As I’ve said before, I’m not much into action or intrigue in my romances. I’m like one of those finicky kids who doesn’t like the different foods touching on their plate. I want my romances to focus almost solely on the romance, and my mysteries to be about the mystery. My action and suspense I actually prefer visually, enjoyed via television or in the theatre. That is why me embarking on a journey that is Zoe Archer’s Blade of the Roses series is a huge departure from my normal reading tastes.
A departure, yes, but well worth it. I thoroughly enjoyed WARRIOR. With me, it had all to do with a great story and approaching it with a certain mindset. I knew going in there would be lots of action, so I was prepared. I got action in spades. I was prepared for suspense and magic. Again, I got both. I wanted heat and tension between the hero and heroine and here Zoe did not disappoint. I wanted a dynamic and delicious hero and Gabriel was all that and more.
What great chemistry! I usually like my hero and heroine to have tons of conflict throughout the book. This wasn’t them. Yes, they had some at the beginning when she feared he was after her father. And then she tried to get rid of him when she set out to find the ‘Source’, but their attraction came soon after their first meeting and continued its relentless climb until they finally succumbed to it (much later in the book).
The other thing that really struck me about WARRIOR was all the wonderful detail Zoe includes in the book. I could so tell a whole lot of research went into this book but it’s woven into the story so effortlessly without that feel you sometimes get with historical books that shouts, “I researched this, therefore I shall impart everything I’ve learned in the following very dry dissertation.”
And the best thing about WARRIOR beyond the hero and heroine’s HEA and after these particular Heirs (bad guys) were conquered at the end, I’m now dying to read the next book in the series, SCOUNDREL. The hero, Bennett Day, is a known rake (I’ll have you know I have a terrible weakness for rakes) but will meet his match in the enemies daughter London Harcourt. That alone says conflict and yet more conflict. The harder they resist, the more I like it. 😉
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I thoroughly enjoyed WARRIOR by Zoe Archer.
I loved that much of the book was done from the hero’s POV, which is so different from a lot of other books. Many of them tend to be only in the female POV and I have to say, I like what knowing what the guy is thinking.
Here are some of my favorite bits which I highlighted in my Kindle. I think many of them actually are from the hero’s POV.
So he’d done for her what he had done for his men, what he’d had to do for himself, so many years ago: showed the way back from that bleak place. One time, he’d made a trembling private, covered with the enemy’s blood, tell him all the bawdy limericks he knew, until the boy had tears in his eyes from laughter.
Note: I love this recollection of his. it shows him as a man of great compassion.
With a jolt, he felt himself slipping inside of her, her mind, her body, and it bound him to her, suddenly, powerfully, in a way he’d never experienced with another woman. A tight knitting of self to self.
Note: I’m not sure what words to use to describe this but i love the feeling as tho souls were overlapping
“I’ve got something that he doesn’t.” He turned back to Thalia, his eyes golden vows. “Someone to fight for.”
Note: Every girl should have a guy say that of her – sincerely, at least once in her life
~ Deanna
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I bought this book specifically because it was the Book Club Pick. As Beverley stated in her post when she announced WARRIOR as the pick, this was somewhat out of my comfort zone. I don’t read a lot of historicals but I do love a paranormal romance. WARRIOR was a solid read. I read it in three days, which is pretty good for me.
I was really concerned that the book being set in Mongolia was going to make this a difficult book to read but after a couple chapters I really got into not just the story but the setting itself. It took me awhile to figure out what a ‘ger’ was and I know I’ll never look at a tea pot the same way again.
I was surprised how well thought out the story was. I thought Ms. Archer did a great job in bringing the mystical, paranormal elements to life and made them so believable. I adored Gabriel and Thalia, together they made a great team. If I had to snipe about anything it would be that I could have used an additional love scene and sooner in the story. However, the ones in the book are much hotter than I expected. I already have SCOUNDREL and I plan to read it this week. Bennett sounded like a great hero.
