliver's adult, historical, paranormal romance, Bittersweet Obsession. It is a romantic retelling of Mary Shelley's classic, Frankenstein. Although I have read several of her books, I have not read this one yet. I can't wait to get a chance to read it. My reading schedule has been pretty tied up, but in the next week or so, hopefully. I love retellings, and I especially love retellings of classics, more so than fairy tales. Its hard to say no to a gothic romance! And if Tess' other work is any indication, I am sure I will love this! As I have loved two of her other PNR series, Camille, and Years From Home.

Below you will find the plot summary, a teaser, the jacket, and links to the book on Goodreads. If you have read this book, or if you are as excited as me, let me know your thoughts!

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Tess Oliver's Dark Romance Collection is a series of full length sexy adult romance novels set in the nineteenth century and based loosely on horror classics.

Bittersweet Obsession, the first in the series, is based on Mary Shelley's classic, Frankenstein. Angel Van Ostrand has returned from the Peninsular War wounded and dispirited from the horrors of battle only to discover that his father, Dr. Van Ostrand, a once renowned scientist, is engaged in a series of macabre experiments financed by a wealthy baron who seeks immortality. With the melting of winter's frost, Angel is determined to leave his family home, Greystock Manor, forever. But when his father's latest purported triumph over nature comes in the form of an ethereal beauty named Jane, Angel is drawn to her. And now he finds himself in a new battle-- one that involves his heart.

After being stabbed and left for dead in an icy pond, Jane has woken in a strange house under the care of an odd physician and with no recollection of her past. As she recuperates and deals with the slow and painful return of dark memories, she finds that she is losing herself to the doctor's son, Angel. But with each passing day layers of secrets from both the past and present are peeled away and soon Jane discovers that nothing is as it seems.

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The Veil of Night by Lydia Joyce (Night #1)

Genres: Adult, Historical Fiction, Romance
Publication Date: April 5th 2005
POV: Alternating - Third-person, Past tense
Smut-O-Meter: 8 out of 10
My Rating: 4 out of 5

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Byron Stratford, Duke of Raeburn, walks in shadow. Spoken of only in whispers, he lives alone in his crumbling manor, a cold, enigmatic recluse. Rarely appearing by the light of day, he moves as a wraith in the night, answering to no man. He cares little for those who dwell outside and does not abide the intrusion of others, lest they discover his secret shame.

Lord Raeburn is the sinister man Lady Victoria Wakefield must confront if she is to save herself from her family's ruin. Little does she suspect that she will become his shining star--or that the passion radiating between them will be their only defense against the true darkness threatening to destroy them both.

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I really enjoyed this book. Despite the strong and almost instant sexual content, it was actually a sweet romance. Victoria and Byron met when she went to him hoping to settle her brother's debts, but they have an instant attraction. Byron finds himself asking for a week with her instead, and Victoria finds herself accepting.

It was unexpected, impulsive, and just so appealing that neither of them could help themselves. So they made this deal and Victoria stays in Byron's old manor for 6 days, with no one but the servants. They spend quiet days there, going riding, talking in the library, but they have sex together every night. Their physical attraction to each other was instant and undeniable. But it took them the length of the book to develop, recognize, and admit their feelings for each other go beyond physical. And that is what the story is really about. Despite their sexual relationship, we still got to see two lonely people falling in love.

I enjoyed their time together and their chemistry. They had a great, deeper connection and I was just waiting for them to see and understand it. They both had secrets and painful pasts that were keeping them back. Victoria had been in love before but he died. It had caused her to hide behind her spinster facade, avoiding new pain or rejection. But she had a wild spirit that was fighting to get out. I loved how she couldn't help but laugh when it rained.

