Blood of the Sorcerer (Kingdom Chronicles #2) - B.C. Morin

Review: Blood of the Sorcerer
Author: BC Morin
Rating: 4/5
Genre: Fantasy
Recommend To: fans of the Iron King

There was loads and loads of fresh, fun, fantasy in Blood of the Sorcerer! It continues from Mark of the Princess with the rise of Samil aided by Maligo, and has the return of wonderful characters such as Alannah, Evyette, Brennus, Tristan, and Kaleb. The plot gets twisted and complicated, but remains engaging and full of magical confrontations and romance. Alannah continues her training and grapples with her feelings for Brennus who is set to marry Isibeal, who in turn is hiding a secret. Evyette continues to learn about her mysterious past with her love Tristan and friend Kaleb by her side. 

The characters themselves are very complex with intricate personalities. The relationships between them are well explored and the world building is lush and full of sensory overload. The descriptions are full of detail and the settings are easy to visualize. Although the different magical creatures can be easy to confuse (Dorchae, Drow etc.) the story isn't hard to get into; you automatically become lost in the world.

Even better was the introduction of backstories for the villains. Originally they seemed flat, but with the added tales of how Samil and Maligo became the way they are, the story was enhanced and became better in general. The villains became 3-Dimensional and were easier to understand and sympathize with while still being fun to hate.

The romance was incredible. Although there was predictable love triangle stuff, it wasn't drawn out and overly boring, plus the constant misunderstandings (especially between Alannah and Brennus) were frustrating but amusing. The tension between Alannah and Brennus was tangible (as in really WOW) and drunk Brennus is so SEXY. My gosh. Evyette and Tristan were also so adorable.

[ I'm just sad about the end, Tristan's death felt almost uneccessary. So much time was spent building their relationship and instead he just dies? And Kaleb gets the girl? No thanks I'll pass. Sigh, I don't know, I felt zilch amounts of chemistry between Kaleb and Evy. (hide spoiler)]

With all this glorious stuff there seem to be no flaws but sadly, the writing itself was not exceptional. I suppose it is a self-published book after all, but it was hard to ignore the awkward sentence structure. The dialogue was stilted at times, made to sound overly archaic and then almost modern, and it was occasionally predictable. For example, this quote is just wordy and awkward, and tries too hard to sound antiquated.

"You seem to ask a question to which you may know the answer to. Do you not, old fae?"

There were also some very cliche moments like "Huh, the last mysterious scroll is on some dark, deserted island overrun by wild beasts where NO FAE EVER GOES. Who saw that one coming?" However, there was sarcasm and tinges of humor which were very refreshing and enjoyable.

Overall I enjoyed this book, it had well written characters, a gripping plotline, and positively steamy romance. Although the wording was unnatural it was still descriptive and built the characters and world well. I would strongly encourage high-fantasy lovers to read it!

Mark of the Princess (Kingdom Chronicles #1) - B.C. Morin

Review: Mark of the Princess

Author: B.C. Morin

Rating: 4/5

Genre: High Fantasy

Recommend To: faerie buffs and fantasy lovers

Wow. I really, really, enjoyed this book. I’ve been reading bunches of dystopia lately, so it was great to read some pure, unadulterated fantasy. The characters were great, the plot was awesome, and the romance just got better as it progressed. There were a few issues here and there, but hey, when it’s good, it’s good. 

The Plot: 

Now this was unusual in a number of ways. So we’ve got the fierce Princess Alannah, who hates being cooped up and is constantly trying to avoid her bodyguards; her adopted, lovable sister, Evyette, who is shrouded in mysteries from her past; a prince, Kaleb, in love with Alannah who reciprocates his love…for a while; Tristan, his best friend, an adorable jokester you can’t help but love; and Brennus, the dark mysterious fae who helped Alannah, and who can’t possibly havefeelings for her could he? Add in an evil fae, Maligo, intent on getting revenge on the faeries who shunned him by releasing a demon army the story is just getting started. It’s complicated, but at the same time absurdly simple. 

The Characters: 

It’s hard to say if they were unbelievably fascinating, but they were incredibly enjoyable to read about. Each one was special in their own way, and each was equally lovable. Alannah is so independent, Evyette is so sweet and good, Kaleb is so protective and caring, Tristan is so amusing and also protective (of Evyette), and Brennus….Brennus is just Brennus. He is the epitome of dark, tall, and handsome. Can’t help but love each of them. I just wish there had been a little more on Maligo. Just a wee bit. I like to love and hate the villains at the same time, and in this….I did neither. He was just the bad guy, and for me he came off a little flat. Just a guy with a crow intent on ruining the world (haha). 

The Romance: 

This was one aspect I couldn’t let go of the book for. I’ll start with Evyette and Tristan because that’s easier. They were just so adorable! My goodness, every time they were even near each other made me smile like a crazy person. It was just so cute and innocent. Truly. Then with Alannah there was a whole trianglish thing going on, but well, we all know who she truly belongs with (*cough, cough, Brennus*). Kaleb was cute when it came to Alannah, and even I got jealous when Alessa came into the picture, but it’s really too bad because she belongs with Brennus, who can’t help but be spicy. Now I just wish Alannah can get a move on and figure it out. I hate the undecisive love triangles. 

The Style: 

I had problems here. I know it’s a self-published book, and so it can’t be held up to the highest standards, but the writing was just a little choppy. It sounded like incredibly formal, like Kings and Queens with a stilted speech pattern, one second, and the next it sounds like a teenager in the 21st century going “whatever” and “alright”. It was a little strange. I do wish the dialogue had been better. It was definitely neutralized by the plot and characters though. 

Overall: 

Huge fun to read. Pure fantasy fun, with entertaining, enchanting characters, lots of romance, and adventure. It leaves you wanting more, and to read more of Alannah’s story, and so I do recommend