~ Sandy
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I liked it, didn’t love it. I really loved the hero and heroine but thought the villains were really just too villainous. At one point in the book, Henry Lamb, one of the evil ‘Heirs’ bent on world domination by the British, kills a man in the most horrific way and that was hard to read. Then there was Tsend, a Mongolian who had basically sold out his countrymen for money. Yes, this is and was done in real life, but the concentration of such evil in this romance novel was sometimes too much for me. Parts of it did remind me of Indiana Jones and I did enjoy that. Zoe Archer’s storytelling does create a vivid picture. Bennett really intrigued me so I plan to go out and buy SCOUNDREL.
~ Joanne in NY
The winner (odds were good for this one) of the 2 (two) books of their choice is…SANDY!!! Sandy please email your snail mail and book choices to me at contests at theseasonforromance dot com.
Comment to participate in the discussion and you’ll be entered to win the book of your choice. There will be 2 more winners!
It looks pretty unanimous, that this is a story worth reading. It is not something I might normally read but I am always looking for a good story.
I normally don’t go for paranormal, but the promise of an Indiana Jones style adventure (promise most definitely delivered) and an exotic setting (Outer Mongolia? Really? Really.) plus the truly outstanding cover grabbed me. I would have been content if the book were on its own, but if the other Blades of the Rose books are in the same vein, I expect to be similarly satisfied. Scoundrel is in the top strata of my TBR pile.
I have this book sitting on my table next to my bed. I’ve been trying to get to it to read but I just haven’t found the time. But I will make time!
Zoe Archer’s Blades of the Rose series has me hooked! When I finally found the time to sit down and read Warrior, I could hardly stand to put it aside. I read it over the course of a frenzied four days, squeezing in the time wherever I could because I just could not wait to read more. I’ve since gobbled up Scoundrel in a mere two days and am DYING for Rebel and Stranger.
My favorite thing about Warrior was the parity between the hero and the heroine. Although it’s easy when picking up the book to think that the warrior of the title is the hero, Gabriel, the heroine is every bit his equal on that score. And although I found it perhaps a little too convenient that Gabriel so easily accepts the existence of magic, I loved the fact that his brains were every bit as crucial to the plot as his brawn.
My only real complaint about Warrior (and it holds true for Scoundrel as well) is that the romance was resolved too early for my liking. I wanted the couple to resist their love for one another right up until the bitter end, realizing only after the battle threatens both their lives that they truly love one another and are meant to be together. That said, I still enjoyed the entire book and couldn’t put it down, even after the romantic tension was resolved.
When I was a kid I lived for Indiana Jones movies! Although I was a bit hesitant about reading Warrior (fear of disappointment) I was also very excited. And let me tell you, Archer did not disappoint! I’m definitely not a paranormal fan, and I’m a little more on the conservative side when it comes to heat on the pages, but Warrior is a keeper. In fact, I believe it has surpassed all other favorites and moved to the top of my ‘most favorite’ list.
This sounds like a great story.
I’ve just been getting into paranormals and really enjoying it. I’ve heard good things about this book!
I just finished The Iron Duke which was filled with action & adventure so I am definitely in the mood for some Warrior or Scoundrel!! Not to mention my friends have sent their strong recommendations, too.
This book sounds so interesting but I haven’t had the chance to read it.
Congrats Sandy.
I bought this book because it has been praised all over the web. I haven’t had a chance to read it yet, but plan to really soon. I also want to get the next books in the series when they come out.
Valerie
in Germany
This book sounds so great. I can’t wait to read it!
I tend t o like books with less action and more characeter driven but this series has me hooked! These books really reminded me of Indiana Jones when I first read reviews about them. And since I loce Indiana I thought I’d give it a try… and I’m so glad I did. Can’t wait to Scoundrel.
I have not read the book yet, but I have heard good things about it.