And Byron had a severe photosensitivity which had driven away friends and lovers in the past because of their fear of what they didn't understand. I felt a lot of sympathy for Byron because despite his dark reputation, his circumstances hadn't changed him too much. It made him sad and lonely but it hadn't made him mean as it could have. And the fact that he was building a huge, beautiful house with rooms for a wife and children was just the sweetest thing. He still had this amazing dream for his future despite the fact that he hadn't yet found a woman who could accept him and his disability. Not until Victoria. It was obvious that they belonged together and I didn't understand why they couldn't instantly see it too. But luckily it didn't take them too long. The whole book took place over a span of only 6 days. I look forward to the rest of this series, despite it's low ratings. I didn't see anything in this book to keep me away.

“You are all the sun I need.”

The Ring and The Crown by Melissa de la Cruz

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy/Magic, Historical Fiction/Alternate History, Mythology, Romance
Publication Date: April 1st 2014
POV: Alternating - Third-person, Past tense
My Rating: 3 out of 5

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Princess Marie-Victoria, heir to the Lily Throne, and Aelwyn Myrddn, bastard daughter of the Mage of England, grew up together. But who will rule, and who will serve?

Quiet and gentle, Marie has never lived up to the ambitions of her mother, Queen Eleanor the Second, Supreme Ruler of the Franco-British Empire. With the help of her Head Merlin, Emrys, Eleanor has maintained her stranglehold on the world's only source of magic. She rules the most powerful empire the world has ever seen.

But even with the aid of Emrys' magic, Eleanor's extended lifespan is nearing its end. The princess must marry and produce an heir or the Empire will be vulnerable to its greatest enemy, Prussia. The two kingdoms must unite to end the war, and the only solution is a match between Marie and Prince Leopold VII, heir to the Prussian throne. But Marie has always loved Gill, her childhood friend and soldier of the Queen's Guard.

Together, Marie and Aelwyn, a powerful magician in her own right, come up with a plan. Aelwyn will take on Marie's face, allowing the princess to escape with Gill and live the quiet life she's always wanted. And Aelwyn will get what she's always dreamed of--the chance to rule. But the court intrigue and hunger for power in Lenoran England run deeper than anyone could imagine. In the end, there is only rule that matters in Eleanor's court: trust no one.

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I really had no idea what to expect from this. I sort of went in blind and I am not entirely sure whether or not that is a good thing. It turned out not be my kind of story, but it was interesting enough to keep my attention, even if I was sorely disappointed by the outcome.

This book is set in an alternate history. It is the turn of the century and the descendants of Arthur rule the empire, with the descendants of Merlin as their advisors. It had an extremely large cast of characters with constantly alternating POVs, as people come from all over the world to London for the engagement ball of Princess Marie-Victoria of the Franco-English Empire and Prince Leopold of Prussia. I did not love any of the characters. Anelwyn was supposedly a powerful sorceress but she never did anything useful. Ronan was shallow and did not deserve Wolf. Marie was selfish and short sighted. Isabelle was so hot and cold it was ridiculous. I did not mind Wolf, so I suppose what happened to him in the end is for the best. But I cannot understand why he wasted his time with Ronan.

 
This reminded me immensely of Anna Godbersen's The Luxe series, so be warned. If you have read that series, you know it is a story of no one getting their happy ending. Most of their endings are not tragic, and are a sort of comfort. But no one ends up with their first choice, their true love. Although it was a rather melancholy ending over all, I mourned the most for Isabelle and Louis. Isabelle could be a ridiculous ninny sometimes, but she did not deserve that. Neither did Louis.

Although there was a bit of a conspiracy against the Empire in the end, it was not the focus of the story. Most of the story consisted of Marie and Anelwyn arguing over Leopold, and Marie complaining about her lot in life. I certainly would not rejoice at the notion of an arranged marriage myself, but you would expect a heroine and a princess to have a stronger sense of duty and respectability. But I kept reading because I was just curious enough to want to know how everything turned out. Well, it did not turn out wonderfully, I must say. Although it turned out rather well for the empire. The new Franco-British-Prussian Empire has two good rulers and a loyal Morgaine advisor.