I love paranormal books. I have heard many great things about her books. I love the covers.
I love teh covers. Makes me wnat to grab these books
I am reading this book right now and I am thoroughly enjoying it! I like to sometimes go to “out of the way” places in my books and Mongolia sure is! I really like the hero and heroine, and they have some steamy love scenes. I think the author has a wonderful imagination. I liked the bird kite, the tortoise, the tea pot—and since I am still reading this book I don’t know what other magical things are to come!
I’m so happy that there are three more books in this series! I look forward to reading them.
This book would make a wonderful movie!
This book is definitely is my type of read. I prefer romances to have more than just a relationship story. I want action and more of a story line. I can’t wait to read this series.
You really know how to grab people attention because when I started to read I wanted to know what will be in the end.
I don’t usually go for paranormal in my romances either (I am usually more of a straight historical), but the setting intrigued me. This entire series has very interesting premises and characters, so I’m actually looking to collect them all. I have Warrior on my TBR so far, but I haven’t gotten around to reading it yet.
For those of you who have yet to read it, I suggest you move it to the top of the pile. 🙂
This usually isn’t the type of read I pick first but there are so many wonderful reviews for Warrior that I have to read it now. I already am intrigued by Bennett 🙂 Thanks all for the reviews.
Carol L.
Lucky4750@aol.com
I really am going to have to get these. I think they might be right up my alley. I’ve heard so much great stuff about Warrior that it really can’t be ignored anymore.
Brandy
brw08 AT yahoo.com
I have this on my TBB list. I suppose I’ll bump it up higher now, especially since the second one is out.
I would love to read this.
loretta
lbcanton@verizon.net
I was intrigued by the premise of the book and the blurb when I read about it before the book club announced that this was the book for the month. You can imagine my delight that it was selected. There are so many things I love about this book – the writing is excellent, so many moments when I just had to stop and catch my breath because the writing was so strong and so many moments – poignant. The adventure and action was well paced and both the hero and heroine were well matched. I liked the acceptance that they showed each other, will a little bit of self doubt thrown in. They revealed their feelings for each other quite early in the book (about midway, I think) but I don’t think that it was too early. There was still all that adventure and life or death stuff to get through before they could be together and I liked that they had to fight something bigger and outside of themselves in order to have their happily ever after, and even their happily ever after was unconventional, which was just great fun for me. I didn’t have any problems with the exotic setting, getting to understand the culture and the strange terms used – that might just be the fact that I’ve traveled and lived in over 10 countries myself and I’m just more accepting of it, plus I grew up with TV shows that were located in Mongolia and was familiar with the culture, the dress and the people. An excellent book.
I genuinely liked Warrior. This kind of historical will not replace the kind of character-driven romances I prefer, but every once in awhile well I hit a lull in my reading, I would definitely pick up this kind of action packed romance.
Gabriel and Thalia really clicked from the beginning. I loved that they stayed in Gabriel’s head a lot. I really thought the paranormal elements of the book were well done. I’m always afraid that I won’t be able to fully suspend my disbelief but the way the sand storm is written and you see the face within it reminded me of The Mummy.
I have to agree with one of the other comments, I found myself wanting more in terms of love scenes. I thought the sexual tension was well done and I really, really loved Gabriel as he grappled with his feelings. I also loved the way he refused to leave despite all Thalia and Batu’s efforts to lose him.
The only thing I found difficult to swallow was Gabriel’s heroics for one of the men who kidnapped them. While I know why the thieves needed to be their ally, I found it a bit of a stretch to believe Gabriel would leave Thalia and risk his neck for the thief.
I also have to agree with the majority and say that the glimpse of Bennett Day and the other Blades at the end of the book did spike my interest for the rest of the series. I’m like Beverley, I love a rake so I’ve already ordered Scoundrel.
Thanks for the rec. I did enjoy. I see Seducing the Duchess is going to be next month’s book discussion. I will be there.