This book seems to be the first in a series according to Goodreads, although it felt pretty well tied up. There were no great happy endings, as I said, but it still had a sense of finality. I don't see the need for further installments, unless it is to introduce new, larger threats to the Empire, and to show its new young rulers prove their merits.

“It was a story they could tell their children, something out of a fairy tale. How their mother had not known who he was when she accepted him, and the frog turned out to be a prince. But the princess had been unwilling to kiss the frog, the prince remained warty and unloved, and now there was no adventure to be had.”

The Silver Devil by Teresa Denys

Genres: Adult, Historical Fiction, Romance
Publication Date: December 1978
POV: Female - First-person, Past tense
Smut-O-Meter: 2 out of 10
My Rating: 4 out of 5

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Amid the gilded opulence and dark intrigue of Renaissance Italy grew a love that knew no bounds.

No woman's heart is safe from the Silver Devil. From the moment he sees the beautiful Felicia, he must have her. Overnight he changes Felicia's nightmare world of tavern drudgery into an erotic adventure as his royal mistress. He is the Duke of Cabria who holds his subjects in constant fear. He is troubled. He is ruthless. And Felicia is hopelessly in love with him - though at times he seems like the devil incarnate.

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This was nothing like I expected. It was hardly even a romance. Primarily it reminded me of the TV show The Borgias, which I loved, so it made me enjoy this book a great deal more, being able to imagine it happening during the setting of that show. Although the book took place about a century after the event of the series, there were a lot of familiar places and prominent family names.

Most of the story was political, but simply seen through the POV of the mistress of the Duke of Cabria, while the Duke, Domenico, fights to keep his position from spies and betraying family. Felicia is always in the background, witnessing it all. She is madly in love with Domenico, to the point of obsession, but she never considers herself more than his possession, and never considers the possibility that he sees her as anything more than that. She is always there for him, in any small way she can be. She is incredibly supportive even as she convinces herself of his complete indifference. She keeps his secrets, she keeps her eyes and ears open to plots against him, she disguises herself and travels with him and his men across Italy in search of allies. She would do anything for him, even die. And if he died she would die with him. Even as he is cold and harsh to her.

 

"Domenico, whether you live or die, let me share it!"

Domenico is one of those romantic heroes that you love even though you know you shouldn't. Like a wounded puppy who bites you. You can't hold it against him. He is tall and lean and strong. He is always the tallest man around. Probably 6 and a half feet. Whenever he meets a man who is taller than him, he orders their legs broken. He is arrogant beyond belief, to the point of narcissism. He is often described as a lounging cat, completely sure and confident and graceful, always cunning and on top. He has hair that is silver-gold, and makes me think of the hair of the Targaryens, and that is where he gets his nickname, the Silver Devil. He is also very pale and only ever wears white, black, or silver. In 17th century Italy he is the epitome of beauty and everyone is in love with him. Man, woman, and child.

"I knew that love would not turn the silver devil into an angel. He would remain what he was--subtle yet childish, unfeeling yet passionate, lost irretrievably to everything but his own desire."

He shows no feelings for anyone. He kills without remorse, he watches and laughs as his men rape women, he is brutal towards Felicia in bed and she is always sporting bruises. He is a complete bastard. But Felicia loves his grace and confidence and intelligence and beauty. But he will never change. He eventually confesses that he has always loved her. Which only goes to show that his feelings towards her have not changed him. If he did not realize until the end that he loved her, then perhaps that would mean he could still change. But no. He has always loved her, and he is still a bastard. But I have to admire the way he fought to be with her. He challenged all his men and his council and kingdom for the right to be with her forever. A former tavern wench. In his own way he loves her. And there is no doubt that Felicia loves him. He owns her soul.

"He was on his knees at my feet, and as I watched he lifted the hem of my gown to his lips and kissed it. I made some sort of sound in my throat, but I could not speak.
"You cannot go." He spoke in a whisper, without lifting his head. "I love you. I have always loved you."